CHAPTER 57 Martini


    Cristos


    I waited patiently for Xavier topose himself knowing he had done the same for me on many


    asions. Among the three of us, Xavier enjoyed violence. He had a stomach for all the gore that


    came his way.


    It wasn’t like Xavier to experience any aversion when it came to certain things like assault… unless


    whatever happened to Joy was more than disturbing. It was horrifying.


    Luckily, Joy and Sebastian didn’t pay much attention as I assisted Xavier. They were both busy going


    through the boxes of decorations for tomorrow night’s event. While she and Sebastian discussed her


    ns for the stage, Joy had this winsome smile on her face. I didn’t want to upset her with news that


    Xavier had found the gruesome evidence of her assault at the coroner’s house… not just yet..


    “Sorry, Base, Xavier finally said, sounding much better. “I’m not usually like this. Maybe because it’s


    her. By the way, I noticed Liam’s car isn’t parked up front anymore. Whatever business he had with the


    McDowells, I guess it’s done.”


    I


    “We did overhear him saying he had a meeting with someone tonight,” I said, taking a look at my


    monitor of the CCTV footage from the pub. “That someone could be either one of the McDowells.


    Anyway, Jack just walked into the pub, so Liam may be on his way here or he may be heading to


    Hillcrest.”


    “Well, just message me if he finds his way to the pub,” Xavier said. “I’ll head to Hillcrest to


    check.”


    “Copy that.”


    I briefly went to the bathroom to freshen up. When I came out, Sebastian and Joy were about to leave


    the office, each carrying a box of decorations.


    “What’s your hurry?” I asked. I still had to hide myptop and lock it in my safe.


    “Liam and Nicole just walked in. I need to find out what Nicole did in Fargo yesterday, so I told her I


    was here,” Sebastian exined. I looked at him surprised.


    “Noah told Patrick he was at Fargo yesterday when he came by the pub this afternoon to buy tickets,” I


    said. Was it a coincidence or not?


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    CHAPTER 57 Martini


    “But Noah’s truck was parked in front of his house when I came homest night, Joy said, puzzled.


    “Let’s check the footage from the cul-de-sac. I didn’t notice if anything came through the cul-de-sac,


    except for-


    “What is it?” Sebastian asked.


    “Old Man Tucket who lives right across from me, Noah was about to kiss me a while ago, but the


    elderly man interrupted us. He definitely saw something,” Joy said. I opened the door and


    ushered them out.


    “I’ll check the footage while you guys entertain. I’ll see you at the bar,” I said. Joy and Sebastian


    nodded their heads and left the office.


    After messaging Xavier that Liam was at the pub, I checked the early morning CCTV recording of Joy’s


    neighborhood and found Nicole’s Volvo XC40 had stopped just before entering the cul-de-sac. I saw


    Noah exit her car and slowly walk towards his home. He suddenly stopped several feet away, turned


    around and gave Nicole a flying kiss.


    They’re f ucking…


    I zoomed in on Noah’s face as he walked home and found him smiling which only meant. Nicole


    reciprocated before making a U-turn and driving home.


    I didn’t hear Noah mention anything through the bug Joy ced in his home. Most importantly, I didn’t


    even hear Liam mention any of it.


    Did Liam know about this or was he clueless like the rest of us?


    After cing my trustyptop in my safe, I walked out of my office and went straight to the bar to help


    Patrick. Fortunately, tonight was a slow night. Everyone was getting ready for tomorrow’s events…


    inside and outside the pub.


    I watched Joy joke around with Liam and Jack as I manned the bar. Every single time I heard Joy


    laugh, I had the urge to throw my Kiwi Chef knife either at Liam or Jack’s head.


    After Xavier’s ‘violent’ reaction, I felt they had no right to any of Joy’s affection, even if it was


    all an act:


    “Base, all is quiet in Hillcrest. No one is here. Not even Dan or Cris. I’m returning to the warehouse,” I


    heard Xavier’s voice through the earpiece. I bent down to grab two martini sses from the under bar.


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    CHAPTER 57 Martini


    Copy. Over and out, I said while I proceeded to make a dirty vodka martini for me and Joy. This was


    the one benefit of acting like we were best friends… we could do things together


    like a couple.


    Yum, a vodka martini,” Nicole said as she and Sebastian sat in front of me. The rest of the drinking


    public were calling it a night and here was gued with a ‘Marilyn Monroe” sounding troll.


    “Chip, two please,”


    tian said.


    I ced two napkins and gave them the two I had already made and garnished it with olives.


    I watched as Nicole took an olive in her mouth and began chewing it like she was giving


    head.


    How entertaining…


    I quickly made two more dirty martinis and gestured for Beth to hand one to Joy. Instead of savoring


    mine, I downed it, grateful for the salty sour taste of the brine. I quickly made a couple more sses.


    Tonight, before my event, I will drink. Joy or Sebastian could drive me home.


    “Aw, you missed me, Dom?” I overheard Nicole say. “I had to go to Fargo for a client of mine.”


    I scoffed at her.


    “What was in Fargo?” I asked, demanding an answer.


    “Tiles,” Nicole answered defiantly. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    “You couldn’t find a certain tile at Dom’s, so you drove almost three hours away to buy it?” I asked,


    downing another vodka martini. Sebastian watched with interest as Nicole squirmed


    in her stool.


    “W-well, w-we needed it right away and deliveries at Dom’s usually take a couple of days.” At first she


    looked unsure, but since the lie made sense, she eventually looked more confident. “My client was


    willing to pay anyway.”


    “Who’s your client?”


    She paused for a moment. “S-sheriff Combs.”


    “Sheriff Combs who used to live in a rickety old house wanted a specific tile and was willing


    3/5


    CHAPTER 7 Marium


    to pay yo ve van travel across the state to purjuse this specific tile. You know what? I


    so


    does make sense, I mumbled while looking like was thinking. I threw my hands up in the ait Anyways,


    why should I care?


    W what do y you mean? Nicole asked, looking as if she wanted to dump the martini on my


    head


    Noah mentioned he went there when he came to the pub to buy tickets for tomorrow’s event. Did you


    see him there?” asked, watching the blood drain from her face,


    “Uhm, yeah, I did see Noah at Fargo,” she admitted.


    “It’s a good enough alibi, Nicole,” I said, gazing her. “Personally, I think you’re cheating on Dom, but


    maybe I’m wrong.”


    Nicole’s face paled like she saw a ghost. I nailed her.


    But before Nicole could answer, Sebastian said, “You are wrong, Chip. She isn’t cheating on me. Nicole


    and 1… we’re just friends. Whatever she does during her free time is her business Sebastian downed


    his martini and yawned. “I need to get some sleep. I have some deliveriesing in tomorrow.” He


    threw some money on the bar top. “Good night, Nicole, Chip, make sure she gets home safely.”


    “That won’t be necessary, Chip. I’ll drive her home,” Liam said with Jack and Joy behind him. “Nicole,


    your keys. I’ll just have Henry follow us. It’ste and I still have things to do


    tomorrow.”


    Sebastian nodded his head and quickly left. I had a feeling he wanted to see Joy’s file, but I just


    couldn’t be reminded of what these b astards did to her. Not just yet….


    “T-that’s okay, Liam. I can drive myself,” Nicole tried to back away, but Liam took a hold of


    her arm.


    “It wasn’t a request, Nicole. Keys…now,” Liam insisted. Nicole opened her red purse and dangled her


    car key in front of Liam. Liam sn atched the car key from her hand and turned to


    Joy.


    *Virtue, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay. Good night, Liam kissed her on the cheek.


    “Why do you need to drive Nicole home?” Joy asked.


    “There are certain things we have to discuss regarding her Fargo trip,” Liam said..


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    CHAPTER 57 Martini


    “Oh, okay. Well, good night then.”


    “Good night, Virtue,” Jack said and kissed her on the other cheek.


    My blood was boiling. I wanted to take the vodka bottle and hit their heads with it. I sighed. frustratedly,


    I had to keep my temper in check.


    I noticed Nicole was staring at me. I guess she saw the fire in my eyes. To conceal my anger, I rolled


    my eyes at her. She scowled at me as Liam dragged her outside.


    “Good night, guys! Drive safely.” Joy called out to them as they exited the pub.


    Good riddance.


    “What was that all about?” Joy whispered.


    I shrugged my shoulders. “Noah.” I was about to down my third martini when Joy took the ss from


    me and ced it back on the bar top.


    “How about we drink at my house tonight and set the stage up tomorrow?” Joy asked,


    noticing I wanted to drink. “I’ll drink with you, but I don’t want to drive drunk. What do you


    say? The pub is empty anyway.”


    “Let’s.”


    Chapter Comments


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    Interesting twists and plots in the making


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