Beautiful Days (Jason Of The Valley Book 5)

by Jason K. Melby

  "That'll be five bucks." Matt pulled out his wallet and slid over a twenty.

  "Five for the drink and the rest is yours if you can tell me if you've seen Dennis in here today."

  "Dennis? Oh! Yeah. He's out on the patio right now."

  "Really?"

  "Yeah. He's usually in here from eight until about ten or so." Matt smiled at the bartender, took his beer and headed out to the patio.

  Matt peered out and he saw there were even fewer people outside than there were inside. Just three and no one was with anyone else. It was just three people glued to their phones. Matt recognized Dennis right off and walked over to his table and sat down. The table shook and it was enough to earn Dennis' attention.

  "Oh, hi." He said with a smile.

  "Evening. You're Dennis, right?"

  "Yes. Have we met?"

  "No, but I've seen you around."

  "Really?"

  "Yes. I've even heard some stories."

  "What kind of stories? They might be true."

  "Well, the story I'm interested in took place a week or two ago. There was a book signing going on and you were caught with my friend's boyfriend's cock in your mouth."

  "Oh! Right! I recognize you! You and your friend busted us."

  "That's right."

  "Do you know that David guy? He was in here asking me about it too."

  "I'm kind of working for David in this investigation." Dennis stiffened and slid away from Matt.

  "Investigation? Are you with the cops?"

  "I used to be, but not anymore. Relax. This is a private thing, and if the police should be involved for any reason, I'll keep your name out of it. Promise." Dennis relaxed a bit and resumed his casual demeanor.

  "Fine. What do you want to know? I told David all I knew as it is."

  "Maybe I can get something more out of you. Tell me about that night."

  "Well, it was a typical Friday night. I thought the book signing thing was weird, but it was cool. I almost bought a book."

  "I'll pass that along. Keep going."

  "I noticed David early on, but I figured he was with that Jason guy, by how close they were. I thought he was kind of uptight too, but after a while, he was acting different."

  "Different how?"

  "I don't know. Like he was drunk. I mean, real drunk. When I bumped into him in the bathroom, he had this weird look in his eyes. They were glassy and big. It was like he had no idea where he was. We were at the urinal and I just took a chance and,"

  "Thanks, but I don't need any more information about that. I'd like to know more about your night before the bathroom. Did you happen to see anyone put something in David's drink?" Dennis considered Matt's question and he thought for a moment.

  "Not exactly."

  "What do you mean 'not exactly'?"

  "I didn't see anyone put anything in his drink, but I did notice this one guy at the bar who was acting really weird."

  "How so?"

  "He was kind of hovering around your table all night long. It was like he wanted to join you, but couldn't."

  "What did he look like?"

  "Cute. Hot body, from what I could see. Dark hair.

  "Anything else about him?"

  "Not really. I saw him talking with that girl who was with you guys."

  "They spoke?"

  "Yeah. I guess he was waiting to get her alone or something. They didn't talk long."

  "You don't happen to know what they were talking about, do you?"

  "No, but I think he may have just been admiring her purse."

  "Her purse?"

  "It looked like he was talking about her purse. Or something that was in it. It was a nice bag. If she's thinking of selling it, tell her I'd buy it."

  "Sure," Matt said. His thoughts were on fire as he tried to piece the puzzle together in his head. He hadn't expected getting so much information so fast. "I think that's all I need. Thanks."

  "Sure. No problem."

  "Here," Matt then handed Dennis a ten dollar bill. "Next round's on me."

  "Is this the standard informant fee?"

  "It's gratitude. I'll see you around." Matt then got up and went back into the bar and finished his beer at the bar, with a perfect view of the dancers. When he was done, he slid the glass away, thanked the bartender and headed toward the door by way of the dance box. The Latino boy knelt down as Matt passed by and he hooked his arm around his neck.

  "Going home already?"

  "Sorry. It's late for me." Matt said with a smile.

  "But you're so cute. You're basically the only reason I'm still up here. If you go, I might as well go."

  "No. You stay. Make that rent." Matt said as he slid a couple bucks into the guy's thong. The Latin boy kissed Matt on his cheek and waved him off.

  Chapter 40

  The Last Organic Straw

  Douglas had become accustomed to having to forge for his own breakfast since Cynthia was locked into her own high nutrition, low taste diet. He had tried to appeal to her that there could be flexibility in her diet but she shot him down quickly and harshly. It seemed whenever he made any plea for sanity when it came to her diet and exercise routine, she shifted into crazy mode in the blink of an eye. It came to the point where Douglas tried to avoid any interaction at all with her, if he could help it.

  He pulled open the fridge and his stomach was grumbling. He had a dream about bacon the other night and since then all he could look forward to was a plate of crisp, greasy bacon. The fridge was stocked with a lot of Cynthia's stuff. Low fat cheeses and organic milk and a wide assortment of fruits, vegetables and supplements. Then Douglas saw his little drawer where he was allowed to keep his food. He pulled it open, but his stash was gone and in its place were some rubber containers with some of Cynthia's homemade vegetable pastes. He took them out, hoping she just buried his bacon and cold cuts underneath, but it was all gone.

  "Cynthia!" Douglas barked.

  "What?" She asked as she jogged out clad in her running suit.

  "Where's my bacon?"

  "Your what?"

  "Bacon. You know? Strips of heaven sent deliciousness? Where is it?"

  "Oh. I needed more room so I tossed it."

  "You threw it out? You threw everything in my drawer out?"

  "I really think you'll thank me in the long run. You eat too many preservatives and chemicals. Just try some of my brussel sprout mango smoothy. It's really good and high in fiber." Douglas balled up his fist as his rage rose.

  "I don't want any of your smoothies. They taste like shit," Douglas hissed. Cynthia stepped back, shocked by his outburst. "Everything in this refrigerator that is yours tastes like shit! That drawer was a compromise in and of itself. I didn't want to do it, but I figured it was the only way I could maintain sanity and keep you happy."

  "I'm just trying to help you live a healthier life."

  "My life was as healthy as I liked it to be! I realize that this new lifestyle of yours is important to you and I want to support you, but you are out of control! I can't live like this!"

  "And how can I live under the same roof as someone who enjoys eating factory manufactured food filled with chemicals and insect feces?"

  "Jesus! I'm sick of all this crap! I don't care! All right? I don't care if half my diet comes out of a test tube! We all have to die someday and I'd rather go early and happy."

  "You don't mean that!"

  "I do. The issue here is quality of life. I eat steak. I drink beer. I'm a man. I don't eat this all natural, organic bullshit!"

  "Then I guess you should think about eating somewhere else."

  "Don't worry! I'll get something after work on my own!" Douglas then spun around and marched to the door. As he pulled it open he saw Matt standing before him with his hand up as though he were about to knock.

  "Hey, Douglas."

  "Matt."

  "Uh, I hate to drop in like this, but I wanted to ask Cynthia a few questions."

  "Be my guest. I have
to get to work." Douglas then rushed past Matt. He then walked into the house and he saw Cynthia running toward him.

  "Matt!" She said.

  "Hey. Did I come at a bad time? I heard the yelling from down the walkway."

  "No. It's just one of those early morning spats people have. Come on in. I was just about to have breakfast." Cynthia said through a forced smile. She led Matt on to the kitchen. He sat down at the table and she soon joined him and all she had in her hand was a plastic bottle with a sickly orange colored liquid in it.

  "That's breakfast?"

  "It's an orange, mango, carrot shake."

  "Like with ice cream?"

  "Sort of, but tofu paste replaces the ice cream. Want some?"

  "Uh, no. Thanks."

  "You sure? It's really good and good for you. Do you realize with the right food combinations, you can get all your nutrition from just three smoothies a day?"

  "That's great, and honestly, you're looking really good." Matt said as he took her in. It looked as though she had lost a lot more weight since the last time he saw her. Her hips were shapelier and she just seemed a lot smaller.

  "Thanks. I've been working hard to maintain this."

  "And it shows."

  "So what's up?"

  "I need to ask you about the night of Jason's book signing."

  "Oh. Why?"

  "I'm just checking something out concerning David." Cynthia's expression dropped.

  "Oh."

  "He thinks he may have been drugged."

  "What?"

  "Well, he actually knows he was drugged. He had his blood tested and they did find trace amounts of some strange chemicals."

  "Oh? You think I did it?"

  "No, but I'm just asking everyone who was there about what they saw. I'm hoping somebody saw something that can help us figure out who drugged David."

  "I'll try to remember, but it was a while ago."

  "I guess I'd just like to know if you saw or did anything out of the ordinary." Cynthia lifted the plastic bottle to her lips and Matt watched as the orange goop slid down to her mouth and he winced as she swallowed up a big mouthful of it.

  "It was a pretty standard night. Although, I did talk to that Jeff guy."

  "You did?"

  "Yes. I went in to get a drink and he cornered me."

  "What did you talk about?"

  "He tried to pump me for details about Mike, but after a while we just started to talk. I told him about my weight loss."

  "Uh-huh."

  "He asked! He was really sweet too. In fact, I told him my secret."

  "Your secret? I thought eating all this new age junk was your secret."

  "No, but it helps."

  "So what's your secret?" Matt asked. Cynthia leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment.

  "I guess I can trust you." She then leapt up went to grab her purse. She returned and produced a small baggy with some pills in it and dangled it in front of Matt. He was alarmed when he saw them and he snagged the bag from her.

  "Speed?"

  "Oh! No! These aren't drugs." Cynthia said as she took the bag back.

  "They look like drugs."

  "Well, I guess technically they are, but it's not what you think. I get them from a friend of mine. Her husband works for that bioengineering company across town and these are some new kind of diet pills."

  "And they work?" Cynthia got up and turned for Matt as if to indicate herself as an example.

  "Like magic."

  "What's in them?"

  "Hell if I know. All I do know is they gave me back my body."

  "It seems to have another effect too."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Cynthia, you've always skewed on the healthy side, but you seem to be in rare form now. And that fight you had with Douglas? It's not like you."

  "I'm just thinking more clearly. Douglas was complaining about mood swings and other nonsense a few days ago, but it's just him not being able to adjust to the person I've become."

  "Really? Because the Cynthia I knew would never accept that orange slime as a breakfast meal. She also wouldn't chase her husband out of the house like you just did."

  "My friend did warn me there would be some adjustments, but frankly, I think it's worth it."

  "You told Jeff about these pills?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you tell him about any personality altering properties?"

  "No, but I did warn him that a lot of people in his life would probably give him grief if he started taking them."

  "Did you give him any?"

  "No. Although,"

  "What?" Cynthia then emptied the bag out onto the table and counted the pills out.

  "Oh."

  "Oh what? What is it?"

  "It looks like I'm missing a few pills. This was supposed to be a month supply."

  "There are missing pills?"

  "Yes. It's the first time I've looked at them in the bag since that night."

  "Did you see Jeff anymore after your conversation?"

  "No. He just disappeared until he left the bar with Mike later."

  "What would happen if Jeff put those pills in someone's drink?"

  "Do you think that's what happened?"

  "I'm a little more confident in the theory now."

  "Oh my God. It's my fault. He drugged David with my pills!" Cynthia's eyes started to shed tears and she looked as though something was making her think more clearly. "What have I been doing?" She then grabbed the pills and threw them in the sink. As the last one fell down the drain, Cynthia broke down into tears. Matt ran to her and put his arms around her. "I just wanted to be me again," She said as she pulled away from Matt. "I'm a mom. A wife. Everything has changed so fast. I barely recognized myself. It was just a few years ago I was young and living life on my terms. Now I have a child. I have an opinion about children's television. What happened? How did I get here?"

  "You grew up. Happens to the best of us; but just because we grow up doesn't mean we stop being us. You're still Cynthia, just with a few additions. A great husband and a beautiful child."

  "I thought this is what he wanted. Me like I used to be."

  "The only thing Douglas has ever wanted was you as you are. Just, not psycho you."

  "Oh my God! What I said to him! I have to talk to Douglas!" Cynthia ran to her bedroom and grabbed some clothes out of her closet. She returned as she was pulling on a regular shirt. She then pulled open the fridge and stood back, taking in her arsenal of healthy food. "And I have clean out all this crap." She pulled open a cupboard and grabbed a box of trash bags. She tore one out and started dumping everything in the fridge into it. Matt came up behind her and grabbed her by her arms.

  "Calm down! Calm." He said. Tears kept pouring down Cynthia's cheeks and her arms were shaking.

  "I guess this is one of those mood swings Douglas was talking about." She said as she tried to force a laugh.

  "Why did you take them for so long?"

  "Because if you stop taking them you gain all the weight back."

  "It could come back."

  "No. Victoria said it would come back. I'm going to be fat again. I'm going to be a house."

  "You have to stop listening to this Victoria woman."

  "Her husband makes the pills. She should know."

  "No, her husband would know. She's just causing trouble. You may gain some weight. You may lose some. Your family and friends are going to love you either way, no matter what."

  "I know. It's just all the moms out here are so pretty. And young."

  "But Douglas has eyes only for you."

  "I gotta go and talk to him. Could you watch Ronnie for a bit?"

  "Sure. Go. Save your marriage."

  "Thanks!"

  Chapter 41

  The Next Scream You Hear...

  Mike and Jeff's relationship shifted from mild to wild almost overnight. Mike had insisted to himself that he was going to do it right, but Jeff's unyielding sexual drive
and creativity was difficult to resist. Mike was hoping to enjoy a more traditional courtship, Jeff, however, seemed to be more of the 'live for today' kind and considered their first date enough foreplay.

  The next time they went out, Mike was surprised that Jeff suggested a simple day at the Beverly Center. It seemed like a rather mundane activity, but Mike agreed. When they go there, they walked around a bit and found themselves in the Macy's men's section. Soon after that, Jeff was pulling Mike back to the fitting rooms and they had sex. It was a busy day too. Mike could hear people in the fitting stalls on either side of them. He had to bite down on a pair of Calvin Klein jeans as he felt Jeff's manhood push into him. When they were done, they left and headed to the food court. Mike was surprised at how casual and unaffected Jeff seemed to be.

  From then on, it just got more intense. Jeff kept upping the ante with each new experience. They had sex in nightclubs, greasy spoons, five star restaurants and even had an interlude in a stranger's swimming pool in the dead of night. It wasn't quite the dating relationship Mike had been hoping for, but he wasn't complaining either.

  As Mike was finishing up at the bistro, he found a note on one of the tables. He opened it up and there was a message scrawled on it. It was from Jeff. Mike recognized the handwriting. It was an invitation to meet at a hotel room they had been to once before. Mike was quite surprised, as he was certain the hotel would never have let them come back after the last time.

  "What's that?" Haley asked as she crept up behind Mike.

  "Nothing." Mike said as he pocketed the note, but Haley saw it and snapped it away from him.

  "Oh! Cryptic. Is this from Jeff?"

  "Yes. He must have snuck in at some point and left it for me."

  "He's certainly adventurous."

  "I know. At first it was a little scary, but now I'm getting into it."

  "He must have something big planned for tonight."

  "I honestly have no idea. Although the last time he left me written directions, we wound up doing something with moon boots and hot fudge."