Talk to Me
Chapter 3
It was seven o'clock when Bosco walked into the dimly lit bar. His mom wasn't working tonight, so he didn't have to worry about answering any of her questions. None of the other bartenders knew him, which left him in the clear. The only question he'd have to answer tonight would be "What'll ya have?" Bosco bought a pitcher of beer and headed for the empty booth in the corner.
****
"Lieutenant?"
"Yeah Yokas."
"Bosco took off. He was pretty upset. I think maybe I should go look for him."
"He probably just wants some time to himself. I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I'm not so sure about that," Faith said as she looked down at the floor.
"What do you mean?"
"Well…he uh, punched his locker. Looked like he messed up his hand pretty good. And," Faith started to say something else, but stopped.
"And what?"
"I know Bosco, and I've seen him mad before. But never like this. Before…I never thought he would hurt himself, but after I saw the way he punched that locker…" her voice trailed off.
The Lieutenant now looked just as worried as Faith. "Yokas why don't you take the rest of the night off."
"Thanks Lieu."
"Oh, and call me when you find him."
Faith nodded.
****
He sat alone in the corner drinking his beer. Oblivious to everything around him, including the woman who had just walked through the door. She made her way to the bar. "How long has he been here?" she asked the bartender.
"Long enough to drink two pitchers of beer, and have a few too many shots. I would have cut him off, but he's not hurting anybody."
"Gee, how thoughtful." She walked over to the booth. "Hey Bos. Mind if I join you?"
He didn't bother to look at her. He just waved his hand toward the empty seat. "Free country last I heard."
"Bosco I'm sorry about today."
He looked at her. The affect of the alcohol written all over his face. She had never seen him drunk before. "I need another beer." He started to get up.
Faith firmly grabbed his hand. "I think you've had enough."
"Owww!" He pulled his hand away. She hadn't realized she had grabbed the hand he had injured earlier. "I'll decide when I've had enough." His words were beginning to slur.
"And when will that be? When you've passed out?"
"When I'm numb. When I can't feel anymore."
Faith had always felt that people who were drunk shared more of their true feeling than people who were sober. "What do you mean 'when I can't feel anymore'?"
"When I can't think, or hurt. I want it all to go away!"
"Bosco when you sober up it's still going to be there."
He glared at her. "Who asked you?!"
"Come on Bos. Give me your keys. I'll drive you home."
"No!"
"Bosco now!"
"I'm not done yet!" He stood up to go get a refill.
"Yes you are. Let's go." Faith grabbed him, and began steering him toward the exit.
"Let me go!"
"Bosco I'm taking you home."
"You're going to have to fight me first."
"Bosco. You're drunk."
"No kidding? What? You afraid Faith? 'Fraid I'll kick your ass?"
"Give me your keys." Faith was staying very calm. She had lots of practice with drunk people.
"No!"
"Why does he have to be drunk?" Faith asked herself. She knew that the only way she would get Bosco's keys was by force. With the state he was in it shouldn't be too difficult; he could hardly stand. "Bosco I'm only going to say this one more time. Give me your keys."
"No!" As soon as the word was out of his mouth Faith twisted his arm behind his back, and Bosco dropped to his knees.
She reached into the pocket of his jeans with her free hand, and pulled out his keys. She helped him to the car, and unlocked the door. "Now get your ass in the car!"
"Bitch!"
"Due to the fact that you're drunk I'm going to ignore that." She climbed into the driver's seat, and they took off for Bosco's apartment.
Less than a mile from his apartment he looked at her. "Faith I'm going to be sick."
She pulled over just in time as he opened the door, and puked. "Oh this is going to be fun," groaned Faith.