SPLATTER (draft)

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Dom could feel his sneer not getting him anywhere and the lack of attention was pissing him off. Hands balling into fists he tucked them into his jacket and gritted his teeth silently before some buster was getting slapped in bracelets for pushing the pig and as they passed Dom let the spit fly. Coating the cops shoe and pavement, he didn't pay him any attention before he was gone and Dom was daring for someone to step in and give him a try. He'd put the kids effort to shame, or so he was convinced. Minutes ticked by as another pig fled and soon enough the scene was concluding, his attention being pulled by some woman speaking to him. Hateful eyes gave her a once over before he stared his reply.

"And? If I do?"

Giving her another look over he admired the form she sported before he simply shifted his weight onto another foot and sniffled some. She was a dame, but he'd offer the term broad. Her kind didn't converse with his kind, he could see it in the way she was hesitant to approach to begin with. How she held him at arms length and was dressed significantly nicer than him.

Must be nice to afford luxury. I'd destroy you.

His supervisor a few steps behind him, he kept his jaw tense - gluing any unnerving comments from spewing from his already distasteful mouth. Hard eyes peering back at her, he began to quickly thumb through his list of bills and mentally prepared himself to be "served". His truck was paid off, but he knew he was a few months late on his rent - tho he'd never seen her before he began to calm the jets that were itching to go off.

"You gonna question me or some shit? I ain't seen what happened if that's what you're gonna ask."
He didn't have courtesy, or manners for that fact, and it shown through. He didn't care, every woman in his life had walked out and he simply grew cold and resented the opposite sex - his friends either dead or locked up. He switched gears then, trying to find a way to get her to work for his benefit, some way to take advantage of someone he saw as the weaker sex. Refraining from grinding his teeth - he continued to keep his jaw taut when he wasn't speaking and doing his best to keep his eyes from wandering to her bust, or undressing her for that matter. She displayed some aura of innocence but he could feel it was a facade, some part of a job description that fit well with her false personality. Some twisted peg on the more fucked up social ladder he didn't care about.

"You gonna fucking talk or just stare, darlin'?"

Abigail's eyes narrowed on the man. She had expected him to be the type of crude ass backwards hillbilly - No. She hadn't. She was the type to try and give everyone a flying chance. And that didn't usually get her anywhere. Her lips pursed into a small pout of annoyance at his shitty fuck everything reaction to the world. As if fuck everything would really get anyone anywhere.

Abigail relaxed her shoulders, pushed her tongue into her cheek and tilted her head away from him to get a better look at him. Though this time it was more condescending than before. She was staring, yes because he was quite the specimen. Full Blooded American wasn't he? It twisted a frown on Abigail's lips.

"And if you do, you know the area pretty well, or at least the construction going around these two blocks of the city, don't you?" She replied sharply. "I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to give me a rundown of the construction projects and the fenced off areas in the two block radius...You know, Research, for the paper." Abigail lied. "But seeing as to how you've got your head stuck so far up your ass with testosterone, I think I'll ask one of your co-workers. Couple hundred won't hurt them."

Her phone buzzed in her hand again. Abigail looked down and started typing away.

To: Amanda
From: Abigail:
Message: DO NOT GET ARRESTED.
I can only afford so many lawyers.
Yes. I would love to. I'm trying to talk to some of the construction workers.
Insight as to escape routes or in routes.
More info. Meet in an hour?
Do you like Deli Sandwiches and Salads?

She looked up again to the man. "Two Fifty. Take it or leave it. Stop wasting my time." She stated clearly.

Accepting she wasn't going to get any warmer or dryer out in the now near empty crime scene filled with people in uniform only, she grabbed a spare hair tie from her purse and used it to tie up her wet hair to make it more presentable. The Grudge look was not something she was going for. That and once her hair air dried, it would end up wavy, with no brush that could potentially end up in a frizzy disaster. "I really should bring a small umbrella with me, keep in my purse." the brunette muttered to herself as she briskly walked to the closest shop, a small clothing store that had been there for a while and she sometimes went to if she happened to be nearby.

It was while taking off her boots and telling her acquaintance that she was going to need new shoes, she felt her phone buzz. She'd check it in a moment, meanwhile she'd gratefully accept the shop keeper who offered her a bunch of paper towels to dry off her feet and the big bag her boots and socks went into. "Jesse, you wouldn't happen to be in a generous mood today, would you, I don't get paid until next week. Maybe I can pay half now?" she asked, feeling much more comfortable once her feet were dry and starting to warm up thanks to the temperature in the room. Her clothes airing out and helping her ward off the chill she had felt but hadn't paid attention to. The shop keeper said that 'yeah yeah' she could pay half now, not like it was the first time. With a guilty smile Amanda laughed saying this was the curse of wanting nice things but not having a lot of spending money to splurge.

"You know like the sunrise I show up to buy from you every two months. The other times I bring you caffeine or snacks from a bakery. You already have my card info saved into a tab, so it's not like I can run away from your charge. This is how we look after one another and you keep letting me get away with this layaway tab." she teased, Jesse laughing and saying that he had to be flexible to keep customers coming back. So next week, Friday, he'd charge her the rest, deal? With a shake and the promise of new shoes, Amanda tried on some boots until she decided on a pair she liked. "Hey Jesse, random question, did you happen to hear or see anything that happened in Mayor's square today? I worry how close you were to everything, make sure you stay safe." she heard Jesse promise and with that she put on new socks on and her cute new boots. Promising to bring him coffee perhaps tomorrow and to text her when he got new jackets in or blouses, she waved and headed out. Hand going to answer the text message she left until now.

To: Abigail
From: Amanda
Message: No worries, got away luckily.
If I DO get arrested, I'll pay you back for lawyer. I'll call you first.
Stay safe, they tend to have bad tempers.
See you in an hour at Deli's S & S.

With the message sent and phone back in her jacket pocket, Amanda carried her purse on her shoulder, left hand holding the plastic bag holding her damaged boots. Deli's wasn't far from here, but quite honestly she didn't feel safe walking it. Not with the killer on the loose, perhaps still in the neighborhood just watching from afar his or her handiwork. Going to the closest bus stop she waited and recalled why she didn't take public transit often: it sure took it's time. When finally she got on the stench and heat of people's wet clothes and sweaty bodies making her gag a little. This was beyond awful, and she had about fifteen minutes of this while crowded towards the back. Yay for personal space! Not!

Grateful Amanda got out of the bus before the doors were even fully opened, gulping crisp and fresh air. Heaven's the bus was horrible! Shaking off herself as if she could get rid of the feeling of so many people against her and their heat, she cursed under her breath a few times until she felt better. Deli's Sandwiches and Salad's half a block across the street. Arriving she found a comfortable booth with a big window, asking for some hot milk tea to start off and some home made sweet potato fries. What time was it even, how long ago since her lunch break in which she enjoyed a coffee but no food, too anxious and troubled to stomach a meal? Hmm, perhaps she hadn't eaten anything solid since breakfast, that wasn't good. "I need to take better care of myself, this is shameful." she commented as she looked over the menu, a few things catching her eye.