First Taste_My Best Friend's Little Sister Romance

by Lauren Wood

  Getting in a cab, I gave him the first address that I had and reread the file that I had on Eve. It wasn’t that big of one. She’d never been in trouble before and the paperwork was rather lax in this country. It was not near like America and half of the incident report was either redacted or not even filled in. I was left in the dark about many things, but I was doing my best to make sure that I was as prepared as I could be, no matter how bad the circumstances were that I was going into.

  When the cab stopped, the police station was rather small. I didn’t intend to stay long and had several other stops to make, so I gave the cabbie enough money for some of his time and he waited outside while I went in. I knew very little of the language and I’d arranged to have an interpreter meet me here. He was going to continue with me, but I had to get to the meeting on time and didn’t have enough of it to go get him earlier.

  Clem was a little late, but he knew enough English to get it through to them that I was here for the Americans. As soon as I started to ask questions though, they got defensive and I could tell that they weren’t the ones that I was going to have to go to fix this all. It was clear that it was going to go to court. The two police officers were proud of the arrest and were not going to let me, or anyone else steal their thunder.

  I left the police station a little deflated, but I did get some more information and an unredacted account of what happened. I was there for Eve, but she was entangled with her friend that she’d traveled here with. I would try to get them both out, but I was mainly here for Eve. She was the one that had the brother I owed. The other girl, I felt sorry for her of course, but I may very well have to leave her here. As much as I hated to think of it, I knew that it was a possibility.

  The cab driver asked where I was going next and I told him the address of a lawyer friend of mine that had moved here years ago. Roseanne was the best at helping those in need and she felt like she could do the better here than in the states. Need was greater here. I wouldn’t argue that, but it didn’t seem to be as bad as I thought. My preconceived notions were blown out of the water and Roseanne was going to help me see things as they really are.

  “I know you want to help Stan, but I really don’t know what there is that can be done. This isn’t like America where people get a chance to defend themselves. She’s lucky that she isn’t already convicted. You must have already helped slow down the process by inquiring about her.”

  I had sent Roseanne what I had and since I didn’t have anything else new to add, I was a little worried now. I was sure that this was going to be an easy case, I’d made promises, but now I could see that it was going to be harder than I would have imagined.

  “What about money? Can I pay off the right people?”

  She nodded her head, “Most of the time and most people. That isn’t any different than the states, but there’s an election going on this month and that might change things. No one wants to look corrupt and I’ve read about those women in the paper. They are taking it as a big win. I don’t know what is going to happen to her, but they are going to make an example of them to other tourists that come here. That’s not going to be good for those two girls. You’re here for the other one too, right?”

  “If I can bundle them together. It’s my friend’s sister that I’m really here for.”

  Roseanne didn’t like that answer. She thought I needed to spend more time helping and less time making money. Maybe she was right. I’m not sure. What I did know was I didn’t have that long to spend here. I needed this to go a little smoother than it was sounding. I needed to get back to work and back to billing more hours a week than I slept. It was the nature of the game for a while. I just made partner. I couldn’t be galivanting around the jungle fighting a justice system that was corrupt.

  I didn’t heed much of her advice. While I’m sure it was good, I was also sure that there was a darker side that she quite possibly didn’t really see. It was the side that I needed now. I had to find the right person that could be bought off to make this all go away. The girls being in the paper was news to me and I decided to pick one up on my way to the jail.

  Picking up a paper, sure enough the two Americans were on the front. I tried to recognize which one was Eve and the only reason I could was because I knew she wasn’t blonde. Eve had certainly changed and even in her current state of sad, brown eyes and limp brunette hair, I could see that she was beautiful. She had grown up and now she’d gotten herself into a bit of trouble.

  I read the news story as I made my way to the jail and I could see what Roseanne was saying. They were making the two young women out to be the same ilk of jewel thief’s, stealing all the country’s valuable culture. It would have been ridiculous if it wasn’t so scary. They really were trying to pin this all on the two of them and they were going to make an example of them.

  Sighing, I set the paper down and watched the jail loom ahead in the distance. It was dirty, and it was gross. I’d been in places like this before and it wasn’t going to be pleasant. I would have hated to stay here.

  Straightening up my shirt and putting my jacket back on, I went to the entrance after telling the cabbie I would be a few minutes. I could only see her for an hour or so. I was going to have to talk fast and get as much information as I could out of her. I was meeting with the authorities in Cambodia tomorrow to try and resolve this. I still thought that I could fix this quickly.

  Chapter 6

  Eve

  I heard my name being called and I didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Around here, it could have been either one. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew that I wasn’t allowed another phone call for another couple of days, so there really was no telling what it was about. I liked to think that it was good news, but it was long and in between around here.

  After being here for ten days now, I knew to let hope die a little. Every time I heard my name before I would think that it was someone coming to save me. No one had yet, and I was not going to hold out for that possibility. It didn’t seem to be one that was going to happen.

  I moved to the front of the large cell that had almost twenty of us in it and I waited for the guard to tell me what to do. I didn’t understand any of them and it pissed them off, but there was nothing that I could really do about it. All I could do was follow them when they would lead me somewhere and do my best to try and do what was asked of me. I still don’t know if I did most things right, but I didn’t get hit with that stick very often, so I figured that it was a good sign.

  Recognizing who it was almost immediately, I was suddenly worried about how I looked. I wasn’t vain in most scenarios, but I had never looked so horrid either. This was far worse than going to work with a hangover and not wanting to do much with your hair or makeup. I hadn’t showered or been able to use much clean water in ten days. This was a whole new kind of disheveled and of course I didn’t want Stan to see me this way.

  He’d gotten older. His jaw was cut now, and Stan was a full-grown man. He had been before, but age looked good on him and I couldn’t help but have a moment of wonder. Of course, this is where I would see him. This is where we would meet after all these years.

  The guard let go of my arm and I was able to sit down on a chair. This sounds like a small thing but considering that I hadn’t done that in almost ten days, again, it was a small luxury that I had until this time overlooked like it was no big deal. Now it was the best thing that had happened all day and I was an optimist as much as I could be.

  The guard said something to Stan and the man that was with him. He thanked the mystery man and he went outside of the small room that was set up. It didn’t look like a regular interrogation room and I just couldn’t believe that Stan was here. I needed some good news.

  “Thank you for coming. I didn’t believe Carl when he said that you were coming to see me. I appreciate it so much.”

  I didn’t know what else to say and I waited for him to start. He was the man with the plan hopefully and
I would say and sign whatever I could to get us out of here.

  “It’s no problem. Your brother was always a good friend to me. I need to know a little more about what happened. I have pushed for us to have a hearing tomorrow so that we can try to set a bond for you to get you out.”

  “That sounds really good. If I could get out of here, take a shower, I would feel more human. This place is kind of rough.”

  It was the understatement of the world, but I was trying not to complain. He was here and if he was here to get me out, then I was going to have nothing to talk about but sunshine and rainbows.

  “I can imagine that it’s not a place that a girl like you would be used to, huh?”

  I ignored the ‘girl like me’ comment that he made, and I was trying to get some information to take back to Callie.

  “What about Callie?

  His smile dropped a little bit and he had me worried. “I’m not really here for her Eve. I’m here for you. I promised your brother that I would get you out.”

  I didn’t know what to say, but I knew that I couldn’t leave my friend out in the cold. She wouldn’t do it to me.

  “You have to help her too Stan. She’s my best friend and we came here together. I’m not going home until she is out too. I just can’t. You understand, don’t you?”

  He reluctantly said he did. “What if it is one or the other of you get out?”

  I didn’t know if it was a serious question or if he was just messing with me. I knew that I didn’t want to stay here, and I certainly didn’t want to have that decision to make. It wasn’t one that I would look forward to all that much and I refused to even think of it.

  “Well then you’re not a very good lawyer.”

  “I guess I’m about as good of a lawyer, as you are as a hiker huh?”

  I made a face and I couldn’t believe he was here. He wasn’t the serious lawyer that Carl made him out to be. No, it was the same old Stan, but there was something new in his eyes this time. Now he was paying attention and I liked the way he was looking at me as an equal. Before I was just Carl’s little sister and he’d never paid me much mind. He sure was now.

  “Well you get ready for tomorrow. I think I have enough here that I can get started. It’s going to be okay. I’ll do my best to get you and your friend out of here Eve, but my primary concern is you.”

  I thanked him because I knew that I owed him a lot. He stood up, towering over me and I moved forward to give him a hug. I don’t know why, but just the idea that someone was finally going to help me made things so much easier. I was so worried about how everything was going to turn out and now at least, I wasn’t here alone. That meant everything to me.

  His arms were big and warm. He was holding me against him and the heat of his body was penetrating my cold one.

  I heard the guard walking up and I pulled away, but I wanted to be back in those arms. I felt safe there and I thanked him again before I was led away. I hoped that everything was going to be okay.

  Callie asked what happened and I told her. But instead of saying that Stan was going to get me out, I told her that he was going to get us out because there was no other alternative as far as I was concerned. I wasn’t going to let him give up and leave her there. We came together, and I was determined that we were going to leave together as well.

  Chapter 7

  Stan

  After meeting Eve and seeing how loyal she was to her friend, even in such bad circumstances, I knew that I had to help her. It wasn’t just about Carl anymore. I wanted to make sure that she was okay. There was something in her eyes that made me want to keep her safe.

  The other one, her friend was going to be more problematic. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get them both out. It was becoming clear to me how it was playing out in the newspapers that one of them was going to have to go down. It was the way of things sometimes and I don’t know if she knew that or not, but she was going to have to let it go. I was there to take her home, not Callie. I would help if I could, but I didn’t seriously know if I was going to be able to.

  I went to the hotel I booked before I left and tried my best to get some sleep. It was night here, but my time was off, and I ended up staying up and looking at that newspaper I’d bought earlier. What was it about her that made me want to help her so badly? I hated to see her dirty and in such a disarray. I wanted to get her out of there tomorrow. We had a chance to see a judge and I was hoping that I would be able to succeed. From there, I don’t know. But for now, my only point of content was to get her out of there, Callie too if I could.

  ***

  Court in Cambodia was unofficial, confusing and somehow good. I got them both out of the jail and on some sort of bond. We all couldn’t leave the country, our passports taken, and I had to agree to keep a watch on them. If they took off, it was going to be my reputation on the line. I knew that it was going to be hard to keep up with the two young women and I didn’t like the idea of not having a passport to leave, but I knew that it was the only way that they were going to let her leave.

  Callie thanked me, as well as Eve, but I noticed that Eve could barely look at me. I tried to remember her from before, but it was such a different woman than who was in front of me now. Even dirty and disheveled, it was hard not to see how pretty she was. Her friend was more traditional, blonde and tall, but it was Eve that really caught my attention. She was beautiful, and I couldn’t stop looking at her.

  “So, are you guys ready to go? I got us all a few rooms. I’m sure you want to get there and have a shower, change of clothes. They don’t seem to have the same rules that apply to prisoners here, as they do back home.”

  It was clear that they hadn’t been treated well and I could see a few bruises on Eve. Callie did look stricken, but she was already starting to come out of it.

  She was the first to answer. “Yes, I want the hell out of here. I will tell you now that I got first dibs on the shower.”

  Eve didn’t argue with her. She seemed relieved but still reserved about it. I was reserved about it as well because I got her out of jail for the time being, but there was still a trial to go and it was set for next week. There was gong to be no time to prepare. Everything was different here and I was going to have to get someone here locally that knew the rules better than I did because there is no way that I would be able to learn the ends and outs of their law in time. I wasn’t given any leeway because I’m a foreigner, if anything I think it was being rushed because of it.

  After calling the office and getting the girls set up in the hotel rooms next to mine, I took a shower myself. We were all going to meet at eight and go get a bite to eat. I hadn’t been here before, neither had they really and I knew that it was going to be a long night. I hoped that they would be as tired as I was, and I wouldn’t have to stay up too long.

  I called Carl right before we left to tell him that she was out, and we were at the hotel. I gave him the numbers.

  “I can’t believe you did it Stan. You’re bad ass. I knew that you were too smart to stay around here.”

  “I still miss the good old days.’

  “Well get your ass back home for once and we will go out. Scott is always around. It would be like old times.”

  I told him that I would, but at the end of the day I knew that there wasn’t much time for any of that in the life that I left behind. I knew that it was going to be hard enough to catch up when I got back. I was still thinking that this was going to be a few days and then everything would be done and ready to go.

  Moving to the hallway, Eve and Callie were dressed and ready to go. Callie looked even prettier, her blonde hair almost white now that she had cleaned it. Her smile was clear, and I smiled back but not in the same way. I wasn’t here for any of that. It was one of the last things that I had on my mind. I had one at home that I was trying to get rid of. The last thing I needed was to start something with another one. Women were overrated.

  Eve on the other hand did not smile at me
in a knowing way like she knew that I was checking her out. She was tired, I could see it in her eyes, but her smile was genuine. She was happy to be out, and I knew that because she had said it ten times. But there was another way I noticed her more. She didn’t have time for me and I was a man that women looked at. Eve was not looking at me in that way and for some reason it bothered me, even though I wasn’t here for that.

  I’d picked them out some clothes and maybe subconsciously I’d wanted to see more of Eve because the light dress that she was wearing didn’t leave much to the imagination.

  ‘Thanks for the clothes Stan. They are so airy and light.”

  I waved her off like it was no big deal, but I was happy that she didn’t see through my choosing of her clothes. Callie was a little more covered up. She pulled at her clothes and I didn’t say a word.

  We made our way down the busy side street to the main one where chaos ensued. It was one thing to walk down the street with a beautiful woman, but two exotic and tall ones compared to everyone else was another thing altogether. Whether we wanted attention or not, we got it and at one point I was pretty sure that I saw one or two camera flashes.

  Chapter 8

  Eve

  We got back to the hotel and Callie told me that she was tired. She was asleep in under ten minutes and I thought I would be the same way, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t as relaxed as she was. It was like she didn’t seem to get that this was just some quick reprieve before it all became real again. We were out for good. We couldn’t go home. There was nothing to relax about yet.

  I went out to the small balcony and was surprised at how close it was to the view I’d seen before. I knew that I had to get out of here, but I still couldn’t miss the way it looked around me. Cambodia was beautiful too.