Sunday, May 5, 2024

Sweet Realms of Deception

 

Sweet Realms of Deception

 

Excerpt

 

A few weeks into her new job, someone had finally asked her to join them at Off the Hook, the bar down the street. Guess she was lucky, she didn’t expect to get included so soon. She was acclimating to the job, the minor issues they had her take care of, and the people were friendly, almost like a family.

Yup, they were a ‘family’ all right.

She’d arrived, stood at the door, and moved to the side, pretending to get used to the loss of sunlight. Lizette scoped the place out. There were back stairs to the right going to a room on the second floor with a window overlooking the bar–most likely the manager’s office. Emergency exit signs hung above the swinging doors to the left and behind the bar.

A hot guy was working behind the bar, blond, blue eyes, and not her type, although, she wouldn’t mind having some fun with him.

He’d have a lot of information tucked away inside his head. He may not know how important those little tidbits could be for her.

He didn’t fit the scene. The man looked like a surfer dude, with a smile to make all the women’s panties drop. It struck her as odd that he worked in a rough neighborhood like this.

 Lizette joined the small group at the table. She turned her work phone to vibrate and placed it face down.

Buck pulled out a chair next to him. “What would you like? A virgin Zombie, virgin margarita, virgin mimosa?”

Lizette chuckled. “Actually, a non-virgin Zombie or Sex on the Beach.” She looked at the bartender when he approached the table and offered a wicked grin. “Or, Sex with the Bartender.”

Buck’s mouth dropped.

The blond bartender grinned. “Sex with the Bartender coming right up.”

She smiled wide and tapped Buck’s hand. “It’s a drink.”

Mitzi, the boss’ secretary and mistress, laughed. “Told you she wasn’t a straight-laced teetotaler.”

Walter said, “You look so–”

Lizette thanked the bartender for bringing her drink. “That’s why they hired me, isn’t it?”

The three of them nodded. Mitzi responded, “Absolutely.”

A larger group from the yard came in and pretty much took over the conversation, talking shop. The more they drank, the more information and insight Lizette got about what was happening on the docks.

She had ordered a second drink when her phone buzzed.

Picking up the phone, she went out front so she could hear.

“Hey, it’s Buzzy.”

“What’s up?”

“I’ve been pulled over. They did a breathalyzer and the cop said I was over the legal limit but let me call you.”

Really? “Okay, where are you?”

“I might be 1000 feet from the bar. We cannot leave the car here. He said he’d wait for you before he took me in.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

She went into the bar and let them know she had to leave. Lizette paid her tab and hurried out the door.

She could see the flashing lights and walked up the hill. When she approached the vehicles, the police officer introduced himself and gave her his card.

Buzzy handed her the keys and whispered, “You need to take it to the boss’ house.”

“Okay.”

Fear and desperation reflected in his eyes and voice. There was a bruise on his cheek; his lips were swollen and bleeding. “I mean, now. Don’t let it sit. When you drop it off, Lenny will bring you back here. And then you can take your regular evening jog along the north shore.”

Lenny, bodyguard/driver, was a tough one. He was a brute of a man and looked like the stereotypical, Mafia bodyguard. He wouldn’t blink when he slit your throat.

Her heart thumped. Would she meet the boss or would someone else be there to take the car from her?

She called the ‘number’. The one she was told to use only when absolutely necessary.

Whoever answered the phone seemed a bit peeved, but handed the call over to the boss. She recognized his very distinctive voice immediately.

Lizette explained what happened with Buzzy and she was on the way with the car.

Irritation reflected in his tone, “I’ll be expecting you. Lenny will bring you to the jail to bond Buzzy out and then return you to your car.”

In the rearview mirror, she watched the police car make a U-turn. “I should be there in about twenty minutes.”

“Don’t stop anywhere.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lenny was standing under the carriage port waiting for her. He opened the passenger door with a snap. She’d expected him to jump in but instead, he lifted the seat and pulled out a leather bag. He dropped the seat back down and demanded, “Stay here.”

His silhouette approached a man at a desk. It was the boss. The boss walked to the window, waved, and handed Lenny a small package.

Lenny returned and gave her directions to the jail. It was the only thing he said to her. Within the hour, arrangements were made and the three headed to Off the Hook.

He parked next to her car and she jumped out. She stopped near the hood of her car.

“Not so fast.” He walked to her and handed her the envelope the boss had given him. “Open it when you get home.”

Lizette folded it and tucked it in the front pocket of her pencil skirt. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Try not to become a worker bee, kiddo.”

She shook her head and touched his arm. “Definitely not the colony I want to be in. Thanks again.”

His mouth dropped. For a split second, she could see his appalled expression. If she hadn’t been watching his eyes, Lizette would’ve missed it.

“I don’t like being touched.”

“Sorry.”

Lenny grunted and walked away.

Lizette watched him drive off with Buzzy and approached her car. She decided to wait, and went inside for another drink. Surfer dude was bartending and she sat in the corner where she could remain unnoticed.

It was a different crowd; a little rowdier, but then again, they were watching the Twins play.

The bartender approached her and placed a napkin on the bar. “Sex with the Bartender?”

She laughed. “I ordered that to bust their agates. And yes, I’d thoroughly enjoy having the bartender, but I’d rather have a rum and coke for now.”



Thank you.

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my website: www.PamelaAckerson.net

@PamAckerson

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