Page 8 of One Tough Love

On Monday she had to go to motor vehicle to replace her license. The bank had already issued her a temporary debit card that morning, her new debit card and new credit card were going to be mailed to her. The bank manager told her there had been no activity linked to her account, which Jo thought strange. She had had fifty dollars in her wallet so maybe that had been enough for the darn thief.

She had reluctantly texted her sister and her Mom telling them that she’d lost her purse and they both chastised her for carelessly leaving it in her unlocked car. Jo hadn’t wanted to worry her family so she had made up that story. She was actually surprised that they had believed her. Jo still had to get her car's air conditioning fixed, but that would have to wait until she had a job.

When Jo had heard she was going to be laid off she realized she would need to bring in some cash for her every day expenses. She had a little in her savings account so she was going to be okay for a few months, but she knew she needed to find something, even if it was dog walking or babysitting. Luckily the day after Henry had delivered the bad news, Jo had seen an advertisement in her own paper that a local sports bar, T.U.F’s was looking for a singer. It was only for a few hours on a Friday night. The time slot started at 10:00pm and when she asked why it was so late the bar’s manager, Jill, had explained that because it was a sports bar they wanted her to sing after all the local teams had gone off the air. The pay was 200 dollars plus tips and she was only singing until midnight so Jo took the job.

She’d never sung for money before, but she knew she could do it. She and her sister had sung before large audiences at a few fairs and once they had sung at a town picnic. Her sister sang every Saturday night at a local bowling ally near her home. Jo had picked her brain and together they had come up with a song list that Jo was comfortable with.

Jo reached the lake and sang along with her music that included some of the songs she would sing on Friday night. The sun sparkled off the large body of water and Jo watched a boat pulling a large tube behind it in its wake, jostling three kids as they hung on. Jo smiled remembering her childhood summers spent on Lowe Lake in Pennsylvania.

Jo completed her second loop and was thoroughly drenched in sweat. Her muscles were sore, but it was the kind of sore she relished and made her feel good about herself. The sun had begun to dip behind the trees and Jo left the shaded trail and began the half-mile jog back to her home. Her mind was pre-occupied deciding what outfit she was going to wear for Friday night's gig so it wasn’t until she was at her walkway that she noticed the white paint that was splattered all over her blue Mazda.

Jo ran towards her car taking out her ear buds. Someone had thrown an entire paint can at her car. The can lay on the ground next to a tire and there was a large dent on the hood where it must have been initially landed after being thrown. The thick white paint coated the hood of her car and veins of white paint were sliding down the driver’s side, pooling on the black pavement.

Jo looked up and down her street, but she didn’t see anyone. She called Nick and was sent to his voice mail. The Police in her town did not treat her much better that the ones in Morgis did. They were a blue wall and she was the villain that had cut down their brethren. Jo hated phoning it in, but she knew she had too. After placing the call she took pictures of the mess. Angry tears threatened to spill down her face, but when the black and white police cruiser pulled in behind her parking space, she clenched her eyes tightly shut willing them away.

A young officer stepped from the car along with his more veteran partner. The younger officer was diligently asking her questions, even making sure she was all right. The older officer simply leaned back against his cruiser and watched. The young officer took pictures, but when he tried to take the paint can for evidence the older officer called him over and spoke to him quietly. Jo watched as the young officer walked back to her.

“Umm well I think we have everything Ms. Ross.”

“Are you going to take the paint can?” She asked. “Maybe you can get finger prints.”

“No, my partner says too many other people have probably touched it and it would be a waste.”

Jo nodded knowing the blue wall had once again closed in on her.

“Ms. Ross you will need to call your insurance company. I’ll file the report and you can come get a copy of it on Tuesday.”

“Thank you Officer Cook.” She had read his nameplate.

The young officer smiled at her. Jo knew he was going to get an ear full when he got in the car and she almost felt sorry for him.

When the officers had left Jo placed a call to her insurance company and then went inside to email them the pictures she had taken. She returned outside and gathered the paint can in a

plastic food bag. She knew the paint was not going to be easily removed and she called the insurance company back to ask if she should clean it. Their twenty-four hour emergency service told her it would be best if she could leave everything as is. They were sending an agent over first thing Monday morning.

Jo went back inside and slammed her front door closed totally frustrated. Her good luck was supposed to start, not another bad thing. Then she grimaced thinking that she was due two more bad come-uppances now. Jo kicked the couch and her big toe slammed against the furniture's wooden legs. As she hopped up and down in pain she couldn’t help but giggle. Vandalized car and possible broken toe; now she only had one more bad thing to look forward to.

Jo limped to a kitchen chair and sat down. The little girl in her wanted to talk to her parents, so she called them to vent. Her father was very concerned and her Mom immediately proposed that she move home. A couple months ago a brick had been thrown through her window and now paint had been thrown on her car, they were worried. Jo managed to abate their fears and changed the subject by telling them about her singing gig that she had coming up on Friday. Her parents were both musically inclined were delighted for her and they spent the next half hour listening to her choice of song arrangements and giving their input.

Chapter 6

Wes

Wes' Sunday had been spent working on the security detail for Ms. Lola. Her publicist had sent Wes a schedule so he could coordinate the security for the beautiful film star for when she was on and off the set. He had assembled eight persons, teams of two, who would rotate being with her throughout the day and night. Everything had to be coordinated through Leena Adair, her publicist.

Wes had personally walked through the hotel and her suite noting any possible security risks. He had made numerous suggestions to one of Ms. Adair’s aides who had accompanied him, and she had dutifully written notes that she would give to Ms. Adair.

This job was going to be a tough one. Ginger Lola was one of those movie stars that attracted the crazies. She was a handful herself. She had been arrested a year ago for having drugs on her person, but she was not indicted because one of her friends came forward and claimed that they were hers. More recently she had been in the news for assaulting a photographer. Tabloids loved following her because she was always getting into trouble. She was a partier and loved hanging out until dawn at clubs. Wes hated that his team was going to have to keep her out of harms way in the clubs. He knew it was trouble just waiting to happen. He had explained to Leena that he needed as much advance notice as possible before Ginger went out anywhere, and he hoped that the mischievous diva didn't hit the clubs too often while she was in town.

After a long day Wes headed his car towards his home. When he turned the radio on, the song that Jo and her sister had been singing on YouTube was playing. A smile settled on Wes’ lips as he remembered how cute the two girls had looked on stage, and how good they had sounded. Wes decided it was an omen telling him to do another little drive by her home; just to check on her. He had not forgotten about the other car that had been furtively hidden on her street, so Wes was alert as he drove down her quiet road.

Wes slowed his car as he rolled towards her townhouse. He saw that her car was still parked in the same spot that it had been on Friday night. Then he saw the hood of her car. Someone had doused it with what he assumed was white paint. Wes had to struggle to keep his car moving as he passed by. His gut was demanding that he go find her and ask what the hell was happening, but his head prevailed. Wes pulled into the same spot he had been in before. He needed to calm down.

Taking his phone out he sent a text to his friend in the Summit police department.

Don anything filed for 106B Rose Ln?

Wes waited with his phone in hand as he looked up and down the street using his mirrors. Finally his phone pinged.

---