The graduation ceremony went quickly and smoothly as each student walked across the stage to collect their diploma. Tim’s parents whooped loudly from the stands when he appeared on stage, then clapped and waved when he exited on the other side. He did the same for LeAnn when she collected her diploma, and heard her family exuberantly cheering across the auditorium.
At last the lights came up, and families were encouraged to come down and mingle with the graduates. There was plenty of room for everyone, and the faculty had even provided snacks and drinks on a long table.
Pandemonium reigned as graduates rushed everywhere, and their family members snapped pictures. There were so many flashes going off, it looked like the inside of a nightclub.
He got hugs and slaps on the back from his parents and LeAnn’s family. But his biggest shock was seeing Jeff after so many years. The Navy had transformed him into a totally different person. Gone was the skinny, goofy smart-aleck who’d always had a new plan to get them in trouble. He’d become a reserved, confident man who bulged with muscles and radiated quiet strength. He was taller now, too, and Tim wondered if it was just all the new muscles.
They launched into a vigorous bear-hug while everyone else watched and laughed with delight. Then their parents started reminiscing about all their boyhood pranks. They finally broke the hug, and joined in the enthusiastic conversation.
Jeff had been gone for several years, so he wanted to catch up on all the small-town doings he’d missed. They crammed as much as they could into the next half hour, but then his parents reclaimed him and cheerfully tugged him away. “We’re having dinner tonight to celebrate!” he called back over his shoulder. “You’re coming, and don’t even think of backing out! You can’t leave me alone with my folks!” He shot Tim a comical look of feigned desperation. “Seriously, if your ass isn’t at the restaurant, I will come find you!”
Tim laughed, and shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of missing it! What time?”
“No idea! I’ll have LeAnn call you!” He winked at his mother, then added, “Don’t worry…dinner will be quick. Then you and I can go out and raise some hell!”
Tim laughed as Jeff’s mother gave his ear a quick twist, and pulled him around the corner. Then he cast one last hopeful look around the auditorium. He’d figured Crystal would miss his graduation, and he was right; she was nowhere in sight. Sighing, he gave up, and turned his attention back to his own family and friends. They were full of congratulations, but her noticeable absence made everyone feel a little awkward, and that cast a pall over their celebration.
The only bright point, he thought after they left, was that his father had asked him to come over for dinner. It was time to start mending that fence, he decided, and looked forward to having a long talk with both his parents.
LeAnn had driven her own car to the auditorium, so he wasn’t surprised to find her at his side when he started getting ready to go. “Hey,” she grinned, and threw her arms around him in a vigorous hug. “We did it!”
“We sure did!” Laughing, he picked her up and twirled her around several times. Then he caught his breath when she rose on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips…then kissed him again, a lot more slowly, two more times.
“That was nice,” he finally whispered when they came up for air. “Why haven’t we done that before?”
“It was,” she smiled, leaning against him. “I don’t know, but we should do it more often in the future.”
“I agree, but…”
“No buts,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “I know it’s not a good time. You still have unresolved issues with Crystal, and you still have feelings for her. That’s okay. I’m not rushing you…I’m not asking for anything. I just want you to know that I’m here for you.” She reached up and kissed him again. “I’m also much better for you than she is, so don’t blow it!”
“You’re amazing,” he admitted.
“Yes, I am, and don’t you forget it, mister!”
When he finally broke the intense hug and stepped back, his smile faded away. “I’m going home. I want to see if Crystal came back. She promised she’d stay home tomorrow; her mom and I are going to see about getting her into a rehab clinic.”
“You’re still coming to dinner, right?” she urged. “We’re eating in Fredericksburg, not San Antonio, so you won’t have to drive back here afterwards. I think everyone wants to go to the Ancient Mariner.”
That hurt, but he forced a bright smile. “Are you kidding me? I’ll definitely be there. I think Jeff still owes me twenty bucks, and I’m going to collect!”
They shared a laugh and another warm kiss, and he found himself enjoying their new intimacy. But eventually he made it past the throngs of people, and out to the parking lot. Worry coursed through him as he stowed his rented cap and gown in his trunk, and began the long drive home.
Crystal obviously didn’t care about him anymore, or she would have showed up today. How hard would it have been for her to just make an appearance?
It’s over, dude. You did everything you could to keep your marriage together, but Crystal isn’t the same woman you married. Get her into rehab, get divorced, and move on.
He was angry and hurt, but fear was nudging its way into the mix, too. What if Crystal was hurt, or in danger? Where was she? Was she okay? If she wasn’t at the trailer, had Darla heard from her?
He realized now what Darla had meant when she’d said that living with an addict was a never-ending worry-fest. He checked his phone again. No messages, no texts, no e-mails. She hadn’t reached out to him at all.
He stepped on the accelerator, and pushed his car faster.
God, I hope you’re okay, Crystal.
Raven lay still, letting her masseuse’s warm hands spread oil over her body. She loved getting massages, and had a standing weekly appointment at a beautiful uptown salon that served champagne while her nails were being done.
I want to look good for my man, she thought happily. And I deserve it. I have to deal with those stupid bitches every day.
She had everything—a good-looking husband who was not only a Blades’ patched member, but now second in command of the entire club. He made an obscene amount of money running the club’s Meth operation. And she made sure all the girls knew it. She wanted them to be jealous and fearful of her.
It keeps them in line. Otherwise they’d sit around and smoke Meth all day. Fuckin’ whores.
“Relax, ma’am,” the masseuse said quietly. “I can feel your back muscles tensing.”
She took a deep breath, and forced herself to relax.
“That’s better.”
Two hours later, she stepped out of the salon feeling refreshed and relaxed. Then she spotted a woman standing next to the gleaming Mercedes SUV Shane had bought her, and frowned. What the fuck? Is that Isabella? What does that bitch want?
Isabella looked scared when she stomped up, and had a hard time meeting her eyes.
“What the fuck do you want, Isabella?” she snapped.
“I’m so sorry for bothering you!” the younger woman stammered. “One of the delivery girls has been arrested!”
“What?”
“Yes. I thought you should know immediately.”
Mollified, Raven yanked out her cell phone and began punching numbers. “Good thinking,” she muttered, and didn’t see Isabel’s lips curve into a vicious smile…or the van slowly pull out of a nearby parking space and drive over to her.
She finally glanced up when it stopped right behind her, and the door swung open. “What the…”
Isabel pushed Raven hard. She lost her balance and tried to scream, but the men in the van clamped rugged hands over her mouth and dragged her inside. The door slammed shut. Isabel glanced casually around. No one was in sight; no one had seen Raven’s abduction.
She laughed aloud as she casually meandered back to her car.
Payback’s a bitch, bitch.
Crystal woke up with a splitting headache. The room was spinning wildly around her. She lay back, breathing deeply, and clutched the side of the bed, praying she wouldn’t throw up.
Every muscle in her body ached, and she could barely move. It took several moments for her to realize she was in Jingles’ condo…and not in the bedroom, but the living room. She was gripping a couch cushion.
What the fuck?
Carefully she managed to sit up, and choked back a groggy moan. How had she gotten here?
Gradually it all started coming together. Jingles had taken her out last night. It had been a wild, fun evening. They’d started at his club, then moved to another club downtown, and then another club, before finally ending at his condo.
Oh, yeah, a real fun night!
He’d kept her close most of the night. Then, just before they’d left the second club, another girl had joined them. She’d been hot and sexy, but Crystal couldn’t remember her name. Sherrod had been with her, and that had confused her until Sherrod had told her he’d broken off with Dulce.
Sherrod and she had never gotten along well, but last night he’d been charming. When he’d apologized profusely for being a jerk, she’d forgiven him. Sherrod and his new girlfriend had come back to the condo with them…
And everything after that was a little hazy.
She remembered being naked with the hot girl, and loving it. “Oh, my God,” she whispered, and buried her face in her hands. “No, I didn’t.”
And not just naked, she recalled with an embarrassed blush; she’d been on top of the other girl, kissing her passionately, when someone had penetrated her from behind. She’d thought it was Jingles, and had eagerly pushed back, impaling herself on that amazing cock. But it hadn’t been Jingles. Sherrod had been gripping her shoulders as he’d vigorously thrust into her.
The other girl had started licking and biting Crystal’s sensitive nipples, and she’d cried out in stunned delight. Sherrod had continued fucking her until they’d both come hard together. It had been hot, exciting, powerfully erotic…and she’d enjoyed every second of it.
She’d been afraid Jingles was mad, but he’d only winked at her, then started ravishing the other girl. She’d stared in amazement as jealousy, elation, and hot lust had tangled together in her reeling mind. Then Sherrod had pulled her on top of him, and she’d forgotten all about Jingles as she’d enthusiastically fucked him again.
She didn’t remember much after that point.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
Cautiously she glanced around the condo. It was a mess. The other girl was sprawled naked near Sherrod; Jingles was nowhere in sight. She managed to stagger to her feet, then realized she was completely naked, too.
Not only naked, she realized with a jolt, but covered in hickies, weird-shaped bruises, welts, and bite marks.
How had she gotten so marked up?
Some of the marks were long and straight, as if she’d been slapped with a belt. She did vaguely remember getting spanked with some sort of leather paddle the other girl had brought. It had seemed pleasurably kinky at the time, she admitted with an embarrassed smile. Fortunately it looked a lot worse than it felt.
What a wild night! Fuckin’ Meth. I’ve got to cut back!
Wearily she shook her head, trying to clear it, and made her way into the bathroom. Relieving her bladder and splashing cold water on her face helped her focus a little more.
The mirror revealed more bruises on her back. Someone had written Property of Jingles on her ass in dark ink. She nearly panicked until she ran her fingers over the ink, and realized it wasn’t a tattoo.
A homemade tramp-stamp! Thank God it’s not permanent!
What did I take last night? Meth doesn’t make everything this woozy and hazy. I’ll have to ask Jingles, because I don’t like losing control like I obviously did last night.
I fucked Sherrod at least twice! God, what was I thinking? He was good, though…almost as good as Jingles.
She stepped quietly out of the bathroom, and walked into the master bedroom. Jingles was asleep in bed, alone. She slipped under the covers, and snuggled up to him. Desire began to chase away her hangover as she ran her hands over his body.
I can’t stop wanting him, she thought. He is so fucking sexy!
She was pleasantly surprised to find him rising to the occasion. Grinning, she slid beneath the covers, and took him in her mouth. He jolted awake, and grinned down at her.
“Damn, girl,” he chuckled. “You sure know how to wake your man up!”
She paused long enough to grin back at him. “Damned right…I want to keep my man happy!”
“Well, don’t stop, then! Get to work!”
She obeyed, and felt a warm thrill of pleasure when he finished in her mouth.
She took a few minutes to freshen up, then ran a damp washcloth over her body to remove the ink tattoo and sweat. It wasn’t a full shower, but she felt better when she rejoined him in his bed.
“What the hell did you give me last night?” she asked when he tucked the sheet back around her.
“Meth, and lots of alcohol,” he chuckled.
“Ugh! No more,” she vowed. “I’m sticking to one or the other from now on.”
“Shit, I couldn’t stop you!” he laughed. “I don’t think I ordered you a single drink. You kept hitting on the waitress and ordering drinks so she’d come back to our table!”
“You liar.”
“Honest!” he protested, then laughed again when she buried her face in both hands.
They lay together for a few minutes before he angled his head to look down at her. “You never said anything about liking girls.”
She blushed again. “Yeah, well…consider it a bonus.”
You have no fucking idea how much of a bonus it is! he thought happily. I’ll be sure to mention that to the bidders!
When he didn’t reply aloud, she shyly met his satisfied gaze. “Do you still want me?”
“What the fuck kind of question is that?” he demanded. “Of course I want you! Just try and get away from me now!”
Relieved, she clung to him, and felt her heart overflow with joy. I love him so much…we’re perfect for each other!
They lay in bed together, drifting in and out of sleep, until her bladder protested again. Silently she padded back to the bathroom, being careful not to wake Jingles…then gasped in horror when she spied the kitchen clock. She checked it twice, then rushed to find her phone and triple-check it.
“Shit, shit, shit!” she moaned. “I’m so fucking late! God, I missed it!”
Frantically she gathered up her clothes, and yanked them on. Her street clothes were missing, and so were her panties, so she had to settle for the dress she’d worn last night. It showed all her cleavage and most of her ass. Oh, why hadn’t she brought more clothes over to his condo?
Even her regular shoes had vanished. Reluctantly she tugged on her clear plastic stripper spikes. God, I look like a fucking streetwalker, she fumed. But if I hurry, once I’m in my car, no one will notice.
She tried to wake Jingles, but he was totally unconscious. Swearing, she left him a note and a text message. He’d get one or the other, and she’d call him when she got home.
Okay, let’s get it over with. Hurry, hurry, hurry!
She summoned what was left of her dignity, and rode the elevator downstairs. She had to pull her dress down constantly so that it covered at least some of her ass as she walked quickly through the lobby. The stares she received ranged from lustful to scornful.
The valet gave her a slow once-over and a devilish grin before whistling and motioning toward the nearest cab. Fortunately it was parked nearby, so it was a very short walk.
There’s a reason they call it the walk of shame, she thought as her high heels clicked loudly on the sidewalk. It won’t happen again!
The cabbie shot her the same lecherous grin as the valet attendant. She slipped into the back seat, gave him the address and a wad of cash, and asked him to hurry. Then she leaned back, closed her eyes, and prayed that the ride would be over quickly.
When they finally reached Jingles’ club, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her car was still safely in the parking lot. “Wait here,” she ordered the cabbie, then hurried over and tried to start it. The engine had been acting up lately, and she didn’t want to get stuck here if it refused to run.
“Thank you, I’m good!” she called back when it fired right up.
He ignored her dismissive wave, and walked over. The lewd expression on his face made her skin crawl, and she quickly closed her door. “Yes?”
His skin was dark, and his teeth were yellow. She wanted to retch when he leaned down and winked at her. “I was wondering how much you charge,” he sneered. “I’d really like to fuck you. We can do it in my cab.”
Her mouth dropped open in blank shock.
“Yeah, baby, you know what I’m talking about!” he added, leering at her deep cleavage. Quickly he unbuckled his belt, then yanked his zipper down. “I got cash here, and no one’s around. Suck me off first, and then follow me over to my cab. But take your dress off—I want to see you walk naked. Let’s go, bitch!”
She snapped out of her stunned trance. “Get the fuck away from me!” she screeched. “I’m not a fucking prostitute, and if you touch me, I’ll call the fucking cops!” She looked frantically for her purse, found it, and thrust it out like a shield.
“Sorry, baby!” he sputtered, and quickly zipped his pants again. “My mistake.”
She didn’t stop to think; her tires squealed as she threw the car into gear and peeled out of the lot. Her heart raced, and her hands shook on the steering wheel, as she turned onto the highway. It wasn’t until she’d reached the outskirts of San Antonio, and constant glances in the rearview mirror assured her that she wasn’t being followed, that her tensed nerves began to relax.
I want Tim.
No, she thought quickly. Jingles. I want Jingles. Jingles is my future, and he knows how to deal with guys like that cabbie. Tim would just get his ass kicked. Jingles can protect me.
She sucked in another deep breath, and focused on the road home.
Home? Where’s home? She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. Tim will let me stay in the trailer until Jingles and I sort things out. If he won’t, Mom will let me crash at her place for a while. Besides, it’ll be nice to spend some time with her. Who knows? She might even like Jingles.
She made it home safely, and sighed with relief when she found the driveway empty. Thank God I’ll be able to clean up before I see Tim!
She raced into the house, hoping none of her neighbors were peeking out their windows, and headed right into the bathroom.
The steaming shower eased her taut muscles, and her headache began to fade. Ah, this is much better. I’ll get through this weekend…and once it’s over, I’ll start my life with Jingles. Wish I had a hit of Meth, just a little one.
Sighing, she closed her eyes, and luxuriated under the hot spray. It always relaxed her neck and back, which were really tight after today’s encounter with the cabbie.
Oh, well, she thought with a facetious grin. It’s the price you pay when you’re as hot as me.
Now that she was safe, she realized that she’d probably overreacted. The encounter hadn’t been as bad as she’d originally thought, and she’d handled it well. She needed to toughen up, anyway. Jingles needed a woman who could handle herself and still look gorgeous.
She smiled, then felt another Meth craving start building inside her. The light pressure, she knew, would grow and grow until it was unbearable… But she’d made it through her week of hell. She was back with Jingles, and back with Meth. Life was good.
“Jesus Christ! What the fuck happened to you?”
Tim’s horrified shout snapped her around, and her ears rang as the harsh sound reverberated around the tiny bathroom. In an instant, her headache flared back so savagely that she couldn’t think, couldn’t even hear his enraged bellows as he demanded, “What happened to you? Who did this to you? Were you beaten?”
She lifted a hand in protest. “Wait…stop shouting! Just wait a second!”
“Fuck this…I’m calling the cops!”
“Tim, give me a second, please!” she begged.
He was clenching the plastic shower curtain so tightly that it was starting to rip beneath his whitened fingers. He stared at her with burning eyes as she pressed her shaking hands against her temples. “Just give me a second,” she repeated, breathing deeply as another nauseating craving rippled through her.
“Crystal…”
“Enough!” Her nerves snapped, and she raged, “Just get the fuck out of here! Jesus! Leave me alone!”
They glared daggers at each other for one more tense moment. Then he swore under his breath and stalked out, slamming the door so loudly that her head spun again. She could hear his furious voice above the drumming shower as he slammed the bedroom door, too.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Crystal heaved a sigh, shut off the water, and stepped out of the shower. No wonder he was angry, she mused, glancing in the mirror again. Each bruise stood out in livid fury against her pale skin. Quickly she dried, then wrapped the towel around her body and hurried into the bedroom. The trailer was so silent that she wondered if he’d left.
She chose clothing that covered her from head to toe, and only left the hickies on her neck visible. Then she pulled her hair into a ponytail, and ventured out to the living room.
Time to face the music, she thought tiredly. Might as well get it over with.
He was in the kitchen, whispering heatedly into his phone. When he saw her, his eyes narrowed. He finished the conversation with, “…call you later tonight. I promise. Yes. I promise.” Then he snapped the phone closed, and turned to face her.
Anger was still sparking in his eyes and the tense set of his back and shoulders, but he’d calmed down some. Thankfully she settled onto the couch, and motioned for him to join her. “We have to talk,” she said quietly.
He glared at her for several seconds, then moved into the living room and perched on the opposite chair.
“I’m sorry,” she began. “I’m really sorry I missed your graduation. I did want to be there…I even took the seating ticket with me last night before I left for work. I’m sorry you saw me in the shower, too. I guess I’m sorry about a lot of things,” she sighed, shaking her head.
He continued to stare at her in cold silence.
“Please talk to me…”
“What do you want me to say?” he retorted, and fury dripped from every word.
She shrank a little. “Just tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Fine.” Their marriage was clearly over…what did he have to lose? “I think you’re a drug-addicted stripper. A Meth-head. I think you’ve been fucking someone behind my back for a long time. I also think he treats you like shit!” He gestured contemptuously at the marks still visible on her throat. “I think you’re in way over your head, but you can’t—or won’t—see it. Finally, I think you can’t wait to end our marriage so you can go back to whoever you’re fucking, and get more drugs.”
He’d never spoken to her that way before, and shock made tears flood her eyes. Humiliation followed, because every single word was true. “You don’t understand,” she protested, vainly wiping her face. “Things have just changed…”
“You’re right,” he snapped, before she could continue. “I don’t understand why you started stripping in the first place. I don’t understand why you’d use drugs at all, but especially that poison! I damned sure don’t understand how you could sleep with someone behind my back when I’m killing myself to make our lives better! I don’t understand how you could be so cold to me over the last six months when I was obviously trying to fix things between us.” His voice broke slightly, but he managed to finish, “I don’t understand how you could treat me like shit when I’m the one man who’s loved and respected you.
“You’re damned right, I don’t understand.” He glared at her, and felt another piece of his heart fracture.
He was right…oh, God, he was right about everything! Crystal nearly broke down and wept. Then anger came to her rescue, gave her the strength to face him. “Fuck you!” she snarled. “I may have fucked up, but you’re part of the problem, too! You just won’t admit it!”
That shocked him into gaping at her. “How the fuck am I the problem?”
Furiously she rose and began pacing back and forth across the tiny living room. “What do you think I did while you worked and went to college? Nothing! I had nothing to do, no friends…and no husband, because you were always at college, or studying! I had nothing for me! Nothing but an empty trailer, and a few stolen minutes with my part-time husband. I had a life, Tim, but I wasn’t living! I tried to explain that to you, but you never listened!”
“Crystal…”
“Shut the fuck up!” She rounded on him so abruptly that he obeyed. “It’s my turn to talk!
“All you cared about was yourself! Your job, your college, your future! You never asked me what I wanted for our future! You just assumed that I’d want whatever you did. It never even occurred to you to ask me! Did it?”
Of course he had…hadn’t he?
“Asshole,” she concluded, and stomped into the kitchen for a soda.
“You’re wrong.” Furiously he launched to his own feet. “Fine, I could have included you more. But that doesn’t excuse your behavior, not by a long shot! Stripping, drug use, fucking around behind my back! I thought you were done with being a whore!”
Her eyes bugged, and she slammed the soda down on the counter. An instant later, her hand connected sharply with his cheek. “Fuck you!” She whirled away, then spun back and slapped him again. “Maybe if you’d paid just a little attention to me, this wouldn’t have happened!”
He just stood there, staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. Suddenly ashamed, she sank back down onto the couch. “I wanted your attention,” she whispered, twisting her hands together. “I needed to be first in your life. But you cast me aside for some books. You left me alone all the time. Alone!”
He leaned against the wall, and tried to sort out his feelings. A lot of what she’d said was true, he realized, but couldn’t she understand he was doing it for both of them?
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I started dancing…”
“Stripping,” he interrupted harshly. “Be honest with yourself at least once!”
“Whatever!” she shot back. “I was having fun, and you know what? I was good at it! I was the most successful dancer in the place, and I made a lot of money. Finally I had something I was good at, something that was mine! And I wasn’t just good, I was great! It gave me something to be proud of!”
Then she narrowed her eyes, and glared at him. “Well, I was proud until I saw my husband each day,” she amended with bitter hatred. “The man who was supposed to love, honor, and cherish me until death do us part. That man made me feel dirty, embarrassed, and ashamed of being a stripper. It wasn’t in his plan. It wasn’t good enough for the future accountant! I wasn’t his wife anymore…I was his secret, and he didn’t want anyone to know what I did at night.”
“That’s not true,” he muttered, but knew he was lying even as he said it.
“Bullshit!” she shot back. “It is true, and you know it!”
They glared at each other, both filled with self-righteous anger. But as the silence dragged on, wounded emotions began to ache.
“Drugs,” he finally exclaimed. “Meth. What the hell, Crystal?”
She heaved a dramatic sigh. “I’ve told you before, I’ve got it under control. I’m a better person when I take Meth…and honestly, it’s none of your business.”
“Better? None of my business? Are you serious? You sound like those addicts who post their life stories on the addiction websites I’ve been reading!” he sneered. “They all say Meth made them better, more productive, and more fun to be around…” He hesitated for a moment, then doggedly continued, “…until it ended. It’s a great ride, but it always ends!”
“You’re exaggerating. Have you ever tried Meth?”
“Of course not. I’m not crazy.”
She flashed him a triumphant smile. “Then you don’t have the first fucking clue, do you?”
“Neither do you,” he insisted. “You sound just like an addict…because you are an addict!”
“Fuck you.”
“It’s Shane, isn’t it?”
His sudden question caught her off guard, and she stared at him with wary suspicion. “Shane? What’s he got to do with anything?”
“He’s your connection. Your source. Your dealer. Whatever it’s called.” Angrily he jabbed a finger at her. “Shane’s your source for Meth, isn’t he? And he’s probably the guy you’re fucking too!”
“No! You’re wrong, and leave Shane out of this discussion! Leave him the fuck alone—and leave the whole issue of Meth alone, too! I don’t get it from him, and I haven’t slept with him in years. Tim, just leave it alone!” she begged.
“I can’t do that.” It had taken him a lot of soul-searching, but he’d made his decision and he wasn’t budging from it. “Our marriage may be over, but I’m damned if I’ll leave you while you’re addicted to drugs. I won’t do that to you…I won’t attend your funeral and know I could have done something to help you. I want to talk to Shane, and tell him to leave you alone. We used to be friends, so maybe he’ll listen to me. I’m sure he’d rather talk to me than the police.”
Shane would mop up the floor with him, and then kick the bloody fragments into the gutter. Urgently she laid both hands on his shoulders. “Tim, listen to me, please! Do not get involved with Shane! Leave it alone. I’m serious. Look, we both agree our marriage is over, so just drop it. I’ll be okay. You’re not Superman, and I don’t need rescuing.”
Instead of backing down, his resolve only strengthened. She saw it in his eyes, and wanted to groan with despair. He wouldn’t let it go; he couldn’t. He saw this as a situation where the woman he’d loved since childhood needed his help. It was touching and endearing…but monumentally stupid.
“I can’t,” he said simply. “So you can either tell me where to find him, or I’ll tell the police. Either way, I’m tackling this situation head-on. It doesn’t matter that you’re divorcing me. I already knew that was coming. I’m not going to leave you while you’re clearly addicted to drugs and in a really bad situation. Look at yourself, Crystal!” he implored, raking both hands through his hair to keep from reaching for her. “You’re covered in bruises and welts!”
“Oh, I am not. It’s only a few bruises; you know how delicate my skin is. Quit being so dramatic. Besides,” she added quietly, “if you involve the police, I could get arrested.”
“You won’t, though it would probably be the best thing for you,” he retorted. “It’d get you off the streets, out of strip clubs, and off Meth! You need to be in rehab, Crystal. Maybe getting arrested will get you the treatment you need.”
She stared at him in angry disbelieve. “Are you really that stupid? Prison? This isn’t a fucking movie!”
“I know it’s not! But I’m not going to stand by while you throw your life away! God help me,” he sighed, shaking his head, “I still love you too much to see you do this to yourself.”
The argument had intensified her headache, and that was making her Meth cravings worse. Agitation swept through her as she began pacing again, trying to think of a solution that would keep Tim safe, but get him off her back.
“I’m going to call the police and let them investigate,” he decided when she spun around again, looking frazzled and panicked. “I’m going to tell them Shane is selling you drugs, and I think he assaulted you. One look at your body, and they’ll agree with me. You need help, Crystal.” His voice gentled when she paled. “Please let me help you.”
He reached for the phone, but she quickly blocked him. “Wait,” she insisted, “just wait.” Air shuddered into her lungs. “Let me call Shane. I’ll see if we can set up a discussion—a private discussion.”
“All right.” He’d bend that far. A private meeting would be preferable, anyway; he didn’t want to drag the cops into this unless it was absolutely necessary.
She fumbled in her purse for her own phone, then shot him a look over her shoulder. “Let me speak to him alone. It’ll only take a second, and I’ll be right back.”
Renewed anger began to kindle in his veins. “Fine.” He glanced at his watch. “If you’re not back here in five minutes, I’m on the phone with the police.”
She marched back to the bedroom, and locked the door. Then she swiftly called Jingles, and restlessly tapped her foot while his phone rang.
Four rings, five rings…voicemail. “Shit!” she muttered, then burst out, “Jingles! Baby, I really need your help. Tim’s threatening to call the police and tell them Shane’s a Meth dealer! God, I’m so scared! I’m calling Shane next, honey. I need to warn him. Call me when you get this message, please?”
Shane’s newest number was saved in her phone’s memory; she checked the time, then quickly dialed it. “Yeah.” His voice was cold and abrupt. “What do you want, Crystal?”
“Shane, I need your help really bad!”
“What the fuck is going on? Why don’t you call Jingles?”
“It’s Tim!” she blurted, then added, “He thinks you’re a drug dealer and you’ve been selling me Meth. I’ve tried so hard to explain to him that he’s wrong, but he won’t listen! He’s threatening to go to the police! I did try to call Jingles, but he didn’t answer!”
Shane swore viciously for several moments, then regained control of his fury. “Okay. Has he called the police yet?”
“No.”
“Are you sure, Crystal? This is important.”
“Absolutely sure,” she said emphatically. “I’d know, Shane. He hasn’t spoken to the police.”
“Fine. Okay. I’m going to text you with the time and place I’ll meet you both tonight. Got it?”
“Yes, I’ve got it.” Then she blurted, “Please don’t hurt him, Shane. Please!”
“Just bring him, Crystal. Can you fucking do that?”
“Yes.”
“And Jingles doesn’t know any of this, right?”
“I left him a voicemail. I just told him Tim thought you were my Meth dealer.”
“Good. That’s fine. Don’t call him again. I’ll handle it from here, understood?”
“Yes.”
“Go calm your fucking husband down…and if he calls the police, I want to know about it immediately. I’m not kidding.”
“Don’t worry, Shane. I’ll call you right away.”
“Good.” He hesitated for a moment, then added a reassuring note to his voice. “Listen, I’m just going to talk to him. Since he hasn’t gone to the police, we still have some options. Things don’t have to get ugly. Worst case, I might scare him a little. Okay?”
“Okay.” She gulped at the icy knot of fear half-choking her, and nodded. “Thank you, Shane.”
“Bye.”
She checked the bedroom clock as she hung up, and felt another cool wave of relief. Both calls had only taken three minutes.
Shane would explain everything to Tim. She’d divorce him, and then they could go their separate ways. Jingles would take care of her, and soon all this would just be a bad memory.
“All set,” she exclaimed brightly when she returned to the living room. “Shane’s going to meet us tonight. He’ll talk to you about this whole mix-up, and you’ll see he’s not a drug dealer. I’m embarrassed that you’d even think it of him. He used to be our friend, remember?”
Tim clenched his teeth. “I’m not sure he was ever our friend, Crystal.”
She ignored his dour comment, and beamed when her phone chimed with the time and location for their meeting. “Listen, we have some time,” she said cheerfully. “I’m going to go take a nap, and then we’ll leave to meet Shane. Once we’re finished, why don’t we grab something to eat at the Ancient Mariner, and talk about where to go from here?”
She kissed his cheek, just as if they were still blissfully in love, and headed back to the bedroom. He watched her go, bemused by her erratic mood swings.
Classic addiction behaviors, he thought sadly. Even if Shane isn’t her dealer, Darla and I need to get her into rehab this weekend. She can’t continue on this way without a really bad ending. I’ll talk to Shane, and make sure he leaves her alone. Not just today, but permanently.
Her phone chimed again, indicating a missed phone call, and he checked the display. A missed call from “J.”
Who the fuck is J?