Thursday 4th August - 2 am

My God... my heart is racing, and I'm trembling. I just called Keith and asked him to meet me in an hour a few miles from here. Ace will probably have my head bringing him anywhere near the garage, but I'm not walking the eight miles to his place in the middle of the night. Ace was supposed to be my ride, Eyeball is who-knows-where, and Jack and Fuzz aren't answering their phones. And I really want to talk to Keith ASAP, while Ace isn't around. Because if Ace is around it won't happen. My God, this is so intense but... desperate calls...

I'd better get moving.


Thursday 4th August - 3.30 am

Shit... You know, part of me hoped that Keith would turn me down, say he had nothing for me, and at least I could be satisfied that I tried. At least I could have slept peacefully now. But instead, my mind is running circles over what to do.

As I neared the crossroads where I asked Keith to wait, I saw him standing in the headlights of his black '51 Mercury, looking around aimlessly for any sign of me.

"Cassie!" he called when he finally spotted me. "Are you alright?" His headlights illuminated the concerned look on his face as he took me by the hands and checked me over.

"I'm fine." I pulled away gently, appreciating that he drove all the way out there, but not wanting to be fussed over.

"Where's Ace?"

"He had to be somewhere. Urgently."

"So he left you alone, way out here? Where'd you call from?"

"Can we go?" Avoiding answering all questions was of the utmost importance.

I opened the door of his Mercury and slipped inside. This car is eye-candy on wheels. It's been dropped and channeled, has Desoto grill teeth which are rare to see in these parts, and the rear tires are covered by those steel skirts that give it that true 'lead sled' look. The gray, leather interior is immaculate - not a speck of dust or dirt to been found - and when Keith slid in behind the wheel, it was like dressing the eye-candy with a cherry on top.

"Where to?" he asked, pulling his door shut.

"I guess... Ace's place. Please."

"You'll be OK out there alone?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because- Look, everyone knows about the fight. And I dunno what the deal was, but I do know it had something to do with... you."

"Right."

"You know Kyle just got outta hospital, right?"

"Yes. I know."

"That guy's a loose unit - what if he gets some crazy idea in his head and goes out there to cause trouble?"

It was something to consider, and I suddenly felt less comfortable about staying miles out of town on my own.

"How long's Ace away? I could wait with you."

"No, he'll be a couple of days."

Keith huffed and shook his head, clearly annoyed. "This is typical of him, you know."

"What do you mean?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"It's his duty to make sure you're safe. You shouldn't be out here alone at all hours of the morning."

"Where he left me was safe. Ace looks after me just fine, and I really don't like it when you question it. Like when you thought he hit me. That wasn't fair."

Keith breathed deep and bit his lip. "You're right. It wasn't fair. And I suppose, if he doesn't know you're out here- Where else can I take you?"

"How about Natalie's? She's not there but, I don't think Kyle knows about that place so, I should be OK there on my own."

"Alright. And at least you'll be close to me if you need anything."

That was the first time I've ridden with Keith. He tends to have a lead foot like Ace, but his driving feels more controlled than Ace's. Maybe it's because the car handles so beautifully. Racing through the vast farmlands' slight curves was like sailing on a fine lake. Speed sailing that is. But once we got down the stretch of main highway and reached the start of civilization, he slowed right down and every road sign was respected.

It's like he's only a rebel when he thinks he can get away with it.

We finally pulled up Natalie's driveway, and the soft hum of the warm engine fell silent.

"You sure you'll be OK here on your own?" he asked. "I could stay if..."

I looked at him sideways as I tried to read whether he was being genuine... or suggestive. Whatever he was thinking, he certainly stirred up some untamed feelings in me - I can't lie. Being in close proximity to Keith has an effect on me. That's just the way it is. I'm a red-blooded female, after all.

"I don't think that's... a good idea."

"Sorry..." he said, wincing like he'd just said something dumb. "I meant, I'll stay in the car. It's comfy enough. I'll sleep a couple of hours."

"Yeah," I chucked, relieved for the confirmation. "I didn't think you meant... that. But I'll be fine here on my own."

"Look, Cass - you know I'd be lying if I said I was over you, right?"

"Mmm hmm..." I squeaked.

"But, you're with Ace and so... I gotta get on with my life."

"Oh. Of course you do." Hey, I could read between the lines; I knew what he was trying to tell me. And, I admit, I did feel a pang of jealousy as my imagination filled in the gaps and cruelly threw me up images of some mystery girl with her hands and lips all over him. But, in terms of the case I'm trying to build, this is good. This is very good.

"Keith, the reason I asked you to pick me up tonight is, I need to talk to you about something."

"OK... shoot."

"I don't know the best way to put this but, I'm in some strife, and I need some quick cash. So, I was wondering- I could run for you... or..."

"You want a job?"

"If you have something?"

Keith gazed at me long and hard, and his face was so straight, he gave no clues about what he was thinking. I suddenly felt very awkward. I felt like maybe I had made a huge mistake by bringing up his private business.

"What strife?" he asked.

"Well, you know those money problems I have?"

"I don't know much. You still not tied those up?"

"Not yet. And since Ace stopped selling the... you know... the coke, that leaves me without a means of repaying my debt."

Keith sat back in his seat and leaned his elbow on the narrow windowsill in thought. "How did that work then? Ace was paying for you? Who do you owe? How much?"

"Umm... do you think maybe... I could possibly... not say?"

Keith stayed straight-faced for a moment, and then he smirked. "Still super-secretive, huh?"

"Moreso."

He laughed. "Cassie, does Ace know you're talking to me about this?"

"Uh... no..."

"He's gonna be furious - you know that."

"I can handle him." No idea how I said that with a straight face. "Look, if I had asked him first, it would have been a definite 'no'. But if you have something good, something that won't involve us seeing a lot of each other, I might be able to twist his pinky."

"Something where you don't have to see me, huh?" he chuckled.

"Sorry..."

"Well, it so happens that I am looking for someone."

"You are?"

"I'm hoping this person can take care of things on their own, eventually. But, this isn't a simple position. It's not a runner's job. And it's gonna take some training. So, whoever I get, we'll need to work alongside each other for at least the first few weeks."

"OK... well, that might be doable? What's the job?"

"How about we do it like this - I'll tell you the kind of person I'm looking for, you tell me you're that person, and then we go from there."

"Sure."

"I need someone who's... always on time."

"I'm always on time. Never a second late. I'm early, usually."

"I need someone who doesn't mind working long hours."

"I'll work all night if I have to."

"I need someone who's good with people, good with money, is organized."

"All me. Definitely."

"And... I need someone who can handle running two separate businesses under the one roof."

Eeee... He did catch me off-guard with that one. "Well, I practically ran the Blue Point diner - the day-to-day tasks, scheduling, ordering, and the finances to a degree. And if I can run one business, I'm sure I'll be able to run two. I never got a recommendation letter from Violet, but look - what I don't already know, I'll learn. I'm a fast learner, hard worker, what more do you need?"

He smirked. "OK, great. And I've got one last question. Do you think you could handle rebuilding the diner for me?"

I blinked at him; he got my heart racing for a second as I thought he meant it literally. "Oh," I laughed, shaking it all off. "You mean theoretically."

"No... I mean, I need you to rebuild and run the Blue Point Diner. I just bought it from Natalie's folks."

I don't know if I was more shocked or excited. I'm still in shock. My head is still spinning as I try to wrap it around the whole idea.

"You OK?" Keith grinned.

My mouth sort of hung open as I stared at him, flabbergasted. "You really own it?"

"The ownership papers and lawyers shit is still going through, but yeah," he shrugged. "I'll own it in a day or so. But I don't wanna deal with the day-to-day running of things. I just wanna put money in, get money out. And that's where you come in. I want the diner run properly. Managed well. I want it to make some good money. And you can employ some staff to help. How about Natalie?" he shrugged.

"Really? She's itching for something to do. And she's worked in diners all her life."

"Sounds perfect. That place has been gutted to the bare bones so, I want you girls to build it from the ground up. Design it how you like it. I'll leave all that to you."

"Wow," I said. I was breathless. Rebuilding the diner - I've always had ideas about what could be done with it, and to make them a reality would be a dream come true.

"You wanna talk money?"

I couldn't believe I was so blown away that I'd forgotten about that part. "How much are you offering?"

"How's eight-thousand a week?"

"Woah... woah..." That knocked some sense into me. Perhaps if I hadn't been so blinded by love for my precious diner, it would have dawned on me sooner. "What's business number two, then?"

"This is the part I tell you in confidence. You seem good at keeping secrets, and I need you to keep mine."

"Oh... I can't tell Ace?"

"Hmm..." Keith sighed and scratched the side of his scalp. "Ace is no grass. I got no doubt about that. And usually, I'd have no problem with it. But lately, me and him ain't been gettin' on so well, so- Look, he'll know something's going on, but I gotta ask that you don't tell him details. That OK?"

I rolled my eyes and left them lingering on the ceiling of his car. There had to be a catch, didn't there?

I squinted and braced myself. "I'll make it work," I said.

"You sure?"

"What's the plan?"

"Alright - Those 'packages' I get, like the one you dropped off that time, I don't want them coming to my house anymore, nor do I want them being picked up from there. There's too much traffic at all hours, and I think there are better ways."

"So, you'll send the traffic to the diner instead? What's the difference?"

"Difference is, those packages can be disguised. They can come in on your typical delivery vehicles – delivering bread and whatnot – and be picked up by regular customers along with their lunch. I won't always be there myself, so I need someone I can trust to manage the product and make the transactions."

"OK... that sounds like a little bit of genius... Just how much 'product' are we talking? I mean, to warrant buying an entire diner, it must be more than that one little quarter kilo package you were getting every few days."

"It's a bit more than that, yeah," he chuckled.

"Eight-thousand you say."

"Uh-huh."

Now, I know guys like these make a lot of money in this business, and I was willing to bet that eight-thousand is like play money to him. I figured being a little more assertive was worth a gamble. "You know... to convince Ace, I might need more ammo." I gave him a grin that said, yes I'm gonna do this to you - sorry, and he laughed. "How about twelve?"

"Girl, you sure are something. I'll meet you half-way. Ten."

I thought to push for eleven, but I'm not that evil. "Ten sounds fine."

"Deal." Keith put his hand out for me to shake, and I hesitated for a moment before throwing caution to the wind and putting my hand in his.

"I call you once the papers go through."

"Sure. And... thank you."

I got out of the car and, as I headed inside, Keith called me back to his window.

"What is it?" I asked, leaning in to hear him.

"Don't forget, I'm right around the corner if you need anything tonight or over the next couple of days. You know my number."

"Thanks."

Keith stared at me for a moment, those deep blue eyes hiding nothing of his feelings for me. "You're gonna be brilliant with this," he said. He lifted his hand, I'm sure with the intention of running those guitar string calloused fingertips down my face, but he restrained himself. He peeled his eyes off me and uttered, "I gotta go", before bringing the engine back to life.

I stood back and gave him a little wave as he reversed the racy, black beast out of the driveway and away into the night.

So, here I am, alone at Natalie's, updating this. My stomach is squirming just thinking about having this conversation with Ace. Maybe it'll make things worse between us. But maybe, if I can make the deal sound too sweet to refuse, it'll fix everything. 10K per week... that has to titillate his tastebuds. Right?