The Impostor, A Love Story

by Tiffany Carmouche

  “Thank you for your concern. I’m staying in town. I have a place here too.”

  Who is this guy?

  “We will take a cab so you don’t have to go out of your way. We had such a great time.” Emily leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

  “We did. Thank you for everything,” I agreed and gave him a hug.

  “Are you ladies sure? I can get someone to drive you.”

  “There is a cab right here,” she pointed. “Thank you again.”

  Maybe I watched too many horror movies, but I really didn’t want anyone knowing where we were staying. We took the cab back to our motel with our little kitchenette.

  It was too late to call Jess. I picked her picture off the dresser and gave it a kiss and then changed into a nightshirt.

  I pulled the covers around me and turned on my stomach to face Emily.

  “He is pretty amazing, isn’t he?”

  “He is, but he’s not really my type.”

  “Good looking, rich, funny . . . he’s not like that idiot back home!”

  “What is wrong with me? I guess I’m a little nervous.”

  “You deserve someone who treats you like this guy does, Em. Besides, I see how you drool over him. Don’t lie. You get flushed every time he looks at you.”

  “He is so sweet, and he’s got the cutest dimples.” She started to turn red again. We each sprawled out on our own bed discussing his attributes.

  “What about you? I saw you almost kiss Brad.”

  “That was nothing, Em. He was just trying to save me from that creep.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t know . . . it looked a little like there was a connection.”

  “He’s just a great guy, a good friend, and my boss. It really was nothing!”

  We both had already given our heart away to guys who didn’t deserve it. We each had been crushed and didn’t ever want to hurt like that again. As we chatted, we slowly drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Eight

  “To meaningful sex,” Dylan toasted,

  winking at me again.

  ~The Impostor

  Walking in, we squinted—the bright afternoon sun constricted our pupils, so our eyes had trouble adjusting to the dark atmosphere of the bar at first. I made my way to the back and tied on my apron and began taking orders. I saw Steve in the corner of the room standing next to the heavyset man with fiery red hair.

  “Hi, it’s Steve, isn’t it?” They had just been seated.

  “Yes, it is. Good memory.” I saw the “big tipper” sign he had plastered across his forehead.

  “Has anyone served you yet?”

  “No, we just got here.” I secretly hoped to make another good tip from him. In his voice, I could hear a southern drawl, but I couldn’t quite place it.

  “Do you know Officer Statton?” Steve nodded to the ginger haired man in a flannel shirt and jeans.

  “He was with you last time you were here, right? Nice to meet you, sir. How can I help you all today?” I glanced at the newspaper sitting folded on the table.

  The headline read: The Hunter Strikes Again: Newest Victim of Serial Killer Found.

  “Oh my god, can I see that? I heard about this.” I picked up the paper and went on to read aloud, “A female body was discovered Monday morning at Lazy Mountain, Alaska. Two hunters spotted something in the leaves they thought were remains of a Dall sheep, but upon closer inspection identified it as a human body. Initial autopsy reports revealed the victim was a female in her twenties. Anchorage police believe this is another victim of the serial killer . . .”

  “Oh my god, she was slaughtered also.”

  “What do you all know about the case, Randy? Any new evidence?” Steve questioned the officer.

  “Normally, you don’t find an entire body. Generally, you might find decomposition or some animal activity. Since the body was still intact, it means it happened recently. The fact that there have been numerous bodies found in the past two years is disturbing.”

  “Do you know anything about the murderer?”

  “We know the killer is a hunter.”

  “That narrows it down,” Steve laughed.

  “Aren’t there over a hundred thousand hunters in Alaska?” Steve patted his friend’s shoulder. When Steve grinned, you could see the gap in his front teeth and the gold caps on his crowns. It appeared he didn’t frequent the dentist for someone that seemed to have a lot of money. “Shoot, that makes you and me suspects, huh Randy?”

  “Yeah. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot to go on.”

  “I guess you’ve got to be careful who you go hunting with, Nicole,” Steve warned me.

  “I know. It’s crazy, isn’t it? You will keep me posted if you hear anything, right Officer Statton?”

  “Of course I will.”

  “Would you all like something to eat?”

  “No, not today. Just two Buds. Thank you.”

  I put down the article and went to get their drinks, a little disturbed but trying to put it in perspective. Brad was right. I used to live close to a city with one of the highest murder rates in the country, and I managed to survive twenty-two years; but for some reason, it never seemed so close to home.

  Carl walked over to me. Every so often, he would approach me with a stuffed animal or rose that someone had bought me anonymously. It made my day.

  “An anonymous customer wanted me to give you this because he loves your smile.” He picked out the cutest stuffed animal in the batch. I couldn’t help blushing.

  The men in Alaska were raised like southern gentleman as far as you could get north. Alaska reminded me of southern hospitality in the middle of paradise. I couldn’t wait till I could make it my permanent home with Jess.

  I beamed, taking the stuffed animal to the bar to put with my purse.

  Steve motioned me over. “Can we have the check please? We only had time for one beer today.” He left another fifty dollar tip.

  “Are you sure?” I asked to be polite.

  “Spend it on your daughter. I had another good day.” He nodded, beginning to walk away but he turned back. “Oh, Nicole . . .” He came back over to me. “I don’t know if you would want this or not.” He began digging in his pocket. “I was cleaning out some old stuff in my house and found this locket. I was going to donate it. I don’t have any girls. I thought maybe you would want to put a picture of your daughter in it. If you don’t want it, can you give it to one of the other girls here? I have no use for it.” He pulled a little sterling necklace out of his pocket

  “It’s beautiful. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I was going to get rid of it, but I remembered you had a little girl. I figured you or one of the other waitresses might want it.”

  “Thank you, that’s sweet. Really, thank you. This is perfect.” I examined the locket in my hands and put it in my pocket. The men put on their coats and walked out the door.

  I turned around all happy with myself and then realized that Dylan’s band was sitting in my section. Knowing the tips would be horrible, that they would keep me running back and forth to the bar for drinks, and that I’d be taunted by Dylan, I walked over apprehensively. When I approached the table, he gave me a wink, intentionally leaning on the table so his biceps bulged out of his shirt. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I feel so short of breath?

  I carried the beers and shots over to the table. Each guy had a girl next to him. No surprise. Jordan sat next to a girl I hadn’t seen before. Jordan, the drummer, was the youngest of the bunch. His flawless ebony skin and dark eyes made him every bit as attractive as the other band members, but he wasn’t arrogant at all.

  Nadine kept trying to hang all over Dylan, but he politely relocated her hands back to the table. I was surprised. She was a voluptuous blond, and she made it obvious her mission was to go home with Dylan that evening.

  “Our place isn’t far,” Justin assured the table of girls, inviting them to continue the party at the band’s apartment.
>
  “Another round.” Justin motioned, circling the drinks with his hand.

  “Let’s do lemon drops this time,” Trevor piped in. Trevor, the bass player, was not as muscular as Dylan or Justin, but he was every bit as conceited. His over-the-top personality made him fun, and girls seemed to love the tattoos that crept up his arm and stopped halfway up his neck. He put his arm around Rita. I had to laugh. I couldn’t believe some of the girls went from one band member to another like they were sampling cookies and couldn’t stop.

  “Get yourself a drink if you want one,” Dylan added, nodding to me.

  “Thank you.” I started to get their drinks, glad that they would be leaving soon.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that horrible man. Chuck walked in the bar with some of his hunting friends, and they were escorted into my section. I rushed to the bar.

  “Brad, I can’t do it. I can’t serve that man again.” He turned his head and noticed the perv. “Can you have one of the guys serve them?”

  Brad was still upset the man touched one of his waitresses. Brad came out from behind the bar and strutted to the table. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “You can’t make us leave. We haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “I am asking you politely . . . to leave.”

  “I didn’t know it was your girlfriend.” He turned to the other hunters. “He’s just pissed his girlfriend wanted to leave with me.”

  Pete, the bouncer, saw there was an issue at the table and walked over to back up Brad.

  “I’m going to get you, you little bitch,” the man screamed, pointing his finger at me.

  “I’m not going to ask you again. Get the fuck out of here,” Brad shouted at him, getting in the man’s face. Chuck punched Brad in the nose, drawing blood. Bolting over to the table to back Brad up, Dylan grabbed the guy’s shirt, throwing him toward the door, and then punched him to the ground. Chuck staggered back to his feet and grabbed a beer bottle to hit Dylan with. Two of Chuck’s friends joined in the fight. One threw a drink from a nearby table in Brad’s face as the other tried to hit him. Brad blocked the punch and stuck him in the ribs.

  I cringed as the rest of the table of hunters stood to join in the fight surrounding them—the three were outnumbered. Dylan’s band saw the turmoil and jumped into the action. Chuck and his friends were quickly overpowered and thrown toward the door.

  “You heard the man. Get the hell out of here, now!” Dylan shouted. Chuck muttered threats under his breath as they were forcefully escorted to the parking lot.

  “What was that all about?” Dylan asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

  “Long story. Thanks for your help.” Brad patted Dylan on the back and walked back to the bar.

  When he got back to the bar, I touched his face, wiping the blood off his lip. “You okay?”

  He nudged my hand away, maybe embarrassed that he got sucker punched. “I’m fine now that all the excitement is over.” He wiped his face with his sleeve. “What can I get you?” The blood stained his white shirt.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Let’s not talk about it, Nicole.” Bradley put the napkins on the bar. “Now that we got rid of him, it should a good night, right?” Brad changed the subject.

  “Yeah, it’s packed in here,” I responded. “Can I have another round—eight shots and eight beers?” I glanced back up at him. “Bradley.”

  He looked over the glasses.

  “Thank you.” I smiled.

  As he proceeded to open the beers, Dylan walked up behind me.

  “What are you doing, following me?” I joked.

  “If I follow you home, will you take me in?”

  “Seems like you already have someone willing to do that.” I nodded over at the girl drooling at his table.

  Dylan turned to Bradley. “Yeah, Brad. That’s why I’m here. Can you call and reserve a hotel room for me?”

  “Oh, wow. She must be special. I’m surprised. Not the couch in the band’s apartment tonight?” I sassed.

  “No, I don’t want a hotel room for that. It’s nothing like that. I just want to be alone.”

  “Alone? Are you sick?” I raised my eyebrow. Dylan ignored my comment.

  Brad came to his rescue. “You can crash at my place if you like tonight. You don’t have to get a hotel. I have to say, though, I’m concerned too. This is a few weeks now you have been avoiding the late-night parties. You feeling okay?”

  “Maybe meaningless sex got old.” Dylan winked at me to let me know he had been listening to our little talk in Seward.

  He observed the drinks on the tray. “Hey, you didn’t get one for yourself. Let me buy one for you and Brad. Tequila?”

  “Uh, no,” Brad and I said in unison, smiling at each other. “How about a kamikaze?” I asked. “But just one. It’s packed in here, so I have to run.” I put down my tray for a moment, and we raised our glasses.

  “To meaningful sex,” Dylan toasted, winking at me again.

  “To meaningful sex.” I shook my head at the toast, holding my glass up for a moment longer. “And to my guardian angels.” We clanged our glasses together and downed the shots.

  “Thank you, Dylan, for the drink. And thank you both for getting rid of that creep.”

  “Yeah, what was that about?” Dylan signaled him for another drink. “I forgot you were a south paw, Brad.” I left the two of them to talk as I took the drinks to the rest of the band and the girls at their table.

  “Check please?” Justin raised his hand to get it.

  “Here you go. Thanks for your help getting rid of those guys.”

  “We’re always up for a good fight.” He motioned to Dylan that it was time to go, but Dylan stayed at the bar with Brad. I was surprised. I thought Dylan would never turn down an easy one-night stand with a sexy blond. What was it that Brad said? Dylan hadn’t been messing around for a few weeks? I couldn’t believe it. But I had noticed something a little different also.

  I glanced over at the bar hoping Dylan wouldn’t notice me checking him out. Just then, he turned around and our eyes met. I quickly jerked my head away and began walking away rapidly, only to smash into an unsuspecting customer—spilling his drink all over him. I apologized, telling him I’d get him a new drink and asked for forgiveness over and over, bowing my head in shame.

  Damn. I lifted my eyes to see the two of them at the bar, laughing in my direction. They had witnessed my collision. Feeling utterly ridiculous, I retreated to Emily’s section and begged her to go to the bar for my order. I couldn’t face them yet.

  “You can’t avoid them forever,” she rubbed in.

  “Em, you have no idea. They saw me slam right into that guy. I’ll never hear the end of it. I just want to give it time so they will forget about it.”

  “So you were trying to spy on Dylan without being noticed, and you crashed into some poor helpless guy and spilled alcohol all over him?” She started laughing too. “You are so funny, Nicole. Of all the guys that come in here, why are you interested in the one guy who you know is a heartbreaker? When I told you that you need to meet someone, I meant someone who at least pretends to be a decent guy. What is wrong with you?” She shook her head. “It’s cute, though. I don’t think I have ever seen you act like this, even with Ronald. Poor unsuspecting guy, soaking wet ‘cause you have a crush on someone. Look at you. You’re beet red!”

  “Stop! Are you going to get the drinks or not?”

  “I don’t know. I think it would be fun watching you have to talk to them. Awe, they are still smiling at you.”

  “Em, please?”

  “Of course, I will. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

  Chapter Nine

  I spent an hour on the phone with Jess before going into work. She learned a new song at preschool and taught it to me. Then she asked, “When I get to Alaska land, can we get a pet bear? They are so cute.”

  I laughed, imagining little Jess walking
around with a grizzly bear on a leash. “We can visit some bears at the zoo. Would that be okay?” I missed my angel so much.

  On Friday night, Dylan’s band was playing, and the place was packed. Emily and I had worked the day shift but decided to stay for the evening shift too. We looked forward to making really good money—the more money I made, the faster I could bring Jess to Alaska. And for me secretly, it was also a good excuse to stay and hear Dylan play.

  Dylan’s band walked through the doors. They would be playing at nine.

  “Have you heard The Fury yet?” I asked the table of customers I was serving.

  “No, are they any good?” a rugged man asked me, apparently just off one of the fishing boats.

  “They are. You should stay for them. You’ll really like them.” I winked to the girls at the table—all of the band members were so good looking, I knew that they would enjoy the show!

  “Well, keep the drinks coming and we’ll stay,” the fisherman said as he gave me his credit card to open the tab. “Get a shot for yourself too. I insist!”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “It’s Kenny, call me Kenny. Sir sounds way too formal and makes me feel old.” He laughed. The hours passed, and he bought me many more. I was beginning to feel a little light-headed and stopped to stare at the stage for a moment, lost in Dylan’s voice.

  “Nicole, another round.” Customers like these made my job a party! “And get yourself another one.” Kenny noticed me gazing at the stage. The band finished a song and the bar erupted in applause. “If you want, get some for the band” He raised his voice over the cheering. “Let’s get them all shots too.”

  I brought the tray of shots to the stage in between songs. Dylan strolled over to me, winking at me when he took the tray out of my hands. His thumb gently brushed against my hands, and I couldn’t hold back my timid smile. The customer bought us drinks all night. And with every trip to the stage, Dylan’s sexy grin made me melt even more. I loved how the band played off each other, and I blushed watching Dylan’s fingers as he tickled the strings of his guitar.