Spiced Molasses

Chapter 26

Beth almost jumped clean out of her skin when her phone rang. She stared at it warily even though only one person had her number. The phone rattled where it sat and Beth snatched at it after realising she'd merely been watching it.

"Hello?" she said hesitantly.

"I need you to get down to the bar." Not even a perfunctory greeting.

"What are you talking about?"

"Shit's gone down and I need a second pair of eyes," Daryl was practically whispering into the phone, speaking fast.

Beth had a hundred questions but she could tell he didn't have time to answer them yet.

"You can drive right?"

"Yeah-"

"Take the keys to my truck. Hurry."

The phone disconnected and Beth blinked at a wall while her brain caught up with what she'd just heard. It was only mid afternoon and she had expected Daryl to be gone for a while longer. Beth hastened to grab the keys wondering exactly what Daryl meant by shit having gone down. It must not be life threatening or he never would have requested her presence.

Beth jammed her feet into some shoes and ran down the stairs. She hadn't driven since she had been closeted away. It was muscle memory but Daryl's truck was a difficult beast to wield around the roads.

It was due to luck that she remembered the streets to the bar and she was stunned by the sheer amount of cars and bikes out the front. Beth hastened across the street and pushed open the door. It was standing room only and Beth felt very conspicuous. Which was the opposite of what she was supposed to be. She didn't know why Daryl had suggested she come here and now.

Her protector spotted her across the room and came to meet her. His expression was focused and determined. "Go sit with Karen for now. When it's natural, I want you to see what you can hear from Pete and Martinez." His tone was brisk and businesslike.

Beth nodded wordlessly. He squeezed her elbow and went back to the animated discussion. This was not how she had anticipated seeing Daryl after what had happened earlier. She had expected him to shuffle home awkwardly and dodge any relevant conversation but she had intended to wear him down.

The Daryl she just spoke to was definitely not thinking about kissing her. Beth squashed her disappointment. It was a temporary setback. His confession to her was monumental and no matter what happened now, Beth couldn't unhear it.

She spotted Karen across the crowd and wove her way between the bodies to get to her. There seemed to be a core hub of men actually working but the others were there for moral support, ready for orders at a moment's notice.

Karen's smile was tight but she stood and hugged Beth anyway. Beth glanced around the room. "I heard something went wrong, I came to see if everything is alright."

"Our boys got robbed," Karen explained.

"What got taken?" Beth gasped.

Karen cut her eyes to Beth. "I don't know how much you understand 'bout what goes on here."

"Enough," Beth answered quickly.

"Martinez wasn't real specific but I would say a lot of inventory."

Beth wanted to clarify whether it was weapons or drugs. Both gave her chills. Maybe it was the third mysterious item that was never named. Beth only had guesses as to what that was. Maybe illegally traded art but she didn't know why they'd be obscure about that. It could also be organs, which were sometimes trafficked to wealthy individuals.