Chemical Attraction (11 page)

After a quick lunch in the cafeteria, Eva returned to her desk and dialed Joe’s cell. “Hey babe, what’s up?” he asked.

“You’re in a good mood. How’s Madeline?”

“She’s beautiful.”

“You like her, don’t you? I saw the look on your face when she kissed you on the dance floor. I told Taylor and she wants details.”

“Yes, yes, I like her. Did you call to harass me?”

“I wanted to see what you were doing tonight. We’re going to the Village Inn for pizza.”

“That sounds good. What time?” Joe asked.

“Around six. And I promise not to tease you anymore.”

“Thank you. We’ll see you there.”

Hanging up, she chuckled. She shouldn’t have promised. It was too easy getting to him. For the next two hours, she outlined and organized flu clinics in various areas around the county.

“When’s the first clinic?” Dr. Ellis asked, breaking up her thoughts.

She turned her chair toward him as he stood in the doorway of her small, back room cubicle. “Allenton will be the first clinic in two weeks on a Tuesday.”

“Why not sooner?”

“Well, Susan said it wouldn’t be ready until the Thursday before that. I wanted some leeway just in case. Will you be helping as a third person giving shots? I image the whole town will be here.”

He turned his back to her. “No, find the extra help and get it done.”

She’d ask around to see if anyone wanted overtime. After adding that to her list, she called it quits. At the main entrance, she found Matt waiting in his cruiser. “You’re early,” she said, buckling her seatbelt.

“I really need that beer,” he replied, rubbing his clenched jaw.

“Joe and Madeline are meeting us there in an hour.”

“I talked to David. He’s going to save us a table.”

She smiled. “Did you agree to buy the pizza for the boys?”

He nodded. “I think he’s troubled by that body more than he’s letting on.”

“Oh dear, what can we do for him?”

Matt pulled into their driveway. “I’ll think of something. Right now, I need a shower and then that beer.”

Vera Wilson shook her head in disgust as she checked her mailbox. Sorting through the stack, she slowly climbed her front porch steps. All she received any more were bills.

“Gus, you and your friends are the only ones that still love me. My kids never call or write. Come on. It’s time for lunch.”

Her oldest tabby followed her into the kitchen where more of his friends waited.

“Sissy, get off the table. Fluffy, you aren’t supposed to sit in George’s chair. He doesn’t like that.”

She fussed about the kitchen. Upon hearing the can opener, eleven more cats came running for their third lunch today.

“Okay, okay, it’s almost ready. Mommy loves her babies. Jimmy and Tommy don’t care about their own mother, but you my sweets always will.”

After mashing four cans of cat food into separate dishes, she licked the spoon. The meowing got louder like usual at dinnertime, but Gus hissed at her.

“I know you’re hungry. Here, baby, here’s your breakfast.”

Vera put a bowl by him. He hissed louder and scratched her hand while the other cats cried. At the sink, she washed the blood away.

“Bad boy, mommy will punish you if you don’t behave. Eat your dinner.” On the countertop, Sissy hissed and lunged. Vera splashed water into the cat’s face.

“Behave yourself, Sissy, or you won’t get a treat.” Unfazed by the water, it hissed louder, changing her anger to fear. Her cats covered the entire kitchen floor with a few on the counter and table. Their tails stood straight up. Backs arched, they stopped meowing. The closest ones on the floor scratched her legs while Fluffy jumped on her back. Its claws dug deep and its teeth sank into the back of her neck. Screaming hysterically, Vera staggered into the hall. Fluffy continued to bite as she tried to reach behind her. She backed into the wall, causing it to cry out and let her go.

She dropped to her knees and watched her cats slowly surround her. Desperation replaced shock. She scrambled toward the hall closet as they bit and scratched her arms and legs. After turning the knob, she reached for the closest object to use as a weapon. George’s boot knocked back Gus and his gang.

She crawled into the dark refuge. Heart pounding, she pulled the door shut and plopped onto the mountain of shoes on the floor. Shaking and bleeding, she heard her precious babies clawing at the door. Tears filled her eyes as a numbness washed down her left side. She tried to form words to yell, but instead she moaned. Her mind screamed for help.

“You’ll have to look at this information. It’s not making any sense to me,” Joe said from Madeline’s small dining table.

She leaned out of the bathroom doorway. “I’ll look at it later. I’m not even sure it’ll make a difference. I may have to wander around the storage cage for the actual items.”

“Not without me, you won’t.”

In a tan tank with a brown skirt, she stepped out of the bathroom. She let her hair fall over her shoulders. “Let me get my sandals and I’ll be ready. I’m starving,” she said, slipping them on by the bed.

He watched from his chair. “What, no heels?”

“Eight hours is my limit. Some women can do it, but I won’t.”

He walked over to her. “I’m all about comfort. Besides, in sandals you’re the perfect height.” He kissed her lips and she moaned. It took all of his willpower to step back. “I knew I’d find you again, my wild goddess.”

Blushing, she smiled. “You need to feed me first.”

Walking into the Village Inn Restaurant, they saw a long table in the back with Eva and Matt at one end and David and five of his friends at the other. The huge room had a full bar on the right, tables of various sizes in the center, and a small corner stage on the left. He pulled out Madeline’s chair and kissed Eva’s cheek. Sitting across from Madeline, Joe had his back against the wall next to Matt. With three extra chairs between them and the boys, Matt watched as David and his friends decided what they wanted on their pizza.

“It figures, when I say I’m buying, his friends come out of the woodwork,” Matt said as a greeting.

Joe laughed. “Are we getting a pitcher? I could use a beer.”

“That seems to be the consensus tonight,” Eva replied. The waitress brought the beer and four mugs. After taking their order, she moved down the table to the teens.

“So who are the girls that just sat next to David and Nelson?” Madeline asked.

“Kim Kilmer and Jilly Anderson,” Eva replied.

“They were the ones who talked to David at the banquet?” Joe asked. Matt nodded.

While they waited for their pizza, the owner, John Brown, spoke into the microphone from the corner stage. “Tonight’s Karaoke Tuesday. Come on, guys. Sing a song to your lady.”

David looked around the room. Various men ranging from suits to overalls filled the bar stools. Families packed the tables. Nobody wanted to cook, and everyone wanted cooler air. His friends whooped as David walked to the stage. He sang James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” and looked at Kim the whole time.

“I’ve created a sappy monster,” Joe said.

“Yeah, thanks,” Matt replied. David finished his song with a cheer from his friends. He returned to his seat and received a kiss on the cheek from Kim.

“That was so sweet,” Madeline said. “Are you going to serenade me, Joe?”

“Do I get a kiss?”

“It depends on how good you are,” she replied. He walked to the stage. Playing air guitar, he sang Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded.” She laughed and shook her head. After the song, he waited for his kiss. “That was okay, but is it kiss worthy?” she asked Eva.

“Maybe you should show him how it’s done,” Eva replied.

He raised an eyebrow. “You can do better?” Madeline smiled. She belted out Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much” to the laughter and applause of the crowd. “That woman amazes me,” he said to his sister.

“She sings in a band. You don’t know much about her, do you?”

He chugged his beer. “I know enough, and I’m looking forward to the rest.”

“I think she just challenged her boyfriend to a sing-off,” John Brown said as Madeline returned to the table.

The crowd watched him smile and stand. He sang John Cougar’s “Hurt so Good” as the crowd continued to laugh and cheer. Madeline countered with Pat Benatar’s, “Hit Me with your Best Shot.”

“I think she’s got her boyfriend beat. What do you guys think?” John Brown asked. The crowd cheered for Madeline.

“I have one more song in me,” he said to her.

He whispered to his nephew, who nodded. David and two other friends followed him to the stage. While John handed microphones to the other three, Joe grinned. He sang the Hollies’ “Bus Stop” with David and his friends singing the harmony. The crowd went wild as Madeline sat stunned that he remembered. He watched her lean toward Eva.

“Does your brother do this often?”

“He’s a drummer. I always thought he mouthed the words with his band,” Eva said with a laugh.

Before he sat down, Madeline kissed him in front of the entire restaurant. “You win,” she said as David and the rest of the teens watched in awe and clapped.

Their waitress had waited for the commotion to calm before bringing out their pizza. Everyone grabbed slices, forgetting about John Brown and his karaoke. Sitting back against the wall, Matt watched as people came and went. A few more attempted to sing, bringing cringes to many. He observed three teenagers glaring at David. Matt then scanned the crowd at the bar. Most had been there since Happy Hour. All the suits had taken their ties and jackets off, except one. Matt thought that he had better not catch any of them driving home.

Eva leaned forward. “Hey Joe, can you come by the hospital tomorrow for lunch? My staff is dying to meet you.”

Smiling, Madeline sipped her second beer. “Should I be jealous?”

“No way, baby,” he replied, squeezing her hand across the table. “Sure, Eva, I’ll meet you for lunch.”

As the ladies stood, he and Joe watched the entire bar stare. Matt glowered at Dr. Russell, who leaned back on his stool and leered at his wife and Madeline as they walked toward the restroom.

“Is that son of a bitch asking to be punched?” Joe asked, sitting forward in his seat.

Matt sighed. “Are you still pretending with Madeline?”

Cringing, Joe looked into his mug. “I don’t want to.”

“Do I have to remind you that emotions have a way of interfering?”

“You’re right. I just didn’t factor her into the equation. I’ll keep my promise, Matt. Right now, we have a theory. When we have proof, you’ll be the first to know.”

He nodded as David came to sit by them. “You’re the man, Uncle Joe. Dad, thanks for the pizza. We’re going for a walk by the river.”

David held Kim’s hand. Joe laughed until he saw another group of teens follow them. “Is there going to be a problem with those other boys? They’ve glared at David and his friends throughout dinner.”

“I noticed that,” Matt said as the ladies returned. He and Joe watched the boys stop David just outside the door. “Joe, do me a favor and check it out.”

“Kim!” Brad Murphy yelled, stepping outside the restaurant’s front door, “You aren’t going with him.”

“Brad, we broke up two weeks ago. You can’t tell me what to do anymore.”

“Fine, then I’ll just schedule a physical with David’s hot mom and let her feel me up. I’ll make her cry like a rabbit in a dog’s jaw.”

David launched himself, swinging with both arms. His fury knocked Brad to the ground.

“David, step back,” Joe said, yanking him off the jerk.

He huffed. “You should have heard what he said about Mom.”

“I heard.” Joe reached down and grabbed Brad by the front of his shirt, standing him up. “If we ever hear you talk about my sister like that again, I will personally hunt you down. I will make sure Chief Connor puts you in a jail cell with a guy named Moose. Am I clear, boy?”

“Yes, sir,” Brad stuttered. His friends tugged on his arm and they took off running.

“David, I’d like a word with you,” his dad said with his arms crossed. “I am fed up with your attitude. After you walk Kim home, you will call Mr. Landford and tell him you won’t be working for him anymore. Instead, you will be working for me. You and I will be together every waking minute until I say different. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” he said loud enough for the group to hear. He then mouthed, “Thanks, Dad.” He knew it wasn’t much of a punishment and was relieved with the excuse to quit.

Back at their empty table, Madeline and Eva watched Joe and then Matt rush out the front entrance. “What’s going on?” Eva asked.

“Did you see the reaction of those two guys at the bar? When Matt walked by, they tensed like he was coming for them,” she whispered.

“Which ones?”

“Red Shirt next to Yellow Hat, they’re acting peculiar,” Madeline said.

“Are they drunk?” Eva asked. They saw Yellow Hat slip his hand in his pocket and pull out a three-inch knife. The other motioned to the door. “Are they talking about Matt?”