DC - Chapter 19

   Panic and George dutifully reported the place to grab a steak a close distance away, all things considered. Speedy chuckled as he pretended to be disgruntled…

   "Oh, sure. You two go and get steaks and brag about it. Now we can't go for me to get a steak for dinner."

   Panic and George looked at one another and Panic retorted…

   "And why not? What's that rule?"

   Speedy furrowed his brow, he was calculating as he always did…

   "If you just had steak for a late lunch, you don't mind having steak for dinner?"

   Panic smiled laconically…

   "Steak twice in one day? Is that supposed to be punishment? That's a good day… I can get something else, or even another steak is fine. I'm already thinking dessert, french fries, side dishes… maybe a milkshake…"

   "Okay then. You curious where we are with Elvis?"

   Both said they were and stood at rapt attention.

   "Okay. Getting police sketches made up is always a touch and go thing. It tends to go generic which is bad, or, we get told the resemblance is 'uncanny'. George says 'uncanny resemblance'. There are slight differences in both the real sketch done first, then the digital sketch done next, but separately. I'm told, that if those small differences didn't exist, it would seem more suspicious. That's another vote of confidence in a possible ID."

   "Since both Panic and George are non-LEO and non-lawyers… I will mention that ID's, even strongly felt 'good IDs' can be attacked in court if that's all you got. Remember, this isn't a matter of just finding the guy, its a matter of then catching him. We just need the ID to get wise to who he is and where he's at so we can start putting him under the microscope. Remember… the better George feels we have the right guy, the more resources we can bring to bear on less people. We narrow it down to one king and one gypsy crew? We're golden."

   George shrugged.

   "You ain't asking me to carry bags of cement, can we start looking until dinner?"

   "George, we've been badgering you non stop for days with the sketch workups, you can take a break if you want. Our hosts don't want to wear you out, and they're still planning the surprise party. If you want to take a break for a day or two, I was told to offer it to you."

   "Well, would a two day break carry over into the weekend?"

   "Yeah, you want an extra long weekend? It's yours…"

   "No, I'm gonna get looking right now, and every day they'll let me in here until I find the bastard. Will that give Panic a couple days off? I've noticed Speedy helps with paperwork and meetings way more than Panic does."

   "You're trying to get Panic a couple days off?"

   "Yeah… he's the only one here other than me who isn't getting paid. I'm actually getting paid, you finding the guy is a dream come true service to me, but him? He doesn't get anything out of it, and I can see he's running himself ragged."

   Speedy smiled…

   "Panic. Did you cut some kind of a fit on George?"

   "No… why?"

   "Just checking. You do look like you're run down. Honestly, you can't help much with paperwork and planning. If you think of something, you know where I'm at, feel free. I'm gonna recommend Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday off time for you. Motel, TV, laptop, go eating or shopping or sightseeing?"

   "All right… I do wanna check in on George and his face hunt for Elvis, I'm interested in seeing how they use the database. Remember, I was a computer programmer. If I can get a quick tour without getting yelled at for being in the data department, that would be tits."

   "Yeah. They've named that young agent as the data guy. They said he's pretty decent. I'll talk to him and set that up… after you take a day or three. Good? Honestly, everyone else wants to go on a SWAT style raid like they see on TV every other night. And, they can't do that if it's even happening here… now, a request to get a high school field trip to the computer search department, bring a kid to work day? In the data department, that actually might be doable."

   "Good… can I go now?"

   "Yeah. Have fun if you can."

   Panic got an escort and walked the fairly long path between the series of offices they mainly "worked" in most usually, and to where the car was parked in one of several underground and high-rise parking garages maintained for the the good of the building.

   He drove his personal sticker-ed car out to the security exit and punched out. The drone guard at the gate dutifully checked his drivers license off of a list on his computer. He actually looked at Panic's face and back to the license several times. Panic figured he was better paid than normal for his alertness. He finally smiled, and addressed Panic by "Mister" plus his real last name; this was rare for Panic since he had long ago left traditional office worker status behind.

   He grabbed a milkshake on the way home at a small ice cream parlor next to a gas station he patronized. He enjoyed working his key on the motel room with no one else home. Having been living and traveling with Speedy he wasn't sick of his friend, but relaxing to enjoy the rare alone time in his present life… well, that was fun.

   He put the TV on low volume to some documentary he deliberately tried to ignore. Background noise he preferred had him quickly napping then dreaming for a couple hours. He was caught in the grip of that unique state of overtired to the extent he ironically had trouble sleeping.

   He took his couple hours he got, and wondered what he could be lazy about enjoying for an extended weekend other than peeking in hopefully on George's Elvis search the FBI was going to oversee.

   It was only eight o'clock at night, and he had a long weekend ahead of him. Remembering George's high school style mentioning of the girl liking him, he thought idly about it. Huh. The internet gave him a phone number in the form of a colored hyper-link. He clicked it and easily placed a laptop phone call going out over the high speed WiFi internet.

   He asked the female voice that answered finally after he made his way through the not inconsiderable digital series of numeric choices… was there still a waitress "Merry Christmas" working her shift? Yes, there was.

   He drove away from the motel after a relaxing shower and redressing and hair combing. He politely asked for Merry's section, and he soon had her fetching him "coffee and the biggest strawberry milkshake and banana split they had".

   It wasn't too long before Merry was there with a tray of a gigantic banana split sundae in a huge dish, dripping with strawberries and blueberries as well as what appeared to be a mixture of drizzle lines of caramel and a couple different types of chocolate sauce. Whipped cream in a big, rising, ring; acting as edible mortar for the brickwork of blueberries and strawberries.

   The big milkshake came with a big stainless mixing jug of what Panic figured was "the extra" regulars only got at most fast food joints he frequented in his life. When he went to spoon some of the leftover, he found it was basically another milkshake. Merry gave him a wry grin as he noticed it.

   "Well. You ordered a big banana split and a milkshake. You mentioned days off, so, I'm thinking 'sugar fix'… and you're from out of town, right?"

   "Good so far."

   "A lot of guys go out drinking with the boys on these days off, that's my experience. You, you're here for a sugar fix. Are you a regular coffee guy somewhere, back where you come from? You remind me of a night coffee guy. I used to work at a truck stop before I got this gig."

   Panic nodded.

   "I'm off of work in a couple hours, but… I get an extra dollar an hour working over like I do all week, Monday through Friday. Which is exciting for me, not so much for you. But… after hours here? Which is starting? I can have a 'pet' in with me. You know, one of my girlfriends, to hang out with."

   "Well, do your girlfriend pets get a booth, coffee, etc?"

   "Its after hours, which has a much looser set of rules. You get the run of the place. We go in the kitchen when we want snacks. If you get your own coffee, you can raid the freezer and and the fridge with us, if you like."

   Panic looked like he was tabulating some kind of figures, drawing imaginary calculations on a board of clear air in front of him…

   "I'm in."

   Panic got introduced to a waitress friend of hers on the way over to the break booth the girls used. Out of four of them, they took breaks when they could, by one's and two's. Panic got to talk to all the girls, Merry included. One talked to him about what vehicle and vehicles he drove. Another talked about kids. Yet another socially farted in church, when she bluntly asked him if he liked girls or boys. This situation cycled throughout the girls, and over again.

   By the time Merry came and took a break alone with Panic, Panic smiled and asked her…

   "Merry? Can… I ask you something and you won't get mad?"

   "Sure…"

   "Am I being paranoid, or… did each of the girls working here come to me, one after another, and pump me for information… I'm not accusing, I'm just asking…"

   Merry smiled and swiveled around on the heels of her work sneakers a couple times, looking around dramatically in her best imitation of a little kid… then dramatically stopped…

   Merry smiled, as if it was all in fun…

   "Is it that obvious?"

   "I feel like I'm being interrogated."

   Merry smiled and shrugged…

   "Look… I like making an extra dollar an hour for working over the night shift here. The girls that do this here? We don't have much of a social life. Unless. We bring guys here. Or our girlfriends. Whichever."

   "So, I am being interrogated. You could have just said yes."

   Merry smiled…

   "We prefer to call it our own personal 'background check'…"

   "I don't mind. I was a truck stop coffee guy a couple nights a week, kind of a crew. This reminds me of it. We all sat with the girls at the counter after hours."

   "Well. My dating pool is limited to guys I can entice to hang out with me, that don't want to go out clubbing."

   "Well, that's me. If I was at home, I would probably spend the couple nights out at the truck stop with the coffee crew. I don't watch TV after work, I spend time on the internet instead. I watch documentaries and stuff online instead of television. If I put the laptop away? Coffee and goodies is my thing."

   She regarded him smiling thin, but in a detached manner…

   "You… have been to college, am I right?"

   "Why do you ask?"

   "You're polite and well spoken. Truck stops. There's a lot of college guys that their idea of a night out is the truck stop for coffee and goodies instead of the bar. Am I right?"

   "Yes, I'm college educated. Twice. No, I don't use my degrees for working at that anymore. I normally work a part time job to allow me to work for myself a few days every week. More truck stop nights out every week for fun. And Merry?"

   "Yes?"

   "If there's anything else you wanna know about? You can just ask me a list of 20 questions and I'll answer them. You don't have to sic the waitresses on me to find out what you want to know."

   "All right. You're a cop?"

   "No."

   "But, your at the Hoover building every day, all week. You said you're on a 'project'. But your not a cop? We get a lot of cops because of the building. It's normal…"

   "I'm not a cop. Technically, I'm 'consulting' for the FBI. I don't get paid, but, I get to be in on the investigation."

   "That's a new one for me. Why's it such a thing for you?"

   "Well… I kinda discovered the… investigation. I'm friends with a state cop, I got him in on it. We're actually getting results, so, now we're kicking it upstairs from the state police to the FBI. Which has me in town, for weeks. This is my chance for days off, which, is a welcome thing for me."

   "Again, that's a new one for me… most people working away from home are on a tight schedule. So… if it isn't your friends or family got you into this… and you're not even getting paid for it, like your state police friend is, or the FBI guys you're seeing… why is it so important to you. If you don't mind, that is."

   "No. I don't mind. The real reason? It's important. Me and my buddy took a crack at it, just for fun. For the puzzle. It started working out. Me and my buddy got it this far. I can't quit now, it's the right thing to do. If it pays or not to do it, it still needs done."

   "No, I just can't get over that… you're not doing it to get whoever did something to your friend or family. You're not the one got something done to you. You're taking time off from your own work, just to make sure this gets done. You're actually paying out of your own pocket, just to help someone else. Someone you don't even know?"

   "Yeah. Not one person, lots of people."

   "Hm. It's interesting. I think it says something about you."

   "Actually, what it says… I'm dumb enough to work overtime for free…"

   "You're really single? You wouldn't be the first married guy I hung out with that pretended not to be. I don't like that…"

   "I'm honestly not married…"

   "Are you on the rebound…"

   "Uh, I don't think so."

   "Can I ask about it?"

   "I don't care…"

   "Well… why did the last one break up?"

   "I wouldn't want to bore you with---"

   "You don't have to tell me, but, go ahead if you will…"

   "Okay. If I say 'we've grown apart', that doesn't really tell you anything. So, the last argument? I was explaining how I'm taking time off of work to see this through. I got a shitload of static about how I'm selfishly wasting my time on this, instead of blah blah. I tried explaining that it's a big deal, people are being hurt, and I have a chance to help and put a stop to it… it was too important."

   "You get bitched at, that you're being selfish? Doing this to help a bunch of people?"

   "Yeah. I told her I thought it was very selfish of her, to not want me to take the chance I had, to help that many people. The arguments wouldn't stop, so… I'd just quit my job to see this through, I ended it with her too."

   "You were together a long time ?"

   "We were."

   "You weren't running around? She was running around?"

   "Um… no one, was running around."

   "Hm…"

   "What?"

   "You don't seem like… damaged goods…"

   "Am I supposed to be?"

   "You're… middle aged, and you're not all bruised up?"

   "No… at least, I don't think so."

   "You said you had a cat. Were you kidding about that?"

   "No. Why would I lie about owning a cat."

   "A lot of guys hate cats."

   "Um… daddy loves his fuzzy little man. Mr. Fuzzy? Is… my best friend…"

   "You… spoil your cat?"

   "You have no idea. He's… allowed to do anything he wants. Scratch the used furniture? I don't care. He's allowed on the counters and the kitchen table, all the furniture. I let him eat off my plate when we watch documentaries together. We have snuggle time. He sleeps with me every night. He's my little buddy."

   "I have a cat. One of my rules of thumb, is that if the cat likes the guy, then I tend to like the guy."

   "Dogs and cats, generally like me. I like to have them sit with me, and give them attention. I kiss and hug dogs and cats if they're friendly. I like it. People say shit, but, I really don't care."

   "You like animals, then."

   "No, I love animals. I honestly like most animals more than most people, I think."

   "Why?"

   "Well, human beings? Everyone has some kind of… agenda, with me. My cat, it has no agenda. It just… likes me, and wants to be around me. For no real reason."

   "You feed it and spoil it…"

   "Yeah, but… I experimented before. I let cat food run out? Just to see what reaction I'd get, you know…"

   "How did it go. You get swatted?"

   "No. I got slept with, and cuddle time like normal… then I woke up to two squirrel heads on the floor, and a whole squirrel laying intact, but for the missing head, on the bed next to me."

   "You didn't buy cat food right away… for… a test… and the cat just fed itself?"

   "Well, two squirrel heads, remember. The cat ate one of them. It put the other one on the bed. Next to me. I didn't buy cat food like normal right away? It went and killed something, and tried to feed me… I was flattered."

   "That's sweet…"

   "Sweet? It's a dead body, head cut off, laying on the bed. Everyone else says it's disgusting."

   "Okay, but from the cat's point of view."

   Panic smiled broadly.

   "Exactly. From the cat's point of view? All the cat knew, was food was suddenly scarce. Instead of meowing at me and scratching me? I got cuddle time, then, the cat went out and killed something and ate it… then it killed something else, and dragged it home for me."

   Merry smiled…

   "Like I said… that's sweet…"

   "Okay. Mr. Fuzzy is spoiled rotten… so, I'm guessing you have a cat?"

   "Bitty."

   "What?"

   "Bitty Kitty. The cat is small, it's a little bitty thing. So, Its called 'Bitty'."

   "You have an apartment, and you're allowed to have a cat?"

   "No. We're not allowed to have a cat or a dog, but… the cat comes around, and… I let it in, and no one says anything."

   "Well, I'm impressed there. You're not allowed to have a cat, and, you have a cat. Did you bring him with you?"

   "No… I came to the city with a… guy. Years ago. The guy turned out to be married and was just separated, and having fun. He went back to his wife…"

   "And, you stayed?"

   "Yeah."

   "Then, the cat came?"

   "Uh huh… it's a small cat. It goes up and down the row of doors. Everyone kicks it. He started coming to me? I let him come in for the night."

   "Is he good to you?"

   "If you mean Bitty Kitty? Hell yeah."

   "What's the coolest thing he does for you."

   "Well… we watch movies together. He seems to like it, and, I seem to get something out of it."

   "He doesn't feed you?"

   Merry smiled…

   "If by feed me, you mean… I come home to find dead things right in front of my door? Yeah. Dead rats from the alley. He acts like I don't feed him."

   Panic smiled and explained…

   "Look. Cats are predators. They're still wild animals. To a wild predator? Food, is a precious resource. When a cat brings you a dead thing? There's no higher honor they can bestow upon you. Bitty Kitty loves you. Plain and simple."

   "If only he was a human…"

   "What's the problem with you, and guys?"

   "Remember the guy that I came here with? Went back to his wife. That's how I ended up here. Sure, I meet guys. The problem? Every nice guy I meet, is married. I've gotten pretty good at busting them."

   "You don't like that…"

   "Hell no, I don't like it! Some guy, breaks up with his wife. I don't know, buys a sports car, and runs around having fun for a while? I'm part of the fun… I'm just a… toy to them."

   "Then why do you keep going out with married guys?"

   "I don't. I go out with single guys. Later on, they all end up married. I don't know, I guess it's a city thing… the girls at work here go through the same shit."

   "I find it hard to believe, you don't land single guys now and then."

   Merry smiled…

   "Yeah. I do. I can't put my finger on it, but… single guys? Are… all weird."

   "How?"

   "They… act funny. Like they're trying to impress me with how cool and how tough they are. It's… it gets old."

   "The married guys, are nice?"

   "Yeah, at first. I guess, they know how to… act around women. Until I start asking too many questions… then? I'm history."

   "You feel like Bitty Kitty. People just enjoy you for a little while. Then they throw you back out, when they're done."

   "Something like that."

   "Well. What do you want out of a guy?"

   "Single. And by single, I mean single and not whining about his wife that left him three years ago. I'm not in high school anymore, I don't expect every guy I meet to be a rich and handsome prince. Actually single, and… I guess, I wouldn't mind a guy that liked Bitty Kitty."

   "How is Bitty Kitty a problem…"

   "Most guys like dogs. If they like anything. Look… you don't live in the city, I forget that. See, you either have rooom mates, or, you have a tiny apartment? I opted for tiny apartment."

   "Okay. Makes sense…"

   "Well… I don't see why Bitty Kitty has to get thrown outside all night, if I have a guy over. It's… his apartment too, you know."

   "What kind of guy, comes over to your apartment and throws your cat out for the night. Why would you even think of putting up with that shit?"

   "Remember the one waitress asked if you like girls or boys?"

   "Yeah. I thought that was weird…"

   "Well… only gay guys like cats…"

   "Says who?"

   "Says… everyone."

   "Merry, you hang around some strange people."

   "I live in the city. This is the way it is."

   "Merry? There's a lot of rules in this world, but… only gay guys like cats? That ain't a rule."

   "So, you're saying, that if you came over to my apartment, and we were watching movies… Bitty Kitty doesn't have to get thrown outside?"

   "Merry. If I came over to watch movies? And you threw the cat outside? I would probably leave. I wouldn't think you were a very nice person."

   "Really?"

   "Honestly, if I'm watching movies? My cat's laying on me or right next to me. I let my cat get into my ice cream, I don't mind."

   "Really?"

   "Yeah! It's my cat's house too, you know. Look. His name is Mr. Fuzzy. We live together. In the same house. We're best friends. What kind of friend makes you sleep on the floor, you aren't allowed up on the furniture, you're not allowed to eat up where I eat. I mean, I go on the furniture. I eat off of the counter tops and the table. I eat off of a plate… why isn't my best friend allowed to do what I do."

   Merry smiled…

   "Looks like I gotta go do some stuff. The girl coming over? She's on break. When she goes in the back, go with her. Get whatever you want."

   The waitress he was pawned off on, asked him if he wanted another cup of coffee. He said he did, so, she took him off to the side entrance to the back. Pointed at the coffee machine. She introduced him to the guy cooking the night shift. The cook was bidden to "explain it" to him, so he did.

   "Okay. Here's the deal. Some nights get busy and some don't. If it were to get really busy, we have a few extra people to help out. If it doesn't get that busy, they take turns being on break, and cleaning stuff and doing prep work."

   "Okay."

   "Its easier to get a few girls staying late to help out, if they can have a friend come in. You can get stuff while you're here with Merry."

   "Cool. What am I allowed to get?"

   "It's easier to just tell you what you can't get, to be honest."

   "What can't I get?"

   "No alcohol, all other drinks are as much as your kidneys can stand. You can't have anything that we take inventory on. Mainly steaks, chops, ribs, and prime rib. Basically, if you don't see a red band on it or around it? It's fair game."

   "A man could get used to this. What are some popular choices?"

   Side dishes. We buy all the frozen side dishes in 50 pound boxes. Have fun. The pies are red banded, but, stuff like ice cream and sundae making stuff? Have a ball."

   "Burgers red banded?"

   "No. We buy ground meat 75 pounds at a time. Anything you can make out of ground meat? Go for it. Two of the girls are making a big tray of lasagna, but, it isn't done yet."

   "Anything I can do to help out? I feel bad, getting free food."

   The cook smiled…

   "No one's going to complain if you help out here and there, but… you can't walk anything out to the customers. Salad bar's fair game, but, remember to sit with the girls, that's the employee section after hours."

   "Are… you waiting on lasagna too?"

   "Yeah, but… I'm gonna make a batch of wings in a little bit to tide me over. Go on, nose around in the freezers and coolers, see what you want."

   "Okay…"

   Panic busied himself nosing around the coolers, freezers, and inspecting the shelves and counters everywhere. He was used to a much smaller commercial kitchen where he worked at home, this was a lot more substantial. At his place of work he had recently quit, freezer and cooler space was limited. Hence, there were limits to what the employees could bring in and keep at work for themselves. Here? They had a big walk in freezer and a walk in cooler, so, there was all kinds of stuff that wasn't on the menu the employees had dragged in.

   While waiting on lasagna, Panic found a dry storage shelf with 75 pound bags of potatoes. The french fry slicer was a big stainless hand operated wall mounted deal, thoroughly similar to what he was used to at his delivery job. He located a small stainless bowl and put some cold water in it, and pressed several large potatoes into the stainless bowl, until they broke the water line.

   While he was still nosing around after he dropped a big double handful of the french fries into the hot grease, he located what looked to be breaded smelt. He checked with the cook, who without looking at him asked if he saw red tape anywhere around it. He said he hadn't, and the cook simply told him to have as many "fried minnows" as he wanted.

   He refilled his coffee mug as he took out his plate of french fries and smelt, after overusing the salt as was his habit. Still getting used to all of this, he sat quietly at the employee booth. The girls took turns sitting for a little while at a time with him. None of the girls were shy about grabbing food off of his plate, and he didn't really mind.

   The soft interrogation the girls had put through themselves earlier had subsided. They still asked him a lot of questions, but it had degenerated into more or less normal conversation. The cook came out for a 15 minute break a couple times, as well as the side cook slash dishwasher slash busboy.

   When Merry made it back to sit with him again, she had a handful of his french fries, but made a face at the smelt that she turned down. Smiled and made a cute little show of knocking off the salt off of every french fry she put in her mouth. Panic smiled and shrugged. Everyone that knew him, knew he was a salt fanatic. 'Now you know too', his look said.

   "It'll really slow down now, until the after bar traffic starts popping in."

   "You staying for that?"

   Merry shrugged.

   "I usually do. Do you mind it here?"

   "Mind it? I don't know how you plan on getting rid of me…"

   "We'll kick you out at 2am, unless I drag you off before that."

   "Okay. How's my background check coming along."

   Merry smiled…

   "None of the girls mind you. The cook and the busboy both said you 'seem okay' as far as they just met you. You're actually, doing pretty good."

   "Great. Do I pass… lasagna certification?"

   Merry laughed…

   "Lasagna will be done, about half an hour. We're all going to go out back for a smoke break soon, as soon as that table leaves. They look almost done. About all the prep work is ready for the bar crowd. We're all good. You wanna… come out with us for the smoke break? Or… you wanna play with your dead fish…"

   "Aw, I might as well hang out with all the cool kids. Let me know."

   "Okay… you don't mind staying here a little bit? You wouldn't rather go… out and about, on your first night off?"

   "Aw, I'm pretty much as 'out and about' as I care to be. I've really been through the wringer the last couple months, you just have to trust me on that count. I honestly haven't slept good in months."

   Merry peered at him…

   "I thought you were tired. When you came in. Late lunchtime, and you already looked like you were up all night. Why didn't you just take a long nap for your first night off then?"

   "If you want me to lie and say something funny or clever, then I will… but… the truth? Is that I've been pushing myself so hard, that I can't sleep more than a couple hours at a time, even when I get the chance to. Oh, I plan on 12 hours, but… my eyes just pop open after 2 or 3 hours."

   "You and your friend said you were over the hump on your… project. It ends soon?"

   "I think so."

   "Then… you're going to get some sleep?"

   Panic smiled warmly…

   "Some sleep? Oh no… not 'some'… when this is all over? I'm taking a vacation. Couple weeks, at least. Before I even think about doing anything else."

   "What's your idea of a vacation, then?"

   "I know of a place. Out in the woods. Remote and private. I'm going to stay in a cabin for a while. Sleep in. Take naps. Whenever I feel like it. When I'm up? I'm going to go and sit in my fishing chair and probably take another nap."

   "All alone?"

   "There's a group of friends there. Every night, we'll sit around a campfire, and have a beer and bullshit some."

   "Sounds nice…"

   "To me? Its not just nice… it's paradise."

   Panic smiled and asked quietly.

   "Merry? Is this… like a date?"

   "Hm. Yes and no. It's not really a date, if we don't want it to be. We can just claim to be… hanging out. If we both want it to be like a date? Then it can be."

   "Isn't that a little cryptic?"

   Merry smiled.

   "This is the city, Panic. I work 6, sometimes 7 days a week. I work the extra hours most of those days. With my schedule? I can't really go out to a bar date even if I wanted to. So, this is… a date, or, not a date… whatever we want it to be."

   Merry nodded her head. Panic looked in the direction she indicated, and the customers they were waiting on were checking out. The cashier waved to them…

   "Night shift smoke break commences…"

   Merry put her hand out, and led Panic in the back and out the back door with everyone else. The cashier lady was obviously content to hold down the fort for a little while and give everyone their little break.

   Most of the employees smoked a cigarette, and the busboy fired up a joint and passed it around. Everyone just watched Panic to see what he would do… so, he nonchalantly hit the thing and held it in, blew it out, and passed it. Like anywhere the first time was out of the way… everyone relaxed and was way more at ease. The employees joked and teased each other. Panic took it for what he thought of as a typical workplace social rhythm.

   After the hand-rolled cigarette was down to the nubbins and out, the cook ran in and came back out and pronounced the lasagna "a complete success", and further seemed proud to announce it was cooling on the prep table. A couple of the employees gave a mock applause. The cook added a disclaimer…

   "We didn't go crazy with the lasagna, but, there is some finely chopped spinach in with the meat. I think, it makes it a hair better than normal."

   The busboy laughed…

   "As long as you guys don't pull that shit with the giant chunks of onion or green pepper again. That gagged me that time. Uh."

   "Almost lasagna time, kids…"

   And another waitress produced a small hand-rolled cigarette out of an apron pocket. Lit it carefully and waved it out and hit it and held it in, betraying it wasn't a cigarette, then sent it off to be passed around.

   The cook that was overseeing the lasagna, asked what sauces everyone wanted on their wings he had already made for a side dish to the lasagna. The waitress stubbed out the joint halfway, and they all went back in, talking about the lasagna. The waitress palmed it to the waitress that had stayed behind and watched the place while they had their break, it was her turn. She was back by the time they were all seated and had two plates each, lasagna on one and wings on another.

   Merry didn't have a personal wing plate, but Panic did. She sat on the inside of the booth bench seat, and ate a few wings off of Panic's wing plate.

   One of the waitresses giggled…

   "Hey Merry… this one isn't a germ phobe like that one guy you found."

   Merry explained how one guy she had brought around wasn't too bad, but he would freak out if anyone touched his plate or food or anything.

   Merry smiled…

   "We might as well check that out, right now…"

   She grabbed a bare wing off of his plate, took a big bite of the small chicken leg, and handed it to Panic, in front of his face. He went to grab it, and she yanked it back, moved it around. He quickly got the idea when it came in again, he was supposed to take a bite without his hands.

   Merry finished the wing…

   "He likes my germs…"

   This all got interrupted by the first of the after bar crowd. Then two more couples wandered in. Everyone mainly wanted side dishes. Panic enjoyed sitting and talking with the employees, snacking, watching people come and go while he stayed.

   After a while, the cook wanted to know who wanted to go home, the bar traffic wasn't as crazy as it could be. Merry raised her hand. It was quickly cleared with the other waitresses.

   Merry took Panic aside, and asked him if he wanted to go see a movie before he went home for the night.

   "Okay. I'm sleeping in tomorrow, I don't mind."

   Merry wanted to see his drivers license. Panic took it out and showed her. She went off and came back with a sheet of white paper. She had photocopied it.

   "Can I leave this here?"

   Panic smiled…

   "This part of the background check?"

   "More or less. We figure a waitress won't disappear, if we have a copy of the license."

   Panic smiled…

   "Because… it's the city…"

   Merry smiled…

   "Because it's the city."

   Merry didn't want to go anywhere right away, she said she wanted to walk around a little, and enjoy the night air. Panic held her hand and they walked and talked around several blocks slowly. Within a short time, Merry's phone beeped. She read her text message, and smiled and rattled off a short text back with her thumbs moving furiously for a few seconds.

   "Well… let's go see a movie, okay?"

   She held her hand out for his again.

   They were walking for a couple blocks, and weren't stopping soon. At least it didn't appear so anyways.

   "Merry… if we're walking that far to the midnight matinee theater? I brought my car… why don't we just drive?"

   "You mind walking?"

   "No."

   "Did you lock your car up?"

   "Yeah… cause I'm in the city."

   Merry smiled.

   "Then? You're fine. Come on…"

   And so she tugged his hand and he walked with her another couple of city blocks. She cut him down an alley, and when they popped out the other street, they were close to in front of the Washington Hotel. It was a run down motel looking place, more so than a real hotel.

   "Do… you want me to get us a room for the night?"

   Merry shook her head no, and held out the take out food containers she had with her. Wiggled them walking backwards like bait. Panic laughed and followed her, sniffing the air for humor.

   They passed up the front, and walked down the far side, through the parking lot. The back was much like the front. A double stacked row of motel doors. Merry led them up the stairs. Panic noticed a small gray tiger striped cat walking along with them.

   When she stopped and worked her keys in the lock, the cat was the first one into the room. Bitty Kitty leaped up on the bed, and started rolling around and jumping up and down, and prancing.

   Bitty Kitty eyed Merry intently, never taking his eyes off of the several foam take out containers she had with her. He didn't stop peering at her until she put one down on the foot of the queen sized bed, and opened it for him.

   "Okay Bitty… tonight? You get a piece of leftover steak… a little bit of prime rib… and some lasagna…"

   The cat purred and buried his face in the foam container, completely disregarding the two of them for the time being. There wasn't much to the motel room, as anyone would expect. A door that obviously led to the bathroom, what looked to be a closet Merry tossed her work shoes and purse into. If there wasn't a bathroom, there wouldn't have been the closet. The bathroom was walled off, and the closet was the rest of what the bathroom didn't take up on that end of the wall.

   She tossed her pack of cigarettes and lighter on the nightstand beside the bed. Other than a couple of nightstands and coffee tables, the only other furnishings seemed to be older wooden chests of drawers, which more or less did not match and lined the walls forming uneven counter-tops.

   She stood at the entrance to the bathroom. Posed with her hand on her hip like she did sometimes.

   "You want a shower?"

   "No. I just grabbed one right before I went to meet you…"

   "Well. I want one. Find a movie you want to watch. I won't be long…"

   She tossed him a remote for the LCD TV, and another remote that worked the cable internet feed to the TV. A third remote was the DVD player. Panic was left alone and heard water running for a while. He put his work boots by the door and dropped his hooded sweatshirt onto them… and Bitty Kitty watched him from the foam container now and again, as he took his gun rig off. He looked around, and didn't know where to stick it. He hung it on his side of the bed. Dropped his own wallet and key ring and leather case on his nightstand. The little cat actually burped, looked up nonchalantly while swallowing and licking as if nothing was amiss, and buried his face right back into the foam container.

   By the time Merry came out of the bathroom after the water had quit running, she was wearing a comfortable looking satiny robe, with the belt tied loosely about her waist. She looked at the TV, it was on a DVD menu.

   "Were you waiting for me to come out of the shower to start the movie?"

   "Well… yeah. It'd be rude if I didn't wait…"

   Merry walked around the bed slowly. Stood on what Panic now thought of as his side of the bed. He was propped up on two pillows behind him against the headboard; Merry had a lot of pillows on the bed.

   "No. What's rude, is that everything was going so well? Then, you lied to me."

   Panic furrowed his brow.

   "What am I lying about?"

   "That… is a gun!"

   "Yeah? So? You already know I'm here with the cops…"

   "Why lie to me? Why not just tell me, you're a cop!"

   "Because I'm not a cop, Merry…"

   "I'm standing here, looking right at… a gun, and a badge case!"

   "No. You're not…"

   Panic gave her a really dry grin, and leaned over and picked up the 'badge case'… and opened it up and held it to face her… he pointed with his index finger as he gave her a commentary.

   "This… is my carry permit. For Pennsylvania. I carry a gun there. I carry a lot of money for work. This one? That's a federal carry permit. So I can carry my gun in any state I'm in. Here… look at it. Have fun."

   She idly looked at it, and gave him a slightly fallen look. Slowly closed it and put it back in its spot on his nightstand. Walked slowly back around to her side of the bed…

   "Sorry. I…"

   Panic leaned back and smiled…

   "Merry? I thought it was… cute your work friends were doing your background check thing you do. It's fine. I left your workers a photocopy of my drivers license so I was allowed to walk out the door with you. Don't think I didn't notice, you guys are holding my car hostage, too. While we're at it? I bet your text you got on the 'walk around the night air'? Well, I noticed as soon as you got your text, it was magically okay to head for home with me. Internet search for bad dirt on me came up clean."

   "It's… that obvious?"

   Panic nodded and smiled, the way you smile at a little kid who thinks they're getting away with something.

   "While we're at it? I might as well tell you, what I overlooked for you, Merry…"

   "What?"

   "I don't like hanging out with people that do coke. Your two cooks? They both do coke. They kept bugging me, to do a line. I… well, I actually had to get rude with the busboy, and tell him I didn't like coke. And if he kept bugging me about it, I was going to put my hands on him if he didn't quit."

   Merry smiled…

   "You think I'm a coke-head."

   "No, I don't think you are. You're not the right personality for it, in my experience. But, you guys work long hours all week long, and, your cooks do it. I don't really care, but, it's just not my thing."

   "They don't do coke…"

   "Bullshit."

   Merry smiled and giggled…

   "Um… the cook? He's the night manager too. That's a game he plays, to try to get rid of any new employees that are on drugs… he must of done it when I was out front, or, I'd have said something. Oops."

   Panic belly laughed at that one…

   "What's so funny now…"

   "I was just thinking… I know what your about to say next… blah blah… city… blah blah…"

   Merry started laughing…

   "Yeah. I was."

   "Okay, here's an idea. You… all done with your… investigation, Merry?"

   She smiled impishly. Nodded yes.

   "All right. How about, before either one of us, fucks this up? Just… stop. I'm not married. You're not working with coke-heads. Your friends got my license and my fucking car for Christ's sake. Come and sit down, and let's watch the movie…"

   Panic pointed at her side of the bed.

   Merry smiled, even more impishly. She just walked around the bed to her side. Stepped out of her fuzzy slippers. Undid her loose robe belt, and her shiny robe fell slightly open. She had on an oversize T shirt. She held her hands out to her sides, smiling.

   "Captain Panic? This is the tower. You are cleared for movie night…"

   Panic laughed, and held his hand out to her, and she took it, laughing. He yanked her onto the bed next to him, and she fell easily, rolling onto her side facing him. Bitty Kitty moved around and found a safe spot in the center foot of the bed between her bare feet and his socks.

   "Actually? It's Colonel Panic… not captain…"

   "Well? What now… colonel…"

   "Well. It's movie night, right?"

   "It is movie night…"

   "Well? You got the remotes. Fire that sucker up…"

   When the movie was underway, Panic asked if it was okay to eat in bed for the movie. Merry retrieved him a foam container. It had a big portion of salted smelt and french fries. Panic was happy to munch for the movie.

   He used a lone smelt to lure Bitty Kitty up, and between them. Bitty Kitty wasn't any longer hungry and was playing with his lone smelt before gnawing on it idly. Panic oozed into rubbing the cat's head. He ended up with one arm over Merry's two pillows, arm around her. The other hand touched Bitty. He leaned his head back and had trouble staying awake.

   After a time, Merry quit kissing him and just leaned her head on his chest.

   "If you wanna fall asleep? It's okay… I know you're tired…"

   "Okay. I'm… really relaxed. Can we talk about it in the morning?"

   He felt Merry nod her head on his chest. Panic lost the battle to stay awake and drifted off. When he woke up a couple hours later on, the TV had been turned down a bit and the DVD menu music was playing on it's little sound loop. Merry was laying on her side facing him. Bitty Kitty was up against her between them.

   Panic smiled and got up as easily and as quietly as he could. He got undressed to get back to bed. Standing there in his thigh length boxer briefs, he checked his phone. Speedy had texted him. He texted him back he was fine, and would see him tomorrow. He crept into the bathroom, and regretted flushing.

   When he crept back to bed, Merry had rolled over to look at him.

   "You up? Or… are you still tired."

   Panic sighed slowly.

   "Honestly, I'm used to getting up and not getting back to sleep… but… I'm actually really relaxed. Can I see if I can get some more sleep? This is a rare treat for me…"

   Merry smiled and nodded her head against her pillow. Turned back away from him, which put her square against him when he got back into bed.

   She kissed him once before closing her eyes and hugging Bitty back into her chest…

   "At least I finally got your clothes off you. That's something, anyways…"

   "When do you get up?"

   "Tomorrow… I walk to work around noon… I'll probably get you up before then, though."

   "Okay."

   Panic just laid back down on the bed without covering up, on his side facing her and Bitty Kitty. He put his hand on Bitty Kitty, and her hand found his. Panic died to the world for the second time that night.

   Panic woke up after light was streaming in around the blinds on the only small window. Merry was walking around in her open shiny robe without her slippers on. She brought him over a mug of coffee from one of the tops of the drawers that held a small drip coffee machine.

   "Thanks."

   He blew on his coffee to sip it. Merry stood over him, blowing on her coffee the same as he was doing. Then, she reached down and took his coffee off of him, just as he was getting it drinkable and had a few sips. She put it on the nightstand, and put hers next to it.

   "I guess it's time to get up?"

   "Yep."

   Not taking no for an answer any longer, she opened her robe, and no longer had her big T shirt on. Nor anything else under her robe. Her robe flapping, she somewhat roughly put her hand on Panic's chest, and shoved him firmly into the mattress. Swung her knee and leg over him, and sat on him.

   "The colonel missed a couple things…"

   "What's that?"

   "Well, I forget you're not used to the city. Movie night? Isn't really 'movie night', you know…"

   "I see this…"

   "Most people live in apartments. The walls are paper thin. Movie night? Is secret code for fuck night. You turn the movie up for privacy… got that?"

   She punctuated it with stabbing her index finger into his chest playfully.

   "Good. You know what else you missed?"

   "I'm sure you'll tell me…"

   "Your car. You don't run around and date a lot, I can tell. City dating etiquette, is that when a girl 'suggests' you can leave your car parked somewhere and walk her home? It's a gentle suggestion you're staying over."

   She started moving around astride him.

   "You're now flying Merry airlines."

   She smiled and leaned over to her robe pocket and drew back her hand with her lighter and a fair sized hand-rolled cigarette. Which she lit and blew out before inhaling. She stuck it in his mouth without asking…

   "It looks to be a pleasant flight, though, there will be some… turbulence. Captain's instructions, are to shut the fuck up, leave yer seat reclined, and enjoy your flight."

   Panic decided it would be best to simply follow instructions. The flight did indeed have some small amount of turbulence. After the joint was out, Merry pointed the remote back at the TV, and changed channels without looking. Smiling. Panic saw the volume go all the way up across the bottom of the screen. Merry slumped down and yelled in his ear over the din of noise it produced on some morning talk show…

   "I don't give a flying fuck, what's playing."

   A while later, Merry got up off of him. Held her hand out, and yanked him up to stand with her. Took him by the hand into the bathroom… talked into his ear again over the loud TV…

   "Next time a girl suggests a shower? Take it… it's fun…"

   And she all but shoved him into the shower and dropped her robe and walked in behind him.

   When they were done in the shower, Merry opened a cheap toothbrush out of its package, and held it out to him.

   "More city dating etiquette?"

   Merry shrugged and smiled impishly.

   "I don't know… if you have to run to work? You're already showered and brushed…"

   "Do I see you again?"

   Merry just furrowed her brow at him, with toothpaste foaming out her mouth.

   She somewhat delicately leaned over the sink and spit… came up licking her lips.

   "You're the investigator… what the hell do you think?"

   "Do… I get your cell number?"

   She spit and came up licking her lips again…

   "No. You don't. Brush your teeth."

   He brushed his teeth quickly. When he was done, she spit and came up licking her lips again. Grabbed him and forced her tongue into his mouth for quite a while. Kept her arms around his neck when she was done…

   "I thought we went over this last night. You're off of work for a long weekend already, right?"

   "Yeah…?"

   "Duh. Stop by the restaurant. Six or seven is great… we're on night hours by then."

   "It's Friday. Can… I bring the boys with me?"

   "Why… you wanna brag you got some Merry? Show me off? Fine by me… your friends have to buy dinner. Then they can stay with us. There's only one thing…"

   "What's that?"

   "You bring any cops around? It's fine… just remember smoking out back the kitchen. We don't wanna have a scene… your friends don't go in the kitchen or out back. Okay?"

   "Won't be a problem. Any other… Merry airline rules you think I need to know?"

   She drew him in close, kissed him some more, then leaned her forehead on his…

   "Don't turn out to be married. Don't fuck my friends. I'm pretty easy to get along with."

   "Should I get going?"

   "You can… but, I'm not throwing you out. I figured we'd walk early to work. You gotta get your car back, and I figured we could grab a coffee or whatever on the walk."

   "Sounds fine."

   Panic suddenly realized they were talking naked and he hadn't even noticed. Merry walked out into her room and went about getting dressed for work. Panic got dressed.

   "Question…"

   "Yeah?"

   "How do I get to actually watch a movie?"

   Merry smiled but otherwise ignored him, and he didn't press her on the minor issue. When they were both dressed, Panic got into his gun rig and arranged his second T shirt over it, and tossed his hoodie on.

   Merry grabbed him suddenly on the way out the door, and kissed him some more. Held on to talk like she had done before…

   "I suggest… you go do what you have to do. You're staying somewhere… get a nap. So… you can stay up a little tonight. You know how they say Christmas only comes once a year?"

   "Yeah…"

   "Well, if you remember, my nickname at work is Christmas. Now, I said to get a nap… because now that you know what movie night means… well… let me put it this way."

   She kissed him some more…

   "Yeah?"

   "If Christmas comes twice? You and Bitty Kitty can watch a movie after I fall asleep… "

   They walked out and held hands, and slowly walked Merry back to work. When they stopped for a bagel and coffee on the way, Panic tried to buy Merry her breakfast sandwich and coffee. She wouldn't let him.

   "Look. I buy myself coffee and a bagel all the time. You don't have to buy me anything. All I want, is your time. You… don't owe me anything. I don't expect a guy to buy me a house… buy me a car… buy me dinner every night… just come around, okay?"

   "You make it seem too easy."

   "Why… would you want it to be complicated and difficult?"

   "I guess not."

   "Okay then. Go. Do what you gotta do. Get some more sleep. You can brag to your friends, and show me off if you want."

   "Okay. Are me and the boys allowed to come in for lunch?"

   "No!"

   "Why not?"

   "I'm kidding."

   Merry waved as she went to walk into work. Then she stopped and pointed towards where the parking lot was…

   "Looks like you got a ticket…"

   Panic ambled over to his car and Merry had been right, he had gotten a ticket. There was something on his windshield. He walked over and grabbed it to see how much he owed.

   He owed nothing, as it turned out.

   It was just a menu place-mat from Merry's workplace. Folded up, it just looked to be a ticket from afar. Opened up? It read…

   "Merry Christmas…"

   The I in Christmas, had a little heart dotting it. What was obviously her cell number under it. Panic drove back to his own motel room and took a short nap. He set an alarm clock, because for once? He had been able to actually sleep. He didn't want to sleep through lunch and checking in on George's Elvis search.