Was that part of what was wrong with the board members? Dar began to whistle softly under her breath. Had they become so used to constant success and plenty that being faced with what amounted to corporate mutiny left them unable to figure out what to do, so what they did was flail around and fire bullets in a circle hoping to hit something that would make them feel better?
Hm.
She heard the soft chatter of the sprinklers on the course and glanced ahead to see if they were going to douse her. The path ahead was clear of water, but there were two tall figures moving in her direction and she shifted to one side of the gravel to make space for them to pass.
“I’m telling you, Tom, that kid was asking for it.” One of the men was saying as they came even with her. He glanced briefly up at Dar, then lifted a hand. “Evening.”
“Evening.” Dar responded cordially, moving past.
“Yeah, she might have been, but you should keep in check, Billy.” The man said as they moved away. “This is a small place. Word gets around.”
“Like I could care? We’ll just pay whoever’s in charge off. I’m going to go get what was coming to me.” The voices echoed softly, trickling back to Dar’s ears from where she’d come to a halt on the path.
Coincidence? Or was that goat’s milk boy on his way to bring more trouble to the kid in the store.
Dar regarded the sky overhead with a somber look, then she smiled a little, acknowledging that old crusader label maybe wasn’t so far off after all. With a sigh, she turned around and started after the men, pulling out her Handspring and typing in a brief message as she walked.
**
She got to the door and pushed through it just as the shorter man was reaching across the counter and grabbing the cashier’s blouse, twisting his fingers into the fabric and yanking her close to him.
“Hey!” She barked, as both men turned at the sound of the door and a moment later the man released the girl and stepped back. “What the hell are you doing, buddy?”
The taller man stepped back uncertainly, looking at the door and edging towards it. “Just a misunderstanding.” He said. “No problem here, lady.”
“Fuck that.” The shorter man came at her. “None of your fucking business, you bitch. Get the fuck out of my way.” He reached to shove her and Dar reacted instinctively, swinging her arm around to block him and forgetting what she had in her grasp.
The ice cream and crab smacked him in the side of the head and he reeled backwards, stumbling to one side and crashing into the counter.
The other man took off, bolting out the door.
Dar dropped the bag and got over her center of balance, bringing her hands up into a defensive position as the other man shoved off from the counter, sending bags of potato chips flying all over the floor.
He pulled his hand back and curled it into a fist and then paused, taking in the still, balanced posture, and unafraid expression of the woman opposite him.
“I’m calling security, Ms. Roberts.” The cashier called out.
“Get out of my way.” The man came at her, and swung, and Dar ducked out of his way and let him go past. He walked rapidly away and yanked the door open, nearly smashing full into Kerry who was coming it with some speed.
Dar felt every hair on her arms lift up as he reached out to push Kerry and then next thing she knew she was hauling him down from behind and turning with his arm in her grasp, yanking him backwards and pulling him over to the ground. “Don’t you touch her.”
He twisted in her grasp but Dar felt her temper snap and she got a knee hard into his groin, then slammed her elbow into his chin and knocked his head backwards.
He stumbled and went down and she almost went after him, but then she backed off, as Kerry got in next to her, breathing hard.
“What in the hell is going on here?” Kerry asked.
“Security’s coming” The cashier came out from behind the counter. “Thanks a bunch, Ms. Roberts. This dumbass said he was going to take me into the cooler and teach me a lesson.”
The door opened and two uniformed security guards came in. “Whats the deal here?” The nearer one asked, giving Dar and Kerry a glance. “Ladies.”
“Hello, Charles.” Kerry responded. “It seems this guy was causing a problem in here.”
The man got to his knees. “Everyone here is gonna pay out the ass for this.” He said. “I’ll sue every single one of you” He glared at the cashier. “Especially you, little cunt. I didn’t do anything to you. I was just talking to you.”
Kerry looked at him, then at Dar. “I don’t think you hit him hard enough, hon.” She remarked mildly. “I don’t know who you are, mister, but my partner doesn’t smack around people for no reason.”
He stared at both of them. “Oh, that’s right. You’re the queers my brother was talking about. That’ll make an even better lawsuit.”
“Okay.” The security supervisor said. “Let’s just settle down and we’ll do a report.”
“Screw that. ” The man got up and shoved past them. “You can’t hold me here you rentacops. You want anything from me call my office.” He walked out the door, still a little hunched. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer in the morning.”
Charles sighed. “Can I get some info from you ladies?”
“Sure.” Dar sat down on one of the stools near the small lunch counter, pausing the pick up the bag and putting it down on the counter surface. “Wasn’t the way I was looking for this night to go.”
“I”ll put these in the cooler” The counter girl said. “And, thanks, Ms. Roberts. I mean that really. That guy was scaring the crap out of me and I didn’t even have a chance to grab a radio.”
Kerry leaned her elbow on her partner’s shoulder. “Crusader Dar.”
“I knew you were going to say that.” Dar muttered. “Listen, Charles – if he’s going to call a lawyer, we probably better get Metro-Dade over here.”
Charles sighed. “Do we have to?” He asked. “Listen, Ms. Roberts, That guy’s nothing but a jerk. He’s already sued Mrs. Christoff for her dog barking, and Doctor Ed for washing his car too early in the morning. He’s a pain in the ass, but it’s usually a bullshit pain in the ass if you know what I mean.”
“You saying he’s just a spoiled white rich boy?” Kerry asked, with a wry twinkle in her eyes. “As in, someone my father would have wanted me to marry?”
Charles shrugged sheepishly.
“He’s a jerk.” Christie said, having put the bag in the freezer. “He was in here before, making trouble about some milk. I was telling Ms. Roberts about it.”
The security guard nodded, making some notes. “So then he left?”
“He did.”
“He and his buddy were coming across the golf course path.” Dar said. “I heard him saying to his buddy he was going to come here and make trouble and so I followed him.”
Charles eyed her. “You coulda called us.”
“I could have.” Dar agreed. “In fact, I should have. But I didn’t, and when I came in here he had Kristie by the neck and was about to pull her over the counter.”
Both security guards looked over at the cashier, who nodded in confirmation.
“Wasn’t going to stand there and let them.” Dar said. “I yelled and told them to stop, and then that jackass came at me.”
“Was he drunk?” Charles wondered. “Guy gets caught doing something like that, he should just beat it.”
“Well, he didn’t. He swung at me and I went to block him and smacked him in the head with the bag I was carrying” Dar said. “So he got clocked with a pound of stone crabs and a lump of chocolate ice cream.”
Kerry eyed her. “Was that dinner, Dardar?”