Taken By The Bull

*****

An hour and a half later and she was in her car, fixing her hair in the mirror. She’d already called Mikey, and enjoyed the dulcet tones of his phone ringing endlessly without being answered; so now it was time to check in back at the hotel, change her clothes, and see what message had been left for her.

What did my mom always call it, when a woman rolls in the next day wearing the clothes she had on the night before? ‘The Walk of Shame.’ Well, I’m walking, but I can’t say I feel much shame. Sorry, mom.

Still, as she paused on the threshold of the hotel, she brushed down her clothes and adjusted her bag so that she looked as professional as she could before putting her hand on the door and pushing it open.

It didn’t much matter, though; there was a different girl behind the desk, her hair done up in neat braids, with brilliant white teeth and a flawless coffee-colored complexion. Her name-tag had ‘ALLIE’ embossed on it in bright gold. “Good afternoon!” she trilled as Staci approached. “How can I help you?”

“Good afternoon! I’m Staci Wilder, staying in room 14, and-”

“Oh I know, I saw you on the news, talking about the bull-riding thingy!”

It was always so strange, to be recognized; but of course, the initial coverage she’d shot with Mikey on that first day would have been on air sometime yesterday. Probably, about the time I was in the barn with Steve. “I was told there was a message left for me, a few hours ago?”

“Okay ma’am, I’ll just look it up.” The girl turned to her computer, and tapped away at the keyboard for a moment. “Yes, here we are. Miranda took the message. The caller didn’t leave a name, but said that they had some important information for you about a story you are working on.” She turned shining eyes up towards Staci, grinning. “That sounds so exciting!”

The reporter couldn’t help but return her smile. You’re adorable, she thought. You know that? “Ah, it’s just a little local news story. Did they leave any contact details at all?”

“Yes, yes… Ah, let me see – they asked for you to meet them at 2149 Chevalier Street at 9:00 pm.” She frowned slightly. “You know, I’m not sure where that is…?”

“That’s okay, I’ll find it.” Staci laid her hand on the counter. “Thank you so much, Allie.”

“You’re welcome!” The brightness of the girl’s smile warmed her even as she made her way up to her room, reminding her of her own youthful enthusiasm. Back before-

No. No need to be dwelling on that, right now.

Once back in her room, Staci tried to call Mikey again; but she still couldn’t reach him. Then she called her boss, but he was out at a meeting. After two attempts at contacting the world had failed, she wished she could call Steve, just for the pleasure of hearing a call connect and the right voice answer her – but she didn’t even have a cell number for him. Look at you, she thought, mooning about like he’s your boyfriend or something.

Of course, he wasn’t anything of the sort, just…. Some guy. A story. And technically, last night had been a mistake – a delicious mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. She might have taken the high and mighty approach with Dawn, but the truth was that journalistic integrity didn’t involve sleeping with the intended subjects of a story. Not usually, anyway.

“When did life get so complicated?” Sighing, she shrugged off her clothes and headed for the shower; once cleaned up, she had an address to find, and notes to set in order before the meeting.

*****

Twenty minutes to nine, and she didn’t have the faintest idea where Chevalier Street was. The GPS in the rental car wasn’t exactly state-of-the-art but still – it had led her in a wide looping circle, and time was running down as the sun set.

With a groan of resignation, she pulled the car over to the curb and stepped out, spying a young couple walking hand-in-hand. “Um, excuse me?” She approached them politely, hands folded in front of her like a supplicant at prayer. Her hair was neat, her heels smart and sensible, her skirt and jacket practical and formal; still, she felt as though she had to tread lightly, to be as calm and nonthreatening as possible. “I hate to bother you, but – I’m looking for Chevalier Street, do you know where it is?”

“Chevy Street?” The girl pushed her long brown hair back behind her ears, and cast a nervous look to the boy holding her hand. She was short and round, he was tall and thin. “That’s, ah. Just off of Main street. Go right to the end, turn left past the big Renco building, and keep going down Lenard Street.”

Staci groaned. “Oh, I went past that building! Dammit, that’s most of the way across town.”

“Sorry.” The girl shrugged apologetically, as if she had something to apologize for, and bit her lip. “It’s a little way out…”

“It’s not on the good side of town, if you know what I mean.” The boy squeezed his girlfriend’s hand. “You sure that’s where you want to go?”

“I’ve got someone I need to meet there, so I don’t have much choice.”

“Oh, okay… Well, good luck, miss.” The girl smiled again, so shy and polite, as she and her boy went on their way. Staci paused, watching them go. They were an odd looking couple, but a sweet one. On the bad side of town, huh? She thought. Of course. It would be.

Her phone rang as she got back into the car and pulled the door closed behind her. “What now?” She muttered in annoyance as she reached for it, stopping to glance at the time displayed in the upper corner. Fifteen minutes to nine.

Mikey’s name was displayed underneath, in the middle of the screen. “Hel-”

“I’ve been trying to get in contact since yesterday! Jesus, Stace. You had me worried.”

“I’m fine! Honestly, the signal is just a little patchy here sometimes.” She lied without even stopping to think; she certainly couldn’t just outright tell him what she’d been up to, last night. “And you were the one playing Musical Phones when I tried to call you back earlier. I tried three times! Anyway, I can’t talk long, right now. I got a call from an anon that wants to talk to me about – ‘something’. I’m going to follow that lead up.”

“Huh?” Mikey sounded puzzled. “Who even knows what you’re working on? Hell – I’m not even sure what you’re working on. How’d they get your number?”

“Um…” Actually, he had a point. The only people who knew where she was staying was Steve, Seth, Mikey, and their boss, Minas – and the hotel staff. “It’s quite a mystery, isn’t it?”

“And you’re just headed out there, alone?” There was no denying the worried tone in Mikey’s voice, even over the crackling line. “Sh*t, Stace, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s all part of the job. And – and I’m running pretty late, as it is.”

“Okay… Stay safe, alright? Call me when you’re done, let me know how it went. And I’ll see you tomorrow, when you get back.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know. You look after yourself too – okay, gotta go! Bye!” She hung up quickly, glancing again at the time. 8:47. She gunned the engine and set off again, pushing the speed limit.

At least there was no problem finding Main Street. And when the Renco building came into sight, it was impossible to miss that either; the sign that hung on its gates was flaming orange. She turned left, like the girl had said, and groaned at the sight of the long road stretching out straight ahead into the distance. 8:56. If only she had a number to call, and warn them she was going to be at least ten minutes late!