Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

As Good As A Stranger 2

Before Jeff made it to the drivers side, I quickly slid my phone under the front clasp of my bra. I know that the first thing he'd ask for was my phone. When he was in the vehicle I pretended to scratch my chest and managed to click the volume button on the side.

“Give me your phone.” He demanded as soon as he slammed his door.

“I don't have it.” I quickly lied.

He ignored me and wore his seat belt. “Give me your phone Audrie.”

I didn't answer.

He sighed and reached over to pat the pockets. I grabbed his hands and pushed them away from me. “Don't touch me. I told you I don't have my phone.” I fumed. No one has ever invaded my personal space in the manner he was doing right now.

Ignoring me he continued to search the uniform Bill and Skyler gave me. “Turn around.”

I stared at him wide eyed. Was he serious?

His expression remained serious.

“No.” I looked him intently in the eyes daring him to try something.

I turned to look into the restaurant. My lungs suddenly felt restricted. Raimondo was studying me through the glass window. How much did he see? Jeff was saying something but I couldn't make up his words. My focus was on Raimondo. He had a hint of... something, there was something in his eyes that wanted to speak to me but I couldn't read them.

Jeff tugged my arm hard. “Are you listening to me? Okay, you want to play games Audrie. I can play along.”

I turned my attention back to Jeff. What was he going to do.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “What are you doing?” I stammered.

Smirking, he turned his screen for me to see. He dialed my number. He was going to call me.

I felt my face heat up, please don't ring. I remembered lowering the volume but I wasn't certain that I pushed the right button. Holding my breath, I waited for the worst.

God failed me again.

My phone began to vibrate on my chest.

If fear didn't take control of my nervous system, I probably would have fainted.

Jeff laughed at the location I chose to hide the device. He shook his index finger in my direction. “Now that, is smart.”

His face went straight as quick as he began laughing. “I will give you a chance to-

I didn't wait for him to finish. As fast as I could, I grabbed the door handle and jumped out of the car only to bump into something hard. I fell back against the open door. The sharp pain from the sudden hit against my back knocked the breath right out of my lungs. But before I could fall all the way down or back into the car, something yanked me up by the front part of the uniform I was wearing. I was pulled me back into the hard thing I bumped into. I was then spun around and lifted unto the sidewalk to face the restaurant. It all happened so fast that it took my eyes a few seconds to refocus. Instinctively, I looked in the direction where Raimondo was seated. He was gone.

I turned around to see Raimondo with one hand clasping a hook on the side of my uniform and another extended over the car. I gasped as I noticed that he was pointing a gun at Jeff.

“Stay,” Raimondo firmly ordered.

Jeff was already out of the car. He stood on the other side of the vehicle with his hands up. “Who the hell are you?” Jeff acted like he's never seen Raimondo before.

I knew what he was up to. Jeff was taking advantage of Raimondo's memory problem.

“That doesn't matter.” With his eyes still on Jeff, Raimondo pushed me to the side. “Go,” he pointed towards the end of the plaza.

I had no idea where I was supposed to go, but I complied. I walked back slowly away from Raimondo. Watching what was going to happen next, someone grabbed my arm.

Eddie. “Get in the car.” He made me sit on the passenger side of Raimondo's cab.

I couldn't hear their exchange. Their physical movement didn't give much away.

“You will not hear them,” Eddie.

“I can see them.”

Raimondo waved the gun. It seemed as though he was motioning for Jeff to get in the car.

“Hey, where are we going?” I asked Eddie as he put the car on drive. “we can't leave him here with Jeff!”