Beth: It's done
Beth's first text to Rio in weeks is a lie. They handled Boomer differently than Rio wanted, but he won't be testifying and that's all that matters. Beth ignores the desperation that tinges the light switch story she plans to tell him.
Rio: need the piece back
Rio knows Beth didn't kill Boomer. But that night in her dining room she made a choice. She chose this life. This is her rite of passage if she stops fighting it.
Beth: YMCA pool, tomorrow 4:00 pm
Beth imagines Rio swimming with his son. Criminal, money launderer, gang leader. Those associations make sense. Father? That is still settling in her mind. But if Rio wants to see her it will be her terms, her turf. No more jumping into her car in the school pick up line. No more shadows and darkness.
Rio: 224 gratiot, 7 pm
Beth: The pet store?
Beth mentally places a strip mall with a pet store and TJ Maxx. Neither of those seem like Rio's scene. Then again, he's full of surprises. Like his offer to teach her. The way he looked at her as he said it. As if he could see through her, deep into her.
Rio: shooting range, your first lesson
In theory, this whole scenario is cut and dry. Beth steals his money. She dies. She gets him arrested. She dies. She doesn't kill Boomer. She dies. But instead, here they are – teacher and student.
Rio: playground bench by the monkey bars, 3pm
Lesson number two: be a boss bitch.
Beth: It's done. For real.
Rio is putting away his tennis gear when Beth's text pings. Pride courses through him, a shade of arousal too.
Beth: What is the key for?
Beth traces Rio's handwriting with her finger. It suits him – strong and sharp. As are his words - 'For the Boss Bitch'.
Rio: EZ storage on mack ave, unit 557
Beth: What's there?
Rio: you earned it
Beth: I'm not interested
Beth is done, dumping Boomer's body her final gruesome act. Rio's mountain of fake cash won't change her mind. She forgave Dean, things are getting back to normal even if money is tight. A Craigslist alert pops up for her patio furniture, a sad reminder.
Rio: meet me at blue lotus, tomorrow 10 am
Rio smiles. Beth isn't used to her power yet. He'll help her see who she's meant to be.
Beth: I'll clean the money
Beth is backed into a corner. Again. Because of Dean. Again. She's angry, disappointed. That little prickle of a thrill is back too.
Rio: welcome back
Beth: This isn't a celebration. I need to take care of my family.
Rio: look for the key in your mailbox
Beth:
The blinking cursor in Beth's text matches her heartbeat, pounding with anticipation as she sits in the car next to Dean. She tried with him. She really did. But Dean will only ever see her as a housewife. Dismissing her as quickly as her ideas for the dealership. She needs more than that. Wants more than that. She needs Rio. Wants him. Wants the way he makes her feel powerful, respected. She never sends a message. She doesn't need to. He's always where he needs to be exactly when he needs to.
Beth: Can you meet at Blue Lotus tonight?
Rio: business or pleasure?
Beth's living in some alternate universe. She must be. A strange place where she has hot bathroom sex with a criminal. But that was a one-time thing, and Beth is moving on. Mostly. The way his fingers felt on her skin, inside her. The way he made her see a million pieces of light. The way he bit her neck right before he came. Those memories make her want it to happen again. And again. So what that it was never like that with Dean. Her life is on the line and it's time to focus.
Beth: This is serious. We'll all be there
Rio: 6 pm
Beth: We have the money. Can you handle it now?
Rio: blue lotus, 8 pm. bring the cash
That night in the bathroom was supposed to get Beth out of his system, scratch an itch. Instead he fantasizes about having more than 15 minutes with her. Why that is and why he's taking care of her dirty work, keeping her safe, lies somewhere deep and hazy.
Rio: how was business today Mrs. Boland?
Beth: Fine
Rio: how'd the commercial go?
Beth: Fine
Rio: how'd I look naked?
Beth: Fine
Beth absolutely refuses to give Rio the reaction he's fishing for.
Rio: this isn't over
Beth: I'm ready to talk terms when you are
Rio: you don't want to play this game with me
Beth: I never said it was a game
Rio: you think you can mess with my money?
Beth: My name, my cars, my dealership
Rio: i just saved your ass. this is how you thank me?
Rio is barely thinking, anger fueling his fingers as they fly over the keyboard. Had he created a monster? No. He created an equal. Beth and him are the same now.
Beth: The trash removal? Spare me.
Rio: am I wrong?
Beth: You were fairly compensated. And you have a keepsake.
Rio: that's what this is about?
Beth hesitates. This is about trust. And respect. She spent the past decade in the dark and refuses to feel powerless ever again. But she can't say that. Not when giving an inch means he takes a mile.
Beth: I do the work, I get a cut. That's what a partner is. Isn't that what you called us?
Rio: the bar, one hour
Beth: No. My office. 9:00 pm
Rio: evening, partner. lobby. now
Beth considers ignoring the text, Rio's seething sarcasm oozing out of her phone. He's popping up everywhere like a damn wack-a-mole and it's exhausting. As if she can't handle everything. Please. It's all under control. Most of the time.
Incoming Call: Elizabeth Boland
Rio does a double take. Why is Beth calling from her home number? This can't be good and he's frustrated. 50/50 means not cleaning up messes behind her. It means the shiny, crisp money but also the dark underbelly. When will it sink in with her? But she's crying when he answers, asking for help. He's in his car before they hang up.
Beth: Thank you
The words feel inadequate but so do anything else. Rio getting Jane's dubby back was so unexpected…but also exactly him.
Rio: family is everything. i know that
Lines between them are blurring more than he can explain. Who cares, he asked her. He'll let his actions speak for themselves.
Beth: Can you come over in the morning? You're not going to believe what happened.
Rio: bright and early
Their foundation is strengthening. They are learning each other – how they communicate, their habits, what roles they play in this unusual partnership. And with that comes respect, comfort, patience, laughter.
Rio: didn't mean to get your PANTIES in a bunch earlier
Every now and then they text each other for no real reason. Not to schedule a delivery or confirm a drop off. Excuses to get in touch, clues that they are on each other's mind.
Beth: You're hilarious
Rio: at least you have nice PANTIES
Rio knows Beth wears nice panties, lacy colorful ones. He also knows what she sounds like when she comes. But he tucks those facts away, pulling them out only on a lonely night or to tease her.
Beth: Will you stop?
It's a simple word. But for Beth 'panties' equals him ripping hers off, leaving that bathroom without any on. It's best to remove that word from their vocabulary.
Rio: watched that movie you told me about
Rio would have never guessed, but Beth is a movie buff. He wonders about the shadowy sadness that crossed her eyes when she mentioned going all the time with Ruby and Annie growing up.
Beth: Casablanca? What did you think?
Movies were Beth's escape as a child, even through high school. She rarely goes now, but the infinite possibilities they offered stayed with her always.
Rio: not really my style
Beth: A classic! The best movie kiss. The kind that stops time. You know?
Rio's mind trips back to that bathroom. They'd been so urgent and ready that kissing wasn't necessary or important. But, yes, he can imagine a time-stopping kiss with her.
Rio: like i said, not my style
Beth: I always wanted to find someone like Rhett Butler. Look into his eyes and see that he knows me, loves my quirks.
Rio: you deserve that
Rio: and never change your quirks, Elizabeth
Beth: Blue Lotus tomorrow? 10:00 am?
Rio: sure. everything ok?
Beth: Yes
No. Dean took her kids. Because of her. Stan was in jail. Because of her. Absolutely nothing was okay.
Beth: I have good news. Come have a drink with me.
Beth hoped somewhere between meeting Dean in the park and getting to the bar that she'd come up with some miraculous way to keep her kids, keep working with Rio, keep being happy. To have it all. But it's impossible. So she'll pay Rio his cut and end it. The heaviness squeezing her heart will go away. Another drink will help.
Rio: what are we celebrating?
Rio knows the pain of relationships crumbling, children in the crosshairs. If he could make it go away for her he would. Dean better have come to his senses.
Beth: You'll like it. I'm at the bar now.
"Hi, you've reached Beth Boland. Leave a message and I'll call you right back."
Beth's number keeps going straight to voicemail. Rio should let this go, let her go. "It's over." "I'm done." Her words still tighten his muscles. So do the moments before them. Her cute giggle, her mismatched socks, her first soft kiss. He reflexively rubs his thumb over his lips. Foolishly, briefly, he imagined opening his world to her. He knows better than to mix business with pleasure. He also knows where to find Beth at 3:00 pm on a Wednesday. Hopefully he gets to her before the Feds do.
Beth: ENOUGH
Beth closes her eyes. She can still taste him, smell him, feel his hands on her skin. She dips into those memories sparingly, rationing them. Her kiss, that afternoon, was supposed to be her goodbye. But there is no way another body part is going down her disposal. So, she'll deal with this – him – one last time.
Rio: park 3 pm
Beth says she's done. He doesn't believe her. And he won't make it easy.
Rio:
Rio stares at his phone, heels kicked up on his bed, their 20 questions stand off still vibrating in the air. He wants to text Beth. Tease her about the drop cloth. His neighbor filled him in about the "babe in the sheet." He wants to tell her to keep a two block trailing buffer. He noticed her van immediately, humored her effort out of curiosity. He wants to invite her over. Finish what they started with that almost kiss. Rio closes out of the message. Most of all, he wants to stop wanting her.
Beth: I need to talk to you. Urgent.
Beth: Call me back. It doesn't matter what time.
Beth: The situation with the jacket is not good.
Beth: Where are you?
Beth: This is not a joke.
Beth: I just called you but your voicemail is full. Call me back. Please.
Beth: 911
Beth is in a panic. Walls are closing in on her. Rio is nowhere to be found. For someone who constantly pops up, checks in and makes his presence known, his disappearing act is inconvenient, frustrating, confusing. And hurtful.
Beth: "It's about time"
The only thing more surprising than Dean slathering spaghetti on his shirt was seeing Rio's incoming call. Beth forgoes a greeting, irritation thick in her voice.
Rio: "Out front"
Rio hangs up before Beth can respond. Hurting people comes with the territory in his line of work, and he attacks fast and hard. Instead of broken bones or bruised skin, he'll strike Beth with painfully precise words. Make her feel like she doesn't matter. It's self-preservation. For his business. For himself.
