Always Love a Villain on San Juan Island Read Online Free PDF Page B

a surveillance. At last they’d come out, holding hands, laughing intimately. Kyra held up her camera. As if they had read her thoughts, Wisely put his arm around yellow lady’s waist and twirled her twice. Clickclickclickclick. Gotcha! Kyra turned off the camera and texted Noel: How’s it going? Shall I come over?

TWO
    PETER TOOK NOEL to the Faculty Club, several rooms in the same building as the cafeteria but accessed by a different door. Peter pulled the door open and they entered a foyer, then moved into a large living room with an immense fireplace. Overstuffed armchairs surrounded coffee tables. On each table, a large telephone on a 1940s black cradle. They sat across from each other beside the fireplace. Through an open doorway bordered by marble ionic columns, Noel noted, was the dining room, tables set with white starched cloths. “You prefer lager or ale?” Peter asked.
    â€œSomething local. I don’t know any ales or beers here.”
    â€œI’ll treat you to my favorite.” He picked up the phone and dialed zero, waited a few seconds and said, “Same to you, man.” More waiting, then, “No, never mind, just get us two of my usual.” And after a few seconds, “Yes, I know you know my voice; you’re good with voices.” More talk at the other end. After a few seconds he said, “Damn right,” returned the phone to its cradle, and grinned.
    â€œWhat’s the joke?”
    â€œYou’ll see.”
    Noel glanced at the fireplace. “Does that get used?”
    â€œYep. It can be freezing cold on this island, but when that pit is fully loaded with good hard maple, it warms this entire space, and the dining room as well. I got to enjoy this room a lot over this last year.”
    â€œHow so?”
    Peter stared at his fingers. “It’s complicated.”
    â€œSorry. Don’t want to pry.”
    Peter came to what felt to Noel like a decision, and looked up. “My wife and I separated. I rented an apartment but I found it hard rattling around there, so I’d come here, just to hang out.” He glanced at the fireplace. “We’d been together for seven years.”
    â€œThat’s tough. Any kids?”
    â€œOne. Jeremiah. He’s five.” Peter took out his wallet, opened it, and handed a photograph to Noel.
    A tousle-haired boy with big green eyes and a great grin. Noel handed it back. “Good-looking kid.”
    â€œYeah. Smart, too.”
    â€œYour wife has him?”
    â€œHe’s with me every other weekend, and I get him for a month in the summer.” Peter returned the picture to his wallet and that to his pocket.
    â€œMust be hard.” He wondered why Peter and his wife had separated but didn’t ask.
    A short round man in his forties with a smile and laughing blue eyes approached, carrying a tray that held two steins of beer and a bowl of peanuts. “Trevor,” said Peter. “Thank you.”
    â€œHow you doing, Pete you asshole,” said Trevor, setting the tray on the table.
    â€œA good day.” Peter took the chit and a pen from the tray. “Pretty good indeed.” He signed, adding his faculty number, and replaced it on the tray.
    â€œAlways good to know you fuck-ass faculty guys can have a good day.” Trevor pointed at Noel. “Who’s this prick-face?”
    â€œA friend of mine.”
    Trevor looked as if he were evaluating Peter’s statement, then nodded and turned to go, saying, “See you ’round, peckerhounds.”
    They watched him depart. “And that,” said Peter, “is the joke. Except for Trevor it’s no joke.”
    â€œTourette’s?” Noel asked.
    â€œYep. Fairly severe.”
    â€œAnd so Trevor just—spouts at you?”
    â€œAt all of us. Members of the Club know about his Tourette’s syndrome and let his cursing flow over their heads. Those who’re offended stay away. He