Keep Murphy distracted while Jack escapes

With Mr. Murphy busying himself at the workbench, Alex keeps his eyes peeled for Jack, wondering just how long he and Elaine are going to keep at it. Judging from the intensity of her voice, he guessed she was getting pretty close to hitting her peak, but he knew enough about her to realize that it would be a mistake to assume that this would mean that she would be done for the day.

After an interminable time of watching through the window and several close calls where he had to quickly lead Mr. Murphy’s attention away from the view of the house, Alex finally sees Jack stealthily emerge from the house and creep off into the nearby woods. He is carrying a parcel, presumably of his clothing and the items he retrieved from the workshop. His hair is plastered against his forehead with sweat, and he is breathing heavily, as if he has just finished a long-distance footrace. The smile on his face is anything but weary, however. With those glassy eyes and dopey grin, he couldn’t have more plainly conveyed what just happened if he had been wearing a shirt printed with the words, “I just bopped by ex-boss’s daughter.”

You look quickly at Mr. Murphy and confirm that he has remained oblivious to Jack’s presence and departure. You need not have worried. He is searching the area around his workbench with a furrowed forehead.

“Say, Alex.... Have you seen my rasp? It was fairly old, and it had a green handle.... I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”

Your eyes dart toward your boss. You couldn’t swear to it, but you’re fairly certain that he has just described one of the tools Jack retrieved from the shop — a tool that he insisted was his.

“Um... I don’t think I’ve seen it, Mr. Murphy. Is it something you recently acquired?”

“No... I’ve had it forever. In fact, it once belonged to my father. I usually keep it right here, next to my —“ He stops in mid-sentence and stoops down to look under the bench. “Well, for crying out loud! Now I can’t find my level! Where the devil could I have put them?”

Alex gulps. He’s confident that the 18-inch level was one of the things Jack took. Had he just been scammed by a common thief?

Mr. Murphy stands and looks in all directions. “I must have put them down somewhere and gotten distracted. Come and help me look, will you?”

The two men spend the next several minutes carefully exploring every nook and cranny of the shop. Mr. Murphy is quite focused on the task, but Alex knows the search will reveal nothing. It does give him the opportunity, however, to wad up and tuck away the blanket that somehow ended up remaining on the floor, still bearing the tell-tale stains from last night’s encounter with Elaine.

As time passes, Alex grows increasingly pissed at Jack for taking advantage of him like that. Not only did he steal the tools, but he put Alex in the dreadful situation of having to cover for him with Mr. Murphy while he was taking liberties with Elaine!

He is so worked up about the matter that he doesn’t hear the shop door open and is unaware that anyone has entered until he hears her voice.

“I thought I’d bring you something to drink.”

Alex spins around and sees Elaine, carrying a tray with a pitcher and two cups.

“Elaine! What are you doing out of bed?” exclaims her father.

It is a testimony to the cluelessness of the craftsman that he asked the question that he did. As Alex knows, the more relevant question is what she was doing while she was in her bed.

He sees the confusion on her face, and before she can say anything, Alex interjects. “Your father and I have been quite worried about you, Elaine. I told him how you suddenly became ill, and we came out here to the shop to leave the doctor to care for you in your room.”

He moves his eyebrows up and down in what he hopes is a clear signal to the girl that he is trying to send her a message. Realization dawns on her expression, and she says, “Oh, yes! Well, I’m feeling much better now. It was just a headache.”

Her father takes the tray from her hands, sets it down, and takes her by the shoulders and examines her closely. “Headache? I thought it was a stomachache?”

Elaine looks to Alex for help.

“It sounds as if it was both. It’s a good thing we got the doctor here when we did.”

Elaine smiles broadly. “Oh, yes... The doctor was wonderful. He made everything feel so much better.”

Alex gulps nervously. No one would ever accuse Elaine of being understated in her acting.

“I’m going to go talk to the doctor,” says Mr. Murphy.

Thinking quickly, Alex says, “He has probably left already, hasn’t he Elaine?”

“Um... Yes... He apologized that it was a quick cum and go....”

Alex glares at her, silently willing her to stop with the double entendres.

She continues. “But Jack told me what I need to do in order to have a full recovery.”

“Jack?” Mr. Murphy looks sternly at his daughter. “Did you say ‘Jack’?”

Elaine’s mouth falls open, unsure of what to say. Alex jumps to the rescue.

“Uh, yes... He’s one of the new doctors in town... Dr. Jack...” He searches for a last name and blurts out the first thing that comes to mind. “Meoff. Dr. Jack Meoff.” Alex winces as he hears the words come out of his mouth. Elaine presses a hand over her mouth to disguise a giggle.

Mr. Murphy’s forehead wrinkles. “That’s a peculiar name. Must be a foreigner. I hope he knows what he is doing.”

“Oh, he was quite good, Father,” says Elaine. “He has the most skillful hands... And he’s a head specialist. They say that when it comes to medical expertise, Jack Meoff knows all about getting head.”

Alex feels as if he is the one who is going to need a doctor if this keeps up. He takes Elaine by the elbow and attempts to guide her to the door. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Elaine, but your father is right that you shouldn’t be out and about until you have fully recovered. Why don’t you go back to the house.... right now?”

Mr. Murphy nods his agreement. “That’s right, Elaine. Thank you for bringing us refreshments, but you really need to take care of yourself, first.”

With a bit of a pout on her face, Elaine takes a few steps toward the door before stopping and turning around. Her expression immediately puts Alex on guard.

“There is one thing Dr. Jack said, though.... He said that since Alex was already exposed to whatever bug I had, he is the one who should administer my treatments; there’s less risk of contagion that way.”

Alex shoots darts at the girl with his eyes, but Mr. Murphy ponders her words. “Really? Is that even proper? Alex has no medical training... And for a young man to do such things for a young lady? I’m not so sure...”

“Oh, Father!” exclaims Elaine, flashing wide, innocent eyes at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing improper about it, and it’s not a complex matter at all. Alex just needs to give me some injections.”

Alex feels his cheeks begin to burn as they turn a glowing reddish color. He grinds his teeth and clenches his fingers into fists. “What the fuck is that girl up to?” he wonders.

Mr. Murphy still seems to have some doubts, but when Elaine skips across the room and gives her father a hug, his worries seem to melt away. “Well, if that’s what the doctor ordered, then I guess it’s okay,” he says. At once, Alex understood why Elaine was able to get away with being the village slut; evidently she had Daddy wrapped around her little finger.

“How often do you need this treatment?” he asks.

“Dr. Jack said I should get an injection whenever I feel the symptoms coming on. In fact, I feel a bit feverish right now, now that you mention it. Alex, would you be a doll and come and give me what I need?”

Alex feels a lump in his throat. He stammers for a moment before saying, “Well, I need to help your father with finding some things, but...”

Mr. Murphy interjects. “I’ll take care of looking for those tools, Alex. I’m sure I just laid them down somewhere and they will turn up. You go and give my daughter what she wants.”

With that, he returns to his search of the shop, leaving Elaine to hold out her hand to Alex, saying with a meaningful wink, “That’s right, Alex.... Come and give me what I want.”

With his heart racing and his head spinning, Alex allows her to lead him out of the shop and back to the house.