PATRIOTS: Fingers crossed...
FEEDBACK: It’s a good thing p.phair@comcast.net
by
phair
“…and hop,” Deni huffed.
Sawyer groaned as she complied with the command. The pair were descending the stairs in a bastardized version of a three legged race. Sawyer had one arm wrapped around Deni’s shoulders and the other hand clutching the highly polished mahogany railing. Deni was supporting Sawyer under the arms and holding up the wounded foot by the thigh. They were navigating the stairs with caution which was dragging the minutes out and significantly fatiguing them both.
“Two steps to go. Hop down again. Good. One step to go,” Deni encouraged.
Sawyer was silent in her compliance. She hopped and groaned and did so again. Her reward at the bottom step was a kitchen chair. Deni all but dumped her into it but Sawyer was grateful just the same.
“Thanks,” she managed to mutter.
Deni grinned as she slid the chair across the gleaming hard wood floor, “Well, my lady, this is a FULL service hostage taking. Don’t want you to feel cheated out of any portion of the experience.”
“Please, cheat away. Trust me, I won’t complain to the better business bureau. What with you being almost family and all.”
Deni paused her pulling to look over Sawyer’s shoulder into the woman’s pasty pale face, “Was that a joke?”
“I think so.”
“Ah, funny,” Deni stated then resumed her positioning of the chair next to the computer. “Okay, put your arms flat on the arm rests of this very expensive looking but tastefully comfortable chair.”
Sawyer eyed her with suspicion and asked, “What are you going to do to me?”
Deni reached into her back pocket and pulled a set of handcuffs out.
“Please, don’t,” Sawyer tried to control her breathing and wrapped her arms around her belly. “I’ve been cooperative. Done everything you said to do. My wrists are killing me. Please, there is no need to restrain me. I won’t do anything wrong. I’ll just sit here nice and quiet. You don’t have to chain me up like…,” her voice caught and her eyes filled with tears, “like some kind of animal.”
Deni squatted down next to the emotional woman. Her expression was soft and her voice calm. Still, she clicked one cuff locked around the metal arm of the chair.
“I understand you’re sore. But, a lot of the pain is your own fault for tugging on the shackles in the first place. Still, I can see where you’d feel abused and disrespected but you have to try to think of things from my point of view,” Deni reasoned as she presented the waiting cuff. “Eugene cheated me. He betrayed my trust. Yes, yes, I know there is no honor among thieves but we were married.”
“Less honor there,” Sawyer sounded bitter.
Deni ignored the remark and continued, “We had a kid too. He was suppose to keep the home fires burning while I took the wrap for all the heists. He was suppose to keep cash in my canteen account and bring the baby to visit once a month. Instead, he takes the kid and skips out with my hard stolen loot and doesn’t so much as leave me enough scratch for a friggin’ coke. I’m left to rot in that piss hole! Do you have an idea how impotent I felt?”
“I’m beginning to be able to guess…,”
Deni ignore the sarcasm. “That’s until I see your newspaper article in the style section of Sunday Magazine. Since then I’ve been planning and plotting. Every day for the last two years was bringing me closer to this moment. And, do you know what this moment is, Sawyer?”
“No,” it was barely a whisper.
“Revenge time!”
Sawyer whimpered at the venomous statement made with such hatred. She lifted her hand in surrender. Deni gently maneuvered it into place and fasted the metal cuff around it. She repeated the actions on the other arm with no resistance from Sawyer.
“Okay, You sit tight. I’m gonna get you a drink to wash down the Dilaudid. Then you’re gonna teach me all about that fancy little computer you go there.”
Deni paused to assess her defeated prisoner. The woman sat passively bound to the chair with her head down. A slight shudder rattled her body occasionally but no crying was apparent.
“You just keep doing what I tell you and I won’t need to hurt you too much more, Sawyer.”
Sawyer lifted her head and asked in a steady voice, “You won’t have to hurt me but will you hurt me just ‘cause you can?”
Deni nodded slowly, “I’d be lying if I said no. I’ve spent the last two years dreaming about making you feel as bad as I did. But, now that I’m here and face to face with you, I’m finding it hard to really hate you completely. Makes it difficult for me to beat you up without proper provocation. Let’s see if you can keep from provoking me, Sawyer. You should really try to keep me liking you a little. Makes it harder for me to hit you, okay?”
“Okay,” Sawyer hushed and bit her lip but Deni couldn’t tell if the action was to hold back a cutting remark or the result of fear.
“She should be afraid,” Deni thought to herself as she went to the kitchen. “The way I’m talking makes me sound like a madwoman even to me. And, maybe I am a madwoman. Maybe I am just that.”
Deni grabbed the pill bottle from the counter and shoved it in her pocket. Then she started to rummage through the cabinets. A large glass mug sat on the second shelf of one such cabinet. It sat sparkling among a sea of similar mugs. The image was enough to make Pilgrim thirsty. Pulling it off the shelf, she set it on the counter as she tugged the refrigerator door open. A small grin crossed her lips when she noticed a vodka bottle cuddled close to a Kahlau bottle. She liberated them and lovingly placed them next to the glass. The milk was next to be freed from it’s chilly confinement. Tucking a cold liquor bottled under each arm and grabbing the glass and milk, Deni began to whistle as she returned to the spacious living room.
Sawyer was motionless in the chair. Her head was turned toward the floor. She was supporting her injured foot with the other; keeping it slightly elevated.
“You look miserable. Good thing I found a little pick me up in my travels. But, first you need to take your medicine,” Deni was enthusiastic.
She set her supplies down on the computer table. She hummed a bit as she began to mix a potent and large cocktail. Deni was fully aware of Sawyer’s worried expression but did not offer any explanation.
“Maybe…maybe you could just let me have a little ginger ale. The is a bottle on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator down stairs in the game room. Or, I could have a sip of water. I probably could just take the pill dry. Really, I could do that. It’d be better than…,”
Deni stopped mixing and fixed an angry glare on Sawyer, “Better than what? Better than this nice little libation I’m mixing up for you?”
“It isn’t really safe to mix pills and alcohol. You don’t want me to start puking again, right?”
Deni gave an evil grin, “Oh, if you puke this stuff up then I might just make you clean it the hard way. Do you get my drift?” Deni waited for Sawyer to slowly nod understanding. “Good. Now, I’m gonna have a few drinks but I hate to drink alone so you get to imbibe with me.”
Deni took the pill bottle out of her pocket and struggled with the child proof top. After a curse or two, she was able to get one of the pills out. She set the bottle down and lifted the glass filled with tan liquid.
“Open wide,” her command was grudgingly met.
The pill popped in easily. However, the drinking was less than graceful. Deni tipped a little too much too soon and Sawyer began to cough. Deni smothered a chuckle as she watch Sawyer down the concoction.
“Strong, huh?”
“Ya,” Sawyer gasped.
“Need more of anything?”
“Less.”
Deni took a sip. The liquid burned her mouth and seared down her throat. It fired up her belly sending warmth to all her limbs.
“Ohh, so good.”
“Look, if you are going to make me drink more of that then could you get me a straw? There’s one in the silverware draw,” Sawyer tried to sound reasonable.
“Seriously?”
“Why would a lie about a straw?”
“Good point,” Deni agreed and went to retrieve the item. “This is hysterical! Is it a crazy straw? Like when we were kids? Seriously, is it glass? Too funny!”
Sawyer allowed Deni to put the straw to her lips before she answered the series of silly questions. She sucked up a bit and managed not to end up in a coughing fit.
“Thanks for getting it. That was much easier. And, yes it is a crazy straw. Charlie loves them. A friend of mine is a glass blower and he made a few of them for me.”
Deni studied the item before taking a drag from it. “Doesn’t the kid smash them up?”
Sawyer shook her head, “No, he’s very careful with his things. It is part of his behaviors. If anything he’s overly cautious.”
Deni was still sucking the amber contents of the mug and watching the liquid fill the twists and turns of the straw. She smiled broadly after taking a healthy slug.
“Well, he’s right that it is fun. I could watch this all afternoon.”
“Be my guest,” Sawyer said with just a hint of sarcasm.
Deni reacted without hesitation. She kicked the woman’s injured foot hard. Sawyer yelped in pain.
“Didn’t I just give you a lecture about not provoking me?” Deni waited a moment and when she did not get an answer she kicked Sawyer again.
“Oooo, I’m sorry, please, don’t hurt me, I’m sorry, please,” Sawyer cried and pulled her foot up onto the chair seat.
“Stop pissing me off and I’ll stop hurting you! It really is very simple, bitch. Just behave,” Deni said in a very matter of fact manner and sat on the chair in front of the computer. “Now, how do you work this thing.”
Sawyer sniffled back her tears trying to form an answer, “Shake the mouse…you know what the mouse is, right?”
Deni glared at her, “I ain’t stupid! Of course I know what the fuckin’ mouse is!”
“Sorry, I just don’t know what you know. How do you want me to teach you? I don’t want to make any mistakes and piss you off again. Just tell me what to do.” Sawyer choked on her fear, “please, don’t hurt me anymore.”
“I know how to surf the ‘net a little. I know how to play games like solitaire.”
“What do you want me to show you?”
Deni grinned. “How to access Eugene’s bank account.”
Sawyer looked panicked. “Could…could I have a little more to drink?”
Deni laughed a full bellied laugh. She leaned over and allowed Sawyer to suck as much of the drink as the woman wanted. Nearly half the glass was drained by the time she came up gasping for air.
“Wow, you must be really scared of him.”
“You,” Sawyer clarified. “I’m scared of you. I don’t know the passwords to Raph…Eugene’s bank accounts so I figure you’re going to slap me around again. Could I have another sip before you do whatever you’re going to do to me?”
Deni offered the straw to Sawyer again. The woman almost finished the drink. If she had not started choking she most likely would have emptied the mug.
“Easy there, you ain’t no Lindsey Lohan,” Deni laughed.
Sawyer caught her breath. She lowered her foot to the floor. Nodding she was prepared, she closed her eyes and waited for an imminent assault. Instead, she heard only the mixing of another drink.
“Relax,” Deni told her when Sawyer peeked open her eyes. “I think I can figure out the passwords easy enough. You just need to get me to his bank. I don’t know which one he uses.”
“Oh,” Sawyer swallowed. “Okay, shake the mouse to get the computer out of hibernation. Then click on the ‘e’ for the internet.” She waited while Deni completed the steps. “Now, go to favorites. His bank is Green Mountain Trust and Savings. See it there, no up one, there you go.”
Deni typed in one id and password but the site did not accept it. She tried again and got a similar result.
“Uhm, you only get one more shot,” Sawyer offered. “It will freeze the account if you get it wrong again.”
“Thanks, I didn’t know that,” Deni was sincere and offered Sawyer another sip of the White Russian. “Got it. I know what it is,” Deni exclaimed.
She began to one finger type in her next and last guess while holding the glass for Sawyer. It took a moment but the site whirled to life as it accepted her password.
“Remarkable!” Sawyer complimented. “What was it?”
Deni grinned, “bastard1.”
“Figures.”
Sawyer hiccupped and both women were reduced to giggles.
“Here, hold this. I got work to do,” Deni instructed as she wrapped Sawyer’s fingers around the mug’s handle.
“It’d be easier if you unchained me.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
Deni chuckle, “Well, I won’t blame you this time but don’t push your luck.”
“Okay,” Sawyer was solemn and directed her attention to the mug in her hand.
After a few minutes of nothing but clicking computer keys and straw slurping, Deni spoke up, “Wanna guess how much lover boy has in his account?”
Sawyer shrugged, “I’d rather have a little more of this stuff.”
Deni chuckled and took the empty glass, “No problem. But, guess just to humor me while I play bartender.”
“Eighty thousand, maybe. Not much more than that. Any real money is invested in the gallery.”
“Wrong,” Deni chimed and took a swig of the fresh drink. “Hmm, good. Try some.”
Sawyer needed no encouragement. She latched onto the straw and sucked hard. Her eyes closed in absolute bliss.
“Sweet. Okay, I’ll bite. How much is in his account. Fifty, twenty thousand?”
“Two hundrend and fifty is more like it.”
Sawyer seemed surprised. “I didn’t think he’d stay that liquid. We agreed he should keep most of his cash invested in either the gallery or paintings. He must be between acquisitions. That’s got to be why he’s got so much on hand.”
“Think? I’m not so sure. See, Eugene has a couple of other bank accounts.”
“No, we only deal with GMT.”
Deni took the mug out of Sawyer’s hand and slung back a mouthful of the potent drink. “You really should check the history out more often. Seems you got quite a few banks lined up there. Wanna guess how many?”
Sawyer squirmed a bit, uncomfortable under direct questioning about the surprising revelation. “Five or six?”
“Nice try. Here you need a big gulp before I tell you the total.” Deni offered the straw and Sawyer drew in a large amount. “More than a dozen.”
“What?”
“Yep, it’s like fourteen or fifteen. And, if those accounts are anything like the one at MGT…,”
“GMT.”
“…what fuckin’ ever, he’s got two accounts, at least. One as Eugene Hussey and one as Raphael Roman. All of them are probably up to the FDIC insured limit of two hundred and fifty K. So, he’d got at least seven mill kicking around whenever he’s ready to run out on you.”
Sawyer was silent as she stared at the floor.
“Nothing? No denials of my theory as impossible. No claim of undying love. No defense of your man.” Deni waited but Sawyer said nothing. “I must say, this was very anticlimactic. I’m a little disappointed.”
“That’s too bad because I’m tremendously disappointed. Thanks for ruining my perfectly good life.”
Deni waited but that was all Sawyer had to say. After a few minutes, soft snores filled the room.
“She fuckin’ fell asleep during my big moment? Unbelievable,” Deni muttered before downing the last of their shared drink. “This wasn’t nearly as much fun as I thought it was gonna be.”
