by Gen Griffin
“Congratulations, April Lynne.” Katie gave April Lynne the biggest fake smile that Gracie had ever seen and then directed everyone's attention to the pizzas that Trish had just deposited on the table closest to the bar.
“If you girls are hungry, I suggest y'all all go grab a bite to eat before our next game. Don't want to let the pizzas get cold,” Katie chided in a voice that was a little too loud, and a little too cheery, to be natural.
“Is it vegetarian?” Kitty Ellis asked.
“Not a chance.” Katie smirked as she herded the crowd towards the food and drinks.
Chapter 12
Kerry was dozing in and out of sleep on his hard, uncomfortable jail cot when he heard someone scream. The sound was over almost as quickly as it had come. Silence filled the jail cells and Kerry closed eyes again, certain he'd dreamed the scream.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The heavy steel door that provided the only way in or out of the jail section of the Callahan County Sheriff's Department began rattling on its hinges as it took repeated blows. Startled back to consciousness, Kerry sat up too quickly. His vision spun as he gripped the edge of the cot with both hands. He could barely see three feet in front of his face. The only light in the room was that of the full moon outside coming through the windows.
It took Kerry a minute to realize that there should have been more light in the room. The Sheriff's department was never completely dark. He looked up at the ceiling and realized that even the emergency lights had somehow been turned off.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The pounding was getting faster and louder. Why the heck didn't the person on the other side of the door just open it already? The jail door was locked from the outside, not the inside.
Bang! Clang! Several loud thumps made Kerry jump. His arms broke out in goosebumps. Local folklore held that the hundred and five year old jail was haunted. Addison, in particular, loved retelling the stories about how the sheriff in the 1920s had allowed members of the mob to use the jail as a place to torture and abuse their enemies. Addison was always talking about how the ghost of one-eyed Bobby was still rattling around in his cell, hunting for his missing eye. Kerry didn't believe the horror stories but the old brick rooms were a bit on the creepy side. Especially when you were alone,trapped and defenseless in the dark.
Bang! Thunk! The slow creak of hinges being forced open against their will.
“You aren't funny!” Kerry yelled into the corridor that separated his cell from the main area of the Sheriff's department. “I don't believe in ghosts!”
Thump. Thump. Thump. A dragging, clunking noise echoed against the walls. Kerry slid backwards across his cot so that his spine was pressed against the wall behind him.
“I know you're there!” He called out as the dragging noise came closer and closer to his cell. Whoever was approaching was careful to avoid the small squares of light that were coming in through the windows.
A slow, deep laugh cut through the still air like a knife.
“Addison, I'll have your badge for this!” Kerry forced air into his constricting lungs. “I know this is one of your jokes and it's not funny. Not funny at all. One-eyed Bobby wasn't a real person!”
“Who is Addison?” The low voice asked.
“Stop it!” Kerry demanded. “I mean it! You've had your fun. Turn on the lights and let me out.”
“Tell me where my jewelry is,” the voice said.
“What?” Kerry blinked in confusion. “What jewelry?”
“You stole from me. I want my property back.”
A cold chill ran down Kerry's spine. “I don't know anything about any stolen jewelry,” he lied.
Sitting in the pitch dark, Kerry was stricken by the thought that Curtis's ghost had come back from the grave to get him. Even as he stared into the darkness, he could see Curtis raking his fat fingers through the piles of gold chains and heavy gemstones. A million dollars, Curtis had said. Maybe two million. His tiny, piggish blue eyes had glinted with joyous greed as he'd held that jewelry. More money than either of them had ever seen in one place at one time. A small but substantial fortune. The kind of money that a man could start a new life with.
Except Curtis wouldn't be starting a new life. He was dead. Cal Walker had blown his brains out all over Kerry's own driveway. There was still a stain on the concrete. It had faded to pale pink with the help of bleach and the scorching summer sun, but it still marked the exact place where Curtis's life had leaked out onto the pavement.
“You have my jewelry,” the voice hissed. Something hit the bars of Kerry's cell. Fingernails scraped across the metal. “Give it back!”
Kerry screamed and pissed himself as the back wall of the jail exploded.
Chapter 13
“And then I told Susie that she should never wear green again. I only put her in it because I knew that bitch was prettier than me. Not when she's wearing baby poop green though. Granted, the color pictures from the wedding are a new level of hideous, but the black and whites turned out fantastic.” Emily Smith took another swig of her mixed drink and grinned at Gracie. “Have any bridesmaids you hate?”
“No,” Gracie said. She'd developed a throbbing headache during the last thirty minutes of drifting from table to table, making pointless small talk.
“Really?” Emily pursed her thick lips at Gracie with obvious skepticism. Her dyed blonde hair was piled high on top of her head in an elaborate bun that was supposed to look like a bow made of hair. “Isn't Cal related to April Lynne Hale?”
“He is. She's not in my wedding.” Gracie took a sip of her not so virginal daiquiri. Amelia Kay Hobbs had overheard her ordering a drink at the bar and made it clear to point out to everyone within hearing distance that Gracie wasn't 21 yet. The bartender had promptly given her a virgin strawberry daiquiri. Katie had soothed Gracie's injured pride by discretely dumping her own shot of cinnamon vodka into the glass. Strawberry cinnamon wasn't a flavor combination Gracie would ever have chosen, but she wasn't quite ready to toss the drink into the trash in favor of a coke.
“What about your cousins?” Emily pointed in the direction of Michelle and Lacy, who were currently partying like it was 1999 on the dance floor.
“Nope.” Gracie surveyed the busy room and wondered whether anyone would even notice if she just walked out. “We're not close.”
“Hmm. I'd heard you were having some problems with your family. Rumor has it that Addy's walking you down the aisle. Any truth to that?”
Gracie felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of hot embarrassment and annoyance. She'd suspected the question was going to come up tonight. It was one of the reasons she'd said no to having a bridal shower and had only wanted a handful of people at her bachelorette party. “Yes. It's true. Addison is walking me down the aisle. What of it?” Gracie knew she sounded defensive but she didn't care.
“Your Daddy didn't want to walk his baby girl down the aisle?” Emily's tone was unmistakably catty.
Gracie bit her tongue before she could say something she'd most likely regret. “Addy offered. I took him up on it.”
“Gracie, I think it's time to start another game, don't you?” Katie broke into the conversation with a smile. She was holding a half-eaten slice of pizza in her hand and she looked anything but ready to start another one of the terrible party games she and Trish had devised.
“Absolutely,” Gracie clapped her hands together with fake cheer. “What game are we playing?”
“Oh goody, more games.” Emily made a big show of yawning. “I think most of us would rather drink and dance.” She waved one hand in the direction of the dance floor. “Of course, dancing would be a lot more fun if you'd invited any men to this party. Where is Addison?”
“With Cal,” Gracie said flatly.
“Are they coming here?”
“Is the groom supposed to show up to the bachelorette party?” Gracie asked.
“I think you'll really like this game,” Katie talked over the both of them. “Everyone needs to fo
rm a team. I think we should do ten groups of four, just because we might run out of toilet paper if we did twenty groups of two.”
“Toilet paper?” Gracie eyed Katie skeptically.
“You'll like this,” Katie promised. “Trust me.”
Chapter 14
“Eight ball. Side pocket.” Cal Walker closed his right eye and focused his left on his single remaining pool ball. He lined up the shot in his own mind then smiled. It would be tricky, but pool wasn't fun unless he took some risks.
“You'll never make that,” Addison chided from the opposite side of the table. “Never. It can't be done.”
“How much cash you willing to put on that?” David was sitting at the bar height table next to the pool table. He had his boots kicked up in one of the chairs and a beer in his right hand as he watched the game unfold.
“This game or that shot?” Addison countered.
“Both.”
“We've got $20 on the game, but Cal's already 3 balls up on me so I figure you've got that in the bag,” Addison said with a disgusted shake of his head. “I'll give you $50 if Cal can sink the eight ball in the side pocket. On one condition.”
“What condition?” Cal asked.
“You miss, I win.”
“Oh, so what you're saying is I only get one chance to sink the eight or David owes you $20?” Cal clarified.
“Exactly,” Addison replied with a grin.
“Deal,” David said.
“You're about to lose $20,” Addison said.
“Yeah right.” Makinsley Madison appeared on Addison's left with four full shot glasses balanced in the palm of one hand. She narrowed her eyes at Cal as he carefully lined up the tricky shot. “You might as well get your wallet out,” she told Addison. “He's a pool shark. You'll never beat him.”
“Not true,” Addison replied as he took two of the shots from her. He downed one of them like it was water and set the other on the edge of the pool table. “I've beaten him before.”
“Only when he lets you. I've never seen you win a single game against him.” Makinsley pursed her bright pink lips at him. She was wearing so many layers of make-up, her skin looked like it was starting to flake and crumble. Her pants were made out of some kind of see-thru, shimmery fabric. Her tube top appeared to be mostly straps with a few strategically placed scraps of fabric. As she downed the shot, she left a thick layer of gooey lip gloss behind on the shot glass.
“Well, I'm normally kind of distracted when you're here.” Addison grinned flirtatiously at Makinsley. She responded by lifting up the bottom of her tiny tube top and giving all three of them a full and unobstructed view of the mosquito bites she called breasts.
“This is for luck,” she said as Addison reached over and gently flicked one of her nipples.
Cal rolled his eyes and took a deep breath, knowing he had the shot even as he felt the pool stick connect with the cue ball. Two seconds later, the eight ball landed in the corner pocket and Addison owed David $50. Cal had quit gambling on his own pool skills awhile back, but David still found it amusing to take Addison's paycheck away from him. Sometimes Cal even made him split the profits.
“Maybe you should put your shirt back on,” David told Makinsley as he held out his hand to take Addison's money. “I don't think your tits are doing much to improve Addy's luck.”
Makinsley let out a loud huff. “Maybe I wasn't talking about Addy's luck,” she said in an annoyed tone. “Tonight could be your lucky night, David. I've always thought you and I had potential.”
“Oh, is that how it is?” Addison narrowed his eyes at Makinsley, but his voice held no anger.
David grabbed the shot that Addison had left on the edge of the pool table and downed it. “Ain't no way in hell.”
“You're the one who invited another girl to come out with us tonight,” Makinsley countered. She was scowling openly at Addison now.
“She's just a friend,” Addison said.
“You consider everyone you sleep with to be 'just a friend',” Makinsley replied. Her high-pitched, nasally voice grated badly on Cal's nerves.
“Yeah, well-,” Addison frowned.
“Yeah, well nothing.” Makinsley let out another loud puff of air. “You need to call that girl back and tell her that she better not even bother showing up. I'm not sharing you tonight. Touch another girl and I'm going home with Breedlove.” She pointed at David.
“Like hell you are,” David said flatly. “I'm engaged. Trish would shoot your nasty ass.”
“Excuse me?” Makinsley turned on him with an angry, hurt scowl on her broad and rather flat face. “Don't act like you wouldn't love to have a night alone with me.”
Cal rolled his eyes but stayed out of the brewing fight.
“You couldn't pay me enough-,” David started but Addison cut him off mid-sentence by waving a $20 in Makinsley's face.
“Mak, why don't you go get us another round. Make it a strong one,” Addison suggested.
Makinsley hesitated for half a split second and then snatched the money out of his hand. “Don't expect any change,” she snapped at him, giving him the stink eye once more before storming off in the direction of the bar's dingy bathroom.
Addison and David both watched her go. “You have the worst taste in women,” David muttered.
“You can quit blaming me for her being here,” Addison grumbled. “I already told you I didn't invite her. She saw my truck parked outside and decided to stop by. You heard her say that.”
“I try not to listen to her,” David countered. “Every time she opens her mouth, she reminds me of a truck with its serpentine belt squealing. I want to hit her upside the head with a fucking wrench.”
“Yeah, well, apparently the feeling isn't mutual. She wants you.”
“That slut would screw this pool stick if she thought she could get off with it,” David said as he held up the item in question. “I'm not interested and I have no idea why you keep going back for seconds.”
“She's fun,” Addison said with an unapologetic shrug.
“I've met her. She ain't fun.” David crossed his arms over his narrow chest and shook his head at Addison. “I wanted a quiet night, Addy. It's been a long damn time since it was just us guys. I figured we'd shoot some pool and have a few drinks before we went home to the girls. No drama. Just a little bit of liquor and a little peace. Then you went and brought Makinsley.”
“I did not bring her,” Addison repeated.
“She's here because of you.”
“I didn't invite her.”
“Minor detail,” David replied. “You know I can't stand her, especially not when she's all pissed off because you invited some other girl out with us. Who was it, by the way?”
“Who was what?”
“The other girl you invited?”
Addison smirked. “Katie.”
“Katie?” It was Cal's turn to look surprised. “Makinsley's got her panties in a wad because you invited Katie out with us?”
“Why did you invite Katie?”
“Makinsley snatched my phone out of my pocket when I wasn't paying attention and she read my text messages. Katie and I were joking around earlier about frying up some of the catfish we got out of the country club's hot tub. Makinsley took the messages out of context.” Addison held his arms up in surrender. “Not my fault Makinsley is too dumb to realize who I was talking to.”
“Makinsley knows Katie,” David pointed out.
“Katie isn't programmed into his phone under her real name.” Cal purposely shot Addison a warning glance.
“It's just an inside joke.” Addison let his playboy smile drop and returned Cal's glare with a look that dared him to make more of it.
David looked between them curiously. “Did I miss something?”
“No,” Cal said.
“Nothing,” Addison said at exactly the same moment.
“Yes, obviously I did.” David said. He picked up his beer and took a sip. “Do I want to know?”
> “It's nothing. Really. Cal's just being an asshole.” Addison began pulling the balls out of the pool table and putting them into the triangular rack that he'd just placed in the center of the green felt.
Cal opened his mouth and then closed it again. “I've said my peace. Do whatever you're going to do.”
“What the hell are y'all talking about?” David demanded. “I don't do this cryptic shit. If y'all have something to say to one another, just say it in a way that I can understand what you're fighting about.”
“Cal thinks my relationship with Katie is bordering on inappropriate,” Addison said flatly.
David nearly dropped his beer. “What?”
“Exactly,” Addison said as he pulled a cigarette out of his pack and lit it. “She and I are friends. We joke around. Cal thinks we're crossing a line. We're not, but Cal's got to butt his nose in where it doesn't belong and try to make something of nothing.”
“I never said-.” Cal slammed his hands down on the side of the pool table. “I just told you the truth. I think y'all are too damn close. I think it's going to come back and bite both of y'all in your asses.”
“You don't have any-.”
“Okay. Enough. I get it.” David stepped in between the two of them.
“You get it?” Cal asked. “How?”
“Because I'm not an idiot.” David leaned against the side of the pool table. “Ian's completely and totally flaked out. Addison's been picking up a lot of that slack when it comes to Katie and Hannah Mae. Folks are starting to talk. I get it.”
“Are people talking?” Cal asked.
David raised one eyebrow at Cal. “They're talking about Ian.”
“Well, that's to be expected.” Cal gestured for Addison to hand him a cigarette. “Ian is a fucking train wreck.”
“Thought you quit.” David gestured to the cigarette.
“I don't buy cigarettes,” Cal said dismissively as he took the cigarette and lit it.