by Dawn, Tara
"Different how?"
"I'm not sure yet," I tell him, just as confused as he is.
"You were not to engage with them, Cash. That was the agreement," he says, getting shitty.
"I know what the goddamn agreement was, Dale. I had no other choice. No one else was around."
"He knows what you look like now." I hear something crash in the background and squeeze my eyes shut.
"Pretty sure. I was up in his face and knocked him the fuck out. Unless my punch knocked some screws loose, he'll know I'm the one who put his ass in place tonight."
"Goddammit, Cash. This isn't going to work now. You need to pack up and come back. Immediately." He's very pissed off and very serious. There is no way I'm coming back right now. There's too much I still need to find out. Samuel wasn't able to bring info back. Phil's been covering his tracks meticulously.
Headlights appear in the rear view mirror. I watch as they get closer and pass me, parking across from Dustin's house near Hazel's vehicle. I incline my seat a little more to get a better view.
Dale begins to say something and I shush him. "Hang on a second. Someone just pulled up in front of the house. I think it's our guy."
I watch as Phil gets out of his car and does a double take looking at the SUV. He walks over to it and appears to check out the license plate before shining a light through the windows and trying to open the driver's side door.
"What are you up to, fucker?" I mumble under my breath.
"Is it him?" Dale asks.
"It is. He's walking around her vehicle and trying to open the car, but it's locked."
Phil steps back and looks up and down the street. He stands there for a moment staring at the house like he has x-ray vision before crossing the street and entering the yard. He peeks in the windows as he walks down the side of the house and pauses for a moment as he stares through one. I can't make out much more than his body shape in the shadows, but it looks like his head is shaking. After a few seconds he is gone.
"He just walked around to the back of the house. I'm worried he might attack her again," I growl into the phone.
"What if it's all for show? What if they are in on whatever it is together and they just want people to think they aren't?" Of course he has to be the sound of reason.
"I doubt it after what I saw tonight. She was terrified. All those times I followed him past her house or saw him drive by while watching her…I'm beginning to think he's stalking her. With the way he was acting tonight and the vice grip he had on her throat pinning her to the back of my truck, he's going to end up hurting her. I can feel it in my bones, Dale." I sigh thinking about the incident.
"Fuck! You need to back off and come back before he recognizes you. We will send someone else up in a few days to keep an eye out."
"No fucking way. We've sent Samuel up here for months trying to gain intel on this prick and he hasn't been able to tell us shit. For all we know, he's been caught and could be working with him now. He's fucking smart, Dale, but I'm smarter. This ends now before shit blows up in our faces and we all end up in jail."
"That's not gonna happen. Bring your ass back tomorrow. Do not make me come up there and collect you. It will not end pretty," he yells through the phone. I laugh at him which gets him screaming curse words at me. I've never heard him this upset before.
Movement in the shadows by the house catch my attention. I go silent as I watch.
"Cash? Are you listening to me? You better not have hung up on me, asshole," he growls.
"Shut up. He's back."
Dale quiets down waiting for me to relay what I'm seeing. Phil stares through the same window as before. If I hadn't seen him moving, I wouldn't have even known he was there. What happened inside that house? He walks back across the street and stops next to Hazel's car. He pulls something out of his pocket and squats down near her tire. I sit up the rest of the way to get a better look, but it's hard to see exactly what he's doing. A minute later he stands and walks back to his car. He peels out of his parking spot and disappears down the street.
"He just did something to her car and drove off."
"You better not be getting out of your car," he seethes.
"I know better than that. You act like I've never done this before. What kind of idiot do you take me for?" I ask and get a sigh of relief in return. "I'm going to wait a few minutes then go look."
"Mother fucker!" he yells through the phone at me making me chuckle. "You are going to get caught. I knew better than to let your ass go there. Now they know who you are and they will find out why you came."
"Calm down. I'm going to look and I'll stay on the line with you."
I open my car door thankful to finally stretch my legs. A tall man should never be trapped in a tiny car for long periods of time. Taking a quick look up the street, there are no headlights or taillights to be seen. I walk toward Hazel's car and before I get there I can already see what Phil had done. The back end of her car is sagging on the driver's side where he had punctured her tire. I sigh and glance at the house, but I can't see anything with all the windows covered.
"What do you see, Cash?"
"He popped her tire."
"Not your problem. Go back to the hotel, pack your shit, and come back," he tells me as I climb back into the car.
"Not gonna happen. I'm sticking around. I'll see ya in a week." As I hang up the phone I can hear him screaming at me. I chuckle to myself and start the car. She's not going anywhere tonight. I pull away from the curb and head off in search of Phil.
Hazel
I'm so comfortable I don't want to wake-up or move. I nuzzle into the pillow and sigh, warm and content. I could stay here all day after the amount I drank last night.
"Morning, hellcat." A raspy voice mumbles in my ear.
"Hmm," is all I get out before I stiffen up.
Bobby's hot breath blows on the side of my face. He's spooning me and our naked legs are entwined. His arm is wrapped around me with his hand resting below my breast. I take stock of the clothes I do have on. My t-shirt, bra, and panties are still on. It doesn't feel like I've had sex any time in the last few hours, but Bobby seems to be able to go a round with the erection that's pressed against my ass. I open my eyes and look around the dimly lit room. I must have passed out on the couch, but I don't remember Bobby laying down next to me. How the hell did he squeeze himself on here with me? I'm not a tiny woman and he isn't the smallest of men. Looking down at the floor, I see our pants lying by the coffee table. As I move to get up, his arm and legs tighten around me as his nose brushes against my neck. He takes a deep breath as if he is smelling me and sighs in contentment.
"Just go back to sleep. I'm not gonna do anything to ya but hold ya," he grumbles against my neck. Goosebumps break out across my skin where his breath tickles me.
I relax my body and allow myself to melt back into his. Bobby's fingers run through my hair massaging my scalp. This feels nice. When was the last time anyone just held me? Too tired to try to count back that many years, I let my eyes close and enjoy the intimacy my life lacks.
"Hazel." A hand shoves at my shoulder shaking me. "Hazel, wake your ass up."
"Cady, go away." I pull the blanket up over my head not wanting to wake up. Bobby groans behind me when my elbow makes contact with his ribs.
"You gotta get up. Your tire was slashed last night," she says as she yanks the cover back. "Gross, Bobby, put that thing away!"
I jump up fast and look at Bobby's crotch, but there is nothing to see except his boxers.
Cady laughs. "That got you up. Put your pants on and come look at your car."
"Don't put your pants on. Lay back down," Bobby groans wrapping his arm around my waist and burying his face in my side.
I put my hand against his face and shove him back then stand up. His arm trails down my leg copping one last feel.
"Don't get used to that. It's not happening again," I say to him bending over to grab my pants.
He reaches out
and slaps my ass, getting one last dig in. "I could definitely get used to that." He chuckles. "What's going on, Cady? Why are you dragging her away from me?"
"Her tire was slashed last night."
My head is throbbing from being awoken abruptly and moving so fast. Her words finally register in my brain.
"Do what?" I almost yell at her. I walk over to the window and look across the street. Erick has my hatch open trying to get my spare tire lowered. "Son of a bitch!" I stomp over and slide my flip flops onto my feet as Bobby buttons and zips his jeans.
We walk outside and cross the street as Erick starts cranking the jack under the car. My poor tire is completely flat. I don't think any air is left in it.
"How do you know someone popped my tire? We could've picked up a nail or something," I say, trying to block the sun from eyes.
"Nails can't do this," Erick says, pointing to the one inch puncture hole in my tire. It's an even slice in the rubber.
"No shit, Sherlock." I glare at him and give him shit even though it's not him I'm mad at.
"Hey, don't get shitty with me. I'm changing your tire. Which, by the way, I'm glad you have one because it's hard to find a tire in Swanson on a Sunday. The nearest place is back home in Trinity."
"Sorry. I'm just fucking pissed." I huff and glance over to Cady who looks just as pissed off as I do.
"Go back in the house, I'll help him change it," Bobby says, shooing us away with his hand.
I'm not going to complain because it's hot as fuck out here. I glance at the time on my cellphone and it's just after ten in the morning. It's already feeling like record highs out and the day's just begun. Cady and I go back into the house and sit on the couch. I lean back against the cushion and rub my temples trying to ease the throbbing in my head.
"There's only one person I know of that would do something like this," I say to her.
"Especially if he's pissed off after getting his ass kicked."
I turn to face Cady and lower my voice. "You heard what Dustin said last night about his dealer getting into a fight."
Cady nods her head and chews on her lip. "I wonder if he came here, saw your car, popped your tire, and left."
"It's the only explanation that makes any sense," I mutter and pick at the loose fuzz on the couch.
"How did Bobby end up on the couch with you? Now that doesn't make sense." Cady asks with a slight giggle.
"I thought you could tell me." I lift my head and her face goes blank.
"I don't remember much of last night." Her brow pulls together in concentration, but she's not connecting any dots.
"That's what I was afraid of." I sigh and lean forward propping my elbows on my knees.
"What do you mean?" she asks scooting forward and looking at me.
"Those fucking pills." I shake my head. "They are going to cause a lot of trouble."
"Oh stop. Last night was the first time I tried them. Erick and I had some awesome sex though. I remember that. Well some of it." She laughs, but I don't see the humor. I know what it's like to have sex on those pills. Of course, at the time, I didn't realize I had taken them.
"Would you have been able to stop yourself?" I ask her this because I'm truly wondering if I could've done more to prevent what happened that night. Or if I did it because I really wanted to and didn't want to admit it to myself.
"Why would I have wanted to stop?" She laughs again, but she's confused.
"Just answer the question, Cady. While on that drug, could you stop it from happening?" Cady's eyes bounce back and forth between mine before they still. Her face says it all. She understands now why I'm asking.
"Phil…did he…. Oh my God, Hazel." She scoots over next to me and wraps her arms around my shoulders.
"I'm not entirely sure of everything that happened that night," I whisper. I'm confused by it all myself. Although a part of my mind was screaming at me to stop, I couldn't stop responding to his advances. It was as if I had no control over my body, completely immobilized. The knowledge that I enjoyed some of what he did – no, some of what he did felt good, but I didn't enjoy it.
"Hazel, look at me," Cady says firmly. I turn my head and stare into her anger filled eyes. "He raped you. He slipped you that drug and he raped you knowing full well you wouldn't be able to fight him off."
"Cady," I pause for a moment trying to bring myself to speak the next words. "I'm not sure I can call it rape."
"I don't care what you say, Hazel. That motherfucker took full advantage of the situation and got what he wanted. And now he thinks he owns you. It all makes fucking sense now. I'll be damned if he gets his way. There is no way Roger or Erick is going to let anything happen to you. You can add Bobby to that list now too."
"There is no way I'm asking or letting Bobby do anything for me." I stare her down.
"He likes you, Hazel, and he's a genuinely good guy."
"I just met him. I know nothing about him and I'm not looking for anything right now."
"So let him be your friend. You could use some more friends, especially now."
The pleading in her eyes has me rethinking my stance in the world right now. I don't have many people in my life. With Phil running amok, anything could happen. I don't want to put people at risk, but I don't want to put myself at risk either for being foolish. If I had more friends, there would be more eyes on me. Someone could be a witness, someone could call the cops if he strikes again. Not if, when. Because I know he will do it. I fear to what extremes he will take it next time. My heart pounds in my chest as anxiety grips me. I push myself off the couch and begin pacing the room. Cady's worry filled eyes follow me back and forth.
"It's all going to be okay. I promise. We aren't going to let anything happen to you," she says, trying to ease my fears.
"What's going on?"
I turn and see Dustin standing in the doorway still half asleep. He looks between Cady and I waiting for an answer that I don't want to give. I don't trust him.
"My tire was popped last night," I tell him.
Dustin walks over to the window and looks outside at Erick and Bobby changing my tire.
"Someone got it out for you?" he asks, still looking out the window.
I turn to Cady and mime zipping my lips shut. She nods her head and sits quietly.
"Not that I know of. Probably just some punk being an asshole," I respond.
He turns and looks between us. "That shit doesn't happen outside my house. I'll ask around and see if anyone saw anything as they were leaving."
"Thanks."
No one would've seen Phil do it. If someone vandalizes someone else's property, they are going to make sure there are no witnesses.
"You're not gonna involve the cops are you?"
Dustin is worried. He should be, but not because I may call the cops. Phil is fucking psycho and he's working for him. Who knows what Phil would do to Dustin if he steps out of line. I'm concerned for his well-being as much as my own. I can't tell him any of this, though. Their relationship is a mystery to me. Dustin could just be a dealer, or he could be one of Phil's best friends. Opening my mouth before I know where Dustin and Phil stand could make things worse for me. They could make things bad for Dustin too. I can't bring this shit down on him.
"No. No reason to. Unless they offer to buy me a new tire, and I don't see that happening."
Dustin visibly relaxes and laughs at my joke. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."
I walk over to the window to check on Bobby's and Erick's progress. They've gotten the new tire on and are putting away the tools. I want to get the fuck out of here as soon as possible. I don't feel safe here.
"Looks like they are done changing the tire," I say as sit next to Cady on the couch.
"Good. I need cigarettes. That's where we were going when I noticed the flat," she says to me.
I reach into my purse and pull out my cigarettes. "Here." I hand them to her. "Have one of mine."
We both pull one out and light them as Erick and
Bobby walk through the door, hands covered in black stuff. They walk straight to the kitchen and wash up.
"I'm starving," Erick says when he walks back into the room. "You guys wanna get some breakfast?"
My stomach grumbles at the mention of food. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.
"I'll take that as a yes," Erick laughs.
"Just as long as we don't go to Maggie's," I tell him as Bobby enters the room.
"Awe, but Maggie's has the best breakfast in town," Bobby says.
"I agree, but I'm never making her go there on her day off again." Cady stands and stretches before gathering her things.
We say our goodbyes to Dustin and he invites us to come back anytime. I think he's lonely in that big ol' house by himself. Bobby tells me it's Dustin's grandma's house. She was recently put in a nursing home when her illness took a turn for the worse. Bobby got to spend quite a bit of time with her before she was moved. He has a lot of love for that woman too. Dustin stays there taking care of the place and visits her several times a week. Bobby tags along sometimes. They are pretty close to one another for Bobby to say, "We've been through some shit." It's nice that Dustin visits her regularly, but I wonder what she would think about her grandson turning her home into a drug den and having all kinds of sketchy fuckers coming and going out of it.
As we head back toward Trinity, Bobby and Erick are cutting up in the backseat, but mind is churning with everything that's happened. Different scenarios that could happen in the future play through my mind. The hot guy from the bar keeps popping into my thoughts too. Who is he? Is he still in town or was he just passing through? What did he say to Phil? What did he do to Phil?
I picture his chocolate brown eyes and his lips. The way his powerful body felt pushed against mine and the way his hands felt on me. They didn't feel creepy or malicious like Phil's do. I'd like to see him again, to say thank you. Who am I kidding? I'd like to just look at him again. I got the feeling that that man is complicated though. A loner by nature. No, he's probably long gone by now.