The Voice

Chapter 9

I found Matt, Chloe and Nora gathered around the island in my kitchen, discussing where to go to eat.

"I'm in the mood for sushi," I cut in.

They turned to look at me. Nora and Matt smiled, but Chloe looked scandalized.

"Raw fish," she said, disbelief tingeing her voice, "You suggest that I, a mermaid, who is for all intents and purposes half fish, eat sushi? That's sick, Rina."

I rolled my eyes, as Matt and Nora looked abashed. I walked over and lightly tugged on a lock of her golden hair, and she broke into giggles.

"Ignore her," I told the other two, "She seems to think that's funny. Trust me, she eats plenty of fish, be it raw or cooked."

Relieved, Matt flashed his crooked smile at Chloe and Nora exchanged an eye roll with me.

"So," Nora asked, "Where shall we go to indulge in the mermaid cannibalism?"

"Oh, there's only one place around here to eat the raw fishies," said Chloe.

"Sky Bar," I said in answer to Matt and Nora's blank looks.

So we all piled into my Rover. Once again, Matt and Chloe jumped immediately into the backseat. This time I turned on the radio, hoping to cover my uneasy silence. Nora sang along quietly with a song. She had a husky, rich voice.

Soon, we were on Post Office Street, trying to find a parking place. We finally parked and walked to the sushi bar, and enjoyed a fine meal. We banned the topic of the journals and my missing Voice. I learned that Nora was twenty-four, and worked at the Balinese Room.

"The Balinese" I said in surprise, "I remember the Balinese. I haven't been there since it was reopened."

The Balinese was a favorite hangout of mine back in its heyday. It was a gambling club in the 1940's and 50's. It was at the end of a pier over the Gulf. The Texas Rangers were always trying to shut it down, but were thwarted every time, until 1957, when they finally got to every gambling establishment in the area. I had hated to see it go.

Nora's face lit with excitement and said, "I keep forgetting that you are so old! Did you ever see any of the celebrities there?"

"I saw Sinatra once," I said, thinking back to those nights, when it was hot out, but cold air was pumped into the dark rooms, "And Sophie Tucker. I mostly kept to myself, though. You know we can't attract major attention when we live so long."

They all nodded dismissively, and I was reminded that though we were all near immortal, I was the oldest one among us. Chloe was forty-three and Matt was only twenty-eight. They hadn't learned yet how important it is to be careful.

"So," Nora went on, excitement in her voice, "Were you there for any of the raids?"

I nodded, a grin spreading across my face, as I said, "Several. They were hilarious. The Rangers would run down that long ass pier, trying to get there before everything could be hidden. It was like a movie. The tables would be quickly changed to backgammon tables, and the slots even flipped up into the freaking walls. Seriously. And in burst the Rangers, looking around at everyone. So funny. Once the band even began to play 'The Eyes of Texas' when they came in, so everyone had to stand up, which blocked their way."

They were all laughing now, and I joined in, remembering the Rangers' red faces, how they had stumbled through the crowd, trying their damndest to figure out where all the gambling equipment had disappeared to. I also remembered the waitress who was the reason that I was such a frequent patron of the club.

She had been a petite girl, with long black hair that shone in the low light. I had watched her from afar for many weeks when she finally had come over to ask if I needed anything. I had blushed and shook my head. She then cocked her head to the side and studied me through narrowed eyes. Then she had taken my hand and led me to the ladies room. She proceeded to kiss me. We had met secretly for several years after that. I eventually had to change my identity again, which meant that I had to leave her. I still missed her.