Chapter 3: Property

“You are going to be late for work Child.”

“I will be on time Mother. I am always early.” Midnight Amador softly spoke, her voice never rising up out of disrespect. She had been sewing up the sheer white curtains all night trying her best to make her makeshift dress for her meeting with the mysterious Man in Black. Not wanting her mother to question her Midnight merely smiled and stood to close her bedroom door. “I must change.” It was nearing her shift at the seaside diner named Coastal Waiters. Yet, she had final touches to make on the dress without interference. Her Mother feeling left out after being the one to show Midnight how to sew in the first place lightly knocked on the now closed door with chipped paint. An older home it certainly needed help. Quite a lot of help actually. The term shit hole came to mind.

“What are you sewing Midnight?” There it was the questions.

“A costume Mother.” Midnight resumed her station at the ages old sewing machine on her once used school desk. She hated lying but knew very well that her mother would object to any men in her life that was not from the Rez, yet she herself had married a man not of Santee ancestry. Her Father rarely home drank too much and worked long hours to keep his family fed and clothed. Now that Midnight was grown, he seemed to prefer being gone more than at home. Tension evident but unspoken of. In her heart Midnight knew there was more to the story.

“A costume for what? You are too old for costumes. It is June not October.”

“Veronica is in a play at the theater in Sunrise Bay. The costume is for her character, a fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Oh, Midnight was good. Her Mother was no reader, nor even a TV watcher so the play, nor Shakespeare meant nothing to her. Whatever threw her mother off was to Midnight’s advantage.

“You are a good friend to take time to help her. Do you need my assistance while you are at work?”

“No Mother, it is done.” Five more minutes the task was going to be as good as it gets. While not perfect it was sheer as the Man in Black instructed. Even with a cute hood attached for dramatic flair. She truly hoped it was not too much. Stripping out of her clothing she adopted the dress just to see her body beneath it. It was so soft as if gossamer, in the breeze it would feel wonderful. Nipples cresting at the thought of being seen in such a manner only made her smile that much more vivid. Twisting in step to check out her cute butt she lightly caressed it over the material. Was she mad? Mad, to even meet this stranger all alone? The mystery of the tattooed man so calmly directing her yesterday from his booth made her take notice. It was as if a mental tug to her hair drew her to his aura. Being toyed with by the three fishermen although humiliating to most Midnight found it thrilling.

Ever since she was raped at 16 by an unknown man, she was fascinated by the force of sex even as she lost her virginity. Left lying in the weeds bloody and naked, her clothing shredded she processed her ordeal in ways most women would not. To most victims they would be scarred for life, perhaps she was as well, yet her scar was a rite of passage. Keeping the rape to herself possibly protecting he who took her was a departure from her boring simple life. The thrill of going back out into the world after the event fueled her desires. Awkward though she was Midnight never allowed herself to appear undesirable. Yet, no one tried to even date her, she chalked that up to her crossbreed DNA. The Santee did not like those outside their tribe. The other side of the fence was slightly different but her exposure to the flipside was still new. Obviously, she was being noticed or the three fishermen would not have taunted her so. The diner being her first job mere weeks after dropping out of high school to help her mother was like a rose opening up in full bloom. Midnight was free to see what the world had to offer.

Changing quickly into her waitress uniform she chose to omit her underwear, in a challenge to herself to adopt what the Man in Black seemed to want. Freedom even in that simple request gave her goosebumps. Heart racing, she packed up her sheer dress into a handbag and slipped her shoes on. Opening her bedroom door, she stepped into the kitchen and kissed her mother on the cheek as she prepared lunch for herself. “I will be late due to meeting Veronica over her dress. The sewing machine will be put back when I return. I love you Mother.”

“I love you too Daughter.” Irene seemed to sense something but could not put her finger on it. “Bring home leftovers. Lobster cakes.”

“If I can.” Out the door she went, she had ten minutes to catch the Rez Rider bus into town. The joy of sunshine on her face gave her reason to live. In such light she thought of him. The darkness in her way, her shadow on the ground even seemed wrong in standing in, as if stepping on toes that she knew would get her in trouble. Was it possible that Midnight, her own name belonged to him? Belonged? The word made her tremble. She barely made her bus for her daydreaming.

“Mister Sanchez?”

Nick looked up from his journal of thought, ideas, and artistic prowess. Seated outside the diner instead of going in he opted to wait on his guest by sitting in his buddies’ truck, borrowed like the beach house he was residing in until settling. To his left outside the Driver’s door stood a lovely if not awkward looking woman in a business suit of pale yellow and a white button-down blouse, crucifix about her neck. To anyone other than Nick she was a Latin version of actress Mayim Bialik, glasses and all, even with her physical build. To him she was just a realtor.

“Tilly Cooper?”

“Yes. Welcome to Caretaker.” She extends a hand of friendship, Nick accepting it hesitantly, “Thank you for allowing me to be of assist in your home search. Would you like to go inside the diner for coffee and I can show you a few properties online, once I understand what it is you are looking for.”

“Rather not. Hop in.” He pats the door to the White 4Runner.

“It’s rather warm out.”

“Sweat makes money.”

“I see.” She hesitantly smiled. “I hope I can tap into the WIFI outside.”

“Know every home on the market by heart?”

“For the most part.”

“Then, let’s go for a ride. I’m buying you for the day. Cancel any other appointments.”

“You are my only appointment.” She sighs, “If you insist.” Stepping around the 4Runner she opens the truck door and climbs in, locating her seatbelt after sitting her laptop case on the floorboard at her feet. Once settled she watches Nick turn the ignition then back out of the parking spot. Reaching the exit on to the main road he stops to look both ways idling.

“Which direction is the best most secluded property?”

“The best is quite expensive, a sizeable eight-acre inland island with a wooden bridge to reach it There are docks on the cove for small fare but the last time I saw those they were ready to rot away. You might want to install safer ones. Swampland bordering it on two sides, ocean beach on the far end, but lots of rocks. Oh, and a very small two-acre island just offshore within a kayaks trip to reach it. A second islet just beyond that one goes with the property as well.”

He puckers at the options, it sounded good, “How much?”

“I believe the latest drop in price is 2.2 million. I’m sure it’s out of your...”

“Right or left?”

“Left.” Her breath seemed to be taken away, “Oh my!” She grew thrilled by the possibility he might have money. With all of his tats and a beat-up truck she presumed that he might be middle class. Then it dawned on her that this man might be some fugitive or drug runner.

“Nothing illegal.” He reacted to her hesitance as he turned left on to the coastal road. That she needed to be concerned about anyway.

“Pardon?”

“You’re questioning my wealth. Nothing illegal. I earned every penny.”

“I ... hope my thoughts did not insult you Mister Sanchez.”

“It did, but I’m over it.” He smirks slightly. “Military if it settles your heartrate.”

“Still?”

“No. I got out while the getting was good. Things I wanted out of life didn’t fit with my career choice. Pilot by the way. Among ... other things.”

“I see. Excuse me if you find my reactions inquisitive.”

“Trust comes. You’re in a truck with a man you’ve never met who’s taking you out into the middle of nowhere. I could be a killer for all you know.”

“A-are you?” She grew leery.

He ignored her, letting her form her own opinion. “Tell anyone you’re with me?”

“My husband knows. He and I own Santee Charms Realty. It used to be Cooper Realty, but my husband got tired of people mocking us. His name is Sheldon Cooper, like the TV show Big Bang Theory. Bad enough I look like Amy Farrah Fowler.” She rolled her eyes and lifted her glasses up at the nose.

“No clue! Not a TV person.”

“Good! A gal can only take so much ridicule.”

“Depends on her soul.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” She peers at the road and see’s the Santee Bus at a stop, “There’s my niece Midnight.” Tilly points, “Would it be too much to ask if you could give her a ride the remainder of the way to the diner she works at? Seeing as she introduced us of sorts.”

“Time is money. You want money?”

“Well, yes.”

“She can walk.” His stern attitude made Tilly bite her lip and pity this man for his arrogance.

“I ... understand.”

“You don’t! How far out is this place?”

“Five miles further, another mile toward the beach.”

“Caretaker address?”

“Harbinger Shoals has its own address.”

“Interesting name.”

“It used to be a reclusive plantation without the fields, more a hideaway from society I’ve heard. Once you see the home you will understand. The cypress and willow trees are beautiful out there. You will need to be aware of alligators.”

“No, they need to be aware of me.” His ego was almost exhilarating even to her.

“I believe it’s safe to say you’re quite capable of handling yourself.” No response she knew she was correct in her assumption, “The road is coming up. There’s a gate blocking it we’ll need to open to gain access. It’s been a few years since even I have been out here. I hope you don’t mind a pet project I’m certain age has left it ... shabby? In need of repair.”

“If I like it, I’ll hire locals to remodel.”

“Bless you. The job market down here is stagnant. Try being a realtor. May I ask what brings you down here?”

“Isolation. Room to breathe. Therapy I suppose.”

“Plenty of that. I hope the local teenagers haven’t put roots up here. It being off the grid as they say.”

“Won’t be there long if they are. No trespassing shot on sight rule.”

“Goodness! Wouldn’t a few guard dogs be sufficient?”

“Not a pet lover.”

“They make great company.”

“I have company in mind.”

“Oh? A future Mrs. Sanchez?”

“Not even close.”

“There on your left, the gate. It’s overgrown almost. Oh, snakes might be a problem as well.”

“I’ll survive.” He pulls over next to the gate, “Stay put.” Getting out he first examines a rotted mailbox post on the side of the entryway, finding it needing replaced, the box itself beaten in with a ball bat most likely. From there he pulls a few weeds obstructing the rusty gates movement, then puts his back into it, hearing the hinges squeak with a piercing echo. Tilly held her ears and awaited his return. Once opened Nick crawled back in behind the wheel. “WD40!” He winked at her for the first time seeming less threatening. “You can relax Tilly I’m not the enemy. Not to you at least.” She shivered just hearing that, still uncertain if being here was in her best interest. Pulling through the gate he drove through the weeds slowly, the gravel path overgrown as well. “Who owned the place last?”

“I believe it was Burle McBride! Back in 1997. It’s been vacant since. His estate went into foreclosure, so the Bank owns it. I imagine the deed needs dusted off.”

“No offers?”

“Too much effort in getting the island cleared and the home remodeled. Someone did try but lost interest and it went right back into foreclosure. That was in 2012. One good thing is they put a new roof on it before giving up.”

“That’s a plus.” Approaching the wooden bridge, he paused in crossing it. With Cyprus trees dangling over the entrance he fidgeted, “Bridge stable for travel?”

“To be honest? I think we should walk from here.”

“In those heels?” He leered at her feet.

“Do I have much choice?”

“You do.” He opens a palm toward her, “Key?”

“It’s unlocked. Nobody ventures out here.”

“Save those teenagers throwing keg parties?”

“Good point. Just break any lock that might have been added. If you can afford the place, you can buy a cheap doorknob.”

“I like your style.” He winces, “Stay in the truck I don’t want a missing person’s report to fill out if a gator gets you.”

“Likewise! Please be careful.”

“Jungles of Colombia, this is a Sunday drive compared to down there.” He gets out, “Cell service out here?” She lifts her cell and checks, “Very low signal, fingers crossed.” Nodding he climbs out and looks in the trunk of the 4Runner finding a large toolbox. In it he discovered a hammer and behind the box a sheathed machete. Showing it to Tilly who glared back at him she bulged her eyes. “Piss outside, not in the vehicle. I’ll be back.” He slammed the hatchback down and proceeded past the 4Runner and into the thicket, using the machete to carve a path to at least see the bridge enough to cross. Without looking back, he disappeared leaving Tilly to fret for his safety and her own. The man was obviously ... tainted in the head.