Marisol eased her foot onto the break of her car. Her car came to a slow stop in the empty parking lot, just in front of the club. Despite the throbbing pain in the back of her head and the aching of her body, Marisol was excited. Never had she been more excited to get to work, because after tonight, she was never coming back to this hell hole every again. She was going to clean out her locker, leave a nasty note on Billing's desk, give him a call and tell him where he can shove this job. Very unprofessional, but oh so worth it.
Marisol cut the engine and climbed out of her car. She pulled down the bottom of her black ruched pencil skirt. She walked around back to the side entrance. Marisol grabbed the door handle and opened the door, slipping into the club. She quickly made her way to the dressing room. She walked to her locker and quickly set her combination.
Marisol practically ripped the lock form her locker and tossed it into her new duffle bag. She looked at the collection of things inside her locker; makeup, perfume, tights, shoes, glitter, gaudy hair accessories. It made her sick. Marisol walked to the far end of the room and grabbed the trash bin. She set the bin below her locker and started pulling out her things. Marisol dumped the glitter, the accessories, the tights, even the makeup into the bin. She examined her shoes. They were black stilettoes with rhinestones butterflies on the ankle and toe straps. They were fairly new; she hadn't worn them to work once. She could wear them easily without thinking of the club, or she could probably sell them and make some money. She tucked them into her bag. Marisol looked back into her locker; the only thing that remained was her costume for her shift tonight. It was black, short. The entire skirt was made of tulle and barely reached the middle of her thighs. The top was tulle overtop a layer of black fabric, all ruched together into a sweetheart neckline of the corset. Truth be told, it was one of Marisol more modest-and secretly favorite-outfits for work.
Marisol took the dress from her locker and took a longer look at it. If she kept it, would she think back to the club? Or would she be thinking about the reason she was wearing it again? Would she even have another reason to wear this again? If any potential boyfriends learned she used to work at a strip club, they'd leave faster than if she's said she was pregnant. Marisol shook her head and shoved the dress into her bag; she could sell the shoes and dress in a set. Why not?
Marisol zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She walked out of the dressing room toward Richard's office. She walked into the office and walked to the desk. She sat down in Richards's chair, enjoying the moment. Marisol grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen from the desk and started writing. She pulled out her phone from her bag and quickly dialed Richards's number.
"Hello."
Marisol paused. That wasn't Richard. "Lieutenant Caine?"
"Marisol."
"Did I dial the wrong number?" Marisol asked.
"No, Mr. Billing's is in police custody." Horatio explained.
Marisol paused. If Richard was in police custody than it had something to do with Maggie, or his lousy bookkeeping. "I see. Well I was just calling to let Richard know, that I'm not coming in tonight. And I'm not coming back."
"I'll pass along the message." Horatio replied.
Marisol capped the pen and rose from the chair. She could hear another voice in the background, probably Richards, but whatever he was saying, she couldn't hear it.
"MAriosl, where are you?" Horatio asked. Something in his voice made Marisol stop.
"At the club, cleaning out my locker." Marisol answered.
"Marisol, I need you to listen very closely to me. Find an empty room and locker yourself inside. I'm on my way." Horatio explained. He was clearly on edge.
"What's going on, Horatio?" Marisol asked.
"I'll explain everything when I get there. Do not leave that room." Horatio said. And with that, the call ended.
Marisol closed her phone and rushed to the door. She locked it quickly and shut off the lights. Marisol ducked below the window level and sat in the dark. With her pressed against the door, she waited. Marisol felt her heartbeat increased within her chest. She kept her breathing slow; the last thing she needed was to be panicking.
Marisol sighed and leaned her head back against the door. She looked out through the window of Richard's office…and froze. Someone was inside the club. They were standing in the hall, moving toward the office, toward her. Marisol slowly crawled from the door, keeping beneath the windows. She could hear the footsteps coming toward the door. It couldn't be Horatio; he had only just called her. Whoever it was, they were coming for her that much Marisol knew. Her heart was beating faster in her chest; echoing so loudly in her ears that she could barely focus on the footsteps reaching the door.
The handle jiggled, catching Marisol's attention. She sucked her lips in and covered her mouth. The handle shook vigorously, but didn't budge. Something hit the door, making Marisol jump in her spot. Suddenly the glass of the door broke. Marisol heard the shards drop to the floor near her. She could hear something grab the handle again, but this time to door opened. Marisol pressed herself out of sight of the door and closed her eyes. The light turned on and Marisol held her breath. She waited through an eternity, hearing only the speedy beating of her heart. She heard the licking of the light once more and closing of the office door. Marisol opened her eyes, still sitting in the dark. She could hear the footsteps leading away from the office.
Marisol sighed heavily. She couldn't stay in the office, let alone the club. They were coming for her and Marisol knew that it was only a matter of time before they did. And she did not want to be backed in the corner when they did. Marisol crawled onto her knees and eased herself back to the door. She noted the broken glass on the floor and the circle form missing from the door itself. She eased the handle open and slipped out of the office. Marisol glanced around the corner and listened for any sign of the intruder. She turned from the office and headed toward the back entrance. She moved quietly through the hall, back past the dressing rooms. She rounded the corner to the door. Marisol's steps quicken as she neared the door.
Suddenly a figure came around the corner in front of Marisol. Marisol pushed against the door, but it was chained shut. The figure came toward her. Marisol turned form the door and sprinted down the hall toward the dressing rooms. She could hear the man coming after her. Marisol burst into the room and slammed the doors closed behind her. She grabbed the closest vanity and dragged it in front of the doors.
The man slammed into the door, making the vanity jump at Marisol. Marisol jumped back and sprinted across the room. Another slam of the door sent the vanity teetering over onto the floor, shattering the mirror and opening the entrance to the man. Marisol sprinted through the back of the dressing room, leading to the stage of the club. She pulled at the heavy curtains, searching for the part of the two. Finally she found the part, just as the man was coming through the hall. Marisol passed through the curtains, coming out on stage. She could see the outline of exit sign just fifty feet in front of her.
She could the man's hurried footsteps coming behind her. Marisol ran across the stage. She grabbed the stage railing and swung herself between the bar and the stage. Marisol managed to use the momentum of her swing to launch herself a good distance from the stage without disrupting her balance. She looked over her shoulder and found her attacker leaping over the stage railing. It was then that Marisol knew she wouldn't make it to the door. But she could make it to the bar.
Marisol shifted her direction in a split second. She grabbed the nearest chairs and table and tossed them behind her, into the path of her attacker. She could hear the man stumbling over them and crashing into another table. Marisol ran behind the bar and latched the door. She knocked down several bottles of alcohol as she moved further through the bar. She fumbled for the clubs main light switch. Her fingers ran across the controls and immediately flipped them. The club was fully lit within seconds, and Marisol now saw her attacker face to face.
"Johnny." Marisol gasped.
Johnny stood in front of Marisol, holding a bloodied knife. The only thing between them was the layers of wood and steel of the bar. His blond hair hung over his face, just barley reaching his eyes. He smiled darkly. "Hey Roxy. Haven't seen you in months."
"You killed Maggie, didn't you?" Marisol asked.
"Had to. She was gonna ruin everything. Course, turn out so are you." Johnny replied. "So how about you just give up now. And I promise it'll be quick and painless."
Rage fumed within Marisol. "Like Maggie? You tied her to the pole and butchered her, you sick bastard!"
Johnny slammed the knife on the bar, making Marisol move back. "I was being nice, Roxy. Make it look like an accident. Now, I think I'll have a little fun with you, like I did with Maggie."
Marisol grabbed a bottle of liquor from behind and shattered the base of the bottle. "I'd love to see you try. The police ae on their way right now."
"Maggie was dead ten minutes before you found her. How long do you think it'll be before the cops find you dead?" Johnny asked. He pulled back the knife and made a slash for her.
Marisol pulled back and slammed the broken bottle over his arm. Johnny hissed and drew his arm back. Marisol threw the bottle at him, forcing Johnny to step from the bar. She grabbed another bottle and opened the top. She took a quick sip and dumped the rest over the bar. One last trick Maggie taught her.
"One last drink before dying, right?" Johnny asked. He moved for Marisol again.
Marisol grabbed Mark's spare lighter and lit it up. She sprayed the liquor into the flame, igniting the alcohol. The flames shot out toward the bar and Johnny. The flames of burning liquor hit the pilled alcohol on the bar, igniting it in front of Johnny. He pulled back from the flames. Marisol tossed the lighter aside. She threw her leg up onto the under shelf of the bar and threw herself over the bar. She hit the ground and sprinted toward the door.
Marisol threw herself out of the club. She sprinted across the lot toward her car. She heard the door of the club, knowing Johnny wasn't too far behind her. Her car was just feet from her. All she needed was-
Suddenly the full weight of Johnny's body collided with Marisol's, sending them both crashing to the ground. Marisol grunted as she hit the concrete hard. She rolled across the ground, stopping short just five feet from her car. She rolled onto her stomach and started rising to her knees. Suddenly her foot was snatched. Johnny pulled Marisol's leg, pulling her from her car. Marisol was forced onto her back. Johnny was on top of her, using his body to weigh her down. Marisol tried to fight him off, using her nails to claw at his skin. She clawed at his face and arms.
"Get off!" Marisol screamed, praying someone would hear her.
Johnny grabbed her hands, restraining her with just one hand. He forced her hands over her head and pulled out his knife. He pressed it against her neck. Marisol stilled against the cold blade.
"Thank Maggie when you see her. If she hadn't stopped me, you would've been my bitch." Johnny said.
Suddenly, Marisol heard the angelic sounds of police sirens. But so did Johnny. He looked up from her, looking for the cars. He grabbed Marisol's arms and pulled her to her feet. He pulled Marisol against his chest and drew the knife around her neck. A police hummer sped into the parking lot and stopped in front of them. Several other vehicles stopped behind them. The police had boxed Johnny in. The front door of the Hummer opened. Horatio stepped out of the car, aiming his gun at them.
"Put the knife down!" Horatio ordered.
Johnny pressed the knife against Marisol's neck. "Get back or I'll kill her."
"You won't get the chance." Horatio said.
Johnny grabbed a fistful of Marisol's hair and pulled her head back, exposing her neck. Marisol cried out at the painfully force of her neck. She felt the blade press harder against her neck and Johnny's head beside hers. "Don't think I-"
BANG!
In the instant Marisol closed her eyes, waiting for her death, the world seemed to slow down. The explosion cut off Johnny's sentence. Marisol felt a painful jerk behind her as she stumbled to the ground beside Johnny. Marisol opened her eyes to the chaos. The police were moving in on them quickly. Her right ear was ringing painfully, throwing her balance completely off, but not her logic. She was still in Johnny's vicinity. She struggled to crawl from the ground, away from Johnny.
Horatio was kneeling in front of her, helping her to her feet. Marisol's shaking hands clutched to his arms as she rose. Her legs were shaking from the shock and adrenaline. Marisol was afraid her legs would give out, thankfully they didn't. Horatio wrapped his arm around her waist, steadying her steps. He led her away from her car, towards his hummer.
Marisol looked behind them. Johnny was lying on the ground just beside her car. A fresh bullet hole punched through his head in the center of his forehead. The sudden realization of the day's events shattered Marisol's composure. Not only did someone attack her just hours ago, but someone she knew had tried to kill her-and nearly succeeded. Marisol's breathing increased and her vision blurred with her tears.
Horatio turned her from the body. "You're okay. You're okay."
okay...wow that was a lot of action.