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Stuck by a Drummer- The Adventure Continues
We walked out into the late afternoon sun. Steve swaggered through the hotel like he owned it, and I had to admit, every employee we passed smiled and said, "Good afternoon Mr. Coy." I was impressed in spite of myself. Steve just took over every place he went.
"How do you do it?" I asked him as we rounded the hotel corner and headed down a sidestreet. A huge golden M down at the opposite corner beckoned us to our destination.
"Do what?"
"Make everyone bow to you like you're here in a Papal visit."
He smiled smugly and lowered his chin so he could peer at me over the top of his shades. "You want the best, you have to act like you deserve it. And not be an arsehole about it in the bargain."
I had no reply for that. When he reached over, put his arm around my shoulders, and drew me against him, I rested my cheek over his chest and felt safe.
The MacDonald's that we walked into was strangely quiet for that time of day. Perhaps because it was located on a shadowy sidestreet instead of a major thoroughfare. There were a few young kids and shop assistant types munching burgers and fries over salt-strewn plastic orange trays. Quiet, just the way Steve seemed to prefer his surroundings. No one was in line at all, so we walked right up to the counter. The Pakistani cashier lit up as Steve paused before him and scanned the menu.
"Mr. Coy, how are you? We have not seen you for so long."
"That's right, Mike, I've been in America for awhile and got back only recently. Speaking of America-" Steve linked his arm through mine and beamed down at me "- this is KC Payden. She's a talented journalist as well as a VERY special friend of mine."
"Any friend of yours is a valued customer here, Mr. Coy. Will you be having your usual?"
"Yes. Big Mac with large fries and large Coke. She'll have the same." He nodded down at me and gave my hand an affectionate squeeze. Normally I would have mildly objected to anyone ordering for me like that- such assertive behavior reeked too sharply of Paul. But the greasy meal he was ordering for me actually sounded GOOD. Except for the meat portion. Feeling weirdly timid, I said, "Can I have a salad instead of the burger? I'm a vegetarian."
"Of course," Steve said grandly. "But Mike, give her a nice cream dressing. The girl needs her energy." I nodded silent agreement when Mike looked at me for confirmation.
"All right." He rung it all in. Steve stopped me when I reached into my purse and tossed a five pound note onto the counter. Mike gave me a you'll-get-used-to-him-like-I-did smile and gave him his change before calling the order into the kitchen area at the back.
"Hey, Mike," Steve said, "is your manager in?"
"The day manager is. Miss Greene. She's new- I don't think you met her."
Steve stepped behind me and encircled me with his arms, careful to not squeeze my belly. "Bring her out, will you? I want her to meet my girl."
"Steve, please." I was embarrassed. Mike laughed loudly and disappeared through a side door. Minutes later he returned with a woman who seemed too young to be a manager. The moment Steve saw them he declared happily, "Nice to meet Mike's boss. I'm Steve Coy and this is KC Payden, my girl."
Miss Greene smiled politely, although you could tell that Steve freaked her out a bit. Just then, our food arrived in its takeout bag. He snatched it in one hand, still holding my arm, and after bidding them all farewell, hauled me over to the condiment stand. He let me go then so he could open the paper bag and stuff in fistfuls of salt, pepper, and ketchup packets. My eyes widened as wad after wad disappeared into the bag. Behind us, Miss Greene watched with her mouth open and Mike was purple with suppressed laughter. The latter was obviously used to Steve and found him highly entertaining. Once I got over my surprise I began to laugh too.
"Steve, what're you doing? Are you planning to open a restaurant??"
"That's right. And I'm going to get Mike to work for me, right Mike?"
The cashier laughed out loud then. "If you say so, Mr. Coy."
"I do say so." Steve finally closed the bag and grabbed my hand again. "Well, so long everyone. Nice to meet you, Miss Greene. Bye, Mike."
We walked back out again, into the shadowy street. Despite the brightness of the overhead sun, no light or warmth penetrated here: the street was too narrow and its buildings too high.
"You are so funny," I giggled. "What was that all about?"
"KC, my darling, I am high on life," Steve sighed as we passed a delivery van parked near an alley. "What a day- I get to save my girl, fuck her and some tight-arsed bellboy, and then gorge on fat and calories. How can it get any better?"
"Mr. Coy?"
The girl stepped from around the nose of the truck so quietly and suddenly that we both jumped. Steve nearly dropped the grease-spotted bag. She looked harmless enough; one of those black-garbed, pale faced Goth kids who thronged DOA shows. In her fishnet gloved hands was a NUKLEOPATRA CD.
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry if I scared you," she gushed. "I saw you go down this street and didn't want to bug you while you were eating, so I waited out here. Um, Steve, I'm a huge DOA fan and wanted to know if you could sign this Cd."
Steve exhaled slowly and handed me the food. I could tell he was not pleased at the intrusion but determined to be polite. As he took the CD and a magic marker that she held out to him, he asked, "Who am I signing this for?"
The next few minutes was a staggering series of actions. I heard the metallic groan of van doors being flung open behind us. Strong arms- not Steve's this time- pinned mine to my sides. The MacDonald's bag fell to the ground- I heard the loud fizz of the Coke spilling all over the pavement. I started to scream, but the sound was blocked by a strong-smelling cloth that was pressed firmly over my nose and mouth. A panicked glance to the right showed that Steve was in no position to save me this time: Two men in dark jackets had him by the arms, and one was drugging him too.
Then all was black.
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