Enemy Chapter Ten
Enemy Me
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter Ten
Rick and Barbara pulled into a parking spot outside The Lo’tion Diner – it was often mispronounced as ‘lotion’, but the owner pronounced it ‘low-she-own’. It was a local restaurant that specialized in home comfort food with a retro style built back in the double-aught ages. Barbara turned the cruiser off. “You’ve been pretty quiet.”
Rick shifted in his seat. “It’s all a lie, Barb. Forrest fed us shit and I’m almost certain the bomber was Walker or a Walker clone.”
“How would a clone get into this country?”
“Like everyone else. False cards . . .”
“But what about retina scan?”
“New eyes. Even in this country, we’ll use cloned organs and limbs.”
She nodded. “Okay, supposing it was a clone, the question is why a clone?”
“Why? Barb! Think about it. The ultimate suicide bomber. An unlimited supply!”
“An expensive supply. More expensive than a Titan Hawk cruise missile.”
Rick had to concede that. “Yeah, but almost untraceable.”
“Nothing’s untraceable these days.”
Rick laughed, “I did say ‘almost’?”
Barbara’s voice took on a serious tone. She turned her upper half to face Rick. “If we follow your thinking then what you are suggesting is epic.”
He nodded. “No less. But I’ve still got this nag hanging on my back.”
Barbara lifted her chin up and she frowned.
“Why Walker? Why Forever Life?”
“Forrest, that’s why.” She said.
Rick cocked his head to one side. “Forrest?”
“Is a clone.”
“Barb! That’s bull . . .” He stopped in mid-sentence. “It was the reflex.”
Both laughed.
“But, seriously, “Rick said, “Who would send a Pete clone?”
Barbara thought a few seconds. She thought the answer was totally obvious. “Pete Walker.”
“Pete!”
“Yeah. You got this lost twin brother thing going on in the past. Like out of nowhere, there he is. First, oddity. Then the question about birth certificates. Number two. Then, the delivery staff. All claim faulty memory, but all enjoying surprisingly improbable luck with the lottery. And . . .”
“Okay, okay, I’m impressed. I hadn’t known you had an interest in the Walker Conspiracy?”
“Ha! Who hadn’t! That fueled my young teenage mind. All my friends were into it. That’s all we talked about.”
Rick scratched the bottom of his chin. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his gum. He unwrapped the wrapper and popped the gum in his mouth.
Barbara automatically said, “Don’t swallow.”
Rick automatically retorted, “What do you know about swallowing?”
“Fuck you!”
“And, you always threaten. Never follow through.”
Both laughed.
Barbara said as she opened the car door. “I’m hungry. Stop talking and get out.”
Sarah Hill dropped off an order at table two. It was ham cooked well, eggs sunny side up with whites firm, white toast plain and a cup of coffee.
Joe, the restaurant’s regular, said, “Thanks Sarah. You free tonight?”
She laughed and walked off.
Rick and Barbara walked through the door.
Rick called out, “Hey Sarah.”
Sarah looked up, turned from wiping off a table and smiled. Rick and Barb were her favorites. They tipped very well. She walked over and greeted the two. “I got a table cleaned off.” She gestured toward the table she finished cleaning.
Rick sat on one side of the booth.
Barbara sat at the other end.
Sarah asked, “The usual or something else?”
Rick visibly relaxed and said, “Pastrami, rye, the works, no pickle.” He hesitated and thought for a moment. “Give me a Bell’s, please.”
Barbara said, “Now?”
Rick shrugged and nodded. “Why not. You’re driving.” His smile was broad.
Barbara gave him an evil eye. Her frown was deep. “I’ll have my usual, with water.”
Sarah nodded and jotted down the orders. She liked the detectives and had sexual fantasies about both. Rick fulfilled her sense of normalcy while Barbara took care of a carefree and wild side. She dreamt of being bedded by the two. They seemed fun and clearly the chemistry between the two worked. They teased openly and genuinely liked and respected one another. She knew Rick was straight and Barbara was gay, of which really meant nothing except she could have the best of both worlds. She nodded, “Coming right up.” She turned and walked away to place the order with the head cook. She came out and headed to another table. A minute later she had their order placed.
Rick caught Barbara staring at the rear end of a retreating Sarah. He leaned over to her. “You’d do her wouldn’t you?”
Barbara gave Rick a coy smile. “Maybe, maybe not. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
“Me?”
“Seriously, you never noticed?”
He pulled out a bubblegum, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. “I’m a regular guy. I don’t notice those subtle female things. I’m . . .”
“. . . divorced because of it.”
“Gut punch. Not fair.”
Just then Sarah stepped out into the dining area. Had a glass of water and a bottle of Bell’s. She figured Rick wanted to drink straight from the bottle.
Rick looked up as she placed the bottle in front of him. He smiled. ‘How did she know,’ he thought.
Sarah swept some hair that had drifted in front of her eye behind her ear. She smiled back. A second later she heard Barbara cough. She realized she hadn’t placed the glass down yet. “Sorry.”
Barbara smiled, “How’s it been, Sarah? Anything new?”
Sarah gushed, “Just working. Nothing new, no, wait. We did have someone from the station take samples on Mel’s food. She asked him to cook everything on the menu. Mel was tickled. It took about five hours but he did it, she paid full price and left a wonderful tip.”
Barbara said, “Really? She leave a name or card?”
Sarah shook her head, “Her name tag read Smekhov.”
Rick laughed, “Probably one of those spooky projects they got going on in the lab.”
Barbara answered, “Probably. With those guys you can’t tell.”
Sarah politely nodded.
Barbara noticed and gave Rick a light tap on his shin with her foot.
He gave her the evil eye. “Hey, Sarah, is that a new do?”
Sarah blushed, “Since the last time you saw me, yeah.”
He totally bullshitted and hit target. “Very nice.”
Several seconds ticked by. Barbara kicked Rick’s shin harder.
“Hey, Sarah, what do you do these days when not working?”
A smile formed on her face and she blushed lightly. “Not much. Sometimes I catch a movie. You know they redid The Bridge a few weeks ago?”
“I heard. I had been meaning to go, but . . . you know . . .”
She nodded, “Yeah, me, too.”
Mel yelled out from back, “Order!”
Sarah frowned and looked back. “Foods ready, be back.”
Once Sarah was out of earshot Rick leaned over, “Stop kicking me will ya?”
Barbara smiled, “Smooth moves Romeo. Like, ‘I had been meaning to go . . . umm, d’oh . . . but . . . umm, d’oh . . . you know . . .’” She laughed.
“You can do better? I didn’t just want to come on strong?”
Barbara smiled, “I know. And, I’m sure she appreciated it.”
Rick nodded.
“Just ask her out. She’ll either say yes or no.”
“All that easy for you?”
“Rick, trust me on this.”
He was about to reply when Sarah came out with their order.
She placed Barbara’s Mushroom Florentine Crepes down first.
“Sarah, are you free tonight?”
She nearly dropped his plate. Instinctively, Rick reached out to save his meal. Sarah recovered in time and neatly placed it in front of him. She cleared her throat, “As a matter of fact, I am free.” She waited.
Barbara kicked Rick in the shin.
Rick winced and forced a smile. “Wanna see a movie or something?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, I would.”
Rick seemed surprised. All that easy he thought. Damn you Barb. “What time do you get off tonight?”
“Eight? We’re a bit short handed, so I have to pull time and a half.” She suddenly frowned. “Is that too late?”
Rick smiled and half closed his eyes. “Eight would be just fine. You wanna met there? Or should I pick you up?”
She replied, “We can meet there. I don’t wanna inconvenience you . . .”
“Not at all!”
“. . . in front of the ticket office? 8:30?”
He nodded. “Sounds good . . .”
Mel yelled, “Order!”
Sarah smiled, turned, and walked into the kitchen.
Barbara kicked Rick.
“Goddamnit woman. Kick me in the shin again and I’m stomping that little man in the boat’s head in.
So she did it again, but harder.
He reached down and rubbed his shin.
Barbara squinted and stuck her tongue out. “Care to rephrase that?”