Free Body Rides by Richard Laymon Page A

remember to be careful.’
    ‘You’re sure you want me to have this?’
    ‘I’m absolutely sure.’
    ‘It will be great for my writing. Man oh man, I’ll be able to get right inside people, really find out what makes them tick.’
    He heard a distant buzzer.
    ‘That’s the washing machine,’ Elise said. ‘I’ll go throw your clothes in the drier. Be right back.’
    She set her drink on the counter, stepped around the end of the bar and hurried across the room to the hallway. When she was gone, Neal sipped his drink. He stared at the bracelet.
    What about now? he wondered. Pay Elise a surprise visit.
    No. That’d be a crappy thing to do.
    She’ll never know, he thought.
    She might suspect.
    And what if I fall off the damn barstool?
    He supposed that he wouldn’t fall if he slumped forward on the counter.
    Forget it, he told himself. I’m not even going to try. It’d be a dirty trick. She gave me the thing. I can’t go and use it to spy on her.
    In a deeper part of his mind, he thought, Maybe someday .
    Returning, Elise said, ‘They should take about half an hour in the drier.’
    ‘Looks like you’ll never get rid of me.’
    ‘I’m in no hurry,’ she said, stepping behind the bar. ‘This isn’t a night when I’m exactly looking forward to being alone.’
    ‘Well . . .’
    ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to force you to stay. It’s been a long night. For both of us.’
    ‘Is there anything else I need to know about the bracelet?’
    She shrugged. ‘I think we’ve covered the main stuff. I’d hate to tell you everything I know, and ruin all the surprises for you.’
    ‘No other warnings?’
    She took a drink, and sighed. ‘Well . . . not really.’
    ‘What if I have some questions? Will it be all right if I call?’
    ‘Questions or no questions. Call me, come over for a visit . . . move in, if you’re ever so inclined. I wasn’t joking when I said that everything is yours. I meant it.’
    ‘Well . . . I’ve got a place. And a girlfriend. So . . . I don’t know.’
    ‘Maybe you’d like to bring Marta over for a visit. Does she like to swim?’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘Come over for a swim, and we’ll have a barbecue . . . make a day of it.’
    ‘Sounds nice. Though I’m not sure she’d be thrilled to know I’ve got a friend like you. You’re a little too . . . attractive, if you know what I mean.’
    ‘Marta the jealous type?’
    ‘Well, I don’t know. But she’s a woman. I can’t imagine she’d be pleased to find out I have a friend who looks like you. I was actually planning to keep everything quiet. Not tell her anything. I did kill a guy. I don’t think we should tell anyone about that. Especially now that we’ve tried to cover it up.’
    ‘No. Obviously.’
    ‘So how would I explain about you ?’
    ‘Make up something,’ she suggested. ‘Tell her I’m your sister.’
    He laughed. ‘Right.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it. If you decide you want to bring her over, we’ll work out some sort of cover story. I’d better give you my number, though.’ She sidestepped toward the end of the counter. Next to the telephone was a scratch pad. She scribbled on it, tore off the page, and returned. She handed the paper to Neal.
    ‘I’m unlisted,’ she said, and took a drink. ‘Lose it, you’ll have to come over if you want to get in touch.’
    ‘You didn’t put your name on here.’
    ‘Do you want Marta to see it and wonder who Elise is? Anyway, you know who I am.’
    ‘Not your last name.’
    She looked slightly surprised and amused. ‘I think you’re right. Weird. I feel like we’re old friends, but . . . I don’t know your name, either, do I?’
    ‘Not unless you read my mind.’
    Maybe she did, he suddenly thought. What if she’s used the bracelet on me?
    ‘I’ll tell you mine,’ she said, ‘if you’ll tell me yours.’
    He felt a hot blush flood his skin.
    ‘Darden,’ he muttered. ‘Neal Darden.’
    She reached her hand across the counter. ‘Pleased to