Things Are Different

Chapter 4: Behind the Booth

I had my eyes closed as a few tears rolled down my face, hearing noises come towards me. I opened my eyes only for a moment, just in time to see FP. He had ducked down and was able to get under the table we had just eaten at to hide with me. I moved close to him and whispered "FP, what's going on?" He pulled me close and whispered back "Ali, it's the black hood." When he said that my fear grew. We all knew at this point that he was way more dangerous than just a run-of-the-mill robber.

"Who was hit?" I asked nervously and FP looked down "I didn't see but I think it was Pop." Against my better judgment, I looked around the corner of the booth and saw Pop laying on the ground bleeding out, with a masked man standing holding a gun. FP pulled me back in right as I recognized the shoes the man was wearing. I had seen them earlier that day. Those were the shoes Hal was wearing at Sierra McCoys' office. I felt like throwing up as I looked at FP.

We heard the bell on the door ring again as the man left and people slowly started coming out from under the booths. I wanted to move but I couldn't. I was frozen. FP crawled out and looked at me, reaching for my hand to help me up. "Ali, he's gone, come on out." I took his hand but couldn't make myself get up. "FP... it's Hal. The shoes, he was wearing them when I saw him at Sierras office."

As soon as those words left my mouth FP pulled me out from under the table and took me into the employees-only back room. As soon as the door shut I let myself collapse into my tears. I sat on an overturned bucket and sobbed. FP flipped another bucket over and sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, letting me curl into him. "Are you sure, Ali?" He asked, rubbing a hand up and down my back. I nodded slightly and took a deep breath before wiping my tears away. "We had a meeting to go over our assets for the divorce and he was wearing those shoes and I think the same pants but I'm not sure. It was him. I know it was."

FP stood up slowly "I'm gonna go make sure someone has called the police and Pop is being taken care of. I'll be right back." He kissed my head and left the room, leaving me on my own in the small room.

FP'S PERSPECTIVE

I was stunned when Alice told me that the Black Hood was her soon-to-be ex-husband Hal, but I had to make sure help was on the way. I kissed Alice on the head and left her alone in the small room.

When I got back to the main restaurant I saw a young woman I recognized from around town putting pressure on his wound. "Has anyone called the police?" I asked loudly and heard a "yes!" from another woman sitting next to Pops, giving him reassurance. I grabbed a few towels and handed them to the woman covering the wounds to use to soak up the blood. I looked at Pop. "You're gonna be okay, Pop, help is on the way."

I gave him a reassuring smile and grabbed Alice a glass of water to help her calm down. I went back to the employee's only room and opened the door slowly so I don't alarm her.

Alice looked up when I opened the door and I could tell she tried to give me a slight smile but couldn't quite manage it. I handed her a water bottle and she took a few small sips to calm herself down. "Are the cops on the way?" she asked quietly and I nodded. "Yeah, they'll be here soon." "I should, umm, call Betty and Polly and make sure they aren't going to meet Hal or anything." I nodded "Jug and Betty are together, I can call Polly for you." I offered and she nodded, handing me her phone and I walked a few steps away.

I called Polly and she answered after a few rings "hey mom!" I heard the young girl say on the other end. "Hi Polly, it's FP actually. Your mom is here at Pops and the Black Hood came in and shot Pop. Your mom is fine but she needed to make sure you were somewhere safe." I heard a sharp intake of air. "Oh my god, yeah I'm fine I'm headed to Dad's to have a little bit of a late dinner." I gulped when she said that "can you be a few minutes late? I think your mom needs you." I knew I shouldn't be the one to tell her and definitely not over the phone. "Yeah, I'm just a few minutes away, I'll be there soon." "Alright, be careful."

We both hung up and I handed Alice her phone "Polly is going to be here soon, she was headed to have dinner with Hal." Alice nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm gonna go check on Pop," she said. It was just like her to try and ignore anything she didn't want to have to acknowledge. "Okay but Ali you have to talk to the police. I'll be there right by your side." She nodded and the two of us left the small room.

ALICE'S PERSPECTIVE

I walked out of the room and once I saw Pop I ran to him. I could finally start to hear the sirens and heard the bell go again. I turned and saw Polly walking in. "Mom! Oh my god!" She ran over and both of us were now kneeling down with Pop. The doorbell went off again and this time a rush of paramedics and police, led by Sheriff Keller, came in. We all backed off Pop and the paramedics quickly got him in an ambulance. Sheriff Keller and the deputies were going around asking questions and lucky me. I got Tom himself. I was sitting with FP and Polly at the bar. "So you were all here when the Black Hood came in?" Tom asked and Polly shook her head no. "I came after FP called and said mom was here. I was on the way to my dad's place."

When she mentioned Hal I just spit it out "Hal is the Black Hood." I didn't say it like a question, it was a statement. Polly looked at me like I was crazy. "What on earth are you talking about mom?" I looked her in the eyes. "When he was in here I saw his shoes and pants. They were the same as when I saw him at Sierra's office today." "Mom that doesn't mean anything," Polly said and I sighed. "Listen, I know his build, I know his clothes. It was him." At that moment Tom was called away. Someone had recorded the whole thing from behind a table.