Fury From Hell (6 page)

The Fury pulled back again and was pleased it was becoming so efficient at manipulating the host without the jerkiness that had made the host’s friends take notice.

The bartender smoothly pulled back.

“Sorry I startled you.  When women talk about German muscle drinks I get turned on.”  He winked and said to all three ladies, “Would you all like to try one?  First round’s on me since this is a new experience for you.  If you don’t like it, I’ll get you something more to your liking.  Deal?”

Betty nudged Jennifer with her elbow below the bar and used her eyes to indicate that Jennifer should continue flirting with the hot bartender.

“How often do you get turned on?” Jennifer said turning on a brilliant smile that made her friends proud.

The make-up was making her feel bold.  Even to her own eyes Babs’ deft handiwork made her look twenty times better than her norm.  The ripped T-shirt showing off her modest cleavage amplified by stuffing tissue in her bra helped out the illusion immensely.  The finishing touch of slicked back mousséd hair gave her a wild-child rocker look which emphasized the dark smoky eye make-up.  She was the picture of a chic, hot and fiercely feminine beauty.  It was a combination she could get used to; except the part about figuring out how to master the techniques Babs seemed to execute without thought.  Jennifer pushed the thought out of her mind and refocused on the bartender.

“Well, not
that
often.”

“Why is that?  Such a handsome guy not getting turned on?  Should I even ask why that is?”

“It’s not that often that a
real
woman who knows what she’s about comes in and speaks German…”

The sparks were undeniable.  Jennifer felt them and so did the two ladies on either side of her.

The Fury was pleased that its host took directions well.  In fact, the host had a streak of recklessness in her that was deeply suppressed but accessible to the Fury.  Pulling it to the fore would take a lot more work.  However, the Fury knew it would have time to get this host right where it needed her.  The Fury grinned and allowed itself to ease back from active controlling of its new host.  It knew that very soon the host’s simpering soul would no longer be a factor in its machinations.

Betty and Babs both cleared their throats.  The spell was broken and the bartender and Jennifer broke eye contact.

“Right.  Three Jäger Bombs coming right up.”  Jennifer’s hand shot out and stopped him before he moved away. 

“You’re not such a good barman.”

“Why’s that?”

“You never told us your name…”

“Forgive me.  I was sidetracked,” his gaze dropped to her cleavage and slowly came back up to meet her eyes.

“The name’s Chad.”

Cracking an involuntary smile Jennifer’s snorting laugh bubbled out of her.

“Chad?  I thought only gay guys and porn stars were named Chad!”

His eyes darkened a bit but then they twinkled as he smiled deviously.

“Why don’t you wait for my shift to end and I’ll show you first-hand what a
real
Chad is like.”

Her friends both ooh’d at his challenge, elbowed Jennifer and waited for her response.

“This feels so high school right now.  Are we really having this conversation?”

“Sounds like you’re being coy, but that’s okay.  Why don’t I get your drink and maybe you’ll reconsider?”  His disarming smile flashed and the women watched him saunter away as all three watched his firm butt move in his snug Levis.

“Damn, it’s hot in here.  Don’t ‘cha think?”  Jennifer said averting her eyes and fanning herself.

“Uh, no.  It’s not the bar, it’s
you
.  Jen I had
no idea
you rolled like that!  And that pick up line?  The best!”

“Agreed!” Betty chimed in as she high-fived Babs.

“I’m going to the restroom and take this stuff off.  Clearly it’s getting me all twisted up and —”

“Nope, you’re not going anywhere and you’re
not
washing your face.  You look gorgeous like I said you would.  Now deal with it.  You’re pretty.  Men like you.  Suck it up and be a woman, Holden.”

Betty pushed Jennifer back onto her barstool and nodded in agreement.

Frustrated, Jennifer pulled the torn T-shirt up higher in an attempt to cover up.  It didn’t work.  With nothing to do with her hands, she folded them on the bar and tried to think of something that would disarm Babs and stifle any further girl bonding…she hoped.

“Babs, so what’s your story?  I never see
you
dating any of the guys...”

“’Cause I don’t date in-precinct. “  She was facing the main room with her elbows resting on the bar.

Betty, still facing the bar, nodded sagely but said nothing.

“So how do you keep them at bay?  With your looks, it must be difficult.” Jennifer said.

“It’s easier now since I’ve set a precedent.”  Jennifer snorted and swiveled to face her.  “What kind of precedent?”

Babs turned her head and smiled enigmatically, “The kind that makes the guys leave me alone.”

“What?  You told ‘em you’re a lesbo?”

Laughing, Betty clapped her on the back and said to Babs, “Just tell her what happened with Yearwood already.”

“Yearwood?  The one that’s been bugging me for over a year?”

“The one and the same.”

Jennifer’s ego deflated as the realization hit.  He was going after prey with smaller assets.  She pushed the apathy aside and plunged forward.

“So what happened?”

“I was relatively new; had only been in the precinct ‘bout 8 months.  They were buzzing around me like bees, but Yearwood?  He was the worst.  He invited me to lunch, dinner and everything in-between.  But I had heard that he was a tad…odd.”

A knowing smile crept over Jennifer’s face and Betty nodded.

“So, two years went by and he was asking me out to dinner after shift.  At that point, I was sure the guy would
never
stop asking until I shut him down completely, right?  So, I asked him flat out, ‘So, what will we do while waiting for our entrees to arrive?  Read the death notices?’  I’ve never seen anyone turn that shade of red before!  If only I had a camera — Man!  He was livid.  He stuck his finger in my face and sputtered!  He had no words.  No comeback.  No nothing!  He just kind of growled at me then stalked away.  He hasn’t approached me for a date since.”  Babs finished with a nod and a taut smile that showed no teeth.

“You really said that?” a bemused Jennifer asked.

She shrugged and looked over at Betty.  “Didn’t I?”

“Yup, you did.”

Jennifer looked perplexed.  “How would you know?”

“I was coming on shift and heading to the lockers.  He had cornered her right there.  It was late, like eleven o’clock.  I was a bit late coming on shift.  So, I got an earful,” she said grinning.

Just then, Chad arrived with the three drinks in his hands.  He placed a drink in front of each woman with flair and pushed a napkin at each of them.  When it was Jennifer’s turn to receive her napkin he said, “Just in case you can’t stick around, there’s something special about yours.  You may not want to lose it.”  He winked and went to take another order further down the long bar.

With shaking hands Jennifer picked up her napkin.  Sure enough his number was written on the back.

“Very well played on his end.  Ball’s in your court now.  What are you going to do?”  Babs asked, taking her first chug at the Bomb.  She made a face as she swallowed the potent drink.  Betty grabbed hers, took a sip and screwed up her face.

“Whoa!  That’s too strong for me.”

“Wuss!” goaded Babs.

Absentmindedly, Jennifer picked up her drink and gulped away while thinking about Chad and what she should do.  In less than a minute, her drink was done. With a soft burp, Jennifer put the empty glass down and thumbed the corner of her lips.  Oblivious to her friends’ astonishment, she wondered if she was up to trying the whole dating thing again.

“What the hell?  Where did you put all that?  Why aren’t you reeling?”  Betty asked, flabbergasted.

“What?  It wasn’t
that
strong.”  Jennifer said.  Deep within Jennifer’s mind the Fury smiled with wicked delight. 

The Jäger Bomb was now the Fury’s new favorite replacing the Green Fairy; a cocktail mixed with Absinthe that the Fury’s Grisette hosts used to imbibe in Paris a century, or so, ago.  Pulling back from the heady memories, the Fury refocused.  It would make sure to boost this modern-day host’s tolerance levels so more of the Bombs could be consumed in a night.  For tonight, one was this host’s capacity.  The Fury was already having trouble trying to keep the host’s brain sober.

Jennifer looked at her friends and did an internal check.  She felt…
fine
.  The room had a bit of an extra reddish hue that made everything seem more alive.  She looked over at Babs and Betty and smiled.

“I’m truly
fine
.  Not even a bit tipsy.”

“Prove it.  Stand up and spin around,” said Betty with a smirk as she hiccupped.  Jennifer got up and did as she was told.  She even added a hand flourish and a bow after doing a perfect pirouette.  Her little dance performance generated catcalls, whistles and applause from those around them.  Jennifer blushed and took her seat.  She stuck her tongue out at both of her friends.

“Told ‘ya.”

“So, does that mean you’re ready for round number two?” said Chad in a sexy voice as he too clapped.

“You know, I think I’ll take her old usual — a Lemon Gingerini.  Can’t hang with this, Chad,” Betty pushed her Bomb towards him with an apologetic smile.

“Same here,” said Babs.

“At least you drank a quarter of it,” he smiled at the curvaceous blonde.

“Yeah, and the room’s spinning ever so slowly,” Babs giggled.  “I’ll have a club soda with a twist of lime.  I’m done for the night.”

Chad’s eyes came back to Jennifer and rested on her for a moment.

“So…what about you?”

“I’ll go along with my friends and I won’t do another one — but, none of the girly stuff.  What else you got up your sleeve?”

Chad crossed his thickly muscled arms across his chest and stroked his chin as he thought.  “You like whiskey?”

“Dunno.  Should I?”  She asked with a come-hither look.

“Yeah…yeah. 
You
should.  Let’s go with a Hurricane.”

“Hmm…sounds good.  What’s in that?”

“Light rum, dark rum, passion fruit syrup and lime juice.” 

Betty and Babs both perked up.

“That has a bit of sweetness to it,” ventured Babs.

“Yeah, but the light and dark rums are going to pack a wallop…” finished the taller, darker blonde-haired Betty.

“Perfect,” cooed Jennifer warming to her role.  She figured that would be the best way to deal.  Nothing in her life was normal anymore and her friends were encouraging her to do different things.  She mentally shrugged.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Two Hurricanes and a Lynchburg Lemonade later, the Fury was at her limit with the host’s alcohol tolerance levels.  The last drink had surpassed the host’s threshold and the Fury was trying to hold the host’s body’s reaction back but to no avail.

“Oh, God, Jen, you’re looking green.  We need to get you to the bathroom right now.” Babs said with urgency.

At that moment, Jennifer’s stomach started to roil faster.

“I don’t know what happened.  I was fine just a minute ago.”

“That
Lemonade
with whiskey probably did it.  We tried to warn you, don’t mix liquors — that’s the biggest drinking no-no.  You’re going to be so hung over tomorrow.  Good thing you’re off,” muttered Betty as they half-dragged Jennifer to the bathroom.

As soon as they got there Jennifer stumbled into a stall and retched up everything.  Babs looked over at Betty winked and said, “Perfect timing.”

“I see you’ve been down this road a couple times before,” Betty said giving Babs an approving look.

“Maybe.  Seems to me like you have, too.”

“Yeah.  A time or two.”

Betty sized up the pretty petite blonde and dove into a topic that had been on her mind all evening.

“But what are we going to do about the rookie?” Betty said angling her head towards Jennifer who was still hurling in the stall.

“She’s coming out of her shell.  We’ve got to be there so she won’t go down the wrong path.  The boys won’t hesitate to lead her by the nose if they sense she’s a loose cannon,” Babs said with a thoughtful look in her eye.  “But what I don’t understand is why all of a sudden?  And sometimes, she seems so bipolar.  Have you noticed?”

Betty’s back stiffened.

“She’s not bipolar.  She caught a case that would have been rough for any woman even one that’s been on the force for decades.  Barnes was messed up bad.  You didn’t see the body as it was found.  You only got her clean sterile body fluids.   Back off of Holden, Strickland.  She’s actually doing pretty damn well for what she’s been through this week.”

Babs looked at Betty sharply and realized her gaffe when she saw the fierce protective look in Betty’s eyes.

“Look, sorry.  I didn’t mean anything.  I know you’ve worked with Jen for a few years on various cases.  I…I just meant she seemed stressed.  This girl’s night out was a good idea.  And, I’m glad you guys invited me.”

Betty nodded her head towards Jennifer’s stall, “No,
she
invited you.”  Babs licked her lips trying to assess what was going on.

“You got a problem with me?” she asked Betty in a low guarded tone as she faced the bigger woman.

“Not really.  I just don’t know much about you ‘cept what I hear from the boys.  You keep to yourself and use your gams and
other assets
whenever you need a promotion.”

Babs flushed deeply.  “Ah!  And there it is.  Right, should have figured you’d believe that.  Not that it’s any of your business, that’s not true.  You of all people should know that if they can’t get a piece they make stuff up to appease their own tiny little egos.  Every damn promotion I’ve gotten was through my own sweat and hard work.  I’ve got a fucking Master’s in Forensics.  I can run rings around almost all of them in my department.  If they actually gave me more serious work I could really show them what I can do!  But you of all people should talk.  Don’t they call you a butch behind your back?”