Color Me Grey: Book One of the Alexis Stanton Chronicles

by J. C. Phelps

  There was a man in the hall just this side of the swinging doors but the lighting was low and I’d had enough to drink that I didn’t recognize the form. It looked familiar, muscles on a sleek frame but it just didn’t register. He was facing me; casually leaning on the wall with his arms folded in front of him and had one leg crossing the other. I kept walking toward him. I was on top of him before I recognized him.

  “Mr. White,” I said coolly by way of greeting as I passed him going through the doors. My voice was even and short, but my heart was racing. Mr. White! He gave me a small nod with a small grin attached to it. Then he followed me through the doors. I put a little more swing in my walk and calmly and coolly nodded to Army Boy at the bar. He didn’t seem to like my acknowledgement and pinched his lips together. The word oops and the F word both came to mind. I kept walking like I knew where I was going. You wouldn’t have known it by watching me slowly scan the room, but I was frantic, trying to locate Colin. I didn’t see him anywhere so I made my way back to our booth.

  I slid in the side facing the bar to keep an eye on my pursuers. I should have been scared sober, but that didn’t work with me very often. You really had to scare me. This came close but not quite there. I saw Mr. White sitting next to Army Boy at the bar and they were speaking. At least now I knew who the hell had been following me. I still didn’t understand why though.

  I was concentrating on Mr. White’s lips. He said something like, “Happen. I you her you.” Hell. I needed to find Colin! I scanned the dance floor. He was there. I got up and started for him. He saw me and came my direction, clearly able to see that something had come up. We met on the edge of the dance floor.

  “What’s up?” he asked with concern on his face and in his voice.

  “Ok,” I said as way of calming myself down. “Let’s go out on the dance floor, I’m wired and need to get rid of this energy. I’ll tell you out there.”

  The band was playing a fairly slow set so we were able to blend in and still talk. I made sure Colin was facing the bar. “Is Army Boy still sitting at the bar?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but there’s another guy sitting and talking to him.”

  “That’s Mr. White,” I said.

  “No, I know him. I can’t remember his name but it’s not White,” Colin said. “I recognize him from the service. He was of a pretty high rank, Petty Officer 1st class, I think.”

  “You know how bad I am at the ranks. I can never remember what’s what,” I told him.

  “Well, Master Chief Slade is one rank under being a commissioned officer.”

  Commissioned officers took tests to become commissioned, if I remembered right. What I did remember was commissioned officers were on the top third of the rank ladder.

  Colin went on, “Petty Officer 1st class is only a few steps below Master Chief.” I was still a bit confused, but I understood that Mr. White wasn’t Mr. White and had some extensive military rank.

  “So what does that mean?” I asked Colin. “Well, the guy you call Mr. White started the service about the same time I did and has since gotten out. I think he did two tours which is eight years and then he got out a higher rank than I am right now,” Colin said.

  “Are they talking,” I asked.

  “Not since you told me they were there.”

  “Would you please translate if they start?” I asked.

  “Wouldn’t miss the chance.” A big grin plastered to his face. I think Colin had a shot of whiskey or two while I was in the restroom.

  We danced a couple more songs and then the band picked up the pace again. The effects of the alcohol were getting to me. I began to forget about the two men at the bar again and was really getting into the music. Of course I knew they were there, how could I totally forget after seeing Mr. White waiting for me in the hall? Music just had a strange effect on me and I started to relax again and enjoy myself.

  That’s not the whole truth either. I knew Mr. White was watching and I was putting on the best show possible without being obvious. I envisioned him coming up to me on the dance floor and one thing leading to another and then it cut to me waking up in his bed.

  Colin and I were working up a sweat and I asked him, “Have you been watching?”

  “Non-stop and neither one of them have taken their eyes off you.”

  “I’m getting tired. Let’s go back to the table,” I suggested.

  “Whatever my lady wants,” he said as he bowed to me.

  I bowed back and then he followed me off the dance floor. We wormed our way back to the booth and sat watching Army Boy and Mr. White at the bar.

  Army Boy had a disgusted look on his face but Mr. White was just sitting there with hardly any expression at all. A hint of a question loomed in his eyes, but that was it. Neither one of them took their eyes from our table.

  Colin told me to move to my side of the booth so we could get another drink. Might as well, I thought. I wasn’t going anywhere until they did or I had enough courage to confront them.

  We sat for a while before Sara noticed we were again on separate sides of the table. She sauntered over and asked if we needed something.

  Colin ordered a shot of tequila and a tap beer. I knew he’d had a shot of something while I was gone. Tequila was his choice of invincibility potions. I ordered another whiskey with a Coke back and asked Sara, “Did you find anything out?”

  “Not really. I went over to him and tried flirting, but he must have it bad for you because he didn’t even notice I was there.”

  “Thanks,” I said and off she went to fetch our drinks.

  We sat there quietly, me staring at Colin and him at the bar.

  “This is like a stare down,” he said as Sara reappeared to drop the drinks off. Colin paid this time. It was his turn. Sara was disappointed because I was a much better tipper. I pulled another dollar out of my pocket and put it on her tray at the same time Colin put his empty shot glass up there and she walked away a bit happier.

  “Here we go,” Colin said starting to sign and simultaneously repeating what they were saying. “How many has she had?” “Four, including this one.”

  “Wow. They are really paying attention,” I said. Colin didn’t hear me over the music.

  “What have you found out?”

  “Not much, I think she’s who she says she is. She lives at the Stanton estate. She eats at Sal’s Sandwiches. She IS a woman.”

  “No shit, I noticed that at the office.” This brought a smile to Colin’s face and redness to mine. “How and when did she find out your were tailing her?”

  “I don’t know. Her and her friend over there were looking straight at me when I sat down at the bar.”

  “Shit”

  “What?”

  “Can you see what he’s doing over there?” Colin’s smiled broadened. He knew we were busted but hey, we busted them first. “Sign language. She didn’t list that on her app. Let’s go. Please tell Ms. Stanton thank you for her time and that I will be in touch with her tomorrow.”

  Colin motioned Sara over and bought us each another shot. My last shot was still sitting in front of me and I wasn’t sure I could handle that one not to mention the one on the way. I was about to put my head down when Sara showed up with our drinks. Great.

  Colin chugged his down and I did the same with one of them. I asked Sara to wait and drank the other one. For a few seconds I was afraid that I might have to make a run for the bathroom but my stomach settled down again. I was thoroughly drunk.

  Colin asked me if I would like to dance and I told him to find someone else, I was going home.

  “That’s too bad. You were starting to turn me on out there before.” he said with an impish grin. “Are you going to be alright?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’ll call a cab and be home in bed in no time.”

  “I’ll go call the cab, you stay here. Then I’ll come get you when they get here.” He could tell I had drank several too many. “By the way, I’m proud of you. No fight
s tonight.” Then he smiled and walked away to make that call.

  I sat there watching the band and dancers swim around the room for what seemed a long time. I seemed to have trouble gauging the time today. It seemed like it had been at least an hour before Colin came back and said, “I’ll walk you out.”

  I had a reputation to uphold, so I said no thanks to the offer of him pretty much carrying me out of the bar. I thought I did fairly well walking through the crowd, down the hall and out the door. I was aware of Colin right behind me to the swinging doors and I suppose because I didn’t run into anyone or the walls he allowed me to walk the hall alone. I stepped outside into the fresh air and took a deep breath. I was beginning to feel a bit better. The cab wasn’t at the front door like I had expected though. I walked back inside and called the cab company and arranged for another car.

  Back outside I sat on the brick planter that surrounded the building, trying to concentrate on what had happened that day. A black Crown Victoria pulled into the parking lot directly across from me. Army Boy stepped out with a nasty look on his face.

  “Hey!” he said to get my attention.

  “Leave me alone,” I said. “I’m pretty drunk and not in the mood right now.”

  He walked up to me and hovered above me. “You made me look like a fool today. I want to know who told you that I was following you.”

  I sighed, “Man. Nobody told me! You and that car were right outside my driveway when I was walking to Sal’s,” I said. “I didn’t think anything of it until I saw you parked up the street a couple blocks away after I had left you behind.”

  “Is it true that you were never in the military?” he asked.

  “Yep,” I said trying to sound tired. It was all in the attitude most of the time.

  “What the hell makes you think you could become an associate in White and Associates?” he asked rudely. “I’m in the running and you made me look stupid.”

  “I don’t think I made you look stupid. You did that all by yourself,” I said standing up. This guy was beginning to annoy me. I stood up a little too fast and got a bit woozy. I did a step forward and caught myself on his chest.

  “Excuse me? Did you just put your hands on me?” he said bobbing his head back and forth. All he needed to do now was put his hands on his hips to complete the look.

  “Look, Army Boy,” I said. “I told you I’m drunk and I just stood up too quick.”

  “How did you know I was in the Army? Who the hell are you?” He reached for me and I ducked out of the way. While I’m down here, I thought, I’ll just knock him off his feet. I struck out with a sweep of my leg and brought him down hard. I was back on my feet and almost sober. I was quite a lot slower than I normally would be and that pissed me off. I should give up drinking all together.

  I wonder if Colin knew this guy too. How else would he know that he was from the Army in a town full of Navy men? What a creep, he could have told me.

  Army Boy was back on his feet and he was acting like a boxer, jumping around with his fists covering his face.

  Boxing was never one of my interests. He jabbed at me and I sidestepped. He almost missed me. I wasn’t fast enough and he caught me in the shoulder. I went down to the pavement, but hey, here I was again. I struck out again and again he went down hard. Some people never learn.

  I got back up and so did he. Now he was really pissed. I think I could see steam coming from his ears and nose. I laughed in spite of what I was facing. I put him at about 230 pounds. That meant he outweighed me close to 125 pounds. This guy could NOT hit me anywhere substantial.

  I gave my head a shake while he danced around. I bet we looked like a pair of idiots. I was trying to clear my head of the whiskey but it wasn’t working. How the hell was I going to take this guy down? If I hit him square in the jaw I think I might break my hand and he would squash me.

  “What’s wrong with you man?” I asked, trying to buy myself some time to think. He had another coming at me before I could think of anything so I dropped and he missed me again. Guess what, I’m back. Down he went again. Didn’t his mother teach him to think ahead?

  I was up and on top of him before he could get back up. I had both of his arms behind him and pulling for all I was worth. He was a brute and I couldn’t get him exactly where I wanted him. He stood up and I was getting a piggyback ride. Being the cocky person I am and drunker than a skunk, I hollered, “Giddy up, bitch!”

  Army Boy was turning around in circles so I checked out the scenery. No crowd yet, thank goodness, but standing against a black 1969 Mustang, with his arms folded and a disapproving look on his face, was Mr. White. All right, now I’d had enough. I released my captive and jumped down.

  “Time to get down to business,” I said quietly.

  Army Boy had resumed his fight position as well as I. He was jumping around, doing some elaborate dance and I stood there completely relaxed on the outside and a ball of energy inside, waiting for his next move.

  “Are you serious about hurting me?” I asked him while he skipped around like a fool.

  “You’re damn right.” Then he took a wide swing at my head. I ducked and thought, ‘this is too easy’. I didn’t take the opportunity to knock his feet out from under him this time but instead I ended up behind him.

  He twirled around. I could see Mr. White behind him still with his arms folded in front of him but with a slight smile on his face.

  “You’re dead!” Army boy screamed and ran for me. I took a small step to the side and he ran straight into the side of the Crown Victoria. I couldn’t help it, I giggled.

  I hadn’t been in a fight for close to a year now and it had been several years since I had sparred with someone with a little more experience than a street fighter or a drunk. Army Boy spun himself around again.

  “Are you getting dizzy?” I asked. I had my hands in my back pockets to show that I wouldn’t hurt him if he quit. “If you want to persist in this you’re going to end up getting hurt. You know that don’t you?”

  He yelled something that I couldn’t understand and I don’t think he did either. Then he started bouncing around again.

  “You know, if you keep jumping around like that you’re going to make yourself tired. And it bugs me,” I added.

  He took another swing but this time aimed for my middle. Getting smarter. Only I caught his fist in mid swing and pushed back hard on his hand. His wrist cracked and I winced. I never liked breaking bones.

  Army Boy screamed and clutched at his arm. At least he had quit jumping all over the place like a hyper poodle. “You bitch!” he yelled. “You broke my wrist.”

  “Are you done then?” I asked.

  “Fuck you!”

  Mr. White walked over toward us and Army Boy got a surprised look on his face. He hadn’t even known that Mr. White had been in the lot watching us, but I was sure he had started Army Boy on his way to beat on me.

  “Nice job, Ms. Stanton,” he said. He nodded somewhere off behind me.

  “Please call me Alex. And what the hell was that?” I yelled. Then two men, one with a similar build to Mr. White and the other with more muscles walked, up beside me.

  “Let me introduce you to Leonard.” Mr. White indicated Army Boy.

  “Nice to meet you.” Then I looked to Mr. White and said with my hands on my hips, “I don’t appreciate being set up.”

  “Set up?” He raised his eyebrows at me.

  “Yeah, set up. There was no reason to sick your dog on me.” I was getting frustrated.

  “I didn’t sick anything on you,” He replied calmly. “I was waiting to make sure you made it home safely.”

  “So you think I can’t take care of myself?” I asked incredulously.

  Mr. White’s hands came at me quickly trying to grab for my arms. I deftly maneuvered away. We made a half circle within his circle of goons then he reached up and grabbed my shoulder that Army Boy had tenderized. I saw spots and the next thing I knew I was laying back on the hood of his
car with him leaning over the top of me. I wondered if he carried his gun in the front of his pants. I hoped so, kind of. We lay there for some time, with me breathing hard and him hardly breathing at all. We were looking into each other’s eyes and I felt an energy there. The question was, did he feel it?

  “You cheated,” I said finally.

  “No, I took advantage of a situation,” he explained.

  “Yeah,” I said by way of dismissal and he let me up.

  “This is Mr. Black and Mr. Blue,” Mr. White said with a grin.

  I gave him a sidelong glance. Then he said, “I think it’s fun to put them together on jobs, what with their names.”

  He got a smile out of me.

  “I’m quite impressed,” he said. “I didn’t expect you to be too proficient in fighting, considering your size.”

  I stood there in a daze from the way he smelled and didn’t catch much of what he was saying.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. White,” I said. “I’m really drunk and I think I’m going to be sick, please excuse me.”

  I went back inside just as the cab was pulling into the lot. I didn’t have time to tell the driver that I would be right back so I ran in to use the restroom. After a few minutes I came out of the stall and washed my face. I felt better except for my shoulder.

  I walked back outside to find the cab was no longer there. Black and Blue were gone and so was Leonard. The Crown Victoria remained and so did Mr. White.

  I was too exhausted to go back in and call a cab so I did my sexy walk over to Mr. White. Maybe my premonition on the dance floor could come true yet. I couldn’t help it. I had been celibate for almost a year and everyone knows, once you’ve had it, you want it again. I had had some chances but I was chicken and they weren’t pushy enough. I would have given in eventually.

  “Would you mind giving me a ride?” I asked. “I don’t know what’s up with the cabs tonight. They won’t wait for two minutes.”

  “Leonard sent the first one away and I sent the second one away,” he replied. “Get in.” And with that, he was behind the wheel of his beauty.