by R Weir
Athena ate only half of her sandwich and salad, finding it less than edible, but filling enough. She downed a bottle of water, a second saved to take with her, the dry air of Colorado was sapping the moisture from her. She was used to much more humidity in the Northwest of Washington.
“I don’t know how you can live in such dryness,” stated Athena. “I been doing nothing but drinking water since I got here.”
Shen laughed. “Being from Arizona I can tell you this is nothing. I don’t know how you deal with the stickiness of the humidity. I’ll take this any day, especially when we reach 120 degrees in the desert heat.”
“But it’s a dry heat!” Athena said, a few octaves higher, like she was doing the weather on TV.
“Dry heat my ass!!” he replied, looking around, no one hearing him through all the noise of the cafeteria.
The bell sounded, effectively ending lunch, the mass of students nearly rising in unison, making a hasty exit for their next class. Athena and Shen caught up with Olivia and Deion, with them leading the way to the counselor’s office. Once they arrived, they had to sit and wait before being directed to an open meeting room. A lady was sitting at the open table, a briefcase laying before her. Standing up to greet them in her white pumps, the lady was outfitted in a knee length dark blue skirt, and tan blouse which had a couple of buttons undone giving a glimpse of her frilly white bra. She played with her long black hair tied up in back, her lightly tanned face had a dash of lipstick and makeup underneath large round glasses she pushed back up her nose, a small mole on her neck. Smiling, she put out her hand towards the two students.
“You must be Olivia and Deion,” she said, while shaking their hands. “It’s great to meet you. And who might these two adults be?”
“She is Athena and he is Shen,” introduced Olivia. “They are watching out for our safety.”
“Athena you say,” noted the counselor. “The Goddess of War.” Her eyes scanned her up and down. “You’re built for it. Have you had any formal training?”
Athena thought the inquiry was odd, but for now ignored the impulse to question it. “Yes, I have. It is one of the reasons why I’m watching after Olivia.”
“Though you’re smaller in statue, I’m assuming Shen you’re capable as well?”
Shen nodded, but didn’t respond. He too wasn’t sure what to make of the woman. Those in her field often asked odd questions, trying to solicit a respond they could evaluate.
“It is good you’re watching after these two young students. They appear to be in good hands.”
“And your job is…?” wondered Athena.
“I’m here to make certain their minds are right after what they’ve been through. Traumatic events like they’ve experienced can be damaging mentally. You’re guarding their physical bodies, while I’m here to protect their minds.”
Olivia and Deion looked at each other, like they’d rather be at the dentist than where they were now, Deion gritting his teeth like he was being tortured.
“Don’t worry it won’t be painful,” she said, noticing their reaction. “But I do ask that your bodyguards not be present while we talk. That is one item I must insist on.”
Athena looked at Shen and he nodded. He had no interest in hearing the psychobabble questions she would be dolling out.
“Fine. We’ll wait outside. If you two need anything be certain to holler.”
Athena and Shen walked for the door, before Athena turned around for one final question.
“I’m sorry, but you didn’t mention your name?” she inquired.
“Where are my manners. I’m Ms. Wilson. But this is an informal meeting. You can call me by my first name, Valerie.”
She smiled her best none threatening expression, knowing she was inside and near the Hawkins kids. Step one in her well thought out plan.
Chapter 19
The Cheyenne Mountain School District often brought in crisis counselors when there were traumatic events that involve students or teachers. These businesses are private companies who worked on contract, only called in when necessary. One of those was Pikes Peak Health & Counseling which was run by a forty-eight-year-old married man. His wandering eye was always getting him in trouble, leaving an opening for Valerie to exploit. An avenue into the school to talk with the two Hawkins kids.
Working her angle, having him in a compromising position, he allowed her to take the job of a crisis counselor for this incident. She manipulated him with assurances there was nothing nefarious about her wanting to meet with the kids. A total lie on her part, one he didn’t see through, or even care about so long as he wasn’t exposed.
“I’m hoping to get close to them, as an avenue to get close to their mother,” she explained after showing him pictures and videos of his affair with the prostitute she’d hired. “This will increase my chances of getting a job in her company. You have my word her children won’t be harmed in any way.”
In fact, she wasn’t lying about the harm part. The plan was that they would be no worse for wear when given to the man financing this caper. The idea was to use them for his own purposes. Purposes not spelled out to her or anyone else. And now that she was here, with the kids, the ploy was to learn as much as she could about them. The schedules of what they do daily and any future plans. Valerie was gathering this information in hopes of finding an opening for the group to use to finally complete the task.
Valerie took a seat across from the two kids. She studied them for a minute, looking in their eyes, hoping to gauge how they were feeling about the interview. Olivia kept staring to the side, not making eye contact, while Deion kept checking his iPhone for who knows what. It appeared obvious that neither of them wanted to be here.
“Would either of you care to talk about the latest incident?” asked Valerie, leaning back in the padded swivel chair, a paper pad and pen ready to take notes. “I understand it was quite…intense.”
Olivia’s eyes met Valerie’s for a split second before, glancing downward.
“Do we have to talk about it?” inquired Olivia.
“When you go through a terrifying life experience, it’s best to come clean.”
“I’d prefer to forget it ever happened.”
“I doubt you’ll ever forget the terror you felt.” Valerie paused to let the words sink in. “Getting it out in the open can assist in the healing process.”
“Honestly I only have this week of school left. I don’t see the need to talk about anything. I’ll be graduating and then I’ll be off to my last summer before college.”
This was good information she pretended to jot down. Valerie didn’t know this was Olivia’s last year in High School.
“Fair enough. Though I’m here to help, even if you only have a few days left. As for Deion, he still has another week, if I’m not mistaken. What do you have to say about all that has happened?”
Deion looked up from his phone. “It sucks, but there isn’t anything I can do about it.”
“Do you understand why someone is trying to take you…rip you away from your parents?” Valerie was choosing her words carefully, hoping to illicit fear in them.
Deion shrugged his shoulders. “Not really. Though I did hear them talking about it. They think it might be Olivia’s dad. Though why he’d want me too, is hard to understand.”
“I can’t imagine it’s him,” noted Olivia. “I don’t even know him. Why would he want me in his life now after all these years? I will become an adult this week and he would have no say in any aspect of my life.”
Confirming data she already knew, Valerie skipped beyond this, not letting on about the inside information she already had, and continued to pry.
“Olivia, you mentioned graduating soon. How are you feeling about going to that event after what has happened recently? Any nerves or concerns that they might attempt to grab you there? Thoughts of maybe not going?”
Olivia gave a half-head twist, along with a twitch of her hands. “No concerns per say. I do plan on
going. I’ll be onstage as one of the top ten students. Besides my mother is the guest speaker. We both want to be there sharing the limelight.”
Valerie was beaming inside at this revelation. There was much for her to contemplate.
“Congratulations,” Valerie said with a glowing grin. “That is wonderful news. Sitting there in front of your peers to inspire them must be quite fulfilling. And to have your mother there, that must be quite a coup for the school, being she is so well-known and a pillar in the business community.”
“Yes, it’s a great honor for both of us.” Olivia didn’t say it with much passion.
“And Deion you must be proud of both of the women in your life?”
Deion looked up from his iPhone, his face and shoulders doing a slight twitch. “Yea—I guess it’s cool.” His words didn’t come across convincing either.
Valerie looked up at the clock on the wall before standing up.
“Well we probably need to stop for today. I wanted to get some early impression on how you’re handling this crisis in your lives.” Valerie stopped again to let the words sink in. “But I do want to see both of you again on Wednesday, at this same time. Please come prepared to talk about what happened yesterday. Repressing those feelings aren’t going to do you any good. I suspect you’ll start having nightmares about it all.” Valerie frowned on the outside while smirking on the inside about the mind games she was playing. “And please let’s have our phones turned off and packed away in our backpacks. I want to have your full attention.”
Olivia and Deion stood up, not thrilled to have to come back. Both smiled while they walked to the door, Valerie a step behind.
“All done?” asked Athena, as the three of them stepped through the door.
“For now,” answered Valerie. “I need them back on Wednesday at the same time. Need to flesh out their emotions about these incidents.”
“Then they’re cleared for schoolwork?”
Valerie nodded. “For now. But time will tell. If they start having issues with concentration or sleeping, they can call me.” She handed them a card with a number on it. “Don’t hesitate to call, no matter the time of day or night.”
The four of them walked away, while Valerie walked into the meeting room, closing the door. She leaned against it and smiled, knowing she was inside enough with a plan slowly forming in her mind on how to grab the kids.
***
On the drive back from Denver, after a stop at one of the many sub sandwich restaurants in town, Hunter and Scanlon navigated the crazy traffic heading back to Colorado Springs. For many drivers it was a competition to get ahead of everyone else, though this normally didn’t work since there were too many cars to bypass and construction to deal with to find any type of open road.
Hunter was eying the craziness on the pavement before him, holding onto his sandwich for dear life, wondering if they’d make it down south in one piece.
“Would driving one handed while eating a messy sub sandwich qualify as distracted driving?” inquired Hunter.
Scanlon took a bite of the whole wheat roast beef sandwich with every possible condiment added in his right hand, as he steered with his left to best all the other drivers. The chaos on the road ahead didn’t appear to bother him any as the ingredients fell to his lap with each mouthful.
“I’ve had many hours of motor vehicle pursuit training,” he replied. “I believe I can handle this.”
“I don’t believe I recall holding a sub being part of the training from my days as a US Marshal.” Hunter wanted to close his eyes but couldn’t.
“They must not have provided you the advanced course,” joked Scanlon.
“Apparently,” replied Hunter, biting down on this toasted turkey sub, trying to ignore the swell of cars around them.
“You sound like my ex-wife,” added Scanlon after swallowing another mouthful, his voice going up a few octaves. “Timmmothyyy…you’re going to get us both killed, and if you do I’ll never forgive you!”
Hunter laughed. “Nice impression. You sounded like one of the Monty Python actors when dressed in drag. How long were you married?”
“About six years, none of them happy. I should never have gotten married. It isn’t the life for me, and I’ll never do it again.”
“Did you have children?”
“One…a boy. He lives with his mother and step-father in Denver.”
Hunter was surprised. “We could have taken a few minutes and stopped to say hello.”
Scanlon shook his head. “I have to give the ex-wife forty-eight hours’ notice when I come to see him.”
“Well that sucks!”
“I agree, but I concluded he was better off where he is a long time ago. The stepdad treats him well and I could never be there for him, like he needed. To be honest I was a shitty father.”
Hunter was stunned by the words. He couldn’t recall any man ever declaring he was a bad dad. It really wasn’t in the macho nature of men to claim faults with themselves.
“Was there a single moment you came to this conclusion?”
“Accumulative,” answered Scanlon after swallowing another mouthful. “Lots of little things that added up over time. I do want what is best for him, and right now with his mother and stepdad he has the best life and the most chance for success. Have you ever been married Hunter?”
Hunter laughed, nearly spitting out his food.
“I’m not the marrying kind. How should I put it…I enjoy a variety of different females in my sex life and getting married rules that out.”
“Wow I’d be happy with one female to enjoy sex with. Hell, with my schedule I don’t have any time to even meet a woman. It must be nice having your choice of who to sleep with.”
“I do enjoy it, but there are days…”
Hunter never could explain his ability to woo a woman. He was a good-looking man, who had the ability to attract them with his ear to listen and ornate words to slowly seduce. Not to mention he was a master of the female anatomy. Providing them the sexual satisfaction their bodies ached to experience. It was the devoted and loyal side of the relationships where he would fall down and fail.
“Athena implied you two were an item at one time,” stated Scanlon, now munching on a bag of chips. “Though it sounds like it didn’t end well.”
Hunter nodded, finishing off his sandwich and washing it down with a cold soda. The two of them had been a volatile couple. Although when they hit the sheets the sparks did fly.
***
Six months had passed, and after working out deals with the DA, Penny was able to return to the US. The charges were dropped, the circumstances around the death of Ethan determined to be because she was defending herself from his abuse. From there she would be able to move on with her life and find love with a man who treated her properly.
As part of the celebration of Penny returning, Hunter had flown to Seattle and was sitting at the bar where Athena worked, enjoying a cold beer and talking with her, when she wasn’t hustling tables. Penny had wanted to meet him, providing a hug and kiss on the cheek for what he’d done helping her, providing a proper and personal thank you. After seeing the handsome man for the first time, his dark complexion and killer white toothed smile, she gave a wink to Athena. A signal for her to go after him, if she was interested, even if he was in the line of work she didn’t care for.
“Great of you to fly in for this celebration,” noted Athena, leaning forward with her elbows on the bar counter.
“I needed to get away. Lots of issues going on at work to distance myself from.” Hunter had drunk two beers and was on his third, though it didn’t appear to have fazed him any.
“What kind of trouble?”
Hunter looked down into his mug. “Best I don’t get into it, right now. I’m happy to forget it.”
“Bare your soul to the bartender. That is what we’re here for.”
“Maybe in time. I just wanted to come celebrate. I’m happy for Penny. No woman should ever be
treated like that.”
“Was that the only reason to come to Seattle?” wondered Athena, hoping for a confession from him.
Hunter glanced up, from his mug and smiled. “I was jazzed up to see you again, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“Not at all. I was happy to see you too. Even though you’re a cop!” Athena grinned.
“A US Marshal little lady. It would be best you remember that. I’m not your typical cop.”
“I’m sorry Marshal Divine for the insult. What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Let me take you out to dinner,” he said without hesitation.
Athena grabbed the empty basket of chicken wings on the counter he’d been eating. “It would appear you’ve already had dinner?”
“Merely a snack to fill the void in my stomach.”
“What other void do you need filling?” stated Athena without blushing.”
Hunter grinned. “I believe that would be my line to say to you lady!”
The ping pong back and forth was fun, but Athena was ready to put it out there to make it clear what she wanted.
“We could go to my place and I can cook up a dinner. I have all the fixings there for a first-class meal.”
Hunter’s eyes met Athena’s. “You believe you have what it takes to satisfy my hunger?”
Athena didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely…and then some.”
Hunter finished his beer, while Athena went to tell her boss she was leaving for the night. He followed her in his rental, before parking next to her. He then followed her up the flight of steps to her place. Once inside, she went to turn on the lights, but he grabbed her arm, pulling her into his body, their eyes meeting, the fire of desire evident. He put both his hands on her face, pulling her lips to his, a soft kiss at first soon turned to a fiery lock of passion. It wasn’t long before they tore off each other’s clothes, her legs wrapped around him as he carried her to the bedroom for a night of lovemaking neither would soon forget.
***
The drive continued, as Hunter nodded off, a bit of sweat forming on his face from the remembrance of that first night together, a night that lasted through an entire week. A week he tried to remember, not the other times he’d cheated, her anger at him still evident today.