Tea Leafing: A Novel (23 page)

“What da FUCK does she
think she’s doin’?” Gio huffed up next to Sam, his hot breath blowing against
the side of her face as he spat obscenities.

“Gross.” Sam couldn’t
suppress her thoughts as she shifted away from him.

“What?” Gio glared.

“I said gross,” Sam met
his eyes. “Doesn’t she know where those bills have been? If I’ve told her once,
I’ve told her a thousand times not to put money in her mouth.”

Gio stared at her for a
few beats, “Fuckin’ funny, Sam. I’ve told her she’s not allowed to touch the
features and what does she do? I’ll wring her fuckin’ neck! Tell her she needs
to pay me a $100 fine before she goes back on the floor.”

“Um Gio, I don’t think
that’s really fair. Ursula pulled her up there. It’s not like she stormed the
stage or anything.”

“Cut the shit Sam. You
and I both know Birdie has a way of finding trouble and she doesn’t do anything
to avoid it. What would the cops say if they was to walk in here?”

Sam gave Gio a
ponderous look and thought,
Nothing
after you
slipped them that little envelope they collect twice a month
. She bit her lip
and raised her eyebrows.

“You know I’m right,
that’s why you can’t even argue with me.” Gio said, looking smug.

It was almost too much
for Sam to keep quiet, but she knew mouthing off would jeopardize the plans for
Saturday night and she wasn’t about to do that. Pressing her nails into her
palms to try and distract herself, she offered up a meek smile and said, “I’ll
tell her when she gets down.”

“Glad you came to your
fuckin’ senses. I gotta go take care of Fedya.” He rose and tapped his key ring
on the stage, but neither girl heard the warning.

Gio turned, “You look
nice. Hope you get a high roller tonight.”

Sam managed a thin smile.

Standing at the top of
the steps leading to the main floor, Fedya waited for Gio to lead him to the
Skybox. Activity danced around
him
as he stood
unfettered and ice cold. Mary Jane eyed him from the bar, thinking his dark
eyes reminded her of the Discovery channel footage during Shark Week.
The empty gaze of an apex predator.
A shiver crept up her
back as she slipped her hand into her apron pocket, touching the cool steel of
the portable hard drive. Watching Fedya, she couldn’t help but let her mind
drift to thoughts of what would happen if their little plan failed. She knew
Fedya’s reputation was that of a ruthless businessman, but how ruthless was he?
It was obvious that giving the order to kill wasn’t something he lost sleep
over, and that was just for possessing too much insider knowledge. What on
earth would his revenge be for theft? She ran her hands around her slender
wrists thinking about the punishment she’d heard many Middle Eastern countries
practiced severing the offending appendage.

“Mary Jane!” Grace’s
voice yanked her from her daydream, or nightmare as it were. “Can you do this?”

Mary Jane nodded and
looked into her ice bin as she leaned across the granite-topped bar, “Yeah. I
won’t lie though, I’m freaked.”

Grace reached across
the bar and squeezed Mary Jane’s arm, “You’ll be fine babe. We’re all right
here with you. You know the signal if you need help.”

Mary Jane was numb with
fear and for a moment she’d completely forgotten the distress call they’d
agreed to in case of emergency. Her hand slid back into the pocket of her apron
and touched the hard shell of the disposable cell phone they affectionately
called “the Pablo Escobar,” since throw away phones were a favorite of drug
dealers and other deviants.

“Right, 911 to Sam’s
phone. Who’s gonna be in the dressing room to monitor the call?”

“Don’t know yet. The
plan is for Sam and I to be there but it depends on who is where when it goes
down.”

“Okay, just please make
sure someone is there. If I get caught, they can have me out that back door in
no time, and if that happens . . .” Mary Jane blanched, “Well, you know.”

Grace looked as scared
as Mary Jane but was trying to put on a good front. “I know. It’s
gonna
be fine. I hate that you have the hardest job until
Saturday when we’ll all be on the hot seat. Try and think about Lena. Stay as
clear and focused as you can and think about the ‘fuck you’ we’re about to
deliver to these pigs.”

Mary Jane cracked a
smile at Grace’s French, “Thinking about Lena is what’s got me pissing myself.
I don’t want to end up dead in some ditch.” She exhaled hard, “Sorry. I can do
this. I’ve just got butterflies, that’s all.”

Grace smiled and gave
her arm another squeeze “I’ll be back in a bit to check on you. Send a waitress
a few minutes before you take your break.”

Birdie trudged upstairs
toward the Skybox to pay Gio her undeserved fine. Counting her steps she
practiced the yoga breathing she’d learned on a meditation CD. It was supposed
to help her control her temper, but whenever she put the CD on the only thing
she accomplished was falling asleep before the instructor revealed the keys to
blissful, calm living.
Can’t fight with
the wanker. Can’t fight with the wanker. Can’t fight with the wanker
. That was
the mantra she repeated in her mind, psyching herself into what she hoped would
be a peaceable interaction with Gio. Stopping at the corner of the balcony,
halfway between the staircase and the Skybox, she perched on the edge of an
armchair and began to untangle bills from the twisted garter at her ankle.
“Don’t worry, mummy will be seeing you again soon.” she whispered to the
crumpled paper.

From her bent position
Birdie wasn’t visible from the corner of the balcony. Behind her was a corner
that was popular for employee breaks since it was partially hidden from the
main floor and few customers wandered back there.

“I don’t know what’s
goin’ on but it must be somethin’ big.” Birdie turned her head to better hear
the first baritone voice.

“No shit. Have you ever
known Fedya to order everyone out while he talks to Gio?” came the response.

“Fuckin’ weird. Wish I
could be a fly on the wall.”

“You sure about that?”

“You’re right. Probably
don’t want to be alone with those two.”

“You think it’s about
Nikki?”

“Yeah, I was wondering
about that. I’d hate to be ‘G’ when Fedya gets wind of that.”

“How stupid do you have
to be to fuck the bosses girlfriend right under his nose?”

Walkie-talkie static
squawked, interrupting the conversation.

“Let’s go.”

Birdie continued
fiddling with her money until the two passed, oblivious to her presence.
Waiting a few beats, she pushed herself out of the chair and along the balcony
leading to the Skybox. The thugs, at their usual posts outside the sliding
doors of the room, stared straight ahead with no apparent brain activity.

Nikki emerged through
the doorway leading to the back staircase. She looked wired as she pranced and
sniffled her way to the nearest bodyguard. Shaking his head, the muscle-bound
Russian stood his ground. Birdie hung back a few steps, interested to see the
ensuing drama unfold. Nikki planted her hands on her hips and shifted all her
weight to the left in a semi-battle stance. Fixing the soldier with what she
probably considered a stern look she began, “Fedya called me up here and he’s
gonna be pissed if he knows you made me wait!”

No response.

Itching her nose
irritably, Nikki’s voice was going up in pitch, “Okay, look here Red, I know
you’re doing what you think you’re supposed to but you’re not. Poke your thick
head in the door and tell him I’m out here.”

Silence.

“Look at me . . . LOOK
AT ME!” She tried to shout over the pulse of music.

The guards continued to
ignore her rant, clearly not the first time they’d seen a Nikki-fit.

She rubbed her nose
violently as she tried to press through the two. They didn’t budge but Nikki
managed to give herself a nosebleed. This wasn’t uncommon since most of her
nasal mucosa had long since taken a powder.
So to speak.

Jumping back, she began
to shriek, “Look what you DID! OH MY GOD! YOU HIT ME!”

She cupped her hand
under her face to catch the flow of blood streaming from her nose. Realizing
the guards weren’t going to give in and help she stomped off toward the
dressing room mumbling about how she’s been attacked.

The guards glanced at
one another and the first came close to what Birdie thought could pass for a
smile, “Humph. Who’s Red now?” The other guard chuckled.

Realizing she’d reached
an impasse, Birdie decided to duck into the Empty VIP room next to the Skybox
and hang out until Gio emerged. She settled herself on the couch and wondered
how long she’d have to wait. Moments later she heard raised voices coming
through the wall from Fedya’s room next door.

CHAPTER 48

Birdie walked quickly
along the balcony but ran once she was in the privacy of the stairwell and back
hallways leading to an entrance by Mary Jane’s bar. She stood at the end of the
counter a few paces from the waitress station, tapping her heel rapidly, trying
to shake off the adrenaline rush. Mary Jane walked up and started swabbing down
the bar with a rag.

“Now. Go now, Mary
Jane! Somethin’s happening between Gio and the boss man. I’ll find the other
two and we’ll keep everyone distracted. They turned Nikki away for
Chrissake,
you gotta get in the office. ‘Ave you got all the
bits?”

“Yup. Okay, here goes.
Go find them and please please make sure someone is by Sam’s cell.”

She slid the rag off
the bar and headed to the other end to notify Bunny she was going on break.
Birdie turned and plowed through the crowd, stopping waitresses to try and
locate Sam and Grace. No one had seen either girl. Birdie broke into a sweat.
Several minutes passed since she’d left the bar and the club was at maximum
capacity, making her progress slow. Every twenty steps or so she’d glance at
the balcony in front of the Skybox to make sure Gio wasn’t on his way to the
office.

“Birdie!” A man’s voice
yelled from behind her.

She turned as a white
haired, goateed man in a string tie caught her in a bear hug.

Birdie squirmed as the
man squeezed, “I’m so glad you’re still here little lady! Look boys, it’s my
favorite bird, next to the ones that made me rich, that is!” His southern drawl
boomed into a boisterous laugh as he smiled. Revealing teeth yellowed from
decades of cigar smoking.

“Colonel Sanders?”
Birdie squinched her eyes at the man.

“That my girl!
Same sense of humor.
You are ADORABLE! Come on boys, let’s
get this little lady into a VIP room and get away from these crazies.” He
looked down his barrel chest at Birdie.

Normally she’d be
thrilled to see the return customer. Although his name escaped her she
remembered he’d dropped a load of money on her during last year’s Chicken
Pluckers and despite copious hugs, he wasn’t handsy. The name thing was easily
fixable once she found Sam and Grace. As the girls introduced themselves she’d
get his name as if she’d never forgotten it. She’d of course have to apologize
for not making introductions herself, but after a few beers guys never noticed
the social slight of hand.

Having gotten her
bearings, Birdie hugged his neck and told him she couldn’t believe it was
really him, she ran through the de rigueur of pleasantries at a breakneck
speed.

“Look, Colonel, I’m off
to find me mates and we’ll meet you in a room.” She snatched the sleeve of a
nearby bouncer as she caught a glimpse of Mary Jane making her way along the
balcony on the opposite side of the office from the Skybox.

Focus. Focus. Focus
. Birdie chanted in her head.

“Colonel Sanders needs
a VIP room for these boys. How many blokes with you this time, gov’na?”

“
Colonel Sanders
, Hah. I can’t get enough of this little one!” the
man roared and started squeezing Birdie again.

“Right, right, I love
you too, Colonel, but let’s get you into a room before we’re trampled to
death!” Birdie gestured to the growing crowd.

Grinning at her he said
“Seven of us tonight daalin’, I’m just so glad you’re still here!”

“Got no job skills
love, where else would I be?” Birdie gave him a cheeky grin and managed not to
look back up at the balcony.

Patting the bouncer on
his tree trunk sized bicep she said, “Take good care of me man here so he’ll
give you a good room. I’m off to find girls and I’ll be up shortly.” She gave
the Colonel a pinch on his cheek before turning back to the bouncer.

“Sixteen.” was
all the
bouncer said before Bird was off.

Pushing through tweed,
wool, and Lycra, she forged a path to the dressing room. A quick look at the
balcony told her Mary Jane was either in or had been stopped because it was
bare.

“Fack!” Birdie spat as
she finally reached the nearly vacant dressing room.

Breast pump girl was in
her corner doing her usual unloading of the goods, buried this time in a
Stephen King classic.

Sam and Grace were
sitting at their usual spot by the mirror in front of their lockers.

“Been all ovah this
beast lookin’ for you twats! ‘Ave you been here all the time?”

“Ten minutes or so.”

Sam gestured wildly for
Birdie to sit, ever mindful that Lucille was the wall with ears. Birdie slid
onto the vinyl chair, so flustered she didn’t bother putting a towel down
first. Her legs caught on the plastic, making a fart noise.

“If you stink up my
dressing room I’ll kill you.” Lucille sang from the far side of the mirror that
divided the room.

“Sorry, just me legs on
this nasty vinyl, Lucille.” Birdie tried to sound casual.