Chapter Two #2
“Who’s in there?” another voice asks.
“Some kid.”
“He’s our new employee. Jules’s replacement,” Charlie snaps. “I told you goons before that she wasn’t here, and now you’ve seen for yourselves. Get out of my shop before I let my husband loose on you all.”
“The bigger they are…” the one still in the storeroom threatens. He’s in a shitty mood, and you can tell that he’s hoping for a fight in the slick way he’s talking. I’ve no doubt the only thing stopping Koko from cutting out his tongue is Charlie.
The other guy clearly knows better too.
“Don’t be stupid, Al. He’ll cut you up before you even raise your fist.”
Al grunts in a huff. “You’re going to let him think you’re scared? Let her threaten you like that?”
“We don’t mess with Koko. Boss’s orders. Just check the freezer and we can get out of their way.” Reason from one of Franz’s men is unexpected, but his fear—or is it respect?—for Koko is a complete surprise. Heavy footsteps retreat, but I know better than to move until it’s safe.
The place falls quiet. I think it’s all over until I hear Mr Reason ask, “What’s your name, kid?”
Ben doesn’t hesitate. “Mickey.” Mouse my head auto-finishes.
“You ever see a girl come in here? Blonde, goes by the name Jules or Juliet?”
“Is she pretty?”
Mr Reason isn’t impressed or amused. “Answer the question.”
“No, Sir. I just started here this week, and if you guys are gonna be coming in and out all the time, I might not be staying. Pretty sure they’re not offering hazard pay.”
“If you see her, call this number and we might see about offering you that hazard pay, alright?”
“Sure. Thanks!” If I didn’t already know Ben was on my side, I’d be worried by the enthusiasm in his voice.
“Koko,” the man drawls, and then I hear the jingle of the back door closing.
“Right! Let’s get this place cleaned and closed. That’s enough for one day!” Charlie says too loudly. Which means they’re hanging around outside.
Although the weave of the sack is loose enough to allow some air through, it gets hot fast. I keep still until I can’t and then risk lifting the bag enough to catch a clean, un-floured breath.
Am I trapped here?
It feels like hours before Charlie comes in to get me.
She glances around the room, fear written across her features, making her seem older.
Vulnerable. I did that to her. I put her and the baby at risk by coming here today.
When she finally spots me, the tension evaporates from her shoulders, but the fear remains carved into the creases at her eyes and at her lips.
“It’s okay. You can come out now.”
“They’ve gone?”
“From what we can tell. Your friend has just left to make them think his shift has ended, but he says he’ll circle back to keep watch. He thinks you’ll be safer upstairs.”
“Will that be okay? I can leave.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight!”
“Thanks, Charlie.” She huffs as if my thanking her is offensive. She doesn’t think it’s necessary, but I have so few moments of gratitude that I’m determined to tell people I appreciate and see their efforts.
“Your pretty clothes are ruined. I’ll get you something to change into.” Charlie darts up the stairs ahead of me and straight to her room.
I climb slower and hesitate at the apartment door.
“Is Koko mad?” I call down the hall.
“He’s livid.”
Shit. I thought as much. I would be too if someone threatened my family’s safety. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. I shouldn’t have led them here.”
“Whether you came to us today or not, they’ll still have barged through our doors.
We’re lucky your friend ran in and gave us the heads up so that Koko could head them off,” she explains.
“He’s furious with them, not you. We should have sent them all back to Barry Franz cooked in pastries—showed him what happens if you mess with the Loane family! ”
Charlie comes back and ushers me through the door, not stopping until we are outside the bathroom at the end of the hall.
“About that…they seemed afraid of Koko?” I hedge, not knowing how else to put it without it sounding like an accusation.
Charlie grins knowingly but doesn’t hesitate to explain. “He used to work for people like Franz. He went by the name Mal back then.”
“Mal…like the French for wrong or bad?” Sounds like Koko was someone to be afraid of.
“Forgot how smart you are.” Charlie grins. “I’m booking you early to tutor the munchkin.”
“Anytime!” I offer sincerely. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
Charlie shakes out a huge white towel and then rolls it neatly and places it beside the folded clothes she propped on the counter. “And yes, Mal like the French. He was an enforcer…Big Bully I called him when we met, but he got me out of my situation because of that fear he’d honed.”
“And he quit it all to work here?” I can’t keep the disbelief out of my tone, and Charlie’s narrow eyes tell me she caught it.
“Hey! No need to sound so surprised. He’s very good at applying his skills as a butcher. It was a natural progression once he stepped down from that lifestyle.” Well, damn. It makes perverse sense. Clearly, knives have always been Koko’s thing. Twistedly romantic too, when you think about it.
“He did it for you?”
She shakes her head. “For himself…but maybe I encouraged him to go for his dreams a little sooner than he might have done.” She giggles. Personally. I think he’d have done anything for Charlie. He still would.
My phone buzzes. The shock of the vibration almost has me leaping out of my skin.
I pull it out and see Aiden’s name lighting up the screen.
I’ll be out back in fifty minutes. Wait for my text before leaving the building. Cover your hair and face if you can.
I show Charlie the message. She squares her shoulders and nods. “Shower quickly. Leave the door unlocked; I’ll be coming in.”
I don’t even question her. These last few days have taught me not to waste my time or energy trying to see every piece of the bigger picture. Sometimes you just had to trust that others knew how to do their part.