A Widow's Burden Ch. 5

A Widow's Burden Ch. 5 [part 5 of 6]
By: AsylumSeeker (jmars_111@yahoo.com)

A WIDOW'S BURDEN CH. 05 By AsylumSeeker

Just as Alice had predicted, Bradley parked his car out front about twenty minutes after noon. I was sitting on the swinging bench taking in the nice weather while reading through another couple of magazines pretending to take little notice of his arrival at the boarding house. But I noticed -- oh hell yeah, I noticed.

I may have pretended to be reading, but instead my mind was gradually sifting through all of the clues I'd learned to this point. I recalled quite clearly what the sheriff had told me about an outsider sticking out like a sore thumb, but seeing a boarder coming and going as scheduled, as neighbors were accustomed to seeing, a routine like that could make a guy practically invisible... even to the nosiest of neighbors.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, came into my mind as I considered the letter and pictures again. Maybe Fred hadn't knocked her up, could be he found out she was seeing more than just him, and when he discovered her cheating ways he skedaddled right out of there and more than halfway across the country.

But the letter made this possibility unlikely. That dame had poured out her heart and soul onto that piece of stationery. Dames were a specialty of mine and I could tell Charlotte loved Fred more than her own life. There was no way I could see her cheating on him any more than he had on her.

But a baby... that could shake a relationship to its very foundation, especially if this was something Fred hadn't planned on. Although when a guy was having his way with a dame the risk was always there like it or not, which got me to thinking about Alice. I'd been having a high time with her and was taking the very same risk.

This might explain why Fred ended up here of all places. If a jilted lover was trying to track down the man who had so cruelly abandoned her in her greatest time of need, she might not consider this place.

Since he worked the piers in a large coastal city it only stood to reason that after he skedaddled he'd end up in similar surroundings to ply the trade he knew. Maybe Fred really didn't want to be found and tried his best to lay low, which could account for his sudden appearance here.

But while escaping his responsibilities as a father he still couldn't completely let go of the love they shared, keeping the reminders I'd found of a past life he'd left long ago.

If Charlotte had given birth in 1912 that meant her kid would be, oh, right at about thirty years old. I had pegged Bradley in his early thirties, but I could have easily overestimated by a year or two, placing him at about the right age. Of course this was one hell of a long shot, but one still worth looking into all the same.

Grabbing my crutches I decided to take a walk to the small business district. First of all my stomach was grumbling with the stirrings of hunger, and I thought I just might drop by and visit with the sheriff for a few minutes after eating lunch out.

I wasn't about to travel all the way to San Francisco and back to look into my hunch but maybe he'd be agreeable to sending a telegram asking if the law on the other end of the line might. And, failing that, I could probably hire myself a private dick to do the legwork if necessary.

* * * * *

As it turned out I wasn't the only one hungry. The diner where I'd bought the sheriff a coffee was quite busy and there were no open tables. But when I saw him and he saw me, Gordon smiled and gestured for me to join him. It was beginning to look like things were going my way today.

"Are you on good terms with the San Francisco Police Department?" I asked after ordering the lunch special.

He looked at me thoughtfully before flashing a curious smile. "You big city slickers make me laugh. Trying to flesh out another far-fetched theory?"

"Maybe. Like I just asked..."

He leaned forward over an empty plate, placing his forearms on the table in front of him one over the other. "Can't say one way or the other, I've never had any reason to contact them before. Why, are you about to give me one?"

So I told him what I found out -- about Fred's past lover, Charlotte, the letter he'd saved, the pictures I'd stumbled across showing the dame was knocked up. And then my theory that he dropped her like a hot potato and came here to hide out, start life all over again.

"While it's all very interesting, especially as I'd never heard this story before, I just can't see how this is leading to any basis for an investigation. Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed with what you're finding, which is more than I had, but how does this add up to murder?"

"Bradley, the boarder," I revealed. "He had opportunity, takes every Wednesday afternoon off, but until now there was no motive. Only now I think I have one. There's a possibility he's the son of Fred's jilted lover. Do the math, it works out nicely."

The lawman nodded. "Yes, it seems everything works out nicely in that head of yours. So what information are you seeking from the San Francisco Police Department if I did decide to ask?"

"I'd like them to look into the birth records of Bradley, uh..." I trailed off, acting as if trying to recall his last name while I was actually on a fishing trip.

"Davidson," the lawman offered.

"Yeah, that's it, Bradley Davidson, born in 1912 to his mother, Charlotte Davidson."

The sheriff didn't appear to be convinced. "What if I do? Even if they confirm your suspicions that he's the son of Fred's jilted lover, there isn't any hard evidence linking him to the alleged murder. It would be sheer speculation at best."

I grinned, sensing I just might be able to convince him to make the request after all. "You get them to confirm his identity and I'll rattle his cage, get him talking."

The waitress arrived, delivering a burger on rye with a bottle of cola. I took a bite and chewed on the hot sandwich as the sheriff carefully mulled over my proposition. He wasn't a rash man, every action he took was carefully thought out. A guy could respect that. Rash could get a person in trouble, or worse.

"I won't do it, not for you," he finally decided, and my stomach sank. "But I will out of my great respect for Mrs. Kingsley. Could be days before I hear anything back, you know."

I nodded my understanding, feeling my energy returning. "I'll stay in town until you do."

He left, presumably to get busy fulfilling my request on the behalf of Mrs. Kingsley, but I think he was doing it because he knew it was worth checking out. He just didn't want to admit that a smart-assed big city slicker like me had gotten the better of him on his own turf.

I finished lunch, which quieted my stomach, and washed it down with the rest of the cola. Leaving enough dough on the table to cover the cost and a tip I got to my feet, pulled the crutches under my shoulders, and proceeded down the main street with no particular destination in mind.

When I passed by a small bookstore I decided to go inside. Seeing as how I was going to be here for a while longer it couldn't hurt to pick up something to read. I liked crime mysteries and found that section to peruse the available titles.

There was "The Corpse Steps Out", "The Wrong Murder", "The Right Murder", all with John J. Malone who was a tough guy just like me, written by Georgiana Ann Craig. Who could imagine a dame writing the role of a tough guy?

And then there were two by Elizabeth Daly, "Unexpected Night" and "Deadly Nightshade", which were also possibilities. What was with these dames? Maybe this was because tough guys like me had more important things to do than write.

But then one jumped right out at me. It was titled "The G-String Murders" and was written by Gypsy Rose Lee. The title by itself made me smile, so I looked closer. It appeared to be set in a burlesque theater where a detective was trying to solve murders where strippers were being found strangled to death with their own g-strings.

Now this was one only a dame could write, and I could respect this. It looked interesting and I was into dames so what the hell, I picked it up. It might help me pass the time.

I didn't want to consider the possibility that the answer, when we heard back, might shoot my theory all to hell, because I had nothing left to go on. There simply was no other direction in which to turn. This could only mean that I had to be onto something... right?

* * * * *

As I returned to the house I noticed Bradley's car was gone. Mounting the steps I located Alice in the kitchen chopping vegetables as she began supper preparations. She turned when I walked in, offering a warm, welcoming smile.

"I see that Bradley left," I remarked.

"Yes, he went upstairs shortly after you disappeared and a half hour later came bounding down the steps and out the front door, telling me he'd be back in time to eat," she shared. "He usually just sits and reads, so I thought it a little unusual.

"How about you? Where did you go running off to? Did you get any lunch?"

"Yes, I grabbed a burger in town and stopped by the bookstore," I related, holding the book up for her to see.

Upon reading the title her eyes rolled. "You're just a dirty old man with his mind in the gutter."

I couldn't help but widely grin. "Yes ma'm, and proud of it. I'll be on the porch. Give a shout if you need any help."

"What, with my g-string?" she playfully quipped.

* * * * *

And so for the rest of that day and all of the following Thursday all I could do was patiently wait. In the evenings I gathered around the living room radio with the others, listening to the latest Adventures of Thin Man and Amos and Andy, to name a few. During the day I read my book or took awkward walks as I mastered the crutches.

I tried my best not to give any more than brief attention to Bradley despite my growing suspicions. And Lillian, well, that dame still held a grudge against me for the way I'd side-stepped her that day at the mill, and I was more than happy to ignore her and be ignored in kind.

Just when it seemed Friday might not ever arrive, it did. I awoke to the sounds of heavy rains, bright flashes of lightning, followed by claps of thunder that shook the house.

A great day to stay inside, I thought to myself, and cuddle up with a sexy dame like Alice. Only I would find out at breakfast that this wasn't going to be allowed to happen. On account of the rain Mrs. Kingsley canceled her usual trip into the city.

As if this wasn't bad enough, the storm hung around through Saturday. It wasn't until mid-Sunday morning when the last of it passed over and the sun began to peek out from behind the heavy clouds.

I'd kept to the house for all that time. I finished reading my book, read through the magazines in the basement, listened to the radio... I did just about all I could think of to keep myself from going stir crazy.

Reminding me on Sunday afternoon that the week was up, I paid Mrs. K for another one, hoping that this wasn't going to be anything I'd have to repeat again. The sheriff had to get an answer back this week.

Sunday afternoon I returned the crutches to the basement as it appeared the leg sprain was all healed up. The stitches were still in me, but I'd take a knife and dig those out in another week or two after the long, dry scab was gone.

"Up for a game of gin rummy?" Bradley asked from out of the blue.

We'd had little contact beyond polite greetings, essentially acting up to this point like two ships passing in the night. I was wondering why he was turning friendly all of a sudden, but I saw no good reason not to.

Smiling warmly I answered, "Sure, sounds good."

Bradley smiled back. "Great. I'll run upstairs and get my cards, meet you at the dining room table."

Just as he started shuffling the deck Mrs. K and Alice returned from church services. I spied the old dame eyeing us suspiciously as she passed through to the kitchen.

"You're not gambling are you?" she inquired suspiciously. "Gambling's the devil's work and I won't tolerate it under my own roof."

Bradley offered her a disarming smile. Apparently he'd learned how to handle the old dame over the time he'd been staying there. "No, Mrs. K, we're not."

"Alright, I'm taking you two at your word."

Turning his attention back to me Bradley shared, "Me and Fred would play a few friendly hands of cards on Sunday afternoons. It was enjoyable just to sit here, talk about things, and try to best the other. I sure do miss those times."

I could see the real game Bradley was playing, and it had nothing to do with gin rummy. He must have known that I'd been sniffing around, so now he was trying to cast some doubt. The truth of the matter was, I still couldn't be sure if he had a motive, not until the sheriff got an answer back. So I had to take everything at face value until I knew more.

"You're right-handed," I observed as he dealt the cards.

"Yeah, why?" he responded... a little uneasily, I sensed.

"No reason, just noticed is all." It was best to keep him guessing.

As the game continued he kept the casual conversation going. "What's your story, Gerry? What brings you here? Obviously it's not a job."

We took turns picking up and discarding cards.

"I'm a small-town sheriff," I divulged, rattling off the Midwestern town and state. "Not much for traveling but had some vacation piling up, a friend suggested I see the country. Never figured I'd be run over and end up here. How about you? How long you been here for?"

Little did he know I was setting him up, offering him a chance to send me sniffing after a dead-end.

He picked and discarded before answering. "About four months I'd guess, give or take. Seen a few other boarders come and go. Had one that smoked in his room, got Mrs. Kingsley all kinds of upset. Finally Fred had to intervene, kicked him out, the man promised he'd get back at them. Seems Fred did it all on his own, but maybe not."

I could ask Mrs. K to confirm this but I figured Bradley was telling the truth, at least about the occurrence, because it was too easy to disprove. As for the hint at a possible motive, I wasn't buying any of it.

"Really?" I asked, feigning interest. "Got a name?"

"Frank, Frank... Fletcher, that's his name. Frank Fletcher. Go check him out."

I smirked at the rabbit-trail that was leading nowhere except away from Bradley, and just before he was planning on leaving. Drawing a card, discarding one, I laid down my hand. "Gin rummy."

"It appears lady luck is on your side," he spoke as he reeled in the cards to be shuffled once again. "It's fortunate for me we aren't gambling."

Yeah, except that we are, I thought, just not for dough. And I just won the jackpot.

* * * * *

After supper we gathered around the radio, and then I retired to my room. Growing suspicious of Bradley I checked the bottom dresser drawer and found the letter and pictures missing. My mind recalled Alice's report of his unusual behavior while I'd gone into town and now I knew what he'd been up to.

I straightened up and took a deep breath, thinking things through. Those items had served their purpose; they'd linked Fred to an illegitimate child, and by themselves proved nothing. But what was even more telling was that Bradley thought them important enough to steal -- and that spoke volumes.

It was time to rattle his cage, and I was just the guy to do it. All I needed to do was to wait for the right time.

* * * * *

I went down for breakfast on Monday morning, biding my time until the boarders left for their respective jobs. And shortly before it was time for Mrs. K to run off to the city I returned to my bed, revisiting my favorite passages from the book I'd earlier purchased, knowing I'd be having a visitor soon. I had intentionally left the door open.

"I'd knock," Alice announced, "but..."

I looked up to see the dame looking good in her simple thin white dress but glistening tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh Gerry," the dame suddenly gushed.

I was immediately concerned and started to get up. "What? Is everything -"

She ran forward, quickly positioning herself on top of me. Her lips silenced my words just as her warm, soft body was felt upon mine.

"I was so scared you'd leave me before we had a chance to be together," her voice desperately shared. She hugged me tightly. "I'm so glad you're still here!"

Go figure, a dame actually wanted a guy like me, and a beautiful one at that. She must have taken a moment to get ready because I could smell her freshly-applied perfume filling my nose as I breathed in the flowery scent.

I guessed she must have really been missing my companionship because it wasn't long before I felt a hand squeezing my package, encouraging its growth. And it responded although admittedly slowly, but at my age sex was no longer a quick conquest but rather an experience to be fully savored, like a fine French wine.... and it was time for me to pop this dame's cork.

She straightened up, her legs straddling my waist as she frantically pulled the dress up and off as if the garment was on fire and burning her skin. As it turned out it wasn't the dress that was on fire but rather her sleek, dark-skinned body that was hot to the touch. The bra was next, allowing me to enjoy the view of her glorious breasts and those large, swollen brown nipples unimpeded.

"Come on, Gerry," she whispered with frustration.

"What?" I asked with a quiet chuckle. "We've got, what, four hours of alone-time?"

Her brown eyes, with flecks of gold, met mine. "I need you now, baby. We'll take it slower next time, okay?"

Apparently I wasn't reacting quickly enough to suit her overriding need -- or maybe she remembered there were three boxes of Fred's clothes in the basement that fit well enough for me to wear -- when her fingers grabbed my shirt and ripped it open to expose my chest, sending buttons clattering across the wood floor.

Suddenly feeling a little nervous that in her haste she might try the same with Fred's pants and grab something else by accident, I reached down and made a point of demonstrating equal enthusiasm to expose the best part of me. The motion appeared to appease her for the moment.

Alice changed positions, coming to rest on her left side with her head at my crotch, her legs closed and pointing towards my head.

She requested, "Take my panties off."

As she went to work bringing life to my awakening cock with those soft fingers, lips, and wet tongue, I gripped the waistband of the last remaining item still on her body and tugged it down her shapely thighs, calves, and then off her bare feet. Next I separated her legs, widening them to expose what I hungered for most.

As my cock was responding to her stimulation, I kissed and lightly nibbled on her inner thighs, slowly working closer to her crotch. All the while my eyes were open, gazing upon the gorgeous view of the dark, tight curls flanking the puffy folds of her labia. I soon had her moaning as my oral ministrations stoked the fire in her loins.

No sooner had I achieved complete hardness than she was pulling her body away from my advancing mouth when I was just a couple of inches away from the final destination. In her haste the dame didn't realize I was about to teach her a lesson in pleasure but instead sat upright to straddle my erection.

Alice was on fire where it counted most, her hot pussy nearly singeing my cock as she settled down atop it. Her vibrating hips and pelvis anxiously worked me deep and began riding the best part of me with the best part of her.

I groaned my delight, arms reaching out, hands gripping her slender waist. My hips thrust upward to grind my crotch against hers to multiply the pleasure. Alice responded in kind before rising back up, her canal tugging upward on the shaft before dropping back down. She was wet, really wet, and her nectar was soaking me.

"Oh baby, so good," she weakly cried out, her body shuddering.

I wasn't much on talk myself, what with being the strong, silent type and all. Not that I minded her whispered cries, those were good to hear. I kept giving her what she so obviously craved, cramming all I had into her sex. The dame responded, riding me faster and harder, apparently desperate to climax.

It didn't take her long at all. Must have been she was anticipating this, as if Mrs. K's surprising decision not to go into the city on Friday had really left her hanging. This was all fine and good as far as I was concerned. It helped my ego a bit to think I was still this good at my age at pleasing dames, especially the younger ones.

I sure was glad we had the whole place to ourselves because Alice didn't hold anything back. Lifting and lowering her body at a frantic pace had the bed loudly squeaking, and her loud, high-pitched cries echoed through the house. Her body teetered on the verge for a few moments before reaching climax.

Her body clenched tightly as the orgasm took hold. Her already tight pussy wrapped even harder around my erection, the walls squeezing as her frenzied movements continued, this time her body wildly convulsing at the same time. It felt like she was melting around my driving cock.

By the time her spasms of ecstasy dissipated, my ears were ringing from all the noise she'd been making. With her initial need satisfied I slowed things down, teaching this dame the virtue of patience.

Instead of a thoroughbred charging across a field at full speed, which was how she'd been riding me, now I slowed to a gallop. It was pleasant having full use of my bad leg again. Rocking my feet from the soles to the heels, rhythmically thrusting my cock in and out of her pussy with my hands on her shoulders pulling her down against me, we intimately enjoyed one another.

Twice more her beautiful body stiffened in orgasm, and feeling her enjoying the third finally tamed my wild streak. As her quivering pussy clenched around my cock I gave in to the building sensations of tingling delight, allowing her sex to drain mine.

I softly grunted with each ejaculation, silently hoping this wouldn't result in an illegitimate child. I wasn't planning on living forever, but I sure didn't want to take one in the head like poor old Fred had.