“What shit heels are you referring to?”
“The fed boys, I don’t know which fucking branch. The branch that fucks with you.”
“That doesn’t narrow it down much.”
“Justice department, US Marshalls. I didn’t make this shit up. Even I’m not that fucked up. Anyway, this law firm I was working for did some work for some guys that were into some illegal shit. The government found out about it, about the, let’s say bad guys, came after the bad guys that were doing the illegal shit, and then came after the firm for not being, fuck, I don’t know, not being more something.”
“Not being more something, that is a high crime.”
“Look, cowboy Sam, this has been tortuous shit. In case you forgot, I have been out of touch for a while.”
“I didn’t forget.”
“Now, I don’t know if I’m in the clear or not. One of the guys in the firm said not to be surprised if the bad guys tried to fuck with us also.”
“Where does a person have to go to join a club that can attain the level of paranoia that you seem to prescribe to?” Grant shook his head slowly back and forth.
“That bartender, what was her name?” Rex asked.
“Isobelle.”
“Right, I don’t know why I thought it was Margarita. She’s something, huh?”
“That’s the drink, margarita, and she is really something,” Grant said. He finally took his eyes off of her figure and looked at Rex.
“What do you think about Annie coming? Have you figured out how to thank me yet?”
“Maybe if you pass Isobelle’s test.”
“I knew you put her up to that. Who says that to someone you just met?”
“I just told her … never mind. Let’s get more on the preliminaries about you first, and try not to take me clear back to when laws were first codified. Then we’ll talk about Annie.”
“Worst years of my life … not sure about what they are going to do, which could suck big time. She’s really attractive,” Rex said, watching Isobelle make the drinks “and I think she likes you. She was watching you the whole time.” Isobelle looked back at them. Rex waved. “She didn’t even look at me.”
“Can’t blame her there, not sure I want to look at you either. So that’s it? You don’t know what’s going to happen?” Grant asked.
“No, but she seems to think I’m not done,” he said, nodding his head at Isobelle. “What the hell is up with that? Telling me I still have a ways to go. Maybe she’s a gypsy or some sort of … she does kind of have that look about her. Anyway, what can I tell you, Grant? It’s been shitty every hour of every day. I didn’t want to reach out to anyone, for fear they would get on anybody I reached out to. I’m surprised they didn’t call you anyway. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if they showed up here at this hotel to watch me. They know we’re friends, they know everything. First they stick a microscope up your ass and then down your tonsils, they got everything on you.”
“In that order? Do they clean it first?” Grant smiled.
They both started laughing. Isobelle returned with the drinks, and a small bowl of olives.
“There you are, gentlemen: two of my best margaritas, and some locally-grown olives. Judging from your smiles, you are happier already.”
“You didn’t ask us how we liked them made. The drinks, I mean,” Rex chimed in.
“You are men, no?”
“I am, at least. Can’t speak for this one here,” Rex said, elbowing Grant.
“Men would not want these blended. They would want them gently shaken, with the finest tequila, lime, and curacao. We come to the finale with just a kiss of Grand Marnier, to remind them of a sunset they once viewed with a beautiful woman somewhere, and of course, salt, because these men work hard,” Isobelle said, placing the drinks in-front of them.
There was a pause, as Rex and Grant sat in mildly stunned silence.
“I knew that,” Grant said first.
“Me too,” Rex added.
“Good. Will you be staying long?” Isobelle said, looking at Grant.
“Longer now, I bet,” Rex said.
“Yep,” Grant said.
“Excellent. What brings you here?” Isobelle asked.
“A little reunion. Just us and a few beautiful women, just like you said,” Rex said.
“Is that so? I can believe that.” Isobelle gave a quick glance at Grant.
“Yep, the two of us, Grant’s old girlfriend, probably four or five other fantastic women. You fall in that category too, so you can come too, if you want.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but I thought we were testing you to see how quiet you could be,” she said, changing her gaze from Grant to Rex, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“She’s great, Dad! Can we keep her?” Rex asked, looking at Grant.
Isobelle looked back to Grant, waiting his answer, she and Rex now both looking at him.
“Sure, if it’s alright with her,” Grant said.
“You heard the man, you’re in, and I think it’s great. Could we please have two more of these drinks?”
“You haven’t even started those drinks yet.”
“By the time you get back, there’ll be tumbleweeds blowing through here. Here’s to you, and you,” Rex said, nodding at both Grant and Isobelle.
“Sure,” Grant said, reciprocating the gesture, with both men taking a drink, and Isobelle watching, waiting for their reaction.
“Man, that’s the kind of sugar papa likes,” Grant said with a sigh of contentment. He looked across the bar, as if at some vision only he could see.
“You are pretty good at this. You knew just how we liked them. This is going to work out just fine. What about that other stuff you knew about us?” Rex asked.
“I am glad you like the drinks. I was just projecting, which I should not do, and you have my apologies. I will get you two a couple more drinks. Now, I am not going to have any trouble from you, am I?” Isobelle asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Sort of depends on your definition of trouble. If you don’t hold us completely to the rules, things should work out in everyone’s favor,” Grant said, surprising both Rex and Isobelle.
“Wow, what was in those drinks?” Rex blurted out.
“Nothing
