With a yell, slim Tufted Tit swung gracefully on a rope, well-tufted armpits on clear display, before she executed a neat back flip to land with a splash near the center of the calmer, deeper water.
The roof belonged to a sprawling, single story building, part walled in, part covering an open concrete pad dotted with a variety of well-used looking equipment. Jay identified a potter’s wheel and kiln.
Metal, glass and stone sculptures, a couple of them moving with the light breeze, dotted the area. A mural of silhouetted dancers on a field of green backed by an orange and red sunset covered one wall. Beyond the covered patio, two vans – one older VW and a newer cargo – and a few cars could be seen. Their path was not the only way in to the hidden spot.
“Come on, join the fun.” Robin gave a shrill shriek at the voice behind them. Tom strode down the hill, ushered them into the clearing. He had a cloth bag slung over his shoulder.
“Everyone.” The old man’s voice carried and drew attention when he projected. A good talent for teacher, Jay thought. “This is Robin, our renowned riddler, and Jay T, the answer she craved.”
Robin blushed deeply at that last part. There was polite applause and a couple whoops of appreciation. Someone called out, “What was the answer?”
“Tell them, Jay.” Tom nudged him with an elbow.
“Blue-footed Boobies.” By the reactions, only two in the group got the joke.
Jay explained, first pointing to Robin’s feet. “Blue shoes.”
She raised one, displaying it so they could see. He pointed again, to near where the twin name tags had been asking their riddle. “Boobies. They’re a kind of seabird.”
“Oh!”
“Well done!”
“Never would have got that one.”
“And boobies are my specialty!”
“Ronnie! You be good.”
They all laughed as Tom directed the two to a narrow wooden bridge above the dam. Phoebe approached with a smile and two glasses. “Welcome. I’m Ruby. Would you like a drink.”
Jay choked. Robin covered for him. “Not yet, thank you. I need a dip.”
She kicked off the boat shoes, dropped her purse and ran, leaping out over the water, boobies bouncing high before she dropped in over her head. Jay followed, leaving his worn canvas All-Stars on. When he came up, shaking water from his eyes, Robin was treading water nearby, wet hair now a deeper red as it clung close to her face, making her skin ever fairer.
He paddled backward as she swam toward him until he felt his shoes hit the bottom. She continued closer until she could wrap her arms and legs around him, pulling their naked bodies together, and kissed him hard.
“Quick, somebody ask me a riddle!”
“Ronnie!”
——-
Refreshed by the swim, with glasses of iced tea before them, Tom pulled two bundles of clothes from his bag. He’d found Christine easily enough since what passed for his security crew had kept a close watch on the red riddler, her friends, and the swirl of attention she had attracted.
“I let her know you were safe and had a ride back to school whenever you were ready to go. Jay, I’ll call your father and let him know much the same. Vern’s truck wasn’t locked, and it’ll probably be towed. I doubt if he’ll be out to get it himself any time soon: you don’t punch a deputy sheriff, even if he isn’t wearing his badge.”