Girls Night Out

.

Chapter 21

In another part of town, Alfonso Aldo was sitting at Teddy's Hideaway, a dive bar.

He came here weekly. The early evening was a perfect time to come, for only a few patrons were present. He liked the quiet solitude, plus the drinks served were stiff and strong. He came here to drink his problems away.

As he nursed his drink, one of his favorite Sinatra's song was playing in the background:

Strangers in the night

exchanging glances

Wond'ring in the night

What were the chances...

Alfonso Aldo closed his eyes as he was reminded of a different era, a simpler time.

Sinatra. 'Ol Blue-eyes. The Chairman of the Board. Now, that was a singer, reminisced Alfonso.

Meanwhile, across the room from Aldo, Fi and Elizabeth were lounging up at the bar. They both were wearing short, tight dresses and tall, stacked heels. Fi was seated, looking totally relaxed while Elizabeth was fidgeting with her dress.

"He's not noticing us! He's not looking our way!" worried Elizabeth in a low, emphatic tone, "Maybe, we're not his type!"

"Maybe what he needs," suggested Fi nonchalantly, "is an incentive to look our way."

"What do you m-"

"Sssh!" said Fi, as she nonchalantly looked around.

Fi's arm suddenly made a quick flipping movement. It had happened so quickly that Elizabeth only heard something go through the air.

CHA-BOOF.

They heard Aldo's stunned reaction from across the room.

"Ow!"

Elizabeth looked over and saw Aldo's hand rubbing the back of his head as he scanned the room.

Fi had accurately hit Aldo with ...something. Glancing about, Elizabeth noted the missing salt shaker from the bar. It was just here two minutes earlier.

"How did you-"

"Head's up!" whispered Fi, with the corner of her mouth, "He's looking our way!"

Still looking around the room while rubbing his head, Alfonso Aldo zeroed in on the two gorgeous broads seated up at the bar, giving him the one-over. One was brunette and the other was blonde. Man, those two were knockouts!

They returned his gaze. He lifted his drink to them. To his delight, both women returned the gallant gesture with a flirtatious smile.

You've still got a way with the ladies, Aldo, Alfonso thought, patting himself on the back. And why not? He had success written all over him. His tall carriage, his shiny suit, his polished shoes. He was proud of what he had accomplished. It had taken him many years, but he was now the #2 man in the Moretti crime family.

True, his face was jagged with age and his nose was crooked from too many beatings, but like Sinatra, he had the charm, baby, the charm.

With those two bombshells, Aldo felt he would make an exception to the rule of drinking alone.

Across the room Fi was thinking she disliked having to work with this... this hussy. She certainly could have slipped this mobster a 'mickey' on her own.

But she would show Michael she was in charge of her emotions.

With a final teasing look across the room, both women faced forward again, each readying themselves for the part they would soon play.

It would be easy for Fi, for she had used her sexual wiles many times to lure men into whatever situation Michael had worked out for them.

On the other hand, Elizabeth was nervous. This whole con job thing was going to be difficult for her. It was hard for her to feel alluring when she had just spent half an hour caking on a layer of makeup to hide her bruises.

This spy business thing was too crazy, too terrifying, she thought. So far, Elizabeth had been a involved in a deadly car chase, a shooting, and a personal assault. Now she was to be a co-conspirator in drugging a criminal with a woman who abhorred her. She looked at the woman who sat across from her, who hated her, yet had chosen to save her from harm.

"Thank you, again, Fi," humbled Elizabeth, "for what you did earlier."

Fi shrugged. Shooting a low-life Mafioso was easy. But maintaining control, now that took work.

They took another sip of their drinks, each trying to adjust to the concept of working jointly together. Elizabeth had ordered a Long Island Iced Tea while Fi had ordered, appropriately, the Irish Car bomb. Both drinks were mixed strong; Elizabeth's with vodka and Fi's with whiskey. They would need it.

Fi's phone buzzed, informing her of a new text message. She scanned the contents, the corners of her mouth turning up into a slight smile.

At least the text seemed to brighten up Fi's mood.

"Some good news?" asked Elizabeth, hopeful.

"That was Sam," Fi kept it short, as she ended the text, "Seems he's discovered Vespi's new hideout."

Sam must be very good at what he does, Elizabeth thought, for Mario was very secretive when it came to the location of his operation.

"How was Sam able to obtain that information?"

Did Fi just snort?

"Apparently, Sam has a fiancé." Fi simply replied.

Elizabeth looked puzzled.

Sampling her drink, Fi looked impassively at Elizabeth. She knew that Hussy was the type who used her looks to attract a man. But there are boundaries when it came to that game and Hussy needed to know she had just crossed the line with Michael.

Hussy should never have flirted until she knew whether Michael had someone first.

On the other hand, Fi figured, thug guy really walloped on Hussy. Her bruises attested to that fact. Karma works in mysterious ways.

But Fi wanted to teach Hussy a lesson, too, howbeit, on a smaller level. And she would do it without breaking her promise to Michael.

Fi looked intent as she rummaged through her purse. Elizabeth could not imagine what Fi was searching for and needed her drink to steady her nerves.

"Fi!" Elizabeth leaned over, "You're not getting out a dagger or pistol from your purse, are you?"

Fi stopped for a second, looking exasperated.

"No, I am not a pirate," whispered back Fi sardonically, although she derived some pleasure from playing these head games with Hussy.

Fi finally found what she was looking for from her purse and held it up for Elizabeth to see. It was simply a white envelope. Fi placed it on the table and slid it over to Elizabeth's side of the table.

Fi reached for her drink while Elizabeth stared down at the envelope.

"What is this?" Elizabeth cast her look back at Fiona.

"Call it a present for you."

A gift from Fi? Elizabeth touched the envelope tentatively, as if it might explode on her. She warily held the envelope and flipped up the flap. Carefully she took out the printed paper and scowled at the certificate.

"I don't understand..." began Elizabeth.

"It's a gift certificate," explained Fi, "For free Tae Kwon Do lessons for three months. They have satellite studios as far away as Vegas. Have a nice trip back."

Elizabeth still looked confused

"... and you did this because..." Elizabeth asked.

"...because," stated Fi evenly, "I have a sense of fair play. At the end of three months of lessons, we are going to meet again." She leaned forward, "and then, I am going to kick your ass."

Elizabeth was taken aback, as she put the paper back in its envelope.

"Er...thanks?..."

The silence was palpable as they consumed their stiff drinks. A new Sinatra tune was playing. Elizabeth self-consciously ran her index finger alongside the rim of her tall glass.

"Just so you know," confessed Elizabeth, "despite my dropped hints, Michael has made it clear that he only has eyes for you, Fi."

"Please, call me Fiona," stated Fi, emotionless, "I insist."

"Alright, Fi-ona, " agreed Elizabeth, "To put it simply...he wants you, not me."

Outwardly, Fi showed indifference, but internally, her heart beat faster knowing that Michael remained true to her.

Elizabeth wasn't the bimbo Fi had expected. And it seemed that Elizabeth would not be going after Michael in the future. Fi felt some of her anger ebbing away.

"Perhaps we will call a truce," Fi suggested, "for now."

Fi felt in control as she lifted her drink.

Elizabeth sat up straighter, looking pleased. She held up her glass.

"Truce," agreed Elizabeth, as they both downed their drinks.

Two duplicate drinks were then placed on their table by the waitress.

The waitress informed them that it was from "that gentleman sitting at the table." She, of course, was referring to Aldo. Fi smiled while Elizabeth nodded at Aldo. He grinned salaciously back at them. The two women turned back around to face the bar.

They partook of the second drink.

"God!" said Fi, rolling her eyes so that only Elizabeth could see, "Enough of these goons already! Next time we need to con someone, let's pick men who work at a male model agency!"

Elizabeth snickered as she took another sip. She was pleased with Fi's usage of "we". The second drink was loosening her inhibitions as it smoothly went down her throat.

"And," added Elizabeth, starting to feel giddy, "another requirement is the next guy should NOT be hairy like a gorilla...Nooo chest-hairs for us!"

Fi snorted at the word "chest-hairs". The drinking must also be affecting Fi, for she started getting a slight buzz. She lifted her half-filled glass.

"I concur...smooooth chests only."

Elizabeth lifted her glass and this time they clinked the glasses together before they drank.

Feeling very relaxed, Elizabeth leaned in, suddenly feeling very bold.

"I-I'm ... nervous." Elizabeth confessed quietly.

Fi took another swallow. She was starting to feel real good.

"Meee... too," admitted Fi, to the amazement of Elizabeth.

"What? Y-You?"

"Well, not about thisss!" Fi insisted as she circulated the drink in her hand. The liquid swished aggressively in the glass, so that some spilled on the counter. Both women giggled.

Fi surprised herself. Why was she revealing all this to Elizabeth?...No, she meant Hussy. She was getting confused.

But it felt good to relate to another female her age.

"About what... could you be n-nervous about?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes less focused.

It was taking Fi longer to think. Her usual abbreviated sentences turned into ramblings. She seemed to be in a slight fog. When she spoke, it felt as if her speech was slowing down.

"I display emotions with physical actionsss, and I've got some...uh... residual negation emotions in meee," Fi had to pause, "I neeed to... somehow... re-lease these...feelings...somehow...somewhere...in a phy-si-cal way, or I...will...go... craaa-zy!"

Fi looked over at Aldo. Elizabeth watched her and figured out what Fi was thinking.

"No, Fiona! You cannot... h-harm Al-do" said Elizabeth, having to think through each word, "We are sup-pose to d-deliver him in one piece... to the motel-y room!"

It was as if a bucket of cold water was poured on Fi. Her eyes became large as she realized Elizabeth had said the key words to solve her dilemma.

The motel room! The idea began to clear Fi's mind.

The room at Motel Rendezvous. The room they were bringing Aldo to after they drugged him. Maybe she could arrive there before Michael, Nate and Sam checked in.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," stated Fi, "You just ga-ave me a great idea."

The compliment from Fi sent Elizabeth in a surprised tizzy, weakening the effect from the alcohol.

"Sooo...we're not going to an-ni-hi-late Aldo from the face of the earth, are we?" Elizabeth asked, almost sounding disappointed.

Fi hiccuped and she placed her hand over her mouth, her eyes opened wide. They both giggled. When it died down, it acted as a signal to get serious again.

"No, although 'annihilate Aldo' was a lovely image," Fi recovered, now becoming more focused, "On your suggestion, I am going to use the motel room...my way."

Elizabeth watched how determined Fi looked. She pushed her drink away.

"I like that we are strategizing together." commented Elizabeth, even though she didn't understand.

"Together is good," Fi decided, "...and one more thing."

Fi reached over and started ripping the white envelope containing the Tae Kwon do lessons. She tore it again and again until the white envelope was in tiny, scattered pieces on the table.

Elizabeth did not know what to make of this.

"Fiona-" she began.

"Call me 'Fi".

Elizabeth looked stunned, but pleased.

"Alright, Fi." Elizabeth corrected herself as she looked over at Aldo, "We're going to kick his ass, aren't we?"

"Exactly." agreed Fi, "Our new little Italian friend won't know what hit him."

Fi patted her purse with the drug inside.

Both women turned and gave flirtatious waves as Aldo reciprocated.

Confidently, Alfonso Aldo stood, buttoned his jacket, and started towards them.

Elizabeth was no longer nervous. Deal with another mobster? Pshaw! She had faced Fiona; she could face anyone. The thought made her feel assuredly attractive.

Fiona felt the plan was all coming together now. Her mind was already racing forward to the image of the motel room afterwards. Her smile was sincere as the schmuck approached them.

Aldo was walking towards them with a swagger. Damn, those luscious beauties were even hotter the closer he got! I just hope there's enough of me to go around, Aldo chuckled to himself.

He was sure this was going to be his lucky night!

The con was on.

He had no chance against these two.

.

.

Please review.