I was able to drive the car to a 24-hour auto repair shop near the club and catch a cab home from there. Since the only damage was the broken windows they said it would be ready by tonight. I double and triple-checked that nothing from the car had been taken before I left it. I could chalk it up to some asshole running around in the night breaking people's windows but that didn't seem right. Both my trunk and glove compartment were left open.
Rolling onto my side I stare at the mess I left in my closet before leaving tonight, even in the dark I can see the mounds of clothes, open drawers, and hangers askew. Despite the early hour and heaviness of my eyes, I haven't fallen asleep. My body is buzzing with energy from the nightclub. I pull myself up, resting my body against the headboard and grab my phone from the nightstand.
Just checking in. I got the job! I hit send on the text message. Almost immediately the message goes from delivered to read. I guess I'm not the only one who can't sleep.
Congrats? Talk soon. Short and to the point. I was expecting the dry response but hoping for more, and what's with the question mark?
I toss my phone back on the nightstand and my eyes settle on the mess in my closet once again. If I'm not going to sleep I might as well do something. I start with the clothing on the floor. Picking each item up and smoothing it out before folding it back into the drawers or hanging it up. Despite my car, the night had gone smoothly. The club stayed packed from when I arrived to closing time.
"People don't really want to come back to work at a club where their coworker was shot and killed, Ashley!" Kyla had said to her sister. I guess that concern didn't extend to the patrons because people were fighting to get in at some points during the night. Literally fighting. Wes and the other security guards had their work cut out for them.
The soft opening was a success. Kyla pulled it off. Near the end of the night, the staff did a quick toast to her and club goers joined in, chanting "Kyla, Kyla, Kyla!" pumping their drinks and hands in the air. She was smiling ear to ear when she told us to break it up and get back to work then she headed to the DJ booth to give the crowd a quick thank you for giving FADE such a warm welcome back. Nightlife was clearly her element.
Even Ashley started to look like she was having a decent time. When I had gone back to VIP with their bottles and drinks Ashley had a redhead in her lap, her arm slipped around the girl's waist as she whispered something in her ear. I couldn't hear what it was but it made the redhead laugh and drape her arms around Ashley's shoulders. 1 Bottle of Sky Vodka, 1 Bottle of Patron Silver, 1 simple soda, and 1 mojito. A few others had joined the group and were talking with Madison and Aiden. Once the bottles and drinks were in place I slipped out.
I hadn't realized it at first but I had started separating the clothing as I put it back into the closet. Not in the usual light-to-dark arrangement they were in but I was mindlessly making outfits with the clothing. Outfits to wear to the club. I got the job.
"Bottle girl…" I let out a quiet laugh to myself. Who would have thought?
The blue hoodie that had fallen to the floor wasn't mine. The soft fabric between my fingers brought back a rush of memories. No, nightmares. Nightmares of being trapped in a basement. Unable to do anything, see anything, breathe, move. I pull the hoodie close to my chest as my knees fall to the floor. I didn't think I had any tears left.
I don't how long I was on the floor of my closet but I had cried myself to sleep. Pulling myself up, I put the hoodie on a hanger and tuck it away in the back of the closet. There are only a few other items scattered around that need to be put back. I take care of it quickly and turn out the closet light. The city is wide awake now, bright lights flood the room as I raise the blinds. I can feel the warmth of the sun through the window. I walk over to the nightstand and pick up my phone. 2 missed calls, and 1 new text message.
Come by the club today, need you to do onboarding paperwork. Kyla had called and when I didn't answer she sent a text.
The other missed call is from my mother. I'll call her back later.
1:12pm, guess I was out for a while.
"Keep the change," I hand the cab driver a 20 and step out of the car. He'd dropped me right in front of FADE and I saw Kyla leaning up against the building.
"Everything alright?" she's tilting her head toward the cab that's pulling away from the club.
"Uh, yeah. Someone broke into my car last night, they busted the windows but it's fine I took it to the shop and it should be ready for me to pick up later today." I recap last night's events. The last thing I want is for her to think I don't have reliable transportation. I need this job. "That kinda thing happen often around here?"
Kyla's brows pull together subtly, trying to hide her reaction. Surprise, confusion, maybe a bit of concern. "No. it doesn't," the words come out flat and maybe even a bit cautious. "I put you on the schedule for 2 nights this week. I figured we would start slow but if you need money for the repairs I can add another night." The brunette pushes herself off the exterior of the building and starts walking toward the FADE front entrance.
"Really? Yeah, I can use the cash" I follow behind Kyla through the doors and into the club.
"You'll still be running bottles and drink orders in VIP. I don't have seasoned bartenders right now to train you and I can't do it myself. We're anticipating really big turnouts for the rest of the week." Kyla slows down a bit and looks over her shoulder at me.
I don't protest. Being a bottle girl actually isn't that bad. The energy of the club gave me a kind of rush. Working around so many people is new but I don't hate it. I nod at Kyla letting her know I understand and we continue walking to her office. The club looks so much different during the day, sunlight pours in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There isn't a surface the light left untouched. It completely fills the space giving it a different kind of life than it had at night. You would never know a person died here.
Kyla unlocks the door to her office and holds it open for me to go inside first. She closes the door behind us and motions for me to have a seat in the same velvet chair I waited for her in yesterday.
"This week has been a special kind of trainwreck," I remember her saying. Looks like things are turning around. For the both of us.
"So…" Kyla gathers a few papers from her desk. The desk isn't messy but it isn't neat either. It looks like some kind of organized chaos system she's put in place to keep track of things. "It's pretty straightforward. I need you to fill out these forms here, sign this one allowing us to run a background check, then I'll need two forms of ID, and" She stops suddenly.
I didn't realize it but I guess I had started making a face. "You did bring ID with you, right?" Kyla questions.
"Yea of course," I open my bag. I find my social security card and driver's license and hand them over with a smile, trying to ignore the bottomless feeling in my stomach.
Kyla looks at me curiously, sensing my uneasiness but she takes the card and ID.
"You seem nervous, Spencer. The background check is standard processing. Are you worried about something that may come up?" Kyla may be straightforward but there's also a softness to her voice.
"This job is the first step in a new start for me," I could drop my eyes and avoid eye contact but I don't. I don't hide, I look Kyla in the eyes. "I'm trying to right some past wrongs. I just need a chance." I add. Telling the truth is my best option here.
Kyla sits back in her chair and It's quiet for a moment between us. I can tell from her face she's thinking about more than my words. She's being pulled back into her memories. We all have a past, but she doesn't spend too much time there. She snaps out of it and pulls two pages from the stack she's prepared for me.
"The first page is the basics, name date of birth, home address, and scheduling preferences. On the second page list 1 or 2 emergency contacts. People you would like us to call if you were to get sick on the job or…" Kyla shakes off the thought. In case I'm gunned down in the middle of the dance floor? Is that what came to mind? "You get the point." she finishes, setting papers down in front of me and a pen on top.
"Thank you." most people would probably let out a sigh of relief, but I pull a sharp breath in before picking up the pen. Kyla notices and gives me a look that says 'don't make me regret this'
Filling out the two pages takes no time at all, Kyla glances over it and then puts both sheets inside a manilla file folder with my name on it. She makes a copy of my ID and tucks that in the folder as well. She hands me back my ID and social security card and I watch her lock the file up in a cabinet behind the desk.
"Needless to say I'll be paying you in cash. You can pick up your paychecks directly from me on Fridays and we keep this between us." Kyla leans in, her body language serious at first but then it shifts and her expression softens "I use to have the same arrangement with one of my first bartenders, Roberto. Turns out he was ducking child support. You're not evading paying child support are you?" Kyla lets out a reminiscing laugh.
My laugh takes me by surprise and for the first time my back hits the velvet chair. I had been sitting up straight on the edge of my seat this whole time. "God no, and I hope he was a good bartender."
"One of the best," Kyla says matter-of-factly and we laugh together. "Thanks for coming in today I'm glad we got that squared away before your shift tomorrow night."
"Me too." Just as I was standing to gather my things, my stomach tightened making an embarrassingly loud grumble. "I kinda rushed over here this morning, didn't get a chance to eat anything," I bite the corner of my lip.
"Yeah, me either." Kyla chuckles, breaking what could have been a very awkward silence. "You want to grab something to eat? I know a place." Kyla grabs her keys off the desk but doesn't move from her chair just yet.
"I won't turn down a free meal but once I get my first paycheck you have to let me return the favor." I insist. I don't want to seem like some freeloader, Kyla has already done a lot for me.
"I'm parked behind the club," Kyla practically jumps out of her chair. I guess we have a deal.
She locks the door behind us and we head out to the parking lot.
Nuevo Laredo Cantina, the awning above the entrance read. It's an unassuming but surprisingly spacious restaurant in south LA. Photos line the walls inside the restaurant showing its history from grand opening to now. Kyla suggested we sit outside and I agreed, might as well enjoy the nice weather. Turns out Kyla is a pretty aggressive driver and what would have been a 40-minute drive was less than 20. Aggressive was putting it nicely, she had no problem laying on her horn, flipping people off and on more than one occasion she almost hit someone for trying to cut ahead.
"I don't know whose drivers are worse. New York or Los Angeles." Kyla picked up the pitcher of water on the table and filled our glasses. Ah yes, Kyla is originally from New York. She moved here during her High School years to be with her dad and Ashley. I remind myself.
"Well if it isn't my favorite Davies sister," A tall woman sneaks up behind Kyla placing her hands on her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. When she steps back Kyla stands and pulls her into a hug.
"I won't tell my sister you said that, she'd kill you." The two of them laugh still holding each other.
I can't help but laugh myself. 10 minutes ago Kyla was in full-on road rage, and now here she is cracking jokes and snuggling.
"Oh shit, I didn't mean to be rude." Kyla lets go of her friend and turns back to me. "Spencer this is Carmen she owns the place."
"Nice to meet you, Spencer." Carmen smiles. I quickly take in the sight before me trying not to stare too long. Tan skin, long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, bangs that fit her face, and perfectly arched brows. She's beautiful.
"Hi," I want to say more words but that's all that comes out, just hi.
"Spencer is one of the new hires from the club. Her first day was yesterday, she did great." Kyla compliments me. "Really saved my ass," She adds, taking a sip of her water.
"Kyla the great needed someone to save her? Tell me more," Carmen pulls a chair from another table and sits with us.
Kyla regales Carmen with a story of missing rare and expensive whiskey. The two of them have clearly been friends for a long time. I interject a few times but mostly just watch the women catch up with each other. I'm a bit confused when 2 men bring out a side table and set it up beside us, but Kyla has an excited look on her face. I look over at Carmen who playfully raises her brows at me. The men come back again with another side table and place it right next to the first, throwing a tablecloth over them both.
"Well, that's my cue. Your food will be coming out now," funny I don't remember ordering. "If there's anything you need let the servers know. Anything at all. I'll be in my office doing food orders. Kyla, it was good seeing you as always. Spencer, I'd love to have you come back for a private tasting." Carmen gives me a small wink and returns the chair she'd taken back to its proper table. I watch her disappear back into the restaurant.
"Is she?..." Gay? Single? No, not my concern. Focus.
"Into you? Seems so. I've known her since High School and I've never been offered a private tasting." Kyla giggles throwing her wavy brown hair in a quick bun. The tiny brunette prepares herself to demolish whatever was coming our way. "Hey, can we get a pitcher of sangria?" She asks one of the servers.
The side tables the waiters set up makes sense when the array of food starts to arrive. There is no way it would have all fit on our small table. As we ate, they took our plates away and more plates were added to the makeshift buffet table. It seemed like we were eating our way through the menu. The food was amazing. Kyla told me more about FADE, how the space was a gift to her and her sister from their father. Both pretty wild at the time they thought opening a club would be a fun experience together. She told me about the characters they had come through the club over the years, the love she had for her staff, and the memories they'd made. Ashley was strongly against the reopening and told Kyla if she wanted to do it, she'd be doing it alone.
"Do you have space for dessert?" Kyla squeals holding two spoons and offering one to me.
"I've come this far," I jested, taking the spoon from her.
I can't remember the last time I had a meal, or meals this good. No way I'm missing out on the finale.
Carmen emerges from the restaurant with two small plates. "Caramel Flan," She places the plates down in front of us and takes a step back so she's not directly on top of us but I can feel her watching me intently. I dive right in, taking my first bite immediately.
"Oohmyygood." the words ran together and it came out as more of a moan than anything else. My eyes are shut and my head is resting against my hand. "That's amazing," I declare, eyes still shut. It's silky smooth, sweet but not overly sugary, and it melts in my mouth in the best possible way.
I open my eyes to see Kyla hasn't taken a bite yet. She and Carmen are just watching me. I feel my cheeks heat up.
"Don't be embarrassed Spencer. My first time was exactly the same." Kyla teased, digging into her flan and doing what could only be described as a happy food dance as she eats.
"It's my Abuelita's recipe but over the year I've tweaked it, made it my own. So when customers have it for the first time…I like to watch." Carmen's choice of words doesn't elude me and we hold each other's gaze for a moment.
Are you sweet like your dessert? Will you melt in my mouth? My eyes question and I can almost see the answers in hers, but our moment is cut short.
"Did anyone just feel that? I think it was a heat wave." Kyla says, spoon hanging out her mouth in an adorable way. "Please don't let it be a hot flash. I'm too young for hot flashes." She puts her hands together and pleads.
Carmen sits with us while we finish dessert, apparently the restaurant has been in her family for 86 years. Incredible. They've had to move a few times throughout the years, gentrification of course. However, they managed to keep it open and running and this new location is their largest yet. Carmen refuses to take Kyla's money for the meal which I guess happens every time because Kyla isn't surprised and instead handed a generous amount of money to the staff that had served us.
"Hey, can you point me to the bathroom?" I lay my hand on top of Carmen's wrist to get her attention.
"Of course. As soon as you're back inside make a right and walk down the hall. Blue door, you can't miss it." She directs me holding our eye contact longer than needed.
I really hope I get to come back for that private tasting. I walk back inside the restaurant and make a right like Carmen said. There's a long hall and I see a busboy disappear behind a door. The door shuts quickly behind him and I hear a whirring sound distinct to a power lock. I glance around still making my way to the blue door ahead. There are power locks on every door except the bathroom. Weirdly high-tech for a restaurant.
Kyla was nice enough to drop me at the auto repair shop on her way back to FADE. I had gotten one of those automated texts telling me my car was ready to pick up when we were leaving the restaurant. Along with fixing the windows they also detailed the car so my baby was in better shape and cleaner than when I dropped her off.
"If you come home every now and then I can make you a decent meal. I don't know how you live off that frozen crap you buy from the supermarket." My mother's disappointed voice comes through the car speakers.
"I'll see what I can do, work is going to keep me pretty busy this week." an excuse, but not a lie.
"Well whenever you decide to come home, we'll be here." Her voice isn't just disappointed, its sad, and empty.
I'm not going home until I have answers.
"I'm going into a tunnel, and I'm going to lose service. Love you, talk soon." I rush the words out
"I love you too, Spencer"
The call disconnects.
On the other side of the tunnel is a hotel. Correction, two hotels adjoined by a glass bridge the Grand Vista Hotel and the Courtyard. I pull into the hotel garage and park in my usual spot in the reserved section. At least I know my car won't be broken into here. I cut my engine off and for the first time in the past 36 hours, It feels like I can breathe. I rest my hands on the steering wheel and my head on top of my hands.
The quiet is short-lived, "Spencer." tap tap
I lift my head and look out my window, it's Sean tapping his knuckle on the glass. He steps back so I can open the door and get out. "Were you waiting on me?" I look around the garage, we seem to be the only two here right now.
"Yeah, I wanted to see if you changed your mind." Sean's voice comes out firm but kind. "I'm worried about you." He rests his arm on top of my car sandwiching me between the vehicle and his body. He needs to ease up on the cologne but that's a conversation for another day.
"I get that you're concerned but I have to do this. I'm going to do this." I slip out from under him and watch the concern in his eyes shift to annoyance. "If anyone should understand, it's you."
We've had this conversation several times over the past few months. It's been draining not to mention futile because I'm not changing my mind.
"Still haven't come to your senses." Sean huffs backing off my car and adjusting his blazer.
I pull out my keycard as I walk to the elevator, Sean following behind me. He hits 12 and lets out another huff. As the doors close I see our reflection. Sean is working out an imaginary kink in his neck. It's something he does when he's worked up or tense about something. The elevator lets us out on the 12th floor and I walk to the room at the end of the hall, Sean following behind me.
"2 weeks 'round the clock surveillance, 540 hours plus another 50 hours of overtime, 3 cars, 2 vans, access to any and all bureau resources and you still have nothing?" Director Mars stood at the front of the room, her eyes settling on everyone for a moment before moving on to the next. "Do I have that correct?"
Looks like they started without us.
"Agent Miller. Agent Carlin. Thank you for joining us."