On the Run - M Zeigler (philippa perry book .txt) 📗

hopped a twenty five foot wall and climbed a secondary fifteen foot chain link fence just to get in here, only to be tortured with a hair dryer and set loose in a boring party like this! I have half a mind to plug my phone into the intercom system just to get some good music going in here instead of complete silence.

On a less negative note, as predicted Barrette is easy to spot sitting off in the far left corner of the gated enclosure he seems to be kind of hiding from the people here so as not to make them uncomfortable with our southern ways. I really took Barrette for the type to not care at all what people think of him, he strikes me as the type to actually go overboard being proud of himself and his appearance. Of course is there such a thing as being too proud as long as you’re not being verbally annoying about yourself?   As I approach Barrette, Josh Alden crosses the room to greet Barrette. Seeing Barrette not acting as his normal self is really strange to me, Hollywood must have gotten to him if he isn’t even trying to get this party to be a little livelier.

I am however, happy to say Alden is wearing a nice tuxedo to this social gathering, but our southern outlaw cowboy here flat refuses to. I like Barrette a little more for that; he refuses to conform to society’s idea of formal.

 “Barrette.” I call out to him when I’m close enough to him that he can hear me over this tragedy everyone here calls music. Barrette has an intricate modernized nineteen thirties charm about him tonight, he’s wearing a men’s muscle tank shirt, and a pair of black denim jeans. There are many men’s necklaces hanging around his neck including a pair of real brass knuckles he just looped onto a thick black metal chain. Even more surprising than the brass knuckles is the black leather shoulder Holster which contains twin 1911 Kimbers. His feet are clad with heavy and dangerous looking biker boots and that hat he is wearing is straight up nineteen sixties mobster, the hat really finishes the look.

Barrette and Alden both look up at me their faces go from shocked to dumbfounded, the two men make the effort to speak but no words will form. Once I’m standing directly in front of Barrette he forces himself to speak so as not to embarrass himself.

“I thought you were dead.” He says standing up to shake my hand he sounds almost relieved to see me standing before him, and left breathless over my appearance. Yep, mamma still has it! I think to myself having a very self absorbed moment.

“I had business to attend to at home, plus I had things to pick up that I’m going to need for this trip.” I reply lifting one of the revolvers out of the corset just enough so that he can see the butt of the grips. Barrette is about to say more when a female appears causing me to cram the gun back into my corset before she notices, because that quick motion isn’t shady at all. The front sight of the revolver jams into my ribs causing me to wince, I try not to make the pain evident in my eyes when I turn to face the new comer with a fake friendly smile that turns genuine when I realize who has joined the conversation.

 “Who’s your friend?” The new face asks, this woman is Marissa Lee, she’s one of the many female country artists on the top charts right now, and she has a few songs that I absolutely love. She’s naturally bleach blonde with sparkling hazel green eyes, very short, very skinny, and from what I hear she has a super sweet personality to match her flawless beauty.

“This is Bonnie she’s my date-

“I’m his friend.” I try and speak at the same time Barrette speaks only proving to confuse the artist standing in front of us. She gives a confused look to the two men standing before us then to me, she remains silent with her confusion further fueling the perfect awkward moment Barrette and I set up.

Her mouth hangs agape for a short moment before I step forward and try to correct the discomforting moment looming around us. “I’m his friend from years back; I lived in his town for a little while when I was like fourteen or fifteen. We ran into each other at the fourth street diner last night and he wanted to catch up on old times so he asked me out on a date, I agreed so here we are!” I say giving my best girlish voice and trying to pass off the lie all the while feeling really bad about lying; Marissa’s face lights up with understanding.

“Oh, that makes sense now! Welcome, I’m Marissa Lee; if you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on when Bubba here messes up just come find me.” Marissa says teasing Barrette a little, at one point in her spiel she even lightly thumbs in Barrette’s direction giving him a hard time. He gives a disgruntled chuckle, it’s obvious he’s offended by her comment on breaking hearts but he chooses not to argue. Even I know the worst thing a man can ever do is argue with a southern woman, you think any other woman will argue, a southerner will argue with you and straight up put you in your place!

“I certainly will! It’s wonderful to meet you.” I reply trying to play the part of a well educated pre-Madonna that is also rounded and well versed in manners. Marissa gives me a beautiful smile before winking at me and walking away, she is definitely a sweet heart.

When Marissa has faded off to blend in with the other folks attending this crumby event I look over to Barrette who glances around then looks directly at me.

 “Walk with me?” He says upon realizing there is no way we can talk in an area with so many ears trying to find out the latest drama from anyone in the room. And seeing as I’m not a familiar face everyone is trying to be secretive with their listening in, literally when Barrette greeted me, everyone in the room took a few steps closer to us.

“Sure!” I squeal back, Barrette looks down at me with a disparaging look. “What, Chelsea said I had to fit in and act like I belong here?” I taunt as he is gently snagging my wrist and dragging me off to a gate that leads away from this party.

“Not all of them are so bad, Bonnie. You need to give them a chance, I mean I gave you a chance and I really had no other reason to other than instinct. Everyone swears you are working for Devon.” Barrette replies in a low understanding tone. Barrette does have a point, in recent years I’ve become distrusting and hateful towards people. I’ve done it without realizing my actions, I’ve been hurt so many times I automatically lash out at people and say hurtful things. I need to work on that.

“Anyways, you should know that Devon is the one after you. After Andrew started the chase I led him to Azusa canyon and Devon joined the chase a little while into the drive. Devon ran Andrew off the road and then I caused Devon to go four wheeling off a cliff.” I explain to Barrette, he pauses mid step and looks at me almost seeming excited.

“So Devon is dead then?” Barrette asks sounding enthusiastic. “It’s going to take much more than an E-ticket ride through Azusa to kill Devon. He’s a artfully trained assassin, everything that I know he knows, but I’m better at it than he is.” I explain to Barrette who sighs heavily and shakes his head. 

“I guess it’s true what they say about skeletons in closets?” Barrette mentions being ever so depressed with my news. “What, they eventually turn into demons that hunt you down?” I reply cynically, Barrette looks down at me with that you need a straight jacket look. I’m not surprised I am given that look quite often, I don’t work the same way everyone else does. I can be a good person, I try to stay out of trouble, but my mind is in a dark demented place almost all the time, that other ten percent I’m applying the demented thoughts to art work of some sort.

“I’ve never heard it put quite like that before.” Barrette laughs at my comment, he actually laughs, to me this is very strange, most people take a step away and wait for me to pull a nonexistent butcher knife on them.

“Don’t feel bad, if you think you have demons growing in your proverbial closet then don’t come to my house and start opening closets. There are skeletons in there enough to fill the Grand Canyon.” I reply to Barrette her chuckles at my words.

“I cannot believe there is a woman out there who is just as bad as I was, if not worse.” Barrette comments when his laughter fades, I shake my head feeling as amused as he is. It is strange to really think and understand that there is someone out there who does understand exactly what you are going through. The only difference is, some of those many might be in a place where they are fully recovered and can help you be happy again.

“The only difference between you and I is that you finally figured out what you were doing wrong, I won’t learn. I’m damned, god can only forgive me so many times before even he gives up.” I reply, Barrette shakes his head that he doesn’t agree with me.

 “Darlin, that’s not how it works. You think I’m a perfect angel? There’s still days where my momma wants to smack me with the bible. All you can do is your best, in the end it is up to the man upstairs…just live your life and stand tall knowing that there are angels watching over you.” Barrette explains trying not to go into much more detail in the topic, I can’t really argue with his words, he is more than likely further educated in how the whole bible thing works where as I haven’t even picked up the book aside from to rip out a page to use as cigarette paper.

I start laughing for no reason remembering an inside joke between my sister Terra, and I quite a few years back. Before Barrette’s music brought me to my senses, Terra had called early on in the day and was asking what I was doing, without missing a beat I responded smoking Cain and Abel, no one was amused except for me. Looking back I was in the wrong for that joke but you have to admit it was kind of funny in a morbid way.

“Either way, however it works. There is no forgiving someone like me, you’ll figure that out soon enough. I’m a monster, I don’t care about anyone or anything, I’m used to people only being around for a short time so I do whatever I please, no matter the repercussions. I like being alone, I’m better off that way.” I share as Barrette guides me into the building I entered earlier where I was turned away by security, I spot Rodger right away and point at him.

“And by the way, this guy here refused to let me in tonight. I had to jump fences to get in!” I announce loud enough so the entire room can hear including the red head her turned me in. “I’ll let Rodger know, I told everyone to let you in if you came by.” Barrette replies as the red head crosses her arms and glares at me, I give her a very evil smile