Hot Check Part 1

Hot Check.

Peggy J. Herring.

Iad like to thank:.

Martha Prentiss, for sharing your HRCF dinner expertise: You made giving away large sums of money while wearing patent leather shoes sound like fun; Lesley Salas, for your enthusiasm for this project: Your early comments helped tremendously; Martha Cabrera, for the lasta"minute reading, the pep talk, and the two-versus-three-b.u.t.ton discussiona"it put a gleam in more than one Textileas eyes that day; Frankie J. Jones, my partner in life as well as my first, second, and third reader, for your constant support and encouragement. I couldnat do it without you.

About The Author.

Peggy J. Herring lives on seven acres of mesquite in south Texas with her c.o.c.katiel, hermit crabs and two wooden cats. When she isnat writing, Peggy enjoys camping, fishing and traveling. She is the recipient of the Alice B Award and the author of Once More With Feeling, Hot Check, A Momentas Indiscretion, Those Who Wait and To Have and To Hold for Naiad Press; and Calm Before The Storm, The Comfort of Strangers, Beyond All Reason, Distant Thunder, White Lace and Promises, Midnight Rain and Shelter From The Storm for Bella Books. You can contact Peggy through Bella Books at www.bellabooks.com.

Part One.

Alice.

Chapter One.

Alice glanced over the invoices and knew immediately that things werenat going well. Business was still sagging, and the six months shead spent restaffing and juggling employees hadnat helped any. She shuffled the papers on her desk and searched for last quarteras balance sheet before remembering that Gloria had also been looking for it. Alice opened her office door and called to her secretary.

aAny luck finding that file yet?a Gloria reached under a stack of papers and pulled out an inch-thick folder. aIt mysteriously appeared about two minutes ago,a she said with a perplexed squint. She handed it over and then nodded toward the other side of the room. aMr. Langleyas here to see you. He has a one oaclock appointment.a Along with the folder, Gloria also slipped her a piece of paper.

Alice smiled at him and tucked the folder under her arm. aMr. Langley from Hot Check,a she said as she held her office door open. Motioning toward a chair in front of her desk, Alice looked at him more closely: mid-twenties, shiny black hair touching the bottom of his collar, a light blue cotton suit with a dark blue tie that he couldnat seem to keep his hands off of. Heas nervous, she thought. Good. I like that.

aPlease. Have a seat,a she said. Alice had mixed feelings about this venture and even more about Joe Langley now that shead seen him. Theyad spoken briefly on the phone the day before, and Alice had to remind herself more than once that head been highly recommended by someone she respected.

aSo,a she said, scanning the slip of paper her secretary had given her. aConeyas Ice Cream Parlors had a sixty percent increase in sales once your jingle hit the radios. I need results like that.a He picked at imaginary lint on his trousers and smiled. aTell me what youave got in mind and I can probably give you something in a few days.a aHow much money are we talking?a Alice asked. Her advertising budget had no sense of humor.

aTwo thousand,a he said. aAnd you take care of any studio costs.a At her raised eyebrow he added, aSixty percent increase in sales, remember?a Alice nodded reluctantly. Results like that were hard to argue with.

aI a.s.sume you want a rock sound for the jingle,a he said. aThatas our specialty, but we can do just about anything.a aI want my sales up. I donat care how you do it.a Alice tapped a pencil on the edge of her desk and leaned back in her chair to study him for a moment. aI understand your band is from Austin and your lead singer writes all of your material.a aYes. Thatas right.a aIad like to meet him before he starts writing. When would be a good time?a Joe cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter in the chair. aWe have a gig here at Muldoonas on Thursday.a aThursday?a Alice pushed the b.u.t.ton on her intercom. aAnything on my calendar for Thursday evening, Gloria?a aA conference call at six,a came the reply.

She looked over at Joe and said, aYour singer. Whatas his name?a aRicky Conrad. A she.a Alice set her pencil down and didnat attempt to hide her surprise. aRicky Conradas a woman?a Joe Langley smiled again. aYes. She certainly is.a aHmm. Interesting.a I havenat been paying attention, Alice thought. I shouldave known that already.

aWe start playing at eight,a he said, abut weall be there setting up around six. You can talk to her then if you like.a aThursday evening then,a she said and stood up. aIall give you my decision after I talk to her.a Alice was running late as she drove to Muldoonas Thursday night, and she could hear the thumping of a ba.s.s as soon as she got out of her car. Keeping her fatheras conference call short hadnat been an option. Sometimes she actually felt as though he knew she needed to be somewhere else before he started in on the endless questions. His conference calls were like pop quizzes, and Alice was never quite sure what type of grade she would get.

She paid the outrageous cover charge and allowed herself to be stamped on the back of the hand by a winking leprechaun. The place was packed, which surprised her. Itas Thursday night. Donat these people have to work tomorrow?

While maneuvering through the horde of people, she watched the four-member band from the side of the dance floor. Alice ordered a gin and tonic and within moments was mesmerized by the young blonde on stage.

Dressed in 501as and a long-sleeve white shirt rolled up just below her elbows, Ricky Conrad tossed her s.h.a.ggy hair away from her face to the beat of the music. She looked like a teenage version of Meg Ryana"thick blonde hair touching her shoulders, medium height, and a nice body that moved easily with the music. Her guitar was a light wood grain and her fingers slid up and down the neck as she sang.

But it was her voice that grabbed Aliceas attention, a deep gravelly sound, like pebbles rattling in a plastic container. Rod Stewart has a voice like that, Alice thought after a moment. And someone else...some female singer...whatas her name? The one who did that song aBette Davis Eyes.a Alice watched her with amazement. Ricky Conrad was both sensuous and dynamic, and she sent a burst of energy through the club simply by the way she grabbed the microphone. So this is the genius, Alice mused. She was surprised at how much she liked her already.

Joe Langley waved and motioned for Alice to sit at a table near the bandstand where beer bottles and empty gla.s.ses were scattered about. She worked her way through the crowd and sat down gratefully. As she continued to listen and watch Ricky on the stage, Alice found herself caught up in the excitement of the music. She noticed the trickles of sweat that rolled down the sides of Rickyas face, making her skin glisten in the flashing lights. Alice liked the way she dried her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt between verses, all the while never missing a note on the guitar. That wonderful throaty voice gave Alice goose b.u.mps several times. She was really beginning to look forward to meeting her.

Alice watched as Joe tossed a towel across the stage at the end of the first set. Ricky s.n.a.t.c.hed it in midair and ran it briefly through her damp hair. She slipped into a black leather jacket that the ba.s.s player put around her shoulders. As Ricky turned to leave, Alice again caught herself studying Rickyas every move.

Joe came over to where Alice was sitting and pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. He folded his hairy arms across his chest. aSheall be here in a minute. Sheas changing clothes.a Alice squeezed the sliver of lime into another gin and tonic and stirred it briefly. aTell me about her. How old is she?a He leaned back and grinned. His tanned thin face and black hair made his teeth seem even whiter. aSheas twenty-five. The most talented person Iave ever known.a Alice looked up just as the ba.s.s player came back with a beer for Joe and a gla.s.s of orange juice. He introduced himself as Stan Jordan.

Joe chugged the beer and ran his hand through his hair. aI can get the manageras office for you if youad like to talk to her in private.a aNo,a Alice said, even though the thought of being alone with Ricky sounded appealing. aThis is fine. Letas keep it simple.a A few minutes later Alice saw Ricky making her way toward them through the crowd. Shead changed into a pale lavender shirt with the top three b.u.t.tons undone but she still had the leather jacket draped around her shoulders. She stopped along the way and signed several autographs before making it to the table.

aThis is Alice Collins,a Joe said once Ricky arrived. He got up and gave her his chair. aHopefully youall be writing her jingle this week.a Ricky glanced at Alice and offered an engaging smile. aHi,a she said huskily. aIam sorry about the wait, but I needed to change clothes.a Alice knew she was staring but couldnat stop herself. The goose b.u.mps returned and scampered up and down her arms at the sound of that voice in ordinary conversation. Alice felt her head begin to swim when those powder-blue eyes met hers. Ricky held the look and seemed at ease, slowly taking her in completely as the gleams of mutual interest pa.s.sed back and forth between them. Christ, Collins, Alice thought. Get your hormones under control here.

Alice lowered her eyes first and stirred her drink. aI like your music. Iave heard some good things about you.a Their eyes met again and Ricky held the look. aOh?a she said, and Alice felt certain that Ricky knew exactly what she was thinking.

Alice glanced away and forced herself to focus somewhere other than Rickyas chest where her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s refused to be ignored. aSo,a Alice said. aHow long has Hot Check been together?a Good, Collins. Stick with generic chatter. Break the ice and get this over with before you make a drooling fool of yourself.

aSeven years,a Ricky said. aIave worked with Joe in other groups before.a She pulled the jacket a little more snugly around her. aIave been doing this since I was twelve. In those days bands would break up in between our orthodontic appointments.a Alice cleared her throat and tried to relax, secretly cursing the gin for not working yet. aHot Check,a she said. aI like the name of your band. Is there a story behind it?a aThatas the way they paid us for our first gig,a Ricky said with a low chuckle.

That voice, Alice thought. I could sit here and listen to her talk all night.

Ricky fluffed the back of her damp hair. aIs there anything in particular youad like this jingle to say? A certain sound youare looking for maybe? A phrase youare partial to? I can work it in. Lotas of things rhyme with salad bar, you know.a Alice laughed and shrugged. aYouare the expert. Surprise me.a She toyed with an earring for a moment. A sudden desire to reach over and touch that thick, blonde hair brought a jolt to her whole being, but she pushed the thought away. Her attraction to Ricky wasnat a total surprise, but it certainly unsettled her. Ricky reminded Alice of a lover she once had in college. There was that same hint of rebellion that she found so intriguing and foreign. Being purely establishment, Alice envied those who werenat.

aJoe says you havenat made up your mind about us yet,a Ricky said. aAre you considering someone else for the job?a aNot anymore. Itas yours.a Ricky smiled and gave a slight nod. aGood choice. Iall probably wrap it up for you this weekend.a She took the straw out of her gla.s.s and set it on the table. aYou seem a little young to be an executive.a aWhen your father owns the company, you can be as young as he likes,a Alice said matter-of-factly.

Belittling her position in her fatheras company was a habit Alice had gotten into in the beginning, more or less as a defense mechanism against the wisecracks from friends and colleagues. Theread been a time when the comments had bothered her immensely, but both she and her father were aware of Aliceas contributions to the business. She was in training for the eventual takeover once he decided to retire. He wouldnat step down until he was sure she could handle it, and so far she was calling all the right shots. If Ricky Conradas jingle could boost profits in the South Texas area, then Alice would look even more competent than her father already thought she was.

Ricky bit her lip and laughed. aSo...how old are you?a aTwenty-eight,a Alice said.

aAre you married?a Alice smiled and wondered briefly who exactly was being interviewed here. aNo. You?a Ricky shook her head. Alice again let her eyes drift to where Rickyas shirt began revealing a hint of cleavage. She forced her gaze away and sipped her drink, trying to rid herself of the image.

aTwenty-eight,a Ricky said. aIt would be interesting to know how much rock ana roll you listen to.a Alice was suddenly at a total loss for words. Ricky laughed again, the brusque sound coming from deep within her throat. She leaned closer and said, aItas okay. Musicas a very personal thing.a aI like what Iave heard here tonight.a Ricky took off her jacket and pushed up her shirtsleeves. aI guess thatas a start. Is there anything else youad like to know?a That strange moment theyad shared earlier was back and made Alice very conscious of what she was doing, but scores of questions still remained, questions she wanted to ask, questions like, Is that marvelous hair of yours as soft as it looks? What does that voice sound like first thing in the morning? Are you feeling this attraction too or just f.u.c.king with my head?

Ricky smiled and pushed her gla.s.s away. She tousled the back of her s.h.a.ggy hair and said, aIall have your jingle ready in two days. I need to get back to work now. It was nice meeting you.a She stood up, shook her head, and let that blonde mop fall into place. She went over to the stage and picked up her guitar, seeming not to give Alice another thought. Alice watched her exchange a few words with Joe before he came back to the table and pulled out a chair.

aEverything go okay?a aEverythingas fine,a Alice said. aMake me some money, Mr. Langley.a He smiled and shook her hand. aIall be in touch with you when sheas finished with it.a As soon as he hopped back up on the stage, Ricky took the microphone and pulled it closer. aWeare back,a she said, her voice husky and demanding. The band came in with her immediately, and the dance floor began to fill up.

Alice finally dragged herself away from Muldoonas and went to her car and sat there for twenty minutes listening to the music spilling out into the parking lot. She wanted to go back inside and stay as long as theyad let her, but decided against it and reluctantly drove home.

Chapter Two.

The next day Alice wanted to meet with several of her restaurant managers individually. Shead seen three of them earlier that morning and was en route to a fourth restaurant near the northwest side of San Antonio. On the way over she found time to reflect on her visit to Muldoonas the night before. Those blue eyes and that s.h.a.ggy mop of blonde hair kept creeping back into her thoughts like a slow, incessant fog. Ricky Conrad had definitely made an impression on her.

It had been quite a while since Alice had thought about renewing that part of her life. A lover was a luxury she no longer could afford since relationships took so much time. Why do it at all if you canat do it right?

In college Alice had been considered more aloof and serious than anything else. Shead slept with several women by then, but preferred staying focused on school instead of erotic bliss. She had goals to accomplish, and women occasionally made her lose track of what she really wanted.

After graduation Alice joined Collins Enterprises, and she set out to prove herself to her father and anyone else even remotely suspected of doubting her newly acquired skills. a.s.sociates who had been with the company for years didnat take easily to the bossas daughter coming in and sharing some of the same responsibilities that had taken them so long to achieve. As a result, any mistake Alice made came back to haunt her and didnat die out until she made a fresh one to take its place.

She had a rough time for a while, but her father a.s.sured her that it was all part of the learning process. He kept her in a constant state of training by transferring her to different departments within the company. She would learn the ins and outs of one division, run it for several months, and then find herself in a strange city with a whole new set of responsibilities. She lived the life of a gypsy for three years and had learned every aspect of Collins Enterprises within five. Her love life never completely suffered during this period, but Alice didnat pursue all opportunities that came knocking either. She had always chosen her lovers carefully. Getting naked with someone wasnat something she did often or easily. And with her demanding work schedule, who the h.e.l.l had time anyway?

The parking lot of her northside restaurant was full when she arrived. This restaurant in particular, along with the one downtown on the Riverwalk, were the only two showing any type of a profit lately. Alice opened the door and found several customers waiting to be seated with no employee anywhere in sight. Alice moved through the crowd and spotted a few empty tables and a cl.u.s.ter of workers standing around in the back. One by one the employees seemed to be leaving and returning to work, each with a c.o.c.ktail napkin in hand with something scribbled on it. As Alice got closer she saw Ricky Conrad at a table signing autographs. The restaurant manager hovered near her.

aHi,a Alice said with surprise in her voice. She took in Rickyas expensive soft leather boots, yellow silk shirt with a high collar, and caramel-colored leather pants that seemed to have been absolutely made for her. Today she actually looks like a rock singer, Alice noted.

aHi,a Ricky said. Her hair organized itself with no more than a shake of her head. aI thought Iad better visit one of these restaurants before I start writing about them.a Alice told the manager that shead meet with him later. He excused himself and reluctantly left them alone. The other employees had already scattered and returned to work.

aMay I join you?a Alice motioned toward one of three empty chairs at the table.

aSure.a Ricky closed her small notebook and moved a gla.s.s of orange juice out of the way.

aDid you drive in from Austin this morning?a Alice asked. aOr did you stay in town last night?a aI drove back in. Iave been here about twenty minutes. The traffic wasnat too bad.a Their eyes met, and Alice felt a slow, steady glow warming her whole body. And she feels it too, she thought suddenly. The vibes between them were strong enough to crumble bricks.

aLast night at the club,a Ricky said after a moment. aI...uh...enjoyed talking to you. Actually, I guess Iam a little nervous about all of this. I want your commercial to do well.a aThat makes two of us,a Alice said with a laugh. aRelax. Iam sure youall do fine. So tell me. How often does your band play here in town?a aOnce a month usually. Sometimes more.a Alice fought the urge to ask for the bandas schedule. She glanced at her watch and noticed that it was almost eleven-thirty. aHave you had lunch yet?a aNo,a Ricky said.

aWould you like to see the restaurant downtown? We could have lunch there.a Alice wanted to show off a little. Her restaurant on the Riverwalk was her number one moneymaker and a favorite with the tourists. This was also the excuse she was looking for to spend more time with Ricky.

Alice had the manager call ahead and reserve them a table, then offered to drive. She suggested they come back later for Rickyas car.

Outside in the parking lot Alice heard Rickyas low aWowa as they reached the white Jaguar. aJesus. What a great car,a she said, gingerly touching the leather seats as soon as they were in traffic.

aIam on the road a lot,a Alice explained. aI like being comfortable.a aHmm. And what else do you like?a Ricky asked.

The huskiness of her voice, as well as the suggestive question, sent another scampering of goose b.u.mps along Aliceas flesh. In the back of her mind she wondered what that voice would sound like in the heat of pa.s.sion, but she tucked that particular thought away for another time.

Just as Alice attempted to formulate some sort of answer, a car zipped in front of them, causing her to slam on her brakes. Cars in all three lanes started honking. By the time traffic and nerves returned to normal, the mood had been broken and Alice had no idea what shead been about to say. All she really knew right then was that she was looking forward to spending time alone with Ricky.

At the restaurant downtown they had the best table and started off talking about food and music. Ricky signed several autographs for the staff when she arrived. Her easy banter with them was almost as impressive as the number of people who knew who she was.

aThis is nice,a Ricky said a while later. She sipped her orange juice and seemed to enjoy watching the tourists cruise by in tour boats.

aTell me more about your band,a Alice said. aYouare a lot more popular than I thought.a aOur new singleas starting to take off. The radio stations in the area have been very good to us.a aThereas more to this than radio, Iam sure,a Alice said. She noticed how men stared at Ricky, practically licking their chops. Sheas got the whole restaurantas attention and doesnat even realize it.

aThe boys and I are going through an interesting period right now,a Ricky said. aIave been thinking about letting everyone know Iam a lesbian, but Joe wants me to wait for the right interview and let it happen that way.a Alice was a little surprised at Rickyas easy revelation about her s.e.xual orientation. It made everything seem more intimate all of a sudden.

Their food arrived, and they waited until they were alone again before Ricky continued. aThen thereas the question of coming out at all,a she said. aIt affects all four of us. Any kind of controversy could go either way for the band. Weave been talking about it for a year already.a aAre you any closer to a decision?a aNot really.a Rickyas smile was tired and those blue eyes serious and piercing as she looked at her. aIave always had their support. Weare more than four people who hang out and make music together. Weare a family. Iad never do anything to hurt them. Itas a big decision and they should be a part of it. We could very well crash and burn over this.a Alice sipped her tea and rearranged her salad with her fork. aIn what way are they supportive?a Alice asked. aAre any other band members gay?a Ricky laughed. The husky sound made Aliceas heart rate pick up a little.

aNo,a Ricky said. aTheyare three of the straightest guys youall ever meet. I guess thatas not really a compliment though, is it? Weave taught each other a lot over the years.a She smiled and tossed her head back, shaking hair out of her eyes. aThey donat say d.y.k.e, f.a.g, or queer anymore.a They laughed together for a moment before Ricky continued. aAnd in turn I no longer nag them about the clothes they wear or express an opinion on the women they pick up. Those are the only real rules we have. And no drugs,a she added. aWe donat do drugs. We lost a good friend that way several years ago. Weare all born-again squares now, and thatas not something we want known, by the way.a aWhy not? Whatas wrong with it?a aBad for our image.a aReally? Youad think parents would like that.a Ricky laughed again. aParents probably do. Thatas the problem. Parents donat buy records. And what kid wants to listen to a group their parents like?a Alice conceded the point. They finished lunch and talked about the jingle. Suddenly Alice asked, aDo you have to work tonight?a The thought of their time together being almost over was a little unsettling.

aOur first set kicks off at eight.a Ricky drummed neatly trimmed nails on the edge of the table. aI donat suppose youad be interested in going back to Austin with me this afternoon.a Alice looked at those questioning blue eyes and thought, Weare both moving in the same direction with this. aUnfortunately,a Alice said, aIave got a meeting later that I canat get out of.a Ricky sat back in her chair, the disappointment evident in her expression, but Alice had already made up her mind to drive to Austin later after her meeting was over. At some point before Hot Check finished their last set tonight, Alice hoped to be there listening to them. And that was as far ahead as she cared to think.

aHas being here today helped any?a Alice asked as they got ready to leave. aAre the creative juices flowing now that youave seen a few restaurants?a Ricky slowly searched Aliceas face before she said, aOh, yes. The juices are definitely flowing.a Alice let that remark stand without comment since she had juices of her own to deal with.

They left the restaurant and drove back across town where Rickyas car was parked. In order to get her feelings under control Alice focused on the familiar and asked more questions about the band and how long theyad been involved in advertising. Hot Checkas credentials were impressive, and Alice felt better about her decision to hire them the more she listened to Ricky talk. Once she pulled into the parking lot, Alice could think of no other viable excuse to prolong Rickyas stay. She then asked where Hot Check was playing that night.

aFriday nights are big,a Ricky said. aWeall be at Sugar Daddyas on Sixth Street in Austin.a She leaned her head against the seat and then turned to look at her.

aIall be there,a Alice said.

Ricky laughed, her low husky voice sounding so sensual. She opened the door and met Aliceas gaze directly. aIf only you were serious.a Surprised, Alice asked, aWhat makes you think Iam not?a Rickyas expression had a touch of sadness as she whispered, aBecause I want it too much.a She got out of the car and held the door open. aJoe will give you a call when the jingleas finished. I had a great time today. Thanks for lunch.a She got into her car and drove away, never once looking back.

The rest of the day was one crisis after another. A water main had broken in front of one restaurant, resulting in no water for three hours during the dinner rush, and a bad storm had swept through Harlingen in the valley, causing downed power lines and roof damage to her restaurant there. Food would be spoiling shortly, and Aliceas manager wasnat handling the stress well.

Alice threw some clothes in a suitcase and instead of heading out for Austin to see Ricky again, she found herself on the way to the valley having to work.

aItas fate,a she mumbled, tossing her suitcase in the car. She turned her air conditioner up another notch and tried to soothe her frustration and disappointment with a blast of cool air.

Two days later, on Aliceas first day back from the valley, Joe Langley showed up with a demo tape of Rickyas jingle. He set the boom box on Aliceas desk and pushed a b.u.t.ton to start the music.

Alice heard a consistent, steady drumbeat before the guitars and ba.s.s came in. The music was laid back but snappya"a sound usually referred to as aswamp rock,a Joe informed her. He turned the volume up, and Rickyas voice filled the room. When the music faded out, Joe pushed the rewind b.u.t.ton and took a neatly folded sheet of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to her.

aRead the lyrics and listen this time.a He pushed the play b.u.t.ton again.

Alice tried studying the words, but the voice from the ca.s.sette player kept haunting her. A clear vision of those blue eyes and that blonde shock of hair was firmly engraved in her brain. Shead been staying awake at night thinking about Ricky and getting up every morning wondering if shead ever see her again. The voice and the music grabbed her attention once more, and all Alice could do now was listen and unconsciously tap her foot. Everything about the jingle was perfect. Instinct told her that this was one of those commercials that would be hummed on playgrounds, at bridge parties, in boats, on freeways, everywhere.

aI like it,a Alice heard Gloria say from the door.

Who wouldnat like it? Alice thought. It was perfect.

aWell?a Joe said. aHowad we do? Is it okay?a aItas wonderful,a Alice said. aItas much better than I expected.a Joe let out a deep breath and laughed. aRickyas amazing, isnat she?a He took another tape out of his coat pocket and popped it in the ca.s.sette player. aThis is your commercial with the voice-overs and everything else added. We finished it this morning.a Alice listened to it twice more before writing him a check. Joe agreed to take care of distribution and all arrangements for buying airtime on the radio. They signed all the paperwork, shook hands, and he was gone.

aAre you okay?a Gloria asked. She hadnat moved from her position by Aliceas door.

aI donat have her phone number,a Alice said. She couldnat believe that shead let him leave without getting it.

aHave you tried directory a.s.sistance?a aIam sure itas unlisted,a Alice said, now truly depressed. aSheas got quite a following already.a She picked up the demo tape Joe had left for her and looked at it closely before setting it back down again. aCheck directory a.s.sistance for me anyway,a Alice said. aJust in case.a She s.n.a.t.c.hed up the tape again and then tossed it back on her desk. Her schedule over the next few weeks was unbelievable, and a quick trip to Austin to see Ricky wasnat possible.

Sometimes fate really sucks. Glancing at her watch, she remembered that she had to catch a plane to Dallas in an hour. It really, really sucks.

Chapter Three.