Chapter 67: Chapter 67
Chapter 67
ALICIA
I feel like puking. . . all over Senator Harrison's white starched dress shirt.
Guess the lemon drink I took before coming out here is waning. I love my baby, I really do, and even though she's technically still a tiny growing seed - three months and counting - I'm just about ready to give her up before she's even made her debut.
That's how bad I'm feeling.
From the corner of my eyes, I see Ash striding determinedly toward us and I know if I don't do something to stop the anger rolling off him in waves, Senator Harrison's brains are going to be splattered all over the floor and I can't let that happen.
That would be the worst distraction from our mission, and we need to catch Ash's evil twin - like yesterday.
I quickly disentangle myself from Senator Harrison's tightening grasp, and back away from him like he just contracted a dangerous plague. Actually, he soon will, because, with the way Ash's eyes are tearing him apart, he won't stand a chance.
I have to do something about this.
As I step forward to block Ash, someone else beats me to it. By the time I gather my momentum and look up, I realize it's a woman. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a petite frame. The dress she's got on is mid-length and tight, hugging her in all the right places and drawing the attention of all the men around, and a few women as well.
I once watched a program about cops and robbers. There was a heist some thieves committed. To catch them, the cops infiltrated their den in plain clothes and blended amongst the robbers, acting like they were a part of them, but there was an air about the cops that I'll never forget.
It's the same air I see around this woman with her keen eyes and too-bright smile.
Yup! She's got an air of authority stamped all over her. Don't let the tight dress fool you.
I come to the staggering conclusion that this woman is either a cop or something close to it.
I watch as Ash's face contorts and takes up a look of disbelief. What he does next shocks me to my bone marrow. He takes hold of her hand - not in a loving grasp, mind you - and steers her toward the house.
What in the tight-wearing-dumb blonde cop is going on here?
I watch in rising anger as she throws her head back in a reckless abandon of laughter and follows him. I chew my lips and look around. Senator Harrison is nowhere to be seen, but Senator Lyons is making his way toward me.
Not if I can help it.
I shoot him a glare and walk off in the direction Ash and blonde-Barbie-cop took, my strides slow because of this damn dress I have on. I told Clarissa I didn't want to wear anything tight, I warned her that I needed to hightail it when the need arose, but does she ever listen to me?
That would be a big fat no.
I was forced - yes - literally, into it, with soft coaxing words. Wear it, Lis, you'd be the cynosure of Ash's eyes. That was all it took for me. I heard those words and I felt like a pack of dominoes. It takes me a bit of time, but I eventually make it to the door, and just in time to see Ash dragging - yes, dragging- the woman down the hallway and through the door of the library.
I slow my steps and look behind me, checking to see if anyone is following. Satisfied I'm all alone, I slip inside and walk leisurely, slowly, toward the library, like my heart's not beating a tambourine in my chest like nothing's wrong like I don't want to throttle someone - specifically blonde-cop - when in-fact, I can't wait to plant my ears against the library doors to find out why the hell Ash had to take that harpy there in the first place.
I make my way there, undisturbed, but just as I'm about to bend and get a good earful, someone taps me from behind. I turn around to see Clarissa grinning at me maniacally.
"Hey, Lis, whatcha doing?"
Her voice - it's like a loudspeaker.
Now, Ash will definitely hear and know I was eavesdropping. I try but fail to stifle the irritation rising inside of me so I drag her away from the door until I get to a safe distance where we can't be heard before I speak. "I'm trying to search for my earrings." I point to the floor for emphasis as I mentally hit myself at how stupid my excuse sounds.
At first, she looks confused. "But. . . they're on your ears." And then her eyes narrow as she moves closer to me and touches my forehead. "Are you sure you're okay? You feel a bit warm. Is baby acting bad?"
When she acts and sounds this way, I feel like throttling her. The hiss makes its way to my throat, but before I'm able to release it, I roll my eyes and fast-walk away from her, as fast as the dress I have on will let me. The door to the library opens and I turn to see blonde cop walking out. Even from this distance, I catch a whiff of her perfume. Really, who throws that much perfume on themselves?
No! Don't answer - it's miss tacky blonde cop.
The closer she walks toward me, the more I see it - her dress is all askew, her lipstick is smeared and her hair is in total disarray.
What the fuckity fuck happened in there?
As she passes me, I resist the urge to gouge her eyes out. She gives me a coy smile as she walks past me. Clarissa, who's level with me now, gives me a what the hell just happened look, but I ignore it. I'm busy trying hard to reign in this shit storm inside of me.
Tacky blonde cop doesn't make it to the front door because she walks back, actually walks back toward me, and stops, cocks her head to the side, and darts out her tongue before flicking it across her lips. "That's some man you've got in there." She says breathily, after which she walks off.
Now I'm not so daft as to know that something actually happened between her and Ash.
How? You ask.
Reason no 1: Time was too short for even a make-out session between them because I was practically right behind them the whole time.
Reason no. 2: I don't think Ash will disrespect me in that way. Think, being the operative word.
Notwithstanding, her mere presence is galling, to say the least, and Ash is going to hear it from me.
Now that the urge to vomit has all but disappeared, I walk toward the library door, determined to find out what really went down in there.