Baumgartners Empty Nest (The Baumgartners) (18 page)

“Thanks, Cap’n,” Doc said, smiling. “But I’m pretty sure there won’t be any trouble.”

“Hey, Tony,” Lola called, slipping into a chair. “Why don’t you call those Merchant Marines and have them drop by after these folks are gone? I might have some trouble for them to handle.”

“It’s almost time.” Jody’s voice was barely a whisper. Carrie looked at the clock on the wall. Almost eight.

“I want you to wait in the back,” Doc told his wife, ushering her toward Lola and Tony. “I’ll stay out front with Jody.”

“But...” Carrie protested, not wanting to let go of Jody’s hand.

“I got this.” Lola crooked her finger at Carrie. “Follow me.”

Carrie kissed Jody, cupping her face in her hands, seeing the fear in the other woman’s eyes.

“Doc’s here,” she reminded her. “It’ll be okay.”

She felt tears stinging her eyes as she followed Lola and Tony into the back. It smelled strongly of beer in the back room, where they stored all the kegs. Tony opened a small door and waved the two women through.

“What’s this?” Carrie asked, glancing at the computer and monitor setup. There were four monitors, with every vantage point covered, inside and out.

“Surveillance,” Lola said, taking a seat in a folding chair and nodding to the one next to her for Carrie. “Tony’s got cameras all over the bar.”

“Mostly for liability,” he explained, taking a seat in his own folding chair. “And to keep the bartenders honest.”

Carrie looked at the screen, seeing a short man in a three-piece suit, flanked by four others, approaching the bar. She remembered when Lola tricked Brian, Janie’s boyfriend at the time. He’d been cheating on her, and Lola, who hadn’t transitioned yet and still had a penis, was happy to play the role. Tony had put it all on display on the television screens out there in the main bar, letting everyone witness Brian’s humiliation. Now she realized how he’d done it.

“Can we hear them?” Carrie asked, seeing Jody letting the man in.

“Sure can.” Tony flipped a switch and the sound of Jackie and Jody talking filled the little room.

The four other big guys stood by the front door as Jody and Jackie sat at a table together.

“Are you all right?” Jackie asked. His voice was soft, not deep like Carrie had expected.

“No thanks to you.” Jody sniffed, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. She had refused to dress up for him, wearing just jeans and a t-shirt, no make-up, hair pulled back from her face into a ponytail. Not that she wasn’t beautiful anyway, Carrie noted. She was, actually, still stunning, even now. But Jody said Jackie liked her all glammed up, and she wasn’t about to do that for him anymore.

“I was the one left handcuffed naked to the headboard.” Jackie leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes narrowing.

“I was the one you’ve been lying to for years.” Jody’s voice was hard, and Carrie was glad. She couldn’t see Doc, and that worried her. Where was he? Had he left Jody all alone with this man and his four bodyguards? What if he just decided he was going to take her? Then what?

“Justine—” Jackie sighed, sitting back.

“It’s Jody.”

“Okay. Jody.” Jackie nodded, conceding. “Listen to me. I miss you. I want you to come home.”

“I am home.” Jody shook her head, glancing to her right, and Carrie saw Doc appear in camera view.

“Who’s this guy?” Jackie jerked his thumb at Doc, giving him a dark look.

The four guys at the door took several steps forward, surprised by Doc’s appearance, too.

“Just a friend of the lady,” Doc said.

Jackie sneered. “You been fucking this guy?”

“Jackie, you need to listen to me, for once,” Jody told him. “Really listen.”

The man sat up fully in his seat, glaring at Doc.

“Are you listening?” Jody asked. Jackie gave a slow nod, his gaze finally coming back to settle on her. “I’m not going back with you. It’s over between us.”

“If you think—”

“Jackie, stop.” Jody held up a hand with a short shake of her head. “I’m grateful for your help, I really am, but I don’t need it anymore—and I don’t want it anymore.”

“You think you get to choose? You already made that choice, sweetheart.”

“I do get to choose.” Jody’s voice shook, not from fear, but in anger. Her dark eyes flashed and Carrie could feel the rage in her, even just watching on camera. “And this is my choice.”

“What? This guy?” Jackie jerked his thumb at Doc again. “I could buy and sell this asshole a hundred times over.”

“I can’t be with you anymore.” Jody crossed her arms. “It costs me too much to be with you, Jackie. And no part of me is for sale anymore, never again.”

“You think it costs you?” Jackie scoffed. “Now you listen to me, sweetheart. I’ve already invested too much in you to walk away.”

“You’ll be just fine, Jackie.” A small, slow smile spread across Jody’s face, pained, cynical. “You’ve clearly diversified to recession-proof your investments.”

“What?” Jackie’s eyes skipped over her, frowning.

Jody looked at Doc, then she opened her purse, pulling out an envelope. She slid it across the table and Carrie saw Jackie pick it up. He opened it, peering inside, and his face fell. Carrie saw something dark pass through him, his eyes revealing his panic, but just for a moment.

“How many more are there?” Jody asked softly. This time there was hurt in her voice. She clearly couldn’t keep it from him, as much as she was trying.

Jackie leaned forward, reaching for her hand. “Listen, Justine—”

“It’s Jody.” Her voice hardened again as she sat back, out of his reach.

“These are nothing. They’re failures,” he told her. “They can’t hold a candle to you. Once I get you home, and we get you cut, you’ll see...”

“You aren’t listening to me.” Jody sighed. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I’m sure your friend will send your things.” Jackie’s mouth drew into a thin, grim line, ignoring her words. Then he stood, holding a hand out to her. “Come on, Justine. It’s hot down here and it’s time to go home.”

“The lady said she’s not going anywhere.” Doc stepped up to the table, putting his body between them.

“Are you gonna stop her?” Jackie looked him up and down—he was a good head shorter than Doc—and sneered. “I don’t think you know what kind of people you’re about to get between, son. Maybe you should learn to pick your ‘friends’ better.”

Jackie’s men stepped forward, coming up behind Doc, their hands in their coats. Carrie covered a gasp with her hand, wanting to warn him, but of course he couldn’t hear her.

“No, I’m not going to stop her,” Doc said calmly. He shifted his position, so that Jody was behind him, and he was now facing both Jackie and the four approaching men in suits. “You’re going to turn around and leave.”

“Like hell I am.” Jackie snorted.

“Yes, you are.” Doc drew himself up to full height, a resolve in his voice that made Carrie’s mouth go dry. “Take your overdressed barber shop quartet out of here, and never show your face in this lady’s life again.”

“You think you’re amusing?” Jackie chuckled. “You won’t be laughing last, I can guarantee that.”

Jackie gave a nod to the four approaching men, but he waved them off when Doc quietly handed him a manila envelope. Carrie held her breath, watching as the man opened the envelope, pulling out the contents. She couldn’t see what was in it, but whatever it was, it made Jackie’s face go pale. It was even starker on the black and white monitor. His expression didn’t change, but he’d broken into a sweat.

“I assume you have copies of this material?” Jackie slid the contents back into the envelope, his mouth tight, dropping it on the table.

“That’s correct.” Doc nodded. “And if anything happens to her, me, or anyone close to us, I can assure you—it all goes public.”

“You’re obviously a smart man,” Jackie observed. “You do know that I will find out who you are.”

“Let me make it easy for you,” Doc said, taking something out of the breast pocket of his shirt. “Here’s my card.”

Doc slide it across the table as Jackie put the envelope in an inside pocket of his suit.

“Stephen Baumgartner, M.D.?” he said, picking up and peering at the card.

“They call me Doc.”

“Well-played.” Jackie looked at the card again and chuckled. “They ought to call you Doc Holliday.”

Jackie’s demeanor changed as he turned to Jody, eyes narrowing. Doc put a protective hand on her shoulder.

“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life.” He pointed the card at Jody with a snarl. “You could have had it all, princess.”

“Thanks,” Jody said, reaching back and putting her hand over Doc’s. The look in her eyes made Carrie tear up again. She looked so strong, so resolute. There was no fear or doubt on her face at all. “But you can keep it.”

Jackie glared at her, but he didn’t make a move. Instead, he turned, and Carrie saw his shoulders sag a little as he headed toward the door, motioning for his men to follow.

Jody let out a pent-up breath as soon as the door closed behind them, jumping up.

“My knight in shining armor.” Jody stood, putting her arms around Doc’s neck.

Carrie was already out of the little video room and hugging them both in an instant.

“Well-played,” Tony said, wobbling out on his cane, sounding impressed. “Doc Holliday couldn’t have done better with a six-shooter.”

“What did you use for ammunition?” Carrie asked, still confused about that.

“Yeah, what was in the envelope?” Lola grabbed it off the table and opened it. Carrie saw a before and after picture of Jackie Benton, and a letter. She glanced over Lola’s shoulder, seeing that it was addressed to the NRA, but had been cc’d to three dozen other big firearms, shooting and hunting organizations, all of them listed at the bottom.

“To Whom It May Concern.” Lola read out loud. “Information has come to light about Jackie Benton and B.O.S.S., the Benton Official Sport Shooting family of corporations, that true American sportsmen, their families, churches and sporting communities, as well as the political entities and military supply buyers supported by B.O.S.S., might find useful in determining where to allocate their financial resources as consumers and businesses…”

Tony gave a low whistle, shaking his head. “I think you just won that gunfight, Doc Holliday.”

“Does this mean we’re not calling the Merchant Marines?” Lola pouted, interrupted mid-sentence.

Jody looked at Lola, smirked, and said, “Slut.”

“You know it, honey.” Lola grinned. “Ain’t too many Doc Holliday’s left in this world, so what’s a girl supposed to do?”

“Nice shootin’, Doc.” Jody kissed his cheek and Doc grabbed Carrie to him, too, holding onto both women.

“I love you,” Carrie whispered, putting her hand on his chest as she kissed his other cheek.

“Careful, don’t cover his gold star,” Jody teased.

“Weren’t nothin, ma’am,” Doc said, doing his best accept and tipping an imaginary hat. “Just doin’ what’s right for those worth protectin’.”

“Oh my God,” Lola laughed, rolling her eyes. “Why don’t one of you just shoot me now!”

* * * *

“Who was that?” Carrie frowned, putting an arm around a sleepy, slightly drunk Jody snoozing beside her in bed as Doc clicked the mute button on his cell phone, leaving it on the night stand. They’d come in late from a night at Captain Tony’s. Lola had been singing karaoke, and that girl could sing her ass off. Surprisingly, so could Jody. They’d sung gorgeous duets several times that night.

“Elise again.” Doc slid the blankets aside and climbed into bed, Jody between them. “She’s not happy about our decision.”

“But I am.” Carrie smiled down at Jody, stroking her hair. “We’re really going to do this, aren’t we?”

“It’s what you want, isn’t it?” he asked, looking down at Jody’s sleeping face. Carrie thought she looked peaceful, happy.

“Yeah.” Carrie nodded, lifting her gaze to meet his. “You?”

“What about the kids?” Doc asked as Jody turned over, facing Carrie. She wiggled back against Doc in her sleep and he groaned, hand moving to her hip. “Still feeling that empty nest?”

“Our birdies can fly to Florida instead of Michigan when they want to come home.” Carrie looked around their bedroom, smiling. “The nest has moved south, and not just for the winter.”

“And we’ve got a new little chick.” He chuckled, leaning down to kiss Jody’s cheek. She stirred and sighed, wiggling against him again. “So sweet.”

“She is,” Carrie agreed, sliding a hand under Jody’s camisole to cup her breast. Jody moaned in her sleep, mumbling something unintelligible. “You’re really not mad?”

“Really not,” he assured her.

“Because there is one other thing.” Carrie worried her lip, meeting Doc’s questioning eyes. “I didn’t tell you…”

“Oh?”

The past several months, keeping Jody a secret from Doc, had been so difficult. But she still hadn’t confessed everything, not quite.

“Jody…” Her gaze dropped and she swallowed. “He was my first.”