by K M Smith
“Oh, that? Just a flesh wound.”
“Who’s flesh?”
“You mean which daddy was it?”
Alice threw him a look.
“Adam,” Jake said. “It was Adam. Leo nearly killed him.”
Alice stepped back, shocked by the news or upset by Jake speaking to her. Maybe both, Leo wasn’t sure.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. He’s fine. He’ll walk it off and be right as rain in a couple days. Plenty of co-eds here to keep him going.” He snickered.
Sirens blared in the distance. “I guess your other daddy’s getting’ himself in trouble now.” Leo shook his head. “We don’t work for ‘im any more, by the way.”
“Great.” Alice crossed her arms. “Now go away.”
Jake took a cautious step forward. “Alice, we want to help. It’s hard out there when you’re first turned—”
“Like I’m going to trust you? The ‘good cop?’ No. You showed your true colors in the woods.”
“Alice,” Jake pleaded. “I didn’t have a choice then. You have to know that."
“I know you bit me. And I know you were only doing what you were told. And that’s what makes it worse.” She looked away and started to close the door.
Shit! Leo thought. They’d come too far to let her go now. ‘Hey, you know he feels like shit about all that.’ He projected this thought to Alice. They shared a connection. He didn’t understand it, and he didn’t know why, but her well-being was his responsibility now. Her life had changed completely, and nobody—not even Alice—knew what to expect for her future. Nobody should have to go that through alone.
Alice paused before the door was completely closed. ‘And?’ she thought at Leo.
‘And…you should hear him out. Let him make it up to you.’
‘I don’t think so, Leo. Not this time.’
The heavy door clicked as it connected with the frame, sealing them out of Alice’s house, and life, for as long as she stayed inside.
‘Do we wait ‘er out?’ Leo thought at Jake.
Shaking his head, Jake walked down the steps and got into the rental car.
It was over. Alice was big girl. The whole ordeal hadn’t lasted long, at least not for Leo. A small twinge of regret tightened his chest. But it was time to move on. To where, he wasn’t certain.
“C’mon, Loverboy.” He patted Jake’s shoulder. “You’ll get over ‘er. Let’s see what kinda trouble we can get into on the road.”
The duo pulled out of the driveway and headed west.
August, 2016
Chapter Sixty
Alice
The bar was quiet, Monday nights usually were. Alice wiped down the bar for what must’ve been the fifteenth time in the last hour, and it wasn’t any cleaner than it had been the last fourteen times.
“Hey, Allie, you can go on home now, if ya want to,” Jim, the owner of The Crow Bar, called as he peeked his head around from the back office.
“Nah, Jimmie, I’m good. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather stay.”
“I can’t pay—”
Alice held up her hands as she moved toward the time clock. “I know, Jim, you can’t pay me. I’ll clock out, don’t worry. Just, ya know, just let me hang out here for a bit. I don’t really feel like going home yet.” Alice batted her eyelashes and flashed her signature smile.
Jimmie’s face melted at the sight of her smile, and she knew she’d get her way. Even on the slowest night of the year.
“All right, Allie, you can chill here for a while. Let me pour ya one.” He ambled to the taps and pulled down her favorite, Dark Traveler. She felt a kinship with the name from the outset and fell in love with the flavor on the first sip.
Alice nodded as Jimmie set the beer down on the just-cleaned bar in front of her. “Thanks, Jimmie. I owe ya.”
“Nah, just keep doin’ what you do behind the bar. We haven’t seen numbers like these in years. It may not look like it right now, but you’ve been a big asset to The Crow Bar.” Jimmie blushed and turned away to go wipe down the tap.
Alice sat and scrolled through Facebook on her phone. She’d set up the account after landing the job, and gave herself the moniker, Dark Traveler. She smiled to herself every time she opened the app and saw the name. A few swipes in and Alice got a message of another sort.
‘Hey, Doll.’
‘Leo.’
Leo snickered at her and continued. ‘Chicago, eh? My old stompin’ grounds. I’m touched.’
Alice groaned aloud, and Jimmie looked up from his busywork. He cocked an eyebrow in her direction, but Alice waved him off.
‘Leo, I swear to god. Leave me alone. If you have the slightest shred of dignity, just keep driving.’
‘You know I can’t do that, Doll. Besides, you’re my favorite.’
‘Don’t make me cut you off, Leo.’
‘You can’t do that!’
‘Watch me!’ Alice shot up her own mental wall, steeling her mind to any invaders. She’d had enough of that life.
“Hey, Jimmie,” Alice called as she got up from her barstool. “I just realized, I gotta jet. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Sure thing, kiddo. Get home safe. You need me to come with ya?”
Alice shook her head and tutted, “Now, Jimmie, you know I’m a big girl. Any goons out there oughtta be more afraid of runnin’ in to me.” She winked and breezed through the door.
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