Chapter 19: Dinner Topics
We pulled off the road to a small tavern full of neon lights and loud music. Stuart untied me and ushered me out the car.
"We can't let you go not eating. We'll stop here for now."
I looked around at the area. A local pub I might assume. Far from being fancy or well-kept.
"Why bother feeding me if I'm wanted for death?"
Stuart gritted his teeth and waved his hands, afraid people might hear me.
"Should have kept you gagged but the village folk would get suspicious. If you're smart, you'll keep your mouth shut and not attempt to escape."
Right. I noticed two more guys including the chauffer get out of the limo.
There was no way I could escape even if I tried. I saw a red phone booth as we
headed inside. Hmm.
The place was noisy when we entered. The smoking law must have been permitted here.
The bar stools were full of chain smokers. You could barely see anyone's faces
in the
cloud of white smoke. Stuart guided me to a seat where I was pushed into the corner
of a booth. Another guy slid in next to me as Stuart took his seat on my other side.
The third
guy took the farthest seat out and the chauffer slid in near the second guy, also on the
outside.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" I tried to break the ice. They all stared at me.
A beautiful brunette came over to our table with a circular tray and notepad; her
pencil resting on her ear. She looked like she was falling out of her shirt as the
neck line was dangerously
low-cut to near cleavage. I wore shirts like that to impress Edward. And
unknowingly the Turtles. She smiled as she looked to the guys. And me!
"Hey, cuties and miss. Can I get you something-"
"Do you have a back bedroom?" One of Stuart's friend's smirked. His friend punched his arm and laughed.
"To drink?" She finished her sentence, staring mostly at Stuart then Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber. The chauffer sat quietly.
"Yeah, give me a Miller on tap." Stuart mumbled
"For you miss?" She smiled to me.
"Uh, Pepsi's fine."
She looked to the guy next to me.
"And you, besides a back bedroom?"
"Hey, I was just kidding about that! You know, teasing ya there. Give me a Miller too on tap."
"And you?" She pointed to his friend.
"You got Samuel Adams?" She nodded. "Bring it on!"
Finally the chauffer. I hope he wasn't drinking. He's our designated driver!
"I'll have an ice tea, please."
Whew! Thank you, Lipton!
The girl smiled again and left. I looked to Stuart whom seemed to be thinking
deeply. The two dorks were playing around with the silverware and using pieces of
the napkin as paper wads. If these
guys were scientists or students of this sophisticated lab and possible future leaders in
the world of technology, we're doomed! I stared at the chauffer last. He was
very quiet. In his own little world.
I liked him the best because he wasn't involved in this scheme to kill me. He was
just doing his job as a driver. He probably doesn't even know why these guys want me
so bad. He probably
thinks I'm someone visiting on business and am learning to becoming a scientist in this
laboratory. Little did he know I was the main attraction. And I wasn't talking
about a strip club either! I'd be
better off there then here. Any place was better. I looked to Stuart again.
"Does he know?" I said quietly to him.
Stuart looked at me.
"Does who know?" I made a gesture to the chauffer. "Does he know what? You mean about..." I nodded. Stuart waved a hand. "Nah, he doesn't know. But if he did, it's no biggie."
"Really? So, we can talk about what's going on in his presence?"
"Sure. Then we'll kill him!" I gasped but he raised a finger. "I'm just kidding. We can talk. Don't worry about it."
The girl returned with my Pepsi, an ice tea, a Samuel Addams bottle with iced glass and a pitcher of Miller for Stuart and one of the guys. She was really talented to balance all the drinks on one tray.
"Here we go gentlemen. And lady." She smiled at me again. I
think she liked me. I wasn't sure. I gave her a look of plea, attempting to
silently communicate that I needed help. She seemed to hint
at something. She continued to act casual by taking out her notepad and pencil.
"Do you know what you want to eat?"
Eat? I never looked at the menu! My mind wasn't thinking about food. Stuart went first as I snatched up the closed menu, looking up and down for anything appetizing.
Lucy pulled out the map again, wishing she were on vacation with a gorgeous guy.
It showed lots of fun activities and places to visit. The hotels looked
splendid with Victorian style
architect. They'd have to get a hotel room eventually. She searched up and
down at the listings for reasonably priced rooms. Too bad she didn't have traveler's
checks with her. Only
pounds, pence, and of course, her plastic power. But no clothes! Oh, how she
wished they were in London. She could shop to her heart's content in the luxouious
Harrods department
store. She sighed as she glanced to the clothing stores, wondering if fashion was
more important than shelter. She looked up to the Gents sign.
"Well, I think fashion is very important." She made a face and resumed
reading. Then the urge hit her too as she looked up to the Ladies sign around the
corner. Sitting up, she knew
she had to make a quick trip. They'd have to be coming out by now. She grabbed
her purse and went down the hall into the door marked "Ladies."
Leo stepped out first followed by Mike. They both stopped at their table and looked around.
"Hey, where'd she go?"
Mike shrugged as he sat down. Leo slid in to the other side of the seat. The waiter came by again.
"Are you folks ready to order?"
Mike looked to Leo with a smile.
Leo went along casually.
"Uh, yes sir. I believe so." He attempted not to make eye contact with the guy as he read off what Lucy suggested.
"Excellent choice, and something to drink for you?"
Oh, no. The man wasn't finished! Leo ducked his face in the menu, biting
his lip. "Uh, I'm not sure what every one wants...." He looked to
see the rest of the group returning. Raph frowned as he
saw the guy standing there.
"Aw, jeez! Not him-" Lucy swiftly covered his mouth.
"Be sweet, Raph."
Raph loved it when she touched his face. He pulled her hand away and kissed it.
"I can be sweet."
Don made a face of disgust as Raph said that. They all sat down and looked to the waiter.
"Care for something to drink?"
"What kind of beer do you have?" Raph looked to him, realizing the question would require a lot of talking.
"We have Tsingtao, a favorite here, or the usual Budweiser, Beck's, Heineken."
Raph raised a finger. "Budweiser's fine."
"Coke for me." Lucy said. Then looked to Don. "Him too."
"Coke? Two Cokes?" The waiter repeated. The Turtles were fighting it.
"Make that three!" Mike said.
"No, four." Leo spoke up.
The waiter wrote it all down. "Four Cokes and a Bud, yes?"
Lucy answered. "Yes, thank you." The waiter bowed and left again. More snickering aroused at the table. Lucy sighed.
"You guys are going to have to give up the giggles. It's embarrassing."
"No, a Chinese guy with a British accent is embarrassing!" Raph laughed out loud.
"We're sorry, Lucy." Leo said, the one being the calmest out of the four.
A Chinese lady came up to the table with the drinks. She didn't speak, but had
the lovliest smile, almond-shaped eyes, and black silky hair cascading down her shoulders.
She was a vision.
The table was dead-silent as she did her job. Lucy could see the Turtles were
captivated by her beauty.
"Thank you." Lucy said quietly.
"Uh, huh." Was her only reply.
"Thank you!" The Turtles said in unison. She bowed lightly and walked away.
Lucy placed an arm on the table with a hand cupping her cheek, amused by their reactions.
"Now, what if she had a British accent? Would you still make fun of her?"
"Well, no." Raph spoke slowly.
"Beautiful women are not meant to be made fun of." Mike stated.
Lucy blushed with a smile.
"Is that why you wouldn't make fun of my accent? Because I'm a beautiful woman?"
They shrugged and nodded silently. She wanted to kiss them all. The statement almost moved her to doing so. Instead, she maintained her cool.
"Thank you. You're all so sweet. Goofy, but sweet."
Lucy sighed before looking down to see she left the map out. Gorgeous guys.
Fun activities. She could still make the best of this trip. She placed
her hand on it, just as Don reached for it,
his hand smacking down on top of hers.
"Whoops." He smiled shyly as he quickly removed his hand. "I just wanted to look at it."
She smiled and removed her hand. "Go right ahead."
He studied it hard, knowing there was nothing on it that could help.
"C.L.R.C." He said again, thinking deeply. "Could it stand
for Central Laboratory of the Research Councils?" Lucy shrugged. "If
that's what it is, then it's very well-known in Europe. I wish I had my
computer with me right about now. I could check for a web site to find the location
or locations to this place."
"I'm not sure of any libraries around here. We could check in the morning."
"Libraries." Don repeated as he looked under the government section. "I'm sure if we find one, they'll have terminals connected to the internet."
Lucy looked over his shoulder.
"Mostly, I've been trying to find a hotel or guest house. I hope you don't plan on going all night trying to find Jewel."
The Turtles fell silent. That was a bad sign.
Lucy dropped her hands flat on the table. "Oh, come on! You can't be serious?"
They were serious.
"Lucy, they're not going to wait around for company to arrive." Leo said in reasoning. "They got a head start as it is."
"So, what, you're not going to sleep at all? Is that what you're telling me?" They nodded quickly. "I can't do that! I need my sleep! I'm practically fighting to stay awake now."
"We just don't want to waste anytime." Mike said calmly.
Lucy looked skyward. "Great, I can see it now, we're walking along and I collapse from sleep deprivation."
"They have pills for that, you know." Raph said.
"I don't want pills! I want a bed!" Lucy pointed a finger before he spoke. "And if you say something about that, I will kick you till you're dead!"
"Hello, family! Were you the family?!"
A familar voice popped up. They all turned to see their friendly waiter standing
there with a food tray. An assistant was standing by to serve the plates. Lucy
frowned, afraid of how long they'd been
standing there listening to them. She attempted a small smile.
"Excuse me?"
The waiter gestured to their food. "You were the family ones, right? Family dinner?"
Lucy laughed out loud.
"Oh, oh, yes! I'm sorry! Yes, we ordered the family dinner. Right, here. Thank you."
Lucy put a hand to her eyes and closed them, feeling the tiredness reach her body. The waiter and the assistant placed the large serving dishes on the table, then the plates in front of each of them.
"It's been a long day." Lucy added.
"Oh, has it?" The waiter asked.
"Mm, hmm." Lucy looked up to the Turtles, whom just started in on serving themselves. "Very long day."
"Are you staying in town somewhere?"
She continued to stare.
"I wish."
"Just passing through, I see?"
"Yuuuup."
"Well, folk." The waiter stepped back followed by a bow. The assistant followed. "Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, sir."
Mike gestured to her empty plate.
"Come on, Lucy. Pile up. It's real good."
"Just hope I don't land face down in it, Mike."
"Well, I don't expect you to eat it like that."
Now, that made her laugh.
"No, of course not."
"Are you really that tired, Lucy?" Leo looked up in concern.
She nodded. "I just need a few hours. Not even a full night's rest. Three or Four hours and I'll be awake."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to check around for a library after we eat." Don said.
"Guess we could." Lucy checked her watch. It was only 12:30pm. She never changed the time. "Why does it feel later?" She asked aloud.
"Because it is later." All four said at once. Bad habit. Lucy shook her head.
"I've definitely been away for too long."
What a dump! For England, this was the worst place I could possibly imagine.
It was an offroad restaurant so any local scum could come walking in unannounced.
I would have preferred something
more classier. But I wasn't the one put in charge here. I decided to order a
club sandwich, something safe. Stuart ordered a T-bone steak with potatoes and
vegtables, one of the guys got a hamburger
and his friend got some kind of shishkabob with terriyaki beef. The chauffer munched
quietly on a large dinner salad.
My mind was once again racing. What if my husband was dead? Would it really
matter since I'd be joining him? No! I know I'll get out of this. Lucy
was the last one I spoke to. She was certainly
suspicious when the Turtles and I paid a visit. I wonder if she knows where I'm
going and told the guys. Would they come all this way just to rescue me? Lucy
wanted to go to England to see her
parents. Edward and I were planning it to be a surprise. Drop her off at her
parent's house and then go off on our own. Maybe visit my parents for a change.
Then again, would the courts allow
me to see them after their identity change? Their own daughter? Their flesh
and blood? As far as I know, the people whom I remembered as my mom and dad are both
dead. All I had left in the
world to turn to was Edward whom already may be gone without me knowing it. The
Turtles were much help but are unable to be reached. Don's brain power could come in
handy right about
now, Leo's leadership and strength would prevent any harm to me, Raph's quick thinking and
hostility can put the fear in all these men, and Mike, ah Mike, would crack a joke just to
make me
laugh once more. If Edward is truly gone, I'll have no one left. Hannah would
get me through but she has problems of her own. A daughter to take care of, her own
husband to please, I couldn't
interfere with their lives. I've been independant for a very long time. She's
the last person I'd go crawling to. The only reason why I went to her in the first
place was because I needed help on
getting away from those men whom wanted me so badly. So much for that plan.
They've got me now. And I'm too far away for anyone to know that I'm here.
Unless.....
"Stuart, I need to use the restroom."
Stuart looked to me while swigging his beer down. He signaled one of the guys.
"Go with her."
I gave him a look as I stood up.
"What. You don't trust me?"
"I trust you. It's him I worry about sometimes." Stuart looked to his friend.
"Hey, I'm not gonna do anything to her."
"You'd better not, Travis. She's a married woman, you know."
Or quite possibly a widow now. I shuddered at the thought and walked down the hall with Travis. Well, got one of their names.
"So, what's Thing 2's name?" I asked Travis.
"Huh?"
Talk about dumb!
"Your friend. The other dork."
He stopped in front of me.
"Who are you calling a dork?"
"Ah, the dork has feelings!" I needed a good laugh which I did in front of his face. He took a quick glance to our table before shoving me up against the wall.
"Listen, you little whore! Don't ever call me or my friend a dork, got it?! You don't know who you're messing with here."
"Let go of me, Travis." I spoke firmly.
Travis stared deeply into my now serious eyes. I stared right back. He had
greenish, yellow eyes, like a wolf that looked right through you. I could feel those
eyes wanting to undress me. The guy
was disgusting. He slowly backed away as I slid toward the women's restroom door.
I kept my gaze on him, frightened he'd strike the minute I turned away. Once
inside, I turned, almost falling
down! What's this? The restrooms were down a long, dimly lit staircase.
I followed the steps till I heard toilets flushing. Some women were primping,
others in the 5 stalls. The women looked like
sluts with puffy hair, caked on make-up, thigh-high boots, see-through blouses, and long,
long red nails. Nails to scratch down a man's back. I bet Travis would be in
his glory. I stood waiting
for my turn, getting the size-up treatment from the tramps at the mirrors. They
watched me in their reflections. I ignored them, thinking more of a way to escape
without leaving the way I came in.
I glanced around above me. A loop hole! I spied some old-fashioned windows
that you see in the bathrooms in high school. The half opened and half closed kind.
I looked back to the women
whom were closing up their beauty shop. In other words, putting their make-up,
combs, and perfume away, ready to walk out. The other women from the stalls were
flushing and stepping out,
replacing the tramp's reflections with their own. I smiled to be polite whenever
they looked my way. This was taking too long. Stuart would come after me, not
caring if this was a girl's bathroom.
I prayed deeply that my plan would work. Funny thing was, I had no idea I even had a
plan to begin with!