Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 38: Shoot the BB

Shoot, the BB was filled even though we were way too late for a stylish lunch and too early for a fashionable dinner. The bar and grill was famous for its hamburgers and beers. In fact, it was so popular that patrons called for reservations weeks in advance, but who needed a reservation when Michael Allen, aka Stiff, was in the party?

The manager greeted us at the door and led us to a table in the center of the floor.

The menu consisted of burgers, beers, and nothing else. No wraps, no salads, nothing to dilute the restaurant’s promise of two things—a good burger and a beer. There were more beer options on the menu than burgers. It took me forever to decide.

The discussion I was avoiding arrived before our burgers.

"Do you think the Heavenlys have anything to do with the disappearance of Jake’s boys?" Stiff asked as he raised his beer.

"It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?"

"Yeah, but that reflection room."

Bea said, "In essence, reflection rooms are pretty common in schools and certain religions. They’re used for meditation and contemplation. Elementary schools use them as kind of a safe timeout space.

"Teela, there were at least a couple in the library building at uni, remember?"

I nodded. "I never visited one, but I remember seeing the placards by the doors.

Stiff said, "I bet they weren’t mirrored rooms with a glorified light show better suited for brainwashing than nurturing peace of mind."

"I’m sure," I said. "But I can see where a cult or maybe some sort of tough love program might manipulate the original concept into something demented. It could be that Lettie borrowed the idea from one of those groups. It doesn’t mean the disappearance of the kids is related to the Heavenly family. We’d be irresponsible jumping to that conclusion."

Only it really felt related, and I was determined to investigate before I put the theory to rest.

"How could we find out?" Bea asked.

Stiff said, "Ask Lettie."

"Yeah, right," Bea said. "Hold on. I’ve got the matriarch of the Heavenly family, who happens to hate my best friend, on speed dial. I’ll call her."

Beal pretended to dial the phone and held the phone to her ear. "Hey, Lettie, it’s me, Teela’s bestie."

Stiff leaned toward me. "How do I apply for the position of bestie or husband or whatever?"

I flicked his forehead. He leaned back, looking wounded, and rubbed the sore spot.

Bea continued. "Yes, yes. I know. We should go to hell, but I have a few questions before we leave. The reflection room, your idea, or someone else’s? Um...um...yes. I see. But wouldn’t it hurt if a red-hot poker was inserted there? Oh, wait. One last question. How many reflection rooms did you set up and where? Yes, I suppose that is two questions, but I’m already going to hell, so please forgive me. ...and you kiss the twins with that mouth? ...uh huh...no problem. Teela and I will wait right here."

Bea pretended to hang up and smiled at us. "Good news, Lettie will answer us personally with a baseball bat in her hands. We should wait here. Who’s up for another beer?"

Stiff and I stage clapped and complimented Bea’s performance.

"Only one problem," I said. "Lettie would never lower herself to physically attacking us personally. She’s more apt to lead from the rear."

Bea said, "So if she is involved, we would have to do a hard trace from the kids back to her to build a case."

I nodded as a waiter brought three more beers and our burger baskets.

Each basket included huge burgers and a massive side of fries. My mouth watered as I saw the hickory barbecue sauce drip down the side of my burger.

We dug into the hamburgers. After the first bite, all thoughts of conversation escaped me. Now I understood the sparse menu. The burger was perfection, from the fresh bun and juicy meat to the right balance between the barbecue sauce and the sharp cheddar cheese.

The steak fries were crispy on the outside and clouds of soft, starchy goodness inside. Shoot the BB sprinkled a special blend of seasoning on the fries that was so intriguing that I didn’t even think to smother them in ketchup.

I was halfway through the burger before I remembered dinner conversation, manners, and gratitude. "Stiff, your hacking ability is only surpassed by your restaurant choice. You are a god among men. I am now your faithful follower."

"Here, here." Bea toasted Stiff with her half-empty beer.

She waved down the waiter for another round. I was still working on my first beer.

"I accept all virgin sacrifices and physical affection offerings," Stiff said between bites.

"From me too?" Bea asked.

Stiff froze for a second and assessed Bea. "Yeah, you’re not so bad. From you too."

There was a thunk from under the table, and Stiff yelped.

"Hey, you kicked me," Stiff accused Bea.

"I did. Wanna see me do it again?"

"No, no, no. I either need a better class of friends or more insurance at this rate. You two are harsh."

Are you planning to drink that?" Bea reached for the rest of my beer while she waited for the new round. She chugged it down in one go.

"Hey, slow down. Tomorrow is a workday," Stiff said.

"Nah, it’s just beer, and I’m stressed."

I frowned. "I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’ve caused all these problems for everyone."

Stiff said, "You didn’t kidnap Jake’s kids."

Bea said, "Or bully yourself and me."

Back to Stiff. "Or give you a robotic marriage."

"Don’t for the adultery," I added. "But, I’m still sorry. I got you guys involved in my problems. You don’t deserve the headaches."

Bea said, "There’s no one I’d rather have a headache with than you, Tee. I love you."

"King loves you more."

I whipped my head around when a firm hand settled on my shoulder. Ben stood there giving Stiff the evil eye.

"I wouldn’t bet on it." I frowned and fought the urge to shrug his hand off.

Ben wasn’t a bad guy. He was protective of his brother. I wasn’t even sure if he was aware of the whole visit to the reflection room thing.

"Whoa," Bea stood and pointed at Ben. "Lettie sent you, didn’t she. I conjured you from my make-believe phone call. Listen, Ben, I was only kidding about that whole going to hell thing. I’m not ready to die yet."

"She’s drinking beer, isn’t she?" Ben asked.

Stiff said, "Yeah, how did you know?" He waved at the empty bottles at the table. "Other than all of these and the fact Shoot the BB only serves beer."

"Bea can handle any hard liquor you put in front of her. Beer is her kryptonite." Ben twirled his finger next to his temple. "A couple of sips, and she gets loopy."

"Hey, you." Bea pointed at Ben. "When’s my next shift at Well Water?"

"You are directly responsible for me having to fire half my wait staff. Why would I have you back?"

"Because I keep the party going better than anyone you’ve hired since the place opened. ’sides, I work for free!"

"You drink too much to be considered as working for free."

Oh, yeah, I owed more people apologies. "Any chance you can give those people their jobs back?"

"No, why would I do that? They betrayed me."

"Please? For me?"

Ben waved off my question. "Does King know you’re here?"

"Maybe but I expect he will know for sure as soon as you tell him."

"What does maybe mean?"

"It means with all the trackers he put on my car, I’d be surprised if he didn’t even though we found most of them." I pulled out the bag of devices and held it out to Ben. "Here, give these back to him. He can use them on his next wife."

Ben took a step back. "I’m not taking those."

"Oh, you don’t want to be tracked? What a coincidence. Neither do I."

I flagged down a server and handed her the bag. "Toss these in the trash for me, please."

When I turned back to Ben, he was tapping away on his phone. "Tell King hi for me."

"Me, too." Stiff and Bea both chimed with a finger wave.

"Show of hands. Who thinks King will be here before the check arrives?"

Stiff, Bea, and I held up our hands as Ben stole a chair from another table and sat down.

Ben ordered a beer. "So, what are we celebrating."

Bea said, "Who said we were celebrating anything?"

"Just a guess."

"So how about that shift at The Well Water?"

"All three of you are on the banded list. I’m not getting my ass kicked by King for you."

Bea shrugged, "Your loss. I can get another DJing gig with a phone call, and when I do, all those booze hounds at your place will follow me to my new location."

"You think too highly of yourself."

Bea grunted. "Don’t test me, boy. I’ve ruined better places than yours."

"I can hold my own."

"Right, with your momma’s dirty money."

"Wait. What? Not that I expect my mom to support the bar, but what do you mean by dirty money?"