Unusual Circumstances

Kaylin backed the SUV out of the driveway and wondered if she’d made a mistake by accepting the adorable little cutie with the unique and exotic name. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. “You idiot,” she muttered to herself. She’d been through the bullshit that relationships brought three times, and that was three times too many. This was why she had chosen to remain single for nearly two years now, preferring nothing more than casual encounters. It wasn’t that she slept around a lot or didn’t care who she was having sex with. She did. In fact, she was so picky that her one-night stands only amounted to about one every two or three months. She made sure to bed down with women who weren’t that good-looking. Not ugly dogs, but just average-looking. The more attractive they were, the harder it was to let go in the morning. She also tried not to talk too much. Conversation could lead to attachment as well. Nonetheless, she couldn’t have Mayani. Not even just for fun. After all, Mayani was now her client. Besides, she knew that if she dared get close to the girl for even a second, she’d never be able to pull away. Therefore, she had to keep up her tough exterior no matter what and keep in mind that she had hardened her heart for a reason—a reason that protected her from trouble. She didn’t like the idea of turning Mayani off, should she be her type to begin with, but she didn’t have much of a choice other than to get rid of the girl, whom she probably shouldn’t have accepted in the first place. Two hours later, Kaylin entered the house through the garage. “How’d the meeting go?” Tanya asked her. “As they usually do,” Kaylin replied. After a bit of small talk, Tanya wished Mayani luck and was off. Now it was just her and Kaylin. Kaylin closed the front door and turned to face Mayani. Mayani tried not to let the trembling she felt in her legs show as she noted Kaylin’s expression. The detective seemed almost overwhelmed at the sight of her. “Okay, first things first,” Kaylin said, walking over to Mayani. “Gather up your stuff and follow me.” Wordlessly, Mayani did as she was told and followed Kaylin down the hall. When they got to the first bedroom, which was small and located at the front of the house, Kaylin said, “This room is strictly off-limits to you. Understand?” Mayani nodded, assuming it was some type of office. Then Kaylin turned to the room in the back left corner of the house, which Mayani assumed was the master bedroom, and told her that that room was off-limits as well. “If you should need me at a time I’m in one of these rooms, you be sure to knock first,” Kaylin instructed. “Okay,” said Mayani. Mayani was led into the room with the door that was straight at the end of the hall. It faced both the front and the side of the house. It was a fairly good-sized room—bigger than Kaylin’s office, but smaller than the master bedroom, from what little she’d seen of them. It had a full-sized bed against the exterior wall opposite the door. A small nightstand sat beside it. A table with shelves above it adorned the wall that divided the room from the master bedroom. The closet was on the wall near Kaylin’s office. The room had two windows. One looked out onto the street. To the right of this window was a tall five-drawer dresser, and to the right of that was a chair. The other window was between the nightstand and the table, looking out toward the side. Mayani could see the garage of the neighboring house approximately sixty feet away. “What a nice room. Has anyone been using it?” Mayani asked curiously. “No, it’s a guest room for when my family comes into town.” “Would it be okay to use the dresser and closet, and even pull the chair up to the table when I’m working?” “Yeah, just let me make sure all is clear first.” Kaylin inspected the closet as well as the insides of the drawers. “There’s some empty luggage in the closet, so you’ll just have to work around it,” she said a moment later. “No problem,” Mayani said. “Good, because if you think you’re bringing all your stuff over here, you can forget it. Only what you absolutely need is to be brought over. Is this all you’ve got for now?” Kaylin asked, referring to the manila folder Mayani held. “This is it. It’s just legal papers.” Kaylin motioned for her to hand them over, and she did. After a quick glance, she gave the folder back. “Okay, look. I’m kind of hungry and it’s just about lunchtime. I’m going to grab a bite to eat, and you can have whatever you want until I can take you grocery shopping, which will be tomorrow. After we’ve eaten, we’ll go to your place for some things you’ll need, but it must be necessities only.” “Okay.” “You’re not on any medications, right?” “Right,” Mayani answered. “The county normally issues food and necessity checks to those who qualify for them, but since you’re self-employed and can work from here, you’re not eligible for those. Do you have a bank account somewhere?” “Yes, I do. What am I required to pay you in rent?” “Nothing, but you will be required to pay for any long-distance phone calls you make.” “Oh, that won’t be necessary. I have my own cell phone.” “Then just pay for your food and your phone and stay out of trouble.” “Am I to clean the house, do laundry, and prepare meals?” Kaylin looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “No, just worry about your own laundry and meals. Meanwhile, if you want to give the place a weekly cleaning—minus the other bedrooms—fine. And make it on a weekday if you’re going to do it. If not, just keep your room clean at all times.” “I’ll do it every Friday. That’s when I clean Nana’s house.” “You have your own room there?” Kaylin asked as she led Mayani into the kitchen. “Yes. It’s a very small two-bedroom that we rent over on Bell Road. It’s kind of old, but it suits Nana well because she can’t climb stairs or get around too well.” “Is she mentally sound?” “Oh yes,” Mayani assured her. “She’s a worrywart, but she’s fully aware of what’s going on around her for someone who’s ninety years old. She doesn’t do much other than watch TV, but that’s about all she can do.” “What happened to your parents, Mayani?” “They’re dead.” “No siblings or other relatives?” “No, not even any close friends. Nana and I have only been in Phoenix for a year. Her best friend, Lydia, persuaded us to move out here from New London, Connecticut. She’s been here for centuries.” “Oh, shit,” Kaylin suddenly said. “What?” asked Mayani. “You can’t get online from here unless you hook up to the network on my computer, and I don’t like that idea at all.” “I don’t need to. I have a wireless connection. All I need to do is be where my internet provider has hotspots, and being in a big city like Phoenix, that’s just about everywhere.” “Well, lucky for you then,” Kaylin said. “You sound like you’re from the South.” “That’s none of your concern where I’m from.” Mayani stilled. She wasn’t used to such sudden and abrupt coldness. She watched as Kaylin pulled the fixings for a sandwich from the refrigerator. A moment later, she glanced at her and said, “Well, have something.” “No, thanks,” Mayani said gloomily, pulling out a chair and taking a seat at the table. “Mayani, I don’t want any ill, weak, or starving people in my house. At least have some fruit juice or something.” Mayani stood back up and opened the refrigerator. She decided on a glass of orange-peach-mango juice. “The glasses are in the cupboard above the dishwasher,” Kaylin told her. Without a word, Mayani took a glass, poured her drink, and took it to the table. A moment later, Kaylin sat down next to her with her sandwich and a glass of soda. They ate and drank in silence. Mayani tried not to stare at the heavenly vision sitting beside her. She wondered how someone so lovely could be so impersonal and such a hard-ass. She also wondered if things would really work out or if Kaylin would only get sick of her and toss her back in jail. Maybe she’d even get pissed off at her for some reason and set her up. After all, who’s to say anyone would believe her if Kaylin decided to claim she’d tried to kill her in her sleep or something like that? It would simply be her word against Kaylin’s. Poochie came in from outdoors and went immediately to Mayani. “Hey, boy,” said Kaylin, “don’t be a pest.” Mayani patted the dog’s head. “Getting too hot out there for you?” As if to prove that it wasn’t, the dog took a few bites of dry dog food from a nearby bowl, washed it down with a few gulps of water, then headed back outside. Mayani had finished her drink, and Kaylin was almost done with her sandwich. “Why me?” Mayani dared ask. Kaylin glanced warily at her. “Why you what?” God, she looks as mean as she does beautiful.“Why did you decide to take me in?” Kaylin shrugged. “I guess I just figured the department would appreciate it if I said yes at least once.” “Oh, so I’m to get the department to appreciate you?” Mayani said sarcastically. Kaylin shot her a murderous look. “Just kidding,” Mayani said quickly. Kaylin finished her sandwich and brought her glass to the sink. “Let’s go,” she said. Mayani rose and placed her glass in the sink as well. “I don’t care if you wash my dishes or not, but you need to wash anything that you yourself use each night before you turn in.” “Yes, ma’am.” Mayani followed Kaylin into the warm, arid garage and got into the SUV. Once their seatbelts were on, Mayani said, “This is nice.” “Thank you,” Kaylin replied without emotion, opening the garage door with the remote. “Where on Bell Road is your house?” Mayani told her and did not speak again until they turned onto her street just a few minutes later. “It’s the light blue house on your side, next to the yellow house.” Kaylin pulled into the driveway, and they exited the vehicle. An old mid-size sedan was parked in the carport. They approached the front door, and Mayani rang the doorbell. “It may take Nana a minute to get to the door.” Kaylin gave a quick nod, though she remained quiet. A shuffling sound could now be heard behind the door. “Who is it?” “It’s me, Nana.”