Page 49 of Hello, Listener
Jace stands in the same spot for several minutes, shivering with his hand in his pockets. His head raises when he notices a black car with tinted windows drive by slowly before stopping altogether. He reluctantly walks up to the mystery car and taps on the blacked-out windows. He continues to look around, raising my suspicion even more. Slowly, I walk closer, while still staying in the darkness of the alley.
“Yeah, just the one bag today.” His body continues to shiver under the light. His eyes avert to his surroundings and then back down to the car. The mysterious driver takes his money and exchanges it for a small sandwich bag of white powder. He stuffs the small bag into the pocket of his light denim jacket and nods to the man in the passenger seat.
Is that fucking cocaine?! Absolutely fucking not. There is no way he is bringing that shit around Thalia. If he gets caught with that, that’s his fucking problem. If he got caught with Thalia around, that’s another fucking story. There is no way I am visiting my girl in jail.
After watching the car drive further away, Jace takes out the tiny bag and examines the contaminants. He moves itaround in a way a scientist would to get a better view of the contents in a test tube. He shoves it back in his pocket and heads on his way into the dark and empty alley. I follow far behind, shaking my head at his dumb fucking choices.
Damn, it’s cold outside.
I grip my coat closed across my chest as much as I can. The frigid wind is a bitch even when I walk through the alley between The Neon Rose and the small boutique that you see those little old ladies go into from time to time. It’s kind of an interesting spot to put a clothing store, next to a bar. But what the hell, everyone is looking for a dollar these days. Maybe they thought they would get more business in this part of town.
It’s weird walking through this alley. It seems so much colder than it did before the night of the murder of the guy with the dumbass neck tattoos. The small space sends a whole feeling of uneasiness through me. I stop myself before I reach the dark green dumpster just a few feet ahead of me.That’s where they found him. God, I would’ve hated to be him that night.
Quickly, I turn around at the sound of footsteps against the wet concrete behind me.Fuck no. I need to get the hell out of here.I do my best to try to make my way around the dumpster before whoever or whatever the hell is behind me catches up.
“Jace, right?” I hear just a few feet behind me.Fuck.
“Uhh,who the fuck is asking?” I ask with my hands on my hips.How does this fucker know who the hell I am, and why did he follow me?
“Sorry,” I hear laughter in his tone. “I’m Alan, Lee’s friend. You remember, don't you? I left with Thalia the other night.” He pulls down his black hood and walks closer.Why is he here so late? Isn’t it a little bit weird to just be walking around here at this time of night?
“Sorry, I thought I saw you walking around back. Just making sure everything is okay.” He takes another step.
“I’m fine.” I laugh nervously. “Just about to hail a cab home.” I stuff my hands into my pockets and turn towards the sidewalk. It’s getting late, and I need to take this shit home before I get caught with it.I cannot go to jail.
“Nonsense, I can take you home.” Alan continues to close the distance between us. “My car is just across the street.” He points at his silver Lexus.Rich motherfucker.
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind waiting.”Bitch, I don’t know you.I walk closer to the curb, trying to create distance between us.
“You sure?” He asks, still trying to close in the space. “I could save you a few bucks.”Damn, he’s got a point. No, Jace. This is how you get murdered.
“No, I’m good.” I turn to face the road.
“Please, Iinsist.”
I must have blacked out because now I am God knows where, and my head hurts like a fucking bitch. My eyelids slowly flutter open, and the pounding in my head gets worse every time I turn my head. I try to move my body, but my wrists are tied together behind my back.What the fuck? Are these zip ties?I‘m tied to what feels like one of those metal folding chairs, and each ankle is tied to the front legs of the chair.
My blurry vision comes in spots. I can barely tell what's in front of me, and I’m blinded by a bright lamp. Between blinks, bits and pieces of the room become clear.
The room is cold and mostly empty, but whoever the fuck tied me up put me in front of some kind of metal shelf. I squint to try to make out the items on separate rows. Each one has someone’s name next to it on an index card.What the hell? Is that a jar of… eyes? This is some kind of fucked up Saw shit. I need to get out of here.
Through my pounding headache,I look around the room, the best I can, to come up with a plan to escape. I subtly move my body to try to get a look at every angle. The metal chair creaks from under me.Shit.
“Jace. You’re awake.” I hear his voice behind me. His tone is different from the last few times I had seen him at the bar. It’s more menacing, and it sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. He’s sitting in a metal chair of his own.How long have I been here? How long has he sat there just studying me? What the hell was he doing while he was waiting for me to regain consciousness?I move my whole head to watch Alan get up from his seat and kneel in front of me. He has that fucking metal bar in his large hands.Where did he get that?His green eyes look into mine, and he smirks.Fucking smirks. Bitch, is this funny to you?
“Yeah. You mind telling me what the fuck this is all about?” I give a small laugh and look down at the chair I’m tied to.Try to act cool, Jace. He has a metal bar in his hand.
“Oh, that.” He smiles. “Just a precaution, really.”
“Precaution? For what, may I ask?” I raise my voice.
“Well, for me,” he pauses, “yourself… and well, Thalia.” He takes the metal bar and passes it between his hands.
“Thalia? What the fuck does shehave to do with all of this?”
“It haseverythingto do with Thalia. All of this does.” He uses the potential weapon in his hand as he motions to the room around them.This fucker is crazy.
“Okay, what does it have to do with me?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
