by Ross Homer
Mostly though, I watched Big Black Truck guy laughing it up at a table with his friends. They hadn’t seen what happened at the bar.
“Chardonnay for us, Dewey,” I said as I watched them and the others. “What the hell? I didn’t think you let this kind of riff-raff in here.”
He handed us three glasses and poured them full. Filling the glasses to the rim was not a good sign.
“Jo,” he said as he put the bottle back in the chiller, “They arrived all at once just minutes before you three came in. They had just started bitching about the music and I was going to knock some heads. I’m glad you came in when you did, or I may have made a big mistake. What are you going to do because I know you and your friends are up to something.”
“This is Nissa Stanley,” I said, introducing them. “Mostly I want to fuck up that guy.” I pointed my wine glass at him. Big Black Truck guy got the wrong message, of course, and thought I was interested in him.
“Should I get ready to drop the screen?”
“Yeah, that might be a good idea.” He moved over by the cash register.
To protect his inventory, Dewey had a screen he could drop in an instant between the rest of the bar and his bottles on the wall. In the years I’d known him, I’d only seen him drop it once. That was also one of the few times in my life that I’d been truly frightened.
I sipped my wine then turned and faced the room. The grunge band guys had left. Smart. The guys hassling them took their table and Marcella’s tip and were still being mouthy about the music.
After setting my glass on the bar, I said loudly, “Hi, everyone! How many of you are friends with this guy?” I pointed at Big Black Truck guy.
Most of the hands went up as they looked at me curiously. I nodded. “Thanks. I assume all of you know that he likes to run bicyclists off the road?”
One guy yelled, “Them assholes don’t belong on the road! Good for him. I do it too, when I catch one of them guys.”
“You’d be wrong about that, especially when we’re biking in a specified bike lane.”
“Yeah? That bike lane comes outta my street. You don’t need that shit. Just stay the fuck off my roads. Go do that pansy-ass shit in the woods.”
“Funny thing, that. I don’t know anyone who’s a pansy-ass mountain biker. In fact, shithead, why don’t you come along sometime? Then we’ll see who’s got a pansy-ass.”
He stood up and I knew I was running out of time. It was going to get ugly in another minute or two. Looking at my nails, I said, “All of you leave now while you still can. Well, except for that asshole right there, and his buddy. We are going to have a quiet conversation. They may live through it or they may not.”
It was clear that neither Big Black Truck guy nor his buddy recognized me. When he was busy running me off the road, I wore bike shorts, a team jersey and a helmet. I wore a jacket, too, the first time. Since I wear a sports bra when I ride, he couldn’t even tell much about my shape. Now he could and I saw his eyes widen.
The rebar that Elsa mentioned a little earlier materialized in my hand. I said to everyone again, “Leave now or don’t. I hope you have medical insurance if you stay. Also, you may want to call for tow trucks since every single tire outside is shredded.”
Several men ran out only to return moments later in a rage. A big guy yelled, “Th’ bitch is right! All our tires are flat. I’m gonna kill her.”
He ran towards me and caught the rebar square in the nose as I two handed it into his face. It slowed him down a little but my left foot square in the balls stopped him dead. I have very strong legs. He lay curled in a ball on the floor at my feet.
Before pandemonium broke out, I yelled, “Stop. I’ll say it again; leave before some of you end up in the emergency room at some hospital. I am not kidding!”
Big Black Truck guy started to stand. “You’re staying,” I said affably. “So are you,” I said to his buddy. “Sit.”
I was thinking knees, his, when Elsa put her hand on me again. “Don’t.”
“If you insist.”
One of the other goons yelled at me, “You’ll pay for this…cunt!” He stared across the bar at us.
“No, I won’t. Leave. Walk home. Take a cab. I don’t care. Just go. Oh…why don’t a couple of you drag ol’ crushed-nuts out of here, too.”
Glaring daggers at us, a couple of guys picked up the one I kicked and dragged him out. Some of the others flipped me off but left.
Now I turned to Big Black Truck guy. Using magic, I made him put his hands flat on the table. He fought it even though he didn’t know what was happening to him. He looked at me, then the rebar and knew what was coming. It did, too.
I brought it down hard across the backs of both hands. He shrieked in pain.
I said, “I hate unnecessary cruelty, but you brought this one yourself. Now you know about how a friend of mine who’s collar bone you broke this morning feels. You have absolutely no idea how lucky you are right now. My Baby here has asked me not to break you into leetle bitty pieces and trust me…I can with or without this piece of steel.” The rebar disappeared in front of his eyes.
“However,” I continued, “she can do some pretty amazing stuff herself. What she can do with an orgasm is cosmic. I can guarantee you of that. I wonder if she can do the same for pain?” I looked over at her and surprising me, she nodded.
The guy’s eyes opened about as far as humanly possible as they bulged out at the pain in his hands which had increased beyond his ability to scream…to even process. Elsa held it there for a moment then relented.
“See what I mean? Now that I know who you are, the next time we meet better be in a store or bar. Passing each other on the sidewalk. Not on the road. If any of my friends are injured by any of yours, I promise you that even if you didn’t do it, your hands will never work again and I will ensure that the pain you feel every waking second of the rest of your life is just under unbearable.”
He nodded but growled, “You’ll pay for this. I promise on my soul that you will!”
“Buddy, you don’t have a soul so I’m not too worried. Elsa, I need to talk to this piece of pond scum a little. Can you back off his pain so he’ll be about halfway coherent?”
I saw him regain a little composure as she lessened his pain.
“What do you know about Sato’s death?” I asked him.
“I ain’t talking to you about that.”
He was feeling better, but I knew it was only because Elsa was letting him.
“Dude,” I said, “tell me what you know. It’ll be a great help in maybe saving someone else’s lives.”
“What did I just say? I ain’t talking to you about that.”
I nodded at Elsa and the pain returned in force.
“Oh God! Okay! Okay! Make it stop and I’ll tell you what I do know but it ain’t much.”
Elsa did as requested.
“Sato pissed somebody off.”
Nodding, I said, “Tell me something I didn’t already know. I saw the results of that first-hand the other morning. It wasn’t pretty.”
He didn’t say anything, and I thought I’d need to pain again. Then he said, “He came here from Japan planning on taking over the West Coast. Most of us guys did some work for him. Y’know…enforcing shit. Some construction at his house. Reiko told me she didn’t want none of it. That’s why she was here. Too bad she got killed too. She was a nice kid.”
“I know all that or figured as much. Who’d he piss off?”
“All I know is some guy in Idaho. Word around is that it was Roy Bob Miller, some kinda Rocky Mountains player. I heard he thought he was hot shit.”
I stared at him and witched him just a little. He was telling the truth.
He went on, though. “Sato has this samurai sword hangin’ on the wall in his office.” The three of us nodded because we’d seen it, too.
“Sato was like, amazing with that thing. I got to hold a guy’s arm right at his wrist as Sato took a breath. Almost before y
ou could see it, he brought that sword down a hair from my own hand and cut off the right hand of one of Miller’s shooters. I did several like that. He let me hold these guys because I wouldn’t flinch. I trusted him not to get me. He didn’t. He did like five or six of them. I only held three of ’em. Then slick as you please, he’d bring that sword back around and slit their throats just deep enough to cut their neck veins. Wow! Can that blood fly!”
There were five bodies in the grave behind the shed. Now we knew who they belonged to.
I nodded at Elsa and she let his natural pain return. I said, “That’s how much it hurts right now. We haven’t done anything more. But dude, if any more bicyclists are screwed with out there…well…you know what it felt like.” I pointed at his friend and said, “Now why don’t you and your buddy go get these hands looked at? That’s a good little boy,” I added as the goon led Big Black Truck guy out of the bar.
It was quiet now in Dewey’s and kind of an emotional letdown. There was no sign that there’d been any trouble.
Dewey looked at me with brand new respect. “Ahh, Jo, that was interesting if nothing else. Could you have taken on all those guys?”
“Yeah,” I replied and finished my wine. “It would have been ugly, but I could have done it.” I smiled gently at Elsa. “I’ve done it before.”
“I don’t know why I believe you, but I do. I think tonight was more than likely a surprisingly good night for a bunch of assholes since all but two left on their own accord. Well, except for the one whose hands you broke. Uhh, can I ask a magician a question? I know you ain’t supposed to tell but where did that rebar come from?” He looked me up and down. “You, uhh, can’t hide it in your clothes.”
“It’s my secret and no, I’m not telling.” I winked at him. “Suffice it to say if I need it, I can get it. Now, Elsa, Nissa, shall we go home?”
As we walked along none of us knew what else was happening in this case. Terrible and sad retribution was going on and would soon gather us up in it.
<<<<<>>>>>
Two women stood naked in front of Aato. Their heads hung down and they were crying. Two nightwalkers were standing with them and running their appendages all over the women’s bodies, gently but strangely insistent. The women were mother and daughter and both were dark Fae.
Aato sat at his desk and stared at them. “I am not happy with you and I don’t quite know what to do with either of you. Let my pets have you? Or Aveline, do what I did with your daughter.”
Aveline was Gaelle’s mother. She looked up now, unafraid, having made peace with Gaia and the Universe. She knew she was going to die right here and hoped she had the strength to endure whatever Aato conjured up as suitable punishment.
“Then Aato, do what you must. Not one of us knew that man would stiff you. You have murdered my daughter. Shouldn’t that be enough payment?”
Aato thundered, “No! I will have my pound of flesh and my money. My money I will get from the man who owes it. The pound of flesh I will take from both of you before I go to him. He will not enjoy trying to screw me over. The question is, do I have fun with you first? Both of you? Neither? It’s been a long time since I was involved in retribution.”
Lilou, Aveline’s mother and Gaelle’s grandmother raised her head. “Then have your fun but with me, Aato. Let my daughter walk. As I’m the one who arranged this contract, I should pay for it being unfulfilled.”
“Oh, you will.”
The ice-cold tone of Aato’s voice frightened Lilou worse that what she imagined he was going to do to her.
Aato stood and came to them. The nightwalkers retreated across the room and waited. Like them, he stroked and touched both women. They knew Aato was building fear and horror in them. He moved smoothly and softly around then, still touching…stroking. The nightwalkers were right. He was definitely stoking fear in both women.
Now facing them, he nodded at one of the nightwalkers and it returned to the two women. Aato pointed at Lilou. “She is old and dried up and of no use to me or you. Take her.”
What had happened to Gaelle suddenly happened to Lilou. She had no real understanding of why there was a momentary sting on her neck before she fell to the floor, unable to feel anything. Not even hitting the floor. She saw the room roll past her a couple of times before it stopped moving. Facing her from several feet away and pumping strong gouts of blood, was… No! That can’t be my body! No! This can’t be right! But…there were the tattoos on my chest.
Blood continued pulsing from the top of her shoulders. Moving her eyes, she could see it hitting someone’s legs. Her eyes were all she could move and as she tried to speak, she heard no sounds as she started to gray out.
Lilou knew this wasn’t right. She had been standing beside her daughter. Now, in the last few seconds of cognizance, she knew her head had been severed from her body and she was dying.
Lilou was the lucky one that morning. What happened to Aveline was far, far worse. Aato took his revenge on the family that caused him to lose money. Next came the man who stiffed him.
Aato sent Roy Bob Miller an email with an attachment showing precisely what had happened to Aveline and Lilou. Then, before Aato moved on to Roy Bob Miller, he and his two minions enjoyed a delightful lunch and dinner. Aato, being more civilized, had his meat à la steak tartare. The minions enjoyed theirs off the bone.
Chapter 9
Home. What a wonderful word: home. The three of us kissed goodnight and went to bed. As I snuggled up tight with Elsa, I felt sorry for Nissa, not having her man to cuddle with. He was in England and I know from just watching her that she missed him terribly.
Nissa was safe here, inside this house, with us. I prayed that the three of us really were safe and I was not just whistling in the graveyard that my fatal wards would work if needed. Wards that can’t be tested.
With a final kiss to my already sleeping lady, I drifted off.
I guess in the excitement of yesterday and last night, I forgot about how stiff I’d be the next morning. Well, this was the next morning and as I rolled away from Elsa to stand up…nothing wanted to work. I felt like I was not thirty-two but more like a hundred and thirty-two. I’d hit the ground yesterday a lot harder than I thought I had.
My loud groan brought Elsa awake in a flash. She looked around, expecting the worst and then put her hand lightly on my left shoulder. She asked softly, “Baby? Are you alright? Is everything okay?”
I lay back down, carefully, as some of my scabs were sticking to the insides of the old pajamas that I was wearing for just that reason. I usually slept naked, but I knew some of the scabs would probably come off. They did. I guess it all made me a little grouchier than usual because I honestly missed the feel of Elsa’s body beside me. She didn’t wear anything, either.
I growled, “Elsa, I’ve been on the ground before and it’s never fun. But this time? I think age is catching up with me.”
She kissed me tenderly and stroked a couple of places that didn’t hurt. Her touches helped. I’m usually a good patient but this morning I felt like milking it for all it was worth. I should have known better. Elsa wasn’t going to let me malinger.
She continued talking softly though, her lips brushing my ears in a way that usually drove me wild. “Stop this shit right now, you big weenie,” she whispered. “Widdle baby faw down and get a boo-boo. Want me to kiss it and make it all better? You are not old for cryin’ out loud! Now…get that beautiful ass up and let’s go in the bathroom and let’s see how you look this morning.”
I grumbled back, “Elsa St. Germaine, I positively hate you this morning. And you’re fired.”
“Yeah? Well I ain’t so wild about you right now either.” But where she kissed me told me otherwise. Looking up, she said, “At least these didn’t get hurt in the fall.”
That made me laugh through the pain. “They’re about the only thing. Please, Baby, help me up and out of these damn jammies. And…you’re not fired.”
“Thank God because withou
t me, you’d have to close up shop.”
Was she rubbing my nose in the fact that she could bound out of bed like a beautiful, naked, pixie? She was. Bitch.
She came around the bed and gently helped me stand. Okay. I still loved her, too.
I groaned again. I mean, I really did hurt all over. Elsa said, “Stand here, Baby. I’ll get a couple of aspirin for you.” She ran into the bathroom and returned with a couple which I thankfully swallowed down along with the full glass of water she brought.
“Jo,” she said, “I think this is going to sting a little, but I can see that your pajamas are stuck to some of your scrapes. I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
Before she started helping me out of them, I said, “I love you more than you can know right now. Now let’s do this.”
“Can’t you magic away the pain?”
“I’d rather not. I was taught to not overuse the ability if I didn’t need to. I know this’ll hurt but then, I’ve been hurt worse.” She knew that because she’d lived with me for six years.
She unbuttoned the shirt and slowly and carefully worked it off my shoulders. As she gently dragged her fingers across my nipples, I said, “Leave my girls alone this time, okay?”
“You’re no fun when you’re in pain.”
“So sue me. Let’s do the rest.”
Dropping my shirt on the floor, she went after the tie on my bottoms. Oh yeah. This was really going to be fun and we’ll not talk about it anymore. I survived and she put more ointment on the worst places.
Okay. I’ll be honest here. She had a lot more fun dressing me than I did and if I didn’t hurt so bad, I’d have been a raging, horny, mess when I finally managed to get my watch on. Still, what she was doing felt damn good and it helped take my mind off my injuries.
I kissed her anyway, and said, “You’ll pay for this, you little minx.”
