Chapter four
Previously:
Charles decided to do a little research on Eleanor, digging up some bones in her closet. The trio accepted a new, possibly fruitful, job. Eleanor spent the afternoon relaxing for the first time in a long while. The girls left their safe neighbourhood and it seems they've ran into someone they think they might know.
• • • • • • •
Max was burning a look into her, obviously full of questions.
"Not right now." Eleanor opened her menu. "Did you guys want to get a drink?"
Abigail groaned. "I think I'm okay."
And the three women laughed.
• • • • • • •
"I don't understand why we couldn't have just ordered it for delivery?" Anne grumbled in the passengers seat, pulling on the uncomfortable tight blouse Jack asked her to wear.
"Because, my love, this is the first stop on our just us two, romantic weekend." Jack winked at Anne.
Anne original protested the fancy outfits and the expensive place Jack first wanted to take her to. The outfits remained, but she won her way in going to a more comfortable place they both knew they loved.
Anne turned her head towards the window, smiling. This weekend meant a lot to her. As much as it was for Jack, it was more for her. It seemed like they had spent the entire first half of the year plotting and traveling from state to state, running errands. Their relationship felt like it had been straining and Anne even found herself doubting being with Jack. The time between them had started to feel like it was more business than personal lately, that's when Jack suggested they leave town for a bit and go somewhere just the two of them. At first, Charles didn't agree with Jack when he'd brought it up; then Anne later went to him to tell him how much it would mean to her. Charles watched her carefully then told her he'd talk to Teach about them staying at one of their hideouts in New York.
"Thank you." Anne looked over at Jack and slipped her hand under his.
Jack picked up her hand to raise to his lips, keeping eye contact with her.
Anne scoffed and took her hand back, smiling. "So, what's up with Charles lately? He seems extra absentminded." Anne crossed her fingers in her lap.
"Why would you assume I would know anything that man is thinking?" Jack glanced between the road and her face.
"Oh please," Anne shifted in her seat. "Like you two don't talk about everything."
"Well, not everything." Jacks eyebrows furled. "He seems a little off, probably just not sleeping again." Jack pulled into The Reef's parking lot.
When they first moved to the coast, the three of them had been captivated by the sea. Their first month here, the trio would pile into the van and drive down to the beach every night. Jack and Anne would lay in the back of the van with the doors open. Meanwhile, Charles would stretch out on the sand out under the stars. Anne had always loved the ocean and the waves felt like freedom when she'd sit in the van, Jack holding her. "We haven't had as much personal time together, that's all." Anne shook her head against her self doubts.
Jack had come around to her side and opened her door. "My lady." He bowed to her and offered her his hand.
"You're an idiot." She laughed as she stepped out.
The couple walked side by side up to the front entrance. Jack sped up to beat her to the door, holding it open for her. Anne rolled her eyes at him and walked inside. "If this is what he's going to be like the whole trip…" she leaned against the podium at the front. Jack came up around her side, his arms wrapping around her waist. Anne looked up at him challengingly, but the smile on his face didn't falter.
"Ahh, my two favourite people!" A man walked towards them from inside the restaurant. "Where's your worst half?" He laughed.
"It's just us tonight, Silver." Jack stepped towards him, pulling out a hundred dollar bill from his jacket pocket. "And we'd appreciate a little privacy?" He nodded as he pulled Silvers hand out to shake and discreetly slip the money in.
Silver looked down at his hand slyly and broke into a grin. "Well of course! Anything for good friends. Have a seat at the bar, drinks on me, while I get a table set up for you." He said while walking away.
Jack grabbed Anne's hand while they walked towards the bar. She thought about acting distant for a moment.
"Oh, Anne. Cut it out." Jack led her towards the end of the bar, pulling out a bar stool for her. "It's just me. There's no reason to raise your walls."
Anne sighed as she sat down. "Maybe just for this weekend…" she looked over at Jack, sitting down beside her. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'll be good this weekend."
Jack nodded over at her while signalling at the bartender. "I'll have the vanilla bourbon, and she'll have the gin and tonic." As the bartender went to walk off, Jack turned his attention back to Anne. "We'll have a lovely time in New York. I've arranged for us to do some sightseeing. I've booked tickets for us to the Museum of Modern Art and some Broadway plays. I've gotten great recommendations for the night life, and there's even whale watching." Jack looked at her with excitement, she couldn't help but laugh at his love.
"Table of two, for Jack." A young waitress came over to them. "I'll bring your drinks over." She gestured for them to follow her.
A single table had been set up towards the back of the restaurant, seated far away from the main foot traffic area; just against the wall that divided another part of the restaurant currently not in use. The other tables that usually surround it were pulled away to give them most of the back area to themselves. Jack pulled out Anne's chair before sitting down himself. The waitress had walked off towards the bar again when Silver came out of the kitchen, the chefs hat still on his head.
"I hope this set up is to your liking?" He grinned at the couple.
"It's just perfect, thanks." Anne stared up at him.
"What's your special tonight?" Jack opened his menu on the table and stared reading as the waitress dropped off the drinks they had ordered.
Silver leaned forward onto the table. "Tonight it's the buttermilk fried chicken with peas and rice served with my famous potatoes and secret sauce." He winked at them.
"Two specials, please." Jack set down his menu and grabbed for his drink.
Anne continued reading her menu but didn't argue with Jacks order for her. Silver nodded and heard back into the kitchen to the left of them.
Anne scooted her seat closer to Jacks, which sat flat against the wall overlooking most of the restaurant. As she laid her head on his shoulder, he handed her the drink he'd ordered her. They sat in silence, with their thoughts and alcohol. She slipped her free hand into his and entwined their fingers on her lap. Looking up into his eyes, she saw her freedom. In his dark eyes she could almost see waves rolling in them. He leaned down into her and Anne stretched up to meet his lips. The hand that wasn't holding hers snuck up her spine to hold the back of her head. Anne shifted in her seat to face him better, her hands creeping up his chest to play with his opened shirt collar.
The sound of plates sliding on the tables surface made Jack open one eye in the direction of the noise. He pulled back slowly from Anne, who was glaring in Silvers direction. Silver could hardly hold back his mirth as he slunk away from them.
Anne re-seated herself and pulled her plate in front of her. "Remind me again why I can't just pummel him into the ground?"
"Well, because," Jack paused, pulling apart his cutlery set. "Charles said so? Must have made some deal." He started digging into his meal.
Anne was just about to take a bite into hers when she watched the front doors open. Two women who looked very out of place entered. A smaller younger girl with dark, waist length hair was over dressed in an expensive looking dress. The other one, shorter than the young girl, was wearing tight fitting clothes that were way too overdone. Anne felt herself unable to look away from her. The woman's hair swirled around her as she talked animatedly to the hostess up front. They were led towards the front by the windows and Anne followed her with her eyes until she was out of sight.
"How's yours darling?" Jack blew at the bite on his fork.
Anne looked down at her plate. "Delicious." She picked through her food.
The door opened for the second time, Anne looked towards the front. "Oh, it's that rich bitch." She rolled her eyes. "What the fuck is she doing here?" Watching her move towards where the other two went. "The Guthrie heiress in our neighbourhood can't be good." Anne elbowed Jacks arm.
He looked over at her with a mouthful of food.
"Did you see who just walked in?" Anne shook her head at him.
"Uh—no?" Jack said in between bites.
Anne growled in his direction. "Richard Guthrie's daughter."
Jack wiped at his mouth, "okay, well, it's fine. Just keep a low profile." Going to dig back into his plate he noticed Anne's barely touched one. "Are you not enjoying it?"
"Oh—yeah, no, it's great." Anne frowned. "Sorry, I just can't relax."
Jack grabbed her hand. "You're okay."
She leaned up towards him and Jack met her halfway. Just as their lips touched, with eyes half open Anne could see movement in her peripheral. She pulled away from Jack just to see the same red pants the one woman was wearing.
"Sorry, I just have to use the restroom real quick." Anne got up from her chair to walk towards the back corner of the restaurant.
She opened the bathroom door and could hear hushed tones speaking furiously. She stepped inside and made her way towards the sink.
• • • • • • •
Eleanor kept her head down and eyes glued to the drink menu she was turning back and forth. She peered up slightly at Max, sitting across from her. Abigail sitting in the window seat absentmindedly fidgeted with her menu while looking outside. Max hadn't even opened her menu, she sat rigidly and nervously stared at Eleanor.
"Hey," Eleanor pushed the drink menu towards Max, "pick out something." She laid her hand on top of Max's shaking one. Looking at Abigail she gently patted the girls shoulder. "Do you know what you're going to order?" Abigail shook her head. Eleanor sighed. "We're okay, act chill." Turning her attention back to her menu. The other women looked at each other and then at Eleanor, completely calm and reading through the appetizers. They tried to relax and each opened their own menu.
A server came by and asked if they'd like anything to drink to start.
"We'll get two lagers, whatever you have on tap." Eleanor pointed between her and Max. The server took the drink menu and left silently. Eleanor shrugged off her jacket and let it drop behind her back onto the chair. "I'm just going to go to the washroom." She said turning to Abigail. "Can you mind our drinks?"
"Of course." Abigail mumbled back, still fidgeting with the paper.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow at Max as she stood out of her chair. Max gracefully shoved her chair back and fell in line behind Eleanor. The two women walked across the restaurant and towards the back where the restrooms where located. They passed by a particularly loved up couple seated away from everyone.
As soon as they were inside the washroom, Eleanor grabbed Max's wrist and pulled her inside a stall.
She turned to face Max, who had a wide eyed expression on her face.
"Alright, you've got to relax. You're freaking Abigail out, and she's too new to deal with this kind of shit. You're scared, I get it, me too. We've got to be the ones to hold it together though." Letting go of her wrist Max exhaled hard, leaning her back against the stall's door.
They heard the door open and shoes against the floor tiles as someone made their way over to the sink.
"You're right, I'm sorry. We've put so much on the line, and I-I didn't want it to be for nothing." Max laid her hand over her heart.
"Then relax, no ones knows anything. We don't even know who was in that van, and in that sense, they definitely don't know us. I'll drop the letter off this weekend and then it'll be over. Our part will be done for now. We won't hear from them for a while." Eleanor stepped closer and put her hands on Max's shoulders. "Now, let's enjoy dinner and then we can take Abigail home." Max nodded and turned to open the stall door.
Max stepped out first with Eleanor following behind. A slender figure stood washing her hands in front of the mirror. She looked up in the mirror to watch the two woman behind her. Eleanor made a note of her aqua blue eyes and auburn hair. She bumped into Max in front of her, who had stopped moving to watch the stranger in front of them.
Eleanor put her hand on Max's shoulder blades. "Keep going." She laughed.
Max looked around their surroundings, "sorry." She mumbled.
They exited the bathroom with Max in a daze.
"Are you okay?" Eleanor stepped in front of Max.
"Yeah, yeah." She looked back at the bathroom door. "Would you mind if we ordered for to go instead of eating in?"
"Uhm—I guess, yeah? We could just take it easy this evening." Eleanor kept looking over at Max as they walked back to their table.
Abigail sat at the table with her face in one hand and her cellphone in the other; the drinks Eleanor had ordered were sitting to her right. The two women pulled out their chairs and sat down.
"Hey," Eleanor began, laying a hand gently on Abigail's shoulders. "Would you mind if we got some food to go? We just have a lot to do work wise." Eleanor looked apologetically at her.
"Oh." Abigail looked at Eleanor then Max. "I guess so—yeah, of course."
"We'll make it up to you." Max chimed in.
Eleanor nodded. "Yeah, we'll owe you one."
Abigail grinned at them. "Okay, fair enough."
Max was waving over a server that was walking by while Eleanor grabbed for her drink.
• • • • • • •
Jack sat behind the wheel of their big van, gently holding Anne's hand while she sat in the passengers seat. They were both a little intoxicated from all the free wine Silver kept sending over to their table. Jack decided to take the long way home to give them a chance to drive by the beach, knowing Anne would appreciate it.
Anne lowered her window, letting the familiar wind from the ocean drift into the car. Jack slowed his driving to give them a chance to gaze out at sea.
"Could we stop for a bit?" Anne looked at Jack.
Jack thought about it for a minute. "Okay, yeah, no harm in it."
Anne leaned forward onto the dashboard a bit. "Hey, isn't that Charles' car?" She pointed at the only car parked at the lot. The familiar gleam of the Mustang Mach 1 Charles drives sat underneath the street light.
"Must be unable to sleep again. This is the second night in a row?" Jack pulled the car to a stop.
"I think it's the third." Anne answered, stepping out of the car in haste.
She stood with her back leaning onto the passengers door, face to the breeze. Jack came to her side and looped his arms around her waist. His dark eyes were boring into hers. They felt like home. Anne leaned into him, nuzzling her face into his chest. They could see someone sitting in the sand.
"Should we go to him?" She mumbled into Jacks chest.
"Maybe."
Anne started walking first, the sand sinking underneath her feet. She remembered back to when she first sank into the sand. Growing up, she had never seen the ocean. She smiled slightly looking at her feet disappearing into the soft earth.
She reached Charles before Jack did.
"Hey." She called out to him.
Charles didn't look back at her, he just sat calmly. A lit cigarette lay between his fingers. "What are you doing out here?"
"We could ask you same." Jack sat down beside him. He took off his jacket and laid it on the sand beside him.
Anne walked over to sit on it beside him.
"Just couldn't sleep I guess." Charles blew out some smoke.
"If you're stressed, you can always talk to us." Jack laid his hand on Charles' shoulder.
He laughed. "What would you even think of me if I showed my stress?"
"That you're human?" Anne quipped back.
Charles chuckled at her.
"I guess I'm not sure how to go about my first plan, and now there's a whole new mission to plan." Charles threw his cigarette out in front of him.
"Well what's more pressing with time?" Jack pulled Anne into him.
"The statue. It'll be unveiled in a few weeks and Teach wants us to snatch it before it goes public." Charles sighed. "But this other prize… I don't know how to go about it."
"Is that why we were at the Addington Estate the other night?" Anne questioned.
"Yeah, there's a bill of sale, or letter, in there proving the names of men who all bought in on a prize that Teach desperately wants. Without it there's no real lead." Charles put another cigarette to his lips.
Anne held her hand out at him for one and Jack raised an eyebrow at her. Charles ignored his looks and passed her one.
"You'll never guess who we ran into." Anne breathed in the darkness.
"It doesn't mean anything." Jack tried to deescalate her thoughts.
"Maybe," Anne shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on things."
"Who?" Charles pressed.
"Richard Guthrie's daughter." She tapped some ash off her smoke.
Charles hummed in response.
"Not sure why everyone cares so much about her." Jack laughed.
"Am I the only one who pays any attention to the meetings Teach sends us to?" Anne growled. "Richard might deal with exporting items manufactured in the states overseas, but he's also tied into organizations like ours."
Charles looked at Anne with caution.
"And you've heard the gossip about who she's possibly buddied up to?" Anne shook her head at the men.
Charles looked off back to the ocean.
"Well not really…" Jack looked bashfully between his partner and their leader.
"For fucks sake, maybe next time I should just take notes." Anne mocked him.
• • • • • • •
"Thank you for the fun filled days guys." Abigail leaned forward to hug both of them from the back seat of the car.
Max had one arm wrapped around her. "Anytime, mon chéri."
Eleanor kissed the top of Abigails head, awkwardly shifting in her seat to hug her. "So I'll pick you up Saturday evening, okay?"
Abigail nodded enthusiastically as she opened the car door. "Yes, I'll see you guys then!"
They sat and watched her run up to the front door, making sure she got in safely.
Eleanor sighed and turned the car back on, going to drive out of the cul-de-sac of the rich neighbourhood.
"So, anything you'd like to get up to tonight?" Max fiddled with the radio.
"Actually, I have some papers I need to run by Richard before he leaves." She frowned. "I have to go home tonight, but I'll be back for the morning."
Max groaned, "can't you do it tomorrow? It's Thirsty Thursday, come on."
"I can't, I promised."
Max rolled her eyes and pouted, turning away from Eleanor.
"Hey, come on. We can go shopping tomorrow after grabbing some brunch." Eleanor tried to appease her.
"And we'll go eat where I want?" Max's looked at her slightly.
Eleanor grinned, "any place."
Eleanor pulled her car into the parking space at the back of their place. Maxed stared at her questioningly.
"I'm just going to change and grab some things and then I'll be out of here." She turned the car off.
"Alright, well, I'm going to head inside and see how things are going." Max pointed towards the back exit.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Eleanor waved as she made her way towards the staircase.
She looked at the wall he had been leaning on the other night as she walked by. "I wonder if he will come back." She bit her lip. Unlocking the gate and turning in the small landing, she looked out into the night. "What am I looking for?" She laughed at herself. Fumbling with her keys in the dark and trying to open the front door, she froze when the back exit door opened. Her mind immediately went to the mysterious man who gave her the shivers that night. Female voices started chatting and Eleanor turned the key in the lock. "Stop it." She scolded herself.
Entering the suite, she kicked off her shoes. Throwing her jacket onto the floor, she made her way towards her room.
Flickering on her bedroom light, she swore she could see the shine of something from the building across from her just for a spilt second. She walked over to her window and threw it open. She stretched her body out onto the fire escape, legs dangling inside still. Squinting into the darkness in front of her, it was impossible to see with the back of the alley having no street lights around. It almost looked like something was on top of the roof of the building across the way but there was no real way of knowing. Hoisting her body back inside, she drew her curtains closed.
Eleanor started unbuttoning the top she had put on earlier as she walked over to the safe. Unlocking it, she pulled out a stack of money and a small notepad along with it. Walking over to her bed, she tossed the contents onto it. Letting her shirt drop, with her skirt following after. Going back over to her wardrobe, she pulled on a black turtleneck long sleeve. Grabbing a pair of black cargo pants, she threw them over the vanity stool as she stood in front of the mirror. She struggled with the hair band that was holding her hair together. Finally getting it free, Eleanor massaged at her scalp. Picking up the pants she slipped her legs in, smoothing the material on her thighs in front of the mirror; turning from side to side to see all the angles. "It's alright."
Eleanor grabbed the cash bundle and notepad, hurrying out of her room before Max could get up into the suite. She ran to the closet, rummaging for her heeled ankle boots. Picking up the leather jacket she had discarded on the floor, she reached for the door handle.
Eleanor turned to lock it behind her, stuffing the money into the inner pocket of the jacket, still holding onto the notepad. Leaning forward onto the banister of the landing, she looked around to see if anyone was there out. Unable to make out anybody around, she sighed in relief and grabbed her cigarette pack out of her pocket as she made her way downstairs. As quietly as she could slam the gate behind her, she speed walked to her car; trying to light her cigarette the whole way. Getting into the car quickly and locking her door out of paranoia, she finally relaxed a bit.
Taking a slow drag as she turned on the car and peeled out of the lot quickly. "Fuck, I'm sorry." She thought about Max. She hated lying to her, but it wasn't her idea. It was just business. She rolled her window down and let her arm hang out of it, enjoying the night breeze. She began taking the back streets and alley ways as she wove her way through the city.
Looking in her rear view mirror, a pair of headlights were behind her. "Try not to overthink this situation." She was sure she saw them just a few minutes ago too. Eleanor took another turn down an alley and noticed a darkened parking spot in someone's back alley parking. She pulled into the spot and turned the car off, pressing her back against the seat with her face down. She watched as the car drove on past her. "Pretty sweet ride." She noted. Eleanor waited another few minutes before turning the car back on and descending down the alleyway, in the opposite direction where the other driver went.
Now in a different part of town, it had a weird mix of upscale and dirt poor. A few bars and eateries were still open, while other places were shut down for the night.
There was only one parking spot available on the street, and it was little far off from the building she was trying to get to; Eleanor wasn't going to risk parking in the dimly lit back streets however. Turning in her street to check behind her as she parallel parked, Eleanor noticed how many people were out here tonight.
Turning the car off, she sat still looking at all the other cars. It was hard to notice inside them with the tinted windows, but she just had to make sure nobody was around to see her.
She stepped out of the car, clutching her jacket around her and holding the notepad tightly. Jogging towards the sidewalk slightly, she kept her head low. A group of men were walking in her direction as she made her way up the block. Eleanor flashed a look up at them quickly as they neared her. She could hear whispers as the group spilt into two so as to let her pass between them. Eleanor chuckled under her breath. "Whom do they belong to?" She turned to look back at them as she put distance between herself and the group. One of the other men was looking at her, he jutted his chin her way and winked. His other group mates pulled at him disapprovingly. She raised her eyebrows at him and laughed, shaking her head she continued her way towards her destination.
Stopping in front of a small building with tall windows, she looked around her surroundings before entering. A soft chime rang out as she entered, keeping her head ducked she made her way inside.
In the dim lighting she could make out that there were a few people sitting around at the tables that were converted out of barrels. The tables by the front windows were empty, but the ones by the wall were full of guests. All the bar stools were full up tonight. "That's fine, I don't need a drink anyways." Eleanor shrugged at her original plan of having a shot before facing this meeting.
She ditched making her way towards the back when a familiar voice boomed out in laugher
Looking in the direction of the bar, her eyes laid sight on a tall man. He had short, cropped hair and a full beard. He stopped short of movement, the glass he was polishing went still in his hand.
"Look who's back." Eleanor smiled as she made her way to the bar. Walking around to the open end, she stood in the entrance, one elbow leaning on the counter.
He set the glass down on the counter and Eleanor watched the way his strong arms flexed with the movement. He started walking towards her with a cheeky smile on his face, making Eleanor bite her lip in response.
"Yeah, well, they finally let me come home for a while." He stood in front of her. He stood at least a foot taller than her, forcing her to tilt her head up to look at him in the eyes.
"Are both the sirs in tonight?" She whispered low as the space between got tighter.
"Just Mr. G." He rumbled in response.
Eleanor could practically feel the vibrations of his voice as they were almost chest to chest. He kept eye contact with her the whole way he sauntered over to her. Her breathing becoming a little erratic at the closeness.
"And uh—how long is a while?" She cleared her throat, "for you being home that is?" Eleanor put both her hands on his chest delicately, feeling the muscles underneath his tight shirt.
He grinned at her widely while scratching at his beard. "I got a few days."
Eleanor ran her hands up his chest and around his shoulder, clasping her fingers behind his neck. She licked her lips and looked at him underneath her eyelashes. Standing on the tips of her toes and leaning her weight into his chest, she pressed her lips close to his ear.
"How's tomorrow night?"
She leaned back away from him, not yet removing her hands from him. He slowly slipped his hands onto her sides, large hands engulfing her waist. He gave her a little squeeze before settling her away from him more. He turned his head away from her and nodded slightly, staring off at the customers seated at the bar.
"You still at the same place?"
Eleanor leaned back onto the counter, keeping herself away from him.
"Yeah, same window." She smiled enthusiastically.
He looked at her and winked before heading back towards the middle of the bar.
"Good to see you, Doc." Eleanor called out after him as she turned to leave.
Eleanor walked towards a curtain that was opposite of the entrance door. Pushing the heavy yellow fabric aside and slinking behind it, she was inside a smaller room. The place had a few tables of men playing cards with large stacks of chips everywhere she looked. A few of the men looked at her and nodded, while the others rolled their eyes at her presence. At the other end of the room was a small staircase that lead down somewhere.
She crossed the room and slowly walked down the staircase. It was poorly lit, and each step creaked under her feet. There was a slight panic that rose in her at every step she took. "These stairs will be the death of someone, one of these days." She cursed in her head.
The end of the stairs led to more darkness and a single door. The only thing on the large metal door you could make out was the sliding peephole at eye level.
Eleanor stepped up to knock on the door.
The slit opened and a pair of eyes looked her up and down.
"Say my name and I disappear." A deep voice came from behind the door.
"Silence." Eleanor answered and the door swung open.
Eleanor bowed her head as she made her way into the other room.
I wrote some Ranger crew goodness! Specifically Jack/Anne because I know it's Lexy's fav pairing :P but they're super adorable! They remind me a lot of my partner and I :D with him being charming and witty and me just angry hahaha hope everyone enjoys the Anne perspective!
I hope this is satisfactory enough? I'm excited to write the next few stuff! I didn't proofread so maybe somethings are oddly spelled or whatever haha
Thanks guys love you all!
XO.