She shoved it in her pocket, understanding without question what he meant. Getting on the back of Bill Rightmer's bike, they rode across town, and he dropped her off a few blocks away. Tori made her way over the few streets, taking up a location where she could monitor the entrance to the store.
Pulling out the picture, she studied it carefully. A thin middle aged woman, she had dark hair and brown eyes. Her clothes were plain, a simple smile on her face. Tori shoved the picture back into her pocket and waited.
A short while later, the woman came out the glass door of the building and began to walk towards her. After the girl passed where she leaned against a brick wall, Tori fell into step about ten paces behind her.
They walked for about three blocks, Tori maintaining her distance, keeping her steps in time with the woman's, who did not even seem aware of being followed. Turning down a narrower side street, she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder, obviously tense about either this stretch of her journey or perhaps the upcoming route.
Tori widened her steps and quickened her pace, while continuing to mask her own steps with the loud clickety-click that the woman's heels made as they struck the concrete. Turning again, the woman entered a dark alley, and Tori caught up just after the shadows had fully engulfed her.
Taking her from behind with her left hand, she clamped down hard over the woman's mouth to stifle any scream that might escape. In the same motion, the blade shot out the end of her knife with a loud pop, and Tori's right hand brought it up and slit her throat in a single fluid pull, letting her body fall to the ground as she unlaced the purse off her arm and swung it over her own.
Bending over, Tori cleaned the blade of her knife on the back of the woman's clothing with a few quick swipes, snapped it shut and retraced her steps, out of the alley. Strolling the few blocks over, she met up with Bill at their rally point.
The job had paid $15K and had taken less than an hour to carry out. That's what the Dragons had taught her about money. If you were good, the money came easy, and so they never had a shortage of cash on the road. The Feds confiscated over $100K that had been found in the farmhouse and on their bikes after they swept the scene the day Tori and the rest of the Dragons were found. Only carry around cash, the bulk of their funds remained secretly tucked away in various locations across the country for safe keeping.
Brandon called to her from the doorway, interrupting her thoughts, and she turned to rejoin him in the office. He had called Terry to confirm what she would be earning in the way of income, and felt somewhat surprised at the salary she would be receiving, fairly certain it was more than he paid his other employees. But then again, Terry owned the business, so he could pay her whatever he wanted.
Taking their seats, Brandon went over how taxes worked and what would be deducted from her gross income. Using the adding machine, he showed her how to calculate her withholdings and what her net income would be.
Tori stared at the amount in disbelief. No wonder the Dragons chose a life of crime, she thought as she glared at the paltry sum. She sat blinking at it as if it might change, and Brandon chuckled at her response.
“Don't worry,” he reassured her. “It's more than enough. Now, let me show you how to make a budget.”
The pair sat for over an hour, yellow legal pad in hand, as he showed her what normal expenses would look like and how much to allot for each. By the end, she had a plan for handling her money, which included putting a small amount each week into savings and having some to spend on parts for repairing the motorcycle.
After they had her finances in order, Brandon gave her directions to a supermarket within walking distance. She thanked him whole-heartedly and headed out into the afternoon sun.
Hiking at a steady pace, Tori went over the conversation and the advice Brandon had given her about making her way in the world, and having a healthy and stable life. By the time she reached the store, her mind had begun to find doubt in his words that the money would be enough. She had begun to consider how she could come up with a little extra cash to supplement her meager income.
Briefly, she deliberated the possibility she could lift a small amount from the store, certain that Terry would never miss it. Almost immediately, she dismissed the thought as she remembered his biting words, “You're a murderer, not a thief.” Besides, Tori appreciated his efforts to help her and did not want to hurt him in return.
Of course, with no real solution at the moment, she would simply have to keep an eye out and be ready for any opportunities that presented themselves along the way where she could make a quick and quiet buck.
Entering the supermarket, Tori turned to the left and made her way to the far end. Working her way across, she explored every aisle while pushing a large empty cart in front of her. She chose a nice smelling shampoo and conditioner for her hair, and selected shave gel and razors for her legs and pits.
She had a couple of bottles of the special creamy makeup that Debra had helped her find and a phone number to order more of it when her supply ran out. However, she decided to purchase some new colors of the powder that she smoothed on her eyelids and a couple of new shades of gloss for her lips.
Picking out the personal items, her mind drifted to Eli, and how he had told her she was beautiful, even without the makeup. Tori felt overcome with feelings of shame at what she had been considering on her journey to the store. Eli would be mortified if he knew what she had been thinking, and she had again let him down.
She could picture him at that moment, sitting in his barren apartment alone, pining for her return. Making her way through the aisles of processed foods she would never touch, she made a promise to herself; I’m going to do a good job at getting better, and Eli will be waiting for me when I’m finally free.
Eventually reaching the opposite end of the store from where she started, Tori entered an open expanse of fruit and vegetable tables, and she could feel her spirits lift at the sight of them. Picking her way through, she chose small bags of carrots and broccoli, tiny red potatoes, fixings for a salad, and five or six kinds of fruit, including the small red cherries she loved so much. Filling her basket, she began to hum lightly as she dreamed about being back in Chicago with Eli and shopping with him for more tasty dinners that they would share.
Moving along the back of the store, Tori found the meat counter and chose a few steaks and a package of fish. Noting how expensive the meats were, she considered being faithful to her new ideals would be a challenge. Peering at the large clock over the front doors, she realized she needed to hurry if she wanted to have a meal. She had an AA meeting that night, and although she felt displeased about it, she had promised herself to stay on the straight and narrow path being laid before her, and she intended to do exactly that.
No Need for Help
Tori made it back to the house in time to prepare a small dinner of fish and vegetables, and had a bowl of naturally sweet fruit for dessert. She had not purchased any water since it would have been heavy to carry, so she wrote herself a note to ask Sharon about how she could get water efficiently. She also intended to ask about the laundry basket she needed. While she sat looking at her short list of things to do, Jonathon came in from upstairs and inquired if she were ready to go.
Looking up at him from her seat at the dining table, her mind went blank as to where they were going. Seeing her vacant expression, he explained that he would be going to the AA meeting with her, as he attended them weekly, as well.
Reluctantly, Tori stood, and they made their way out the door. Walking beside him, she noted that he fell a bit on the short side, like Eli, and she could see clearly over his head. A bit pudgy, she briefly considered his diet and the amount of food he consumed, and understood why.
The two walked in silence, and upon reaching the small brick building where the meetings were held, she shuffled away from him and chose a cozy corner to stand in and watch. A social creature, Jon eagerly greeted other attendees with high fives and vigorous handshaking.
Tori felt almost certain he knew everyone in the room, and a pang of envy stabbed her heart. Not that she wanted to be friends with these people, God no. She was jealous that he could be so open, so alive and happy to share in conversation and laughter without a second thought.
Drawing close to meeting time, she avoided sitting beside him and chose a chair at the end of a row close to the door, in case she wanted to ditch out early. Various people took the podium to speak, and they always began by giving their name and stating that they were an alcoholic.
Tori scoffed at them in her heart, telling herself they were fools. A strong and intelligent woman, she sure as hell had no need for help, not from them or from anyone. Besides, I’m not really an alcoholic anyways. It’s already been two months since I’ve had a drink, and I’m doing fine.
The meeting only lasted an hour, but it seemed an eternity. When it finally ended, she jumped to her feet, intending to bolt out the door. Before she reached it, Jon grabbed her by the arm, “Hey, a group of us are heading over to a diner for coffee and apple pie. You should join us, make some friends.” He smiled, hoping she would come along.
Tori pulled her arm away with an exaggerated jerk, spitting out, “No, thanks!” as she made a break for it. She practically ran back to the house, dropping on the swing at the end of the porch when she arrived.
Leaning forward, she put her elbows on her knees and her face into her hands, sitting hunched over to catch her breath. Once she felt rested, she leaned back into the swing. The sunset allowed the darkness to slowly surround her. Her feet flat on the wood of the porch, she pushed the swing lightly and allowed herself to enjoy the evening quiet. In her old life, it would be time to start hitting a few shots and removing her clothes.
With the Dragons, Tori had served as the nightly entertainment; her job as Tony had once put it, and she accepted her position within the group without protest. She had put up a fight in the beginning, and still had the scars to prove it. She learned quickly that letting them have what they wanted gave her an advantage, as her clothes stayed cleaner, and she hurt far less when they were finished with her.
The only one who really tortured her had been Red, Eddie's brother. He liked to do things to her that were especially brutal when he fucked her, and Tori learned to accept the pain as part of the process. In the end, he got what he had coming to him. The girl sneered evilly as she recalled what she had done to him in the farmhouse before bludgeoning him to death without remorse.
While she sat in the sway of the swing, she thought about how she had slowly come to accept her position within the Dragons. For as long as Henry had been around, she had been almost content as the slut of the group, although he was not permitted to partake of her.
Henry had been her first, the only man she had chosen, more or less. She allowed her mind to retrace their night together as she sat in the warm evening air rocking gently, much like the night they had held each other all those years ago.
Eventually, Tori stood and made her way into the house and up the stairs to her room. She felt overly tired, and undressed slowly, donning her sleeping attire and crawling into her corner in the closet to sleep. The alarm went off at 5:00 am as usual, and her day began again.
She fell into a pattern of similar routine for a couple of weeks, early to rise, exercise and then work. She returned home in the late afternoons or evenings to make her dinner, and found time to work on the motorcycle a few times, as well.
By the end of the third week, Tori spoke to no one she didn't have to, and kept to herself in a type of brooding silence. She hated her life there and simply went through the motions, trying to hang on. She dreamt of being free to return to Chicago and going back to Eli, who waited for her.
Walking home one afternoon at the end of the fourth week, she had an idea that lifted her spirits. I should call him. He wasn't able to visit her, but the sound of his voice would surely give her strength to make it through.
Rushing back to the house, the girl realized she had never gotten any contact information from him, but she felt confident she would be able to reach him through the federal offices where he worked. They would be able to forward her call, and she could hear his voice.
Considering how to get the number, she slipped into the house quietly, trying to avoid being seen or heard. Making her way down the hall, she peeked into the living room and finding it empty, she exhaled a sigh of relief. Turning towards the office, the door stood open, with the chair on the far side of the desk vacant as well.
Stepping across the hall with purpose, Tori flipped through the Rolodex that sat on the desk, searching the sections for the right entry. Finally finding it, she removed the card, noting its location so she could return it later. With a firm tug to free it from the tabs, she shoved it in her pocket and flipped the file back to the front. Turning and heading back out of the house, she made her way to the supermarket almost in a dead run.
Two payphones stood in front of the store. The devices are extremely rare these days, but at least there are still enough people using them to have a few left around. Dropping in a handful of coins, she pulled out the card and typed in the number.
Bouncing at her knees out of nervous excitement, she licked her lips as the phone began to ring. Finally, a woman's voice answered the line, “Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago office, how may I direct your call?”
Tori stammered slightly as she asked, “Can I please speak to Special Agent Eli Founder?” and a smile flitted across her features as she spoke his name.
After a brief pause, the woman replied, “I’m sorry; Agent Founder is no longer assigned to this office.”
Tori's heart stopped cold. Unable to breathe, she stuttered, “What happened? I've only been gone a few weeks,” her mind spinning, she pled in desperation, “Where is he now? How can I contact him? Please, give me the new number.”
“I’m sorry,” the woman stated again, “I cannot give you that information.”
Tori stood frozen, wondering what in the hell happened. Quickly, she insisted, “Listen, it’s very important that I speak to Eli.”
She was met with equally strong resistance from the other end of the line. “I’m not at liberty to discuss any agent's assignment with you.”
“Who can I speak to then? Please, put me through to Debra Paisley.” Tori grasped for straws, her heart pounding wildly inside her rib cage. Upon hearing Debra could not be reached either, she realized her endeavor had turned up fruitless; no one in Chicago who could help her.
Tori silently hung up the phone and stood for a moment, staring blankly at the brick wall in front of her. Eli is gone. Eli is gone! The thoughts ran into chaos in her brain, and she could feel the deep ache in her chest. She had felt this pain before, the day Henry had died. The minutes ticked by as she stood with her hand still pulling down on the receiver as it hung in its cradle, her mind lost in a conundrum of thoughts and emotions.
Finally, she released her grip on the device and slowly trudged away from the storefront. Making her way along the streets, she found the corner that held a large plain building with a glass front, four blocks east and five blocks south of the shop.
Winding a path among the rows of bottles, she could feel the clerk watching her as she found the containers of vodka. Taking her time, as if she knew exactly what kind she wanted, she read the labels to herself.
There are many brands and flavors of the vile liquid, and Tori would choose her favorite. She had drunk many a bottle of liquor over the years. He felt like an old friend, always ready to take her in and comfort her when the world around her became bleak. Selecting a fifth of Smirnoff Silver, she made her way to the counter, placing her product on it with a thud.
The man behind the wooden expanse looked down at the glass container, then back up at her face like carved stone. “Got any ID?” his tone came out flat, and not really a question.
Tori shifted her gaze around the deserted store and licked her upper lip tensely. “How abou
t Ulysses S. Grant?” she asked, giving him a hint of a smile.
His grin broad, he replied, “I like Ben Franklin better.”
While Tori pulled her wallet out of her back pocket, he placed the bottle in a plain brown bag. She handed him a $100 bill, grabbed the bottle through the sack and headed out the front door.
Making her way to the back, she walked a couple of blocks down the alley before choosing a spot, sinking to the ground beside a dumpster. Opening the bottle, she put the glass to her lips and chugged a third of the liquid, enjoying the burn in her throat as it went down.
Breathing heavily for several minutes, she blinked back the tears that were collecting in her crystal blue eyes. Lifting the bottle again, she finished it off with ease, then stood, smashing it against the wall as she headed home, hoping she would make it before the darkness overtook her.
No Place Like Home
Tori could feel the tingle in her lip as she chewed it while climbing the steps of the veranda. Entering through the back door, she hoped she didn’t stagger. A few of her roommates were in the kitchen putting together their dinner, and Lindsey seemed happy to see her.
Over the past few weeks, the girl had sat with her several times for long chats that reminded Tori of the days she had spent with Eli when she first awoke in the hospital. Lins would talk about anything and everything, and Tori would listen in silence, taking it all in. The thought of the similarity made her weary with grief as she made her way through the kitchen door and into the hall, announcing loudly she didn't feel well and would be going to bed early.
Enrique Dominguez, brand new to the house, had arrived only three days before. When he first moved in, he had not seemed impressed with the taller of the females; although beautiful, she had an unhappy disposition and sullen attitude.
Enrique came into the house under court order, and although he didn’t want any trouble, he certainly had no intention of getting clean, either. Hearing the commotion as Tori entered the house, he stepped to the door of the living area to watch as she came through the narrow passage and headed to the stairs.
A New Life Series - Starter Kit Page 20
