Frank leaned over the table and snatched the bottle from the bartender, as he was clearly unsatisfied with his ungenerous portions and proceeded to pour the next shot for himself. Now matter how many shots of whiskey the private investigator slammed down; things would never be the same. He would always have this gapping hole in his heart, a memory of how things used to be. It had been this way for months and while Frank managed to make ends meet consulting for people as a Private Investigator, it was never enough to fill that hole in his chest. No matter how many lives he saved, he was incapable of saving his own. It also didn’t matter how many fortunes he received and took a percentage of, he was always in his own eyes a pauper incapable of finding the one thing that would complete his life. She was gone forever and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Even if she walked right into this bar and begged on her knees for forgiveness, it would never be the same. The scar on his heart was there to stay just as his ass was every night in that bar stool. No one messed with Frank when he was on the sauce, because even when his was sober he was a tough son-of-a-bitch so there was no telling what Frank was capable of when he drank a few strips of fear and reason away from his persona. Just as he finished his latest shot, there was a crash as someone had thrown a shot glass into the mirror that was behind the bar. Frank turned around to see the irate eyes of his lady friend, the one whom he never thought would ever be dumb enough to set one foot into this bar. He sat corrected.
“There you are, you miserable piece of shit!” she called out as she walked into the establishment and up to the bar. Many people had a clue of what was going on and cleared a good portion of the bar out of fear that they might get caught in the crossfire.
“You’re a no good, whiney piece of trash.” She screamed at him.
“And you know your trash, don’t ya baby?” Frank retorted.
The lady’s eyes were red with fury. “And just for saying that I should…”
* * * *
“Nathan,” Peter called out at him from the other side of the room, “What’s that you got there?”
“It’s called a book, father.” Nathan answered.
“I can see that smartass,” Peter said as his curiosity was getting the best of him, and he just had to know. “What’s it called?”
The book Nathan had in his hands was very old and the dust jacket was missing, so it was hard for anyone to tell what it was just by looking at it. Nathan held up the book so that Peter could read the titled from the middle of the hardcover jacket. Peter looked at the title for a moment before realizing whose book it really was.
“Where did you get that copy?” Peter demanded.
“Actually, Ray gave this to me.” Nathan answered.
“Why the hell did he do that?” Peter asked.
“He said it was his favourite book.” Nathan replied, “And he also said it was a loaner, so I’m expected to return it when I’m finished.”
“Did he now?” Peter said with a puzzled look on his face.
“You have a problem with him liking your work?” Nathan asked.
“It’s not that,” Peter said stumbling for something to say. “It’s just not what I would consider to be my best work.”
“Well,” Nathan said, sitting up. “Which book do you happen to like most?”
“Alright.” Peter said as he left the room and went upstairs to his bedroom.
It took a few minutes, but Peter finally came back down with a hardcover of his own. This one was in much better shape as he handed it over to his son.
“There you go,” Peter said, “This one is my favorite.”
Nathan took the book from his father and took a good look at the cover. It had a man cloaked in shadow and another man armed looking around. It was another Peter Anderlini book that was titled ‘The enemy of my enemy’. Nathan thought it looked rather interesting.
“Thanks,” Nathan said, “I’ll check it out after I finish this one.”
“You’re going to keep reading that first?” Peter asked, hoping he wouldn’t.
“No offense,” Nathan replied, “But Ray is going to pester me everyday until I give this back. I don’t need the extra flack I’ve got to read his first.”
“fair enough,” Peter said, as he understood. “Enjoy your summer reading.”
Peter walked back out to the porch to resume his own work. Still, he couldn’t help but look over from the porch as Nathan sat there and was reading quite intently into the book that Ray had lent him. He didn’t see Nathan reading it the night before, but he wasn’t really paying attention as he was a bit tired. Ray also wasn’t coming over today. He told the kids that they had the day off because he couldn’t be around to observe today as efficiently as he would prefer to. So, rather than let some deputies do all the work that would leave him calling in every five minutes worried about what was going on, he decided to rather give the kids the day off. He passed it off as a reward for doing so well the previous two days, one he didn’t hesitate to take credit for.
Nathan had decided to spend his morning reading the book Ray had given, which was an unexpected benefit to being busy that day. Nathan would never admit it, but he really did like this book and its principal character, the private investigator named Frank who seemed to be a bit of a mess but still being asked to do a job to help others out even though it looked like he was incapable of helping himself. He was a real mess, but for reasons that were being kept under wraps for the time being. Frank was really messed up for a reason, and Nathan was sure it was the woman that had something to do with it. She did something that really upset him, and left Frank in the bitter, unhappy state the reader found him in. Nathan could not understand what he was going through, what could have anyone done to him that would drop him into a pit so deep, do dark that would make him so anti-social, so hostile? Nathan decided to keep reading and see where things would go.
* * * *
Frank watched as the lady walked out before turning back to the bar to get back to his whiskey. He poured another glass and drained it just as quickly. Frank took a deep breath and sighed very loudly as looked up at the bartender.
“I really hate that bitch.” He snarled.
“Don’t look at me,” The bartender replied, “I’m not the fool who married her.”
“Don’t remind me,” Frank said, pouring another round. “It’s one thing to be betrayed by someone you know. Friends do it to each other all the time for money, lust, or even just to get one up on everyone else. We sell each other out everyday, that’s just the way life is. Your family is capable of making mistakes, and you have to forgive them for it because they’re family! Yet when the one you love, the one you swore before witnesses and God to love and honour for the rest of your life turns her back on you and betrays you… that leaves a hole in your heart that’s going to stay for a long while. It’s not the act itself that makes it bad, but the person doing it. It was just so wrong for her to do, and I might never forgive her but also myself for trusting her in the first place.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“That’s cold man,” The bartender disagreed, “Does this mean you’re never going to give love another chance?”
“I’m not sure love deserves one,” Frank snapped back, and he believed that with every fibre of his body.
* * * *
“Where did you get that?” a voice called out.
Nathan looked up, and staring back down at him with a scowl that was almost as fiery as her red hair… was Sonya. She pointed at the book that the young man had in her arms and quickly snapped it out of his hands.
“Did you ask your father for permission before picking this up?” she asked.
“Technically, no.” Nathan asked. “I didn’t get it from Dad. Ray gave that to me yesterday on the way home.”
Sonya looked at the book and how beat up it was and realized that it looked like something Ray had kept and read many times throughout the years. Peter was a lot more respectful of his books and never would you ever catch him putting dog ears in them as well. Sonya looked back down at the young man who was looking a little shaken at the moment. Sonya took a deep breath and handed the book back to Nathan with a warm smile.
“Are you sure you’re old enough to handle this material?” she asked him.
“To be honest, I’m not sure.” Nathan said as he closed the book and put it down on his lap. “It’s powerful, but I might be missing something as I’m not really getting what’s going on.”
“Well, that is to be expected.” Sonya said as she folded her arms. “That book was written during a very dark part of your father’s life. There’s a lot of anger, bitterness, and even hatred in there that you might not understand. You might be too young to understand this kind of pain that Frank suffers through.”
“I get the guy is in pain, but doesn’t everyone experience some kind of pain once in a while?” Nathan asked.
“Not everyone experiences this kind of pain,” Sonya said as she took a seat on the couch opposite of where Nathan was sitting. “There are some pains that are hard to make go away. There are even some that will never go away and will rot inside you until the day you die.”
“That doesn’t sound very nice.” Nathan observed.
“Well, I’m happy to say I’ve never had to live with that kind of pain.” Sonya said, looking at her husband typing outside on the deck. “I hope I never have to in my lifetime. Some of us are not that lucky.”
“I don’t understand.” Nathan said, literally begging for help without actually saying it to her.
“As much as I’d love to talk about this book with you Nathan, I shouldn’t.” Sonya stood up to leave, “This is something you’re going to have to work out on your own. I can’t do this one for you.”
“I don’t understand, but I guess I have no choice.” Nathan said, as he watched Sonya leave the room. He had no choice but to go back to the book and hope something pops out and helped him get what this was all about.
Sonya walked out to the porch because it was now time to talk to someone else about the subject.
“Do you really think that’s appropriate?” Sonya called out as she walked out onto the deck to join her husband. Peter just happened to have a beer on the table, and he looked back up at his lovely wife.
“Well, it’s only one drink.” Peter countered, “I think it might loosen some nerves and help me get more down as I try to finish this chapter.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Sonya said as she didn’t hesitate to correct her sweet but sometimes naïve husband. “I’m talking about letting your son read the sweet miseries of Frank Slate. Do you think he’s really ready to hear these kinds of details about your first marriage this soon after his mother passed away? I mean it’s only a matter of time till he figures out that Frank is really you gushing about how love sucks and how it screwed you over. I don’t know if he’s ready to know the truth. You’ve kept it from him this long even though she never hesitated to bash you right left and center to the boy. You were mature enough not to sling any mud at her in front of the kids when she was alive, does it make it better for him to read about it now?”
“First off, I didn’t give him that book. Ray did.” Peter countered. “For some reason that’s his favorite of all my works.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Sonya said as she really didn’t believe it herself. She knew Ray and that didn’t seem like the kind of book that he would do something like that without some ulterior motive. “Are you sure he didn’t give Nathan that book to push him over to your side of the truth regarding your break-up with his mother? I mean reading that book would be a good way to start to get him up to speed about what actually happened.”
“No,” Peter said, as he didn’t agree with her. “I don’t think so.”
Peter sat there and thought about it. Lately Ray had recently been making a lot of moves that were intended to make Peter look like the better man or in this case like the better parent. While Ray was certainly capable of doing something like that, he didn’t think this was the case. No matter what kind of plan Ray usually has in store for anyone, usually he would let Peter in on the plan especially when it involved someone that he cared about. It was true that Ray could be very pushy, but he usually never did anything without a plan already in place. So, what part of the plan was giving Nathan a book that might expose him to the ugly truth that tore his family apart? He wasn’t so sure, well not as much as Sonya was.
“I’ll talk to Ray about it later,” Peter offered, “Maybe this book meant something more to Ray than it did the average fan, and that could be the honest reason why he offered it to Nathan.”
Sonya knew she couldn’t argue that. “I’m just worried.”
“Like I said, I’ll talk to Ray about it,” Peter asked as he sat back in his chair. “He won’t lie to us, and we’ll get an idea of where his head is with all this just so we’re all on the same page.”
“I would appreciate if you could do that.” Sonya said as he leaned over and Peter a big hug. “I just don’t need the further drama in the house this summer, okay?”
“I agree with that,” Peter concurred, “I’ll do my best to make sure all drama is kept to a minimum.”
Peter kissed her on the brow and then watched as she left the porch area and went back into the house. Truth was, Peter was just as worried about this book as Sonya was. He wanted to take it away and never give it back to him, but he also didn’t want to answer to Ray who apparently was the actual owner of the book. Peter wasn’t sure if Ray had some sort of plan in the works when he handed that book over, but while it might make Peter look more like the good guy, he didn’t like the idea of kicking the young man’s mother while she’s already permanently down and unable to defend herself. Back in the day it was okay when she was able to at least tell her side in opposition, no there’s no one there to do it for her and it just seems unfair. Peter knew Ray was up to something and even if Peter agreed with what that was, he would have to speak to the Sheriff and find out what it was before he could really take a stance on whether he likes the idea or not. Even though the weekend was coming up, Peter was going to have to make a trip to the station to speak to Ray in private. He would have to question Ray’s choice of book because it was an interesting choice considering all the anger and venom is spewed at any woman who interacts with the lead character.
Frank Slate wasn’t a woman basher, but he was also the kind of man that never hesitated to speak his mind. It however was something Peter and Frank had did not have in common. Peter tended to bottle things up and let them fester inside him like a cancer. When things became too much rather than let it out in small bursts, Peter would erupt like a volcano and take everyone with him. When things became their absolute worst at the end of his first marriage, truth was he didn’t say anything. He didn’t speak a single word and just packed his things and left. Both Frank and Peter didn’t like being lied to, especially by the one person they loved and trusted more than any other person on the planet. The pain and suffering were just too much for them both to handle on their own, which was the reason why Peter couldn’t handle it. He left the house as soon as he could and moved way from the one woman he ever loved so far in his lifetime and the boy they made together. The idea of doing that broke Peter’s heart almost as badly as the truth did, but he refused to cave in. There were some things people are willing to tolerate and bury for the sake of the marriage and the kids, but this was not one of them. A betrayal so deep, Peter was pushed right to the edge both mentally and physically. He honestly didn’t know how he didn’t fall over the edge and survive. Friends like Ray might have been the only thing that saved him during those dark times.
A lot of Peter’s raw emotions came out in that book through Frank and while part of him wanted the young man to understand what happened, another part of Peter didn’t know if Nathan was ready to face the truth this soon. Ray seemed to think he was ready, and it was possible he could have done this to make him back off his old man a little more. Or maybe it really was Ray’s favorite book and he just wanted to share it with his godson. If it was his favorite, Ray had never told him that and that made the revelation all that surprising. Peter deeply sighed and went back to work; aware he’d have to revisit that issue at a later time.