LOVE AND JUST

CHAPTER 4 :A GOOD TREAT

~ Ashford Hills Police Head Office ~

( 9am )

In the busy office where pictures of fugitives and missing persons hung on boards, Detective Andrew Cole sat behind his desk. With a confused face, he flipped through some files.

“Why is this heist so flawless?” he asked himself. How would he begin his investigation? Why were there no traces? There must be something, even if it’s just a trifle. As he continued thinking of options, the image of the lady he met at the bank the day before flashed through his mind. Why would this be popping up at this moment?

He brushed it off to continue his task.

WESTBROOK COUNTRYSIDE ~ ( 10am)

“Caleb, don’t you think you should give us a treat for yesterday’s mission?” Marco asked after they had had breakfast.

“Yeah, very true,” Belle agreed.

“Yeah, I think so too,” Damien added.

“Really? When do you guys want this treat and where?”

“At the PigStand Club, tonight,” Eliza said enthusiastically, waiting for his response.

“Urm... I have somewhere to go tonight,” Caleb said, tossing a coin in his hand. Everyone turned to look at him.

“Where?” Eliza asked.

“To see my girlfriend,” he answered simply, and the entire group said in unison, “What?”

“Really? So you wanna leave us here and go out with your girl, huh?” Vicky asked him.

“Okay, before you guys make it sound like a big deal, you guys can go while I go see my girl. Is that okay?” Caleb asked.

“Better,” Marco said, and the group gave out a loud “Woooo!”

It was dusk and the group was preparing to leave for the club. Belle went to check on Eliza. She knocked on her door.

“Yes, come in,” Eliza said. She walked in on her, standing in front of her mirror.

“Will this be okay?” Eliza asked, straightening her blouse. She wore a blue sleeveless blouse with faded denim shorts that hit mid-thigh. The hem was frayed.

She turned to face Belle, waiting for her response. “This is perfectly fine,” she said with a little smile.

“You sure? Isn’t the jeans too short?” Eliza asked, arching her brow.

“Not at all. It looks great,” Belle said, raising her hands and showing a thumbs-up.

“Do I put on heels?” Eliza asked, still contemplating which footwear to put on.

“No, girl. Sneakers will be fine. You really don’t know much about fashion, do you?” Belle asked with a smirk.

“I just want to look good,” Eliza retorted, walking toward her shoe rack.

“I’m sure you don’t want to look like a stripper,” Belle said sarcastically, leaning on the door behind her.

“Only if that’s what looking good means,” Eliza said, giving a silly smile.

“You don’t plan on doing anything crazy tonight, right?”

“Well, let’s see about that,” Eliza answered with a giggle.

“Silly girl. I’ll be out. Call me if you need any help,” Belle spoke before exiting the room.

Eliza tied her shoelaces and wrapped her blonde hair in a low bun. Tracing lip gloss on her plump lips, she picked up a small black purse and looked at herself in the mirror for the fourth time that evening.

Walking and swaying her hips like a new model on a pageant stage, she strode out of her room. Everyone turned to see her when she stepped out. The frayed hem of her jeans brushed her thighs as she walked. The first to comment was Marco.

“Wow, let’s take a look at the Princess.” His compliment had no effect on her. She only rolled her eyes and smiled at her brother.

“My little girl is all grown up,” Caleb said, admiring his sister’s beauty.

Eliza could only blush.

“You’ve been hiding this curvy body under that ghost gear? You should be showing it more often,” Vicky said, grinning at her.

“Okay, you guys shouldn’t flatter me,” Eliza said, waving her hands.

“All credits should go to me — her stylist,” Belle said boastfully.

“Oh yes, you deserve it, our fashionista,” Eliza said, giggling.

“Okay, guys, can we go now?” Julien asked, spinning the car keys around his index finger in the air.

“Sure, let’s go,” Belle responded.

They all left the house, except Caleb, who was waiting for his date.

“Take care of my princess,” Caleb shouted as they left the compound.

“Say no more,” Marco said back.

The group drove downtown to the PigStand Club.

The van was parked outside the bar, and they alighted from the car. Flinging the door open, they strolled in like Avengers arriving at a war zone. They caught people’s attention with the way they walked — like they owned the club.

The group dispersed and they lost the spotlight.

The bar was dim and loud in that comfortable way. The speakers hummed music — a mix of old R&B and new Afrobeat — which was heard in the background, muffled by chatter and noise.

The atmosphere was warm yet sour. The air smelled like beer, grilled meat, and too much cologne. Shelves were filled with liquor, both cheap and expensive, so everyone could have a taste. Glasses clinked. Booths were packed with friends laughing too loud and couples having a good time regardless of the chaos.

It wasn’t so crowded. It wasn’t so classy, but it was alive. A man with a worn-out face sat at the bar, smiling and chatting with the pretty bartender. At the corner of the room was a group of men arguing about football.

Belle and Eliza found themselves a booth and sat right opposite each other.

“It’s a nice place,” Eliza said, looking around.

“Do you want something to cool down?” Belle asked her.

“Yeah,” she replied, swinging her legs.

“Okay, wait here,” Belle said and left for the counter where long stools stood — not occupied, but not empty either.

“Can I have two shots of whisky?” she asked the bartender.

“Yes, please. In a minute,” the young lady replied with a smile.

“A nice one, please,” Belle added.

The bartender went to the wooden shelves behind her and took a big bottle of whisky. She returned to the counter with the whisky, together with two short glasses she had pulled from a drawer.

“How much does it cost?” Belle asked, searching her purse.

“Sixteen dollars for both,” she replied softly.

“There you go,” Belle said, stretching her hand to give her the money.

“Thanks,” the lady took the money with a gentle nod.

Belle picked up both glasses and turned to leave. She caught a man stealing glances at her and she smirked with a wink.

She walked to the booth where Eliza was seated, looking like Alice in Wonderland. She handed her one small glass.

“Let’s make a toast,” Belle said, raising her glass. Their glasses clinked and they gulped it down their throat in a second.

Eliza’s eyes squinted. Her lips pinched together tightly. The whisky was sour. Wrinkles appeared on her forehead and she opened her mouth as though air entering it would lessen the taste.

“Yuck!” she said, sticking her tongue out. Her reaction made Belle laugh hard.

“Is this your first time?” she asked, still giggling.

“Yeah. I’ve seen Caleb drink it multiple times. I didn’t know it’s this bitter,” she said, still opening her mouth like a fish that just came out of its pond.

“Haha, it’s not for kids,” Belle said, still laughing.

“Is there anything better I can drink?” Eliza asked, her face still scrunched.

“Of course. Let me get you some wine,” Belle said.

“Hope it will taste better,” Eliza said, looking at the men dancing in the middle of the room.

“You’ll love it,” Belle said before leaving the booth.

A few minutes later she came back with a long black bottle and two wine glasses. She dropped them on the table.

She unsealed the bottle and poured red wine into the glasses.

“It does not smell bad. Hope it will taste great,” she said in anticipation.

“Have a taste,” Belle stretched her arms to give her a glass.

Taking a sip, her eyes popped out. “Goodness! This is nice!” she said, looking into the glass.

“I know, right?” Belle said, sipping her wine.

“It has this bitter-sweet taste... When you take a sip it tastes quite bitter, but the aftertaste is sweet. I love this,” Eliza said, checking the label on the wine bottle.

“Such a good treat,” Eliza said, smiling wide.

---