by Smith, C. P.
“Lorraine, why don’t you ask Ben out for dinner?”
“You saying his parts still work?” Shaking my head no and wondering why I’d opened my mouth, I continued.
“I don’t really have that information, he just, uh, seems like a guy who might, um, you know, still be able to, ah, storm the cotton gin, as they say?”
Lorraine was pulling into a parking space out front of McGill’s, when I finished that, hopefully never to be repeated, ever, statement and looked at me from the rear-view.
“I’ll ask him.” What?
“What?”
“I’ll ask him; we aren’t getting any younger, gotta take the bull by the horns or the man by the dick, or is it cock? Is that what they’re calling it these days, cock or dick?” I sat in complete and utter silence when she’d finished, but Mandy burst out laughing, and Lorraine just smiled and winked at me, then got out of the car. Oh, god, she isn’t really going to ask him, is she? I jumped out of the car wishing I’d never opened my mouth and followed Lorraine, who was making a beeline for our table.
Ben was in his seat waiting, but Gerry hadn’t arrived yet. Praying she was joking, I walked over to Rosie and placed a coffee order, then headed towards the table. I heard Lorraine say, “Call me,” and I tried not to look at Ben to see his reaction, but god help me; I did, and he was grinning. Shit, now I know his equipment still works, beautiful... Deciding it was time to move on to something besides everyone’s sex lives, I pulled out my notes and handed Ben, Mandy and Lorraine a piece of paper.
“Since Naomi is the second woman Jack has dated to be killed, Gerry thought the killer might be connected to him in some way, and I tend to agree. So I want you three to write down every woman Jack has had a relationship with.” Mandy took the paper, looked at it and then announced, “I’m gonna need more than one sheet of paper.”
“That many?” I squeaked.
“Oh, yeah.” She replied with wide eyes.
“Oh, my god.” I felt the blood run from my face.
“Now Jennifer, Jack’s a man, he’s single, and lots of women throw themselves at him. He hasn’t had more than say six or seven real relationships since he was twenty.” Lorraine added.
“Oh, my god, he’s a manwhore, isn’t he?” I replied ignoring her.
“Jenny, he’s a man, a man’s man, he’s busy taking care of the county, and that doesn’t give him a lot of time for romance, so he gets it when he can.” Ben added.
“So I’m just one of the women he “gets it from” when he can?” I asked, getting sicker by the minute. Shit, what was I thinking falling into bed so quickly with him?
“Now darlin’ I didn’t say that. He acts different with you, in fact, don’t think I’ve ever seen him act this way, now that I think about it.” I didn’t know whether Ben was telling the truth or trying to ease my growing anxiety, but I tried not to think I might just be another notch on Jack’s post.
“Where is Gerry, he was supposed to be here?” I inquired, sounding a little shrill even to my own ears. The table looked at me funny, and I realized I’d just moved on from the subject of Jack and did it with very little finesse. Ben looked at Lorraine, and then answered me.
“He got a call from some folks wanting to take a ride down the river. Said, he’d be back in the morning or late afternoon.”
“Ok, well, get to writing those lists then, if this killer is connected to Jack, we need to warn these women to be careful.” I lowered my head to avoid their stares and started digging through my bag pretending I was looking for something. Shit, was I another notch in his bedpost or was I more than that? Needing a distraction to take my mind off this till I could think in private, I decided to work on my story. Going over my notes and putting them in chronological order, I noted who was killed first, where they were from, how long they had lived there, hair color, eye color and whether or not they knew Jack. The first two didn’t, and it made me wonder if the killer has a problem with Jack, why were the first two women strangers to him, and, since Naomi was a blonde and the others brunette, did the hair color even mean anything?
After fifteen minutes of writing, Lorraine, Mandy and Ben compared their lists and added some more, then argued over some of the names. When they were done they handed the list to me, and I looked at them before reading the names.
All three of them looked nervous.
I looked at the list and then went cross-eyed. Thirty-seven names were on it…Thirty-seven, Holy Shit. I cleared my throat and then nodded, “Ok, right, well why don’t we split up the list, we can each take names, and get through them faster.
Mandy stood and went behind the bar to grab a phone book from Rosie, and we all pulled out our cell phones. Taking my list of twelve names, I looked up the number for an Amber Mooney, dialed it, and prayed to God I could get through this, but, unfortunately, not once did it occur to me that these women might know who I am…. stupid, silly, naive girl from Kansas that I was; I introduced myself.
“Hello.”
“May I speak with Amber please?”
“Speaking.”
“Amber, this is Jennifer Stewart with the Gunnison Times—“
“Aren’t you that woman Jack is seeing?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re that new woman in town that Jack Gunnison is seeing.”
“I, ah, yes?”
“Are you calling to ask me if you should run for the hills?”
“I, uh—“
“Run for the hills sugar, he’s nothing but heartbreak waiting to happen, that man will never settle down. Do yourself a favor and listen to me when I say R.U.N.”
“Um, OK, I’ll take that under advisement, I was calling to, oh man, I was calling to tell you that since there was another murder involving a woman that Jack dated, we thought you should be careful, you know, keep a lookout.”
“Oh, my god, am I gonna be next?”
“Oh, I, shit, Amber, to be honest, we don’t know what’s going on, but since there were two women murdered who dated Jack, a group of us just thought we should warn you, you know, give a heads up; that’s all.”
“So this isn’t an official warning?”
“NO, no, I’m working on the story, and I just felt it was something that I should do, that’s all.”
“Oh, Ok, well thanks for the warning. I guess I should say the same thing to you too, keep your eyes open and be careful of the killer and Jack, if you know what I mean.” Nodding my head, ‘cause I knew exactly what she meant, I thanked her for her time and hung up. I looked around the table, and all eyes were on me. I picked up my coffee, took a drink, and started looking for the next woman’s number. Not ready for another phone call like the last one, I listened as Ben, then Lorraine, fielded questions from women about how much danger they were in, when Mandy leaned into me. “Jack's a good guy, don’t let these women make you think otherwise.” I was staring at Mandy wondering if I’d make the cut, or if I should just cut my losses now and run like Amber said, when my phone rang. I looked down at the screen and saw “Bossy calling,” something told me not to answer it, but I didn’t listen.
“Hello.”
“Jesus, Jenn, what the fuck are you doing?”
“Um, warning women to be careful?”
“You’re starting a panic, that’s what you’re doing,” he barked, then, “My phone won’t stop ringing with women I haven’t talked to in years. I don’t need this on top of everything else that is going on,” he growled.
“I was just trying to give them a heads up, Jack, they need to know to be safe.”
“Jenn, I don’t even know if this is connected to me and you’ve got every woman I’ve ever said hi to calling to find out if they’re next.” Jack seethed, and I could feel my temper start to rise.
“I can see where that would be a problem since you’ve said “hi” to half the population of Gunnison.” I snapped back.
“I never said I was a monk,” he shouted.
“Well thank God for that, be
cause if this list of thirty-seven names even scratches the tip of the iceberg of whom you’ve slept with, then you’re more likely to get invited to Hugh Hefner’s house than the house of God,” I shouted even louder.
“Jesus, I don’t have time for this shit,” He barked, and I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. I was just trying to keep these women safe, and maybe I didn't think it through before I called them, but even so, finding out how many women he'd been with and how unlikely it was that he would ever settle down and, more than likely break my heart, I decided I didn’t need quiet reflection, I needed to end this now and save us both the trouble.
“I don’t have time for this either, Jack, in fact, I’ll let you off the hook, thanks for the ride last night, figuratively and literally, but I have a date to get to, so you'll have to excuse me, I need to go.”
“Goddammit, Jenn—” I hung up my phone before he finished and heard coughing around the table. Ben’s eyes held sadness and Lorraine actually grinned at me.
“That will get his attention, he’s never had a woman end things with him.”
“What? I’m not trying to get his attention, Lorraine. I knew he was a serial dater, and I still let him in; I’m so stupid. I refuse to end up another name on that list.” Although technically, I’m on it already, shit!
“Jennifer, even an alley cat meets their match, and Jack isn’t a serial dater, his mom and dad had a beautiful marriage, he’s just been trying to find someone who completes him, just like they completed each other.”
“You’re trying to tell me that out of all the women on that list, none of them was marrying material?”
“I’m telling you they all were, just not the right one for Jack. He needs a woman who intrigues him, one who doesn’t lie down and let him walk all over her. One who will do what they want, and ignore his macho man ways. He needs a woman who knows her own mind and isn’t content sitting at home waiting for him to walk through the door.”
“I’m not sure a woman like that exists.”
“I think she does, in fact, I think I’m looking at her right now.” Stunned to hear that anyone saw me as a woman that independent, I smiled at her, and she winked. My phone started ringing again, and I saw “Bossy calling” scrolling across the screen. I looked at Lorraine, then looked to Mandy, and then Ben said, “Answer him Jenny, he’s waiting.” Taking a deep breath, I swiped the phone and put it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“You over your snit?”
“No, but I’m getting there.”
“You still remember what I said about the Mayor?” Rolling my eyes because men moved on from fights like women moved on to gossip, quickly, if you’re wondering? I answered him.
“Yes, I remember.”
“Good, now do me a favor and stop calling these women. I’ll save you some time and trouble by informing you; Amber is the only one who hates me, and once you called her; she's made it her life’s mission to call everyone else. She’ll get the job done for you and free up your day… And just so we're clear, if you think I'll let you walk away from me that easily, you need to think again. After last night, no fuckin’' way am I letting you go, so deal with it.”
“Whatever,” I snipped.
“Smartass.”
“Bossy,” I smiled.
“That’s my girl.” Oh, my god, I think I am…. smiling and accepting my fate as Jack’s woman, I told him goodbye.
“I need to go Jack, I have work to do and so do you.”
“All right, Jenn, call me after your lunch with the Mayor.”
“Later, Jack.”
“Later, Jenn.”
I hung up the phone, to meet three smiling faces. “Never thought I’d see the day that some half pint of a woman could bring Jack Gunnison to his knees. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Ben laughed, so I rolled my eyes at him and grinned. These people were as close to family as I had here, and if they thought Jack was worth the time, I guess I did too. I repeated Jack’s message about Amber doing our job, and we decided to head into Gunnison to get my Jeep. Mandy and I were climbing into Lorraine’s car, when Ben pulled Lorraine aside and whispered in her ear, and then looked at his watch. Lorraine grew a smile and then kissed his cheek, and all I could think at that moment was, wait till I tell Bailey that sex doesn’t end at 50 or 60. Hell, sex doesn't even end at 70…. Oh, God, does that mean my parents still do it?
Chapter Sixteen
This is really good Wine
“Just get in and get out Jennifer, be professional, its just lunch, no reason to be nervous.” Since my pep talks about Jack didn’t seem to work, I wasn’t holding out hope this one would either. “Why did I say yes to lunch?” Because he’s the Mayor, and you’re a reporter with no connections in town.
Looking through the windows of The Lumberjack Steakhouse, I saw the Mayor being escorted to a table; his head held high working the room as he walked…. To say I didn’t want to get out of the car and deal with this man, after a passionate night spent in Jack’s arms was an understatement.
Determined to eat fast, I got out of my car and headed inside the rustic restaurant. Tastefully decorated in authentic Colorado country charm, with knotty pine walls, carved Lumberjacks flanking the outside doors, and a welcoming atmosphere. The wait staff, dressed in red and black checked flannel, were throwing huge dinner rolls across the room to customers when I entered. I’d heard about this restaurant, but had yet to eat here, and I could tell this would be a fun place to eat with friends you actually wanted to be with. Turning in the direction, I’d seen the Mayor walking; I found John seated in a corner, in what I would describe as the most intimate location on the floor. He smiled brightly when I arrived, and then reached out to take my arm and kissed my cheek, then ever the gentleman he portrays in public, helped me sit.
Trying to figure out how to act around this man, when I wasn’t attracted to him, I tried for professional.
“Mr. Mayor, how are you today?”
“Call me, John, please, and I’m fantastic, now. Having a gorgeous woman eat lunch with me always brightens my day.” I smiled, even though I could tell he was trying to charm me, or more to the point charm the pants off of me.
“All right, John, and thank you, you look handsome yourself, but then as Mayor you do have to keep up appearances.”
“Indeed, I’m very careful with my time, appearance and of course the company I keep,” he answered, raising his glass in acknowledgement of me. I checked the eye roll that I wanted to give him and inclined my head at the compliment.
“So tell me, John, as Mayor what do you think are your most important roles for this community?”
“Is this an interview, Jennifer, or a date?” Neither, I wanted to say but bit my tongue.
“Sorry, it’s an old habit I fall into.” John leaned forward and grabbed my hands and whispered, “I’m not going to bite, Jennifer, give me chance.” Oh, god, now what do I say? This man was clearly used to getting his way; I’d heard stories about him after I agreed to lunch, but in an attempt not to anger “The Mayor,” I decided to come. Then I met Jack and my desire to be here was nonexistent. How do I get myself out of this without pissing him off? I decided to go with honesty.
“Funny John, of course I don’t think you’ll bite, although I am a little afraid of your claws,” I answered, hoping he would catch on to the fact that I knew he could be vicious in his pursuits. The fact that he wanted to find a way to get Jack voted out and his son in as Sheriff, was not lost on anyone, but he didn’t seem to notice or change course.
“You afraid I’ll scratch you, darlin’, make you bleed?” I shook my head, caught off guard by his provocative tone. Looking for a distraction, I noticed a waiter approaching.
“Oh look, here’s our waiter.” A man with a nametag that read Frank smiled down at our still linked hands. I instantly pulled mine from John’s, embarrassed, then sat back trying to put as much distance between us as I could. Frank introduced himself as th
e owner of the restaurant, and crooned on about how wonderful it was to have the Mayor and his beautiful companion at his establishment for lunch. Thinking between the kiss on the cheek and the hand holding, if Jack heard about it, he wasn’t going to be happy. Ha, pissed was more like it. Frank pulled me from my thoughts of Jack and his temper, announcing he would fix the Mayor and I, anything our heart desires. A to-go box was on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it.
“Anything you want, on or off the menu, Mayor Hall, and of course for your beautiful companion.” Wishing again, I’d rethought my decision to come here today, I took the menu and opened it to avoid looking at either man. I had no appetite; I wanted to eat, and then make an excuse to leave. But I wasn’t that lucky, while I was scanning the menu, I heard John order two house specials, a bottle of their best wine, and the instructions that we wanted privacy. Seriously, what if I don’t eat red meat, and what is it with the men in this town, pretty much deciding everything for a woman?
I handed my menu to Frank and smiled tightly, thinking the only thing he ordered that sounded appealing was the wine, and just kept my mouth shut. More than ready for this lunch date to end, I started figuring in my head how long it would take me to eat and then make my excuse to leave. Frank left saying he’d be right back with our bread and wine, so I searched for something to say to kill the time till I could fill my mouth with food, and avoid conversation altogether.
“So, John, tell me about being Mayor, is it as exciting as it seems, or tedious and boring?”
“Exciting is a term I’d use for someone as sexy as you, so no, tedious and boring covers most days, but there are benefits…long lunches with tantalizing reporters, for example.” Oh, my god, this guy was a slimy player with a capital slime. Did women really fall for this guy? Frank rescued me again from answering, by arriving with our wine and bread. After he poured my glass, I reached for it, needing the liquid reinforcements for the lunch ahead, and drank down half of it feeling the effects hit my head, and calm my nerves.