“What’sup?”
“Why don’t youtell me?” he says, with his brow furrowed.
“I don’t knowwhat you’re talking about.” I lie.
“No?”
“No.”
“Well, I sawCharlie to the door and your phone started vibrating. I went tograb it and the screen lit up with a text.”
“Ok. So?”
“So, Jules. Areyou sure there’s not something you want to talk to me about?”
“Yeah,one-hundred percent positive,” I say, snatching the phone fromhim.
I’m trying totake the position of being defensive so that he won’t pursue theconversation. I can feel his eyes on me as I walk down the hallwayto my room. Once inside, I close the door and lean against it,letting out a huge sigh of relief. Looking at my cell, I see thatboth Katie and Slinky have texted. Katie wants me to call her andSlinky said that our plan to meet at Fournier’s bar tonight isstill on.
Shit. Dad musthave read the text. Why else would he be so pissed off? As much asI want to go to him and tell him everything, I can’t. I’m terrifiedto go to meet Slinky, but in reality, if I don’t go, I’ll still bein the same shitty situation—owing Fournier an astronomical amountof money.
I quickly callKatie and tell her that I’ve got a bit of a headache so I’m goingto be hitting the hay early. She buys it and we talk for awhilebefore I wish her good night and hang up. Dad, on the other hand,is going to be a lot tougher to deal with. Knowing that you can’tcon an ex-con, I decide that talking to him and trying to bullshitmy way through Slinky’s text… Well I decide to avoid it alltogether. All I have to do is wait until Dad falls asleep and thentip-toe out of the apartment and go meet Slinky. It’s alreadyalmost 10 pm. Dad should be crashing within the next hour. I’lljust have to avoid him until then. I decide to lie on my bed andlisten to tunes on you tube to relax but it doesn’t work. With eachsong that plays, I find myself watching the time like a hawk,worrying about tonight and what awaits me.
ChapterFourteen
Dad takeslonger than usual to go to bed. At about midnight I finally hearhim in the washroom and shortly after that as he goes into his roomand closes the door. I’m sorry, Dad. I really wish I could tell youwhat’s going on, but I can’t. If anything bad does happen to metonight, I hope you know how much I love you. I wait about fifteenminutes after my father goes to bed then pull on a hoodie and slideinto a pair of jeans. After my shoes are on, I quietly open my doorand creep out into the hall, being extra cautious not to make asound. Finally, I make it to the front door. I reach over to thedimly lit kitchen counter to grab my keys when I see a small pieceof paper sitting next to them. I pick it up and read it, “I loveyou, my angel. Whatever you’re planning, don’t do it. You’re a biggirl now and you have your own path to travel, but listen to thisold man when I tell you that when you’re dealing with people fromthe seedy side of the tracks, no one can be trusted. I love you,Dad.”
Sonofabitch. Iknew it. I could just tell. He read Slinky’s text. Half of my brainis telling me to go back to my room and get undressed and get intobed, while the other half is saying that I have no choice. I haveto go. If I don’t, things will get a lot worse for me, and for us.“I love you too, Dad. I’m so sorry that I’m going against yourwishes. Soon, I’ll be able to tell you everything, just not quiteyet,” I whisper, folding the piece of paper and sticking it into mypocket.
* * *
In the truck Ilook at the time on the dash. It’s 12:40 am. I should get to thebar right when Slinky told me to be there. Driving out of theunderground parking, I look at the building in the rear-view mirrorand hope that this isn’t the last time I’ll see it. No matter whathappens, my number one goal is to get in and get out undetected byFournier or Tank.
ChapterFifteen
Just as Slinkysaid, the bar is closed early and there are no cars in the parkinglot. I pull up behind the pub and shut off the engine. My handsshake as I walk up to the pub. Through the glass, I can see a heftywoman wiping tables with her hair loosely pulled into a rattylooking bun. I lightly rap on the door but she doesn’t seem to hearme. I try again, only harder this time.
Her face turnstoward me. She has a stern, weathered look on her face. Throwingdown the cloth, she walks up to the door and unlocks it. Opening itslightly, she peers out and asks what I want.
“Hi. I’m Jules.Slinky told me to meet him here.”
She doesn’t sayanything. Instead, she swings the door open just enough for me toenter then locks it behind me.
I follow her tothe back of the room and up to the red door. “Is your name,Darlene?” I ask, trying to break the ice.
“Are you takingnotes?” she asks, gruffly.
“No. I’m sorry.I was just being friendly.”
“Well, I ain’there to make friends.”
‘With a sweetdisposition like yours? You’re kidding?’ I think but don’t say.
Darlene pullsout a key from her pocket and opens the door. She waves me in andlocks the door behind me.
As soon as Iwalk around the corner, I see Slinky sitting on a chair behind anold wooden desk. All four walls to the small room are made ofcement. A small sofa sits off to one side with an old coffee tablesitting in front of it.
“Hey, kid. It’sgood to see you. Come in. Come in,” he says, standing up andwalking to greet me.
He hugs metightly and then stands back and looks me up and down, “I’m so gladyou’re ok. That night in the park, I was terrified that
