by Gary Land
“Joey...is something wrong?”
“No, I um...”
“Then get up,” she scolded. “You can’t sit at my table. You know that.”
“I don’t want to play, I just needed to...” Joey stopped talking as he scanned the various faces in the room. He glanced up at the cameras in the ceiling and whispered, “Sarah, I need to talk to you...” He stood up, reached over to her tip box and dropped a black chip inside.
Sarah, reacting to the clink of the chip, said, “What did you just do? Did you put something in there?”
Joey was staring at a man in a gray suit that was watching Sarah’s table. Sarah turned to look at the man who began walking in their direction.
“Sarah, listen, I--I’ll pick that up later. Meet me at your place in an hour, okay?”
“No, it’s not okay. I’m working, Joey. What’s going on--are you in trouble?”
“Yes--now, please, I need to get that chip back in an hour.”
“Oh, Joey, please don’t get me involved in your stuff. I love you, but Kacy comes first.”
“Please--it’s just this once. Get someone to cover for you. Go home sick. Please.”
“Jesus, Joey...okay.”
Joey turned and walked away. The man in the gray suit glanced over at Sarah, but kept walking past her table.
At the sound of a key in the lock, Sarah shook Kacy who instantly came awake. They jumped off the bed and moved into the far corner. Wagner came in first followed by a short, stocky man with shaggy hair dyed blonde. Whoever dyed his hair missed several spots; it looked like a blind man had done it.
“This is Dozer,” Wagner said. “He cleans up mistakes for me.”
Dozer carried a black bag with him that looked like the kind of bag a lawyer would carry. Wagner moved toward the center of the room as Dozer went to Jennifer’s body. He knelt down, examined it for a moment, and then signaled to someone standing in the hallway. Dozer’s partner walked in wearing dark coveralls and work boots. He bent over and in one smooth move lifted Jennifer’s lifeless body onto his shoulder. He walked out of the room, and Sarah heard a loud thump and a metal clank. She guessed that they dumped the body on some type of rolling metal table. She didn’t remember seeing an elevator, but there must be one.
Dozer took some cleaning solution, rags, and Q-tips out of his bag and set about cleaning any evidence of a dead body. When he was done, there would be no DNA for any forensic expert to find. The smells that filled the room made Kacy gag.
Sarah was so busy watching Dozer that she jumped when Wagner finally began talking. “Do you know what your brother was doing?”
“No--I don’t want to know.”
“Ms. Benson, you may think I’m a reasonable man, but you don’t know me. I’d just as soon give Kacy to Finnegan as stand here and talk to you. But on the off chance you can help me get my money back, I’m willing to give you a chance. If you play games with me, your daughter is going to grow up very fast.”
Sarah held Kacy close. They were both trembling. “I’d tell you if I knew anything. I don’t,” Sarah said. She tried to keep her voice calm for Kacy’s sake. She didn’t want her to know just how panicked she really was.
“But you knew Jennifer.”
“She was Joey’s girlfriend. I barely knew her. She showed up at our place and was scared, because Joey was...dead.”
Wagner sat on the bed as Dozer continued to work behind him. Wagner seemed to be deep in thought. He said nothing for several minutes. The silence broke when Dozer grunted something. He appeared to finish what he was doing and packed up his little black bag. He left without saying anything more.
#
Kacy could feel her mother trembling as they held each other. She looked at Wagner with a hatred she had never felt before. This ordeal had already changed her. She could no longer look upon her world as a safe, benevolent place for children. She had now seen a small part of the darker side of life, and it left a stain that couldn’t easily be removed.
“You’re gonna be sorry,” Kacy said in a surprisingly calm voice.
Wagner turned around and looked at her. “I’m already sorry kid--this isn’t going the way I thought it would. Your uncle owed me a lot of money, and now he’s dead. And his slut girlfriend is dead too thanks to that moron who works for me.”
“You killed Joey,” Sarah said.
“No, as a matter of fact, I didn’t. I told you, he owed me a lot of money. I had no reason to kill him. In this town, if you owe someone like me money, you either pay up, make a deal, or you die.”
“You’re a loan shark?”
“Among other things. Joey came to me with a deal. He would pay off his debts plus give me twenty percent of his take from the scam if I gave him more time--if I let him live.”
“What scam?” Sarah asked.
“He was skimming money from the casino. Some computer program--I don’t know how that shit works, but the word on the street is that three million dollars is missing. Now, naturally, being his partner and all, I’d like to get my hands on that money.”
“And you don’t care who gets hurt along the way,” Sarah said.
Wagner shrugged. “If you can’t help me, then you--and your lovely daughter--are of no use to me. Why don’t you think on that overnight, and we’ll talk again in the morning.”
“You’re gonna be sorry,” Kacy said again, this time in a tone that was as menacing as an eleven year old girl could make it.
“Yeah, you said that,” Wagner replied.
Kacy’s smile had a cruel edge to it. “He’s going to come for us. He’s going to find us and he’s going to hurt you.”
Wagner turned to leave, then hesitated and turned back.
“Whose going to be rescuing you kid?” Wagner asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
She glared at him and said, “Noly.”
Wagner turned half a shade paler. “Noly Boots?”
Kacy nodded her head.
“How do you know Boots?” he demanded.
She didn’t answer him. Wagner charged across the room.
“How do you know Noly Boots?” Wagner yelled.
Kacy flinched, but held her ground. Finally, she said, “He’s...my father.”
“Shit!” Wagner picked up a ceramic ashtray and threw it at the mirror over the dresser. Both the ashtray and the mirror shattered sending shrapnel flying in multiple directions.
“Son-of-a-bitch! This just keeps getting better and better,” Wagner yelled. He stormed out of the room, and locked the door.
When the sound of his footsteps faded away, Sarah slid down the wall and sat on the floor. Kacy followed her and laid her head down on her mother’s chest, hugging her tightly. Sarah looked down at Kacy and asked her why she said Noly was her father.
Without lifting her head, a tear running down her cheek, Kacy whispered, “I wish he was.”
After a moment, she looked up, touched her mother’s cheek and said, “He’s going to come for us.”
Kacy put her head back down on Sarah’s chest, and quickly fell asleep.
Sarah stroked Kacy’s head. “I know.”
Chapter 13
They had moved to the bed, but Sarah wouldn’t let herself fall asleep. Exhausted, she sat with her back against the headboard watching Kacy, guarding Kacy. If Finnegan came through that door, she wanted to be ready for him.
She wished she could have Kacy’s confidence and unbounded faith that Noly would find them. There was no doubt he would look. He would tear this town apart looking for Kacy, but she just wasn’t sure how much she still figured into the equation.
For the last year, Noly had become the center of their universe. Everything seemed to revolve around him, from where they lived to where she worked. He had talked to his friends at the Casino and got Sarah her first job as a dealer. Maybe Noly was right--destiny did bring them together. Sarah hoped that whatever powers were involved, it was enough to save them. To save Kacy.
Sarah and Kacy we
re celebrating. Sarah had just graduated from dealer school, where she excelled in Blackjack and Craps. Kacy had just turned eleven. They were going to make a day of it--nothing but fun and sun. On a limited budget. If it was free, it was even better. Of course, free was a relative term, at least the way Sarah thought of it. She wasn’t above sneaking in to a hotel pool so that Kacy could have some much-needed fun. Anything to see that smile of hers, or to hear her laugh.
Sneaking into a hotel pool is a lot easier than most people probably suspect. The busier the pool the easier the time. The Platinum Palace was one of the premier hotels downtown and their pool was very active. Although you needed a key to get through the pool gate, it was a simple matter to wait for another family to open the gate and then piggyback on their entrance. No one cared or even took notice. It was really more of an insurance issue for the hotel than anything else.
Kacy stood off to the side wearing shorts and a tank top over her bathing suit. She held a towel to her chest while she whistled and tried to act casual. Sarah stood a few steps away watching and smiling.
Kacy closed her eyes and turned her face towards the sun, just now cresting over the roof of the hotel pavilion. She took a deep breath and immediately smelled one of the greatest fragrances the world has ever known--suntan lotion. It brought an instant smile to her face and triggered wonderful memories.
An unsuspecting family of four waddled up to the gate. They were walking ads for the dangers of obesity. They were also white-as-ghosts, sunburns waiting to happen. Kacy heard the click of the gate, and opened her eyes.
“Mom, get ready,” Kacy whispered.
Sarah and Kacy timed their entry perfectly, and slid in right behind Augustus Gloop. That was the name of the kid who ate everything in Willy Wonka, and the name Kacy gave to the little boy in front of her.
Sarah and Kacy fast-walked to the other side of the pool, giggling as they went, finally flopping down on two lounge chairs positioned under a palm tree.
Like a scratch on a CD, Sarah instinctively skipped over the part of her memory that was the scariest five minutes of her life, when Kacy almost died. She wanted--
Sarah jerked awake at the sound of screams coming from a distant part of the building. Kacy hadn’t moved, blissfully unaware, at least for the moment. Sarah needed to stay awake. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but she didn’t seem capable of controlling her eyelids any longer. It felt like an unseen hand was pushing them closed. Maybe she could rest them for just a moment.
Noly opened the door and invited Sarah into his apartment. Their first real “date.” Without Kacy.
“Hi, come on in,” Noly said.
“Thanks.”
“You,um...look great,” Noly stammered, “New dress?”
Sarah smiled at his awkwardness.
“Maybe.”
“Hope the traffic wasn’t too bad.”
She laughed. Since she had accepted Noly’s offer and moved into his apartment building, her traffic consisted of a two-minute walk from one end of the apartment complex to the other. She paid Noly the same rent she was paying at her old place, which was several hundred dollars less than the market rate.
Sarah wandered slowly through the apartment trying to get a better feel for who Noly really was. She thought she understood him at times, but at other times, her knowledge seemed more superficial. Kacy thought the world of him. It was why Sarah was here--she wanted to give this a chance. Whatever this was.
It wasn’t that she didn’t think Noly was attractive. She did, but it probably wouldn’t have been something she pursued on her own, especially given the circumstances that had thrown them together.
“Something smells good,” Sarah said.
“It’s my grandmother’s chicken cacciatore recipe.”
“Wow, you cook...and you have a grandmother.”
“Yeah...well, had--she was a great lady. She raised me and my brother.”
“Oh, you have a--”
“They’re all gone now.”
“I’m sorry,” Sarah said.
“You didn’t think I had a grandmother?” Noly asked.
“No, I just meant...well, it’s hard to picture you as a little boy. Sometimes it seems like normal rules don’t apply to you...you’re kind of bigger than life.”
Sarah caught Noly staring at her, but instead of looking away, she held his gaze. Noly intimidated most people, but she never felt that way with him, although with those eyes of his, she probably should have.
Noly broke the silence.
“Would you like something to drink--I have Chardonnay or...Chardonnay.”
“Hmm--I guess I’ll try the Chardonnay.”
Noly handed her a glass and went back into the kitchen to check on dinner. The chicken was simmering in a pool of garlic-infused tomato sauce and mushrooms. On the other burner, Noly checked a pot of broccoli that he was steaming. He transferred the broccoli to another pan and added two large pats of butter--everything tasted better with butter.
Sarah spied a photo album in a bookcase and asked Noly if he minded if she looked through it. He hesitated at first, but then told her it was okay.
She caught him staring again and this time he turned away, slightly embarrassed. He busied himself with a salad he was making.
“Sorry for staring,” Noly finally said. “I was looking at your freckles.”
“Oh, sorry, this time of year, they seem to multiply.”
“No, I mean I was looking at them...in a good way. I like freckles...ever since Margot Bickles in the tenth grade, I’ve been a sucker for freckles and a strawberries-and-cream complexion.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as both Sarah and Noly looked surprised at his “confession.”
“Strawberries and cream?” Sarah asked.
“Well, that’s what I call it. Redheads are strawberries-and-cream instead of peaches-and-cream.”
Sarah was stunned to see Noly flustered. He was actually blushing.
“Uh, do you like anchovies?” Noly asked.
“I hope that’s not part of your grandmother’s chicken cacciatore recipe.” Sarah answered.
“No, but it is part of her Caesar salad dressing.”
“Oh, in that case, I like them.”
Sarah flipped through the pictures in Noly’s album, as he pulled down some plates and bowls from the cupboard.
“So, what’s Kacy doing tonight?” Noly asked.
“She’s helping Mrs. H make some tamales.”
Noly laughed. Sarah turned to look at him, because she didn’t think she had heard him laugh so easily before. He was just full of surprises. She liked the way it sounded.
“I can’t picture Kacy doing any cooking,” he said.
“This is her first time. She never wants to help me around the kitchen...” Sarah said, almost pouting. “All these pictures are you as an adult.”
Noly looked sad. “Everything else was destroyed in a fire.”
“I’m sorry.” Sarah wondered if the fire was responsible for the death of Noly’s brother and grandmother, but she didn’t ask him. The last thing she wanted to do was dredge up bad memories.
“Thanks.” Noly finished plating the salad and brought it to the table. “Dinner is served.”
They moved together to a folding table that Noly had covered with a reasonably attractive tablecloth. Noly laid out the plates, brought back silverware and napkins, and finally returned with some more wine.
“Wow--hmm, what have you done with Noly Boots, superhero?” Sarah asked.
“I’m full of surprises.”
“I guess so.”
“Superhero?”
“Kacy thinks you’re Superman, or Spiderman--definitely the hero type.”
“She’s a special kid...and very intuitive,” Noly joked. “Sorry about the table, I don’t have much use for a dining room.”
“That’s okay,” Sarah said.
“You know, some of the neighbors tell me that if I have any problems, I should
come see you,” Sarah started, looking for a reaction from Noly. He didn’t give her one, so she went on. “You’re some kind of fix-it man, and I don’t mean plumbing or electricity.”
“If I can help, I do--all this apartment-business stuff can get kind of boring.”
They worked their way through the rest of dinner, spending most of the time talking about Kacy. It was a topic they were most comfortable with, and neither one wanted to venture into uncomfortable territory.
Noly went into the kitchen and opened a bottle of champagne. He then reached inside the refrigerator and pulled out a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries.
“Wow, again,” Sarah said.
Noly smiled and poured Sarah a glass of champagne and put the tray of strawberries on the kitchen bar. Sarah sat on one of the stools there and sipped her drink.
“Mmm--good.” She picked up a strawberry and took a bite. “This isn’t too bad either.”
“Does Kacy ever see her dad?” Noly asked.
Sarah paused, the glass halfway to her mouth. She put the glass down, and looked at Noly, sadness in her eyes. “No, never.”
“He’s a fool,” Noly said.
They continued eating in silence when Sarah reluctantly said, “It was a mistake.”
“You mean coming here?” Noly asked.
She laughed. “No, getting married...I was barely nineteen. He was my high school sweetheart. I thought we would have a future together.”
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Noly said. “Kacy is living proof that you made the right decision. It was fate that you met and married him.”
Sarah’s eyes were moist and she blinked away the wetness. “You’re a big believer in that, aren’t you? Fate, destiny?”
“Yes--I guess I am...maybe I see things differently than others, but the important things--like having Kacy--that was meant to be.”
Sarah smiled and nibbled on her strawberries, not sure what to say. The silence became too much for Noly.
“Listen, I realize this is somewhat awkward. We didn’t exactly meet under normal circumstances...”