Accidental Evil by Ike Hamill Page A

certain level of privacy. The staff were well-trained in discretion. “Thanks.” He gave the guy a wave to let him know it was okay for him to get lost.
    Kirk got back in his car and started to back down. The least that Brett or Bart could have done was let him continue up so he could turn around. It was fine. He didn’t meet anyone on the way back down.
    Brett or Bart was true to his word—there were a few golf carts parked near the lower lot. The parking spot was little more than a rough clearing sprinkled with gravel, but it served as overflow parking when the upper lot was full. And the golf cart would haul Kirk up around the back of the ninth hole so he could reach the network of paths.
    Kirk glanced around for prying eyes before he turned onto the path that skirted the woods. When he found the spot he was looking for, he locked the brakes and took the key. If anyone stumbled on his cart, they would probably assume that he was off in the woods heeding nature’s call. In a way, he was. There was no trail where he was going. He picked his way through the trees until he saw the yard he was looking for. Before he stepped out onto the grass, he paused the make sure his shirt was tucked in and his hair looked okay. He dug a mint out of his pocket. He caught his breath while working the mint into the deep corners of his mouth.
    He smiled when she stepped out onto her back deck.  
    “You should have called,” she said.
    His heart sank. Was she going to send him away?
    “I would have fixed you a drink if I’d known you were coming at happy hour,” she said.
    His smile brightened and he picked up his pace.
    “I need a drink when I’m not with you,” he said. “When I’m in your presence, you’re intoxicating enough.”
    He loved this phase, when they were still trying to impress each other with expressions of their adoration. She never called him corny, or frowned when he misused a word. Peg took him into her arms and then led him inside.

Chapter 11 : Polhemus

    [ Dinner ]
    P EG ’ S AFTERNOON VISITOR WAS unexpected, but not unwelcome. He had caught her in one of those in-between times. She had finished her afternoon chores and was still deliberating about what to do for dinner. The Girls had asked her over to sit on their deck and talk about nothing until the sun went down, but she had given them only a, “Maybe.” She liked to keep the Girls at arm’s length so they didn’t get too familiar. She knew what they really wanted, and they could look elsewhere. Yes, she was game for the occasional affair, but she would rather invite in the sweaty Kirk Hilliard than put up with their nonsense.
    At least Hilliard would do all the work and thank her for the opportunity. The Girls would expect the opposite.
    Peg smirked at herself. The whole thing was speculation. The Girls hadn’t propositioned her directly. She had extrapolated their intent from a perfectly nice invitation. Still, Peg didn’t have the energy to deal with a long conversation tonight. There was a reason she had moved to the woods and not into a community, and it wasn’t about the money. She liked privacy. The occasional visit from a man like Hilliard was pleasant, but it was nice to get rid of him.
    She moved the shade to the side and watched him walk through the woods. He paused to make sure nobody was coming before he continued to the golf course. He was cautious—that was good.  
    After her shower, Peg put on casual clothes and went to the kitchen. She poked through the cabinets, looking for something forgotten, and then perused the refrigerator. It was all the same old stuff that had been in there that morning. She didn’t have a magic refrigerator fairy filling up the shelves when she wasn’t looking. She leaned against the counter and sighed.  
    Through the sliding doors, the evening invited her out. She could light the mosquito candles, fix a drink, and slide into a peaceful meditation out on the back deck. Her stomach rumbled at her,