Following one of the many meandering tracks that go down to the water, I know the place to cross even with my eyes shut.It’s shallow enough for me to wade and isolated enough for me not to be observed.I have to do this in secret.
Listening and looking first is second nature to me now.Only when I am sure that I am alone do I lift my bike onto my shoulders and wade into the water.I’m sure the water is cold, but then again, so am I.
At the deepest point of the crossing, I hoist the bike in the air by holding a wheel in each hand.As my head sinks under the water, I use the brightness of the moon as a beacon to guide me.
Luna.She is as beautiful as the moon she’s named after.Maybe more so.With her luminous skin and sunset red hair, I imagine her creamy white thighs spreading open for me and I get hungry.
Luna Blackwood is a woman for all appetites.And I’m sure she’s really good at satisfying them, too.Part of me longs for her hands to brush against my skin again, but this time she would be doing it to please me and not just so she can hang onto the bike.
Reaching the banks of the creek, I wade ashore with my bike aloft.This is the most dangerous part of crossing over.Someone could have decided to pull over in their vehicle for any number of reasons.
To read their GPS, smoke a spliff, or make out in the backseat.
Breathing in the night air, I check before lowering the bike down.
I am alone.
Pushing the bike to the nearest road, I check the tires for creek debris before straddling the seat and pressing the ignition.Feels good to be able to rev the engine to my black heart’s content without upsetting any islanders.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m heading south to pay a visit to Mr.Bryant, the lawyer.There should be a motel along the highway where I can spend the day en route.
The hunt makes my blood hot.Minneapolis, I’m coming for you.It’s been years since I was Stateside.It’s much easier to do what I like to do in Canada.
What were you doing here in the States, Tempest?What were you looking for?
I’m about to find out.The motorcycle eats up the miles as I ride as fast as the engine allows.
Ducking into a biker bar with a pool table that is adjacent the freeway, I put my money down to play a game and make sure to lose by one pocket.Lose money and the winner becomes an instant friend.
“Good game, brother.”The biker offers to buy me a beer.
“Nah, I gotta bounce.Say, my burner’s out.Can you look up a name and address on your phone for me, my man?”
Turns out, there’s only one lawyer called Mr.Bryant in town.He’s a fancy-pants “estate planner attorney.”That tells me one thing: Tempest wanted her last will and testament to be taken seriously.Shit.
Memorizing the route from the guy’s GPS, I split before he can ask me for a rematch.A man can only pretend to lose once before it starts to make him look like a pussy.
No one wants to look like a pussy in a biker bar.
Bryant has one of those modern glass window first floor offices.It’s got CCTV on every corner.Lucky for me, my registration is fake.Kicking the stand forward, I get off the bike and casually walk to the door.
I pretend to be reading the office hours printed on the window while I check for witnesses.I’m in no mood for a black-and-white with a flashing roof light and sirens to follow me all the way back to the Lake of the Woods.
Cracking the handle, I push the door open.Five seconds later, I’ve gone through Bryant’s desk and found his home address printed on a padded courier envelope.
Another five seconds later, and I’m back on the bike, headed out.Pulling over at a bus stop, I nod to the shift worker standing under the shelter.
“Hey buddy, my phone’s flat.Please can you direct me to—” I repeat the address I memorized.
The shift worker whistles.“Ooh, you don’t want to go there, dude.It’s a high class neighborhood.Plenty of security and nervous gun owners.”
But he gives me directions sure enough.Minneapolis seems friendly so far.I guess Luna must fit in here.
Her ability to change from sunshine to stormy, and then back again, amuses me.
Time for me to pump every last scrap of information out of Bryant so I can get back to Landslide.
I have a burning desire to renew my acquaintance with Miss Blackwood…
