Pieces of Truth

by Angela Richardson

  As I scanned the place, the first person I recognized was Josh, who was already looking for me when our eyes found each other across the room. I knew he was expecting me to arrive at any second. He was standing with a group of men in suits, surrounded by dancing girls. He shrugged his shoulders as he saw my enraged look, but then motioned his head towards another corner of the room. I followed the direction until I saw a face I recognized. It was Melanie, Josh’s over-nighter, and she was wearing a purple lace-up corset and sheer panties, with black garters that held up black fishnet stockings. Her hand was stroking a man’s back as she leaned in and spoke into his ear. I had to shake my head twice as I zeroed in on that man’s back. That man, was MY man. I knew the back of Clint from anywhere.

  What kind of fucking meeting is this?

  I had to assess my next move. My head said stay and watch them talk and then decide what to do, but my heart, and the lioness in me, made me march right up to the two of them so I was standing inches from where I could see Melanie’s manicured fingers circling the hair at the base of Clint’s neck.

  No wonder Clint got off on my corset!

  Now, what I should have said was, “Bitch, take your hands off him!” but what came out of my mouth was, “Surprise!”

  Melanie’s eyes flicked behind Clint to where I was standing and she rolled her eyes. “You again. What are you doing here?”

  Clint’s back tensed in recognition of my voice, and he turned around to face me. My nostrils were flaring and my teeth were clenched. He shoved Melanie’s hand off him in a rather forceful movement, while his face tried not to look so stunned.

  “Nor, Nor, Norah! What are you doing here?”

  My eyes were seeing red as I spoke. “Well, you have always said you’d like me to take more interest in your role with the Lappell, so I thought I’d come and see what it was about. I thought I would be a welcome surprise, although now I see you don’t need my support.”

  Clint’s head went from mine to Melanie’s barely-there lingerie, and then he stepped back and put some more distance between them. “Whoa, this is not what it looks like. Melanie works here. We were just talking. That’s all.” His hands were up in the air like he was trying to prove he was innocent.

  Melanie’s face sneered at me as she leaned up against Clint, trying to rest her palm on his shoulder. Clint quickly moved away from her grip and came to stand as close as he could to me.

  “How do you know this girl Clint?” Melanie asked, watching Clint try and inch closer to my body, only to have me move away.

  “This is my girlfriend.” Clint tried to hold my hand but I moved so he missed taking hold. Melanie began smirking as she watched the start of our domestic play out in front of her.

  “Oh really! Is she? That’s interesting because…”

  Suddenly Josh was beside us. “Hey Mel, Kyser wants you serving his group. Best you get over to him right now.” Melanie’s eyes immediately responded to that demand. She looked over to a man in the corner of the room, who was waving her over. She picked up a serving platter from the bar and started off across the room, but not before she stopped and turned back to us.

  “I guess we’ll have to do what you said at a later time Clint. See ya.” She skipped off. Josh looked from Clint to me, raising his eyebrows, and then he followed behind her.

  Clint looked directly at me, a very serious expression on his face. “I am not doing anything with her at a later time Norah. Melanie just likes to stir people up. Don’t believe a word she says, alright.”

  I wanted to believe Clint, I really did, but I felt like I was on the right track now, closer and closer to figuring out the truth about the note. With the direction it was taking me, all I could feel was jealous rage mixed with the possibility of betrayal. I tried to keep my emotions just bubbling under the surface. I didn’t want to completely explode at Clint without any real proof, so instead I just fuelled the anger I felt by focusing on what I saw and trying to get more answers.

  “Do you let every girl you talk to, play with your hair like that?”

  Clint’s back straightened as he realized I had been watching him and Melanie from afar. It surprised me even more when he didn’t try to explain himself. “Are you accusing me of something Norah?” Clint’s voice was harsh, mean, different to how it usually was when we fought. It felt like he was truly offended that I was implying he might be doing more than what I saw.

  “I don’t know Clint. Should I be accusing you of something? I mean, you conveniently forgot to tell me your meetings were being held at a strip club where you would be surrounded by half-naked women. What else haven’t you told me? Are there more secrets you are keeping?”

  There. I had put my suspicions and insecurities out on the table for Clint. He would either tell me there was more, or deflect my questioning to deter me from the truth.

  “You know what Norah? I am happy this happened,” he spat out at me, bitterness in his voice.

  “You are?” I said, shocked.

  “Yes, because I’ve had to watch a guy make a play for you, three times a week for two months.” And like that, we were back in our apartment, arguing about Samuel again, his hurt and fury coming at me in full force.

  “So?” I yelled at him.

  “So...” he began, “now you know how it feels!”

  OUCH! I could hear the built-up resentment in his voice as he said it. Like it had been building more and more with every gift I had received and now, he finally could turn the tables and throw some of that jealous hurt back at me. I couldn’t believe he was even trying to do that.

  “Whoa! So that’s how it is! Actions I have no control over, being thrown back in my face!”

  This was the first time I had heard Clint be spiteful towards me. It was like I was getting a glimpse of what I knew always existed in him, but hadn’t seen until right now. Clint’s facial expression went from hard, to very soft and scared. I knew he regretted the words he said, even before he tried to apologize, but I was already too angry to see anything but red at that point.

  “Norah, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Norah, my Norah.” Clint reached for me but I took a step back.

  “You know what Clint, fuck you, and your secrets, and the Lappell. I’m outta here.” I saw Josh walking back over to us, but I couldn’t stay a moment longer. He no doubt witnessed our verbal battle and saw how flushed and angry I must have appeared. I was barely hanging onto stopping the darkness from erupting from somewhere deep in my body. I had kept it asleep inside me for months. Waking it, would be like waking a sleeping dragon. I couldn’t let that happen. I had come so far and didn’t want to back-track on my progress.

  I bolted for the elevator. I had to get away from Clint as fast as I could. I was so hurt by what he said to me, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to cry or scream because of it. Whatever my impending reaction, there was no way I could be near Clint right now and around all these naked women.

  I zoned in on the elevator as I darted between the people in the crowd. It was already closing but I was confident I could just make it before it closed completely. I tried to lose Clint as I maneuvered myself between all the lingerie that was blinding my vision. I managed to slide between the closing elevator doors just before Clint had enough time to reach them. His eyes were desperate as he looked at mine when the doors finally shut.

  I stumbled backwards into Clarence, who helped steady me and stop me from falling over. “Hey Lenorah. Leaving so soon?” As I stood tall, making sure my feet were in place, I noticed that we weren’t the only occupants in the elevator. Another gentleman, who looked to be in his fifties, was standing in the corner in a gray suit. He had silver hair and a silver beard, but his face was still kind of youthful. He was obviously a member of the Lappell, having just come from the second level. His eyes darted to look at me, but only for a second before he turned them back up to face the elevator doors. I stared at him for longer than I probably should have.

  “Are you heading hom
e Lenorah? Do you want me to take you to the ground level and show you out back? We have a back entrance where I can organize you transport home,” Clarence offered.

  I was still fuming inside from my fight with Clint. I didn’t feel like running away any more. No; now I wanted to dig in my heels.

  “No, take me to the basement Clarence. I want to check out the dance bar.”

  The darkness in me needed a drink.

  Chapter 8

  Wonderland

  ~ ~ ~

  When the elevator doors opened, Clarence lifted his hand to say goodbye. I gave him a short wave as I stepped out after the older gentleman in the gray suit. I was surprised to see that a man of his age had ventured in to a dance bar. I guess you’re never too old to get down with it. Mr. Gray Suit soon disappeared into the massive sea of dance patrons in the basement level. This bar was dark, with different shades of blue LED lighting illuminating the floor, walls and all around the bar. The blue lighting made the room look like it was made of ice. The bar was shaped in a semicircle just off from the massive dance floor that was packed to capacity with people. I headed straight to the bar, keen to order myself a drink so I could take the edge off my still simmering nerves.

  As I stood at the bar waiting, a bartender came over and planted a shot in front of me. “What’s this?” I asked the bartender, whose face reflected a mix of darkness and blue lighting that filtered through the air from the dance floor. I looked at the green and red liquid swirling in the bottom of the miniature cup.

  “It’s truth serum,” he said, smiling at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  “Are you fucking with me?” I snapped at him, caught off guard by what he said. After my fight with Clint and feeling as if I was caught in one big massive lie, the word ‘truth’ seemed like it was taunting me, and I was in no mood play around.

  “I don’t understand your question. You asked me what the name of the shot was, and I told you. I don’t believe that’s ‘fucking with you’ as you so politely put it.”

  I bit my lip, a little embarrassed I was so offhand to the bartender, who clearly was being punished by me because of my brusque mood. “I’m sorry. What I mean is, I didn’t order this, so why did you give it to me?”

  The bartender leaned across the bar, a little closer so he could whisper into my ear. “Some guy ordered it for you and sent it over. I told him that girls as beautiful as you don’t just accept random drinks from strangers. And besides, you don’t look the ‘Alice’ type.”

  I pulled my body back and looked at him. The bartender’s eyes waited for me to respond. He had complimented me but also implied I was not some kind of girl. I could tell he was hoping I would enquire as to what he meant, but I wasn’t sure I felt like entertaining him. He obviously like to play mind games.

  I looked around at the crowd in the club. The people grinding up against each other to the sound of the thumping ‘doof doof’ music. I looked out to the blue lighting that filled all the corners, and the strobe light that flickered in and out of my eyes. I sighed, thinking about Clint talking to Melanie and her hand on his back, touching him intimately, and the way he threw my jealousy back in my face. That image and our fight filled me with an anger that now replaced my disinterest in this bartender. Entertain him? Yeah why not.

  “What do you mean I’m not the Alice type?” I screamed back at the bartender over the heavy beat of the music. He smiled again, allowing his teeth to show, obviously happy I allowed the door of conversation to be opened.

  “Well,” he said, holding up his hand, and flashing his five fingers to the other bar crew. Another guy yelled back, “OK, five minutes Eric, and hurry up.”

  “Eric is it?” I asked, noticing now that he was wearing a very tight fitted black T-shirt and jeans. The T-shirt outlined his toned muscular arms that were tattooed with various tribal symbols that went from his shoulders to his wrists. His hair was spiky and dirty blond, and he had dimples when he smiled. He walked around to a break where the bar connected in a semicircle to the wall, and stepped out from behind so he could come and stand next to me. I looked up at him as he took the spot to my left. He was almost as tall as Clint. Hmmm Clint, I wonder who he is talking to right now?

  “Yeah I’m Eric, and you stunner are?”

  “You are all about the compliments aren’t you?” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m Norah.”

  “I like that name.”

  I looked at him doubtfully. “Oh, I’m sure you do.”

  “That wasn’t a line.” I continued to roll my eyes at him, trying to make it obvious I didn’t like cheesy pick-ups.

  As he leaned in to get close to me, I noticed he wasn’t just looking at me, but also at the faces around me. It was as if he needed to make sure no one could hear what he was going to say. He seemed nervous yet quietly calm. I found myself a little intrigued by his behavior but also wary too. He was probably just figuring out how to approach me, but he didn’t look like he had to work me out at all. His confidence felt unnerving.

  “OK Eric, I will play along. You said I wasn’t the ‘Alice’ type. What did you mean? Is she some ex-girlfriend who didn’t swallow?”

  Eric almost toppled over when he heard me say that, like he had to catch his breath as well as adjust his scattered thoughts. I think he was laughing or was just shocked. Either way, I couldn’t tell, but when he stood up to look at me again, eyes beaming, he said, “Wow, you just go straight for the throat don’t you? Interesting approach. Ummm no, no ex-girlfriend reference. It was a book reference actually. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything. I will get back to work and leave you alone.”

  He turned to leave, but I grabbed at his back, making him spin back around. A book reference. Seriously. Was he for real? Now this piqued my interest. I wanted to know what he meant because I was suddenly interested in what book he was talking about. This was not the normal pick-up line. This was something very different, and I wanted to hear more.

  “Wait, you have me curious now. Book reference? Which book?”

  He smiled, knowing his approach was working. “Alice in Wonderland. You know it?”

  I coughed, completely taken aback. Not only did I know the story of Alice in Wonderland, it was my favorite childhood story of all time. How could he possibly be making reference to that right now? The sheer fact he had referred to the story changed my brazen demeanor to friendly and warm. I slipped my hand onto his arm and slowly pulled him closer to my face. “You have my full attention Eric. What does this shot have to do with Alice in Wonderland?” Yes, I was curious indeed. Curiouser and curiouser.

  He glanced down to my hand still locked on his arm and inched his face right so it was up next to my cheek, his mouth near my ear. Feeling his whole body push up against me, I released his arm. This was getting a little too comfortable for my liking because all I wanted was an answer to that question.

  He noticed I had let go of him, creating some space for our bodies, but he still kept his mouth close to my ear so I could hear him talk. “Well Norah, Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, she was a risk taker, a jumper if you will. The type of girl that isn’t scared to follow the impossible in search of answers. It’s just been my experience here that girls normally fall into two such categories, those who want to go down the rabbit hole, and those who just stand at the edge looking down, always wondering what’s on the other side.”

  Oh I got what he was doing now. He was calling me chicken and using a children’s story to do so. I looked at him, not impressed. “Are you implying that I won’t drink the truth serum because I’m scared? That’s stupid. I’m playing safe and I don’t accept drinks from strangers. That’s all.”

  Eric made a face like he didn’t believe me, and nodded like he understood, although it was obvious he was thinking I was still a scaredy-cat. “Oh I understand your logic Norah, but some people would still risk it anyway. I guess some people want to follow the white rabbit no matter what the consequences, just like Alice in Wonderland. Hence the te
rm beautiful.”

  This was very interesting. I wasn’t sure if Eric was challenging me to do this stupid shot by using my favorite childhood story as some kind of manipulation, or if he was genuinely trying to get some kind of reaction from me. But how could this guy possibly know that I loved Alice in Wonderland? Was I letting all this paranoia get inside my head? There was no possible way that this guy could know how much I loved the story. Perhaps this was fate or a weird kind of sign that I should just go for it, be like Alice, jump down that rabbit hole.

  I was still feeling the effects of my fight with Clint, and the darkness in me needed to find a way to vent, and even though a little angel on my shoulder was screaming, “Don’t you dare Norah!”, I lifted the truth serum shot, gave Eric a devilish smile, and said, “To following the white rabbit!” I downed my shot, throwing my whole head back and closing my eyes as I swallowed.

  Eric’s fingers locked with mine as he leaned towards me, my head still tilted back. “I can understand why you are worth fighting for. Enjoy the ride Norah,” he murmured into my ear with smooth satisfaction. He then let go of my hand. I held my head back and let the sweet and sour shot flow down my throat. It had an incredible bite that stuck in my mouth, and when I brought my head back to its rightful position and opened my eyes, Eric was gone.

  I scanned the bar to see if I could find him, but he didn’t return to bar service.

  Where did he go?

  And what the fuck did I just do?

  Panic started to set in as I stared at the bar, waiting to find Eric. I had just stupidly ingested a substance given to me by a stranger, and the stranger who had served me had vanished into thin air. I stood paralyzed, just staring at the bar, waiting for Eric to reappear. The songs continued to play around me as I remained transfixed, watching the bar, hoping that I would see Eric and get some kind of reassurance I had not just made a very stupid mistake. I heard David Guetta & Sia chanting something about ‘falling to pieces’ that filled my ears and echoed through my body. I went to take a step away from the bar, and then the wave hit.