Chapter 140: Call
*You were our longest assignment. We both miss you. And your cooking. – Randy*
After six months with the two men, it felt strange not to go through their regular routine. It had been just over a week since they parted ways in Hawaii. The minders that she had on the yacht kept their distance. In fact, she was not sure that she even had them. She was just another member of the crew on a chartered yacht cruise.
It had taken six days to reach California. She was certain that it could have been faster, but it was booked to be a leisurely cruise. And she got to cook for newlyweds.
Nessie had never cooked on a ship before. For a week, she was the head chef aboard the *Lady Ashford.*
Now, she sat on the bed in the room on the second floor of Sinner’s Shack. It was the clubhouse for the Devil’s Saints, her uncle Toad was president of the motorcycle club. What she knew of bikers came from movies and TV shows.
She was not seeing the drug trade or arms that were portrayed on the screen. The men were friendly and helpful. The women were kind and several gave her items that she needed.
Her aunt Siobhan planned to take her shopping tomorrow. She wanted a couch or recliner; a place to curl up with a good book or stretch out for a nap. One of the brothers, Sticks, offered to make her some furniture.
Pulling up the music app on her smartphone, she picked a station she liked. Then Nessie grabbed her simple flip phone, and scrolled to now familiar number.
“Hey, baby girl!” Carl’s happy voice made her smile. “We were just talking about you.”
“And what are yeh eating?”
“Nothing that I’m going to admit to you.” He answered with a laugh.
“I miss cooking for yeh. I saw a beautiful kitchen here. And these idiots aren’t even using it.”
“Maybe you should. We’ll find a way to come see you if you do.”
Nessie laughed at him. “I’m sure you would. Do you think that Toad would let me open the kitchen?”
“Hell yeah, he would, baby girl. You go cook him something and he'll give you everything. Even his last kidney."
"Just how many kidneys do yeh think he has?"
"Doesn't matter. He'd give them all to you. Trust me, baby girl."
"I trust yeh, me friend."
"You believe me when I say that you can open up your restaurant just like you always wanted. Put your numbers together and take it to him.”
She heard Randy’s voice in the background.
“Yeah, OK. Hey, baby girl, we gotta go. But I want you to know, instant Ramen is nothing like your stir fry.”
Nessie was still smiling a little later when she wandered down to the main floor. Some of the high school boys that lived at the clubhouse full time were watching a show on the big screen in the main area.
“Do yeh know where I can get a jotter?”
The teens looked at each other and then at her in confusion.
“What the hell is a jotter?” Athos asked.
“Yeh know. A jotter.” Nessie made the motion as if she was writing.
“A pen?” Aramis asked.
“Aye, on of those, too.” She nodded.
“Paper?” Athos asked. “Like a notebook?”
“Aye, a jotter.”
Athos stood up and walked down towards the offices. He stuck his head inside the security room and spoke withsomeone. He returned with a legal notepad, a pen, pencil and a highlighter.
“If you need anything else, let me know.”
“How about a computer?”
“Mine’s on the table over there.” Aramis said pointing at the black laptop covered in rock band stickers.
“Thank yeh.” Nessie said as she went and sat at the high table.
“Think you should unlock it?” Athos asked as he sat back down.
“Oh yeah! The password is password dot one with a capital P.”
“Really?” Athos asked dryly.
“What?” Aramis asked turning back to the show.
“You have a four point something GPA a your password is password?”
“Dot one.”
Nessie laughed at the two friends as she settled in do her research.
