by R Weir
Penny looked up at her friend, fear in her eyes. “I’m not sure I can.” She didn’t believe she had the strength to make that step.
Athena led her to the sink in the back and stood her in front of the mirror to see the damage he’d inflicted. She held up Penny’s chin when she wouldn’t look, forcing her to glare at the bruising and swelling around her left eye and cheek.
“Look at what he did,” announced Athena forcefully. “I can tell there’s more under your clothing from how you flinched when I hugged you. No one who claims to love you would treat you this way. It’s got to stop now!”
Athena laid her head on her friends’ shoulder, and placed an arm around her gently, trying to transfer her strong will into her friend. Athena cared deeply about her and didn’t want to visit her in the hospital—or worse in a morgue. They stayed that way for several minutes before they heard a commotion out in the bar. A familiar voice was yelling at the top of their lungs.
Athena told Penny to stay put as she walked out to see the boyfriend making a scene, wanting to know where Penny was. Many of the patrons moved out of his way, his demeanor threatening, likely still drunk from his attack on her. He saw Athena walk out and moved towards her, anger on his face. Athena had no fear of confronting him. She even relished it after seeing what he’d done to Penny.
“Where the fuck is she?” he bellowed, the strong smell of alcohol spraying in the air around them.
“Leave now Ethan, before we call the cops,” Athena replied, not backing down.
He was shorter than her by about two inches and was twenty pounds heavier. He wasn’t in the best of shape, a lot of fat in the gut begging to be punched. Moving in closer, he attempted to peer around her through the window on the door, hoping to get a glimpse of Penny.
“Is she in the back?” he howled. “I’m going in to get her.”
He moved as though to make his way to the back, but Athena blocked his way. He glared at her, and tried again, this time using his hands to try and push her aside, but she didn’t budge. Her eyes watched his every move, primed to counter them. Her mind calm and ready to act. His look turned even more furious, and again he put his hand on her. Athena grabbed his wrist, twisting it down and then around behind his back, his grunt audible as she shoved his chest into the rail of the bar, holding him there, his attempts to squirm free failing.
“Trying to break free will only get your arm broken,” she stated while maintaining the pressure, a hint of joy in her tone at the physical control she had over him. “Now you either walk out of here to go home and sleep it off, or we have the cops show up and arrest your stupid ass for assault.”
Ethan continued to groan in pain, as Athena kept the pressure on his arm.
“What’s it going to be. I can stand here all day if necessary, until bone, ligaments or cartilage gives.”
“I’ll leave,” he mumbled, he could hardly be heard.
“What did you say?”
“I’ll leave! Please release me.” He shouted a little louder.
Athena released his arm, stepping back, ready for any aggression on Ethan’s part. He turned around rubbing his wrist, then his elbow and shoulder. His face was red with anger, but he didn’t try anything.
“You haven’t heard the last of me,” he said in a threatening tone.
Athena raised her finger and pointed at him. “Try anything against me or hurt Penny again and I’ll drop you to the ground like a bag of wet cement. Come back into this bar again and I’ll have you arrested. Now leave! Your booze laden stench is ruining our atmosphere.”
Ethan scanned the room and saw everyone looking at him, some whispering to each other. He strolled out the door in a huff, his pride having taken a beating.
From the back room out came Penny, having watched it all through the door window. Though still showing her wounds, she couldn’t believe what her friend had done for her. She walked up and hugged her.
“Thank you,” she whispered in Athena’s ear. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Don’t go back to him, ever again. Promise me.” Athena pleaded.
“I promise,” Penny replied, before gathering herself and starting her shift.
The rest of the evening went by without incident, the two ladies walking out together at closing. Penny insisted on going home alone ready to face Ethan if he was there.
“Though its wonderful you’re helping me, I have to fight this battle myself,” she claimed. “I must stand up to him. If he threatens me, I’ll call the police.” Though she said it, Penny herself inside wasn’t still convinced she could defeat him.
“Are you sure?” wondered Athena, uncertain if she should leave her alone.
“I am. It’s my place—he can’t run me out of there. I will make sure he understands never to come back and bother me again.”
Athena hugged her friend one last time and then watched her drive away, worried about her, though proud she was facing the situation head-on. After Athena got home, she lay on her sofa, falling asleep until her cell phone rang in the early morning hours. It was tragic news, the words no one ever wanted to hear, ones that changed the future of many involved in a dramatic way.
***
The memories of the past shook Athena, waking her from her sleep. She lay there wondering about that fateful night, the events still clear in her head all these years later. The craziness of it all needing to be pushed aside. She walked to the first-floor, hunger rumbling through her stomach, displacing the memory that never left her for long.
Chapter 9
On the drive back to Kahului Airport, sustenance was on the mind of both Hunter and Keoki, the urge to eat calling them. There were numerous options along the way, and after a short debate, they decided on food uniquely native to Hawaii, and ordered pizza. Or at least unique in one way, as one of the large pies had pineapple on it, which was how Keoki liked it.
Carrying the pizzas onto the jet to feed them and the famished pilots, the four of them ate leisurely, even with a long trip ahead. As they were about to take off, Hunter got a call on his cell phone from one of the men he’d left messages with. Shen Lewison lived in Scottsdale Arizona, where he ran his own martial arts training center. He had worked with Hunter’s team in the past and was thankfully available to assist with this job. Hunter had the pilot change their flight itinerary to stop at the Scottsdale Airport, where Shen would be waiting.
Now stuffed with pizza, breadsticks and soda, Hunter reclined his seat after the jet was in the air and did his best to sleep. Air travel didn’t bother him but sleeping was always challenging when in motion. Especially when hitting pockets of turbulence, which they did a couple of times, shaking the jet thoroughly, the seat belts restraints keeping them from being thrown to the floor. Keoki slept through it all, as if he were on the ground in his own bed, his snores heard even above the jet engine noise. He was probably tuckered out from the passionate goodbye Malina provided him before leaving, a satisfied smirk filling his face even as he slumbered.
The flight time from Maui to Scottsdale was close to six hours, in good weather. Other than when they took off in the rain in Maui and the turbulence in the atmosphere, the trip had been nearly perfect. Because of the time difference of three hours, they ended up arriving in Scottsdale after midnight, the time coasting by quickly even though Hunter only slept periodically.
Once on the ground, Hunter left the plane to stretch his legs and to find Shen. Hunter found his friend waiting in a seating area near their gate, asleep across a couple of chairs in a section devoid of anyone, luggage resting near his feet. Hunter whistled, causing Shen to nearly fall to the carpeted floor. Taking a minute to clear the slumber from Shen’s eyes, the two soon were on the jet, luggage stowed away, both in their seats. Waiting for fuel and the clearance to take off, they were back in the air in about ninety minutes.
It had been a few years since Hunter had seen Shen. The man was a martial arts expert and ran his own training studio, much of which concentrate
d on helping kids in need and those with a history of problems. Shen provided them solid role models and discipline to get their life in order. His success rate in turning troubled youth around was impressive. Though he was not without controversary for the personal life he’d led.
Shen for all his success, was a gay man who lived his life out in the open. This did not go well with some of the parents of the students who held a prejudice view that their children would be harmed. This angered Shen to the core—he would never hurt a child—and had never once been accused of being a pedophile, a psychiatric disorder which had nothing to do with homosexuality. His orientation—a choice with who he loved—was his own and not one he would ever force on another person. Still many in his community held the view, no matter how distorted and they wouldn’t modify their slanted opinion regarding a person’s alternate lifestyle, or what they perceived as alternate. Every day Shen fought to alter those perceptions but knew many would never amend their views no matter the evidence before them.
“How is business?” wondered Hunter.
“Not bad,” replied Shen, still wiping the sleep from his eyes. “I opened a second center in another neighborhood to hopefully help more kids. There was some resistance at first from those in the area, but I was able to convince enough people we were there to help and not hurt.”
Hunter’s head shook in disbelief. “Hard to get past those with preconceived notions.”
“I don’t worry any more about those with hard heads who will never be open to what I have to offer. They won’t change their minds even if I could walk on water.”
Shen looked calm, which was good to see, he’d often railed on the unjustness of the world he was trying to help, which caused him great frustration without slowing down his work regiment. He was in great shape; perfectly formed firm muscles on his 5’10” 170-pound frame. He was as good a hand-to-hand fighter as Hunter had ever seen, with hands that struck quickly, his opponent never seeing them coming. He rarely carried a gun, using other martial arts weapons instead, though with the violent action of the last attack, Shen might be persuaded to keep one handy in this case.
“How is your love life?” wondered Hunter.
A sneer formed on Shen’s mug. “Nothing to shout from the mountain tops about. I thought I might have found the one, but alas…” Shen still felt the sadness, doing his best to move on.
“I know the feeling,” Hunter grunted in agreement.
“Hunter you’re too busy screwing them all and moving on to find the next one,” claimed Keoki.
Hunter shrugged. “Malina believes she can find the perfect woman for me.”
“Oh hell,” answered Keoki, his eyes rolling. “She believes that with every single person she meets, especially by using her superpowers of reading everyone and bringing them together. I imagine she could find Shen the perfect man after being with him for no more than ten minutes. You’ve got to love her and her enthusiasm, but there are days she has too much time on her hands.”
“Is that why she’s ready to have a baby after all these years?” declared Hunter.
Keoki appeared surprised by the question. “Most likely. The dogs are our kids right now, but procreation has been weighing on her lately now that she has hit the late thirties.”
“Her dad mentioned the miscarriage.” Hunter commented, his face grim.
A wave of unhappiness filled Keoki’s face. “Horrible thing to happen. We were barely through the first trimester. We were both heartbroken, but it won’t stop us from trying when the doctor says it’s safe to start again.”
Shen reached over and patted Keoki on the shoulder, feeling the sorrow he felt. Shen didn’t say anything, as he wasn’t good with words in situations like this.
“Best of luck,” declared Hunter. “I’m sure it will happen for you.”
Waiting a few minutes to let the moment pass, Shen decided to change the subject.
“What is the job you have for us?” he queried.
“Providing protection for a family. Mostly the two kids, but also the husband and wife.”
“What are we protecting them from?”
“We’re not completely certain…” Hunter went on and gave Shen all the details which he absorbed intently.
“Sounds serious.”
Hunter nodded. “Might be best to arm yourself with a defensive tool other than your fists.”
Shen frowned. “You know my preference when it comes to guns. I will consider it though, but only as a last resort. I have plenty of martial arts weapons which can be just as lethal.”
Hunter knew this to be true. He’d seen it firsthand.
“Understandable. I know when we first met all those years ago your thoughts on guns and the people’s lives who had been ruined by them. But it won’t stop these folks from using them to accomplish their task.”
Shen nodded, still hoping to avoid carrying a weapon he despised. He’d seen too much death coming at the end of a bullet.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard how you two met,” wondered Keoki.
“It was after I’d been run out of the US Marshal’s office. I headed to Scottsdale, hired to find a man who owed my client a great deal of money. That man lived in a room above Shen’s martial arts studio.”
Shen laughed. “Hunter came in all hot and heavy, ready to kick down anyone who got in his way.”
“And what happened?” asked Keoki, a curious expression on his face.
Hunter and Shen both looked at each other, to see who was going to explain.
“There was an ass kicking alright, but I was the one who gave it to Hunter?” explained Shen.
“I got in my shots,” noted Hunter.
“Oh yea. The air in the room took a beating from your missed punches,” Shen added. He was laughing harder now.
Hunter had to agree. “He did knock me down a peg or two. Told me to settle down.”
“After I knocked him down and nearly out,” noted Shen while throwing a shadow punch.
“What happened then?” inquired Keoki.
“We worked it out and I helped him get his man, once he explained what was going on.” Shen waved his finger at Hunter. “At first, he didn’t want to say anything other than he wanted access to the guys room. I think he’d been in the US Marshal’s office for too long and thought being a civilian would carry the same type of clout.”
“The finder’s fee I paid you to assist greased the wheel,” added Hunter.
“A donation, is what we called it, for tax reasons.”
The three men were all laughing now and chatted the rest of the flight before it landed at 3:30 a.m. in the moon illuminated landscape of the Colorado Springs airport. The exhausted men knowing they had a busy new Sunday awaiting them, departed the aircraft, loaded into the rental SUV and headed towards the Hawkins home.
Chapter 10
The Seattle Police Department interrogation room isn’t the place one would care to spend their day. Athena was sitting in the room by herself, hands cuffed, staring at the cold black walls, for what seemed like an eternity. The chair was padded, though still worn and hard from all the use over the years. The glaucous metal table showed numerous scratches and dents, evidence of past aggressive behavior happening in this confined space. The glass she was facing was obviously hiding a room where others could watch. The camera in the corner there to record the confessions that surely occurred, a ball microphone hung from the ceiling above the table capturing even the smallest noises.
Athena had taken the call from Penny making for a long night. She had been in a panic, uncertain of what to do. When Athena arrived at her apartment a short time later, she found Ethan lying on the carpeted floor. Blood was pooling on his front where a knife remained embedded in his chest, no sign of life in his body. Athena looked at her friend, there was blood on her hands, and she stood there gazing, wondering what she’d done.
“He came through the door in a rage,” explained Penny, her eyes still staring at the dead man before her
. “He said I was his to do with as he pleased, before he grabbed and slapped me.”
“You fought back?” inquired Athena.
“Yes. I twisted away and slapped him back. He got even madder and pulled out a knife saying he would hurt me if I didn’t give him what he wanted.”
Athena shuttered. “Which was?”
“Sex. He said he was going to fuck me like the whore I was.” She paused for a minute, shaking from the memory. “I was frightened to death, worried he was going to kill me.”
“And then?”
“I told him I’d give into him if he put down the knife. He lowered the blade to his side, still holding it and pushed me up against the wall, his horrid alcohol laced breath leaning in to kiss me.” Penny shivered at the thought. “I kneed him in the groin, and he buckled over in pain, the knife falling from his hand. I grabbed it from the floor ready to defend myself. He straightened up, screaming while coming towards me. It was then I stabbed him in the chest before he could retaliate. He staggered around before slumping down, his body twitched as the blood kept pouring out. That is when I called you.”
Athena looked at her friend, uncertain of what to do. If Penny was telling the truth, which she most clearly was, it might not matter. The police would likely still charge her with manslaughter. Knowing the emotional state of her friend, Athena knew dealing with this would be a problem for Penny. Contemplating for several minutes, mind racing, Athena took charge of the situation, which led her to being in the interrogation room, covering for Penny, who she’d sent away across the border into Canada.
Athena had already been spoken to by a couple of detectives, each trying to get information out of her, both leaving, frustrated at her not speaking. She remained silent for now, giving her friend time to get away, willing to take the heat for the death of Ethan.
The door opened and in walked a tall, muscular black man, dressed in a brown sports coat, white cotton shirt and black slacks. He was handsome, with a bald head, nice deep brown eyes, and a neatly trimmed goatee circling his mouth. He took a seat opposite her, resting his arms on the table after pulling the chair close and flipping open a folder he was carrying. For several minutes he sat there reading the first sheet of paper, then flipped it over to absorb a second. He rubbed at his whiskered face with his right hand before he finally looked up at Athena.
