Chapter 25
Beck
It's been silent all morning. I checked on Allie a few times, trying to hide my utter distaste for how she shooed me away Saturday afternoon. I get that she felt sick, but I could have taken care of her. I feel irritated with her that she didn't truly appreciate how I helped her out of that predicament. For a moment, I thought about talking to the police, but I don't think I can do that to my Allie bug. Besides, we still have a long future ahead of us. My only goal is to get her away from that toxic bitch of a best friend and help her see I'm the one she wants.
"Hey," she says, coming to stand by the end of my desk. Her fingers--freshly manicured... That's strange, Allie bug. I could have sworn they were chewed up--dance across some paperwork.
I look up at her and smile tightly. She's wearing that flouncy black skirt that is a tiny bit too short to be professional, but I'll never say a word because it showcases her amazing legs. And her hair--always in pigtails--is down. That's not normal. She looks nice today, and it makes me want to kiss her again, the way I did in her bedroom when sparks hotter than a volcano flew. She was so fucking wet for me, and then she got sick. Shame really.
I'd have done anything you wanted, Allie, and I'm willing to give you a second chance. I just have to figure out how to handle Jess.
"Hey."
"I thought we could have lunch?" When she cocks her head, I notice her face looks thinner, probably from a week of being so small and stressed. It looks like she lost some weight in the hips and thighs too.
"Uh," I mutter, standing. I grab my purse and hang the strap on my shoulder. "I have plans today. I'm sorry." I have an urge to kiss her goodbye as I step past her, but we're at work. I have to keep this professional. "Maybe we can hang out later?" I doubt she says yes. She and Jess are attached at the hip it seems.
"Sure, yeah..." She sounds disappointed, which is exactly where I want her. If she's hanging on a thread it's to my advantage. I don't mean to upset her, but the meeting I have set with my friend Kirk is an important one, and she doesn't even know how important. He's the one who will help me get Allie untangled from Jess and make sure Jess stays away for good. Then I can have my way with her. Hell, maybe she'll even move to Dayton and be closer to me, save all that gas money on the commute.
"Sorry. I really want to hang out with you more. I just have this thing."
"It's okay. We'll catch up. You go." She steps back and lets me move past, and I wink at her.
"Good girl. How about you bring us some lattes from Coffee Hub or Poppets." I head to the elevators with my head a few inches higher. Knowing she wants me gets my juices flowing. Playing hard to get makes it better. I can't just let her think I'm easy. I am, but she doesn't need to know that. This is all part of the fun.
I head out to the small diner on Third--Abner's. It has the feel of an old Waffle House that got remodeled, and honestly it creeps me out, but it's where Kirk wants to eat. I'll humor him this once because I really need his advice. The parking lot is full; at least four cars wait in the drive-up line. I don't see what's so amazing about this place, especially given the neighborhood. The bright blue house behind it seems to be falling down. Who would think this is good place to eat?
I park and climb out of my car. Kirk's truck is parked a few spots down. He's probably waiting for me. A quick glance at the time on my phone shows me I'm right on time, though, so I walk in with confidence and see him seated along the windows at a tiny table. He waves me over, and I make my way to him, careful not to touch anything or anyone.
"Hey, Becky," he says, chewing a bite of food. I hate when people call me Becky. My given name is Rebecca, and it sounds more like an Amish mother than the trendy business professional I try to embody.
"It's Beck." Kirk and I go way back. He knows I hate that, so he's probably just giving me a hard time. I sit across from him and glance at his lunch--some sort of breakfast platter he's been working on a while. Looks like he got here before they stopped serving eggs just to enjoy a large meal before I arrived.
"Yeah, I know." He grins, and I feel my face tighten, but I breathe deeply and set my purse on the table. "What can I do for you?"
Kirk's a police officer, though today he's off duty. His wife generously let me borrow him for this little meeting. I told him I needed advice about something bizarre and that it may also be illegal. Otherwise she would never have let him come. Why? Because Kirk and I have a sordid past. We were high-school fuck buddies, and when he met his now-wife she made him kick me to the curb. I totally got it; who wants to start a relationship with someone who is fucking someone else casually? He did what she wanted, and to this day doesn't know that I was the stripper at his bachelor party. Fucked him that night too.
"So, remember I told you that something very strange happened?" I glance around to see if other people may be listening. It's a small place, not more than ten tables, and they're all full but one. Even the spots at the counter are filled. If people wanted a place to eavesdrop for juicy gossip, this would be it.
"Yeah, like how bizarre? Are we talking alligators in the St. Mary's River? Or is it more like UFO sighting?" He chuckles, but he has no clue what I'm about to tell him is real and even more fantastic than those things. I don't even know where to begin, because there is a chance he doesn't even believe me and I sound insane to him.
"Okay, so..." I glance around again and lean in. "For the sake of this conversation, and so people don't listen to me, I'm going to send you a text with the thing in it, and I'll call it 'the incident' while we're talking."
He laughs and shakes his head. "Okay?" He wipes his mouth clean on his napkin and pulls out his phone. I do the same, sending him a short text with the words, "shrink ray" and "tiny girl."
I can't give him Allie's name or even what city it happened in because if it is illegal, he's bound by law to investigate or some shit. I can't have this blowing back on me, and Allie is mine now, so I have to protect her.
"What?" he asks, laughing. "You're joking right?"
I offer him the most serious expression I can. "Not even a little. I wish I was. I showed up at my friend's house and this is what I saw." I fold my fingers in front of myself and stare him down. He has to realize how stupid this sounds to everyone in the room, and that I'd never make a fool of myself like this if I wasn't one hundred percent serious.
"Beck, that's stupid. That's not even possible."
"I'm telling you it is, and I saw it with my own eyes. Some sort of former government tech that this bitch inherited in her grandfather's estate. And my friend is in danger. I want to turn the girl in and save my friend, but I'm worried people will think I'm insane. I swear to God, I saw it with my own eyes, Kirk."
He studies me for a second, pushing his plate away, then drops the napkin and silverware on top of what's left of the food and stares at me with a creased forehead.
"You're really serious?"
"Dead." I purse my lips and try to remain calm. He's a rational guy. He's a cop. That's why I asked him for help. I know he won't steer me wrong. How the hell would I make this up?
"So this 'incident' happened to someone you know personally?" He leans forward assuming the same crossed-fingers posture as me.
"Yes. I work with her. We're dating." I don't know how else to make him believe me.
"You saw with your own eyes the 'incident?' And what did it look like?" The crease between his eyebrows deepens. I think he's taking me seriously now.
"Uh well, it's hard to describe." I glance around. No one is staring, but I can't take any chances. "I'll just say it was very crazy. I passed out. They took me to this other girl's house until I came to. We fought a little. I figured out how to reverse what happened to her by using the thing on her again, and she's normal now--back to work even."
His eyes search me again. He nods. "You know, I did hear of some freaky shit in the seventies where the Wright Patt Air Force Base scientists were trying to develop some crazy tech called a gay bomb. It's not entirely inconceivable that they were experimenting with this shit." He whistles through his teeth and then nods again. "I'm telling you, if you talk to the wrong person about this, you'll end up locked up in the looney bin."
"I know. I just don't know what to do. My friend's in danger." I reach out and touch his hand, and he doesn't flinch. In fact, he holds my hand, the way he used to. It feels nice to be heard and not be called crazy about this, though his fingers are calloused now, not like they used to be.
"Okay, well you don't want to go turning anyone in unless you have hard evidence. Like, if you have the weapon in your possession, or if you get pictures of the incident. Otherwise, you'll come across as crazy, and no one will take you seriously. Like the boy who cried wolf. You'll be ignored." His thumb brushes over my fingers.
"You don't think I'm crazy, do you?" I bite my lip and watch him relax back into his seat.
"We have too much history for me to think you're crazy. Just get the proof before you say anything. I don't want to have to visit you in Haven." He chuckles again, and I glance down at his plate.
"You done eating?" I pull out my wallet as he responds in the affirmative, and I drop a twenty on the table. "Thanks for listening. And thank you for your advice." I put my purse strap on my shoulder and stand, pulling my hand away from his. "Maybe you'll be around in case I have other questions?"
Kirk stands and dusts his hands on the front of his jeans. "Yeah... I'll walk you out."
I nod and turn, heading for the door. I figured as much when I thought about turning Jess in. I need that proof. Just telling them she has a shrink ray won't be good enough. That means I have to go back to her house and face her, which means I need to play nice.
We walk across the parking lot to my car, and Kirk follows. I stop and lean against the trunk, and he stands a little too close. "You know, I miss you."
I smile at him. "You're married."
