by Dee Stone
“I did not.” His voice sounded horrified. “I told you to meet some boys. Not ‘hook up’,” he said. Markus stared at me, and I couldn’t tell what emotion was on his face. I gazed down at the wooden tabletop, wishing there was somewhere I could crawl. My feelings about him were just too uncertain.
After our lunch was delivered, we ate fast, not even having time to enjoy it because I had to get back to work. We were getting ready to leave, so I took another suck on my straw, while Markus paid the bill. I loved mint and chocolate together, so there was no way I was going to leave mine. Of course, Markus left his. Boring vanilla. Remembering what he had said about vanilla, I felt a tingle run through my body. My pussy clenched as I tried to imagine what he could have meant but my virgin brain could only envision the one- word vanilla.
The day had been exhausting with my internship and schoolwork. I was ready to pick up fast food, eat a gallon of ice cream and watch TV before falling asleep on the couch. In that order. But first I needed to decide what fast food joint and then which ice cream. Greasy burgers with lots of cheese sounded amazing.
As I hit the drive through, having decided on greasy burgers, my mind wandered to Markus. .
I lowered my head to hit it against the steering wheel hard…really hard. Though the pain in my forehead didn’t bring any clarity, though. What a surprise. I placed my fingers against my forehead and touched the area, it twinged but didn’t discern any damage.
The loud bang on the window made me whip my head around so fast I hit my head against the window. Ow.
After gaining my composure, I glanced up to see Markus’s grinning face in the darkness. Rubbing the palm of my hand against my cheek, I narrowed my eyes. Bastard.
I rolled down my window, and pointed at my face, “Is my cheek red?” What I actually wanted to do was jump out of the car and hit him, though I restrained myself.
He leaned forward and took my chin in his fingertips to turn my face so he could see the side easier. The tips of his fingers lightly caressed the area, and even though I was still mad at him, I closed my eyes at his touch.
The blaring of a horn startled me, making me jump, as I glanced behind me in irritation. Impatient much? Couldn’t wait a minute? “If you want to talk, get in.” I snarked. “The guy behind us is getting impatient.”
I clicked the unlock button, and watched his large frame lope to the passenger side, pushing the seat as far back as he could, just as the sound of the blaring horn rang out again. As he strapped himself in, I took my foot off the brake and inched forward to the window to give my order.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, giving Markus a quick glance out of the corner of my eye. Seeing him nod, he craned his neck to look at the menu painted on the wall next to the window.
I turned back to the girl at the window and gave her my bacon cheeseburger order with large fries and a large orange soda. Markus leaned forward and gave his double jalapeno cheeseburger order and the rest was the same as mine.
Reaching his hand down for his wallet, I waved one hand at him and handed the money over with a slight smirk on my face and a polite “’Thank you.’”
Each time she brought part of our order I could see her eyeing Markus. Lifting part of my upper lip, I gave her a death glare when she peeked an awestruck glance at him. Seeing she had been caught, she quickly looked away.
Once we had everything I pushed all the bags at him, along with the sodas, and pushed the gearshift into drive. I have to get out of here before I throw something deadly at her. Maybe my stiletto.
“I’m stopping at the store to get ice cream. Do you want some?” I gritted my teeth, trying to be pleasant and smile, but I fairly sure it came out as a grimace.
Markus gave me a steady look. “Do you want me to come over and have dinner?”
I had been acting like a jerk, but to be fair, he was making me a bit nervous. Yes, I wanted him to come over.
“Yes, Markus, I do want you to come over. We can have dinner and dessert, and if you want, even watch TV.” I had a distinct sigh in my voice, but I couldn’t help it. I needed to pull it together, but I also needed to keep this to nothing more than friends. No matter the attraction I felt.
He gave me a once over as we pulled into a parking space in front of the corner grocer, but he didn’t say anything. Must be giving me time to get over it. Ha! That’s what he thinks.
Inside the tiny store, I went straight to the ice cream section, not slowing down or stopping. I perused each and every flavor, walking up and down the aisle, trying to decide which one was more tempting. It was a big decision. I chewed on a fingernail as I looked at each of the choices. As I studied the different flavors I noticed two guys in hoodies standing at the other end of the freezer. Just standing. Weird. But they weren’t doing anything wrong.
Whatever, back to important matters.
Ice cream.
There.
That one.
I could almost taste the sweet, cool, creamy goodness in my mouth.
Suddenly, I felt Markus’s warmth pressed up against my back as he checked out the different flavors as well. Yeah, I guess he would want some after all.
“Do you want some?”
“I’ve gotten used to gelato over the years. I haven’t had real ice cream in oh. Ten years?” his voice was shocked at the amount of time that had passed.
I needed to hurry this show along because the food was getting cold. And rewarmed up fries? Not so great.
“So what flavor do you want?” Hurry, hurry, I thought.
“What are you getting?” Markus craned his head over my shoulder at the box in my hands.
I held out the container proudly, “Marshmallow chocolate with cashews and graham crackers.”
I turned my head toward Markus, shocked to see his mouth twisted in disgust.
“What?”
“I’m used to fruit in my sweet treats, not all that junk added to yours.”
“Try it. You just might like it. But just in case, there’s blueberry, strawberry, and it looks like black cherry over there. Or there’s gelato. But hurry! The food’s getting cold. Reheated fries not so good.” I tapped my foot, a hand on one hip, the ice cream in the other, as I waited. I sighed dramatically.
After looking for another minute, he blew a breath out and took the pint of black cherry as I carried my half-gallon of my flavor to the front. Seeing the look on Markus’ face, I thought, Well, he can think what he wants. It’s none of his business.
As we walked to the counter with our items I noticed the two guys in their black hoodies, heads down, creeping over to the counter ahead of us. I gave Markus a quick glance and he was watching them as well. The teenage clerk? Not so much.
The clerk grabbed the cartons of ice cream just as the two hooded men ran over, pulling guns out of over large pockets, being waved around. I ducked down, afraid of being shot.
The red headed man grabbed the clerk by the throat, thrusting the gun to the poor kid’s temple. I was afraid the teen was going to piss himself he shook so badly.
I looked for Markus, and for a moment I couldn’t find him until his brown head poked up from around the counter briefly, only to duck back down again.
Hearing the ring of the cash register opening I peeked over the counter to see the other robber digging around, grabbing all the cash, and stuffing it into his pockets before rushing to the other register. He hit the button to open that one, but nothing happened.
Banging angrily at the machine, he swiveled, throwing his arms wide as he shouted, “Where’s the key for that register!?”
“I..I..don’t…have it.” The kid stammered, his brown eyes wide.
The first guy shoved the kid at the other robber, who thrust the gun at his other temple, the smell of urine immediately becoming overwhelming. It was too much for him.
Unable to take this anymore my hand happened to touch a price gun lying forgotten on a wooden bench behind me. My fingers gripping it tightly for a second, before I threw i
t with all my might in the opposite direction from the thieves. Anything to get their attention away from the kid.
When they both glanced in the direction of the noise, Markus popped up. With one palm on the counter for balance he jumped over to pull the clerk away and push him toward me.
I pulled him to me in a fast movement, dropping him down, then we both crawled low to the ground, out of the way. Lifting my head, I looked back to see Markus, balancing on one leg while pivoting and kicking at the hand holding a gun with the other. As he kicked at the hand with the gun his foot pushed at the guy so that he fell bashing the back of his skull against the metal shelves that held canned goods, all of it crashing to the ground, the banging of the cans loud in the otherwise silent room.
He whispered in my ear, “The alarm is over there,” and jerked his head in the opposite direction of what looked safe. I pointed toward him then to safety and I nodded my agreement and watched him crawl off. Knowing he would be safe continued on my hands and knees, but this time back into Markus’s view.
His eyes widened when he observed me crawling back in his direction. His head shook back and forth, and because of his inattention he took a hard hit to his jaw, knocking him backward a couple of steps.
My eyes grew larger as I watched the gunman lift his weapon and train it on Markus. Why he had hit him instead of shooting him right away I had no idea, except for the fact I was grateful. Now I just needed to do something else again. My hands and eyes scrambled to find something to use, but there was nothing.
Wait!
A staple gun.
Would this work?
I didn’t have a lot of time to find out.
The gun lifted higher and higher as Markus made to run at the gun man, in those seconds the scene raced through my mind like the reels of a film,
The gun going off and Markus falling to the ground dead.
Raising myself higher, the tile floor biting into my knees, I gave a quick peek over the counter and moved my shoulder back as far as it could go I threw the staple gun flying as hard and as fast as I could in a straight trajectory at the hand holding the gun.
Shocked, Markus jerked his chin in the general direction of the knocked out guy. “Tape him up.”
As Markus spoke the guy groaned and moved slightly, making me jump to my feet, rushing to the robber, the duct tape clutched in my hands. As I ran I tore off a long piece of tape so as I got there I could wrap him up before he woke up.
Just as I got over there, words were shouted like bullets from a gun, “Freeze! Police!”
3
MARY
I did just as he said, after I quickly wrapped the guys wrists together, even with the tape sticking to my fingers, before the police saw me. I almost felt like jumping to my feet with my hands raised like in a calf roping competition.
“I said freeze!” The words shot out again and I slowly turned to see if they were directed at me. Yes. The cop was looking at me with narrowed eyes. “Hands over your head.”
“We’re the victims here.” Marcus interjected in our defense.
My heart pounded in my throat. I had never been questioned by the police before. Never even a traffic ticket.
“We need to question everybody here to be sure exactly about who is the victims and who’s the perps.” The officer stared at us with narrowed eyes, his body leaning forward, crowding our personal space. “Stand over there.” He pointed to a corner, not far from where we were now.
Four more police officers arrived, removing the duct tape, and placing hand cuffs on the two hooded men, while the officer in front of us held two sets of cuffs in his hands.
I stepped back, a panic attack beginning as my breath came and went in fast pants, my head shaking back and forth in a solid no. The clerk came out of the back room, where he had been hiding, his hands up over his head.
“We didn’t do anything wrong.” The teenager squeaked as his voice shook, his sharp chin trembling, with bulging eyes.
“I’m sure you’ll be let go soon.” The cop soothed the kid.
“But what about them? She saved me.” His finger shook as he pointed at me.
“If it can be proven they weren’t involved, they’ll be let go.”
Proven? I clutched at Markus’s sleeve, almost tearing the garment off his shoulder. He snuck his arm around my waist and drew me close to him, my side against his, and I cuddled against him, my hand rubbing along against his chest anxiously.
I couldn’t do this. I was the good girl, not a jail bird, the tears slipped from my eyes, a sob escaping my throat.
“Look at her.” The kid’s face scrunched in sympathy. “You’re terrifying her.”
As an older man strutted through the front slider with a harried expression on his face, the kid sighed with relief. “Here’s the owner.”
The officer turned to the man and started talking quietly to him while holding a hand out to the owner who placed paperwork immediately into his hand.
Leaning close to Markus, my head on his shoulder. I started to relax even as I watched the goings on like a fish watching a shark.
The perps were taken out, one walking in handcuffs and the other in a gurney. Shuddering I buried my face further into Markus’s chest. His deep voice rumbled under my cheek, “You did good, Bella.”
I peeked up at him, “Really?” I was surprised he would say that.
“You can go.” The officer’s voice interrupted us.
“I thought we were being detained for questioning.” Markus pushed me slightly behind him as if the cop would hurt me.
Holding my breath, I waited for the answer.
“He,” the officer jerked his head in the direction of the store owner, who was talking intently to the kid from the robbery, “is vouching for you.”
I stared at the man trying to decide if I knew him, but there was no recollection of ever meeting him before. I needed to know who this man was, so I left Markus talking with the officer while I headed over to the older man. He was at least my father’s age.
I held my hand out for him to shake, “Thank you for talking that cop out of taking us in for questioning. I would have freaked out.”
“It was my pleasure, Mary. I’ve known your father for thirty years, but the last time I saw you, you were in diapers.” He shook my hand with vigor.
“I’m sorry I don’t remember you. Dad never mentioned you that I remember.” I blushed he knew who I was, but not the other way around.
He laughed with a gusto, “I’m not surprised with your dad. We had a falling out about… oh…Ten years ago? Do you remember an Uncle Doug? Think back.”
He peered anxiously into my eyes, worried I wouldn’t remember. I thought back. A lot had gone on at that time. Mom had died, Markus left, and Uncle Doug disappeared. I remembered!
I turned to him, a big grin on my face, “Yes, I remember you, Uncle Doug. We never saw you again. When we asked, Dad just said you were too busy to bother with us. It broke our hearts when you and Markus vanished.”
Even though now I knew the truth, I still had to add a slight reprimand.
“I understand, Mary. But I’m glad you at least remember me. I’m also glad I can help you in this small way. So, that’s Markus back in the States? Hey, Markus! It’s Doug. Remember me?” Doug began waving his arms enthusiastically, trying to catch Markus’s attention.
Markus strolled over, surprised at the reception he was getting from someone he didn’t immediately recognize, being treated as if this was a party, and not a crime scene. He gave me a quick glance and an even quicker slight smile, before giving Doug his full attention.
Doug lumbered over to Markus like a huge gentle bear. His face was round with squinty brown eyes that were surprisingly gentle looking. He was large, not only in height but width as well, with a big, round belly with thick arms and legs. He was balding, so he kept the hair on his head short.
Sticking out a large hand that enveloped Markus’s, Doug thrust his whole body at him engulfing h
im in a tight man, pounding Markus on his back.
“Markus. Man. It’s good to see you again. It’s been a long time.” Doug was so enthusiastic his joy of life made everyone around him happy.
Markus grinned at Doug, standing away from the other man to see a man happy with his age. “Are you married, Doug?”
“Happily, for nine years now. We have two kids. A boy and a girl. The girl, Abigail, is the youngest and the little princess. Here see?” Doug held out his phone to us showing us almost a hundred photos and videos of his kids and wife. It was good to see a man who loved his family so much. “We’re in Colorado skiing. Well, Betty was skiing, I was watching. I’m not good on skis. Too big I guess. Next year Tommy wants to learn. Not sure whether he’s old enough yet.”
I watched two men enter, who after looking around made a beeline for Doug and Markus.
“Douglas Nelson?” one of the men asked, looking between them, not sure which was which.
Doug put his hand out in a jovial manner, “Doug Nelson. And you are?” he looked to the two men.
“Steve James and Larry Arnon, insurance examiners.” Steve and Larry glanced around, giving everything a cursory first glance.
They finally seemed to notice the hand stretched out in their direction and clasped hands with Doug in greeting.
“So, what happened? You were robbed? Were you here?” Steve asked Doug, as bored an expression as though the excitement of a car wreck was finished.
“No, I wasn’t here when it happened. I own the business, I don’t run it. That’s what the manager is for. Hey, kid. Where’s Les? I called him a long time ago, he should have been here before me.” Doug stepped over to the kid and looked at him ominously.
“I…I…,” the young clerk stuttered as he gazed pleadingly at me.
Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder I stepped forward to confront Doug. “You're scaring him, Doug. What’s your name?”
“K…K…Kenny.” He gave Doug a scared sideways glance as he took a step closer to me.
