Detective Mike

Chapter 16

Trudy bellows, "Don't tell me what you think, get your ass out of here and get them back!" Mike nods towards the door for him to get going.

Rick shrugs and takes off. In a minute he's back. "They're outside at the picnic table. Crystal said she knew they weren't supposed to leave." Julie pokes her head in the door.

"Hi Julie," Mike is cheerful. "Did you sleep good?"

"Yep, but the sun shines in the front there as soon as it comes up. It woke us at just after seven."

"Oh, okay. I forgot to close the blinds last night. Sorry Julie."

Trudy comes out and soon has breakfast on the go. Jan and Crystal watch Shannon as everyone sits down to eat. Trudy feeds Shannon some Pablum and she tries to blow bubbles in it. Finally Trudy leaves her the spoon and she manages to get some in her mouth. Everyone laughs as she makes it. She tries splashing her hands in it and Trudy goes back to feeding her.

Over coffee Mike says, "Do you think you can keep an eye on this bunch, Trudy? I'd like to go look up my old friend, Chief Dan Joseph this afternoon. It's been a few years since I saw him last. Someone mentioned Bruce Joseph in connection with Pauline's death last night and it made me think of him. I shouldn't be more than a few hours, three at most."

Trudy looks at him suspiciously and says, "You better not be going to find Serge in Agassis." She's referring to an East Indian lady friend of the past who is married now.

"As a matter of fact I'm going the other way back towards Mission to the reserve lands."

Trudy nods, "Why don't you take my Sprint, It's a lot easier on gas?"

Mike avoids the trap, "You know how they are on the reserve, Trudy. If I was seen in that piss pot I would be the laughing stock of the reserve lands."

"Okay love, I'll keep an eye on the kids. Don't be too late."

"I'm not planning to go until after lunch. I don't want to impose on his wife. It will just be a short visit to show respect for old times."

They finish their coffee and decide to go over to the snack bar and see who is on the grounds this weekend. Trudy wants to get in some sunbathing by the pool anyway. She digs out large towels and they head over to the snack bar.

The sun is beaming down overhead and it's a beautiful morning but off in the western sky is dark ominous clouds. Steam is rising off the picnic tables and roofs around the grounds. In the sun's direct rays it is a hot morning but cool and refreshing under the shade of new foliage. They enter by the side door and Rita calls out, "Trudy! Hi!" She comes running to meet them.

Mike looks for the kids and locates the girls in a booth. "Where's your brother?" he asks Jan.

"I think he went with some guys towards the pool." Julie doesn't appear to be worried so Mike figures he'll be right back. Rita, Ingrid, Barb West and Ramona surround Trudy fawning over Shannon. Mike smiles at Barb and nods. Now he thinks he knows with whom Rick is, Barb's son, Glen who is a year older than him. He goes over to the counter and asks Darlene for a coke. Jim West comes and claps him on the shoulder. "Hi Mike, nice to see you again."

"Hi Jim, got the boys with you today?"

"Yep, they're around here someplace."

They move to a booth. "How're things at home now?"

Jim nods towards Barb, "You mean her and Jean Guy?"

"Uh huh." He takes a gulp of his coke.

"You know we've put it behind us. She still claims it was just that one time and I've chosen to believe her. It's either that or hell at home."

"Wise choice, my friend." He nods his head. "Sort of miss Olga around the club. What happened there?"

"I'm not sure. She kicked him out last season and during the winter she went back east. He came out and got the trailer a few weeks ago."

"Lars came himself?" Jim nods.

"I heard he was living in Mission. I'm surprised he doesn't keep up his membership." The boys come in and Rick's with them. Glen, Jim and Chris, they bug Jim for money for ice cream so Mike shells out some to Rick, too.

He asks Rick, "How's the pool this morning?"

"It's really warm, Dad. You and Trudy should try it." He takes off to get his ice cream with the others. Mike prepares for Jan's arrival to get ice cream. He grins at Jim as he puts the money on the table. Jim looks at it quizzically.

Jan comes to him and goes to say something when he pushes it to her. "Get Julie some too, if she wants it."

"Thank you Daddy," her grin is broad and cheerful.

Jim laughs, "I see what you mean."

When he finishes his coke he looks for Trudy and they head out to the pool. Crystal goes with them and they take showers before entering the pool deck. Crystal takes Shannon so her mother and Mike can go for a swim. They dive in side by side and frolic in the water. Mike finds he can lift her light weight in the water and takes her around the pool on his shoulders. Crystal laughs at them and holds Shannon up so she can see them.

Trudy slides off his shoulders and wiggles her shapely bottom as she swims away from him. He slides under the water and strokes quickly to come up under her. They laugh together as he rolls her and she splashes him. They sport around a bit more then pull themselves out at the deep end near Crystal.

Trudy takes a light small sheet she has brought with her and makes an awning with some sticks and some stones. She puts Shannon's blanket under it and puts her there. "I don't want her getting too much sun first time out."

Meanwhile Crystal dives into the pool and Mike keeps an eye on her. He asks Trudy, "Can you still see that scar on her instep where she stepped on the nail?"

She shakes her head, "Don't ever remind me of that, darling!" She shudders. "That was too close a call that time!"

Mike mumbles, "Sorry love."

They spread their blanket and Trudy stretches out to get some sun. She teases in a low voice, "You could massage my tummy for me, darling. You used to when I was pregnant." Mike sits beside her and watches the kids in the pool. She trails her fingers up his leg. "Would you like me to massage you?"

Mike grins and tells her, "Behave now, imp!"

She whispers, "Am I making you hard?"

"Trudy, stop that!" He moves away from her a ways. She follows by moving her shoulders then using her heels, scooting her bottom sideways. Mike shakes his head. "What a pest you can be!"

"And you love it!"

Mike grins and gets up then dives into the crystal clear water. He pops up about halfway down the Olympic size pool and swims steadily into the shallow end. He climbs out and walks off the deck to the hot tub. There are about four in it and he only sees one familiar face.

"Hi Darlene, where's Les?" He slips down into the hot water and relaxes.

"Up in the snack bar. Where's Marlene this weekend?"

"She doesn't feel our youngest is old enough to come out here yet."

"When did she have the baby?"

"First part of January. A girl named Emma."

"That's so nice when they're that age. You see the greatest changes in them so fast then," Mike agrees. She says, "I'll see you later." She climbs from the tub and makes her way to the showers. Mike watches her go and smiles at her leaving. She is a most proper and wholesome woman above reproach. He likes her. He looks around for the girls and spots Jan with Crystal. He can't see any of Jim's kids or Rick. No sign of Julie either.

He suspects they have gone back to the trailer. He chuckles over young love when it occurs to him they may all be playing volleyball. He climbs out and goes that way but the court is in shade and cool. No one is there. He turns back and finds Rita at his back watching him. She speaks, "Wanna go in the bushes with me?" She smiles invitingly. "No one can see us now and I have my towel."

"Rita, please don't do this. I know you're pissed at Max for his escapades but will copying him make you feel any better?"

"Mike, you are twice the lover he is at the best of times." She puts her hand on his arm. "It's not a need for revenge that makes me chase you, it's the fact that I can't get you out of my mind." Her voice softens, "The one time we made love has lived in my head ever since, Mike. Why won't you do it again?"

She doesn't touch his body but instead looks down at his p***s. "I can see you would like to, Mike."

He slips his arm around her and pulls her close so she can feel his erection tangling in her pubic hair. She stumbles back, "Not here! Come!" she goes amongst the shrubs and small trees lining the volleyball court into a hollow and spreads her towel before she notices he hasn't followed her. She sighs and picks up the towel retracing her steps to the court. He's gone.

Mike dives into the pool along the side and comes up at the deep end. He hangs on to the apron and asks Trudy, "Is Rita behind me?"

She opens her eyes and peers around. "Nope, is she supposed to be?"

He pulls himself out and lies down beside her. She looks at him and says, "You're semi-erect, darling. Has she been teasing you?"

"She made me an offer it was hard to resist." He chuckles.

"Oh Mike, you find any woman hard to resist. It's a source of wonder to me that you didn't give in. Are you sure you didn't?"

"If I did it wasn't very memorable. I don't remember it."

She giggles, "Oh Mike, I know one of these days you're gonna screw her again. She isn't bad looking and Max is always screwing around on her. You might as well do it and get it over with."

"I think you're right but not today. Maybe one day she'll catch me in a weak moment and then I'll make her happy."

"Oh, what a braggart! You think that thing can make every woman happy?"

"I don't hear you complaining."

"Mike, I love you. Marlene loves you. Of course you make us happy. Rita just feels lonely and when Max plays around on her she feels inadequate. You can only make her happy with that thing for the moment. It doesn't have any lasting affect on her like us."

"What about Nina?"

"Nina has loved you since before you first bedded her, Mike."

"How do you know that?"

"She told Marlene when you were down east for the funeral."

"Marlene told you that? Do you two discuss me a lot?"

Trudy gets up, "Oh Mike, lets go for lunch. When are you going over to your friend's place?" She folds her blanket and Mike starts to disassemble Shannon's awning.