John Locke: Bad Doctor

“You sure about that?”

As I turn to leave, the door opens and Bobby Mitchell walks in.

Knowing it’ll take a few seconds for his eyes to adjust, I shield my face and try to work my way around him.

Maybe it’s the lifestyle, but Bobby’s eyes have no problem adjusting to the light.

“Whoa,” he says, putting an arm out to stop me. You’re the guy from last night.”

“Nice to see you again,” I say, noting my voice sounds like I’m twelve years old again, in the shower with Joe and his piss buddies.

Bobby says, “What the fuck’re you doing here?”

“You mentioned the place last night, thought I’d check it out.”

“In the middle of the morning?”

“I wanted to get the feel of the place. Maybe come back tonight.”

Bobby looks at the manager. “Does that make sense to you, Gary?”

Gary says, “He came in last night. Bought a dozen lap dances from two of the girls.”

“A dozen each?”

“All together.”

“Which two?”

My eyes search the immediate area for any type of weapon I can use against this beastly man, but nothing looks remotely possible.

“Ask him,” Gary says.

Bobby moves closer. He’s practically on top of me. There’s no way out of this.

“Which two girls?” Bobby says.

“Uh, Cameron?” I say.

“Cameron?”

“I might not have her name right.”

Bobby glances at Gary. “Was Stringbean one of them?”

He nods.

Bobby turns back to me. So you bought a dozen lap dances from Cameron and another girl?”

I nod.

He says, “Which other girl?”

Willow and Cameron.

Friday, 1:15 p.m.

Willow and Cameron pay no attention to the dark Lexus till it turns into Chris Fowler’s driveway.

As the garage door opens, the girls snap to attention.

“Wrong car!” Willow says.

“Are you sure he was driving a Mercedes?”

“Positive.”

“We did a couple of lines, remember.”

“True. And it was dark.” She frowns. “It was definitely a luxury sedan.”

Cameron says, “I think you’re right about the Mercedes. Could they own three cars?”

The Lexus enters the garage, and they watch the door close behind it.

“They’re pretty rich,” Willow says. “The house has to be at least seven-fifty. And they’ve got a three-car garage. It’s possible.”

“So Chris isn’t here?”

“Unless she picked him up.”

“Maybe we should just forget it,” Cameron says.

“Are you kidding me? I’m already in deep shit with Bobby. If I don’t bring home nine hundred-sixty bucks, he’ll kill me.”

Cameron shakes her head. “You’re so pretty. And smart. You shouldn’t have to put up with that shit.”

“Tell Bobby, okay?”

“He’s abusive.”

“Ya think?”

They’re quiet a moment.

Willow says, “Let’s bring this thing to a head.”

“What do you mean?”

“Follow my lead.”

They get out of the car, walk to the front door, ring the bell.

A woman opens the door and says, “May I help you?”

Willow says, “You’re Kathy? Chris Fowler’s wife?”

“Yes. How can I help you?”

“Is Chris here?”

She looks them over. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I’m Willow Breeland, and this is Cameron Mason.”

“And how do you know my husband?”

Willow and Cameron exchange a look, then notice the concern in Kathy’s face.

“I think you should leave,” Kathy says.

She starts to close the door, but Willow wedges her foot inside the frame, pulls Bobby’s 9 millimeter from her purse and sticks it in Kathy’s face.

Kathy says, “Oh, God!” and backs into her living room.

Willow and Cameron follow her in, and Cameron locks the door.

“Jesus, Willow!” Cameron says.

“Please,” Kathy says. “Take whatever you want.”

“You told her our names!” Cameron says.

Willow sighs. “I know. Shit!”

Kathy says, “We’ve got a safe in the bedroom closet.”

“Shut up!” Willow says. “I need to think.”

Kathy backs up to the couch and sits down. She’s shaking so hard her teeth are chattering.

Cameron says, “Show us the safe.”

They head back to the bedroom, but when they reach the hall, Willow says “Shhh!” and makes them stop.

To Kathy she whispers, “Who’s back there?”

“N-no one.”

“Then why do I hear water running?”

“I was running water for my bath. I’ve been out of town and-”

“I’ll check it out,” Cameron says. “If I scream, shoot Kathy. Then come get me.”

Willow’s eyes get big, but not as big as Kathy’s.

“Want to change your story about running water for the bath?” Cameron says.

Kathy shakes her head no.

Cameron disappears into the bedroom.

“Please,” Kathy whispers. “You’re not like her. I can feel it.”

“Please be quiet,” Willow says.

“Don’t let her kill me!” Kathy says.

“We’re not going to kill you. We just want what’s ours.”

“What does that mean?” Kathy says.

Before Willow can answer, Cameron comes back in the hallway and says, “She was telling the truth.”

“You didn’t turn off the water?” Willow says.

“We’ll turn it off in a minute. First, let’s see how much money they’ve got.”

It takes three tries, but Kathy finally gets the safe open, and Willow counts out fifteen hundred in fifties and twenties.

“That’s it?” she says.

“There are some gold coins in the back,” Kathy says. “And jewelry.”

“Too risky,” Cameron says.

Willow looks at the cash, then at Cameron. Her lip quivers, thinking about the beating she’s going to get. She’s about to cry.

“You can have my half,” Cameron says.

“No. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“You can pay me back later. There’s enough here to pay Bobby and still put five hundred into our secret fund.”

“You’re the best, Cameron.”

“You too.”

They look at Kathy.

Cameron says, “She knows our names.”

“I know. I’m sorry!”

“Please,” Kathy says. “There’s no need to hurt me. I won’t say a word.”

Willow frowns. “That is such bullshit!”

She turns to her friend. “Talk to me, Cam.”

Cameron says, “Give me the gun.”

Willow says, “You can’t just shoot her.”

“No. But I can make her walk into the bathroom.”

Kathy says, “You don’t need the gun. I’ll go in the bathroom.”

The three women enter the bathroom where two of them showered ten hours ago. Willow notices a different facecloth on the shower bench, which means Chris probably cleaned up before leaving. Cameron points at the large whirlpool tub on the far side of the room and says, “Get on your hands and knees, and lean your head over the edge of the tub.”

Kathy pauses.

“Hand me the gun, Willow,” Cameron says.

She does, then turns off the water.

“Please,” Kathy says. “I’m begging you. Don’t shoot me!”

“I’m not going to shoot you.”

“I wish I could believe you.”

“We’re going to tie your hands behind your back and you’re going to give us two full hours before calling anyone.”

“I won’t tell a soul about this. Not even Chris.”

Willow says, “It’s Chris’s fault this happened in the first place!”

Kathy’s confused, but she lowers herself to the floor and gets on her hands and knees. She positions her neck over the side of the tub and puts her hands behind her back.

“What can we tie her with?” Willow says.

“They’ve got phones in the bedroom and kitchen. Remove the phone cords while I keep an eye on Kathy,” Cameron says. “But hurry!”