by Parker, Ali
“There are many women who are both mommies and daddies. The dicks can get fucked, we don’t need ’em.”
Expecting her to berate me for my language while at work, I was surprised when Olive laughed. “Trust me, I know mommies can be daddies too. Remember mine?”
“Fondly, which just proves my point. We can be the baby’s daddies and then Heidi wouldn’t need to go anywhere.” It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for her, I really was. All I ever wanted for my friends, who were all the family I had in the world, was to be safe and happy. It was just that Heidi moving out signaled the end of an era I wasn’t ready to let go of yet. “Or maybe we can convince Will to move in with us instead?”
Olive tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder before snapping a hair tie off her wrist and pulling it back into a ponytail high on her head. She was glancing around, clearly nervous about getting caught dawdling on the job.
“We can’t ask them to do that, Val.” She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness to it, and she shrugged. “We’ll just have to learn to adjust without her. She’ll still be around all the time, and if we miss her, she’s only going to be living a couple of blocks away from our house.”
“True, but just you watch. We won’t see her so much anymore.” Although she was my first friend to be having a baby, I knew things would change more than we might be expecting them to. Hell, they already were. “Before you know it, it’ll be phone calls once a week and visits once a month.”
“Don’t be absurd, she won’t have time to visit us every month.” Her voice was teasing, but then became a little too dreamy for my taste. “Babies are hard work, but they’re so cute that it totally makes up for it. We’ll just have to go see them, that’s all.”
Arching an eyebrow, I propped my hand on my uniform-clad hip. “Why does it sound like you’re going to be the next one to be eating for two?”
Blue eyes narrowed on mine, Olive scoffed. “What? No.”
“Really? Because they’re totally cute enough to make up for all the hard work, right?” I winked at her to let her know that I was joking, but she remained serious. She wasn’t lovingly referred to as the mother of our group for nothing, I supposed.
“They are cute, but no. I won’t be the next one to get pregnant.” She lowered her voice another octave, glancing around to make sure no one was listening to us. “You know I’m still a virgin, so it’s highly unlikely I’ll be next.”
“Things change.” I flashed her my sauciest grin and shimmied a little. “Besides, you need to get it over with. Get your sexy on already. It’s not the eighteen hundreds.”
She rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to reply when our boss interrupted us. “Ladies, you do realize you’re on shift at work and not at a tea party. You’ve both got customers who have just been seated at tables in your sections.”
The manager gave us a stern look over the top rim of her glasses, then jerked her head toward the dining room. “Hop to it.”
“Of course, sorry.” Olive smiled apologetically and hurried off to her table, while I turned my head so the boss wouldn’t catch me rolling my eyes.
“You, too, Val,” she said as I looked over, placing both her hands on her hips while she waited for me to follow Olive’s example.
Sighing internally, I nodded and headed off to grab some menus. Truth be told, I wasn’t the greatest worker. The title of employee of the month would never be mine, and I was perfectly okay with that.
The only reason why I had taken this job at all was to be able to pull my own weight in terms of our living expenses. While the house we lived in had belonged to Olive’s mom before she passed away and Olive inherited it, living there wasn’t free. All three of us contributed equally to all of the expenses, but if it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have been working at the restaurant.
Call me crazy, but being a waitress, who was looked down on by all the rich assholes who lived in this area, wasn’t my ultimate dream job. Most of the customers treated us like we were something they had stepped in, which definitely brought out my inner bitch.
Okay, so she wasn’t all that “inner.” I had trouble controlling my attitude when I was treated badly, and I had zero problem making my opinions known to anyone and everyone. I just didn’t have any fucks to give about those pompous assholes or a job that literally required me to serve them.
Nothing against the service industry itself, but people around here treated us like crap and I, for one, wouldn’t take it. Considering I still had to pay my own way, though, I could only push it so far.
When I approached the table and saw two older women sitting at it, I scrunched up my nose and prayed for patience. I didn’t have the temperament to deal with patrons like them, I could already see it.
Their backs were ramrod straight, their hair coiffed to within an inch of their lives, and their nails long and manicured. Both of them even had on pearls and sparkly earrings. God, I can’t get us fired.
In my experience, Olive was the best one of us to serve clients like them. Stealing a glance at her section, I saw two men in suits at the table she was handing out menus to. Much more my speed.
Between us, I was more likely to flirt my way to a bigger tip for us with the businessmen while Olive was less likely to get us fired if those ladies looked down at her. Only one thing left to do.
Changing direction to intersect Olive on her way to place their orders, I grabbed her wrist. “We’re switching tables. I can’t deal with that today.”
Her gaze followed mine to the table in my section waiting to be served. She sighed, but took the menus from my hand and passed her notebook with the order she’d already taken to me. “Fine, but we’re splitting whatever tip you get.”
“How about we just go out for drinks on me?”
“Expenses first, Val.”
I mock-pouted. “You’re no fun, but sure. You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Taking off to the bar to place the drinks order, I felt myself perking up considerably. The tension in my muscles eased and there was no longer a vise gripping my heart. The tips would be much better at this table, and I wouldn’t have to fight down every retort and bitchy comment sitting on the tip of my tongue.
Handling spoiled, catty women was something of a specialty of mine. Handling them here, where I had to smile, nod, and take whatever shit came my way, was a different story altogether, though. It always made me tense to be walking to a table, which was obviously going to give me shit, and knowing that my hands were tied when it came to responding.
Once I’d collected the drinks, I fixed a smile to my lips and put a little extra sway in my hips as I approached the table. “Hi, my name is Valerie, and I’ll be taking over for Olive this afternoon. Are you ready to place your orders yet?”
Both men had looked up as I approached the table and were now looking me up and down. While neither of them was particularly good looking, at least they weren’t looking down their noses at me.
The one with the salt-and-pepper in his black hair was the first to recover from the once-over he was giving me, smirking as his brown eyes lifted to mine. “I think we’re going to need to hear some recommendations from you. Can you suggest anything that’s good here?”
His tongue flicked out to lick thin lips, cluing me in to what he was hoping I would say. Too bad for him, I wasn’t on the menu. Even so, I knew how to play that game.
I giggled and averted my gaze, pretending to glance down at his lips more intently before replying. “I’m all about the slow bone.”
The other guy choked on his first sip of martini, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head. “Excuse me?”
“The brisket.” I smiled sweetly, making sure to keep my eyes locked on his. “It’s smoked so slowly, the meat practically falls off the bone by the time it’s done.”
Salt-and-Pepper and his friend exchanged a quick look that I was sure they thought I would miss, then his attention was back on me. “I’m a big fan of the slow bone too.”
/> “Do you have enough for two?” the friend asked, also looking up at me.
Oh God. This is way too easy. Fighting the urge to burst out laughing, I nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, we always make sure that we have enough. Wouldn’t want anyone to be disappointed.”
“We’ll take two slow bones, then.” Salt-and-Pepper grinned, handed the menu back to me, then winked. Really, guy?
“I’ll make certain you get it hot,” I replied, keeping the smile on my face until I’d turned my back on them. Once I was sure they couldn’t see me, I allowed the laughter welling up inside to spill out and went to place their order.
The slow-smoked brisket, which really was named the slow bone on the menu, was one of our most expensive items. It also happened to be a fantastic double entendre to peddle when flirting with customers like those.
When I took their food over, they thanked me, still eyeing me lasciviously. One of them asked when I got off work, but I managed to play it off by telling him my shift had only just started.
After they left the table, I eagerly reached for the check to see how much they had left for me. It had to be—
My mouth dropped open when I saw it had been two. Two whole dollars. That was all they’d left. Spinning around, I saw they were standing about halfway between me and the door. They were watching me almost expectantly, seemingly waiting for me to follow.
“Forget about it, assholes. You were never going to get anything from me anyway.” I wasn’t quite yelling, but my voice was loud enough that even a few customers sitting out on the deck turned their heads to see what was happening inside. “You cheapskate, bottom-feeding—”
Olive’s hand landed on my wrist, her surprisingly strong fingers closing around it before she started dragging me away. “You’re making a scene.”
She hissed the words under her breath, but I didn’t bother to make the same effort. “Of course I am. Let me go, they deserve it.”
“Maybe, but I’m trying to save your job here. Mouth off somewhere else, not at work.” Her tone was firm, motherly almost. “Respect the customers, Val. We need these jobs.”
Sighing, I stopped fighting her and watched quietly as the assholes left the restaurant. Once they were gone, I muttered under my breath, “You better run, motherfuckers. Don’t you dare come back here.”
Chapter 3
Fulton
I hit pause on the surveillance camera footage, rolling back to a flash of something in the background. It was fast, too fast to be absolutely certain, but I was pretty sure I knew what it was.
Sitting back in my chair, I narrowed my eyes at the image and tried to put the pieces together in my brain. I’d been at this for days, had gone through all of the news and surveillance footage countless times.
My office at the Tampa branch of the company was smaller than the one in Boston, but considering that I hardly ever used it, it was more than big enough. The ocean could be seen in the distance, sparkling blue and inviting. I really should go to the beach before I leave.
Despite the reason for my visit to Florida, I was enjoying being away from headquarters. The change of pace was just what I needed after the last few weeks.
Rewinding the image on my laptop screen once more, I realized that staring at it over and over again wasn’t going to confirm or dispel my suspicions. I would have to make some kind of plan to be able to do that.
I hovered the mouse over the red square in the corner of the screen, resolved to clear this all up one way or another and then clicked. The footage disappeared instantaneously, leaving me with nothing but a picture of a palm tree swaying in the breeze on my background.
Fuck this. I rubbed my stinging eyes and shut the computer down. Why am I looking at a picture of a palm tree when I can see the real thing?
It had been years since I’d taken a day off, and I really needed it. There was nothing more I could do about the robbery, not today anyway.
After gathering my stuff, I took once last look at the piles of documents on my desk and finding nothing that was urgent, followed through on my idea of leaving early for the day.
When I opened my door, I found the manager of the Tampa branch on the other side. His fist was already raised to knock and a surprised expression crossed his features when I opened the door before he could.
“Elliot.” I held out my hand to shake his, a wide grin spreading on my lips. “How have you been, my man? I was wondering if I was going to see you before I had to leave.”
“I meant to come by earlier, but I’ve been a little preoccupied.” He shook the hand I offered with a firm grip, pulling me in for a quick hug and a thump on the back before releasing me. “It’s good to see you. I was afraid I might have missed you already.”
“Nah, I’m still around. Tying up a few loose ends.” I stepped out of my office and shut the door behind me, motioning for Elliot to walk with me. “I’m starving and while I’ve got the time, I thought I’d go grab a bite to eat near the beach. Want to join me?”
“Sure.” Elliot was older than I was, but he’d always been a good friend to me. In his mid-forties, he’d been managing the Tampa branch for more than a decade and often came to Boston for business.
After my father passed, he stayed behind once the funeral was over and helped me get adjusted to my new position. He stayed for a few weeks, even though he had a wife and two kids waiting for him at home.
It was during that time that we had become close, but we never got to spend enough time together. Plus, it would be good to have some company for lunch. I spent way more than my fair share of my limited free time alone, which was just the way I liked it. I was in the mood for company today, though.
“Do you have any ideas about where we could go? My only requirements are that it has to be on the beach and serve cold beer.”
Elliot grinned. “I know just the place.”
We met up at a restaurant near the boardwalk, a proper pub advertising pitchers of beer and specials of fish and chips. On the inside, the ceilings were low, the bar made of dark wood, and the booths were deep and wide. Outside, though, was exactly what I was in the mood for.
Wooden tables were directly on the beach, overlooking a quieter strip of sand faced away from the main part of the boardwalk. Elliot and I removed our shoes, sitting with our feet in the warm sand while waiting for the beer we had ordered when we walked in past the bar.
We got caught up and filled our glasses when the pitcher arrived, but then our conversation turned to the inevitable. “So, why are you still here? I know you flew down when you heard the news, but it’s old news now.”
“I’ve been watching the surveillance footage and reviewing everything we had on the robbery. Easier to do that from here when any information I might need is housed in the building where I’m at.”
Elliot frowned, taking a small sip of beer as he studied me. “Why are still watching the surveillance footage? All of the money, and then some, has been returned. The guys have been arrested. This was a win all around, except the assholes in custody, of course.”
“I’m just trying to see if there’s anything we can do to prevent this from happening again in the future.” It wasn’t a lie since I really was watching for weak spots, but I couldn’t give him the other reason I was watching the tapes.
I had no solid evidence of my suspicions yet, and I didn’t want to raise alarm. If I told him what I thought, he would be worried. The man had been through enough with the robbery and all, I didn’t want to add to that.
He nodded, the deep V between his eyebrows smoothing out. There was still worry in his green eyes, though. A darkening that hadn’t been there before. “That makes sense, though, I don’t really know what more we could have done to prevent it.”
“You’re absolutely right. There was nothing more you could have done to prevent it.” I pointed my finger at his chest, then turned it to my own. “I’m trying to see if and what more I can do in the future. I don’t want any of the employees to feel lik
e they’re not safe, and I don’t want the customers to think we’re lax about security.”
“Of course. I just…” His cheeks puffed as he drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Tugging his hands through his hair, he closed his eyes. I could practically smell the frustration coming off him while talking about this. “I just wish there was more I could have done. I was right fucking there, but I couldn’t stop them.”
“No, listen to me. I’m proud of you for what you did.” My tone was firm, confident. I needed Elliot to believe in what I was saying because it was one hundred percent true.
Obviously, I didn’t want or expect the branch to get robbed again, but if it did, I needed him to keep himself safe. The last thing I wanted was for him to put himself in the line of fire or to act like some kind of martyr because he thought he needed to do better.
“You did everything by the book. You followed our safety and security guidelines to the tee, and that’s exactly what they’re there for. If you’d tried to play the hero, people would have gotten hurt. All of our research says so. Also, there’s no amount of money worth you risking your life. Even if we didn’t have those guidelines, I still wouldn’t have expected you to do anything more than what you did.”
“You’re a good friend for saying so, but—”
“No buts.” Picking up my glass from the table, I raised it to his. “Here’s to a great friend and an outstanding manager. I’m serious, Elliot. You handled the incident perfectly.”
He sighed again, lifting his glass to clink against mine, then took a long drink. Turning his head to the ocean, he stared out at the horizon while he talked. “I appreciate the understanding, boss. Thank you. I guess it’s just been a tough time for everyone involved.”
“Are they okay?” No one could deny that I could be a tough boss to work for, but I genuinely cared about the well-being of my employees.
My father had been that way too. He raised me according to the philosophy that your company was only as strong as your employees, and that their loyalty and respect had to be earned. You couldn’t demand those things from people and expect them to give it when you hadn’t proven yourself worthy.