Chapter 23 Landen and Diane go to the bar.
1536 Words
Landen sat back in his chair, twisting his straw around in his drink.
Diane was busy flirting with a dude from Texas.
Landen enjoyed watching her have fun. She had really grown on him in the past month. Seraphina was gone, halfway round the world with Blaze.
He was relaxed, feeling better than that night where the creepy caller had peed on the bathroom floor. Things had calmed way down.
Landen didn't choose this bar, that was Diane. She was a big flirt.
She had found her voice on his radio show and was becoming a well loved side kick for him on the Midnight Music Mania radio show.
He wanted to gift her a special present tonight on her 30th birthday.
He was so happy that Sera had sent her to him. Sera knew these things. He wasn't lonely anymore.
He had already given her a key to his place. Plus she was a great cook.
Diane grabbed the cowboy's hat and started to give him a lap dance.
Landen jumped up, "Oh, no, no, no... let's not go all magic Mike here darlin."
Diane laughed as Landen took her off the cowboy's lap.
"He didn't seem to mind it." She giggled. The cowboy ordered two more beers for them. Landen did the finger across the neck thing to the bar tender signaling, "Cut them off!"
Landen sat Diane at his table and blocked her view to the cowboy.
"I...have a huuge surprise for you for your birthday tonight." Diane jumped up and down.
"Gimmee, gimme, gimme!"
Landen slid a piece of paper over to her. She frowned and looked up at him. It was a contract.
"I...uh we want you to be on the show, officially. Our ...he motioned with his hands to himself and back to Diane....we are now Diane and Lando in the morning. We got the best time slot, the show's programmers like what we do. You and I are a new team. What do you say?"
Diane teared up and smiled. "Really?" Landen nodded. She jumped up and down and kissed him on the lips. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
He said, "You deserve it!"
She had bigger tears in her eyes now as they cascaded down her face.
Landen drew her close and rubbed her head, her black pixy cut went right back in place after he had tried to mess it up.
The man watching them had been biding his time.
Grandma got sick and died last week.
He had to prepare funeral arrangements and food for the staff afterward.
He made a mystery meat stew. He loved to cook. Most of all the meat prep.
He stood up now and made his way to the bar.
He asked the bar tender to send over a very bloody Mary to Landen's table.
He moved to a bar stool and watched.
Landen was surprised by the drink being sent to his table.
He looked around then raised his glass, gesturing to the whole bar, "Thank you!" He yelled.
The bartender pointed to a very handsome man sitting at the bar. The man tipped his baseball cap and sipped his coke. Gramma never let him drink.
Diane shoved Landen now.
" Go Landen, go thank him, he's cute!"
Landen stood up and pulled up his jeans. He wore a pair of designer jeans that Diane had helped him pick out and a button down shirt with 3/4 sleeves.
She made him shave his facial scruff. He looked handsome with his ginger hair and dimples.
He approached the man at the bar. "Thanks for this," he held up the drink.
The man who looked like a younger Anthony Mackie smiled at Landen. He nodded. "Landen Shanesy." He held out his hand.
The man took Landen's hand and shook it. "Chris Denial."
He looked up and smiled at Landen. "I believe I've heard your voice before, on the radio?"
Landen did his intro, "Your listening to Midnight Music Mania with your host Lando. What can I play for you Chris?" Landen was flirting now.
Chris whispered to Landen.
"I love the oldies." Landen felt something in the back of his mind activate. It was like he was having dejavu.
He nodded at Chris and turned to see Diane slumped all over the table. The cowboy was heading her way.
Landen jumped up, bid Chris goodbye and ran back to the table, sliding into the booth cutting off Gene Autry there.
Landen turned back a saw that Chris had gone.
Diane was sleeping. Landen pulled her small frame over his strong shoulder and carried her to the car.
He carefully belted her in and prepared to leave.
He saw something sticking out of the hood. It was long and furry looking.
He got out of his car and walked to the front.
There, splayed wide and tethered to his car, was a dead cat. It's tail was up and head aimed down toward the road. It was zip tied to the car.
Landen move backwards. He got into the car and locked the doors.
He covertly looked in his review mirror. He saw a man there. He looked forward quickly and he saw it was Chris watching him in the reflection of the bars window.
Landen turned his head to the back window and saw Chris duck out of sight from behind his car.
Landen pulled out his phone and called officer Jenny Miller. "This is Jenny."
"Landen Shanesy, I need help.
There's a cat, not sure if it's dead or not. Someone tied it to my car like a hood ornament.
Jenny said, "Stay there." He gave her the address and she blue lighted it from across town.
Jenny pulled up and walked around Landen's car.
She took photos of the dead cat.
She went into the bar and asked to see the parking lot security cameras.
Landen called Seraphina while he waited. She answered on the first ring.
It was Midnight in Seattle and 5am Rio time.
" I was just thinking of you my friend," she said.
Landen was unusually quiet.
"What happened, tell me?"
He said, "I met the stalker tonight. He left me a gift." Sera frowned and sat up in bed. Leo was on the couch. Sera went into the bathroom.
"Tell me."
" He bought me a drink from across the bar tonight. It's Diane's birthday so we went out to celebrate."
Sera said, "Yes?"
"Landen what did he look like?"
Landen thought for a minute.
"He was beautiful, dark skin, dimples. He had worn a Mariner's baseball cap. You know, totally my type."
Sera shuddered involuntarily.
"I noticed that Diane was sinking at the table so I rushed back to her. When I turned around he was gone.
We left and after I got into the car, I saw something on the hood.
Sera it was a dead cat, tied to my car.
I saw him then, looking at me in the reflection of the bar window. When I turned around he ducked down.
I called officer Jenny.
She's in the bar now. So I called you."
Sera rubbed her temples and spoke quietly. "She... uh he?.... they are angry and filled with hate. They chose you because you are a public figure, just like Jim Castle. You need to wear the vest Lando. I mean, always. They are coming for you. Keep the vest on, please. Promise me?"
There was a knock on Landen's car door. At the same time, Leo wrapped on the bathroom door.
They were both startled and said, "Gotta go, love you," at the same time.
Officer Jenny removed the cat and placed it in a bag for the vet to do a necropsy.
"Landen, I will escorted you home, don't stop anywhere."
He nodded and left for his apartment.
Chris was waiting, he had been in Landen's apartment for an hour now. He left his mark. He peed on the bathroom floor.
He saw Landen pull up and a woman cop was with him now.
Chris jumped out the window. He lost his shoe, a white Nike sized 9. It popped off as he went out the small bathroom window.
"Damn it!" It was too late to go back. He fired up his motorcycle and rode off.....
Sera opened the bathroom door. Leo was standing there dancing back and forth.
"Gotta go real bad!" Sera grabbed her tooth brush and ran out.
Sera walked outside to brush her teeth. It was a stormy day. The clouds were rolling in like a fluffy white tide in the sky.
She smelled the rain coming and stepped inside as the lightning boomed. "That was a close one." .......
Officer Jenny searched Landen's apartment, all clean-until she saw the urine and shoe in the bathroom. The window was open.
She ran outside with her gun in hand and follow the foot and sock prints. They lead to the street.
He was getting braver now. He left his DNA, his Nike. A smaller size for a man. Landen described him as 5' 9" or so.
"Hmm, weird." She bagged it up. She set a patrol car outside Landen's apartment.
- Writer
