“No.” Richard looked straight ahead. “You’re going to give us the tape.” He paused. “We know you didn’t make copies. You’ve just got the one. We want it.”
“Well you can just fuckin’ forget it,” Franklin said.
Richard patted him on the chest, still staring forward. “Calm down, Franky. Don’t get yourself all worked up.” He turned to look at him, eye to eye. “We’re not bad guys. Not in that sense, anyway. You tell me what we can do for you. What can we do to get that tape? What can we do to make our lives easier and yours continue?”
“Are you offering to help me or threatening to kill me?”
“Depends on how you look at it.” Paul moved in between the back seats. “Why don’t we say, for now, we’re offering to help you. That sounds much more civilised. We don’t want to conduct business like animals. This is a simple transaction. Don’t make it complicated.”
“Paulie doesn’t like to sweet-talk cops. So I guess we’re helping you out. What do you say? The tape?” Richard held out his hand. “Don’t make me have to check up your ass. Neither of us wants that.”
“I can’t give you what I don’t have, kids. The tape’s in the wind.”
“You mean it’s lost?” Richard asked. “Whoops? Never to be seen again? Like that?”
“Yeah. You about got it.”
Richard slammed Franklin’s head back with his left arm and took his gun from him. Checking to see it was loaded, he cocked it and stuck it in Franklin’s mouth. “I don’t believe you, Franky. You went through all that trouble. Let the thief and the whore walk away, did you?” Franklin nodded. Slowly. Carefully. “You did all that, and then you just lost the tape?” Franklin didn’t move. “Where is it, Franky? That’s all we want to know. You don’t have to be there when we find it. You don’t have to notice it’s missing. One thing I’m sure of is you didn’t log it into evidence. So where the fuck is it?”
Richard pulled the gun out of Franklin’s mouth as he coughed and choked. “You two are something else,” he said as he eased his jaw shut.
“You wouldn’t be much of an earner, Franky. I barely tickled your throat with this fuckin’ thing.” Richard laughed again. Then his expression went back to stone cold. “Here’s the thing. You tell us where the fuckin’ tape is or things aren’t going to be okay between us anymore.”
“Things are okay now?” Franklin asked. “Everything’s peachy?”
“Comparatively, yes.” Richard bounced Franklin’s gun around in his hand. Feeling its weight and balance. Getting used to it. “You pester us. Now and again we go to court and we walk away. Things go back to normal. Eventually we dance again. Over and over. It’s not the worst arrangement. It’s expected. We get to do our business, you get to do your job. The war against drugs rages on, as far as the public knows. The good fight gets fought and we all get to make our money, live our lives and go home at night.”
“What happens when things aren’t okay? What happens when things aren’t peachy?”
“Then,” Richard said. “Then the white knight. That would be you, Franky. The white knight gets found in his car. In an alley like this one. Maybe this exact one. Track marks all over his arms. That nasty habit he’s been keeping on the down low. Brains blown out with his own service revolver. The pressure got to be too much, maybe? He couldn’t live with the shit he did? Who knows? The only person who could really explain you is you. But you’re dead. Another tragic loss.” Richard tapped Franklin’s forehead with his pistol. “Cops die every day, Franky. They die badly. Sometimes they die pathetically. Pretty much everyone in your precinct is on the take, including you. Everyone knows. They won’t think twice about your crisis of conscience. As long as you’re dead and can’t rat the rest of them out, they’ll probably throw you a parade.”
“It’s like that?” Looking back, Franklin saw Paul staring away. “You’re going to kill a cop in broad daylight?”
“And no one’s going to see a thing,” Richard said. “Nobody in this community has eyes, Franky. You know that. And they know better.”
Franklin nodded. “You know who I slipped the tape to.”
Richard nodded back, smiling. “Say their names, Franky. It doesn’t count unless you say their names.”
“They’re never coming back,” Franklin snapped. “What do you want from me? Like I said, the tape is as good as gone.”
“Until you go back and get it,” Richard said. “We’re not as fuckin’ stupid as those two hop-heads. Please quit treating us like we are.”
Paul rested his arms on the front seats and leant forward. “Change of plans, Franky. You tell us where they are. You say their names and you give us their location. You do that, and the pain goes away quick. You don’t, and we torture you slow and find out anyway. Up to you.”
“Things change,” Richard said, laughing. “Life’s funny, right?”
“Here’s a good question.” Franklin looked straight ahead, his eyes going dead. “Why don’t you just kill me and cut out all this nonsense? Wouldn’t that fix everything? The junkies aren’t ever coming back. They know the score. If I’m not alive to go get the tape, what’s left for you to worry about?”
Richard shrugged, looking back to Paul for a nod.
Franklin tried to force a smile.
David woke the next morning to the sound of a washing machine going full blast. It was 7:24 and Juno’s smell was still heavy on her side of the bed. Musky and sweet. The stink of their old life had completely disappeared.
She came back into the room with a fresh pair of underwear, pants and a shirt. Throwing them on the bed next to his naked body. She was dressed in freshly cleaned sweatpants and a white tee shirt that hugged her body tight. No underwear. No embarrassing lines.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen second hand look so good before in my life,” he said, smiling.
She looked back at him and shook her head at his obvious appreciation. “Please, I look like a fuckin’ homeless person. I probably smell like one too. No detergent for the washing machine. But water’s better than nothing.”
She turned around from her position, crouched on the floor, grabbing the last load of laundry from their suitcase, and scowled as she watched him checking her out. “You know we’re still—”
“Yeah. We’re over. I know.”
“Still, I feel like I’m brand new. Even these old clothes make me feel like I’m a whole different person. Like I’m better. Like I’m really out of the life.”
He got off the bed and crouched behind her as she finished scooping up the laundry. He put his hands on hers as he kissed her neck. “We are out. This is it now. Brand new. But I’m still feeling a little anxiety. How about you help me forget. I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t think a good—”
“No. That isn’t going to help anything.”
“Only when you’re craving, I guess.” He ground his teeth.
He began backing off her when the doorbell rang, giving them both a start.
“Oh shit,” she said. “Do you think?”
He grimaced as he hopped up and dressed himself. “No way. Not this fast.” He stopped. “But maybe...?”
Juno’s face quaked as she got on her knees, motioning for David to follow her lead. Frowning and motioning some more as she realised he was just checking her out again. They crawled on their hands and knees, ensuring no one could see in the blinds, as they made their way to the front door and she looked out the peep hole, being careful not to make a sound as she rose and guided him to her side.
“I don’t recognise them,” she whispered. “They don’t look like... Here. Look.”
She moved to the side. Through the peep hole David saw a couple, both dressed in casual wear. A man in a plain blue tee shirt and blue jeans and a woman beside him in what looked like a light blue heavy dress, ankle length. It was hard to tell what they looked like through the fish-eye lens, but they didn’t look like any of Richard or Paul’s people. They didn’t really look like people at all.
More like cartoon characters with fluctuating blobs of fat floating through their bodies and long, thin wobbly arms. “Maybe the neighbours?” he asked, his voice also hushed. “Franky did say this was a nice community.”
She looked back at him, arched her eyebrows and shrugged. “Maybe.” She gripped his wrist. “What’s my last name?”
She jumped slightly as the man outside rang the doorbell again. The sound was deafening in contrast to the silence they’d both been holding on to.
David looked out again, and he saw the man step back a little, looking to the left and the right. He noticed the woman appeared to be carrying what looked like a child’s wooden mobile, possibly a basket. They both mumbled something that sounded like: “Maybe they’re not up yet.”
Juno’s eyes darted left and right. “I’m who I am,” she whispered. David gave her a strange look. “I’m Juno Conjay. You’re David Fitz. I’ve been left here to figure the rest out for myself. I know. Franky so much as said it. No new name for me? Don’t get a library card? We’re not together anymore. We’re not really protected from the only people who want to find me. No sense in confusing the issue any more than I have to. Yeah?” He shrugged, looking a little upset, and it was agreed.
He brushed her hair back so it looked natural, and she did the same for him. They both made sure their clothes didn’t look ruffled and he counted down with his fingers. On three. And two. And...
They opened the door, pretending to look pleasantly surprised. Hoping the people who were standing on their doorstep couldn’t see how scared they were behind the façade. How they were convinced they were going to be dead within the minute, even as they smiled brightly with their mouths and their eyes.
“Hi.” David opened the screen door and let the man outside grab hold of it and open it the rest of the way. “How’s it going?”
“Hey there.” The man’s face lit up. He was a tall, lanky fellow. Not skinny, and not fat. Clean cut. His ready handshake felt like he worked a trade. “We came to say howdy and wish a happy Saturday to the new neighbours.” He craned his neck a little to peek inside. “We didn’t catch you at a bad time, did we? Looks like you’re still getting unpacked.” He nudged the woman beside him. She glanced up quickly before she looked back down, never raising her face. Her strawberry brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail that seemed to have a life of its own. Her cheeks were a ghostly white. She was three quarters of the man’s height, which put her about even with everyone else, and she appeared to have the body of a dancer. Her face, as far as anyone could tell, was more rounded, with soft full features. Probably breathtakingly beautiful if she ever let anyone see. “I told you it was too early,” he half-whispered to her, as he winked at David. The woman rocked the basket she was carrying, filled with fruit, back and forth as her white skin turned red and a tense smile hinted from her lips.
“Yeah. Just rolled into town last night. Still trying to get organised.” David looked over at Juno, who was picking up on the woman’s vibe and feeling a bit anxious herself. Then again, she could just be thanking her God they weren’t corpses on a tiled floor already. “My name’s David. David Fitz.”
“Oh hey,” the man said, holding up his hands in surrender. “Look at me. I come barging in, bothering you first thing in the morning and I don’t even introduce myself.” He nudged the woman again. “This one says I don’t have any social skills.” The woman nudged him back. “I guess she’s been proven right.” The man laughed. “My name’s Brent Strange.” He paused for effect as Juno smiled and glanced down. “Yes, that’s my actual name. I’m confident you’ll find I’m almost completely normal though.” He tousled the hair of the woman he arrived with. “And this is Cadence Starp.” He winked. “She actually is a bit strange.”
“Hello there.” David extended his hand. “Cadence. That’s an unusual name. Beautiful.” Cadence’s eyes looked up at him as he spoke and they went wide with fear. Brent gave her elbow a bump and she held out her right hand, bending it at the wrist and bowing her head slightly. David wrapped his hand around it and gave it a light squeeze. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cadence glanced at Brent, panic on her face, and then back at David’s feet as her cheeks turned ashen again and she pulled her hand to her side.
“You’ll have to pardon her,” Brent said. “She’s very old fashioned.” Brent looked at David and motioned with his eyes toward Juno. “And this is...?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” David said. “This is—”
“Juno. Juno Conjay,” she said, her face going soft.
Brent continued. “Like I said. Cadence is very old fashioned.” He looked at Juno and extended his hand. She reached out to shake it and he took her hand in his, turning it palm down. “Juno, it is a distinct pleasure to meet you.” He looked over at David quickly. “You have a beautiful woman.”
Juno tittered as Brent gave the top of her hand a lingering kiss, and she felt the strength in his grip. “I’m not... I’m just his room-mate. A pleasure to meet you, Brent.” She casually glanced below his belt and tried not to stare. “Cadence?” Cadence nodded. “A pleasure to meet you too.”
Cadence bowed, keeping her head facing down. Juno returned the gesture with her head held high.
Brent leant forward and whispered into David’s ear, so Juno could hear too. “It’s not awkward yet, my man. Kiss Cadence’s hand. She’s going to be weird about it forever if you don’t.” Cadence still looked down and away as she swung the basket on her arm. “Seriously. It’s okay.”
David looked over at Juno. She held back a laugh. It didn’t bother her in the slightest, which came as no surprise.
“Go for it,” Juno whispered. “Be polite.”
“I’m so sorry,” David said, speaking at regular volume. “Where are my manners? Cadence?” Her eyes looked up pensively and she moved the basket from her arm. David took the hand she’d offered before and brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss on the top. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He looked over at Brent, who bobbed his eyebrows. “You have a lovely woman yourself.” Cadence lifted her head to match everyone else’s and forced a smile as she pulled her hand back quickly. She was at least as beautiful as David had imagined.
Brent patted David on the shoulder and whispered into his ear, as his eyes drifted up from Juno’s breasts and met her gaze. “We’re not really, you know... either.”
Cadence offered forth the basket of fruit. Juno took it and bowed her head, quickly, again.
“But hey,” Brent said. “We wanted to come by and welcome you to the neighbourhood. And, if you’re interested, we’re going to be having some folks over around supper time. Say...” He looked over at Cadence, who stared back at him, trying hard to keep a pleasant look on her face as she shivered. “Wow,” Brent said, disregarding her affected smile. “She really likes you two. You’re in the good books for now.” He continued. “Say around seven tonight? If you’re still busy getting all set up, it’s no big deal. It’s a casual get together. You don’t need to bring anything. We’ll be grilling and having a beer or three. Just wanted to say hello and let you know you’re welcome.”
“Thanks, Brent. What do you think?” David looked over at Juno, who looked back at him and nodded a little too enthusiastically. “We’ll see you both tonight.”
“Great.” Brent shook David’s hand again, and bowed to Juno. “We’ll make sure there’s plenty for everyone. Hamburgers okay?”
“Sounds perfect,” David said.
“Excellent. We’ll see you there. You two have a great day. Don’t have too much fun unpacking.”
Brent put his arm around Cadence, who let her head fall on his shoulder, her body relaxing slightly. As she snuggled against his chest and smiled meekly at Juno, Cadence spoke. Her voice was like a faint, yet soothing, lullaby. “It was very nice meeting the both of you.”
“Thank you.” David looked at Cadence, who continued to throw her gaze in everyone’s direction but his, as he spoke. “It was very nice meeting you
too. Sorry if this has been, at all, awkward.”
Brent laughed, and Cadence hid away her face. “No worries. We haven’t met anyone new in a while, either. This place has been empty for a year now. If it wasn’t for the constant upkeep, we would have thought it was abandoned.” He looked around. “There were rumours about this place. But, hey, that will give us something to gossip about later. You two take care. It was great meeting you.”
Cadence waved and looked up again, staring forward into nowhere and batting her eyelashes. Something she did slowly and provocatively. Something Juno had let bother her when they began their introductions. But something she’d let go when she realised she wasn’t doing it for David. “It really was very nice to meet you. Great, as my beloved would say.” Her smile appeared genuine then, though she continued to avoid making eye contact. “We look forward to seeing you tonight. I do so hope we can be friends.”
“I hope so too,” Juno said. “Thank you so much for the gift.”
“Yes, thanks for the welcome.” David fumbled for what to say next. “It’s always nice to meet nice people.”
“God loves good neighbours.” Brent smiled and turned around. “We’ll see you two tonight.”
“Bye,” David and Juno said in unison.
As David closed the screen door, and Juno moved to put the basket on the floor, he watched Brent and Cadence walk away, noting how they slowly paced. The way Cadence’s body moved with trepidation, like a hostage. Something about the smell of her skin, still on his lips, kept him fixed in position, imagining she tasted better than she looked. For an instant, he felt her breath heavy in his mouth. The soft brush of her tongue against his flesh. And, in his mind, a gentle voice talked to him in monosyllabic nonsense as a ghostly hand pulled him along in a little red waggon. When she disappeared from view, the sensations and visions vanished with her.
fiX - A ParaBnormal Fairy Tale Page 10
