January exercise.....Linked
Find a Conversation
| Mon, 01-07-2002 - 12:58pm |
January exercise.....Linked
Cody lazed back against the wooden bench seat drinking his bottled beer and waited. The smog of cigarette smoke lingered while the jukebox played a Dixie Chicks song. He stretched out his long, jean clad legs and rubbed three days worth of whiskers on his tan face. The Kick-n-The-Head bar was crowded. Cody closed his eyes mere minutes when he heard, “Hey sexy, need another beer?”
He flashed a smile, “No, but thanks for asking,” he said then winked at the waitress.
As he watched the waitress curvy behind leave he spied the woman at the bar. She wore a hot pink, short shirt and black leather pants, her bouncy blond curls could be seen under a black felt cowgirl hat. She leaned up against the bar and was speaking to a man wearing a gray suit. The man laughed as she reached across him for some peanuts.
Cody knew he had to make his move soon so he downed the last of his bitter brew and approached the bar. He arrived just as the blond fell into the lap of the man. The guy’s suit jacket had fallen off the back of the stool. She picked it up, apologized and put it back on the stool.
“Shannon darling, I’ve been waiting! Let’s dance.”
Shannon pasted on a fake smile, “Cody; I didn’t see you when I came in.”
He pulled her to the dance floor. “Keep your hands off me, you big brute.”
Cody pushed her along the oval floor two stepping to the music. “Now Shannon, one dance is all I want.”
She purposely stepped onto his boot with her snakeskin boot so Cody forced her closer pressing his muscular body next to her rigid body. He whispered, “Settle down and enjoy the dance.”
“I haven’t seen you since we joined the mile high club in the plane going to Jamaica and that’s all you have to say, is relax!”
He looked into her green eyes, “Did you miss me darling?” and then he stopped dancing .
Shannon panicked, grabbed his arm and with her other hand she felt for the indention in her bra and noticed it was gone. She said, “You son of a bitch! You stole the key that I had stolen from the guy at the bar.”
Cody darted around guys and gals to the back exit door. He sprinted out the door, jumped on his Harley, put on his gloves, started it and sped out of the dark parking lot. He peered over the handlebars and as he past the front entrance he saw Shannon running. Cody knew that she would be on her Harley chasing him soon so he accelerated.
The cool air ruffled his short blond spiked hair, the excitement charged through his body. Cody thought Shannon wouldn’t stop until he handed over the key. The speedometer mark hit seventy as he took a gradual curve. Cody looked over his shoulder and spotted the single light behind him so he raced past the 50-mph sign.
Cody let up on the throttle as he approached the turn off to a sand road. He slowed down, gingerly turned the corner and the first thing he saw was a skunk in the middle of the road. He maneuvered the motorcycle around it and the stench assaulted his senses. Cody laughed he hoped Shannon enjoyed the fragrance and the next thing he saw was a black cow crossing the road. He tried to come to an abrupt stop, which caused the tires to skid. He lost control and ended up in the ditch. Cody had somersaulted over the front of the bike and landed onto the cold ground on his back.
He looked up at the scattered star sky to the full moon and groaned then he heard, “Are you all right, Cody?” Shannon said scanning over him.
He shifted and sat up feeling his legs to see if anything was broken and said, “Yeah, I’m okay but my ankle hurts. Thanks for checking.”
Shannon slugged him in the shoulder and demanded, “Give me the key!”
“Ouch, that was mean! You give me a ride to Mr. Ragston’s house and I’ll think about letting you tag along with me in the mansion.”
“You’re such a gentleman,” she said then strolled away from him.
“Shannon where are you going?”
“I’m going to get my first aid kit, wrap your ankle and then take you to the mansion.”
Cody checked his skinned elbows, hands and waited. Shannon returned and did what she said she was going to do and she handcuffed his wrist onto her wrist.
“Cute Shannon, this is only going to make it more difficult.”
“I don’t trust you, Cody. Now come on we need to get going.”
He hobbled as Shannon set the pace as they traveled over the clods of the worked field. They went past his motorcycle and Cody pouted he thought his baby was a wrecked, twisted heap. They adjusted themselves onto Shannon’s Harley which was a bit tricky since they were joined at their wrists. Cody’s head ached as they headed North to Mr.Ragston’s home he prayed that they wouldn’t meet up with any other obstacles in the road.
He heard the motor slow down as they approached the driveway to the house. “Pull over behind these evergreens, we can walk from there,” Cody said, “Also, keep your jacket on to hide that bright top you’re wearing.”
“Anything else, you’re majesty?”
“Yes, let’s hurry, no telling when the drunk will come home.”
They strolled to the entrance. Two concrete columns with dragons stood tall and proud one on each side of the paved drive. The dwelling was impressive in size, the exterior was stoned and the windows varied in sizes. A security lamp beamed and they both were sensitive to any unusual sounds. Cody retrieved the key from his pocket making sure to keep his gloves on he inserted it into the lock on the heavy, wood door.
He opened the door and with a flashlight he searched for the panel in the hall closet. They both knew that the owner had a special security system that required the front door to be opened with the key and then the key had to be inserted into the alarm system within a minute or it set off a silent signal. Cody found the box and completed the task.
“Wow, look at this place, it’s so huge, I bet it would echo if I shouted,” Shannon whispered.
“Come on, we have to find his office.”
They treaded around the furniture and turned to their right down a hall to some glass doors. They went to the massive oak desk where they searched for hidden buttons. He noticed the flat screen monitor to the expensive Gateway computer and observed a calendar with a circle around the date, Jan. 15.”
“Shannon uncuff me, that way we can get more done,” Cody demanded.
“No way, here’s the safe;” Shannon answered while holding the scenic picture.
They both worked on opening the safe with the tools stashed in their jean pockets. The hinges creaked as the door was opened and Cody and Shannon shined the light inside scanning for the object. But all that was present were papers. He quickly closed the safe. He tensed up as he heard a dog barking; looking down at his watch it read 11:00.
“It’s getting late, we have to hurry!” Cody whispered while Shannon replaced the picture.
They left his office and walked up the winding staircase. They strolled down the carpeted hallway to the master bedroom. Cody sneezed and Shannon jumped before they headed into the large room where they searched along the walls for another safe. The room reeked with a sweaty stench.
Cody located it behind a picture of a horse in a pasture. They unlocked it and peered inside where they found articles of jewelry but not the item they coveted. Frustration emitted from Cody while Shannon pondered and said, “Where would someone hide something that’s worth a cool two mil. I got an idea,” She said as she pulled Cody into the bedroom closet.
He switched on the dome light. The area was spacious and organized. His apartment could fit inside and there still would be room to spare he thought. He watched as Shannon scanned the closet finally resting her eyes on a stack of boxes.
“Come on Cody, I bet it’s in one of these.”
He laughed, “And I bet that shoes are in those.”
They explored five of them when Shannon ran her hand through a small, rectangular box located in a shoebox.
Cody heard, “Bingo, look at this beauty!”
“Wow, look at all those jewels. That’s one valuable dragon.”
As they marveled over the exquisite object they heard a loud noise so they extinguished the light. The noise chimed twelve times and after it stopped they heard footsteps. It wasn’t long when the figure arrived singing at the top of his lungs and he carried a small dog.
Cody and Shannon held their breath and gazed out of a tiny crack as Mr.Ragston stripped down to his boxers and white tee shirt. The dog stood and barked on the bed. He hushed it up then he turned the light off.
Oh shit! Cody thought how we’re they going to escape without the dog catching them. He was used to improvising he hesitated and then listened to the old man’s snoring. A chip of dried manure fell off his boot so he picked it up, opened the door and on their hands and knees Cody and Shannon inched their way to the doorway. They were within five feet of getting out of the room when the dog started barking, jumped off the bed and was coming towards them.
Cody tossed the manure chip towards the animal which distracted it long enough for them to rush out of the room. They sprinted down the staircase but the dog chased after them. Cody and Shannon hustled to the front door but the dog had its mouth around Shannon’s ankle. He kicked at the mutt then they continued to run out the door and down the driveway racing to the hidden motorcycle.
Cody and Shannon stopped to catch their breath when they arrived behind the evergreens.
“What the hell, where is it? Cody stormed, as they stood shocked that the motorcycle wasn’t where they left it earlier.
“I don’t know but let’s get out of here,” Shannon said as they kept to the shadows and sprinted South with the moonbeams help.
Fifteen minutes later they noticed two headlights near so they traveled towards it. Cody and Shannon advanced to what appeared to be a truck. They listened to the running motor and observed the owner wasn’t present. Within minutes they occupied the truck and drove off to town.
Cody expelled some of the tension he was feeling. “Man, that was fun! I hope this junker will get us to town.”
Shannon laughed and said, “Look the hood is beat up, and is painted white while the two front panels are blue.”
Cody stepped down on the gas pedal and the engine sputtered, coughed and barely chugged along the highway. “This piece of shit won’t go any faster. I can’t get it past forty.”
The pickup was filled with extra clothing, holes in the worn seat cover and floorboard. It smelled of gas, grease and sand, dirt covered everything. Cody and Shannon abandoned the truck two blocks from the motel. They walked to the lodging place, rented a room and then collapsed onto the bed. Cody figured that they had a couple of hours to rest, clean up and call a taxi to take them to the airport.
“Shannon darling, take off the cuffs. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Okay, I’ll shower while you take care of your need,” she said while she released the cuff.
Cody listened to the running water. He decided to join her. An hour later they dried each other off and satisfied their hunger for each other. Afterwards Cody asked, “ Shannon would you be my partner in marriage and in crime? We make a good team and we have to get the dragon to its owner in Hong Kong.”
Shannon planted a steamy kiss on his lips and said, “Yes!”
Cody crashed and slept. He awoke two hours later she was gone. He found her note it read, Cody, I was serious about marrying you but I’m not finished running so CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!
Cody chuckled and thought the little vixen had taken the loot and vanished. He looked forward to getting even with her.


Pages
The infamous closet seen, ah, yes...
The nice thing about hiding in closets is that it is pretty univerally accepted as being above "cliche" - there just aren't that many places to hide a character. To make it feel less contrived, you might have one of your witty, sarcastic characters remark about the glorious convenience of having a closet to hide in, or some such. Or perhaps, they take brief advantage of being forced into such close quarters (not sex, mind you, but just feeling the closeness, smelling the sweat, you know...)
It added a good splash of suspense for the drunk to come home when he did - it might have been a little expected, but that isn't always bad. A good example are Nora Roberts' books. We all know what is going to happen, but we're breathless waiting for it, just to see how they get out of the mess!
Great job
Wendy
Loved it!
Since everyone else pointed out stuff, I'll just say I really enjoyed this. You did a fantastic job. :-)
So, does he find her? And if so, WHAT HAPPENS? lol
Michelle
Michelle, co-cl for The Writing Life
Life is short. Buy the shoes.
Visit
Thanks Michelle (m)
I'm glad you enjoyed it! You bet he catches up with her and he has a great plan to get even and thats when the fun begins.LOL
maria
Pages