“What brings you here?”
“My cousin invited me to visit him. He lives in Long Beach.”
“You got a work permit?”
“Sure,” Adriana said, searching through her purse. “Oh, I must have left it at home.”
Connie frowned and looked at Scott’s disappointed face. “Well—
wait here. I’ll get you an application. You can bring the permit in later.”
With Connie gone, Scott and Adriana eyed each other. Finally Adriana said, “You worked here long?”
“Uh, no. I, um, I’m just helping my mother out. She owns the place. It’s not open yet. Not until next week.”
“It’s too bad you don’t work here. But you’ll come by a lot, no?”
Scott smiled, “That could be arranged.”
Connie returned with the form. “Here it is.”
Adriana took a few minutes to enter her information, then placed the application on the bar.
“We’ll let you know in a few days,” Connie said as he picked it up. “Thanks for coming in.”
Adriana grimaced and said, “Thank you very much.”
Scott led her to the front door, winked and said, “Don’t worry. I have a lot of influence with the owner.”
Adriana left smiling, and Scott joined Connie in the storage room. “Nice girl, huh?”
“All right, I guess. Rather have a guy behind the bar.”
◆◆◆
Scott had used all of his days off for the month to help Melanie prepare the bar for opening, so he couldn’t stop by again until a week after Adriana had applied for the bartender job. He located his mom alone going over some of his grandfather’s accounts, and setting up a new computer accounting system. There wasn’t anything left for Scott to do, but stand in the middle of the room, surrounded by Benny’s vibe.
A knock on the door caused him to jump. He could see the silhouette of a woman through the window. He opened the door wide enough to stick his head out and hear Adriana call out, “Kalimera.”
He smiled broadly and opened the door. “Hello. How are you? Are you here to work?”
“I did not get a call from your manager. Did he hire someone else?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t been here since the day you came in. I assumed he hired you.” He started toward the back office, then said, “Wait here a minute.”
Scott stuck his head into Melanie’s office. “Mom, what’s up with the bartender situation?” he said. “I don’t understand. Connie and I met a perfectly good candidate last week. Didn’t he mention her?”
“No, he only said that he was still looking.”
Scott walked into the office. “Well, personally I’ve seen enough. This woman is hot.”
Melanie smirked. “Maybe her references weren’t so hot.”
“Well she’s here, and I don’t know what to tell her.”
Melanie went to Connie’s desk and shuffled through some applications. “What’s her name?”
“Adriana something. It starts with a “D.”
Melanie found her name and read the application. “Looks pretty good to me, but I don’t see any notes from Connie.”
“Why don’t you come out and meet her, and see what you think?”
Melanie took the application and followed Scott out to the bar. One look at Adriana told her why Scott wanted to have this girl around. She had to admit it wouldn’t hurt to have somebody like her behind the bar. She’d be sure to rejuvenate the clientele at old McNeil’s Pub. Melanie told her to report on Friday morning to help them set up for opening night.
After walking Adriana out, Scott came back to Melanie with a gleam in his eye. “Perfect, isn’t she?”
“I can give you two good reasons why you think so,” Melanie said.
“Not fair. I think she’ll give our bar a real international flavor.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Uh, huh,” she said with a smile.
“Gotta go. See ya later.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
Scott walked toward the door as James Mah entered carrying a potted plant. They acknowledged each other, and James presented the plant to Melanie.
“Well, Melanie, it looks like your father came through.”
Surprised to see him, she said, “James, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and I’d like to personally welcome you to the neighborhood.”
“Thank you.” She put the plant on the bar.
“So what are your plans?”
“Plans?”
“For this place. I can’t imagine you intend to keep it.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“What would someone in your position want with this?”
“It is where I grew up.”
“I realize that your father’s death is still very fresh, but when you’ve gotten past some of the emotion, you’ll be able to accept a more logical disposition of the bar.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I want this property, and I’m prepared to pay you a more-than-generous sum for it.”
“But I don’t—”
“You may change your mind when you see my offer.” He handed her his card. “Think about it. I’ll be in touch.”
Melanie glanced at the amount scribbled on the business card. It was quite a generous offer, considerably higher than the going rate for property in the area. Definitely tempting. But she had really enjoyed the past couple of months preparing to open McNeil’s again, and she had to do it.
Sandra had been right. She needed this; something of her own to sink her time and talents into, and no amount of money could take the place of that. She felt a little guilty though, because she didn’t plan to tell Ted. If he knew how much money she had turned down, he wouldn’t understand.
◆◆◆
Scott’s caseload doubled the next week, and he hadn’t had a chance to get by McNeil’s since it opened. According to his Mom, things were going okay, but he had to see for himself, so he stopped by Monday evening after work. When he arrived, he saw Connie sitting out in front smoking a cigar.
“Hey, Connie, how’s business?” Scott said.
“See for yourself. Your Mom’s inside.”
Scott beamed when he walked into the familiar sights and sounds of the bar he remembered as a kid. Though the jukebox blared, the music served only as a backdrop to the rousing chatter of pool balls clapping, and glasses clinking. It only took him a minute to find Melanie, clothed in her Saks Fifth Avenue outfit. He was used to his mother standing out in a crowd, but she looked out of place among the tee shirts and jeans in the bar.
Melanie, who sat in a booth across from Sandra, waved Scott over. After nodding a greeting to Sandra, he scooted in next to his mother.
“I’m beat.”
Melanie pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Busy week, huh?
Scott ran his fingers through his hair. “Dad know you’re here tonight?”
“I’ll tell him tomorrow. I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture on self-defense. The last time I came down here, he had me packing a 9mm.”
A commotion drew their attention to a ruckus in the pool room, where one gangbanger had another pinned to the table with a knife secreted between their bodies. Scott reached into the holster under his jacket and began to get up, but Melanie grabbed his arm and pulled him back into his seat. He let out a sigh, but remained seated and waited several seconds for the gangsters to separate and go back to their game.
“I hope you still have that gun with you,” Scott said.
Melanie nodded.
“Let’s hope the new club will bring in a classier clientele,” Sandra said.
Scott squinted. “Club?”
Sandra swallowed hard and apologized with a glance at Melanie for letting the cat out of the bag. Melanie put her hand out and gestured to Sandra inviting her to explain.
“Your mother is going to remodel this place into a nightclub, and be the star singing attraction.”
“Well, I don’t know about the singing,” Melanie said," but I am going to remodel. In fact, don’t say anything to dad yet, but I talked to a restaurant consultant yesterday for some ideas, and this place is going to look so great. We could use the existing bar, but we’ll have tables over…”
Adriana interrupted them, and Scott’s face lit up with delight.
“Ya, Scott, you haven’t been here for a while.”
“We’ve been stacked up with cases the past couple of weeks.
“Oh, you work too hard,” she scolded him.
He shrugged. “It’s the job.”
She reached out for him, “Come.”
He threw a puzzled look at Melanie, who nodded. Adriana grabbed his forearms and pulled him up toward the small dance area near the jukebox. He followed her lead and pressed his chest against hers, with movements mimicking foreplay to the beat of the bluesy music. Captivated by her, he didn’t hear the crowd cheering him on.
It wasn’t until Adriana stopped, kissed him on the cheek, and left him standing there in a daze, that he realized they had an audience. He responded by dropping to his knees. He stretched his arms out toward her with the palms of his hands up and wiggled his fingers toward himself. With no response from her, he fell forward to the floor, as if in defeat, and the group around him laughed.
Melanie and Sandra had left for home a few minutes later. Now nearing closing time, Scott sat watching Adriana work the bar, mixing her brand of allure with every drink she poured; exuding sexuality simply by the way she fingered each bottle, glass, and stirrer. He’d never seen anything like it. The customers couldn’t take their eyes off her, and neither could he.
Connie walked behind the bar with a couple of bottles of booze and put them in the rack with the others. Adriana spoke over her shoulder at him. “Okay if I take a little break?”
He saw Scott sitting on the stool in front of her, and said, “Looks like you could use one.”
She walked outside and Scott followed.
“It’s warm in there tonight,” she said as she lit a cigarette.
“I noticed.” He nodded toward the cigarette. “Aren’t you worried about your health?”
“You take bigger risks every day at work.”
He shrugged.
“Well, I think you’re very brave to do what you do.”
“Some people think it’s pretty stupid, not brave.”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t. I’ve always known that it’s what I wanted to do.”
“And what about your girlfriend? What does she think.”
“She thought I’d change my mind after college, and when I didn’t, she boogied.”
She squinted. “Translate, please.”
“Left. She broke up with me.”
“Oh, too bad for you.” She winked. “But good for me.”
“Oh, yeah?” He reached out to her, but she jerked, dropped her cigarette to the ground, and covered it with her shoe.
“I better go help Connie close,” she said, and hurried inside.
Shit, shot down twice in one night. He was glad no one had seen the stupid look burning on his face. He must have read her wrong. Well, after all, she was a foreigner. Maybe he needed a different approach.
CHAPTER 4
1997
Melanie knew she needed to tell Ted about her plan for the bar. She had put off telling him about it as long as she could. The contractor had threatened to start another job before hers if he couldn’t get started soon. She rehearsed her speech several times, and set the scene for a cozy dinner at home with candles and Ted’s favorite meal, but while arranging some flowers on the table, the phone rang.
It was Ted saying he wouldn’t make it home for dinner again. She had no choice, but to try and catch him at breakfast, even though he wasn’t his most agreeable in the morning. But he left early the next day, and something came up every day that week. Before she knew it, Thursday had arrived.
◆◆◆
Scott showed up at the bar that night, but spent most of his time talking to Melanie about the remodel, and what Ted’s reaction would be. Connie had the night off, and Scott had decided to play it cool and keep his distance from Adriana, so he hadn’t said more than a few words to her. After they locked up, Melanie called for Adriana, but got no answer.
“She’s probably in the head,” Scott said.
Melanie went off to find her but came right back to report no sign of her in the backroom.
“I’ll check outside.”
He checked out back, but didn’t find her, so he went around the side of the building to the front. There he noticed her silhouette in the shadows along with a man, holding her arms and shaking her.
Scott called out, “Adriana? Are you out here?”
With no answer, he rushed toward the twosome just in time to see the man’s face as he ran off.
Scott embraced her for a moment. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“Who was that guy?”
“He said he had to talk to me.”
“About what?”
Melanie interrupted. “Everything all right?”
“Yes,” Adriana assured her.
As they walked back into the bar, Scott explained, “Some guy was harassing her.”
“A customer?” Melanie said with concern.
“No,” Adriana said.
Scott turned to Adriana. “Did you know him?” Scott picked up that she wasn’t anxious to tell him about this guy. So when she nodded, he jumped all over her. “From where? What’s his name?”
“Easy, Scott,” Melanie said.
Adriana lowered her head and shifted her feet. “His name is Marco,” He’s uh, helping me find my father, and he wants more money.”
“Your father is here? What’s his name?” She wasn’t talking fast enough to suit Scott.
She didn’t say a word, but handed him a tattered picture of a handsome man in his late twenties.
“Maybe you’d better explain to us why you—” Scott showed Melanie the picture, and she froze.
“Mom, what’s the matter?”
Melanie still didn’t speak.
“Do you know him?” Adriana asked.
A dazed Melanie said, “What?”
“Who is he?”
“I just remember him, that’s all.”
Scott’s interrogation skills kicked in. “From where?”
“It was a long time ago. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Always the detective, he said, “Maybe you can remember something that could lead us to him.”
1973
McNeil’s was hopping that night. Melanie had to squirm around the booths, tables, and people while trying not to drop her drink-laden tray on someone’s head or lap. She walked up to a table of four charter boat fishermen and placed drinks in front of each of them.
“Sorry it took so long, guys.”
“It was worth the wait,” said a bald fellow, with a wink.
Melanie smiled, but only had eyes for one of them; a ponytailed Italian with a cropped beard and Romanesque features. She leaned into him and said, “Haven’t seen you for a while.”
“We just docked.”
“Well, welcome back.”
He handed her some money and said, “Thank you. Keep the change.”
Fanning the bills, she said, “That’s pretty generous.”
“You’re the first young lady I’ve seen in quite a while. Keep it.”
“Okay, if you say so.” Melanie said, beaming, and continued with her work.
At the end of her shift, Melanie walked out the backdoor of the bar and stood in the darkness for a moment. She crept toward her apartment and climbed the stairs. Before she could open her door, someone grabbed her arm.
She turned to face Enzo Mancini, the man who had given her the big tip. Her heart fluttered and she threw her arms around him and kissed him long and hard. They held their embrace as they moved inside, pulling
and tugging off each other’s clothes until they fell naked onto the bed. After the conflagration of their initial moments in the room, Enzo slowed their pace with soft whispers into her ear while caressing her face. His fingers made their way to her nipples as his lips moved along her body, and she succumbed to the sensations.
After they had satisfied one another, they held each other in silence. Then Melanie reached up and stroked his beard. “You were gone so long. I thought maybe you weren’t coming back.”
“I had an emergency at home.”
“Why didn’t you phone me?”
“Didn’t you get my message?”
“No.”
“I gave a letter to Sergio for you.”
“I never got it.”
Enzo sat up. “That son of a bitch. I let him use my boat, and he couldn’t even do this for me?”
She checked her watch. “It’s almost eleven. Time for me to get ready for work.”
“Why don’t you call in sick?”
“I can’t. I’m alone in the unit tonight.”
Enzo leaned over and caressed her face. “Ti amo.”
“I love you too.”
Before that night, Melanie had been seeing Mancini for several months. It started out as a very casual thing, but she soon fell hard for the handsome foreigner. Of all the guys she had dated or had met in the bar, he won her over. It happened the first time he’d walked into McNeil’s. Despite his rugged exterior, well-carved face, and full lips, his quiet eyes were a window to his sensitive soul. He had captured more than her heart, and inviting him into her bed had changed her. Besides her singing, Mancini had become the most important thing in her life, and she lived for his arrivals in port; despite her father’s disapproval.
◆◆◆
It had been several weeks since Melanie had seen Enzo, He had promised he would be back in town that evening but had not shown up. She arrived at the station in a lousy mood. As she sat at the teletype machine to run some DMV information, she tried to tell herself there must be a good reason. A few minutes later, Ted leaned into the records unit window and called to her.
“What’s up? she asked as she walked to the window.
“Got a minute?”
“Sure,” she answered and waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, she said, “Well?”
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