chapter 65
Larry watched the seaplane make its quick descent onto the water from the comfort of his stretch black limousine. His palms began to sweat. Within minutes the passengers began to disembark. He placed on his dark sunglasses, adjusted his hat and stepped out of the limousine with his pre-made sign in hand - it read “DANA DREW.”
He saw person after person step off the plane. He grew anxious. He’d checked the flight every half-hour that morning to ensure it was on time and he was there for its arrival. And then, his fears were allayed. There she was. Dana. A bit more tan, her black hair flowing in the wind...she looked unbelievable. He held his sign up high.
Dana saw the man by the limousine and her heart caught in her throat. Yes, that was her name he was holding on the sign. A limo ride. Cody had really outdone himself. His surprises were getting better each time, but they were still no substitute for him.
“Hey, check that out,” she said to Sharon, motioning to the limo.
“From the station?”
“I think from Cody...he said he had a surprise for me when I get back.”
“He loves you a lot,” Sharon said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Dana smiled. “So I guess I won’t need that ride from you back home.”
“All right,” Sharon said, turning to give Dana a good-bye hug, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yep. Take care.” Dana breezed by and walked to the limousine.
Larry couldn’t believe it. His plan was in action.
“Hey,” she said grinning, “I’m Dana Drew.”
“Then this ride is yours,” Larry said. “Let me take your bags.”
She obliged, following him to the trunk of the car. “This is an amazing surprise from Cody. What did he say?”
Cody? Who’s Cody? Larry decided to go with it. Whoever this Cody was, the idea that he had something to do with this was obviously making Dana calm and agreeable and that was fine with him.
“Yeah, he’s a great guy.”
“So what did he say?” Dana probed.
Larry thought fast. “He said he hopes you enjoy the ride.”
“Was that it?” she said, hoping for more.
“Umm yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders. What else do you want from me? And why are you thinking of this Cody? I’m the one you’re supposed to be thinking of!
“Okay...sorry, I didn’t mean to be a pest.” She looked apologetically at the thin man with the light brown eyes before her. For a moment, she thought he looked familiar, but the moment passed quickly.
“Would you care to step in?” Larry opened her car door.
“Yeah. What’s your name again?”
Larry hadn’t anticipated so many questions. “Uh...Larry.” F*ck! He wasn’t going to say his real name until later.
“Thanks,” she said, brushing by him to get into the car.
Larry breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t recognize him yet. That was good. He wanted her to see him in his true element, not as some lousy limo driver. He shut the door and got into the front seat. There he poured a glass of champagne and put three sleeping pills into it. He waited for them to dissolve before lowering the partition that separated them. He decided to go with the Cody angle.
“Dana, this is a special treat from Cody.” He reached back and handed her the champagne flute.
“Oh, thanks,” she said, taking it without question.
Larry smiled, so proud of himself for thinking so fast on his feet. He began to pull out of the parking lot, watching her in the rearview mirror slowly sip the champagne.
“So did you have a nice trip?” he asked.
“Wonderful,” she answered. Dana sipped the champagne, thinking of her weekend with Cody. She took another drink of the sweet liquid. She missed him terribly.
Larry drove in silence, heading onto the highway. He kept an eye on Dana. She consumed the champagne rather quickly.
Now, it was only a matter of time.
Dana leaned her head against the window. She hadn’t realized how tired she was from the weekend. “I’m just going to close my eyes,” she said to the driver, hoping he’d get the hint that she was in no mood for conversation.
“Okay,” Larry replied, thrilled at her request.
A few minutes later she was completely out.
“Dana?” Larry said.
No answer.
“Dana?” he said louder.
No answer.
She was unconscious. Larry hit the gas and sped north on the highway. The clock was running now, he had to get home before the medicine wore off. Luckily he was able to make good time. Fifteen minutes later they were at his complex. Larry parked the limo in front of his house and ran to unlock his front door. He looked around quickly to make sure no one was around, then opened the car door.
There she was.
Dana Drew.
And she was all his.
The sight of her stopped him in his tracks. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. He stroked her raven hair. It was so soft. Then he bent down to kiss her cheeks and then her lips. He shook with excitement.
“Hey, Larry, nice wheels.”
He slid quickly out of the car, shielding the open doorway from view with his body. It was his nosy neighbor, Theo.
“Thanks, Theo.” He closed the door quickly, waiting until Theo got inside his townhouse before reopening the door. Stay focused. Stay focused.
Carefully he lifted Dana from the car, kicked the door closed and sprinted with her into the house. He hadn’t estimated her weight. Even though she was quite thin, she was unconscious, so her body felt like a lead weight. Once inside he placed her on his couch, then ran back to close and lock the front door. He studied her sleeping so peacefully on his ratty brown sofa. He wished he could leave her there, but he knew he couldn’t. One day he knew she’d lie there willingly, but for now, he had to be careful.
Larry removed from under the couch a roll of duct tape and a pair of scissors. He pulled her arms behind her back and wrapped the thick black tape around her wrists. Then he bound her ankles. Dana was still out cold. He felt her neck and found a pulse. Good, she was still okay. He lifted her body and brought her to his little room, his private castle for his fairy princess. Gently he placed her body in the small chamber beneath the stairs, then closed the door and locked it.
Larry moved swiftly, putting away the tape and scissors, then straightened up his family room to neat perfection. Larry peeled the driver’s clothes from his body and slipped on a pair of shorts and a plain white t-shirt. He then jumped back in the limo and began the long drive back to Naples to return the car. He had promised the guy the car back by Monday intentionally. In case things didn’t go as planned he then had an extra day, padding, he liked to call it. But everything went so smoothly, there was no reason to wait. The sleeping pill bottle said each pill would last for a guaranteed eight hours sleep. The three pills combined with the champagne should keep her out for a long, long time. Enough time to return the car and get back before she woke up.
It was all Larry could do to keep himself from racing to Naples. He needed to be calm and go the speed limit. He couldn’t afford to get stopped by the cops now. Nearly two hours later he was back in Naples. He pulled into Talbot Motors and went inside. The same old man with the white hair was behind the counter.
“Mr. Holden.” He never forgot a customer who paid cash.
“Yes,” Larry said, “I have your car,” he slid the keys onto the counter, “and the rest of your money.” He held out several large bills.
The old man counted the money. “Let me get you your change.”
“Keep the change,” Larry said, feeling like a big shot. He always wanted to say that, just like they did in the movies.
“Thank you, sir.”
Another sir! Just like the guy at the home improvement store. Already his association with Dana was paying off with respect.
“Bye,” Larry said and walked from the store. When he was sure that he was out of the man’s sight he began sprinting to the shopping center. His familiar rusty green car was just where he parked it. He hopped in and began the drive back to Miami.
It was now nighttime. He was thankful for the darkness, it shrouded him from prying eyes. He sped along the highway desperate to get home. He wanted to be there when Dana woke up.
When Dana realized she was now with the man of her dreams.