Short Story - My Two Evils

The knocking was precise, sharp, but not entirely unexpected. Sandra opened the door and found a handsome yet harried man with piercing blue eyes.

“Good afternoon, Ma’am," he said. "I'm sorry to disturb you.”

Sandra smiled at the man’s formality. He was clean-shaven and wearing a suit. She couldn’t resist mimicking his crisp pronunciation. “It’s no problem. How may I help you?”

“My name’s Les. Les Evil."

“Oh? Well, what a peculiar name that is.”

“Yes, I suppose, but…" Les produced a picture, a black and white surveillance grab of a tall, slender man with a ponytail and beard. He too was handsome, though the man in the photo didn't look particularly harried. "Anyway, I'm looking for this man. He was last seen in the vicinity."

Sandra drew a gasp. "Oh dear."

"No need for alarm, ma'am. I'm simply conducting a sweep of the area out of an abundance of caution."

Sandra took in the picture, then looked at the man on the porch. Besides the ponytail and beard, the man in the photo was the spitting image of the well-kept individual on her porch step.

"I have word that he's in the area. This photo was taken only yesterday." 

 She couldn’t help a smile, cocking her head. “How do I know this isn’t a picture of you?”

The man conceded the point with a nod. He rubbed his chin, as if to be sure a beard hadn’t suddenly sprouted across his cheeks. “Yes well, it just so happens that the man in the photo is my brother. I suppose there may be a slight resemblance,” he said, somewhat bashful now.

“A resemblance? I’ll say. Are you twins?”

Les fixed his tie. “Well, as a matter of fact. Yes.”

Sandra flung her hair back, batted her eyes and set a polished red fingernail to the photo. “A handsome devil, if you ask me.”

Les blinked, as two patches of pink bloomed on his clean-shaven cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Yes well, Mucho Evil is extremely dangerous. If you see him, contact authorities at once. Or me.” Les produced a card.

Sandy offered a salacious smile, a lingering touch on Les’s hand as she took the card. “Are you asking me out, Les?”

“Of the house? No, that won’t be necessary. At least not at this time. I would, however, take precautions. Keep your doors and windows locked. Stay vigilant.”

A breathy laugh, Sandra set a hand to her chest. A Google Maps Prius whirred by, watching everything, capturing all.

“Okay Les. I will take precautions.”

“Yes, please. Until I find him.” He tipped his hat. “Sorry to bother you. Good day, Ma’am.”

"No bother at all," Sandra said under her breath. 

Sandra held the card between two fingers as she watched Les Evil walk away. He turned his head to her, as he reached the sidewalk and nodded awkwardly at Sandra. She shot him a wink and held the card up to him. Les nodded again, then set off for the house next door.

Sandra shut the door, then leaned back against it with a sigh. She looked at the card, then smiled.  

“Okay Mucho, he’s gone.”

A man appeared in the doorway, the late evening sun finding his tattooed shoulders. He gulped down the bottle of beer in his hands then belched. “You did great, babe.”

Sandra flung the card at him. “Oh the poor thing,” she said. “He wants me to take precautions.”

Mucho wrapped Sandra in his arms. “I want you to live dangerously.”

Sandra smacked his chest playfully, then pulled away. She looked out the window, then checked the sash. Mucho watched her.  “What are you doing?”

“He’s really concerned.”

Again, Mucho came over and took her in his arms. “Why are you still thinking of him?”

She shrugged, leaned back, glanced at the window again. “I don’t know. He was sweet.”

“I’ll show you sweet.” Mucho leaned in to kiss her. Sandra set a palm to his chest. “Mucho, why don’t you go shower, maybe shave?”

Mucho touched his beard. “You want me to shave?”

Sandra gazed out the window. “Uh huh. Maybe cut your hair, too.”

“I don’t believe this.”