Hundred to One

by Freya Barker

  "Arlene? She doesn't look like there's anything wrong with her. I know Emma once mentioned they met on a website for pain patients or something like that, but it never really sunk in. What does she have?"

  "Fibromyalgia. I looked it up myself, had no idea what it was. Turns out it's not that uncommon, but difficult to treat. Basically chronic pain that can travel through the body, pretty random shit, too. Comes with a lot of side conditions; poor sleep, central-nervous system dysfunctions, problems with cognitive functioning and a shit load of pain. Anyway, the woman sounded like she fought an uphill battle her entire life and deserved a break. I didn't even know if he was just blowing smoke or if his threats were serious. I still don't, but with those phone calls I'm not so sure. Did you find out anything about his whereabouts?"

  Gus shakes his head. "He's still incarcerated as we speak. Neil is checking to see if he can get a hold of the outgoing telephone records for the jail he’s being held in but that might be a tall order. Then again, Neil is just about the best there is, so if anyone can, it's him."

  For a while we hike along the trail without speaking, each lost in our own thoughts until Gus stops again.

  "Look. Arlene means a lot to Emma, and to me. Don't fuck around with her if you don't mean it. I suggest you come clean with her about knowing her ex before it blows up in your face."

  I'm pissed that my motivations are being questioned but I get it, so I try to stay calm. "Not fucking around, Gus. And let me deal with Arlene."

  "Fair enough… for now."

  By the time we make our way back to the fire where the girls are hanging out, we’re dragging two trees each and my fucking arms are about to fall off. Emma wants them all upright so they can figure out which one goes best where. Whatever. I'm just glad to be off my feet for a bit with a mug of hot chocolate and rum to warm my hands. Damn, it's colder than a witch's tit out here! Arlene looks to have cheered up some; an outdoor flush on her cheeks and her eyes sparkling. She doesn't even give me the evil eye this time when she sits down beside me on a log and I pull her close for a quick kiss. She just flicks her eyes over at the others who aren’t even paying attention. She'll get used to it.

  We sit by the fire, drinking for another hour or so until the cold starts to cut even the heat from the flames. We get the trees in the bed of my truck and tied down. Beth rides with Gus again in the SUV, along with the branches and bags of pinecones and we head down the mountain in a convoy style. First it’s Beth's house where Gus and I quickly put the tree in a stand for her. Then we drop a tree off at Emma and Gus’ before heading to the diner. The plan is to set up the tree there after the breakfast rush with the girls so they can have fun doing it. I find myself thinking of Faith and how much I miss her at this time of year and the pleasure she gets from decorating. Hopefully next year I'll have her close and we can celebrate together. It's been too many fucking years.

  I pull the truck up outside Arlene's house when Arlene suddenly grabs my arm.

  "What is that?" She points at a basket sitting on the front step.

  "Don't know. You expecting something?" I look at her pale face as she shakes her head no. Something has her spooked for sure. "Sit tight and I'll check it out."

  Walking from the truck to the door, I scan my surroundings but don't see anything out of place and I'm not quite sure what has Arlene so freaked out. It's a picnic basket with a handle. Lifting the thing up I'm surprised at the weight. I balance it on the planter and flip up one of the lids and I’m met with the cloyingly thick smell of decay. Holy fucking hell! What sick bastard… Dropping the lid, I immediately put the basket down and turn away to pull out my phone, dialing Gus when I see Arlene getting out of the truck from the corner of my eye.

  "Stay there, Arlene. Stay put!"

  "What the fuck, Seb. What is it?" Damn stubborn woman. Before I have a chance to intercept her she has lifted the lid on the basket and drops it immediately, slapping her hands over her mouth and whipping around to throw up in the bushes. Just then Gus answers and it takes me half a minute to tell him what we’ve found.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  It only takes a few minutes for Gus to get here, but it feels like a lifetime. I'm surprised to see Emma is with him. After I puked up my guts all over the burning bush in front of my house, Seb hustled me inside and got me a washcloth and a glass of water, telling me to sit my 'stubborn ass' down. He wasn't too happy I hadn't listened to him and to be honest, I wasn't too happy with myself either but dammit, ordering me to do something is like waving a red flag. He should know that by now.

  Seb goes outside to intercept Gus and Emma walks in and plops next to me on the couch.

  "What the hell happened? Gus just said you'd had a scare and I should come because you might need a friend."

  "Fuck, Ems. It freaked me out. We come home and there's a basket by the front door. Seb tells me to stay in the truck and goes to check it out but when I saw his reaction, I had to see for myself." A shiver runs down my spine when I recall the sight and smell of the contents. "I didn't look too closely, but it looked like a dead cat with its belly cut open. Stank to high heaven and it was in a fucking picnic basket. I knew it was bad when I saw the damn thing sitting in front of my door. I just knew there was something off."

  "Jesus, woman. That would freak me out, too. Who would do such a thing? That's sick!" She cuddles up beside me on the couch, hanging on to my arm and putting her head on my shoulder.

  "Dunno, but what I glimpsed from the cat in the few seconds I saw it, it looked like Mrs. Evans' cat and she was pregnant… I don't even wanna think about what I was looking at, I'll puke all over again."

  Gus comes in and walks right over to me, pulling me up and into a big bear hug.

  "Hey, girl. Bad scare, huh? That's some sick shit." Right. Trust Gus not to waste words.

  I look behind him for Seb. "Where did Seb go?"

  "I asked him to give Joe a call while I talk to you about some stuff." He looks at me with penetrating eyes and I'm starting to feel like a bug on a slide, highly scrutinized and decidedly uncomfortable.

  "Ok. What?"

  "Anything you need to tell me, Arlene? Is this the first strange or threatening thing that's happened to you?"

  He knows. Fucking Seb. I know he must have told him about the phone calls. My face goes tight with anger at the sense of betrayal but Gus catches it and calls me on it. "Don't you get pissed, Arlene. If anyone should be pissed, it's me. We are your friends, your family. Why the hell wouldn't you tell us about the shit you've been dealing with, huh? You didn't think it was important enough for us to know?" As Gus' voice starts rising, Seb comes in and slides in between us.

  "You wanna keep it down a little, friend?" He points out to Gus. "I get you may be frustrated but yelling won't make anyone feel any better. Besides, I don't particularly appreciate you being in Arlene's face."

  I’m just as stunned with Gus' unexpected outburst as I am with Seb's interference, so while the two of them are staring each other down, Emma gets up, shifting her eyes from one to the other and holding up a hand.

  "I seem to be the only one without a clue here so may I suggest you all sit the hell down and one of you tell me right this minute what the blazes is going on with my best friend. Or maybe my best friend would like to do the honors?" With that she turns her fierce glare at me. Oh shit. Kind and gentle Emma doesn't look so kind and gentle right now with her red curls flying about her head and fire shooting out of her eyes.

  We all comply and sit our asses down, Seb pulling me close with his arm around my shoulder and Gus still looking irritated as a poked bear.

  "I've been getting hang up phone calls for a while now. Whoever it is calls, I answer, and I don't hear a thing until I hear the click of a hang up. A few nights ago there was another call, and that time he said something." I'm uncomfortable going into what lead up to the phone call so I stop right there, but Seb takes over.

  "We were in the diner after closing - kissing. The phone rang, Arlene an
swered and the guy called her a whore. Some of the things he said made it sound like he could see what we were up to. By the time I got the phone from Arlene he had already hung up. All the blinds were up on the windows so it was easy for anyone to see in."

  Uncomfortable with the exposure of the conversation and still shaken by the experience from earlier, I get up to make a pot of coffee, needing the time to settle myself and wanting to keep my hands busy. I can hear Emma following me into the kitchen. Slipping her arm around my shoulder she leans in to me.

  "You okay, honey?" She says softly and suddenly it's all a bit too much. This was supposed to be a fun day. I had been determined this morning I wouldn't let anything sour it. I try to keep my face averted from Emma so she can't see the stray tears that seem to have escaped my eyes, but the damn woman is too observant.

  "I wish you'd talk to me, Arlene. I know you're used to keeping things closed off, but so much has happened in the last few months and now this; I'm afraid you're gonna implode with it all if you don't talk."

  It is so tempting to tell her everything - to start all the way back to the beginning and lay it all on the table without skimming over the bad parts like I always do. I can hear the heavy rumble of voices from the living room, indicating that Seb and Gus are deep in conversation as well so we would be safe from prying ears.

  I tell her. "I'd love to. You have no idea how much. To just let it all go, but honey - I'm afraid if I do, I'll come apart at the seams."

  "Oh, Arlene." Emma wraps her arms around me and I just turn to mush, breaking open and bawling. Still unfamiliar with the kind of warmth she gives freely, I would normally bristle at the show of emotion, but I am so ready for it; craving the temporary safety it gives me to let down my walls. When I feel a second pair of arms, bigger and stronger, take over for Emma's gentle and soft ones in holding me together I look up to find Seb's dark blue eyes. Gus, who I apparently also treated to a first row seat on my little breakdown, is leading Emma out of the kitchen, leaving Seb and I alone. He cups the back of my head, pushes it into his neck and settles back against the counter, forcing me to lean into him and I do with all my weight. I lean in and let it lodge in my soul.

  With the slow firm strokes of his hand on my back, time has disappeared and I’m startled when Gus peeks his head in to inform us that Joe just pulled up, but that he'll give him the rundown outside to give us a few more minutes. Seb moves me back a little and I instantly feel cold and a little lost, but his hands quickly frame my face and he leans his forehead against mine.

  "When we are done with Joe, we are going to decorate the tree. After that, I’m going to cook us something and then we'll talk. Okay?"

  I just nod my head lightly, not wanting to lose the connection with his hands on my face.

  Joe and Gus come in the front door as we come out of the kitchen and Joe walks right over to me, enveloping me in a bear hug.

  "Heya, girl. How ya doing?"

  "Mmm-Okay" I mumble, my face pressed in his down parka. Ironically, of all the people here, I know Joe the least but he knows most about me, being privy to all official information related to the kidnapping and assault two months ago. He and I had a very uncomfortable conversation in which he made it clear he would respect my privacy and wouldn't discuss some of the information that had come to light during the course of my medical assessment after the attack. It felt odd and almost like a betrayal to my close friends who I know truly love me, but had been left mostly in the dark about the full extent of my injuries. Something I realize now has become a real barrier in my relationships with them. I have some soul searching to do, especially if my suspicions are correct because it means I might need all the friends I can get.

  "I'll grab us some coffee." Seb says and heads back into the kitchen. I have a feeling he might not be happy with the way I let Joe keep his arm around me as we move into the living room.

  Sitting down beside me, Joe asks me to tell him about the phone calls, which Gus apparently already has informed him about. It's easier this time around and by the time Seb comes back in, Joe is already going back over my story with some pointed questions, but when he asks me if I have any idea who might be behind this, I hesitate.

  "With everyone being called back for interviews on the Flemming case, I initially assumed Will might be behind it, trying to scare me off. I'm sure his lawyers are aware that my memory was sketchy from that night and I wondered if he might be worried I remember something more, or he is trying to keep me off balance so they can use my head injury against me to draw my testimony into question, but now I'm not so sure. I mean, I'm sure he could manage an anonymous phone call, but he’s still in custody so who would get pissed at me kissing Seb? Or why kill a cat. That's what puzzles me."

  "What about your ex?" Seb offers, surprising me.

  "As far as I know he's still locked up too. Besides, what would he want with me? Why now?" I have to admit the thought had occurred to me, but I had quickly waved it off, figuring that if he had wanted to piss me off, he would have likely done so a long time ago when he was first convicted, but apparently Joe was of a different mind.

  "Won't be long before he is up for parole. He might be out before you know it." Ok, that’s enough to send a shiver down my spine as Joe continues, "For now, I don't want you to be alone at any time, Arlene. It’s just a safety precaution, but when we go from silent phone calls to an abusive one, to leaving you a dead cat in a relatively short period of time, it tells me whoever is behind it is losing his cool."

  "I'll have Caleb stick around town and keep an eye out, and she can stay with us." Gus suggests.

  "Absolutely not. I’ll not be chased out of my house or my diner. Fuck him. Not gonna do that." I assert myself, realizing that if I let them, these three guys, plus my bossy best friend will try to plow right over me. "I'm staying right here."

  "Of course you are." Seb says. "And so am I. I happen to agree with Joe and with you. Don't show a reaction, but also don't be stupid about it and go without some extra insurance."

  Well then. He makes it sound very reasonable, yet I still feel I'm being played somehow. When Joe nods and Gus agrees to the plan and offers to have Caleb patrol the surroundings from time to time, I know I've been had, but I have to admit, it makes me feel better. Still, I'd rather swallow my own tongue than admit that any time soon.

  When Joe has all he wants from us and reminds me to expect a call from the prosecutor's office for my final interview, he heads off, taking the remains of poor Mrs. Evans' cat with him. He promises to stop by her house to see if it really is hers and will call us when he finds out anything more.

  Gus and Ems leave shortly thereafter, after ensuring I’m fine and will call them if anything happens or I need them. That leaves Seb and I, and while he clears away the coffee paraphernalia, I try to process everything that’s transpired, coming to the conclusion that I’m very fortunate to have the friends I do. I'd be a fool to jeopardize those friendships so I have to try and open up a little more…if I can.

  CHAPTER NINE

  "You hungry?" I ask Seb.

  We've hauled whatever decorations I have plus the tree stand out of the detached garage on the side of the house. The tree is standing in the dining room that I mostly use as an office space since I eat at the diner or at the kitchen table. I've pulled out some of the decorations, but a lot of them are broken or falling apart.

  I'm just standing at the table, surveying what there is to work with when Seb asks me.

  "I'm getting there. You?"

  "I could eat. I'll whip up something. Maybe after that we can head into Cortez and pick up some new lights for here and the diner and decide if we need any more stuff."

  "Stuff?"

  "Balls or garland or whatever the hell shit you want to have on the tree," Making me laugh. He's been quiet all afternoon and really hasn't touched me since the melt down in the kitchen. We've just been working side by side quietly, something we always do well at the diner, but it's nice to know tha
t it's not limited to only there. My laughing triggers a little tilt of his mouth and some crinkling by his eyes, indicating he’s amused. What a pair we make, neither very well equipped in vocalizing what we think or feel. It'll be interesting.

  Walking past me, he tags me by my arm, pulls me close and plants a quick kiss on my lips.

  "Figure out what you need, I'll be in the kitchen." I hear as he leaves me standing there, slightly dumfounded as he seems to manage each time he puts his lips on me.

  We’re lucky Walgreens still has some plain white lights because all Walmart had left was those garish multi-colored twinkling things which are enough to give a person a Grand Mal seizure. I prefer my lights understated, thank you very much, just like my decorations which I intend to make with the bag of pinecones I collected this morning for the house. All I need for that is a bit of wire which is sitting in my cart. I still have some old decorations that had belonged to my grandmother that remind me of a time when Christmas was an exciting time for me. I haven't had those up in ages, but I’m ready to see them up this year. Don't ask me why, but something tells me Christmas might be looking up.

  For the diner I want simple silver and red. I don't particularly care what kind of decoration, just as long as they aren't too gaudy or flashy.

  "I've never seen a woman shop as fast as you do." Seb observes as I line up at the cash register after less than ten minutes in the store.

  "I hate shopping, so you won't see me lingering in any stores. I go in, grab what I need and bee-line it out of there. I avoid it like the plague. In fact, I think I might prefer the plague." He bursts out laughing at that.