~ Spring Break #15

“She’s well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane.” *

(525 words, 3 minutes read time.)

>~~~~~15~~~~~<

Gigi’s rental car was still parked out front. Car theft and break-ins were common occurrences in Quartzite, though any of the thousands of motor homes made much better targets. Gigi’s car looked okay, but she noticed the front door to the bar was nearly wide open.

Normally that door remained locked until noon. Suzy sensed danger behind the door. With her keys already in hand from locking her car she had expected she might have to unlock the door. Instead, she arranged them in her palm with the longest one protruding between her fingers.

A weapon, a knife. She’d been taught this might help to defend herself by her brother, a cop. Slow and cautiously, she approached the front door, stepped around it and hid between it and the wall, keys in hand ready to take on whatever.

“Mel…” she called cautiously into the room, “Mel, are you here?” her voice just loud enough to be heard, more than a whisper, but hopefully recognizable in the near silence.

No response. Just the hum of the icemaker working behind the bar.

She stood there, trying to breathe softly, calmly, peeking cautiously into the shadows beyond the door, still near enough to slam it and run away in a panic.

As she snuck slowly into her workplace, Suzy noticed that Mel’s prize “Hamm’s The land of sky blue waters” electric sign, the one with its backlit waterfall magically flowing, was still switched on and running. Perpetual Tumwater flowing forever behind the bar.

A couple of other neon wall signs were still on, their chains, awkward to tug, still not pulled off. Even the Juke box was still lit up, but the Mel’s exterior signage lights were off. It was weird.

Suzie sensed something ominous, maybe something terribly wrong had happened. Carefully she crept to, and around the side of the bar towards the phone. Keeping low she crouched behind the register. The cash drawer was closed. She could have opened it by pressing the “Sale” key, but it’s internal bell would then ring and alarm anyone present. And the door was clunky and loud when it opened. Besides, any cash inside, if not stolen, may have just been moved to the safe.

Disregarding the notion of cash in the register bearing any useful insight into the situation Suzi continued to her next impulse; try calling 911 on the phone, but then, that too could prove to be dangerous. Rather, she reached deep, back into the shelf under the register.

Feeling around, and, yes, Mel’s service revolver was still there. She slid it towards her, felt its handle, grasped its grip, and rose to her feet. Hiding for the most part, behind the register. At last, she had a full view of the shadowy bar.  She clenched the firearm tightly in both hands, carefully keeping it pointed down from her waste.

She began her search by slowly casing the room, mimicking the detectives of Law and Order. Her favorite TV crime show. Now, Suzy felt safe. Now that she had protection.

~~~> Still more pending <~~~

*Lennon, McCartney (Happiness Is A Warm Gun)

-dalton

7-2-26