Purple Lightning

In response to the word-puzzle prompt, I’ve excerpted from and repurposed a chapter from one of my earlier novels, First, Do No Harm.

Jack Lambert called Sheila Forbes at home, fearful she’d be out, relieved when she picked up the phone.  Since opening the murder investigation, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts. 

“Ms. Forbes, it’s Detective Lambert, callin’ about the murder at your workplace.  I was hopin’ we could talk in person.”  He spoke quickly, afraid she might refuse.

After a pause, Forbes said, “Today?  I thought my statement was all you’d need.” 

“Yeah, but I was hopin’ to follow up on it.  Standard procedure, honest.”

“Am I in trouble?” Forbes asked. 

“No, no, not at all.  Fact is, you been helpful in describin’ what you witnessed.  I was jus’ hopin’ to get more background.”

“Well, I don’t have any new information.”  

“There is stuff happenin’, though,” Lambert said, anxious to impress.  He was off-duty, his wife was away for the weekend, and he badly wanted to see Forbes again.   “I can fill you in on the latest—this afternoon, if that suits you.” 

“Okay, I guess,” Forbes said.  “Give me a half-hour to get dressed.”

“No problem,” Lambert said.  “I’ll be on my bike, dressed for the road, so to speak.  My wife’s away with the car.”  He wanted her to know that last part.

“Your bike?”

“Motorcycle,” he said.  “I used to ride patrol, loved it, so I got me a bike soon as I could afford it.  Me an’ Trudie go out sometimes, but mostly it’s jus’ me.”  He kicked himself mentally for mentioning his wife again.

 “Omigod, I can’t believe you’re a biker!” Forbes exclaimed, an excited lift to her voice.  “I learned to ride when I was twelve.  My father owned a shop, and I rode every model going.”

“You’re kiddin’!” Lambert said, scarcely believing his good fortune.  “Mine’s an Electra Glide, done up nice in purple pearl.  I call ‘er Purple Lightning.”

“This is wonderful!” Forbes said.  “When you get here, I insist you take me for a ride.  I’ve still got my leathers, I think, so I’ll dig them out.”

Lambert had just brought the bike out of winter storage, and was looking forward to hitting the road.  And now, this gorgeous woman would be in the saddle with him.

He was waiting in front of her house when Forbes came out, the bike’s exhaust burbling powerfully.  She trotted over to where he sat—legs splayed, cowboy boots beneath blue jeans—holding the bike steady.  He knew he looked good in his fringed buckskin jacket, and wasn’t surprised when she stopped to size him up.  But it was the bike she cast an appraising eye over, not its rider.

“Purple Lightning, eh?” she said, grinning appreciatively.  “Nice ride!  Twin cam 88, four-stroke, sequential fuel injection, air-cooled.  Five-speed gearbox, triple discs front and back, cruise control.  You must be a purist.”

Lambert preened with pleasure.  “I ride for the excitement,” he said.  “The jazz, the power.”  He was impressed by her knowledge.

“Well, she’s a beauty!”

You, too, lady.  Even better’n I thought.

She was clad in black jeans, with a black leather jacket over a white blouse, her feet encased in shiny, black Wellingtons, perfect for riding.  Lambert enjoyed watching her zip up the jacket.

“Couldn’t squeeze into my leather leggings,” she said with a rueful laugh.  “Not as skinny as I used to be.”

“You look real fine,” Lambert said.  “You got a helmet?”

When she shook her head, he unfastened Trudie’s from its clasp behind the rear seat.  She took it gratefully, noting his wife’s name neatly stencilled across the back—a match for his, only his moniker was THOR. 

With practiced ease, she stepped on the footrest and swung her leg over the seat, settling in behind him.  “Let’s go!” she cried.  “I’m so excited about this.  You’re the answer to a girl’s prayer.”

You oughta hear my prayers, lady!

Lambert kept his speed under the limit as he headed for the highway.  He was a little disappointed that Forbes was sitting back in her seat, rather than forward against him.  After a few minutes, he heard her voice in his helmet speaker.

“You’re very smooth, Detective, a real pro.  And the bike runs like a dream.  Can we gun it up when we get to the highway?”

“Your wish is my command,” he replied.

On the access ramp, he cornered tightly, then opened the throttle as they burst on to the four-lane.  An eighteen-wheeler was several seconds ahead of them, and they shot past it with startling speed.  Lambert felt the woman lean into him, tightening her arms around his waist, tucking in behind his considerable bulk.

“Too fast?” he said.

“Faster!” she answered.  “I can take all you’ve got.”

Music to my ears, lady!

Twenty minutes north, he slowed for an exit ramp that led to the old highway, a meandering route that would take them back to town, but at a more leisurely pace.  He was in no hurry to end this ride.

“See that gas station just ahead?” Forbes said, pointing over his right shoulder.  “Pull in there for a minute.”

When they were stopped, she swung herself off, leaning tantalizingly on him as she did, gesturing for him to dismount, too.  Puzzled, he dropped the kickstand and clambered off.  He wasn’t as graceful as in his patrolman days, but he hoped she wouldn’t notice.

“Okay, you have to let me drive,” she said, looking up at him, hands on her hips. 

“Drive?” Lambert said, caught by surprise.  “Jeez, this is a powerful machine, Ms. Forbes.  I dunno if…”

“Detective,” she said, stepping close.  “You have to let me drive!  I was riding Hogs when I was twelve.  I know what I’m doing.  You’ll enjoy it!”

Lambert was caught.  He didn’t want to relinquish control of the bike, especially to a woman.  But he didn’t want to refuse, either, for fear of ruining the payoff he was hoping for later.

“If you want, you can stand here and watch me take her around the parking area,” she said.  “Then, if you don’t think I can handle it, I’ll accept your decision.”

“Naw, it’s fine,” Lambert said, realizing he didn’t want to be left in the parking lot if she took off.  And it would be good if she owed him a favour. 

Within moments, they were ready, positions reversed.  Perched nervously on the raised back seat, Lambert towered over her.  He tapped her twice on the helmet to indicate he was ready, trying not to look at his wife’s name on the back of it.  And off they went, smooth as cream.

Once on the road, Forbes got right into it.  She took the curves at a good clip, leaning left or right, banking expertly, braking and throttling efficiently.  It was obvious she hadn’t lied about her experience.

“Enjoying it back there?” she said in his earpiece.

“Real good,” he said, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.  “You’re a woman of many talents.”

She laughed at that, and he shifted closer, hunkering down as much as he could.  On impulse, he brushed his hands beneath her breasts through the leather jacket, but she didn’t falter.  The bike roared on and on, the forest on each side of the two-lane a blur, the dotted white lines flashing by too fast to count.

Fifteen minutes later, Forbes pulled off at a fruit-stand, closed for the season.  Coasting in behind it, she stopped, planted the kickstand firmly in the hard-packed soil.  Lambert was reluctant to let go, but he scrambled awkwardly off the bike, watched her practically vault from the saddle.  They shared a conspiratorial grin as they doffed their helmets.  As she peeled off her jacket, Lambert made no effort to look away.

“See,” she said, apparently unfazed by his ogling, “I said you’d enjoy it.”

“Yeah, it was good,” Lambert agreed.  “I’m jus’ not used to bein’ behind a woman, that’s all.  I’m usually in front.”

“Yeah, I like being in front, too,” Forbes said, shaking her rump, as if twerking.  “Anyway, before we head back, tell me what’s new with the murder investigation.”

Lambert lamely reviewed the things they’d discussed when he’d first interviewed her, not having anything new to reveal.  His offer had been a ploy to see her, nothing more.  If she realized that, she didn’t let on.

 When he finished, somewhat sheepishly, Forbes put her jacket back on, watching him watch her zip it up.  “Okay,” she said, “thanks for the update.  I should really get home now.  You can drive.”

Back at her place, Lambert was gripped by pent-up desire, but it was not to be.  Alighting from the back seat, Forbes placed a hand on his arm.  “Detective, I really appreciate your letting me drive Purple Lightning.  She’s a beauty!  I’ll have to find a way to thank you properly.”

Just lemme come in, lady, an’ I’ll show you the way.

As she turned to go, Lambert said, “Any chance we could have dinner tonight, talk a little more?  Maybe somethin’ new might come up.” 

Forbes laughed.  “I think we both know what will come up, Detective.  Thanks again for the ride.” 

And with that, she turned and trotted to her door.

_{© J. Bradley Burt 2023}