by Denise Wells
You'll accomp'ny me.
The song I sang to Remi.
It's a sign.
I pull off to the shoulder and speed to the next exit.
“This is the song, isn't it?” Kat asks, her eyes twinkling.
“It is,” I say with a smile.
“I love it! It's a sign for sure!” Lexie says, bobbing her head softly to the beat.
I sing along to the radio, feeling free for the first time in days. The song ends, and Kat changes the station. I glare at her.
“I know, no 80s and no Motown. I'm compromising with hit singles of today,” she says.
“The Man” by The Killers comes on.
“Oh, I love this song!” Lexie says. I smile at her in the rear-view mirror. She says almost everything with an exclamation point.
I know the song. I hate to admit, but I love it. Like, it’s my theme song. I sit up taller and mouth the words softly to myself. Getting myself pumped.
“I would so fuck Brandon Flowers just because of this song,” Kat says.
“Me too,” Lexie says with a sigh, in between singing.
“Ohmigod, Bauer.” Kat looks at me. “This is your theme song.”
I laugh at her because I'll never admit it’s true.
“I'm serious!” she says. “We're going to get your girl, and you've got to convince her that you're the man, right. You're the man. I mean, Lex and I can only help so much, the rest is up to you. You gotta ball up, take your girl, fuck her against the wall, let her see who’s boss. Remind her that she can't live without you.”
“Now who's putting words in Remi's mouth?” Lexie asks.
“I'm not putting words in Remi’s mouth, I'm putting actions in Bauer's head. The guy in that song is exactly what Remi needs,” Kat says.
“I agree,” Lexie says. Kat turns around and beams at her.
I just try to hold it together as we get closer to the hotel. A song can't really do much when you've fucked up so far beyond belief that your girl says never to call her again.
We pull into self-parking and I find a spot surprisingly quickly. The girls scramble to collect their things. They were smart, each bringing a small overnight bag with them. Me? I didn't even remember a toothbrush. I pat my sides only to realize I don’t have my gun either. I panic until I feel the tell-tale bulge of my wallet and badge.
At least there’s that.
“Where's your bag?” Lexie asks.
“I don't even have my gun, apparently. Why would I have a bag?” I ask.
“Well, clearly you didn’t think this was going to work out well if you weren’t planning to spend the night,” Kat says.
“Well, clearly it doesn't matter since you two would be here anyway,” I say.
“We're getting our own room,” Lexie says.
“Really?” I ask. “You're getting your own room at the same hotel as the largest chemical engineering convention in the nation?”
“Oh,” Lexie says. “I didn't think about that.”
“Sucks to be you, Bauer,” Kat says. “Dibs on sleeping with Remi!”
“Wait, where am I going to sleep?” Lexie asks.
“In the other bed,” Kat says.
“Then where's Bauer gonna sleep?” she asks.
“In a chair,” Kat says as though she has it all figured out.
“Or,” I say. “I can sleep with Remi and you two can have the other bed.”
“That could work too,” Kat says with a wink, that makes her look like she's having a face spasm.
The girl can't wink.
“I got this, Kat,” Lexie says. Then she turns to me and winks, a perfectly adorable and sassy wink.
“It's why you're my bestie, Lex,” Kat says as she hugs her around the shoulders. “The yin to my other yang.”
We make our way through the parking garage, I offer to carry the girls' bags, but they refuse. So I fidget with the keys, not really knowing what else to do with my hands. But that seems to make me more anxious, so I shove them in my pocket.
We get to the elevator bay and wait for the car’s descent. The doors open right about the time I’m tempted to just take the stairs.
“Settle down, sparky,” Kat says. “Getting there faster isn't going to make any difference.”
“You never know,” Lexie says.
“Maybe not,” I say. “But it would make me feel better.”
“Did you bring a peace offering?” Kat asks.
“What do you mean?”
“You know,” Lexie says. “Like flowers or something.”
“I'm already doing the grand gesture. I have to have flowers too?”
“Or something, yes,” Lexie says.
Kat glares at me.
“I didn't know,” I say.
“I thought you had three sisters?” Kat asks.
“I do,” I say. “But they didn't help me with this.”
“You came up with it on your own?” Kat asks.
“Yes,” I say frustrated.
“That's so romantic,” Lexie gushes.
“I hope you’re able to pull this off, buddy,” Kat says.
The elevator doors open to a crowded lobby. I immediately scan the room for Remi, but it's hard to see anyone clearly.
“I'll get us a key to her room,” Kat says.
“How are you going to do that?” I ask.
“Just watch,” she says.
Kat struts to the front desk with Lexie and I following a short distance behind. Even though I no longer watch her ass, I notice she garners looks from most of the men in the room.
“Remi Vargas, I lost my key and need a new one,” she says to the desk clerk. The clerk narrows her eyes at Kat.
“That's funny,” the clerk says. “Since you just asked for your key about an hour ago and you didn't look anything like you.”
“Okay, you got me,” Kat says. “Remi is my best friend and we're here to surprise her.”
“We?” the clerk asks.
“The three of us,” Kat says, gesturing to Lexie and me.
“Ms. Vargas is in a single room, not a double,” the clerk says. “Her room can't accommodate four.”
“And which room might that be?” Kat asks.
“I can't give out guest information like that.”
“It's important,” Lexie interjects, pushing herself toward the desk. “She and Bauer, here, are in love and they got into a fight and he's here to apologize.”
The clerk looks around the girls at me. “Young man, what did you do wrong?”
“A lot,” I say.
“Where’s your peace offering?” the clerk asks.
“I'm doing the grand gesture by coming here,” I say.
The clerk rolls her eyes at us. “You still need a peace offering.”
“See?” Kat says.
“Is this some kind of joke?” I ask. “Are you all in on it together? This is ridiculous.”
“Come on.” Lexie pulls at my arm. “We'll get flowers in the gift shop.”
“She's gonna know they are gift shop flowers,” the clerk says.
“Oh, good point,” Lexie says.
“You’re a nice looking boy, so I’m going to give you some advice.”
“Can we just get the room number, please?” I’m exasperated and annoyed.
“No. Now, you go down the block about five buildings, on the right you’ll see a flower shop. You tell Marianne, she’s the owner, you tell her that Wanda sent you. She’ll get you sorted out.”
“Wait here,” I tell the girls. I hit the street running, making it to the flower shop in record time, get Remi a bouquet of lilies, then sprint back.
The girls are still standing at the counter talking to Wanda.
I hold up the flowers. “Good?”
“You know I’m not supposed to give room information out,” Wanda says.
I pull out my police badge and show it to her. “How about now?”
“Oh, now, don’t you fuss. I was just teasing.” She clicks a few butt
ons on her keyboard and looks back at me. “Your girl is in room six one five.”
“Thank you,” I say and sprint back toward the elevators.
“Wait for us,” Lexie says, grabbing Kat’s hand and running after me.
“My pinkie is spasming,” Kat says when they catch up. Showing us her hand with the spasming finger. “I don’t get it. We aren’t working a case.”
“What does it mean?” I ask.
“I don't know,” Kat says. “But I don't like it.”
“Shit. Well,” Kat says. “Let's get our girl. Then we can figure out what my pinkie finger wants.”
The elevator doors open on the sixth floor and I practically sprint down the hall.
“Bauer,” Kat hisses. “Wait for us, dick head.”
I stop.
She's right. I can't go running up to Remi's door. I barely even know what I'm going to say. I'm gripping the flowers so hard I've crushed most of the stems.
I walk back toward them.
“Fuck, what do I say when she opens the door?” I ask.
“Well, first say you’re sorry, then hand her the flowers,” Lexie says.
“Then we'll push our way in,” Kat says. “She'll let us, ‘cause it's us.”
“That works,” Lexie says.
“Lex and I will convince her that she needs to hear you out,” Kat says.
“Yep,” Lexie agrees.
“Then Lex and I will go down to the bar while you and Remi do the horizontal bop apology style.”
I'm not sure if she meant to reference a Bob Seger song or not, so I ignore it.
“Dude, you gonna ignore my Seger reference?” Kat asks.
“Of course not,” I say. “That was good.”
“Your praise means nothing when I have to ask for it,” she says, flipping her hand in the air.
“Fuck. Here it is.” We arrive at door six fifteen. I raise my hand to knock, but Kat beats me to it.
“Open up, Rem,” she says as she bangs on the door. “Lex and I are here to cheer you up.”
I stand back behind the two girls and hold my breath. Waiting to see her face when she opens the door.
God, I hope this works.
Chapter 41
Remi
I got past the point of not crying long ago. Because apparently now I cry. All the fucking time. Tears stream steadily down my face, my teeth grinding against the pain. Helen has made cuts on my thighs, chest, calves, and stomach. Now she’s going for my arms.
“Oh, looky here, are these little scars? Mimi, were you a cutter as a girl? Oh my, isn't that fitting? We're using your past coping mechanisms to hurt you now.”
She laughs, wildly. “Do you think you'll go back to cutting to deal with the fact that I've been cutting you?” She's laughing so much she can hardly get the words out. “Oh wait, no, you'll be dead!”
I am beyond answering her questions or responding at all. Most of what she says doesn't even make sense. It’s all I can do to try and block out my current reality.
“Oh Mimi, if I just let you live there could be so many scars.”
It doesn't matter. Even if she doesn't kill me, I'm never showing my skin again.
“Just do it, Helen,” I say.
I'm exhausted. I have no fight left. The pain is immense, yet for some reason, I haven’t passed out. All that's holding me up right now are the ties on my wrists. The rest of me has slumped over.
“Okay!” she says, grabbing the gun off the bed and pointing it at me.
I jump when I hear the noise, except it's not a gunshot, it's a loud knock on the door.
“Open up, Rem,” I hear Kat say as she bangs on the door. “Lex and I are here to cheer you up.”
“Kat!” I try to yell, but my voice comes out as more of a croak.
“Shut up!” Helen says. I'm not sure if she's talking to me or to Kat.
Until she backhands me across the cheek. Which is enough to shut me up. Truth be told, I don't want Helen getting her hands on Lexie or Kat anyway.
Helen resumes pacing and talking to herself. Then, seeming to decide, moves to open the door.
“You must have the wrong room,” I hear Helen say. I try to yell for Kat again, but I can't get my voice to work. My throat is so dry.
“Helen… what the fuck… if you hurt her—”
I hear Chance's voice right before I hear the door slam open and hit the wall.
“By all means, come in and join the party,” Helen says.
I raise my head slowly and watch as the three most important people in my life file in with Helen and her gun bringing up the rear.
“Remi!” Chance cries and is at my side in a second. “My God, beautiful. Oh my God.” His voice breaks, his eyes fill. “I'm so sorry, baby. HELEN, what did you do? I’m going to get you out of here, beautiful. Oh God. We’ve got to get her to a doctor! Help me untie her!” His voice is frantic as he pulls uselessly at my bindings.
Helen cocks the gun. It’s not a loud noise, yet somehow the click is one we all hear clearly.
“Get away from Mimi, or this one loses her head,” Helen says laughing, I raise my head and see she has the gun pointed at Lexie's head.
Chance stands up slowly and turns toward Helen, his hands raised in front of him.
“Helen…” he warns.
“Oh no you don't,” she says. “You don't call the shots here. I do. The one with the gun wins, right?”
“Okay, why don't we all just calm down a little bit,” Chance says in a low, even tone.
“I'm calm,” Helen says. She turns to me. “You calm, Mimi?”
I nod my head.
“Speak!” Helen yells.
“I’m calm.” My voice barely a whisper.
“See?” Helen says. “We're all calm.”
“What are you doing here, Helen?” Chance asks.
“I'm getting rid of Mimi so we can be together.”
Chance stiffens. I turn to look at Lexie, she's crying silently, not that I blame her. Helen has the gun at her head. I look to Kat, who is the exact opposite. Kat looks ready to kill. I silently beg her to calm down. She must see something in my eyes, because her body visibly relaxes a small amount.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity,” Helen says. “I just had to watch and wait. I’ve been watching for a while. Listening. Taking notes. For instance.” She glances toward Chance. “Did you have a nice time with cancer girl’s boy toy last night?”
“Helen,” Chance says. “Why don't you give me the gun?”
“Did you know that Connie tells me everything about you and Mimi?”
“Helen, give me the gun.” Chance holds his hand out toward her.
“Did you know that I’ve been following you and your girl?”
To his credit, Chance’s expression stays neutral.
“I’ve seen everything, Chancey. And I do mean everything. Mimi’s ass is kind of big, don’t you think?”
“Listen, bitch,” Kat starts. Chance holds out a hand in her direction and she immediately stops talking.
“The gun,” Chance grits out, still holding his other hand out to Helen.
“Now, why would I do that? If I give you the gun, you have control. That doesn't work for me. I'm in control here.”
“Fine,” Chance says. “How about if you just lower the gun a bit, so you aren't upsetting Lexie.”
“Lexie?” Helen asks. “Like I give a fuck about Lexie.” She swings the gun away from Lexie, we all breathe a small sigh of relief. But then she points it right back at me. Chance's body is taut, poised and ready to strike.
“Don't do it,” Helen says to him. “I know you better than you know yourself. You try to help her, she dies.” She walks closer toward me. I flinch as the cold metal of the gun kisses my temple.
“Helen, you said you want us to be together,” Chance says.
“I do, Chancey,” she says.
“Don’t call me that,” he growls.
“I can call you whatever I want,” she sa
ys in a sing-song voice. “Just like I can shoot whomever I want.”
“Well, shooting someone isn't going to get us back together,” Chance says. “It's going to get you sent to jail.”
“If she dies, you can get the charges dropped for me,” Helen says, shrugging her shoulders.
“Helen, a murder charge isn't exactly like a parking ticket. The charges aren't up to me. The District Attorney does that. I can't just get them dropped.”
“So, I'll kill all three of them,” Helen says. “That way there are no witnesses.”
“But I’ll still… look… killing all three isn’t… maybe we should take a minute and talk. What do you think?”
“Talk about what?” she asks.
“About us. We need to talk about us if you want us to be together again, don't you think?” Chance asks Helen.
“Hmmm. Maybe.” She sounds flippant.
“Why maybe?”
“I don't think I trust you yet, Chancey,” she says. “You seem upset about Mimi, and that’s not how this story goes.”
“How does this story go?” he asks.
“You know,” Helen says. “You know exactly how it goes.”
“Okay. Why don't we go somewhere and talk about it, just me and you.”
“Just me and you?” she asks.
“Yeah. We’ll go somewhere quiet, just the two of us. Like we used to do. Before.”
“Before,” she says, continuing to parrot what he says. Her face changes, softens almost, and she looks at him, her eyes wide. “You mean it?”
“I do.” His voice softens. “I want us to go away, just me and you. Please. We can talk. I've missed you.”
Chance is convincing. So much so that I start to doubt why he's here. What if this is all real and he wants her.
Fuck!
I can’t think. My thoughts are too jumbled.
“We were so good together,” Helen says. “That’s why I'm here, so Mimi can go, and we can be together again.”
“Mimi doesn't matter to you and me,” Chance tells her.
“She doesn't?” Helen asks.
“No,” Chance says, inching his way closer to us. “She's not even a blip on our radar.”
“You're lying! I always know when you're lying!” Helen swings the gun in Chance's direction. He stops.
I try to catch his eye, but he won’t look at me. He only has eyes for Helen.