by JA Hensley
As I walk into my apartment my phone beeps with a voice mail. It's a message from my boss. Great. I'm supposed to have this weekend off before I dig into my assignment next week. Getting a call from him today is not a good sign of a relaxing weekend.
"Colin, something’s come up and I'm going to need you to start your mission ASAP. Come into the office and I'll brief you on the details. I need you here no later than fifteen hundred."
Fuck me. Not what I wanted to hear, but there's really no reason to complain. I tell myself this over and over while I head in to meet my boss.
Once I arrive at the office, I see my partner, Kevin, and our tech specialist, Bink, are here. Something must have happened for all of us to be called in.
"What's up, Colin?" Kevin asks as he sits down next to me in the conference room. "I wasn't planning on being here until Monday. Any idea what's going on?"
"I heard there's a big shipment coming in later this week and they want surveillance up now," Bink says quietly. He usually doesn't talk much, but he's a genius when it comes to hidden cameras and microphones.
"Well, that fucks my week all up," I respond sarcastically.
"Exactly," Kevin says. "When are these fucking drug dealers going to get with our schedule? I was going to take a nap this afternoon." All three of us laugh because we know the guy barely sleeps at night and would never be one to nap.
"Well, I see that you ladies have gotten settled," Special Agent in Charge, McMann, states as he enters the room. This guy has a reputation for being a no-nonsense prick, but I prefer that over someone who doesn't know what they're doing.
"Yes, sir," we answer in unison.
"We've gotten some intelligence that Ronaldo is on the move. Our sources tell us that he's pulled in some local thugs and may have branched out into human trafficking. We do know that there’s a planned shipment of coke and meth going out sometime in the next two weeks. I've asked IT to send you all the pertinent information about these men, as well as possible locations of the drugs. There's a warehouse district close to the river that needs to be investigated. I need you to try and pinpoint the exact location of the product ASAP.
“We believe Ronaldo is using the local university as one distribution point. We have new photos of the suspect, and we know he has a girlfriend, Rebecca. Colin you need to keep an eye on her since she lives in your building. We don't think she knows anything about Ronaldo's activities, but she may be an asset we can use to bring him down." "Anyone else in on this case, sir?" I always have to ask because my brother just got suspended for not playing nice with other agencies. I'll give myself time to think about my neighbor later.
"Yes, there’s one undercover from DOJ. No details on that yet."
"What does the Department of Justice want from this? I thought this was a regular drug case?"
"It is, unless Ronaldo's kidnapping and selling girls. There’s very little evidence of this, but the DOJ wants to be in on it just in case." He shakes his head indicating that he isn't really happy about the situation.
"Okay, we'll do our thing and we'll report back," Kevin says, understanding what isn't being said.
"I want daily updates. You three know what you're getting into, but my gut tells me that something is off with this one. Keep your heads up and watch your back." The SAC leaves with a nod.
"What the fuck, Colin? You know better than to ask about other agencies." Kevin raises an eyebrow at me.
"I also know what happened with Jude and I'm not going to have our case jacked by someone else. You know how this shit goes, man. If we're going to put in the work, we're going to make the arrest." It's a sore subject for me, even though my brother and I don't get along all that well.
"Yeah, okay. I get it. Bink, you got any thoughts?" Kevin grins at our friend.
"Nope. You tell me where to wire and I'll be there," he says. Always a man of few words.
"I guess we need to check out that warehouse area of town since it's one place we haven't been. Let's do a drive by and get the lay of the land. Then we can make a plan for how we want to tackle this." Kevin is the logical one and always wants to plan things out. I tend to fly by the seat of my pants, trusting my instincts. They've never let me down before and I don't see it happening now.
Chapter 4-Rebecca
The sound of my ringtone wakes me. It was such a good nap that I don't have any desire to get up and answer the phone. It stops making noise and I snuggle back into the covers. Then I hear it again, the theme song to Friends coming from my purse in the corner. I drag myself out of bed to answer the phone, knowing that it's Stephanie calling and she’ll just keep ringing through until I answer.
"Hey." It's all I can get out right now.
"Hi, sweetie. I thought I'd call and make sure you're still up for going out tonight. I know Christin gets a little pushy sometimes."
"Yeah, I think so. I just woke up and I'm starting to feel more human. Wanna come over early and get ready together? I can order a pizza."
"That sounds great, just don't get mushrooms. You know how I feel about those slimy things."
I try not to laugh. Stephanie has a thing about slimy stuff. She won't even touch something if it looks slippery.
"No problem. I'll make sure there are no mushrooms anywhere in this apartment."
"Don't make fun of me. I'll be there in a few." She ends the call and I go brush my teeth and try to wake up from my nap.
Thirty minutes later Stephanie is walking into my apartment and I’m feeling awake and refreshed.
"Pizza will be here shortly. I'm going to jump in the shower since you're here to answer the door. I've already paid and left a tip, so just sign my name."
When I emerge from the bathroom, I can smell the wonderful aroma that can only be Termillio's Pizza. It really is the best on earth. Stephanie has plates and wine on the table.
"You really know how to treat a girl, Steph," I say sitting down and taking a long drink of the wine.
"Only when the girl is worth it, Becca," she says, winking at me.
After enjoying a slice and a second glass of wine, Steph hits me with a bomb.
"You know, Becca, I always thought that Ron was a slime ball. Did you know that a couple months ago he tried to hit me?"
"What the fuck are you talking about? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?" I nearly yell at her.
"It was during one of your more infamous fights. Before I moved into my own apartment, you were out with Christin, and I was here with the flu. He was pounding on the door. When I opened it and told him you weren't home and that he needed to leave, he balled up his fist and pulled back like he was going to hit me. I told him to go ahead and do it because it would be a pleasure to file charges. He just told me off and walked away." Stephanie looks down at her plate.
"Oh my God, Steph! If you would’ve told me, I would have killed him." I grab her hands and make her look at me. "Seriously. If anything like that ever happens again, you need to tell me, okay?"
"I will, but hopefully you won't be taking that son of a bitch back, right? He’s just toxic for you. I know you're hurting now, but you'll see that he hurt you more than he helped you."
"I had no idea you felt this way. Six months with him and you never said anything. Why?" I can't stop the tears that are running down my face.
"This is exactly why. I didn't want you to be upset with me. You loved him and I wanted you to be happy. I don't think you would’ve listened if I had said something. I thought you would have gotten mad at me. I didn't want that."
"I'm so sorry that you feel that way, but you're probably right. Nobody had ever loved me like that and I was enamored with the idea of being in love to really see what was going on. Promise me that we will always be truthful with each other, no matter what. It may hurt at the time but as friends we have to try to protect each other." I smile at Stephanie and squeeze her hands.
"I promise. You have to be honest with me, too. We've been friends long enough that we can survive any
thing, I think."
"Even Christin and her crazy ideas?" I start laughing thinking about all the shit Christin has gotten us into over the years.
"Yep, even that. I love you, Becca. I just want you to be happy and to be treated like you deserve to be. You know that, right?"
"I do and I love you, too, Steph. Now, let's get ourselves ready for Christin's invasion. I'd like to be almost ready when she gets here, so all she'll have to fuss over is my hair."
Stephanie does my makeup for me. She used to work at Sephora and she has the magic touch. I barely know how to put on mascara so I’m more than happy to let her make me up. She does her own as well and then we start to get dressed.
"Are you sure I don't look like a slut in this? I'm not so sure about it." I've got the bustier and skirt on. It's so tight; I'm not going to be able to breathe.
"You look fantastic and you need to just own it. I know it's not your usual outfit but just be a sex kitten tonight and have fun. You really need to get more confidence in how fucking hot you are!"
We start laughing and I hear the front door slam. "I'm here, bitches! Who's ready to get crazy tonight?" Christin strolls into the bedroom wearing a red halter dress that shows off her figure, and heels that make her legs look amazing. "Damn, girl, you look great."
"Thank you. You told me to own it, so I'm going to start now." I snort and that just makes us all lose it.
We finally recover from our laughing fit and Christin pushes me into the bathroom. "We need to get your hair looking as good as your makeup and maybe you'll be the one getting laid tonight," she says with a smile at me in the mirror.
"I'm not looking to get laid. I just want to have fun and forget the shitstorm that’s my life for a while."
"We can make that happen, too," she says as she begins curling and styling my hair.
Twenty minutes later Christin declares that I’m ready to finish getting dressed. I have to admit that she did an amazing job. My long brown hair is piled on top of my head with soft curls falling down my back and around my face. I look like an innocent version of Mila Kunis or something like that. After I get my new sparkly top and shoes on, I join the girls in the living room. Stephanie is wearing a blue strapless mini dress and five-inch stilettos. I have to admit we look hot.
"Well, come on, ladies. Let's go show off these outfits and celebrate Becca's new-found freedom." Stephanie and I shake our heads but follow Christin out to her car, ready to take on the town.
* * * * *
We pull into the parking lot in front of This Bar and it’s packed. Christin manages to find a spot at the far end of the building. Saturday nights are always the most popular here. I'm not all that excited about fighting my way to the bar or to a table, but I know better than to argue with Christin. She grabs my hand and pulls me along with her into the crowd. The music is blaring and people are everywhere. We make our way to the far end of the bar where there tends to be a little more room. Once we get the bartender's attention, Stephanie orders a round of vodka and cranberry for us with an extra shot. Guess the plan is to get plastered.
While we're waiting for our drinks, I feel someone come up behind me. I move a little toward my left, but a pair of hands on my hips stops me. I look over at Stephanie and she has a smile on her face so I guess it can't be all bad.
"You look fucking hot in this skirt, Becca. I had no idea what you've been hiding all these years," he says in my ear. My body breaks out in goose bumps as his breath comes across my neck. It takes me a second and then I figure out who it is.
Spinning around I jump up and wrap my arms around his neck. "Steve, I can't believe it's you. How have you been?"
He chuckles and hugs me before setting me back on my feet. I take a small step back and look up into the face of my childhood friend. It's been years since we've seen each other and I can't believe he recognized me from behind.
"I've been great. You look amazing. What have you been up to? Seems like ages since I've seen you and the years have been very good to you." He winks at me and I can't help but giggle like a schoolgirl.
"Aw, you must say that to all the girls. You look wonderful, too. I'm in grad school to be a school psychologist. When did you move here?" Steve was a nerd in high school, but you wouldn't know that now. He's got to be over six feet tall and has lots of muscles packed on his lean frame. I bet nobody gives him wedgies anymore, unless they have a death wish or something.
"About two months ago, actually. I got a job at Bower Academy teaching chemistry. It's a great job." I hear someone clear their throat next to me.
"Fuck, where are my manners? Steve, these are my friends, Christin and Stephanie. Ladies, this is my friend Steve. We grew up together."
"Nice to meet you, Steve," Christin says as she pushes me out of her way. "Do you have any good stories about Becca from your childhood that we can use against her?" By this point she has her hand on his arm and is starting to rub her tits on him. I roll my eyes at Steve and start to rescue him when he surprises me.
"I do, Christin. Maybe we should take this someplace more private and I can tell you anything you want to know." He reaches up to her neck and pulls her in for a kiss. I can't help it when my mouth opens in disbelief. Steve was always the shy one in class. I look at Steph and she’s laughing at me. She puts her hand under my chin and pushes my mouth closed. Christin finally gets her shit together and steps back from Steve.
"Well, as interesting as that sounds, I made a promise to my girls to stick with them tonight. I would like to take you up on your offer sometime, though."
Steve bends down and whispers something in her ear that makes her blush and smile broadly. She nods and he looks at me, winks, and walks away.
"What the fuck was that? It's been a long time since I've seen you blush, chica." I've got my hands on my hips and hopefully a look on my face that says I want answers now.
"Nothing you need to know about, but I’m going to see him again soon. Where have you been hiding him, Becca? You're holding out on us."
"I haven't seen him in years. I think it was junior year in high school. He was a year older than me. When he graduated, he moved away to college and I haven't seen him since then. He used to be really shy and kind of backward. Obviously, that has changed."
"Yeah, I don't think I would use the word shy to describe him now," Christin says with a smile.
"Enough of that shit, ladies. Let's drink," Stephanie says as she throws back her shot and chases it with her drink. Christin slides her shot to me and asks the bartender for a water. I follow Stephanie's example with both shots and we head off to find a table.
After pushing our way through the crowd, we find one in the corner. We squeeze into it before someone else takes it. It's a high-back booth so the noise is blocked a little and we can actually talk.
"What do you have planned for us tonight?" I ask Christin because she’s always in charge when we go out. "I assume since you drove here and gave me your drinks that you're going to be our designated driver tonight?"
"Yes, I’ll be the DD and I want you to take full advantage of it. This is your night to let loose and have fun, Becca. Let's get your mind off your dickhead of an ex and party."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Are we going back to Stars or someplace else? I want to dance."
"I think we'll go up to the Pavilion and do the live music thing. What do you think, Steph? Are you up for that?"
"I'm in," Stephanie says after finishing her drink. "Let me run to the restroom and we'll get out of here." She starts pushing her way through the mass of bodies. Christin and I survey the crowd. I see a few people I know but nobody that I really want to talk to. As Stephanie returns to the table, I see him. You can't miss those blue eyes. My heart jumps when he looks over at me, and not in a good way.
"I have to get the fuck out of here right now," I say as I jump up from my seat, nearly knocking Steph over. "Let's go."
I start to move toward the door, not looking to see if the girls are behind
me. Please let the crowd be too thick for him to get to me. I can't do this right now. I can see the door now and I'm walking as fast as I can with all these people in my way. Glancing behind me I can see Christin not too far behind. Suddenly I slam into a large body. Fuck. I don't have to look up to know it's him just from the scent.
"Where are you going, Becca? Are you avoiding me?" He's such a douche.
"No, fucker, I'm not avoiding you. I don't want to have anything to do with your sorry ass. Don't you read your text messages? Now get the fuck out of my way before I make a scene that you don't want to be part of."
He has the audacity to laugh. "Oh, Becca. Always a firecracker. What exactly is the problem?"
Christin tries to move me out of the way. "You stupid ass. You know what you did to her and this is what you do? Are you fucking kidding me? I should kick your ass just on principle for you being such an idiot."
"Well, it's nice to see you again, too, Christin. How are you, Steph? Are you taking good care of my girl?"
He did not just call me his girl, did he?
"Oh, hell no, Ron. I'm not your girl anymore. You gave that up when you decided to throw dirty dishes at me. We're done. Now get the fuck out of my way. I can't stand to be in the same room with you." I push on his chest and he takes a small step to the side, allowing me by. Just as I get past, he grabs my wrist and pulls me to his chest.
"You'll always be mine, Becca, whether you want to be or not. This isn't over." He kisses the top of my head and smiles at my friends as he walks away.
My whole body is shaking and I feel like I'm going to vomit. I rush to the door and outside hoping the fresh air will stop my dinner from reappearing. I bend over at the waist to catch my breath.
"Are you okay?" Stephanie is next to me rubbing small circles on my back.
"Girl, I am so proud of how you handled yourself back there," Christin says. "It would’ve been better if you'd punched him in the nuts, but you did real good." That's a compliment coming from her.