I touched my cheek, my insides glowing as I replayed her words. I watched her walk to the door then lean against the glass. She glanced my way one last time, her expression wavering from a giddy thrill, then flashing with a moment of regret before ending on a forced smile.
Oh yeah. She liked me. She wasn’t supposed to like me, but she did.
I sat back in my seat feeling triumphant and a little sad. It was so my style, falling for girls with complications, but this time more than any others, I felt like the fight was worth it.
“Hey, where’s Dani gone?” AJ walked towards me with a bowl of something.
Plonking down beside me, he placed the bowl in front of us and my mouth instantly watered.
“Chocolate sauce?”
“Yeah,” AJ sighed.
“I’ll taste it for you.”
One of AJ’s dimples popped into place as he reluctantly handed me a spoon. “She’s got better things to say than you do.”
“That’s because she likes everything you bring her.”
“Yeah, that skinny young thing is easy to please.” AJ glanced at the door, no doubt hoping she’d return for some reason. “I’m surprised she’s so thin with the amount of food she manages to put away.”
“I think she’s just got a really fast metabolism. She runs a lot, probably burns off the energy that way.”
“True.” AJ scratched his arm then looked at me expectantly. “Well?”
I licked the spoon and grinned. “It’s good. What are you gonna serve it with?”
“Well, Liesl likes cherries and meringue, so I’m thinking of making some sort of meringue, fruit creation then drizzling this over the top. Like a mountain of goodness covered in chocolate rain.”
“Nice.” I nodded with a grin. “You really like to please your woman, don’t you?”
AJ shrugged. “I love her. Making her happy makes me happy.”
I dipped my spoon into the chocolate bowl again. “How’d you know?”
“Know what?”
“That moment you fell for her, how’d you know?”
“It wasn’t a moment.” AJ picked up the spare spoon and scraped out a little sauce. “I mean, yeah, I thought she was gorgeous the first time I saw her, but she was so out of my league I didn’t even entertain it. I thought she’d been one of those rich bitch snobs. Gorgeous on the outside, sour in the middle. But she became friends with Jae and started hanging out with us and I just… I don’t know, she grew on me and I guess I was lucky enough to grow on her too.”
AJ licked the spoon clean then nudged me with his elbow.
“What?” I knew what, but I still had to ask him anyway.
“You’re falling for that Dani chick.”
“I know.” I put the spoon down with a slight frown.
“She’s not going for it or something?”
“Nah, I think she likes me too.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“It’s complicated.” I pursed my lips.
“It always is with the girls you like.”
“I know. That’s the thing.” My hands flew up and gently banged the table. “I promised Elliot, and myself, that if it got weird or hard, I’d back away.”
“But you don’t want to do that.”
“Do I risk another Bambi Bitch Slap or stalker chick?”
“I really don’t think Dani’s the stalking kind, but she looks like she could throw a pretty mean punch if she had to.”
“It’s not her fist I’m worried about.” I winced. “She finally eluded to the fact that her father doesn’t want her dating. I think she doesn’t want to tell us where she lives because we could potentially pop over or something. I mean, is her dad hell scary or something?”
“Look, I don’t know, man, but…” He sighed.
“But what?”
“Elliot will kill me if he hears me saying this, but if you really like her, you shouldn’t let anything stop you. She seems different from other girls. Yeah she’s still a little mysterious, but she’s got kind eyes. I like her.” He slapped the table. “Damn it, Zach, she likes my meatballs. You just gotta go for it.”
I cracked up laughing, lightly punching my friend in the arm. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime, broski.”
His large hand gripped my shoulder, making me feel small, before he shuffled out of the booth and back to the kitchen with the chocolate bowl in hand.
Snaffling up my pen, I tapped it against my open textbook and looked to the door, picturing Dani’s slight frame as it eased into the open air. A slow smile crept across my face as I replayed her words in my head.
I just hoped we could get around her father.
Chapter 14
LUCY
May 2011
“You’re not my father, Shorty! You can’t boss me around like this, okay?” Lucy whipped off her apron and threw it on the floor. She never usually lost her cool. Shorty still scared her a little and she knew she had to walk a fine line. They’d been working with him for six months now, doing his bidding, not questioning a thing, but she’d just been on her feet for the last six hours. She was tired, cranky and being ordered to get changed so they could go pull off yet another con was not what she wanted to do right now.
“I didn’t know he’d be ripe for the picking tonight, but he is. We have to play this now or potentially lose the gig.” He raised a long finger at her nose. “And I’m the closest thing to a father you got.”
“You will never be anywhere close to my dad,” she seethed.
“Oh yeah? Then why’d you run away from him?” She wanted to slap his cocky face, but couldn’t.
Marlin had wound a story for Lucy the day they met Shorty. He’d told the man the truth about his running away, but Lucy had kept tight lipped and silent. Marlin had stepped in and bluffed for her. Shorty knew it wasn’t the full truth, but he’d bought the stuff about her being a run away. It made sense. She looked like a skinny rat at the time - fourteen and scared.
Now six months down the track, she wished she’d been able to scream in Shorty’s face about how brilliant her parents were and if she’d had the choice, she’d still be living with them, loving them…and having them love her back. But she didn’t have a choice and so she stomped to her room, pulling off the dark wig she’d been wearing most of the day. Scratching her itchy scalp, she was grateful for the fact she could just look like herself for the evening heist. Popping into her ensuite bathroom, she quickly took out her brown tinted contacts, brushed her hair until it sat straight and shiny down her back, then returned to her room to pull on a pair of black trousers and a crisp white shirt with a Sorrento logo emblazoned on it. Shorty had laid it out neatly on the bed for her. She scowled at the black apron she’d have to wear. She was so over waitressing.
Some days she wished it were just Marlin and her again. But the unfortunate truth was that Shorty had been a saving grace. He’d put them up in his flash loft apartment, which he didn’t own or pay rent for. Lucy still didn’t know how he pulled it off, but he had some con running and the doorman thought he was a rich aristocrat from London. Lucy and Marlin were his niece and nephew on his mother’s side…again, how the doorman bought it was beyond Lucy some days. The poor guy had blinders on when it came to Shorty, but Lucy couldn’t complain. She had her own bedroom, she could shower every day and eat three square meals. She’d never felt so healthy before.
Shorty was teaching them the finer arts of conning and they were pulling off hundreds of dollars worth of heists. All short cons, but higher cash. Shorty wanted to get into long conning and was easing them into it. Hence the waitressing. Lucy had three jobs. Two were at high-end restaurants. She’d had to lie and say she was eighteen to get the jobs, but Shorty had slipped a few hundred dollar notes here and there and she’d got the work. Her job while working was to spy out potential marks. They’d pulled off several scams, one of them scoring her nearly two thousand dollars. Shorty had snatched the wad of cash out of her hand straight aft
er the con and put it into their pool of money. She’d quit work the next day and moved onto another expensive restaurant with a new look and identity. She was up to her seventh waitressing gig in three months and soon they’d run out of fancy restaurants.
This evening she was going to her third job, a hotel in town that catered to the wealthy. She served drinks and nibbles to the lobby patrons. Shorty had the perfect mark ready to go. Lucy had spotted him a few weeks ago and soon figured out that he was a Thursday night regular. But as usual, without any kind of warning, Shorty changed the plan, so Lucy was stuck going to work on a Tuesday, when all she wanted was an hour long shower and bed.
*****
Shorty dropped her off around back, giving her time to get ready while Marlin got into position. She waltzed through the kitchen, greeting the staff quietly. She liked that she didn’t have to put on a big show at this job. This was the closest to being Lucy she got - no contacts, no wigs, no accent, no brash smiles or fake laughter.
“Hey Sarah.” Mark, the barman, grinned at her. “I didn’t know you were working tonight.”
Lucy pushed a smile over her lips. “I needed the extra work.”
“Still saving for that car, huh?”
“If only my parents weren’t so tight.” She chuckled. “I want it for the summer and I’m running out of weeks.”
“You’ll get there.” He nudged her arm and winked the way he always did. She could tell he liked her. She kind of liked him too, but he was twenty-two and if he knew she was only fifteen, he’d probably freak out.
“It’ll be a great graduation present to yourself.” He grinned, making her feel even worse.
She took the glass he’d just wiped down and stacked it neatly on the gleaming shelves behind them. Straightening her apron, she grabbed an empty tray and glided around the bar. Picking up Mark’s perfectly made cocktails on the other side.
“Table eight.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the gaggle of giggling ladies by the window and raised her eyebrows.
“I know, I know. At least it’s not a bachelorette party or anything. I think it’s just a birthday.”
“Which one?”
“That little hottie in the pink.”
“The one who looks like a Barbie doll or the soft pink?”
Mark snickered. “The Barbie.”
“Got it.” Lucy pulled the tray towards her and balanced it on her hand. It had taken her a crap load of practice back at Shorty’s place to perfect the tray-balancing act. Shorty had gotten pretty riled at all the spilled drinks, but she had it down pat now.
As she walked towards the high table by the window, she glanced into the lobby. She knew she had to head in their next and take orders. She wanted to scout out the mark and make sure he was there. Marlin needed to be sitting close enough to him so their chatter could be heard.
“Here you go ladies.” Lucy placed the drinks down, basically being ignored by the high-pitched squeals and laughter. “Happy Birthday.” She placed the strawberry Daiquiri in front of Barbie and was rewarded with a gushing smile.
‘Thank you.” Her bright pink lips spread wide across her face as she grabbed for the drink and turned back to her friends.
Lucy politely stepped back and headed for the lobby. Marlin was sitting exactly where he should be. He was always so into it. Probably because he loved the con so much. He was thriving under Shorty’s tutelage and thought their life couldn’t have been grander. Lucy supposed it was better than living in a violent household and running from a drunken beating every night. From Marlin’s perspective they were living the ultimate life of luxury. But Lucy had known the bliss of a loving family before this and it didn’t matter how much money they made, this would never come close to what she had.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Lucy leaned over the mark’s table and smiled. “Is everyone happy? Do you need anything else?”
“No, we’re good, little lady.” The mark’s friend ran his eyes over her body before winking at her. She saved up her grimace until she’d turned away from them. Her plan was to head to Marlin’s table next, but she couldn’t ignore the tall blond man at the table next to him. He raised his finger.
“Good evening, sir.”
“A double vodka neat.”
“Certainly.” She nodded, storing the order away in her memory. They weren’t allowed to write down orders at this place. It was more professional to memorize everything and she was getting pretty good at it.
He didn’t even acknowledge her, so she turned to do his bidding, winking at Marlin as she stopped by his table. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but he’d managed to snaffle a few empty plates. She began clearing them.
“Are you wanting anything else tonight, sir?”
“Ah, no thank you, just the check please.”
Lucy smiled, enjoying the posh voice he was putting on. He had been practicing hard, watching lots of movies with aristocratic men and repeating their lines of dialogue.
“And can you make sure you throw in a couple of those mints for me too.” He winked and Lucy couldn’t help a grin.
“Absolutely, sir.”
She hustled to the bar, wanting to get the con over with. As soon as they were done, she’d feign sickness and head home early. She realized she had better start playing it up now, so she frowned as she returned to the bar.
“Are you okay?” Mark screwed the top back on a bottle of house wine and gently lifted the glass onto the tray.
“Just a headache.” She rubbed her temples and winced. “I need a double vodka neat and the check for table 18, in the lobby.”
Mark started getting the drink ready while Lucy went to the computer till and started punching in numbers. There was no bill for table 18, so she had to quickly create one. Most people in the lobby ordered light snacks, so she chose a few of the expensive tapas and added a martini as well. She wanted the bill to be decent enough for the con.
Placing it inside the thick leather pouches they used, she grabbed two mints and collected the drinks from the bar. She delivered the house wine to table four then moved back to the lobby. Placing the vodka in front of the tall man. He glanced her way, but didn’t smile. She tried not to let it bug her. Rich people, she found, weren’t overly grateful. She spotted Shorty over her shoulder. He’d moved into position while she was at the bar.
A niggle was growing inside her. She couldn’t place what it was, but as she turned away from the blond man, she felt a wave of unease sweep through her. Maybe they should pull out of the con?
But she had no good reason to. She shot Shorty a subtle glance. His dark eyes bore into her, telling her to get on with it.
Her lips were shaking as she smiled at him. “With you in a moment, sir.”
“No rush.” His smile was gentile in contrast to the look he’d just whipped her with.
She cleared her throat and approached Marlin. “Here you go, sir.”
“Thank you.” He took the leather pouch from her and flipped it open. She saw him flinch ever so slightly and had to press her lips together not to laugh. The bill was pretty exorbitant.
“Right.” He opened his jacket, reaching for his wallet in the inside pocket. His expression fell. He looked up at her, his grey eyes large and horrified. He quickly patted down the rest of him and then sputtered. “I—I’m so sorry. I don’t have my wallet. I mean, I thought I did. It was… surely not.” He groaned and slapped his forehead. “It must be sitting on my desk in the office. I can’t believe I’ve done this.”
Lucy looked to the side, going for awkward. “I’m sorry sir, but I can’t let you leave without paying.”
“I know. I know. I’m so embarrassed.” He winced. “My office is two blocks from here. Please, if I could just run back and grab it. It’ll take me ten minutes.”
“I don’t know.” Lucy bit her lip. “I’d get in so much trouble. I can’t afford to get fired.”
“I completely understand. Um…” Marlin pressed his lips togeth
er. “Well, here, take this.” He unclipped his watch and handed it to her.
She hesitated. “Um…”
“As insurance. It’s a hand me down from my grandfather. I doubt it’s worth much, but it’s definitely worth more than the meal.” Marlin stood, taking her hand and forcing her to grab it. “I will be back for this.” His grin was adorable as he buttoned his jacket and swiftly left the room.
Lucy gazed down at the gold watch in her hand, aware that a few eyes were on her. She shoved it into her apron pocket and started to head back to the bar.
“Excuse me,” Shorty called her back.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sir.” She walked over to him, looking flustered. “What can I get you this evening?”
“Yes, we’ll get to that in a minute. I just…well, I couldn’t help overhearing your little conversation and I spotted the watch. May I take a closer look?”
She dubiously pulled it from her pocket, glancing over her shoulder as she handed it to Shorty. The mark’s ears were on fire, she could tell. She adjusted her position, so she could spy him a little better and at the same moment noticed that the blond vodka man was also gazing at her. She tried to smile confidently at him, but that foreboding feeling washed over her and she ended up reverting her eyes to Shorty.
“You know, I don’t think that boy realizes just how precious this watch is.”
“I’m sorry?” Lucy tipped her head.
“What’s your name, darling?” Shorty’s posh British accent was in full bloom.
“S-Sarah.”
“And let me guess, you’re in high school?”
She nodded.
“Saving for something special? That’s why you can’t lose your job, am I right?”
She acquiesced with a sigh. “I’m trying to buy my first car.”
“A worthy cause, my dear.” He leaned in close, going for conspiratorial, but speaking loud enough for the mark’s table to hear. “If I were you, I’d flag the job and leave now.”
“What do you mean?”
I Know Lucy (The Fugitive Series) Page 9