Page 13 of Wishful Thinking

Chapter Nine

The day after the night before

Sal woke withhis hand trembling andhis brain ready to rupture. Sleep had taken place in spurts and the meager pain-relievers he found had done jack shit. He moved into the kitchen and cracked the blinds. The sunlight flooding through blinded him. Feeling the persistent throb, he glanced at his knuckles. Caked with blood and a not-so beautiful shade of purple and dark crimson, he scowled.

“Shit! That assholes’ teeth did a number, but where he’llbe going, he can suck more dick without them. The guys in the big-house will be a fan.” He clicked on the coffeepot, wishing it was espresso instead of the typical java. The knock on the door surprised him. Grabbing a kitchen towel on the way, he draped it around his hand. The cloth felt like sandpaper on the wound and he prayed whoever it was wouldn’t stick around.

Stella stood on the front porch carrying a plate bearing two huge muffins. He felt his belly churn after not eating for the last twelve plus hours and was grateful for nice girls who gifted delicious looking food.

“Hey sunshine, you look like a bag of shit. Late night at the Lug? Heard there wasa good-sized crowd. On a good, but alsoa sour note, Belle got herself into sometrouble. But, a nameless knight in Hawaiian armor saved her from a nasty cretin.” She peered at the hand swathed in the blue and white checked towel.

“Doing dishes? I smell coffee. Can I come in a spell?” Sal moved aside as Stella moved into the living room. She glanced around and set the plate on the kitchen counter. Noting no dishes or soap in the sink, she raised her eyebrows.

“I left the Luglate. The band was great though. Hey, thanks for the muffins. You were right about not chancing the rocks at high tide, cut myself upgood trying. Won’t make that mistake again” He lifted the plate with his good hand and sniffed.

“Mmm… Blueberry, always one of my favorites. How did you know?” Sal took the towel off his hand and walked around Stella. “Do you want half?” Stella laughed.

“Nah, made a whole dozen, thought I’d take some over to Belle this morning to cheerup her mood. Last night some asshole ambushed her,then tried to rape her on the cut-through. Maybe you should take the cut-through next time, if only so you won’t mess up your hands so badly. Strange you only mangled one, though.” Sal realized she wasn’t convinced, but she dropped the subject.

“Anyway, just wanted to give you the gossip. Guess the low-life was a hired hand the Lug brought over to man the beer-truck and stock the shindig. He disappearedhalf-way through the night. Angel’s beyond pissed. He had to cover for themissing shit heel whiletendingto the crowds and bar. No one messes with Angel and gets away with it. Anywho, Stanley heard the brouhaha and went out with his German Shepherd Ginger to investigate. He found Belle semi-conscious. The dickwad was half dying on the ground next to her. The cops hauled him off, but I hear he had a rap-sheet a half-a-mile long back on the mainland. That boys gonna be living off the county dime in lockup for a long time, adding attempted rape to his list. Funny thing is, Stan thought he saw a figure down on the beach moving away from his yard. Don’t figure Belle’s strong enough to whip that guy’s ass on her own, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it once he saw what had happened. So, it’s a mystery, Scooby, maybe we’ll never know? I’m happy someone was there to rescue the princess. If anyone deserves saving, it’s her. Gotta run, just thought I’d drop these off to you. God knows, I may eat the rest myself and my hips don’t need that much encouragement, they’re curvaceous enough without the help.”

She waved and let herself out as Sal peeled back the paper on one of the golden-brown berry dotted concoctions. He fit half in his mouth and chewed. Glad that Belle was safe, he hoped she hadn’t beenscarred by the experience with this new episode and her history. He wasn’t ready to tell Stella the truth. Not wanting to be lauded a hero, but not blowing his cover this soon in the game. If Angel hired the guy, Dick didn’t send him. The big fish was still out there.Sal had a job toperform.Spilling itall wouldn’t help to get it done.

∞∞∞

Belle opened the door after peering through the hole. Stella stood waiting, a quiet smile on her face. Stella brushed past her with a plate piled high with muffins, touching her on the shoulder and nodding. She stopped to pet Sassafras, who stood waiting to see if a snack was heading his way.

“Not this time, sweets. Nothing for you fat pussycat, I’m sorry. How are you feeling today, lady?” she said, glancing at the dark circles beneath Belle’s eyes. Belle yawned and grabbed some napkins and a plate.

“Tired, hurt, famished, weirded-out, all the above, how about you Stella? Damn, I love blueberry, but you knew that, right? I tried to sleep. I dozed off around three but woke with my face throbbing and put ice on it. Once I saw it, I freaked. Who knew a face could turn such an odd color, I’m thinking eggplant, perhaps? Not a shade I wish to wear again on my cheekbone, that’s for sure. The paramedic said it would take a while to heal up. Oh, and I might have a fracture in it so next up will be the rocky raccoon look, said that would take a day to crop up. Good God, I look a fright. NowI have to explain it to Philippe. I think I’ll just tell him I fell tripping over speed-bump again. I don’t want to scare the boy.” Stella nodded and touched her face with her fingers.

“I’ll whip up a batch of salve for you. It doesn’t smell very good, almost as bad as cat farts. Just pre-warning you ahead of time, but it will help. I’ll bring it over later today. I thought the muffins would give you a boost this morning. Did the cops tell you anything about the dirt-bag who did this to you? Belle shook her head and thought about it.

“If they did, I was too much in shock to pay attention. It was late, and Ididn’t want to go to the hospital. I could tell he hadn’t… Well, you know, done the deed, thank God. The whole thing makes me sick. I don’t know what he looked like, but tattoos covered both of hisarms, that much I remembered. A thin ponytail hung over his shoulder, he looked like some kind of freak, that’s all I remember. Oh, and there was another man there. He had a Hawaiian shirt on and was in the shadows. The moon was behind him, but when I saw him I felt safe. Is that strange? I don’t think they were together.” Belle bit into the muffin and looked at Stella.

“Well, all’s well that ends well. You’vegot to go get looked at, that bruise is nasty.” Belle shook her head.

“If it’s a fracture, they can’t do anything about it. They just told me to watch for changes in my eyesight to make sure the retina didn’t get torn or detached. I’m seeing fine, just in pain and tired. So with this glorious muffin, I’ve gotten the famished part covered. I have to shower and start my day. Think I’m gonna hang out here and work on more editing.”

“If you feel up to it, you can stop by later this evening for cocktail hour. Got a new tenant in the blue boy and he’s nice in the looks department, seems about your age. If you are up to it, if not, I understand.” Stella hugged her tight for a minute before releasing her.

“You’re my island mama, and I’m thankful that you take care of me so well. We’ll see about later, depends on how I’m feeling. Not sure if I’m ready for a new guy yet, still working the nightmare variety out of my head.” Stella waved goodbye and slipped out the door as Belle locked up behind her. Sassafras sat in the doorway and licked himself, then followed her in to the living room. She pulled out her laptop and started making notes.

∞∞∞

Sal cleaned up, then headed down to the lug to talk to Angel. He had seen Stella come back from Belle’s, but wasn’t ready to enquire into the wellbeing of a supposed stranger. The walk took a few minutes and Angel was sweeping up the dance floor. He wiped the perspiration off of his brow and peered over at Sal.

“Hey, you are up and at it early. What did you think of the band? Sorry, I didn’t have time to talk last night. Piece of shit shifted out on us half-way through and Lace and I were hustling double-time. The band is interested in playing again, perhaps a Halloween bash. With the continuous flux of visitors down at the resorts, figured I’d make a fat buck again sooner rather than later.”

Sal pulled up a stool and sat down as Angel walked behind the bar. He drew out two beers and popped the tops off. Smiling, he handed Sal one and chugged one down himself.

“What the hell happened to your hand, man? That looks awful. Lot of injured people turning up around here. A local lady was assaulted last night by my rental-hire. Bastard! There was something about him I didn’t trust, but he came cheap. Not knowing if I would take a bath with the price of the band, I went with cheap. Look what it got me.” He held up his hands. His calloused fingers were cracked, two bled slowly. A damaged knuckle was swollen, and Sal detected a superficial scrape on the man’s chin.

“Damn college kid launched an argument with his frat brother, all over Lil. Lacey told me she tried to hit you up last night. Smart fellow that steers clear of her. She’s not a bad girl, just a little too high-strung and messed up with the crowds she keeps. I picked up the battle wounds breaking the struggle up. I hear Belle got jumped heading home by the prick I hired. Shit, if that don’t take the cake. Figured I’d call Stella and see how she’s doing. That young woman is a beauty. I don’t know if you met her yet, or not. They call her the white ghost, with that silver blond mane of hers, stretches down to herhot littleass. Not that I’d be staring at her ass, ha, ok, everybody looks, but no one touches. She’s tight with Lace, and I’m not giving up hope on Lace and I ever working again. We’re like oil and water, but with her employment here, it protects me from having to pay off a boatload of child support. Philippe is a great boy. Never pictured myself a father, but when he came along… Whew, just takes the air out of your sails trying to keep afloat and help. With this bar, not enough time for being a full-time parent, but I manage what I can.”

Sal finished his beer and gazed out at the blue-green sea before him. Dolphins swam a short distance away, and he figured it was a daily occurrence. Lacey came out of the kitchen, her hair tucked away beneath a scarf.

“Hey there, how’s it hanging? At least youmade it throughthenight unscathed. Hell, I didn’t even have time for a drink. Ran out of thecheap beer, too. What’s news?” She glanced at his hand and walked back into the kitchen without waiting for a reply. Emerging a minute later, she held out a ziplock filled with ice.

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