by Paula Cox
***
I hung around that evening until Tina arrived. “Tina! I need to speak to you.”
“It’ll have to wait. I have to get to work,” she said, barely slowing.
“I’m on to you,” I said loudly.
That got her attention. “What do you think you are onto, sweetheart?” she said as she stepped into my office.
“You’re either skimming or not recording your comps. Whatever you’re doing, you need to stop. Now.”
“I’m not doing a fucking thing,” she snarled shutting the door. “Running you mouth is going to get you into a world of shit.”
“Bullshit,” I retorted. “Our losses have gone up three percent since you started here.”
“So what? Three percent isn’t bad. Not everyone can be perfect, like you. Oh wait. You were replaced. Maybe you weren’t so perfect after all.”
“It went up three percent. We are at five percent. And it’s funny how that jump came almost as soon as you got here.”
“You’re fucking crazy!” She turned to go.
“Am I? I have the numbers to back it up.”
“Then I guess you better go to Peter with it, huh?” she said as she closed the door again.
“Yeah, maybe I will. But I wanted to give you a chance to get your act cleaned up. It’s only three week’s worth of data… it could be anything. A fluke. It’s too early to draw any firm conclusions. But I’m watching you now and if you’re skimming, I’m going to nail your ass.”
“You need to mind your own business, bitch.”
“This is my business,” I said with a nasty smile. “I’m better than you and I’m smarter than you, and I’m going to take you down.”
Tina stared at me a moment then smiled condescendingly. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we? You can’t prove shit, so give it your best shot.”
“Count on it. Make sure your resume is polished up. You’re going to need it. Or maybe you can just go back to that shit-hole you came from.”
“Fuck you, you bitch!” Tina snarled as she snatched open my door. “You mess with me and I will fuck you up.”
I blew her a kiss just to piss her off. “When you’re ready to get it on, just let me know. Now get out of my office.”
She stepped into the hall and gave me the finger before stomping away.
“What was that all about?” Peter asked as he stepped into my office.
“We were discussing our inventory discrepancy.”
“What did you find?”
“Only that since Tina came on board our losses have doubled. Up from just a tick over two percent to just under five.”
“Son of a bitch. You think she’s skimming?”
“Don’t know. But something is going on, that’s for sure.”
I saw his face harden. “I’m going to take it out of her ass if she is.”
“I don’t have any proof,” I cautioned. “But I can show you my numbers if you want to see them.”
“Yeah. But tomorrow. You’re late already and I have another problem to deal with first. Celina and Perrin got into another pissing contest last night in front of the customers. The three of us are going to have a come to Jesus meeting about that shit. Again.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “What was it this time?”
“Same as always. Stealing tips. I’m going to start doing communal tips if this shit doesn’t stop.”
I grimaced. “Don’t do that just to make a point. Everyone will hate it. I would, for sure, if I were still working the bar.”
“I know, but Goddamnit, those two are starting to piss me off.”
I snickered again. “You know, that is one thing I don’t miss – all the sniping and backbiting.”
Peter grinned at me. “Really? I don’t understand why not. Go home. We’ll talk about this other problem tomorrow.”
***
I arrived home in a good mood. I shouldn’t have been, considering that I had potentially uncovered an employee stealing from the bar, but I was anyway. It made me feel good that I had tracked the problem down and Peter seemed willing to take my word for it without even questioning me. It also didn’t hurt that I was putting the screws to that bitch Tina.
I flopped onto the couch and kicked my shoes off. If I weren’t pregnant I would have had a drink to celebrate. As I sat for a moment I wished idly for Cain to be there. I was in the mood for some lovin’, but wouldn’t you know it, he wasn’t around. That was another issue we were going to have to work out. This long distance romance shit was for the birds.
I picked up my phone and dialed Cain. I could call him for once, and I was anxious to hear his voice. He refused to tell me what was bothering him, only that the Bulls were making his life miserable, but I was in such a good mood that I was going to cheer him up tonight.
“Hey, Alex,” he said quietly. His tone was like a slap in the face.
“Good to hear your voice, too. You don’t sound glad to hear from me.”
“Sorry. I just have a lot on my plate at the moment.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Yeah. It sucks around here. We got raided by the cops this morning. They had a warrant to search for weapons.”
I went cold. “Did they find anything?”
“No. Thank god. We don’t do the assembly at the clubhouse anyway, and the customer picked up the shipment last week. But they knew. Somebody tipped them. We’re trying to figure out who did it. Well, we think we know who, but we are trying to find out for sure, and why.”
“The Bulls?”
“Yeah. That’s what we think, but we don’t know why. That is something you just don’t do. You don’t inform…not on your own club and not on anyone else’s. You just don’t do it. It’s like they are pushing us to start a war, but that’s crazy. They can’t win. We’re twice their size and we are on good terms with all the other clubs. The Bulls would be standing alone. It doesn’t make sense.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Thad has called a meeting of all the other clubs to see if any of them know what the hell is going on. He’s going to try to put together a coalition and try to shut down the Bulls before it gets bloody.”
I felt a chill pass over me. “Do you think he can?”
“Put together the coalition? Yes. Like I said, we’re on good terms with the other clubs. We help each other out and nobody likes the Bulls. They stir up shit that lands on everyone. Will they back off? I have no idea. It’s like they are spoiling for a fight.”
“What if they don’t?”
“I think everyone is tired of their shit. As the dominant club, and because we are the ones they are fucking with, we’re going to have to be the ones to deal them. I had just joined the Hounds the last time the Bulls had to be dealt with. We put a few of their guys in the hospital as a warning. I don’t think they’re going to get another warning.”
“Does that mean what I think it means?” I asked, gripping my phone tight.
“Better you not ask.”
“Cain…I don’t —”
“Alex, I know. I don’t like it either. But there are rules and obligations about shit like this. We have to do this. Nobody wants to, but we have to. If we don’t, the other clubs are going to get ideas. Look, we’re going to try to do this without bloodshed, okay? That’s why Thad is talking to the other clubs. Getting into a war brings a lot of attention that nobody wants. So we are doing everything we can to avoid it.”
“And if you can’t?”
“Then we will make it as quick as we can. Hit them hard and fast, and end it once and for all.”
I sat quietly, trying to absorb everything he had said.
“Alex?”
“I’m here. I’m just thinking.”
“It will be okay. Don’t worry. With all the other clubs backing us, I don’t see it coming to that. The Bulls would have to be crazy to try to take us on. They can’t win and they would become outcast.”
“Out
cast?”
“Members without a club. They would be easy pickings for the other clubs because nobody would give them a home. It’s why the clubs work together and don’t get into wars. It’s bad for everyone.” I heard a click on the line. “Let me call you back, okay? Thad is on the other line.”
“Sure.” I sat my phone down on the couch beside me. I had called to cheer him up, but now I was in a funk. All my fears were coming true and I didn’t know if I could trust what Cain was telling me. All I knew was that his world sounded dangerous and I knew I couldn’t raise a child in that kind of environment.
I was still fretting over what he had told me when my phone played its happy little ditty of a ringtone. I looked at the display. It was Cain calling back. “Hey,” I said softly.
“I have some good news,” he said, his excitement clear in his voice. Thad and the rest of the Presidents from the other clubs met and everyone is on board. If anything goes down, the Bulls will be standing alone. Thad is going to send them a message that their shit ends now. He wants to talk to me tomorrow about how we can put the screws to them to drive the point home.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means we are going to figure out how to fuck them in the ass without bringing the heat down on us.”
I sighed in relief. “That’s good news.”
“Yes it is,” he said. “I’m looking forward to sticking it to them long and hard.”
I giggled. “Long and hard, huh? Wouldn’t you rather do that to me?”
He woofed out a laugh. “A different type of fucking, my dear, a different type of fucking.”
Chapter 18
I was about halfway through the previous night’s receipts when my phone buzzed. I was going to catch that bitch Tina with her hand in the till if it was the last thing I did, and when I did, I was going to fuck her up good with Peter. I liked Peter and I didn’t like the fact that she was skimming. I glared at the phone in annoyance, marked my spot, and picked it up. It was Cain.
“Hey,” I said, my smile coming through in my voice. I had gone from not wanting him around to looking forward to hearing his voice in just over a month.
“Hey yourself. I have a question. Have you seen any strangers around? Anyone that didn’t look right?”
“Cain. First off, I work in a bar. Secondly —”
“Alex,” he barked. “I’m serious.”
“Secondly,” I continued, “I’m in the back now. I don’t see anyone except employees anymore. Why?”
“Nothing to worry about. I’m just checking in on you.”
Something in his voice set off alarm bells in my mind. “Cain, what’s going on?”
“Nothing you need to be concerned with.”
I rose from my desk and shut my door. “Don’t. Don’t you dare shut me out again. You need to tell me what’s going on.”
“Maybe nothing. Probably nothing. I don’t want to worry you for no reason. I just heard some things that made me think, that’s all.”
“What things?”
“It’s the Bulls. I told you how we’ve gotten into a pissing contest with them? Just more of that, that’s all.”
“And that affects me, how?”
“That’s just it. It may not. I just don’t want you to get… splashed. Look, I have to come down to New Orleans tomorrow to do some business Friday morning. I will tell you all about it then, okay?”
“But I’m not in any danger, am I? Or you?”
“No. Not that I know of. It’s just that the Bulls are sometimes… unpredictable. Just keep an eye open for something that doesn’t look right. And you might want to start carrying your gun.”
I felt the cold hand of fear grip my heart. “Now you’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be scared. It’s probably nothing. And I think you should carry your gun, always, anyway. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
I thought about what he said. “You’re not lying to me are you?”
“No, Alex. I would never do that. Trust me, okay? I just don’t want to take any chances.”
“Okay. When will I see you?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll leave in the morning. I should be there when you get off from work. I’ll be in a white box truck.”
“A what?”
“A box truck. You’ve seen them. They have the big square cargo box on the back. You probably have the booze for The Claw delivered in one.”
“Oh! Those. I didn’t know that was what they were called. Are you coming alone?”
“No. There will be four Hounds as escorts, but they are staying at a hotel.”
“So I will have you all alone?”
“Looks like it.”
I smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Yeah, me too,” he said, but his tone said something different.
“Are we okay?” I asked.
“Sure. Why?”
“I don’t know. You just don’t sound like yourself.”
“Just tired, that’s all. This shit with the Bulls is wearing me out. Nothing to worry about.”
“Okay. So long as that is all it is.”
“That’s all it is. I’m looking forward to seeing you.” This time I could hear the smile in his voice and I relaxed.
“Same here.”
***
When I rolled up to my house on Thursday, there was a white truck sitting at the curb and I smiled. As I drove by I could see Cain sitting in the driver’s seat, apparently asleep. After tucking my car away in the garage I walked out, picked up my mail, and rapped on the door of the truck with my knuckles. He lunged awake and made me grin in delight.
“Enjoy your nap?” I asked as he blinked himself awake.
“Yeah,” he mumbled as he opened the door. Just like the last time I saw him, he looked like hell, but even worse this time. He looked unkempt in a way that he never had before.
“Is everything alright?”
“No,” he said as he locked up the truck. “I am way out on a limb here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’ve convinced Thad, the President, to back a play to hold onto our client. We are going to lose our ass on this shipment, but it buys us some time to figure out what the hell is going on. That means no payday, for anyone, this month – next month too, probably. Everyone is pissed off at me about it. They think I’ve lost the touch.”
I closed the garage door behind us as we entered my kitchen. “Why are they mad at you? Sounds to me like you are doing everything you can.”
“I am, but how would you like it if your boss came to you one day and said you weren’t getting paid because one of the waitresses convinced him to give away free drinks for a month to boost traffic?”
“Oh. I see your point.”
“Worse, when the Bulls find out that now I’ve screwed their deal, they’re not going to be happy about it. But I figure they have everything they got wrapped up in this deal, and if I can squeeze them out, then they may just implode. It accomplishes the same thing as wiping them out, but without the mess.”
“Is that what the phone call yesterday was all about?”
“Yeah. The Bulls are a little more rough and tumble than we are.”
“Rough and tumble?”
“Let’s just say they don’t mind getting bloody. They are quicker to want to fight, and kill, than we are.”
I whirled on him. “And you think they may come after me? Damnit! This is exactly what I was worried about. ‘Nothing to worry about’ you said. ‘You’re blowing the risks all out of proportion,’ you said. Well…it sounds like I have something to worry about now. Goddamnit, Cain! I should have never gotten involved with you. Fuck!”
“Alex, it will be okay,” he said as he tried to pull me to him, but I shook off his hand.
“It is? How? Tell me how, Cain! How is it going to be okay? You want me to start carrying my gun, for Christ’s sake! That doesn’t sound okay to me!”
“That’
s just a precaution.”
“Against what?” I shouted. “Against me being killed?”
“No!”
“Then what?” I raged.
“Nothing! I just wanted you to be safe. I don’t know of any threat against you. So far as I know, you are perfectly safe. I just wanted you to be prepared, that’s all.”