One Tough Love

by Zanne Sweeney

  Wes texted his two partners and asked if either of them cared to join him at the bar. No need to ask which bar. They owned one and that’s where they usually went. His phone pinged twice; both Jace and Andy replied that they were in.

  Inside the bar the three men talked shop. Wes, Jace and Andy owned T.U.F. a private investigating and bodyguard for hire business. T.U.F. stood for the men’s last names, Wes Tobin, Jace Unger and Andy Franco. All three men had served over seas at the same time. They had gone through boot camp together and all three had been selected for special training. Wes specialized in strategic command and hostage negotiations, and was the teams computer guru. Jace was an explosives specialist, and Andy was an expert with weaponry. All three men were deadly with their hands, and held a variety of weapons licenses. They maintained a high fitness level and expected no less from their employees.

  They never advertised T.U.F.; they did not have to. They were often called upon to guard high profile celebrities, rock stars, and millionaires. They set up security for events and organized security details. T.U.F. also took on private investigating cases. They found lost persons, reconnoitered claims of adultery, handled kidnappings, and fettered out corporate corruption. Their percentage to close cases successfully was high and they had become the ‘go to’ guys in high risk security details.

  T.U.F. had become very successful in the last four years and Wes, Jace and Andy were reaping the financial benefits of all their hard work. Their business came highly recommended and they were paid handsomely. They also had a waiting list of clients. Their staff consisted of men and women, all well-trained, vetted, and mostly ex-military, were paid very well. They followed orders and stayed out of the limelight and out of trouble.

  As the three men sat at their favorite corner table in their small sports bar, Jace filled Wes and Andy in on his current case, which involved setting up security for a large corporate party that persons from all over the world would be attending. He had also been hired by a law firm to obtain proof regarding a wife possibly cheating on her husband, whom was the law firm's client. Andy told them about his two cases. One was locating a missing wife and the other was securing evidence regarding insurance fraud. Wes was currently setting up a security detail for Ginger Lola, a movie star that was shooting a scene in the area.

  The men had a few drinks and the bar's manager Jill stopped at the table. She was a leggy red head that ran a tight ship. Jace had hired her and he and Andy thought she was awesome. Wes liked how she ran the bar, but he felt like she was always coming on to him. Andy was totally smitten with her and Wes wished she would pay his best friend the same kind of attention that she paid him.

  Jill told her three bosses how business was and how she had secured a singer for Friday night. All three men groaned.

  “Guys a singer will bring in more business.” She said twirling her shiny coppery hair around her forefinger.

  “But Jill, this is a sports bar!” Jace laughed.

  “I know what the hell this place is.” Jill replied indignantly.

  “Well the people that come here want to watch sports, not listen to a singer.”

  “I just want to try it this once. Please guys?” Her little pout had Andy eating out of her hands and Wes just rolled his eyes then looked to Jace. The bar had been Jace’s idea, he called it an investment, and although they all shared in the work, which was actually minimal, and the profits, Jace was the unspoken man in charge.

  “Okay Jill, next Friday but we better not lose our regulars.” Jace relented.

  “You won’t I promise.” Jill did a little fist pump in the air, turned on her heels and headed towards her back office. Wes watched Andy stare at her swishing backside as she walked away. He knew if the fiery redhead gave Andy even the slightest nod he’d be all over her.

  Wes finished his drink and stood up. He’d had a long day and he wanted to check something out before heading home. The men shook hands and because it was a weekend he said he’d see them on Monday.

  Wes set his GPS to 106B Rose Lane in Summit. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to drive past Jo's place. He sure as hell didn’t want her to think he was stalking her, but he couldn’t get her off his mind. He remembered how Officer Laramie had followed her and Wes envisioned her sitting in a cold jail cell. That thought turned his gut. He decided he would just check out where she lived and hopefully he would see her car and that would mean she’d gotten home safely.

  Wes drove the route his GPS mapped out for him and was surprised at how close she lived to him. He turned down a tree lined secluded street and saw her car sitting in front of a nice looking townhouse. Breathing a sigh of relief. He continued slowly down the road and then at the end of the street he turned around and parked behind a conversion van. From where he sat he could see the front of her home. He wasn’t sure why he decided to park there and he sure as hell didn’t want her to see him. He moved his hand to restart his car, decided against it, and mumbled that he was being an idiot, but continued to sit there.

  Wes took out his phone and spent the next half hour checking his emails and returning some calls all while monitoring her home. It was getting late and Wes didn’t see any lights on in her place. There was no way she was home. He placed his cell in his suit jacket pocket and was just about ready to press the ignition button when he saw two people swaying up the sidewalk from the opposite direction.

  As they passed under a street light Wes saw Jo, her long blond hair hanging loose, falling over her shoulders and down her cropped peasant shirt. She wore cut off jean shorts that had slits in the sides and little strappy sandals. Her face was turned towards the other person, a man. He was a foot taller than Jo and well built. He had on jeans and a tee shirt and Wes could see that he had some muscle packed on him.

  As they got closer Wes could hear Jo giggling. His gut clenched uncomfortably. He didn’t even know this girl so why did it bother him so that she was with a guy. They could be engaged for all he knew, but he distinctly remembered looking at her hand for a ring. The happy couple was clearly tipsy and when they got to the front of the townhouse Wes watched them turn to each other. The man had his hand on her shoulders and Wes’ held his breath thinking they were going to kiss. Instead Jo stepped backwards away from the man, playfully swatted his arm before turning towards her home's door. The man stood and watched her. Jo took out her key, unlocked the door and stepped inside. Then she turned around, gave the man a little wave and shut the door behind her. Wes watched the man turn to the door right next to Jo’s, unlocked it and let himself inside.

  He's her neighbor Wes said out loud. The heavy feeling that had previously invaded his body lifted slightly. He realized they hadn’t kissed or even hugged. Wes knew in his gut they were not a couple and that put a stupid grin on his face. Wes watched the lights pop on in Jo’s house and once again he went to start his car, but before he did he heard another car, closer to Jo’s house start up. Wes hadn’t noticed anyone else on the street, so who ever was starting the car had been sitting in it for a while now. The car pulled away from the curb, keeping its lights off. The sedan crept down the street and Wes sunk down low so that he wouldn’t be seen. The car had dark tinted windows, there was no license plate on the front and the plate on the back was unreadable.

  Wes’ PI senses kicked in. Someone else had been watching Jo or maybe watching the man, either way it didn’t leave Wes with a good feeling. He just hoped that his little stalker routine hadn’t been noticed. Wes waited a few more minutes making sure the ominous car did not return. He watched as the lights turned off in Jo’s apartment and he saw a bluish hue coming from one of the windows. He knew she was probably in bed watching television. Wes started his car and headed home.

  Seeing Jo again only deepened his desire to see her. He also had a strong suspicion that all was not right in little Jo Ross’ world.

  Chapter 5

  Jo

  On Saturday morning Jo first went to the bank, and then to her Verizon store. She had alrea
dy reported her credit cards and cell phone stolen, using her computer. The banks were alerted in case someone tried to use one of her cards and Verizon had shut off her cell phone so no one could use it. All she had to do now was pick up a new debit card and a new phone. She was pleased that she could even have her same phone number. After time spent at the bank and waiting in line at the Verizon store Jo stopped at her neighborhood deli and got her favorite club sandwich for lunch. She chatted for a minute with Ralph the owner but the store was getting crowded so their visit was cut short.

  After eating lunch Jo spent the remainder of the day playing with her iPhone. It wasn't the newest version, she couldn't afford that, but at least now she had a phone.

  Jo had all her music backed up on her computer, so she spent the rest of her Saturday downloading her numerous playlists, inputting contacts, and reinstalling most of her Apps. Sunday was spent searching the web and local papers for possible job leads.

  She had majored in journalism and minored in criminal justice. Her dad had hoped she’d continue her education and become a lawyer, however Jo loved to write. She also loved solving mysteries, so when her college Advisor had suggested Investigative Journalism Jo decided to give it a chance. She interned at the Morgis Regional Ledger, the paper that eventually hired her. During her first week interning at the paper she wrote obituaries, edited a few puff pieces, and covered a dog show.

  While she was at the dog show she realized there was some major lobbying underway. Jo snooped around and discovered that a judge was having an affair with one of the trainers. Jo took pictures of them entering the hotel together and then another of them entering the elevator. The pictures were time stamped. She obtained the surveillance tape of inside the elevator, which showed the couple having a make out session before getting off on the floor where the judge had a room.

  Jo went home and wrote an expose article and included a still time stamped photo of the couple entering the hotel together. She turned in her article to Henry who was very impressed. Henry made an appointment the next day with the woman running the dog show, and he and Jo showed her Jo’s article and the evidence Jo had gathered. Henry told the woman that this was a courtesy heads up. The paper would be running the article in Sunday’s paper.

  Jo was thrilled; the lady, not so much. So at the tender age of twenty-one Jo had her first by-line and fell in love with investigative reporting. Henry hired her on the spot, contingent on her graduating of course.

  Now she was unemployed and sitting at her kitchen table sending off her resume. She sent one to a paper in Chicago and another to a television network looking for a writer for a new show they were launching that probed current events and other human interest stories. The good news was that she could always freelance.

  Satisfied that she had looked at every possible job lead Jo grimly shut down her computer and decided she needed a run. She texted Nick but he didn’t respond so Jo headed out to run the lake loop.

  With her new iPhone in hand Jo quickly fell into a comfortable running rhythm. She wanted to push herself today since she had missed her workout yesterday. Pleased at what she had accomplished yesterday, she thought she would send out a few resumes and she continued to busy herself mentally planning what she needed to do next after her run.

  On Monday she had to go to motor vehicle to replace her license. The bank had already issued her a temporary debit card that morning, her new debit card and new credit card were going to be mailed to her. The bank manager told her there had been no activity linked to her account, which Jo thought strange. She had had fifty dollars in her wallet so maybe that had been enough for the darn thief.

  She had reluctantly texted her sister and her Mom telling them that she’d lost her purse and they both chastised her for carelessly leaving it in her unlocked car. Jo hadn’t wanted to worry her family so she had made up that story. She was actually surprised that they had believed her. Jo still had to get her car's air conditioning fixed, but that would have to wait until she had a job.

  When Jo had heard she was going to be laid off she realized she would need to bring in some cash for her every day expenses. She had a little in her savings account so she was going to be okay for a few months, but she knew she needed to find something, even if it was dog walking or babysitting. Luckily the day after Henry had delivered the bad news, Jo had seen an advertisement in her own paper that a local sports bar, T.U.F’s was looking for a singer. It was only for a few hours on a Friday night. The time slot started at 10:00pm and when she asked why it was so late the bar’s manager, Jill, had explained that because it was a sports bar they wanted her to sing after all the local teams had gone off the air. The pay was 200 dollars plus tips and she was only singing until midnight so Jo took the job.

  She’d never sung for money before, but she knew she could do it. She and her sister had sung before large audiences at a few fairs and once they had sung at a town picnic. Her sister sang every Saturday night at a local bowling ally near her home. Jo had picked her brain and together they had come up with a song list that Jo was comfortable with.

  Jo reached the lake and sang along with her music that included some of the songs she would sing on Friday night. The sun sparkled off the large body of water and Jo watched a boat pulling a large tube behind it in its wake, jostling three kids as they hung on. Jo smiled remembering her childhood summers spent on Lowe Lake in Pennsylvania.

  Jo completed her second loop and was thoroughly drenched in sweat. Her muscles were sore, but it was the kind of sore she relished and made her feel good about herself. The sun had begun to dip behind the trees and Jo left the shaded trail and began the half-mile jog back to her home. Her mind was pre-occupied deciding what outfit she was going to wear for Friday night's gig so it wasn’t until she was at her walkway that she noticed the white paint that was splattered all over her blue Mazda.

  Jo ran towards her car taking out her ear buds. Someone had thrown an entire paint can at her car. The can lay on the ground next to a tire and there was a large dent on the hood where it must have been initially landed after being thrown. The thick white paint coated the hood of her car and veins of white paint were sliding down the driver’s side, pooling on the black pavement.

  Jo looked up and down her street, but she didn’t see anyone. She called Nick and was sent to his voice mail. The Police in her town did not treat her much better that the ones in Morgis did. They were a blue wall and she was the villain that had cut down their brethren. Jo hated phoning it in, but she knew she had too. After placing the call she took pictures of the mess. Angry tears threatened to spill down her face, but when the black and white police cruiser pulled in behind her parking space, she clenched her eyes tightly shut willing them away.

  A young officer stepped from the car along with his more veteran partner. The younger officer was diligently asking her questions, even making sure she was all right. The older officer simply leaned back against his cruiser and watched. The young officer took pictures, but when he tried to take the paint can for evidence the older officer called him over and spoke to him quietly. Jo watched as the young officer walked back to her.

  “Umm well I think we have everything Ms. Ross.”

  “Are you going to take the paint can?” She asked. “Maybe you can get finger prints.”

  “No, my partner says too many other people have probably touched it and it would be a waste.”

  Jo nodded knowing the blue wall had once again closed in on her.

  “Ms. Ross you will need to call your insurance company. I’ll file the report and you can come get a copy of it on Tuesday.”

  “Thank you Officer Cook.” She had read his nameplate.

  The young officer smiled at her. Jo knew he was going to get an ear full when he got in the car and she almost felt sorry for him.

  When the officers had left Jo placed a call to her insurance company and then went inside to email them the pictures she had taken. She returned outside and gathered the paint can in a
plastic food bag. She knew the paint was not going to be easily removed and she called the insurance company back to ask if she should clean it. Their twenty-four hour emergency service told her it would be best if she could leave everything as is. They were sending an agent over first thing Monday morning.

  Jo went back inside and slammed her front door closed totally frustrated. Her good luck was supposed to start, not another bad thing. Then she grimaced thinking that she was due two more bad come-uppances now. Jo kicked the couch and her big toe slammed against the furniture's wooden legs. As she hopped up and down in pain she couldn’t help but giggle. Vandalized car and possible broken toe; now she only had one more bad thing to look forward to.

  Jo limped to a kitchen chair and sat down. The little girl in her wanted to talk to her parents, so she called them to vent. Her father was very concerned and her Mom immediately proposed that she move home. A couple months ago a brick had been thrown through her window and now paint had been thrown on her car, they were worried. Jo managed to abate their fears and changed the subject by telling them about her singing gig that she had coming up on Friday. Her parents were both musically inclined were delighted for her and they spent the next half hour listening to her choice of song arrangements and giving their input.

  Chapter 6

  Wes

  Wes' Sunday had been spent working on the security detail for Ms. Lola. Her publicist had sent Wes a schedule so he could coordinate the security for the beautiful film star for when she was on and off the set. He had assembled eight persons, teams of two, who would rotate being with her throughout the day and night. Everything had to be coordinated through Leena Adair, her publicist.