Chapter Six #2
His expression changed. Did he have some humanity in that body of his? He opened his mouth, but the loud, intrusive pounding on the door that vibrated the mirror stopped him from speaking. Margo nearly jumped into Hawkeye’s arms but caught herself.
From the other side of the door came a bellowed, “Are you about done in there, pal? Wipe already.”
Agitation returned to Hawkeye’s expression. “We need to get out of here,” he said to Margo.
She nodded.
What else could she say? They couldn’t set up camp in a public restroom while they solved the mystery surrounding Leo’s death. At some point she had to walk outside and face the facts.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He didn’t have an answer. She’d bank that very seldom did things daze him. This felt almost powerful to her. The man with quick comebacks stalled for words. This made him seem more human to her. “It’s okay to say you don’t know.”
His jaw clicked. “Are you okay to get out of here?”
The question seemed unfitting for the moment. Something told her he didn’t really care if she were okay, he just wanted to get the hell out of the cramped space. He was afraid she would walk out of the restroom and crumble into an emotional puddle. “I’m okay. I really am.”
He didn’t believe her. His gaze settled on her like a blood pressure cuff on a lie detector test.
She sighed. “If you’re asking if I’m ready to throw on a party hat and celebrate, then no, I’m not okay, but under the circumstances I can walk on my own.
I won’t crumble. I told you, I can get through hard things.
” Doubt nestled into her head space, but she refused to feed it.
Her grandmother’s motto Just do. Don’t think.
came to mind. She had the strength of Winnfield blood in her veins.
“Alright.” He shrugged a little then unlocked the door.
The bald, pock-marked man standing on the other side was tapping his expensive loafered-foot impatiently.
“It’s about time—” His words were lost when he sized up Hawkeye.
Even in broad daylight he could be intimidating.
The impatient man’s round cheeks turned red once he saw Margo.
“Couldn’t you two just get a room?” he said in a less demanding tone.
“Excuse us,” Margo said apologetically. She had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from giggling at the look of horror on the man’s face. If he only knew…
Margo kept her head down as she followed Hawkeye through the crowded, noisy room. No one paid them any attention, and she hoped the impatient man wouldn't check the trashcan.
How she envied the patrons ordering their food, going about their day in simplicity.
She’d been thrust into chaos and there was no door to see herself out.
A sliver of bravery propelled her out onto the sidewalk where the streets were alive with a curious crowd.
Death was a magnet to them. Margo wanted to run in the opposite direction.
To leave this day behind and wake up in her comfortable bed in her quiet home.
An ambulance had finally arrived, what little good it would do for Leo.
EMTs had gathered around him while a police officer jotted down notes from bystanders.
Would anyone tell the officer that there was a woman with the victim when he was shot?
Would they look back on camera footage from local businesses?
Would the police be looking for her or would they think she was just an unlucky person who caught a dead guy at the crosswalk.
“Don’t look. Keep your head down and keep walking.
” Hawkeye pressed his hand against her back.
The warmth from his touch seeped through the shirt and to her skin.
That simple touch gave her a connection to him that she was starving for in her weak state of mind.
She tried to imagine that this was just any day, they were sightseeing seeing, laughing, and having a wonderful time.
But would she have ever dated a man like Hawkeye?
She’d dated Leo and look at that shitshow.
“Hello, handsome. Something told me you’d be back.” Then the woman in the sequined dress saw Margo and laughed. “Oh, I see. You have a type, don’t you, cowboy?”Margo got a good look at the woman standing outside of the club.
Hawkeye didn’t answer but kept on walking, his hand pressed in the small of Margo’s back possessively. Margo made eye contact with the other woman and for a fleeting moment there was envy in her gaze. She thought Margo and Hawkeye were a couple.
“Friend of yours?” she asked once they were out of earshot.
“Not even close,” he muttered.
They made their way from the scene and Margo let out a squeal when Hawkeye pulled her into an alley. The dank smell of rotting Chinese food from the dumpster filled her nostrils. She wasn’t sure she should be grateful or displeased because she no longer smelled blood.
“Hand me your purse,” Hawkeye demanded.
“Why?” She clutched her purse closer.
“Are you going to question everything I ask?” A muscle ticked in his jaw underneath all that hair.
She suddenly wondered why he wore such a thick, disguising beard.
What was he hiding? Fat cheeks? Pockmarked skin?
No, it couldn’t be possible. He had great skin, from what she could see, and nice bone structure.
They stood there in a stare off.
Hearing a groan, Margo craned her neck, searching through the darkness. She hadn’t noticed the homeless man huddled up under a box. They must have interrupted his nap.
Reluctantly, she dragged her purse off her body and handed it to him.
She watched in bated breath as he opened the zipper and reached inside, fumbling through the sparse contents.
He pulled out a tampon and a condom then stuffed them back inside.
He grinned. “Good to see you’re prepared for everything. ”
“What are you looking for?” she said through a sigh, feeling like her space was invaded.
She watched in complete disbelief as he turned the purse upside down and dumped everything into the dumpster.
“Hey! What are you doing?” She lunged forward but it was too late.
Her belongings were now with sweet and sour chicken parts in the trash.
“Why did you do that?” Her phone. Her personal items. Everything. Gone.
“To keep you safe.”
“You threw everything away.” A headache was coming fast and strong.
“Not everything’s gone.” He lifted her hand and slapped her apartment key and the foil wrapped condom into her palm.
A cocktail of anger and bitterness swarmed through her veins as she looked up at him, imagining throat punching him. “How is throwing away my credit cards and phone keeping me safe?”
“Phones and credit cards can be tracked. Trackers the size of a flea can be hidden in purses.”
“Who do you think you are?” she sputtered incredulously.
“You’re protector,” he said and strolled out of the alley.
She had half a mind to pick up the crushed Coke can at her feet and throw it at his back, but she couldn’t see through the tears that filled her eyes. He just took away her connection with the world.
Groaning, she tossed the condom into the dumpster and gave the can a kick in frustration. The homeless man cursed a blue streak under his breath.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Go or I’m calling the police,” he slurred.
This triggered something in her head. She remembered what Hawkeye had told her back in the restroom.
He wasn’t forcing her to go with him. She could come or go.
It was completely up to her. This nightmare had to end.
She could go to the police. Obviously, Leo had been into something terrifying and this man—an ogre of a man the size of a giant—had just dumped her things into the trash like they were insignificant.
They were to him. She was insignificant to him too.
With a new pep in her step, she walked out of the alley and instead of following Hawkeye, she headed back toward the scene defiantly. She lifted her chin and didn’t look back at the ogre, glad they were no longer together.
Up ahead she saw that Leo’s body was now covered in a white sheet.
The crowd had thinned. Several suited men looked at her as she passed, but she couldn’t see much through their dark sunglasses.
Trepidation crawled down her spine. Warning bells were ringing inside her head.
What did it all mean? That she’d made a mistake by leaving Hawkeye.
The temptation was too strong. She looked over her shoulder, searching for him. She couldn’t find him. Would he come after her? Would he let her go? She couldn’t lower her pride and go back now.
Her hands were shaking as each step towards the officer became heavier and harder.
Leo’s last words echoed through her mind, trust Hawkeye.
Yet, why did she want to be around someone who didn’t have a kind bone in his body?
He himself said to not trust him. Well, she didn’t.
Not after he rudely tossed her things. What if that was his way of isolating her?
The police officer was still taking statements and she waited a few feet away. She half expected Hawkeye to sweep in and drag her away like he did before, but he didn’t.
The officer had spotted her. He had curiosity in his hooded gaze. “Ma’am?”
You’ll be dead by nightfall.
Stick with me and I’ll protect you.
Hawkeye’s words wormed through the cells of her brain. Logic kicked in.
She made a beeline past the officer.
As much as she wanted to reach out to the officer for help, her instincts warned her that no one could be trusted. Not Leo. Not the officers at the scene. And certainly not Hawkeye who’d proven he didn’t have emotions.
She walked to the corner of the street and paused, gaining control over her quivering knees. Where would she go? Of course. Her apartment. That was where she’d find comfort. Mario would help her. He could be trusted.
Then a thought crossed her mind. He wasn’t home. He wasn’t even in Texas.
Margo took a step but didn’t get far when a beefy hand clamped down on her elbow and pulled her hard against him.
She expected to look up and see an enraged Hawkeye but instead she came face-to-face with someone who looked more menacing than Hawkeye.
He wore sunglasses that hid half his face and a cheap suit, smelling strongly of cigarette smoke.
His dark hair was slicked back. He was one of the men she’d spotted back at the scene.
“Excuse me?” She tried jerking her arm out of his grip, but he didn’t let go.
“We need to speak to you, ma’am. You’ll need to answer questions about the victim.”
“Who are you?” And who is “we”? How did they know her and that she knew Leo?
“A detective with the San Antonio PD. You were with the victim when he was shot. We’ll need a statement.”
“Do you have a badge? Some ID?” Something wasn’t adding up.
His mouth became a straight line on his face. She could see that she’d pushed the bounds of his patience. That didn’t take long.
Fear resurfaced in her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I don’t know the victim,” she said firmly and took a step, but he still held her in his grip.
This time his fingers dug into her, trapping her.
She compared this to Hawkeye’s touch. Although she’d angered him, tested his boundaries, he’d never touched her in a hurtful way.
His hand on her back had been gentle and comforting.
It didn’t take a genius to realize she’d made a mistake by walking away.
“Bitch, stop playing games,” the suited man said in a threatening tone.
“If you don’t let me go, I’m going to scream.”
He jerked her closer and bent to say in her ear, “Make one peep and I’ll break your neck before anyone can save you. Understand?” His breath smelled of stale whiskey.
Why hadn’t she trusted Hawkeye? He’d been right. Hell, Leo had been right.