Page 30 of Bazooka
“Lean back,” he said, lifting both my legs and putting them in his lap. “Let’s keep your feet elevated for a while.”
I did what he said, trying to relax. His kind gesture almost made me cry, but I would never allow myself to cry, not in front of the blonde intruder. I glanced at her, only to see her watching me curiously.
“Better?” Bazooka said, and I nodded, sniffling.
When Patricia showed me the drawing, I bit my lip until I tasted blood.
“He was also missing a tooth,” I said, dropping my gaze to my lap. I could feel Bazooka’s eyes on me, but I wouldn’t look at him. Not now. I didn’t want him to see… to know how affected I was by all this. Showing weakness wasn’t something I allowed myself… ever.
After Patricia finished the drawing, Bazooka gently laid my feet on the sofa and stood up.
“Let’s take a break,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Patricia, are you in the mood for some coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
“Luz, do you need anything?”
I shook my head.
What I needed was a time machine that would undo what had happened to me. Other than that, I didn’t need anything. Soon, I changed my mind about that, because what I needed was for Patricia to leave. Why? Because I could hear her and Bazooka laughing in the kitchen. Chit-chatting. Joking around. She turned out to be a chatterbox, and apparently, she was funnytoo. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t listen to them laugh while I sat there like a third fucking wheel. And to think she was supposed to do three more sketches of the other attackers? No way. I didn’t have the stomach for it. Not to mention that she was his new colleague, which meant he would see her every day at work. I swallowed what felt like dust in my mouth. No, no, no, no, no. That was unacceptable. I had to do something about it, but what?
I was so deep in my murderous fantasies that I flinched when Bazooka’s phone rang.
“Hey, Adam,” Baz answered. “What’s up?”
After that, there was a long silence, followed by, “I’m on my way”.
When Bazooka hung up, he seemed to be in a foul mood.
“Mendoza?” Patricia asked him, for once looking serious.
Bazooka nodded. “He was just spotted at the airport. Adam is on his way there, and I’m joining him.”
Who the hell was Mendoza? I thought. And why did that name sound familiar?
After Bazooka disappeared into the bathroom, I felt it was time for me to put my cards on the table. Clear the air. Stake my claim.
“He’s taken,” I said, glancing at Patricia before heading to the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water from the tap and drank it. When she said nothing, I turned to look at her.
She just stood there, twirling her finger around a lock of her blonde hair.
“It doesn’t look that way to me,” she said finally, looking amused.
I blinked in disbelief.
Oh, it’s on. The motherfucking war is on.
Bazooka reappeared then, dressed in his usual attire, which meant cargo pants, a Henley shirt, Doc Martens, and sex appeal.
“Luz, call your friends and postpone our interview,” he said, tucking his gun into a holster. “There’s food in the fridge. Remember to take your meds and stay in bed.”
“W-what’s going on?” I asked him, feeling worried.
“Work,” he replied. “Patricia, let’s go.”
Then, he was gone.
And I spent all day and night alone because he didn’t come back.
