This is for Tenae, Macie, Joe, Cait, and Irish. Thanks y'all. Please review….
Eliot racked the balls on the pool table. He picked up the cue and chalked the tip. Looking over at their mark, he grinned and said, "One in corner pocket." Taking the shot, he watched the guys face as the ball sunk into the pocket. He continued until the final ball was gone from the table.
"Damn it! You're cheating." The man said.
Eliot looked at him innocently. "How am I cheating at pool?"
"I don't know…but you are!"
Eliot shrugged and held out his hand as the man counted out five $20 bills.
Their mark was Eric Conway, a sleazy photographer who was dealing drugs to a local high school on the side. Eliot looked up as Parker came over to the table.
"Can I get you guys anything to drink?" She asked, holding her tray in front of her.
Eliot asked for another beer and Parker nodded, walking back to the bar. He watched Conway's eyes follow Parker back.
"MmmMmm!" Conway said, grinning.
Eliot bit back a growl as Parker returned with his drink.
"Can I get you anything?" She turned to Conway.
"Just your phone number, sugar."
Parker looked at him and flashed a quick grin at him, turning her back to him and walking off.
Eliot resisted the urge to hit the smug bastard as Conway walked over to the jukebox and chose a song.
"Don't even think about it, Eliot." Nate warned in his ear and Eliot bit off his reply.
Conway made his way to the bar and leaned on it, winking at Parker.
"I'll take a MGD, sweetheart."
Parker resisted the urge to make a face at him.
"What time do you get off ?" Conway sneered at her.
"Not anytime soon." She replied, busing herself with refilling bowls of pretzels.
"Oh come on. Don't be like that." He winked at her.
"Sorry. I have to get back to my tables." Parker said, making a move to go around him.
Conway reached out and grabbed her arm and Parker winced.
"Nate…." Eliot groaned, turning to glance where Sophie and Nate sat at one of the tables in the back.
"Stay cool." Nate warned as he watched the scene.
"You know, I'm a photographer. You should pose for me." Conway said, still holding onto her arm.
"I think I just threw up a little in my mouth." Parker heard Hardison say and she grinned a little.
Conway mistook the grin for him. "You like that idea?"
Parker shook her head, jerking her arm free. "I don't have time really."
Conway stared after her as she walked over to Nate's table.
Parker pretended to take their orders.
"You're doing fine, Parker." Sophie reassured.
Parker nodded at her. "He's giving me the icks." She grabbed their empty glasses off of the table and returned to the bar. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Conway talking to some other girl over by the jukebox.
"Parker, bring me another beer." Eliot mumbled, standing by the pool table.
Parker shot him a look.
"Just come here. I wanna try something."
"Eliot, what are you doing?" Nate asked from the table.
Parker walked over to Eliot and sat the beer down on the small table behind Eliot. He waited until he knew Conway was watching and grabbed Parker around the waist. Parker gasped and pushed against Eliot's chest.
"What are you doing?" She hissed.
"Just trust me." Eliot muttered. He pulled her close and pretended to nuzzle her neck. "Now laugh like I said something funny."
Parker obeyed.
"You've got his attention." Nate informed Eliot.
"Pretend to give me your number." Eliot said, grabbing a napkin and pen off of her tray.
Parker watched him write down some numbers and she smiled down at him.
"Now, walk off." Eliot said, grinning at her as he straightened up.
Eliot watched her walk off and could feel the other man's eyes on him. He stuffed the fake number in his jeans pocket and drained his beer. He walked toward the bathroom, throwing the bottle away as he walked.
"You have company." Nate warned.
Eliot was washing his hands as Conway came storming in.
"What in the fuck are you thinking?" He shouted at Eliot.
Eliot faked ignorance.
"Give me her number." Conway came closer.
Eliot held up his hands. "Hey, man. She gave it to me. I didn't ask."
"First you take my money….""I won that fair and square." Eliot countered.
Conway pushed Eliot against the wall. It took everything Eliot had not to take the man out. He had to remember that he was supposed to be an ordinary citizen. Conway pressed his forearm against Eliot's throat.
"Hey, man." Eliot choked out.
"Give me my money. And then get out of here." Conway warned.
Eliot reached into his pocket and grabbed the wad of cash. Pulling it out of his pocket, he laid it on the basin of the sink.
Conway released him and Eliot pretended to double over. He watched as Conway grabbed his money and pushed it into his pocket.
"Now, get the hell out of here before I change my mind and kill you." He warned Eliot.
It was then that Eliot saw the butt of the gun in his waistband.
Eliot pretended to be shocked and took off toward the bathroom door.
"Nate, he's got a gun." Eliot reported.
"What?" Sophie asked, shocked.
"Okay. No more, Eliot. Let's just get out of here. We'll find some other way to get him. He's too unstable right now." Nate ordered.
Parker saw Sophie and Nate stand and make their way to the door. The bar was starting to empty out.
Eliot watched as Conway came out and spotted Parker again. He ambled his way over to the bar.
"We're closing." Parker said, having spotted him a second before he made it there.
"Wanna go somewhere?" Conway sneered.
"No thanks." She looked away, wiping down the bar. She saw Eliot start toward the front door but stop, seeing her still there.
"Parker….Nate, Parker's still in here." Eliot said, looking straight into her eyes.
"Get her and get out." Nate ordered.
"Shit." Eliot cursed, walking toward the bar.
Conway looked up to see Eliot coming closer.
"I'm sorry, guys. We're closing and I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Parker said, coming around the bar to start cleaning up.
"I thought I told you to leave." Conway glared at Eliot.
"I forgot she had my credit card and I needed to settle up." Eliot nodded toward Parker.
Parker nodded at this and started around the bar. Conway grabbed her arm.
"Settle up later. Get out." Conway said, his tone dark.
Eliot growled.
"Look, we don't want any trouble. You guys take it outside." Parker said calmly.
"Eliot? Parker? What's going on?" Hardison asked.
"Let go of the lady."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Conway yelled, pulling the gun out.
"Eliot…." Nate started.
Eliot held his hands in front of him and inched forward. Conway pulled Parker closer to him, wrapping his arm around her middle.
"Hey!" Parker said, irritated and struggling.
Eliot wanted to tell her to calm down and not to piss Conway off anymore. He caught her eye and tried to convey that.
Parker immediately calmed down and stopped struggling.
"I already gave you back your money." Eliot said. "Now, let's just forget about this and let her go."
Conway shook his head, dragging Parker backwards toward the door. He aimed the gun at Eliot.
"Back off!" Conway yelled.
Parker's eyes were wide as she looked at Eliot.
"Me and blondie here are going for a ride."
"I can't let you do that, man." Eliot narrowed his eyes.
"You can't stop me." Conway sneered.
"Eliot, what's going on? Someone talk to me!" Nate shouted in Eliot's ear.
Conway raised the gun at Eliot and fired. Parker stood shocked as she saw Eliot fall to the ground.
Eliot raised his head to see Conway pulling Parker out the back door.
"Nate….he's got Parker." He rasped.
Blackness surrounded him.