The Getaway

On the eve of their Mexican cruise, Mary Ann and Michael huddled conspiratorially over their suitcases. 'Maybe,' grinned Michael, 'if we rolled it up in some Kleenex and stuffed it in your bra...
'That's not funny, Mouse.'
'Well, look: we don't have to take it off the ship. It's not like we'll be smoking it on the street in Acapulco. Hell, we won't even see a customs a~nt until we get back to LA.'
Mary Ann sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. 'I used to be a Future Homemaker of America, Mouse.'
'So?'
'So now I'm smuggling dope into Mexico.'
'And travelling with' - he lowered his voice to a sinister basso - 'a known homosexual.'
She smiled faintly. 'That too.'
He stared at her for a moment to determine exactly how seriously she had taken him. There were times, even now, when his irony came perilously close to describing the way she felt about things. She winked at him, however, so he continued packing.
'I love that expression,' he said, without looking up.
'What?'
"'Known homosexual." I mean, you never hear about known Southern Baptists, do you? Or known insurance salesmen. And when you're not a known homosexual, you're an admitted one. "Mr Farquar, an admitted stockbroker, was found stabbed to death in Golden Gate Park earlv this -'
'Mouse, you're giving me the creeps!'
'Sorry.'
She reached over and squeezed his hand. 'I didn't mean to bark at you. It's just.. . well, I'm still a little jumpy about dead people, that's all.'
He started to say, 'I can dig it,' but thought better of it. Instead, he held on to her hand and reassured her for the third or fourth time, that week. 'It'll get better, Babycakes. It's only been two months.'
Her eyes became moist. 'You don't think we're ... escaping or anything?'


281

More about this Author
Buy this book from in the UK and in the USA.
	Part of the Library of Bernadette Tavernin - © 1999