A few days later, Katie’s jaw was still sore but it didn’t interfere with her work. The three gals in the back talked with Katie at times during breaks for something to do.
Melanie came out of her office and looked over Katie’s wall. “It still looks like you took a hard hit.”
“No kidding. It’s embarrassing. Wherever I go, people stare. I should make a sign and pin it on my shirt saying, Hey, the dentist did it, stop staring.” She touched her bruised cheek.
“Quiet over there. I’m trying to work.” Fred poked his head around the divider with a smile.
“I’m the boss, Freddie. I’ll talk when I want. Now you get back to work.” Melanie pointed her finger at him.
They laughed.
“Because you’re the boss, I will file a harassment claim.” Fred pointed back.
“Stop fighting. It’s interrupting our party, ah, work back here.” Heidi turned in her chair to look at them.
Melanie gave a disgusted look. “See, I never win, and I’m the boss. Katie, let’s hit the arcade at the roller rink tonight. I’m in the mood for a pinball challenge.”
“You got it, swollen cheek or not.” She raised her arm up with a fist. “Come get me at seven.”
***
Melanie came over early and helped finish Katie’s leftover dinner. They talked about the waves of no documents or an overload of documents to type on the drive and parked in the back of the lot.
The inside of the skating rink was done in the same dark colors Katie remembered from back in her teens. It still had the dark red walls and dirty brown carpet. The colored flashing lights surrounded the rink.
“Okay, Katie, I’m going to kick your butt on Family Circus. I’ve been practicing and am now a pro at this pinball game.” Melanie pulled the lever and released the ball.
Katie hadn’t play pinball in years. “I hope to have beginner’s luck and kick your butt.”
“It sounds like you’re insecure and can’t stand that there’s a chance of you losing. Now quiet so I can concentrate.”
“I’m going to get a drink. Be back in a few.”
“Shh!” Melanie reprimanded her.
In the small café, two guys danced around and talked loudly to group of teenagers. Katie recognized their voices. Matt and Conner.
“She leaned forward and bit me. Look at my scar. She’s an animal. We were giving her a ride. It was dark outside and knew she’d be safer with us instead of walking,” Conner said. “I bet she’s one of those Twilight Draculas.”
Oh my gosh. Maybe with my swollen cheek they won’t recognize me. Katie ordered her drink and tried to sneak by them.
Matt continued, “Next I said, ‘Fine, I’ll pull over to let you out.’ We were trying to be nice and help people out. Right when I stopped at the curb, Conner reached over to open the door for her. She bit him, and jumped out yelling she had been attacked and to call the police. Luckily, Sergeant Blake was leaving Buddy’s when she jumped out of the car. She almost knocked him over running to him. I believe he took her to the station and called the mental hospital. She was twisted.” He flapped his arms around.
Conner looked around and saw Katie. “There she is, Matt. It’s the girl with the teeth.” He marched over to her. She froze. He looked at her cheek and laughed. “Did Mitch have to hold you down from running off? Were you fighting to get loose? It serves you right for biting me.” He shoved his arm in her face. She stumbled back a few feet. The table behind Katie saved her from a fall, but not from dropping her drink. It exploded on the floor.
“Matt, she isn’t talking again. She never said a word when we offered her a ride. Maybe we should call or take her back to the police station. It’s right behind us.”
Matt pulled Conner away. “It would be quicker to take her ourselves.” He extended his arm to grab Katie when Melanie came to the rescue.
“What’s this ruckus? It interrupted my game. Conner and Matt, what’re you doing to my friend? Leave her alone or she’ll bite your arm, Matt. And if you keep causing trouble, I’ll go talk to the manager, who happens to be my brother-in-law. Now go pick on someone else.” She guided Katie back to the pinball machine.
“Did they hurt you again?”
It took a few seconds before Katie regained awareness of where she was. “Seeing them scared me. I don’t know why they get away with what they do.”
“People don’t like the situation, but their dad was in the police force and was killed by one of his boys by accident four years ago. They give Conner and Matt a break.” Melanie released another ball and pushed the side buttons.
“Wow, you would think growing up here I would have known.”
“You were busy having fun in your youth and lived out of town. After their father got killed, their mom moved them to another state. Later, she got real sick and passed away. They came back here three years ago to live in their aunt’s house, and after she died, they kept it. They never got married and are the only ones left in their family.”
“I guess I can understand their actions better, but why pick on me?”
Melanie pulled a face. “You’re not the only one. A lot of small burglaries, car and business vandalisms happen from time to time and the town believes it’s the two brothers. Nothing happens except their community service time gets longer and longer.”
“You saving me from them was a miracle. Not sure what would’ve happened. I always seem to freeze when I run into trouble.”
“Better work on unfreezing, it’s your turn to try to beat my score.” Melanie stepped aside so she could play. “I’ll go get us both a drink.”
Katie didn’t feel like playing a game after running into Matt and Conner. Should I call Mitch and tell him? I hate to keep bugging him. But he did say to call.
“Katie, you haven’t even played your second ball. What’s wrong with you? Oh yeah, here’s your soda.” She put the cup on the machine. “And I cleaned your mess from the one you dropped on the floor.”
“Take over, Mel. I’m going outside for a minute to cool off.”
“Okay, whatever. I’ll finish your game.” When Melanie got hooked on arcade games, she had a mean streak, and Katie wasn’t in the mood to be snapped at.
Ignoring the fresh cup of soda, she left out the back door and looked at her watch. It was 8:30 and Mitch’s truck was still in the parking lot. The arcade’s parking and police station’s parking ran parallel with each other. Should I call or walk in and ask for Mitch? Or maybe I’ll leave him a note on his truck saying I ran into the brothers again. He can call me back.
Katie was headed toward his truck when she heard her name called. She looked to the side of the parking lot by the back door to the police station and saw Mitch.
“The parking lot isn’t very exciting.” He walked toward Katie. “Looking for something?” he asked when got to her side.
“I was going to call you but decided to leave a note on your truck.”
“What were you going to say?” His face had a big smile. “Turn off my cell the next time I’m over?”
“Funny, but no. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you or not, but I ran into Conner and Matt at the arcade and Conner pushed me back by putting his arm in my face. If it wasn’t for the table, I would have fallen. He and Matt were talking to some people in the café and twisted the story around about why I bit his arm. They said I was the crazy one and my bruised cheek was from you trying to hold me on the ground when I jumped out of the car and attacked you.” Katie shivered. “They said you took me to the mental hospital. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why am I being attacked?”
“Because you are the most beautiful woman they’ve seen and will do anything to get close to you like I do? I will talk to them again. Do you want a ride home? Are you by yourself?” He placed a kiss on her bruised cheek.
“I came with Melanie but I’m getting tired of being here. I’ll tell her I’ve got a ride and be back in a minute.”
“I’ll be by the door.”
Katie jogged back into the rink and got in front of Melanie’s face. “I’m back and leaving. Got a ride so I’m out of here. Good luck beating your high score.”
She grunted.
Katie hurried back outside and got in Mitch’s truck.
“I can drop you off, but I’m working on a project and need to get back to the station.”
“Fine with me. I’m tired and want to go to bed. What projects are you working on? Do you ever leave work? Do you ever sleep at home?” Katie raised her eyebrows.
“For being tired you sure have a lot of questions. Let me see if I can remember them. First, I’m trying to find missing people. Second, yes, I do leave work and sleep on a bed and not on the floor in my office. But it sure gets lonesome.” He winked.
Is sex the only thing men want? I do like him, aside from just his good looks, but will I get hurt again? “I’m sure you can handle it. Thanks for the ride, Popeye.”
“Anytime, sweet pea.”
***
Katie’s cell rang as she was opening her door. Unlisted number. She let it go to voice mail. There was no message, only dead air.