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  “Catarina’s father is giving us, as an engagement present, a rather large sum of money, which we would like to deposit in Timberline Bank.”

  I saw avarice light up Mack’s eyes. “How much money?”

  “Ten million dollars.”

  Mack gulped. “Please, Mr. Hobson—and Miss Valdez—let’s go to my office. We’ll be more comfortable there. Would either of you like a cup of coffee?”

  “Yes, thank you. That would be very nice,” Cat answered sweetly.

  After his secretary brought Styrofoam cups of stale, muddy, lukewarm coffee in on a silver tray, Mack proceeded to explain the various types of accounts offered by the bank. Regular checking, interest-bearing checking, passbook savings, certificates of deposit, and so on.

  “Which type of account would you like?” he asked.

  “We’ll put most of the money in CDs, since they pay the highest rate of interest. Does that meet with your approval, Cat?”

  Cat nodded. “Whatever you say, Alfredo. You always know best.”

  “And the balance of the money?” Mack probed inquisitively.

  “We’ll put two million—perhaps a tad more—in a regular checking account. There’s just one thing, though …”

  An eyebrow shot up. “Oh, and what’s that?”

  “Cat and I have been negotiating to purchase a large estate near Victorville. The owner—a widower—is a strange old curmudgeon who’s very leery of financial institutions. Apparently, his parents were burned badly back in the Crash of ’29. He told us if we buy the property we’ll have to pay him in cash.

  “We’re very close to finalizing the transaction. I realize a small bank such as yours doesn’t normally have a large amount of currency on hand. But, if we’re to place our accounts here, we must insist you obtain two million dollars from the Federal Reserve Bank and keep it in your vault, so we can withdraw the money on a moment’s notice. We wouldn’t like to lose the deal because we couldn’t comply with the seller’s idiosyncratic demands.”

  Mack looked worried. “I don’t know. That’s an awful lot of cash to have lying around. If we were to be robbed …”

  I stood as if to leave. “I understand completely, Mr. Mack. I was hoping you would be able to accommodate us. But, if your bank’s too small, we can always go to one of the larger institutions down in San Bernardino.”

  “No, wait,” he pleaded. “Sit down. I’d like to assure you Timberline Bank and I value your business. All of it. The other eight million—it will be staying in time deposits, won’t it?”

  “Yes, of course. For at least a year,” I assured him.

  “Then I shall get the currency and keep it in our vault for you,” the banker stated determinately.

  “All in hundreds.”

  “Yes. All in hundreds.”

  “Good. I’ll tell Catarina’s father to wire-transfer the ten million immediately. The money will come from a bank in The Bahamas.”

  Mack rubbed his hands in glee. “I’ll be looking forward to receiving it.”

  “One other thing, Mr. Mack …”

  “Call me Thomas, please.”

  “All right, Thomas. Obviously, this matter must be handled in strict confidence. There’s no need for anyone to know why you’re going to keep two million dollars in your vault, is there?”

  Mack gave me a big wink. He knew what I was getting at. “No, Mr. Hobson, no one will know until the money is actually withdrawn. At that time, of course, I will have to file a report with the I.R.S. That’s the law.”

  “We would never ask you to do anything that wasn’t one hundred percent legal. We don’t want to telegraph our intentions to withdraw the money in cash, though. For our protection, as well as yours. You do understand, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I most certainly do,” he agreed. “The cash will be in my vault within twenty-four hours after I’ve received the wire transfer.”

  Seventeen

  A Close Call

  SOONER OR LATER, it was bound to happen. And it did. Heidi Hazelhorst’s innuendoes and overtures mushroomed into a direct sexual confrontation. She had me cornered. Literally. And, I almost let her have her way with me. Let me explain.

  The supply room at Timberline College is located in the rear of the administration building. It’s shaped like a large letter L, with no windows and the only entrance at the end of the longer dimension. A four-foot-wide walkway down the center is flanked on both sides with heavy-gauge steel shelving, three feet wide and floor to ceiling high.

  For convenience, supplies required regularly and thus restocked often are kept near the front. Discontinued textbooks, cardboard transfer files of old records, and other items infrequently accessed are stored farther back.

  The file I was seeking that particular afternoon was around the elbow of the L, at the very end of the narrow passage. Not finding sufficient space on the shelves—or perhaps too lazy to do the job right—someone had stacked a dozen heavy cartons of books in the aisle, leaving a scant fifteen or sixteen inches to squeeze through into an area about four feet square.

  I was squatting down, deep in concentration, poring through file folders, trying to keep my brand-new navy blue slacks from being smudged by the thick layer of dust that abounded, when I sensed someone hovering over me, watching. It felt like laser beams concentrated on the back of my head. I turned around and glanced up, to find Heidi Hazelhorst staring intently. She was standing between the stack of cartons and the shelves, effectively blocking my exit should I try to escape. I was trapped.

  “Hello, Hobson,” she greeted, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “We’ve got to quit meeting like this.” The tip of Heidi’s tongue circled her lips lasciviously, first moistening the upper lip and then the lower.

  “How long have you been standing there spying on me, Hazelhorst?” I demanded, somewhat gruffly.

  “Long enough to see you smoke a cigarette and hide the butt in your pocket,” she smirked. “I thought you’d quit the nasty habit, Hobson.”

  Damn. I’d almost completely stopped smoking, at least when I was around Catarina. I’d had only one cigarette in three days—the one I’d just snuffed out. I’d slipped up and Hazelhorst busted me. Not only did she know I hadn’t entirely quit the habit, but, worse yet, she’d caught me smoking on campus.

  But, so what? I’d already been fired. What more could the school administrators do—hang me at sunrise?

  Suddenly, the room seemed uncomfortably warm. Without thinking, I loosened my tie. As if of the same mind, Hazelhorst unfastened the top three buttons of her blouse, revealing a lacy black bra. I had never noticed before, but, for an otherwise scrawny woman, her breasts were quite large and shapely, with exceptionally prominent nipples.

  “Everybody’s gone home for the day. We’re the only ones left in the building,” she hinted seductively. I pretended I didn’t comprehend her thinly-veiled Machiavellian message.

  “I’ll be out of here in a minute. Then you can lock up.”

  “Oh, there’s no hurry,” Heidi shrugged. “Take all the time you need. I’ve got all night. Besides, I’ve already locked up the front. We won’t be interrupted.”

  When Heidi made no effort to move I knew I was in trouble. I went back to my task. If I couldn’t find the file I needed in another minute or two, I’d pretend I did and tell her I was ready to leave. To my utter amazement, she reached into her pocket, removed a thin gold case, took out a marijuana cigarette, and lit up. I didn’t know the broad even chewed gum.

  “Nice buns.”

  The words shot through me like a jolt from a defibrillator. I wasn’t sure I’d heard right. “What did you say?”

  “I said you’ve got nice buns,” Heidi repeated, blowing a thick cloud of smoke in my direction. “You’re lookin’ good these days, Hobson. Real good. Chile peppers must agree with you. You’ve become quite a hottie. Even some of the co-eds are lusting for you. But, remember, I saw you first.” She wagged an index finger to emphasize her statement.

  I
was starting to get a contact high. “Uh, Heidi, let’s get something straight …”

  “That’s exactly what I have in mind,” she grinned. Heidi excelled at sexually seductive banter and I was completely at a loss for words.

  She was toying with me, no doubt about it. The cat had the mouse in a corner. She raised one foot and rested it on the second shelf, her slit skirt exposing three feet of lanky leg and flabby thigh.

  Heidi proffered the joint. “Take a hit, Hobson. Maybe it’ll mellow you out.”

  I shook my head no, but the second-hand smoke was dulling my senses. Hazelhorst was starting to look good to me. A little too good. Sexually aggressive women turn me on, especially if they have big boobs, and I could feel myself becoming aroused. From the way Heidi kept staring at my crotch, it was obvious she was well aware of the physiological effect her brazen overtures were having.

  If it were not for Cat, I might have succumbed to Heidi’s proposal. As it says in the Bible, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” But, I was completely in love with Cat and did not want to cheat on her—especially with Heidi Hazelhorst.

  I knew I’d have to get away from Heidi soon or it would be too late. My willpower was fading fast. “You know how I feel about you, Hobson,” Heidi coaxed, leaning a little closer. She brushed a speck of lint from my shirt. “And I know you’ll soon be leaving this rinky-dink college and moving away. Why don’t you take me with you? Why don’t you just take me now? Right here?”

  I figured she was really stoned, otherwise her advances would have been more subtle. I felt as if she’d just hit me over the head with a two by four. Her blatant aggressiveness not only captured my full attention, it served to cool me off a bit. I’d have to think of something quick, to cool Heidi down, too. But, what?

  “Heidi, you know I’m engaged,” I said feebly. Maybe that would work.

  “Oh, yes. To your little hot tamale. So what? What’s she got to do with us? I’m not a dried-up old maid, Hobson. I’m a very sensual woman, full of indescribable erotic hungers and cravings. My lusts never end. And, you’re the one I want to fulfill my fantasies, Hobson.” She pouted. “What’ve you got to lose? I’ve never heard any man complain about having too much sex.”

  I had to admit Heidi was making a tryst sound damn good. If I thought one time would satisfy her, I might have been inclined to submit to her seduction. But I knew full well that would not be the case. I’d be like the potato chip in the TV commercial. Once we’d had sex, she would be insatiable, and I would be at her mercy. I knew, without any doubt, Hazelhorst would blackmail me to keep our affair going, and she would make sure Catarina found out about it, sooner rather than later. No. No matter how much I was tempted, I couldn’t take the chance.

  Heidi had stepped up onto a carton of books and was towering over me. She leaned over, placing her hands on my shoulders. Her body began swaying back and forth, her huge hot breasts brushing against my face mercilessly. If she lost her balance we both would have crashed to the floor, with her on top. I suspected that was her goal.

  “If you really want to know what it’s all about, Alfie, I can teach you a thing or two about raw passion—California style.” For a moment I thought she was going to break out in song. She was really starting to scare me.

  “Heidi, this isn’t right,” I admonished. “You shouldn’t be saying such things. Please, let’s get out of here and I’ll forget this conversation ever took place.”

  Her mood changed to one of irritation. “Look, Hobson. I’m not asking for a long-term commitment or anything like that. Just a little action. I’m really hot to trot today. Show me what you’re made of. Your chica will never know. No one will, except us. You’ve got me so damned horny! Don’t make me go crazy on you. If you don’t do it with me here and now, I’ll run out of here screaming and tell everyone you tried to rape me.”

  Heidi had already said everyone else had gone home for the day and the front was locked up. Still, when she began removing her clothes I started to panic. The libidinous thoughts that had been brewing in the back of my mind suddenly evaporated. Completely. I seriously contemplated knocking her out of the way and making a dash for the door. But—desperation sometimes breeds inspiration.

  I lifted her off the carton she’d been standing on, put my arms around her, and kissed her passionately—tongue and all. “Hazelhorst, you know I want to make it with you,” I murmured sensuously.

  “It’s okay, Hobson. You can call me Heidi.”

  “Thanks. Hazelhorst, I’ve desired you for a long time, but I’ve been afraid to say anything. I thought you’d report me to the dean for sexual harassment. I had absolutely no idea you had any feelings for me. Thank you for letting me know you want me, too.” I kissed her again, and copped a feel of her ample breasts.

  “Oh, Hobson! Take me, take me now!”

  “Whatever you say, Heidi.” One more kiss, for good measure.

  Then, as if I’d just remembered something, I backed away from her. Quickly. As far as I could in the confined space. “Oh, no. I can’t do this,” I said, shaking my head. “I just can’t do it.”

  “Yes, you can! Dammit! Yes … you …can!” Heidi countered.

  There was extreme sadness in my voice. “No, Heidi, I can’t. We can’t make love. Not now. Not ever. It wouldn’t be right for me to take advantage of you. Not like this. I couldn’t do that to Luther.”

  Heidi’s countenance twisted in perplexity. “Dean Martin? What the hell does that dork have to do with anything?”

  I stood straight and tall to make sure she could see my jaw drop and my eyes grow wide. “You’ve gotta be kidding. He’s got the hots for you, Heidi. He really does. Surely, you must know.”

  “What … what do you mean?” Incredulity was written all over her face.

  I was starting to warm up pretty good. Perhaps it was the effect of the second-hand marijuana smoke. “Just the other day the dean was telling me—no, confessing would be a better word—how much he lusted for you. How seeing you every day, working together, so near and yet so far, was driving him stark raving mad.”

  I acquired a concerned look. “But, the poor man’s incredibly shy, Heidi. He doesn’t know how to approach a sexy, sensuous woman such as you, much as he’d like to make it with you. He spends half the day sitting in his office fantasizing, and it’s all about you. He told me—but no, I can’t reveal his innermost secrets …”

  “Yes, you can! Go on, Hobson. I want to hear about Luther’s fantasies.”

  “Promise you’ll never tell him how you found out …”

  “Mum’s the word.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes, damn it, I promise!”

  “Okay. Here’s the 411. Dean Martin is a tiger when it comes to dealing with students and faculty, but with women he’s very submissive. What he wants is a dominatrix.”

  “A dominatrix?”

  “Yes. Luther’s into S and M and bondage. You know what I mean, don’t you?” I suggested slyly, giving her a big wink.

  Heidi nodded. I could almost see her mouth watering.

  “He’d like you to sneak into his office, lock the door so no one can come in …” I let my voice trail off.

  Heidi’s hips were involuntarily writhing back and forth and one hand was inside her blouse, stroking her breasts. “Don’t stop. Go on, Hobson. Tell me more!”

  I think I must have become hoisted by my own petard about then. I lowered my voice conspiratorially and continued in an earthy whisper. “Then, you’ll lasso him and tie him to his chair. He’ll pretend to protest, of course, but you’ll cover his mouth with duct tape so he can’t cry out.”

  Heidi was breathing heavily. She hung onto every word I said.

  “You’ll have your way with him, demeaning him, punishing him, forcing him to fulfill all of your erotic, carnal needs. Especially oral. Luther is a very oral man. Can you envision anything in particular you’d like him to do to you?”

  “Yes! Yes! Oh God, YES!”
r />   I’m not sure, but I think at that point Heidi might have had an orgasm. The woman’s sexuality had obviously been pent up far too long.

  “I can’t fulfill your needs, Heidi—as much as I want to. Dean Martin’s the right man for you.”

  “When I think of all the years I’ve wasted … and Luther was right under my nose, all the time. Thank you, Hobson, for telling me about him. I’ve been too close to the forest to see the trees.”

  “That’s usually the case, Heidi,” I agreed. “But it’s not too late to make up for lost time. Just remember, this is the first day of the rest of your life.

  “I happen to know the dean doesn’t have any appointments tomorrow afternoon …”

  I MADE IT A POINT to pass by the dean’s office the next afternoon. His receptionist had her ear pressed to his door. With a degree of embarrassment, she straightened up as soon as she saw me.

  “Is there something wrong, Matilda?”

  “Well, uh, I’m not really sure. Heidi Hazelhorst is in with Dean Martin, and they’ve got the door locked …”

  “Yes. Go on.”

  “I can hear strange noises coming from inside. Almost like they’re having a scuffle of some sort. I can’t understand what they’re saying. Their conversation sounds labored, more like grunting and groaning. And, I can smell smoke. Do you think something’s on fire?”

  “If there was a fire of any consequence, the sprinklers and alarm would have gone off by now. I wouldn’t worry about the dean and Heidi. I’m sure they’ll buzz you if they need any help.”

  Her head bobbed up and down in agreement. “Yes, I suppose so. Still …”

  Matilda didn’t have a reputation for being a prude. Just the opposite. According to campus rumor, she was easy. I whispered in her ear, not mincing any words.

  “Oh, Professor Hobson! Do you really think so?” she giggled.

  I nodded knowingly.

  TRANSFERRING TEN MILLION dollars from Mario Perez’s account in the Bahamian bank to my account in the Timberline State Bank was duck soup. The entire process took less than half an hour. Perhaps I’d missed my calling. I could have become a world class electronic thief if I’d wanted to, I thought proudly.