Page 17 of Absinthe Dreams
“Dad’s club cuts were all made out of denim. Old jean jackets with the sleeves cut off.”
“Old-school, yeah.” Je nodded knowingly and grinned. “What was his club’s name?”
“Disciples of Sin,” I said shyly. There was a sort of silent and eternal dick-measuring contest between local clubs. I’d seen it time and time again, growing up. It was like a pack of mean girls. The guys would be all polite to each other’s faces, but mad shit would be talked behind backs and closed doors.
I half expected the laugh, but I didn’t expect the kind, “Yeah, okay – small outfit from the top of the boot. A bunch of late Vietnam vets, right?”
I smiled at that and nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, I get your reasoning,” he said. “I’m glad you called. I’m going to need you to write down everything you know aboutthis guy. Try and get a picture of him, if you can. I want everything I can get my hands on.”
“Okay,” I said. “Some of that might be tricky to get my hands on, but I’ll do my best. The hospital and HR are touchy about it for obvious reasons, and personnel files are restricted. I’ll see what I can do on that, but it may take some time.”
He nodded slowly and said, “In the meantime, I’ll be giving you a ride to and from work. Do you got a guestroom?”
“No, sorry,” I said, shaking my head. It was just a one-bedroom tiny house, and I was paying a mint to be in it. I mean, it was the Garden District.
“Okay, couch it is,” he said.
“You’re going to stay here?” I asked a little wide-eyed.
“Yeah, for the time being,” he said. “Until I can be sure the problem is taken care of. Not going to lie, the club is in the middle of… a whole thing right now. You know how that goes.”
“Yes,” I said with a wry smile. I didn’t honestly know how I felt about the whole him staying here… but… thinking about it? I nodded slowly. “Thanks,” I said.
“Don’t mention it,” he said. “Seriously. You saved my ass. It’s my turn to return the favor.”
I shook my head. “I was just doing my job,” I said.
“Nah, you did more than that. You work tomorrow?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m off the next two days.”
“Got any big plans?” he asked.
“No, not really… Just, um, catching up on laundry and some sleep.”
“Yeah, well, you best get that load or whatever going now,” he said. “You’re with me when you’re off work, and I have a few things to do tomorrow. Let’s see about changing up your routine as much as possible. Routine is like catnip to a psychopath. We don’t wanna make things easy for him.”
I nodded carefully. “You’re not allergic to cats, are you?” I asked.
He smiled, and it made his blue eyes kind. He shook his head and said, “No.”
“I feel like I was really lucky Charlie was inside.” I broke a little then. “I didn’t realize it until I opened the door and found…that.”
“I assume Charlie’s your cat?” he asked. I nodded and couldn’t say anything past the growing lump in my throat. “Yeah, well, he’s an indoor kitty from here on out. Go get him, beautiful. I think you need the kitty snuggles.”
I nodded and got up, going to the bedroom. When I opened the door, Charlie looked up from where he was loafed on the bed, like,what’s going on, Mom?That’s when I cracked. I went and sat down on the bed and picked up my boy, ruffling my hands through his soft fur as he started to purr.
I let myself have a short little cry and felt better, but didn’t really know what to do or where to go from here.
I hadn’t expected Chainsaw to stay.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Chainsaw…
We’d talked a little bit more, and I’d told her gently to take her cat and to go to bed. She told me to make myself at home, help myself to the fridge, and showed me where the bathroom was.
