Several empty beer glasses adorn the table in the booth Barbie and Tamara share along the back wall of the pub. Barbie looks clear as a button, but Tamara is swaying and unfocused. Slurring her words.
“That bastard, I have no idea when he even came in last night.”
“Did you ask him?”
“I’m not gonna give him the satisfaction. He wants to know he can tell me.”
Barbie bites back a chuckle, “You mean you’re going to ask or you want him to tell you?.”
“Yeah that’s wha’ I said.”
The cab pulls up in front of the police station, and Liz pays the driver before going around to help Natasha get out.
Her friend looks smaller than usual and there is a gray cast to her skin Liz hadn’t noticed at the hospital. But there’s no stopping her, so she just helps, slamming the door and waving at the driver.
Liz follows Natasha through the doorway and to the front desk where she leans on the counter waiting for the officer to hang up the phone.
“No, he won’t be back on until tomorrow. Yes, that’s right. Thank you.” He hangs up the phone and takes in the two girls. “Can I help you ladies?”
Natasha nods. “Yes, I’m here to see Detective Lewis.”
He shakes his head, “I’m sorry ma’am, she’s busy at the moment. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, no appointment, but I need to see her now.” Natasha repeats quietly but firmly.
“Are you the lady who called earlier?” he asks, getting it.
“No,” Liz tells him, “That was me. I was trying to keep her in the hospital.”
“I need to see Detective Lewis.”
Shaking his head in frustration, “I’m sorry ma’am, that’s just not possible.”
“Why can’t you just tell her I’m here.”
“I will, as soon as she comes out.”
“And how long will that be?”
“I don’t know. When she does.”
“And in the mean time she’s questioning the one guy I know didn’t attack me. How would you feel if that was you in there?” she frowns at him.
“What are you talking about, lady?”
“How would you like to spend an evening being interrogated about a rape you didn’t do while a witness who could clear you was cooling their heels in the lobby? Wouldn’t you rather …” suddenly all the colour just falls from Natasha’s face and her eyes roll back as she collapses in a heap on the marble floor.
“Natasha!” Liz drops to the floor, cradling Natasha’s head.
The officer comes out from behind the desk. Liz looks up. “Is there someplace she can lay down?”
“You said she was in the hospital?”
“Yes, she’s the one who was attacked at Christie. Look, the floor is cold. Can we find a chair for her or something? She has to talk to Detective Lewis. If she can talk to Lewis, I can convince her to get back to the hospital.” Liz looks earnestly at the young officer. “Please?”
“Here, let’s get her off the floor.” He helps Liz carry Natasha to an empty office, and settle her into a high backed swivel chair with arms.
The officer goes to find Lewis.
Natasha opens her eyes as the door closes behind him. “It worked, huh?”
Liz stares at her. “I can’t believe you faked that.”
“Not fake, I just stopped holding myself together and let go. Guess I’m in worse shape than I thought. Sitting is better anyway.”
“Look, Nat, we have to get you back to the hospital.”
Natasha sets her jaw, shaking her head. “Not until Boris is out of trouble.”
“He’s a big strong boy, and in case you haven’t noticed, you’re sick as a dog.”
“I’m not sick, I’m hurt. And Boris did not hurt me, I’m telling you, and I won’t be able to rest if I’m worried about Boris.”
“But you can’t know …”
“Yes, I can. We had a big fight, right. Who hit who? I hit him Liz, he didn’t raise a finger, don’t you get it? He would never hurt me on purpose. Never.”
The door opens and Lewis comes into the room.
“You look as though you should still be in the hospital Ms. Panov.”
“Natasha.”
“I don’t understand what you’re doing here. You couldn’t identify your attacker, so we’re following leads. You need to let us do our job and you do your own by going back and getting well.”
“It wasn’t Boris.”
Lewis lightens up, “Look, I understand you want to help but you didn’t see the man who attacked you, and we need to follow up all leads. That sad fact is that most attackers know their victims. They attack people they know. You were probably hit on the head so that you couldn’t make an identification.”
Natasha holds up her hand. “I know all that. And Liz told me much the same thing but I know it wasn’t Boris. I’ve been trying to figure out how I know it and I’ve just now figured it out.”
Lewis crosses her arms, clearly skeptical. “Why do you think it wasn’t Mr. Horvat?”
“Because I know what he smells like. Look, you have to understand, Bo is my best friend. We’re together all the time. I know what he smells like when he’s just had a shower and I know what he smells like when he’s had a few too many or he’s stinking up the world after an all nighter. It was not Boris who attacked me, it was somebody who smells different. You have to let him go.”
Lewis cocks her head, “What kind of smell?”
Natasha frowns. “I’m not sure. Just that it wasn’t Bo. It was somebody else and you need to catch the guy. Look I don’t want the asshole to get off, but I want it to be the real asshole in jail.”
“It would help a lot if you could give some idea.”
“I don’t know, I’ll think about it. Look, the nurse said they did a rape test when I was still out of it. Can’t you check the DNA or something?”
Lewis nods, “Yes, Ms. Panov, we can and we will. Your Mr. Horvat is providing a sample right now, but it will be weeks before we have results.”
“So he’s giving you a sample? Volunteering it, right?”
Lewis nods. “Why can’t you just let him go then? I know it wasn’t him. Why won’t you believe me?”
“Victims are often unhelpful when they’re in an abusive relationship.”
Natasha looks at her.
“Oh. I get it.” Sighs deeply. How does she do this? Fidgeting, staring intently at the floor, “I’m not in an abusive relationship. Boris is my best friend. It’s the most important relationship I have but that’s what it is, friendship. And I’ve never heard of an abusive friendship.”
Lewis frowns, “That’s not what everyone else thinks.”
“I know. I kind of wanted it that way. But Boris and I are not involved romantically and never will be. Because I’m gay.”
Lewis nods. “Ah.”
Liz looks confused. “But, everybody saw you kiss Boris.”
Afraid to even look at Liz, Natasha answers quietly, “Uh, no. Boris kissed me. Boris was trying it romantic. That’s why I decked him, ’cause he kissed me and didn’t let go.”
“All the more reason he should be a suspect.” says Lewis.
“You don’t know him. He’s big and he looks tough but he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. If it was Boris, I would know.”
“I’ll cut him loose for now, but he is still very much a suspect. You can be sure that if the DNA evidence says different–.”
“It won’t,” Natasha says.
“Alright. Wait here.” Lewis leaves to see about Boris.
“I’m sorry, Natasha. I didn’t realize,” Liz says Liz.
“Yeah, I know.”
“We can still be friends, though, can’t we?”
“Sure we can. Um. Have you ever known anybody gay before?”
“Well, Not officially. I’ve got an uncle who might be, but he’s not saying, it wouldn’t go over well in a small town.”
“Well, I was stupid enough to come out to my parents when I graduated from high school. My mom couldn’t get me on a plane fast enough to the farthest away school she could think of. So. I just decided not to be anything. Celibate. It was like fate to meet Boris because we just clicked, you know?”
“Well,” smiles Liz, “Of course it was fate. He’s Boris and you’re Natasha.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boris thought it was funny.”
“Uh, um, does this mean you’re coming out of the closet?”
“Yeah. Everyone at school assumed Boris and I were a couple, and that gave me some protection, but if it hurts Boris it’s gotta stop.” Natasha rubs her eyes with her sleeve. “It’s my fault he’s in here. Even though it was kind of accidental I… guess I’ve kind of lead Boris on. I know that’s no excuse but, oh I’m too tired and everything hurts. So tired.” Natasha’s head droops back on the chair. Asleep.
Oscar and Quentin walk Krystal to her car. “Look you guys don’t have to do this.”
“Don’t be stupid. Until they catch the guy people need to watch out for each other,” says Oscar.
Quentin adds, “You don’t want to end up like Natasha.”
Krystal says, “But I don’t want to be a bother,” as they arrive at her car.
“One second,” says Quentin as he peers through the rear window to make sure the back seat area is really empty. “Always check the back before unlocking the door.”
Krystal nods then unlocks it. “Thanks, Q, I never would have thought of that. How’s Tamara handling all this?”
“Damned if I know, she’s not talking to me. Near as I can tell she’s bunking with Barbie. At least she’s not on her own.”
“Oh Q, I’m sorry.” she says.
“Don’t worry, Krys. It might even be for the best.”
Krystal slides in behind the wheel and starts the engine.
“Sorry I couldn’t concentrate, Oz. I wasn’t trying to totally wreck your evening.”
Oscar grins. “No worries. The evening is just starting. We’re heading out to the pub.”
Krystal laughs. “Okay, you have fun then. Thanks guys.”
“We’ll do our best lass. Drive safe.”
“Lets get a move on,” suggests Quentin.
“Lead on McDuff, I’m bloody freezing.” As she pulls out of the lot they jog back down the path.
Mouse, Maggie and Kate sit at the bar in the pub as Elsie intently tries to peel the label off her beer bottle. It isn’t coming off easily, she has to scrape and fiddle with it. As fragments peel off she adds them to the pile of shreds on the bar.
Mouse says, “I think it sucks. Just because some creep is running around hurting women we’re all supposed to cower behind closed doors waiting for big men to keep us safe?”
Elsie shakes her head. “This is the twenty first century for god’s sake, not Victorian England.”
“Works for me.” Maggie sees how annoyed they are so she says, “All we need to do is buddy up until they get him.”
Mouse turns to Maggie. “Kate said you met the rapist.”
“Maybe, maybe not. It was a flasher. He jumped out of the woods in the rape zone.”
“No!” Mouse laughs out loud. “What did you do?
“It was ridiculous. So I just laughed. At him. I guess he didn’t know how to handle it and he just took off.”
“That was brilliant, Maggie.” says Mouse. “What made you think to do that?”
“No thinking, Mouse, it just happened.”
Kate says, “It was brave.”
“I hope this isn’t the same guy ’cause I never reported it.”
“This sounds like a timid man, not the same man I think.”
“Maybe not, but Officer Wolfrom said it might be.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” says Elsie. “Mouse is right. A flasher is minor. What happened to Natasha was not.”
“They don’t even know if it’s some random guy or if Natasha was targeted specifically.” says Maggie.
“Who would do something like that to Natasha on purpose? Surely she has no enemy that would do this thing.” Mouse frowns. “It would have to be a serious enemy. I do not like to think this, but the rapist must still be out there.”
It’s quiet as they all stare at Mouse, wishing she hadn’t said it out loud.
“I got the idea they think it might be Boris.” Maggie says.
“Not a chance!” snaps Elsie.
“I don’t think it’s him either, but when it comes down to it. I mean how do you know that about somebody?” asks Maggie.
“It isn’t in his nature.”
“You can’t know that Elsie.”
“Yes I can. I saw him that afternoon. The guy was devastated.”
“You think he’s innocent because he was upset? How do you know he wasn’t upset because he’d attacked Natasha?”
‘I don’t buy that.” Elsie shakes her head. “He was too fragile.”
“That’s crap Else and you know it.” Maggie says. “It could be anyone without a solid alibi. So maybe it is Boris. Or Eric. Or even Jake.”
Elsie says, “Then don’t leave out Oscar. Or Nick either for that matter.”
Maggie nods slowly. “You’re right we can’t. How well does anyone know anyone? People see what they want to see. I mean look at Dexter.”
Kate snorts. “Maggie, Dexter is a fictional character. You guys can think what you want but I know it’s not Nick.”
“You know what they say,” Elsie says, “The wife’s always the last to know.”
Kate glares at Elsie so Mouse leans in and says. “The police will investigate. Arguing will not solve anything.”
Kate says, “It could be anybody. Except Nick.”
Suddenly there’s a strange man standing beside Elsie and they all startle, except Elsie.
Making eye contact with Elsie, he says, “Excuse me, I’m Harry. I was wondering if you’d maybe like to dance?”
Elsie smiles and slides off the stool. “Hi, Harry, I’m Elsie, and I would love to dance with you.”
The others silently watch Elsie follow Harry to select songs from the jukebox before heading onto the tiny dance floor.
Mouse says, “How does she do that?”
“She must transmit some kind of subliminal ‘come hither’ signal,” says Maggie.
Kate laughs. “That’s it exactly. It’s called pheromones.”
Mouse says, “Maybe that’s the guy.”
“That’d be convenient.”
“Well, yeah. Then it wouldn’t have to be somebody we know.”
“Don’t say that, Maggie” insists Mouse. “I want to be able to sleep at night.”
Elsie’s chosen an Allison Crowe torch song from the jukebox. It’s a very slow dance. Naturally. Elsie slides into Harry’s arms and they begin to dance.
Sighing heavily, Maggie says, “If he is the guy, after Elsie’s through with him he won’t be bothering anyone tonight.”
Elsie and Harry sway to the music, pressed as tightly together as is possible. Elsie’s auburn mane undulates, drawing a veil across a good bit of the face to face contact.
Mouse frowns. “Rape isn’t about sex, Maggie. It is about violent domination.”
Maggie says, “Yeah I know. I was trying to make a joke.”
Kate says, “Bad taste.”
Harry and Elsie steam up the dance floor, clearly enjoying themselves as they bump and grind. And grind
The side door to the pub opens and Jose walks in, followed by Eric. On his way into the room Eric’s attention is caught by the familiar torch song and he glances over at the dance floor and stops dead as his eyes light on Elsie. On the dance floor with some guy. Coming in after, Amelia only just manages to not run into Eric. He just stands there, mesmerized, watching as Elsie runs her hands down some guy’s back and grabbing his butt. Elsie throws her head back and the guy nuzzles her neck, more groping than dancing.
Amelia grits her teeth at the sight of the Medusa screwing up some other poor schmuck. Eric certainly doesn’t look like he’s gotten over her. His rigid back tells her that Elsie is carving two notches for the price of one.
As Allison Crowe sings passionately about how she never loved a man, Amelia can’t believe the fury she feels wash over her as she watches that bitch Elsie giving all women a bad name. Why do guys fall for women like that? Every time. Poor sap.
Elsie locks her eyes on Eric and smiles. She licks her lips and arches her back, doing some groping of her own, all the time keeping her eyes on Eric. Amelia is floored by the viciousness of it, just as Eric turns on his heel and stalks out.
Jose is ordering a drink at the bar before he realizes that he’s lost Eric. He sees Mouse, Maggie and Kate sitting on the other side of the bar when Maggie smiles and waves. The three witches, Jose thinks as Amelia joins him.
“What happened to Eric?” he asks.
“She did,” Amelia says, nodding gesturing back toward Elsie’s display on the dance floor.
“Shit,” mutters Jose.
“Look Jose, You’ve been his friend longer than me, is he gonna be all right?”
Jose thinks, says, “Probably not. I better go find him, take him to some nice bar far far away from the red menace.”
“I didn’t think she’d be here. She’s never here.”
“S’alright. You OK to get home?”
“Oh yeah, don’t worry about me.”
Jose takes a swig of his beer and starts to get out his wallet, but Amelia waves him away. “I’ll get it, just go find him.”
Jose smiles ruefully at her, “Thanks,” then he heads out.
Amelia turns back to the bar and orders a fuzzy navel. One good thing, the guys didn’t hear her order the sissy drink.
Liz kills the Tetris game she’s been playing when she sees Detective Lewis leading Boris toward her. She stuffs the phone in her pocket.
Boris asks, “Where is she?”
Liz nods back at the office and says, “She’s asleep. I just want to get her back to the hospital.”
“Can I have a minute with her?” Liz nods, and Boris heads into the office while Liz calls a cab.
Boris goes in and just stares at his sleeping friend a moment. A great lump is forming in his throat. He brushes at his eyes, but gets himself together. Crossing to where Natasha slumps awkwardly in the chair, he squats beside her.
From the doorway Lewis watches as the intensity of his gaze makes Natasha open her eyes. When Natasha sees Boris her relief is visible as she relaxes and gives him a wan smile.
“Oh Bo, you’re OK.”
“Of course I’m okay, but you’re not, idiot. What the hell are you doing out of the hospital? You look like shit. Your skin is gray.”
“I couldn’t stand by and let ’em give you the third degree.”
“It’s okay, they didn’t even use rubber hoses. I’m fine.”
“But you were in trouble.”
“The best thing you can do for me is for you to get better. Liz is calling a cab and we’re gonna take you back and you are going to stay in the hospital until the doctors say you can go home if I have to get them to tie you to the bed, you hear?”
Natasha smiles wanly at Boris. “If you visit me every day.”
Lewis thinks it’s a touching scene. There is certainly a connection there. Trouble is, she’s seen it too many times; they always hurt the ones they love.
