Mango Key Read online

  Chapter Eighteen

  With the motorhome parked in its assigned space at Uncle Leo's in Key West and all the systems hooked up, I headed to the back to wash up. On my way, I checked in on Bob.

  He was in the bedroom standing with his back paws on my pillow and his front on the window sill above the bed. His head was tucked down low, his ears folded back, his eyes tightly focused on the small birds flitting in and out of the bougainvillea behind the motorhome. There was a strange clicking sound coming from his throat. Bob was talking to the birds, he was saying, “Just get a little bit closer; see what happens.”

  Satisfied that he was being entertained, I stepped into the bathroom and washed up. It's a good idea to always wash up after hooking up to shore power and water. You never know what the people who camped before you might have contaminated with a splash from their sewer hose while they were leaving. Better to be safe than suffer the consequences.

  After washing my hands, I topped off Bob's food and water bowls and headed up front. Lori was still on the phone. It sounded like she was talking with her sister.

  Buck was on the couch, reading one of the novels he'd brought with him. Both he and Lori seemed to be settled in. I was stilled keyed up from the drive. I wanted to do something, go somewhere. Burn off some energy.

  I was thinking about walking over to the T-shirt shop we'd seen on the way in. Maybe get me a Key West souvenir.

  I was about to ask Buck if he wanted to go with me when I heard tires crunching on the gravel outside, followed by the sound of a car door closing. It sounded like either we, or the people in the site next to us, were getting a visitor.

  I figured it was going to be the people next door so I didn't bother pulling back the sunshade covering the windshield to peek outside. I probably should have.

  A moment later, there was a knock on our door. With Lori still on the phone and Buck comfortable on the couch, it was up to me to see who it was.

  When I opened it, a young woman, probably in her late twenties, was standing outside. Medium height, maybe five foot seven, a little on the skinny side. Auburn hair, cut short. Dark glasses hiding her eyes. She was wearing dark blue shorts and a white T-shirt with a Smith & Wesson logo. She was extraordinarily pretty.

  I smiled. “Wow, didn't expect a visitor. You sure you're at the right place?”

  She nodded. “You Walker?”

  “Yeah, that's me. Do I know you?”

  Instead of answering my question, she said, “Is Buck in there?”

  “He is. Is he expecting you?”

  She pointed to Buck, “Ask him. And tell him Katrina is here with the keys.”

  When I turned to let Buck know he had a visitor, he was already up off the couch and heading my way. He smiled when he saw the woman standing at the door. He said, “Katrina, my favorite Russian princess. You're looking quite lovely today.”

  He walked over and gave her a hug. It was apparent they knew each other well.

  “Buck, it's good to see you. How you doing?”

  “Better every day. How's your mom?”

  “She misses you. Said to tell you she's looking forward to seeing you.”

  He smiled. “I'm looking forward to seeing her too. It's been a long time.”

  Katrina held up the car keys she'd been holding. “I brought the car. You need anything else?”

  Buck shook his head. “No, just the car. Give Walker the keys. He'll be driving. You need a ride home?”

  Before she answered, she looked at me, then said, “No, I can take the bus.”

  Buck shook his head. “I can't let you do that. No way you're riding the bus. Walker here will be happy to drive you home. He's never been to Key West and you could give him a quick tour. You okay with that?”

  Buck wasn't asking me, the question was directed at Katrina.

  She looked at me again, then at Lori, who was still sitting on the couch talking on the phone, and then back at Buck. Her hesitation seemed like she was trying to decide whether she'd rather ride the bus or have me drive her. When she looked back at me, I smiled and that seemed to help make up her mind.

  “If Walker doesn't mind, he can drive me.”

  I smiled. “I don't mind a bit. Let me get my things and we'll go.”

  She hugged Buck and headed for the door. “I'll be outside waiting in the car.”

  As soon as she was gone, Buck turned to me and said, “What do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “About her. What do you think about her?”

  “She's definitely nice looking. I sure won't mind driving her around.”

  “That's what I figured. She's a good person for you to know. Just stay on her good side.”

  “Her good side?”

  “Yeah, don't make her mad. And don't make her wait out in the car while you're in here fooling around. Get your things and go.”

  That part I understood. It was hot outside and probably hotter in the car. I didn't want to make the woman wait.

  I grabbed my wallet and reached for the motorhome keys. I'd learned not to leave them where Lori could get to them. Last time I did, she drove off in the motorhome without me.

  When she saw me pocket the keys, she asked, “Did I hear you say, 'Wow!' when you saw that woman? You never say, 'Wow,' around me.”

  Knowing I had to be careful with my answer, I said, “I don't think I said, 'Wow.' But if I did, it was for the car she was driving. Not her.”

  Lori stood and tried to look outside, but her view was blocked by the sunshade over the front glass. “You couldn't see the car from where you were standing. You saw the girl and said, 'Wow.' Admit it, you think she's cute.”

  Not wanting to waste any more time, I said, “Okay, maybe I said, 'Wow.' But you have nothing to worry about. She might be cute, but she's not my type. You are.”

  “So you're saying I'm not cute? Is that it?”

  I knew Lori was just giving me a hard time. She wasn't really upset and I doubted she was jealous. We didn't have a romantic relationship. She'd made that perfectly clear.

  Still, I wanted to keep her happy. “Lori, why don't you come with us? I'll drive and you can get to know her. I'm sure she won't mind you coming along.”

  Lori sat back down. “No, I'm not going with you. You go with her and have a good time. But remember, we're having dinner with my sister tonight. You need to be back in time to take us. No later than seven. Don't be late.”

  I saluted and said, “Back by seven. Got it.”

  With keys in hand, I headed for the door. Outside, Katrina was sitting in the passenger seat of a white, four-door Prius. Not the kind of car you say 'wow' about. Still, it looked relatively new and its small size would make it easy to drive the narrow streets of Key West.

  After I got in on the driver's side, Katrina looked over at me and asked, “You know how to drive a Prius?”

  I've driven lots of vehicles. Everything from a Humvee in Afghanistan to just about every model Ford and Chevy they make. I'd driven my motorhome across the country and even in rush hour traffic in Miami. I was pretty sure about my driving skills. But I'd never driven a Prius. In fact, I'd never even sat in one. But I didn't tell Katrina that. Instead I said, “Should be easy, right? Just start it, put it in gear and go.”

  She smiled. “Okay then, take me home.”

  I looked at the dash, trying to find a place to insert the key. There wasn't one. Nothing on the steering column either. But to the right of the steering wheel, there was a large button labeled “Power”.

  I pressed it and nothing happened. The car didn't start.

  I looked over at Katrina and saw she was smiling. She knew I was lost. She said, “Put your foot on the brake. Then press the ‘Power' button. When the dash lights up, put the gear shift in drive. That's all you have to do.”

  I had failed my first test with her and she knew it.

  I put my foot on the brake and pressed the power button. The dash lit up like she said it would. The big screen in
the middle had a graphic image of the car along with several bits of information.

  She pointed to the display. “Only two things you need to worry about. Your speed and the gas gauge. Keep the speed under the limit and don't run out of gas. The tank's full, so you can go about five hundred miles before you need to fill up.

  “Any questions?”

  I didn't have any. “No, I've got it from here.”

  I put the car in gear but didn't hear the sound of the motor. “Is this thing running?”

  Katrina looked at me like I was an idiot. She shook her head, “Yes, it's running. Step on the gas and you'll see.”

  I stepped on the pedal and the little car took off. Silently at first. Then, when it reached twenty, the gas motor kicked in. I could barely hear it but felt a surge of power. “This is pretty cool. Not at all what I expected.”

  She smiled. “It's a Prius. Once you get used to them, they're pretty fun to drive. Our guests like them because they don't stand out like a Porsche or a Bentley. You can drive anywhere and no one will notice you.”

  I wasn't sure why not being noticed was important to her guests, but apparently it was. I decided to dig deeper. “So Katrina, what do you mean by guests? You work for a rental car company?”

  She shook her head. “First, never call me Katrina. That's reserved for my parents and Buck. As far are you're concerned, my name is Kat. Not Kathy, not Katy. Just Kat.

  “And second, I don't work for a rental car company. Our family has a guest house. A bed and breakfast of sorts. We cater to clients who value their privacy. Most arrive by private jet. Sometimes they need a car to drive locally. We have several they can choose from. If they need a driver, we can provide one.”

  I nodded. “So is Buck staying at your guest house?”

  She shook her head. “We don't give out information like that. It's one of the reasons our guests like staying with us. If you're wondering where Buck is staying, ask him.”

  She changed the subject. “Up ahead, turn left at the light. That'll put you back on A1A. Then get in the right lane and stay in it.”

  When we reached the light, it was red. I brought the car to a stop and the engine died. At least that's what it sounded like. Dead silence. Kat didn't act like anything was wrong so I figured it was the way the Prius worked.

  When the light turned green, I stepped on the gas, expecting the car to go nowhere. But I was wrong. The little car shot out of the intersection, surprising me with how much power it had.

  Kat laughed. “Be careful there, hot rod. Don't get a ticket.”

  I eased back on the pedal and matched my speed with the car in front of us. I pulled into the right lane and looked at Kat for directions.

  “Keep driving, sport. I'll tell you when to turn.”

  We went about a half a mile then over a small bridge. That's when Kat said, “Okay, you're now officially in Key West. Stay in the right lane and when we come to the next light, go right.”

  I nodded and looked over at her. Up close she was even prettier than she was from a distance. Flawless skin framed by her dark hair. Maybe Buck was right. Maybe she was a Russian princess.

  I started to ask her about it, but she spoke first. “So, that woman back there in your motorhome. She your wife?”

  “My wife? No, no way.”

  “She's your girlfriend then?”

  “No, she's not my girlfriend. I'm more like the guy she calls when she needs a favor.”

  Kat thought for a moment then asked, “Are you gay?”

  Her question surprised me. No one who knows me thinks I'm gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But I'm as straight as arrow.

  “No, I'm not gay. Why do you ask?”

  “You're traveling with an attractive woman. Since she's not your girlfriend or wife, I figured you might be gay. A lot of people in Key West are.”

  I shook my head. “No, I'm not gay. I definitely like women.”

  She nodded in approval. “That's good to know. So this woman back there, you said she calls you when she needs a favor? What do you get in return?”

  I smiled. “I get to meet interesting people like you.”

  She laughed. “Good answer. So what kind of favor are you doing for her that brings you to Key West?”

  I wasn't sure how much I should tell her. So I kept it to the basics. “Her sister lives here. Runs a food truck. Sells hot dogs.”

  Kat looked surprised. “Her sister is the Wiener Girl?”

  “You've heard of her?”

  “Yeah, I know Wiener Girl. Everyone in Key West knows her. Her cart is parked in an alley in old town. Good location. She and I sometimes hang out. Funny, she never mentioned she had a sister.”

  It was also funny that Kat, whom I'd known for less than ten minutes, knew the person I was coming to Key West to help and also knew Buck. That probably wasn't a coincidence. Buck had probably put me together with Kat on purpose. I didn't ask her about this, but I would talk to Buck about it later on.

  “So yeah, Wiener Girl has a sister and I brought her down here so they could spend some time together.”

  Kat nodded. “This sister, I want to meet her. You'll have to introduce me.”

  I smiled. “I've already introduced you. Back in the motorhome. The woman who you thought was my wife. That's Wiener Girl's sister.”

  Kat shook her head. “See, that's where you're wrong. Neither you nor Buck introduced us. She was sitting on the couch talking on the phone and no one bothered to introduce her to me. What'd you say her name was?”

  “Lori. Her name's Lori.”

  Kat nodded but didn't reply. She was thinking about something. Whatever it was, she didn't share it with me.

  “So, your name is Walker? Like the Texas Ranger guy?”

  “Yeah. But I'm not like him.”

  “Walker your first name or last?”

  “Last.”

  “So what's your first name?”

  “John.”

  She thought for a moment then said, “John Walker. As in Johnnie Walker? Like the whiskey?”

  “Yeah, and I've heard jokes about it all my life. So just call me Walker, okay?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don't think so. I think I like John Boy better. That's what I'm going to call you. John Boy.”

  I didn't really care what she called me. I figured this would probably be the only time I saw her and the name she had for me wouldn't matter.

  “Okay John Boy. The road splits up ahead. Stay in the right lane.”

  “Sure thing, Katrina.”

  I thought it was funny, calling her Katrina, but apparently she didn't agree. She reached over and punched me in the arm. She hit pretty hard for a girl. When she saw me rub the spot with my free hand, she asked, “Think you'll be able to remember my name now?”

  “Yes, Kat, I think I will.”

  We'd gone about two blocks past where US1 turned right, and the sign on the side of the road had said we were in Key West. So far, I wasn't impressed. There were plenty of hotels and condos bunched up close together on both sides of the street, but nothing that suggested we were on an island.

  That changed as soon as we passed the Marriott Beachside Resort. The jumble of hotels and shops on our right was replaced by an expanse of open water with islands in the distance. Between the road and the water, a wide sidewalk lined with palm trees was packed with people on bikes and skates enjoying the view. It was what I was expecting to see in Key West.

  The further south we went, the more Key Westy it got, scooter and bike rentals, surf shops, fishing charters and marinas; tourists, many of them like me, driving slowly, taking it all in. No one seemed to be in much of hurry, just enjoying the good life in Key West.

  We had just passed the turn to Dredgers Key when Kat put her hands on the dash and shouted, “Stop!”

  I hit the brakes hard. From behind, I heard a squeal of tires and an angry horn. I was stopped in the right lane; traffic was piling up behind me. I needed to get out of the r
oad before we were rear ended. Kat was looking back over her shoulder. “Did you see that?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “That little puppy back there. Being chased by a chicken.”

  I laughed. “No, I didn't see a puppy being chased by a chicken. I was keeping my eyes on the road trying not to get hit. We need to get moving.”

  “No, we need to save the puppy. Pull over, I'm getting out.”

  Just ahead, on our right, there was a driveway under a sign that read, “Ibis Bay Waterfront Resort.” Smaller letters below it said, “Nude fish appearing daily.”

  I wasn't sure what the smaller sign meant, probably some kind of Key West humor. I didn't get it. Maybe it was something locals understood. It didn't matter; I pulled in under the sign. I'd barely gotten the car stopped when Kat opened the door and jumped out. I watched as she ran up the sidewalk and disappeared into a hedgerow.

  Almost immediately, a large, red rooster ran out, feathers flying. It headed down the sidewalk, away from where I was parked. A minute later, Kat stepped out of the hedge carrying what looked like a possum sized, long-haired rat.

  When she walked up to the car, her face was red and she had grass stains on her shirt. But she was smiling. She said, “Look what I got.”

  Shivering and clinging to her T-shirt, a small puppy. Wet and muddy, it's formerly curly, white hair was matted against its body. Deep blue eyes peeked out from under the fringe.

  Kat held the puppy tightly as she got in the car. “That rooster was chasing it, pecking at its back. I was afraid it was going to run out into the street and get hit. Someone had to save it.”

  “What about the rooster?” I asked. “You going to rescue it too?”

  She looked up from the puppy with a flash of anger in her eyes. She stared at me for a moment then smiled.

  “You don't know me, so I'll let that go. But in the future, you need to be real careful about what you say to me. The wrong thing could get you into real trouble. Right now you need to be happy that I rescued the puppy.”

  I remembered what Buck had said about staying on Kat's good side. Maybe this was why. Maybe she had a hot temper. Whatever the reason, I decided that being happy about her rescuing the puppy was a good idea.