After a Friday evening all to herself, Elizabeth couldn’t wait to hang out with China. It really had been too long. Although she felt bad about it, the past few months she concentrated on establishing a heavenly relationship of sorts with Martinez.
Pulling up the driveway, she noticed the patio looked different. It was completely enclosed. She found the entry and let herself in. Salt lamps adorned a couple small accent tables and candles were lit meticulously around the hot tub with fall deco surrounding the enclosure. The patio itself looked as if it was bigger than before, now allowing for a table that could seat six people. Looking up, she could see the beautiful night sky through the glass ceiling.
China opened the sliding glass door where the old entry into the kitchen used to be. “Heyyy! You made it! I was getting a little worried you were gonna stand me up.” She stood there in a bikini with a red robe slightly covering her extremities.
Standing there in awe, Elizabeth said, “When did you do all this? This is amazing!”
“I know right? The contractor finished it just in time for the holidays. I think I’m going to have a kick-ass Christmas party this year.”
Swinging her bag off her shoulder Elizabeth pulled out a bottle of red wine and handed it to China. “Has it really been that long since I’ve been over?”
Crossing her free arm across her chest while holding the neck of the bottle with her other hand, the corner of her mouth curled and she batted her lashes. “In your defense, the contractor was fast and efficient, in more ways than one.” She winked. “Anyway, you’re here now. Let’s get this party started, shall we? Go suit up. There’s a robe for you over there and that door right there is a small changing room. I’ll open this bad boy up and then we have some catching up to do!”
Impressed even more, Elizabeth said, “Changing room? Fancy smanchy!”
China winked as she turned and went back to the kitchen to uncork the wine.
Taking a glance around one more time, Elizabeth smiled and opened the door to the changing room. She set her bag on the bench and took off her coat, hanging it on the hook behind the door. Although the new patio was enclosed and heated, the air was still cool when it touched her skin. Changing as quickly as she could, she cloaked her tiny frame in the polyester, white robe and shook the chill from herself.
China strolled back into the enclosure with the bottle and two wine glasses in hand. She placed them on the shelf that extended around the entire hot tub and set her phone on the stereo dock, pulling up Internet radio and shuffling the stations. Florence and the Machine began to play. Pulling off her robe she hung it on the wall and stepped into the whirling waters. Letting out a sigh as she sat down, China exclaimed, “You have no idea how much I needed this!”
Shivering as she unrobed and pinned up her hair, Elizabeth agreed. “Me too. What a crazy week. But it ended perfectly!”
Pouring a full-bodied blend into each of their glasses, China admitted, “Well, I know my Friday ended with a bang, pun intended,” she released one of her full belly laughs.
Raising her glass, Elizabeth’s features became animated. “Funny you should say that because mine did too!” Her gentle laugh rippled through the air like waves in the small pool.
“Yes! That’s what I like to hear!” China’s laughter was as sharp as her wit. “You first. I will almost guarantee my story is more interesting.”
“Of course it is.” Humor gently rolled across Elizabeth’s lips. “First I’d like to know when all this happened.” Her arm swept through the air referring to the remodel. “You never mentioned it!”
“You never asked,” China bluntly replied.
“Oh, come on give a girl a break, will you?”
“I just wanted to treat myself. You know how bored I get.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It only took a couple months to complete. Matt did a bang-up job.” China bit her lip, stifling her grin. “Speaking of, do tell!”
Blushing, Elizabeth said, “Oh my God, it’s not what you think. Angel took me shooting last night and then we had dinner.” She gathered her lips in a crooked smile.
“Now that’s my girl, guns and food. Who could ask for a better date?” Cocking her head back she looked to the glass ceiling above her. “Awe hell, who am I kidding - Okay, sorry. Momentary lapse of judgment there.”
Elizabeth looked at her awkwardly.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Actually, I’m not but, anyway.”
Splashing the water with her spare hand, Elizabeth played back. “China, I’m serious!” She took a sip of her wine. “He bought me a hand gun.”
Cheekily, China said, “Well that doesn’t surprise me.” Crinkling her nose, she asked, “He didn’t go cheap, did he?”
“Oh my God,” she said with a giggle. “No, he didn’t go cheap! Cheese and rice, can’t he get a little credit?”
“I’m kidding, Liz. You should have a gun. Kuddos to your Latin lover.” She raised her glass to toast.
“I know, he’s awesome. I just don’t know how I feel about having a weapon. I mean, what if I have to use it?”
Confusion washed across China’s face. “Isn’t that the whole point? And besides, didn’t you at one time ask me for a gun?”
“Asking and doing are two different things. I guess. Right?”
“Liz, don’t make things more complicated than they need to be. Steve’s out of prison and, obviously, Martinez thinks you need to be protected when his sweet, macho ass can’t be there. What’s the harm? It’s not like you don’t know how to use it.”
Their eyes locked and Elizabeth didn’t feel the need to continue the conversation because she knew China was right. “Okay, so, your turn.”
Exhaling with relief, she said, “Finally!” She perked up and situated herself. “So, Patrick picked me up and we went to the Volstead, the place I told you about?”
“Yeah, the bar that used to be a brothel back in the day?”
“Yes! Awe-some little place. They have an entire menu of eclectic drinks based off of old classics and this whole speak-easy vibe, hence the name. I loved it! And the whole brothel story was perfect for a first date to get a home run!” The laughter surged from her gut.
Straddling the hot tub with her arms, Elizabeth listened, amused and relaxed.
“The place isn’t very big. Actually, there’s only a few tables and a bar, but you can kinda see down this little hall way and there are stairs, and all I could picture was this whole setting, like back in the old westerns, where the ladies would rile up the men, get ‘em loopy, and take them upstairs to their rooms. It was surreal, I tell ya! Any way, we ordered our drinks and chatted away. And about an hour into everything, I was totally gearing him up to come back here; one more of those killer drinks and I’m thinking ‘this guy is mine’ right? And then -” pausing she took a swig of her drink. “And then -”
Growing impatient, Elizabeth said, “Oh for God’s sake, China, get on with it!”
She took a breath and prepared herself. “And then – Steve Robinson walked in.”
Elizabeth’s lips were stiff but she managed to reply, “Oh.”
Raising her eyebrows in disturbed amusement, China agreed. “Yeah, my sentiments exactly. The very last person I thought I would see or wanted to see on my date. Totally ruined the whole mood.”
“Okay, so I’m confused as to why you are telling me this.”
“The whole thing was really strange. He came in, sat at the bar, and was flirting with the cute little bartender. And at first, I thought it was just that. But then, when Patrick and I went to order another drink, the bartender told us there was a private reservation and we had to leave. At the time, no one else was there, except Steve. Tell me that’s not weird?”
Slightly shaking her head, Elizabeth wasn’t sure what she thought. “I don’t know, I guess? What the hell do I care what he does as long as he stays far away from me? I guess I won’t be visiting this awesome new bar with Angel!”
She let out a frustrated sigh, “You’re missing the point, Liz.”
Upset that she even brought up his name. “I don’t get it, China. I mean, short of you calling the police and telling them that he was in the middle of violating his parole, as if that was an option, what’s the point?”
“Well first of all, he totally screwed up my mental focus of getting down and dirty with Patrick, and second, it was just odd how it all went down. Not sure they do ‘private reservations’ and the little bartender seemed like she was taking cues from him. I have half a notion to call the owner and make a complaint. Actually, I almost called SPD and reported him.”
“Pfft, I doubt that would do any good anyway. Even if they would decide to come out for a call like that, he would have been gone in minutes. Hell, I can’t even get him on violating his protection order even though he sent me flowers and showed up outside the office! It’s utter bullshit.”
“I thought your hero was working on that? Is he losing some of his super powers or what?”
Her lips puckered with annoyance. “Yeah, well – this entire week he’s been working on it but he’s been quiet.” She turned away as her head shook gently. “I just feel like there’s something he’s not telling me. You ever get that feeling?”
China’s eyes widened with caution as she rested her elbow on the side of the tub, holding her glass in the air. “Oh no, don’t say that, Liz. The minute you think a man is keeping something from you, you can almost bet he is.”
“Thanks, that’s just the encouragement I needed.” Gulping back the last of her drink she put out her glass and motioned China to replenish it.
Fulfilling the silent request, she said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t put any ideas in your head. That’s just been my experience. I’m just saying, something doesn’t seem right with any of this.”
“Unfortunately, right or wrong, it seems I’m going to have to deal with the fact that Steve’s out and just floating around Silverton doing whatever he wants and there’s not much I, or apparently anyone else, can do about it. The only thing left for me to do is be prepared. For anything.”
Saturday evenings were the most profitable for Chip’s. Danielle prided herself in the clientele she helped to establish since becoming manager. It was the end of her shift and she was doing her walkthrough before going to the office and leaving for the night. Lucas caught her at the cash out. It was nearly three in the morning and the crowd was beginning to disperse.
Flinging her hair over her shoulder, she saw him and said, “Hey Lucas, how’s things going tonight? Everything keeping an even keel?”
He smiled at her. He looked much younger than he actually was and he was handsome, permeating a schoolboy type charm. “Yes ma’am. Getting ready to head home?”
“I am. It’s been a good night but exhausting. Are you here much longer?”
“Still three hours left on my shift. I believe that’s when Smalls is coming back. Said he had to take Richard to the airport to catch the red-eye.” His face lit up. “I think I’m starting to be his right-hand man. Left me in charge while he’s gone.” A large smile swept his face.
She was a little surprised considering Lucas hadn’t been there long and Smalls was very particular about his team. And she was leery of him. Lucas was cute but that didn’t make her any less hesitant to keep her distance. “I see. Well, that’s quite a feat. But good for you, I guess. I almost forgot Richard had to go to Atlanta.” She sighed.
“Let me know when you’re heading out and I can walk you to your car.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary. Everything goes in the safe until Monday.”
Tilting his head with a confused look on his face. “But Smalls told me -”
Her snotty demeanor took over. “Is Smalls here?”
Immediately, he understood. “No, ma’am.”
Giving him a cautious smile, she replied, “Okay then.” Finishing up her rounds, she headed to the office, and made a large drop in the safe. After grabbing her things, she headed down the back stairs to the rear parking lot. Her heels clicked on the cold pavement when she thought she felt a presence. Not quite to her car and fumbling for her keys, she turned to see Steve walk towards her from between two vehicles, her heart jolting through her chest.
His face was stern and he grinned seductively. Moving towards her, his voice became mesmerizingly wicked. “Hey Danielle. Had a feeling we’d meet up like this.”
She slowly started towards the car door to escape an encounter. She wasn’t fast enough.
He made his way in front of her, pinning her against her vehicle. “Where was your boyfriend tonight?”
The anxiety was rushing through her. “Richard is taking care of some business. You know, I can have security out here is two seconds.”
“Ah, yes, security. Where are those fools at now? I’m surprised they don’t walk your sweet little ass out every night. Can get kinda dangerous. After all, it is the witching hour.”
Gritting her teeth, she asked, “What do you want, Steve?”
“Your boyfriend had 48 hours to make a decision. That 48 hours is up and my offer to him just got cut significantly.”
She confidently pushed her face up towards him and said, “He is not going to bow down to you. You’re not relevant here, Steve. You stopped being relevant six years ago.” Shaking her head disgusted, she raised the corner of her top lip. “Not that you ever were.”
Creeping closer to her, he raised his chin. “So, you think because you’re getting married to Richard Gardner and have all this at your disposal, you’ve turned from some peasant girl into a modern-day Cinderella?” He sighed and looked into her eyes with pity. “Oh, Jenny, you’ll never be anything more than that sad little girl I picked up at a dive bar in Detroit.”
Grimacing from the quickness of her own wit, she said, “That girl hasn’t been around in a long time. It appears you haven’t changed much, though. Still trying to bully your way to the top of that shit pile.”
“You’re getting brave in your old age, Jenny.”
Cocking her head, she peered into his cold eyes. “From the looks of those marks on your face, seems like I’m not the only one who is tired of your sad routine.”
He rubbed his chin before reaching over and touching her cheek slightly. His finger slowly ran down the side of her jaw line. “We used to have some good times, Jenny. If Richard was out of the way, we could run this whole town together.” He shot her a twisted smile.
Jerking away from him, her expression was taut and derisive. “You’re disgusting. I can’t believe I ever fell for you.” Watching the frown settle on his face, she took a breath and laughed half-heartedly. “Hell, I can’t believe Elizabeth Strong ever fell for you.”
A warning cloud settled over his features. Taking a step back, a half-smile crossed his lips as he raised his arm and swung with full force, his hand colliding with her confidence.
Wincing in shock, she grabbed the side of her eye where the back of his hand connected. Unable to breath or speak, she slowly raised her head and brushed the hair out of her face. The fear she felt years ago had revived.
He gazed through her. Savoring the horror that shadowed her eyes he said, “How’s that for relevant? I will be making my drops. Too bad you said anything about our little arrangement. We had us a nice little thing going. If I need to, I’ll bring in more people than I already have. Tell Richard I’ll be in touch.” He leaned over her as she cowered and whispered in her ear, “This was just my warning shot.” Standing up straight, his face taut with poise he promised, “I’ll see you soon, Jenny.”
She watched him strut away and heavily released her breath. She hustled for her keys and rushed inside her vehicle, struggling to start it. Grabbing the steering wheel, she wanted to scream but the only release she had was silently crying. Pulling the rearview mirror down to see a nasty red mark on the left side of her face, she feared wiping her tears against the tender skin. Gently, she patted under her eye with her fingertips before abruptly stopping to stare back into her reflection wondering how she got here.
Upon starting her vehicle, she tore out of the parking lot and drove as fast as she could out of the city, continually looking in her rear-view mirror fearing he may follow her home. I’m sure he already knows where we live, she thought to herself. Hitting the call button on her steering wheel, she asked it to call Richard as soon as the tone sounded that it was ready for her command. Immediately she hung up. He was already angry with her and he wouldn’t listen. She knew she had to do something to end this nightmare she created.