Chapter 43

I got to the pier with one thing on my mind: finding Star and getting her to safety. I didn't know what I was walking into but I didn't care. If she was in trouble or being held against her will there would be hell to pay and I would be collecting.

I found the bar and the end of the boardwalk. It was just like Carol and Maureen described. I hadn't been this far down having been warned by Houston that I should try to avoid this part of town. I looked around and understood why.

What my friends forgot to add was that the type of clientele that was hanging out were mostly male and mostly the type that would rather not talk to strangers. I'd have to tread lightly.

I had experience dealing with people that wanted to stay off the law's radar. Some of my good friends were not the normal upstanding citizens and I thank my lucky stars that one of them had gotten word to Houston regarding my kidnapping. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here right now trying to gather the courage to walk in that bar and find Star. The live band on stage was keeping them entertained and the smell of Barbecue was making my stomach growl.

Maybe I should wait and call for help. But I shook off that notion. If she was in trouble I needed to get her to safety fast. I had Carol's purse and I'd put my gun inside of it. I knew how to handle it having gone to the range with Houston and Will at least twice a month to ensure I didn't lose my skills.

My hands were shaking.

I chide myself, Come on Parsons you can handle this.

I had called Will from my car phone while I was driving and he was frantic wanting to know where I was and why I had left the hospital. Carol and Maureen had gone back to tell me that the charges were being dropped against Houston and myself. So that was some good news. Hearing Will plead with me to tell him where I was going and to stop the car and he'd come and find me broke my heart. I asked him if Star was back and he said if I came by to pick him up that he'd help me find her.

"Come on Sunshine let me help out, don't do this alone I couldn't bear if anything happened to you or watch my Cuz go through what he went through when you were taken. Please CJ come home. We will work it out, all of us. Your family is on your side, you are not a burden."

I heard Chris in the background asking if he wanted her to call his dad and her yelling to me to stop what I was doing. She said I needed there help and to realize I had put everyone through enough grief and I would only make it worse.

I hung up. I couldn't do that. I'd done enough now it was time to make it right. I needed to focus and I needed to save the one angel I still had.

I walked to the entrance. Maybe I'd ask around to see if anyone had seen a 13 year old girl. Yeah that would have everyone opening up to me. I pulled the hood down over my head, took a deep breath and walked in.

To say I was surprised at what the inside looked like would be an understatement. The outside did not look inviting, especially with all the motorcycles but inside looked warm and inviting like someone was trying to make this place presentable. It was bright and had lots of neon and tables lined the walls and pool tables were on one side of the bar while the other held a mechanical bull. I chuckled, a bull so close to Houston's beach house how ironic.

I decided to sit at the bar. A bartender was at the other end and reading a textbook. I sat and waited till she looked up and finally saw me. She walked over to me.

"Hi before you ask, no we don't have wine or wine coolers. I don't make frilly drinks and all we serve here is beer and shots. I might be able to wrestle some OJ for you and make you a screwdriver. So if this is not up to your standards there's another bar down on the richer side of the pier I'm sure they will have what you're looking for."

The girl was young with short spiky black hair, pale and a chip the size of a boulder on her shoulder.

"Well what will you have? If you're not drinking I suggest you leave because the boss doesn't like loitering and we take cash only no American Express or Diners Club."

Before I got to answer I looked up to see a very handsome muscle bound man walking towards the bar. This must have been the tall drink of water Carol was talking about and she did not lie. He was what we sisters would call a hunk. The odd thing was he was not her type. She went for the blond blue/green eyed type. This guy was the opposite tall, dark, moody and not happy.

"Sarah, we are trying to get the customers to stay and drink, not chase them away and how many times do I have to tell you you're here to work not do your homework."

He looked at me and stopped. He looked back at Sarah.

She rolled her eyes at him and threw up her hands, "I asked her if she was in the right place, told her what we serve and that you don't like people to loiter so what did I do wrong? Oh and don't forget I'm doing you a favor. The only reason I'm doing my homework here is because the brat didn't come in to help out and you called me in. I swear I don't know why you let her get away with half the things she does. And don't forget I told you I have a test tomorrow and I need to study so sorry not sorry."

The Brat, could she mean Star?

You could tell he was at his breaking point when I spoke up, "I'll have beer in a bottle or tap whatever you have."

Sarah pushed off the bar, "we don't have light and just domestic no foreign beer so which of the three from these taps do you want?"

I pointed to the one I wanted and she poured me a glass. I put down my cash and told her to keep the change.

She looked at the 20.00 and looked up at me, "Really? Are you sure? Um sorry for the hospitality earlier."

I smiled, "its okay I used to hate to come in when I had been scheduled off. It goes with working while going to school."

She gave me a small smile and put a basket of pretzels in front of me. "They are doing a last call for the Barbeque outside. Do you want something to eat? They have some pulled pork and some tri tip left."

I nodded and ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a side of Coleslaw. She left and the hunk moved closer.

"You just made her day with that tip, most of my clientele don't exactly like to tip or if they do it's usually the stuff that jingles."

I took a sip of my beer. He was looking at me and I was starting to wonder if I should have brought Carol and Maureen with me, like we had planned. He was right in front of me and didn't want to look him in the eye. I pulled the strings on my hoodie, I had the injuries from my fight earlier and I didn't want to have to explain to a stranger.

He started to wipe the bar in front of me with a cloth. "You aren't from around here, I'm sure I'd remember you if you had come in before so why the sudden interest in my place."

His place? Bingo, I just found the owner. Now all I had to do was try to get the answers I was looking for mainly where Star was and if he condoned grown men manhandling little girls.

I had to keep my anger at bay. I had to be my charming self, maybe even flirt with him which wasn't going to be hard to do in the dictionary under tall, dark and handsome. His picture was the reference. Oh Boy I needed to keep cool.

I smiled, "I'm new to the area and was walking by when I heard the music and the aroma of barbeque. It was heavenly so I decided to come in. I smiled, and happy I did." I let that linger between us not taking my eyes from him as I sipped my beer and I could see he was trying to figure me out.

"So the motley crew outside didn't scare you off? You're either brave or got some screws loose."

I laughed, "Not much scares me, I've been to rougher places than this."

He snorted, "Really? You don't look like the type that hangs out at dive bars but with that hood over your head can't really peg you if you're slumming or just trying to blend in with the crowd but even with the hood you could tell you are a pretty lady."

I could feel my cheeks turn red and took another sip.

He smiled, "I'm Devin everyone calls me Popeye and before you ask I hate spinach and I'm called that because I was in the military and that was my handle so it stuck." He outstretched his hand and I took it.

I wasn't going to give him my name.

"So the bar is named Popeye's? So were you in the Navy?"

I tried to pull my hand from his grip but he wouldn't let go.

"The name of the Bar was Pappy's. I bought it from his family and I'm trying to change things around. It's been a slow process but hopefully soon with the changes a new type of crowd will start to hang out. Most of the Motley Crew outside I've known from my military stint or from growing up. I've always lived in the area and when this place came up for sale I bought it. Couldn't bear it to be torn down to add more parking or heaven forbid another Knick knack shop they are doing that to the other side of the pier and this side is the hold out most of these places have been here since the 60's."

There was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on. Maybe he was like us trying to help Star but I needed more information. But, I couldn't let my defenses down, this could all be an act.

I smiled, "So Sarah the bartender, do you employ a lot of people or just a small core? It looks like she was studying when I came in. Is she going to school or is she still in high school."

He looked at me and tilted his head. "Sarah's in college and you do ask a lot of questions for someone just walking by."

His hand tightened around my hand as I tried to pull free. I started to panic.

"You're hurting my hand, please let me go."

He released my hand. I was angry. Who did he think he was?

"You never told me your name, beautiful?"

This man was dangerous and I had let his charm blind me to what I was doing here. I rubbed my hand, "I didn't give it and I don't think I will, I can see why people don't come to your place of business if this is the way you treat your customers."

He smiled, "Only those that ask lots of questions and aren't honest. What are you hiding lady?"

Before I got a chance to respond Sarah came back, "Hey Popeye Tiny asked me to get you, there's a problem in the back and Miss your sandwich is almost done and can I leave now it's pretty much done outside."

"Sarah, you can go home tell Tiny I'll be there in a minute. I'll take care of our customer here."

I was shooting daggers at Devin, "Sarah, cancel my order I've lost my appetite." I pulled another 20 and left it on the bar, "That's for the sandwich you can take it home with you and good luck on your test."

She walked over and took the money, "Thanks miss, and I appreciate that. I'll see you on Tuesday Popeye."

Before I got a chance to get up he jumped over the bar and stood in front of me. He startled me and my hood fell to my shoulders. "What are you really doing here?"

He looked at me closer and put his hand under my chin to see the damage the security guard had done earlier. He stared at me and I tried to pull away but keep me in place. "What the hell happened to you? Who did this to you?"

I had enough and reacted. He wasn't expecting me to punch him in the gut and a right cross to his face which I executed just like Too Mean taught me. Just because he was bigger didn't mean I couldn't disable him and surprise was on my side. He doubled over and let me go. I ran.

I made it to my car and hid behind the back hoping he wasn't following me. He would not have his guard down again with me.

I waited 10 minutes and didn't see anyone come out. I needed to find Star and I knew she was in there as was Beast.

I watched the musicians pack up and leave and went back to the entrance when I heard a scream and a bark.

Star and Beast.

I heard more yelling and ran back in. There was Star being held by Devin, a big guy trying to control Beast and another one yelling at both of them asking what the hell was going on.

I grabbed my gun pointed to the roof and pulled the trigger, they all stopped and looked at me. I pointed the gun at all of them and yelled at them to get their hands off of Star and Beast or I would end them.

The big guy let go of Beast who then ran over to me and I told him to sit.

"Let her go Devin, or it will give me pleasure to shoot you."

He glared at me but didn't let her go.

"Boss Lady, what are you doing here? I thought you were still at the hospital. Please put the gun down."

I cocked my gun pointed it at him and asked again, "Let her go or I will end you."

Star started to pull away but Devin would not let her go. "Popeye let me go please I didn't want it to get to this level, she's my friend I'll explain just let me go you don't want to mess with the Boss Lady."

"Nope not letting you go I don't know the crazy boss lady with the gun and you will be answering all the questions we've been asking. Dammit Star what trouble are you in and why did you hide it from us."

The blond hunk came closer and had his hands up, "Lady I don't know what's going on but I think you need to put that gun down no one wants any trouble, we are Star's friends we watch out for her but she's been keeping things from us and all we wanted were answers, so if you put the gun down we will all sit down and have a nice conversation what do you say?"

He was coming closer, "stop I don't want to shoot you."

"Yeah Luca she might sucker punch you like she did me"

Luca stopped and laughed, "She did that to your face? Oh beautiful we definitely need to have a conversation I was about to ask him what trouble he had gotten into wait till I tell the crew that a girl bested Popeye and all this while I was varmint hunting…"

He was almost upon me when he stopped looked at me and turned around, "You hit her you bastard!"

I gasped. He thought my injuries were Devin's doing.

He turned and went right up to him, "Let Star go I'm going to teach you a lesson we don't touch girls or women…"

Star started to struggle, "You hit Boss Lady, how could you she's been through so much, why Popeye."

Everyone started to yell and I was about to whistle when an arm came around me and took the gun out of my hands.

"Take it easy I don't want to hurt you but I do take offense when someone is pointing a gun at my boys."

The gun was pointed at my back. No one notice the stranger that had snuck up on me and she let out a shrill whistle and everyone stopped.

Beast started to growl, "You better tell your dog to heel or I'm gonna have to wound him". I grabbed his collar and told him to stay he whimpered and I patted his head, "It's okay buddy just stay calm okay."

Star yelled out, "Mama G no don't shoot him he's my friend and so is she please don't hurt them."

Popeye handed Star over to Luca and came right at me. Oh no he was going to hurt me. He was so close that when he raised his hand I flinched.

"I don't hit women but you have about 10 seconds to start talking and tell me who you are, what connection you have to Star and who did that to you."

I was cornered and Beast got up and was about to pounce on him. "Control your dog lady better yet Tiny get the dog we are all going to my office and sorting this out Momma lock the front door no one is leaving till this is settled."

The mountain of a man walked over and smiled, "Hi, Beast likes me I won't let anything happen to him okay trust me."

I let Beast go, "What about him?" I pointed to Devin.

"Oh that's a beast no one can tame you're on your own lady sorry I pick the battles I can win and this is a losing one do what he says and no one gets hurt."

He reached for me and I stepped back. "Don't make this any harder come on we are going to my office either you walk or I will help you get there."

"I'm not going…"

The next thing I knew I was being picked up and carried over his shoulder, "Momma lock the door and put the close sign we are getting to the bottom of this right now."

Star started to yell at him, I pounded on his chest and started to kick and scream when I heard a familiar voice.

"Get your hands off my girl".

The Calvary had arrived.