Murder On The Mainline - S01 E11

Story 13 hours ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E11

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN
2ND WEDNESDAY

By eight twenty Mike arrives in the parking lot at CPX and parks by Len's old Pontiac. Len has the tractor under the pin at the dock and waves to him as he comes across the yard. "Good morning, sleepy head."

"Good morning, Lenny. Have you got the bills for that load yet?"

"They're just adding some more to it for Penticton. Should be out of here by nine."

"Seen Tony around this morning?"

"Not yet, but he should be in before long. A lot of the locals are in already." Just then the paging system rings out with a call for Mike Claymore to call the switchboard. Mike steps up on the dock to use the phone there. He dials zero and the girl on the board asks him to hold while she switches him to an outside call.

"Mike, you there?"

"Nina, what's up? Where are you?"

"On my way to work. I saw your car wasn't home this morning so I figured you must have a run. I stopped here in POCO at the drugstore to call you. What did you want yesterday when you called? Have you found out anything new?"

"Haven't you got my cell phone number?"

"Not with me. I seem to have misplaced it. Can you give it to me again?" He does.

"I was just trying to find out where Ray was being held so I could see him, but I found out through another source so I didn't bother you again. Has any more forensic reports come in yet?"

"Nothing yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open. Can we have lunch today?"

"Sorry, itty bitty pretty one. I'm off to the Okanagan and I won't be back until late tonight. I'm picking you up a crate of those apples, right?"

"Oh yes. Thanks very much. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow. Do you think so?"

"Maybe, but no promises. I'll see you with your apples sometime tomorrow anyway. Got to run now. You take care."

He hangs up and shakes his head. She is still hot and he's going to have to watch himself around her. He wonders how long this is going to last. Too bad they live so close by and Jeff is such a good friend, he thinks. It sure would be nice... He cuts the thought off in mid stride.

He goes up to dispatch and looks over the office copy of his bills. Not a lot for Penticton. They should have most of it loaded now. He goes back down into the warehouse but still doesn't see Tony. No time to talk to him now, anyway. They are just closing up his trailer and attaching the seal. Len has checked the loading and signs the bills. He says to Mike, "Well, are you all ready?"

"Let's hit the dusty trail, pardner."

They pull over to the pumps and fuel up for the run then pull out of the yard. Within three quarters of an hour they are rolling into Mission and Mike signals to turn for Abbotsford.

"How come your not going straight on out through Agassiz, Mike?"

"Forgot my briefcase this morning; haven't done that in a long time. Going to make a quick stop by the house."

It’s near ten thirty when he pulls around the corner and the condominium comes in sight. Mike hit’s the brakes and pulls to the curb. A car is sitting in his driveway and it’s not Marlene's. He studies it a moment and the truth dawns on him. It's Jeff's car. Len watches him and says, "Aren't you stopped at the wrong house? That's yours up there, isn't it?"

He has only been here one time so he isn't sure if he's right or not and Mike doesn't say anything. In a minute Jeff comes down the drive and gets into his car. He waves at the front window and pulls out into the street. He drives away and Mike puts the Kenworth in gear. He pulls back out into the street and pulls to the curb again in front of his place.

He goes up the drive and into the house through the side door. Marlene is in the kitchen in a bathrobe with a large wet spot on her backside. She turns and says, "Why Mike, I thought you'd be half way to the Okanagan by now. What's up?" She appears nervous.

Mike looks unconcerned as he says, "Forgot my briefcase." He dashes downstairs and brings it back up to the kitchen. "Was Jeff here? I thought I saw his car going up the street as I came around the corner."

"No, I haven't seen him. Maybe he was home picking something up... if it was him; funny time of day for him to be home, though."

Mike drops his case on the table and plants his hands on the counter, one on each side of Marlene. He proceeds to give her a long kiss. He says, "You seems nervous, my dear." He pulls the tie on her robe allowing it to fall open and reveal her nakedness. He moves in again and says, "Mmmmm, maybe I shouldn't rush off this morning, my most beautiful girl in Abbotsford." He kisses her again and draws her close so he can run his hand up between her legs. She’s coated and running, dripping even with thick slick fluid and her bush is soaking wet with lather. He draws back saying, "But then again, I suppose Len might get tired waiting for me. I guess I better go." He picks up his briefcase to leave.

She looks guiltily at him and says, "Go find your truckstop whores then and leave me in peace."

"Tsk tsk, my dear. The pot mustn't call the kettle black. See you tonight." He kisses her again to show her he still cares.

As they roll out of Abbotsford and onto the Trans Canada Highway he whistles a tune and thinks to himself, "Nina, baby, look out when I get back!"

They pull into Laidlaw and Mike stops to see Trudy. She brings them coffee and he asks if she can get away for half an hour. Her eyes light up and she says, "I'll try. Be right back."

When she returns it’s with a triumphant grin as she takes off her apron and comes around the counter. "We going to the sleeper?" She sounds excited. Mike asks Len to wait for half an hour and he says, "No problem," with a grin. Mike hustles her out of the restaurant to the truck and boosts her up into the cab. He follows her and she is already through the curtain. As he pushes it back he notices that she's half undressed.