Be Gay Do Crime

Rain.  

She shouldn’t have been surprised that the hour of their meeting would be when the daily showers decided to roll through.  It didn’t affect their plans, but it did cast a pall on the day itself.  At least it was the weekend and she wasn’t having to deal with school drama on top of all of that, not that she wouldn’t leverage some of that in their little production. 

Markson’s Bar and Grill was every bit the definition of a work in progress.  When Crystal first brought it up as one of their first efforts at breathing life back into Sutton, she hadn’t given it much thought.  Then she tried the food and quickly changed her mind.  It was damn good, especially for styling itself as a bar.  The chef was quite proud of himself. 

Unfortunately, the owner couldn’t afford to keep the place open and complete the necessary repairs to get it back up to code.  He was going to have to close, and Crystal wanted to jump on the opportunity.  Ashe ended up in full agreement and paid cash for the deed while it was officially sold to her for two hundred, giving it the appearance that the owner was bailing before it completely tanked his savings.

Said owner knew the game well enough to not ask questions, and planned to move to Orange City or Deland, just to get away from everything that plagued Jericho.  She couldn’t blame him for wanting to leave.  She’d been brushing shoulders with the criminal element for only a few months and already she was so exhausted of it all. 

She’d already poured thousands into it, and had plans to spend thousands more turning it into a staple of the region once again.  She also gave every member of the staff proper raises, because Ashe knew she couldn’t run the place, she didn’t have the know-how or the time to do so.  It was a money laundering front, sure, but she still wanted it to be solvent on its own. 

The old protection model didn’t sit well with her, and felt too much like extortion for her liking, which was why she was trying something different.  She was giving the businesses reasons to care about who was keeping them safe and financially stable, and all Ashe wanted was a return on investment in exchange. 

Walking through the front door with her parents was especially disorienting, because the waitress smiled and got all excited upon seeing her.  Ashe still felt guilty about how she got swept up in things, and she had no interest in helping with the illegal side of things.  Getting her the job was a compromise, and all she had to do was pass on anything useful that she happened to overhear.  At least until she was old enough to legally take over management of the place.

“Ashe!  How have you been?  Want the usual, wait, is Crystal not with you?” 

She studiously avoided the looks her parents were no doubt giving her.  Sandra knew full well she was Inferno, having figured it out just days after being rescued.  Her people made it a point to frequent the place, often just to catch up with their friend. 

“Hey Sandra.  Crystal will probably swing by to pick up supper later.  These are my parents, Linda, my mom, and Catherine, my mother.”  She gestured to each in turn, Sandra shaking each of their hands as she introduced them.  “We’re here to meet some people, there should be a table with two girls waiting for another three?” 

The waitress blinked, her expression shifting for just a moment before settling back into the happy grin.  “Yeah, they reserved the back room.  Follow me.” 

Now Ashe was curious what Jessica and Rachel had said on their way in, or in private.  Jessica was nominally in charge of keeping track of all the girls living in the apartments, at least on a personal level.  Caraline was still nominally their manager, but she focused more on the professional side while Brie worked as her assistant. 

No doubt they had told Sandra exactly what was happening, or close enough for her to get the hint that discretion was necessary.  The biggest risk of the plan was that someone slipped and said something that tipped her parents off. 

The back room was exactly what it sounded like, a private meeting room for important people.  There was history there, and Ashe didn’t have to look far to learn that Silver Cross had dined there on more than one occasion.  She wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but given the city’s history, if she discounted every location with such history, she would swiftly run out of city she would be willing to associate with. 

Better to revitalize than to demolish. 

There was but a single table inside, and five places were set at present.  Rachel sat at one, and Jessica was seated beside her.  No promise had been given that they wouldn’t be bringing other officers into the situation than Ashe’s own presence.  If her parents did pull that without involving her, it would be problematic, but manageable. 

Ashe took the seat beside Jessica, offering a buffer between the former bully and Ashe’s own parents.  All three of them came armed, that was not negotiable and was another point that Ashe agreed whole heartily with them on, if for no other reason than to keep her cover.  She didn’t like all the secrets, but what else could she do but keep them? 

“Ashe,” Jessica said, her voice flat and without inflection. 

She eyed her former bully, a person she once felt great animosity towards but now trusted with her greatest secret.  She couldn’t lean on their current relations, she needed to dig back into their past, into the years of torment she suffered at her hands.  That didn’t make what she had to say any easier. 

“I would say it is good to see you alive, but I don’t like to lie to myself.” 

Her mother smacked her shoulder, taking the seat beside her, leaving her mom to sit down next to Rachel.  It gave everyone a small buffer, even if they didn’t realize it on the surface.  Tensions would be high, and secrets rampant, roiling just beneath the surface. 

She’d discussed the lines in the sand for insults with Jessica, on both sides, as some barbs would be expected given their history, and Ashe would start off just to allow her that free shot.  

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Jessica said with a sigh.  “I don’t know why I expected better.”

“Perhaps you should start by treating others how you would like to be treated,” her mother said.  “You must admit that there is some degree of karma in what happened to you.” 

“The irony wasn’t lost on me,” Jessica said, slumping.  “I’m trying to learn from it, but it’s difficult at times.  Having been subjected to what I was, it was humbling.” 

“And what was that?” Mom asked.  “You have been missing for months, and if what you said over the phone is true, you’ve been free for much of that.” 

“You’re wondering why I haven’t come forward,” Jessica said, shooting Rachel a look.  “The truth is, I was the one that suggested Ashe might make a good target back in February.” 

Ashe sucked in a breath, because that was what would be expected of her after such a confirmation.  Originally she’d had weeks to get used to the idea that Jessica was behind her assault, but in the here and now, she couldn’t react the same way.

“You’re lucky Rachel gave me a heads up,” Ashe said through grit teeth. 

Jessica flinched, because Ashe had said that in the same tone she used when Jessica first recognized that Inferno was her old victim and had saved her. 

“I know,” Jessica said, head bowed.  “I…  An apology won’t cut it, so I won’t insult you by offering one.  As your mother so elegantly put it, karma is a bit of a cunt.” 

Ashe snorted, not quite meaning to do so, and she got smacked for it yet again.  She glowered, rubbing at her arm which she was now fully realizing was going to be quite sore by the end of this little off the books liaison. 

Thankfully, Sandra came in, taking her parents’ orders, Ashe just asked for her usual.  The restaurant wasn’t terribly far from Crystal’s home, which was just across the river and less than an hour’s walk away.  The apartments were much closer, but admitting to staying there wasn’t an option.  She could explain her being a regular easily enough, but she would only do so if asked, because it was better to just roll with it and act like nothing was amiss. 

She wasn’t being nearly as subtle about things as she could have been, but there was a certain level of refuge to be found in audacity.  If she really was Inferno, she wouldn’t be so cavalier about things, now would she?  At least, that was what Ashe hoped. 

“Why come to us?” Mom asked, leaning forward.  “You say that it wouldn’t be safe to go to the precinct.  Why is that?” 

“Do you really need to ask that?” Rachel challenged with a raised eyebrow.  “Your officers proudly wear their symbols in open view, and if I tried to report that Jessica’s parents handed her to the Patriots as penance for her costing them valuable lives, how would they react?” 

Ashe’s parents were silent, so she spoke instead.  “I could see that going two ways, they ignore you like they ignored me, or they made the problem go away.” 

Rachel nodded.  “Exactly.  They are careful with you because if they do something too public, it would draw national attention.  Random white girl going missing is a tragedy, but is forgotten a week or two later aside from random grandstanding.” 

“Like naming me prom queen,” Jessica added with a scowl.  “I still plan to show up, if only to see the looks on everyone’s faces.  Especially Gray’s, that cheating bastard.” 

“Let me guess,” Ashe said, voice dripping with derision, “he’s been fucking that freshman for a while now?” 

“Pretty sure he started before the school year,” Jessica said.  “Can’t confirm it, of course, but I knew he was cheating on me since Halloween when he got smashed and smashed her at the same party he apparently forgot he brought me to.” 

Rachel sighed.  “Yeah, that whole thing was a mess.  So much damage control.  With his daddy being the mayor, anything that might be a scandal tends to be swept away.”

“I’m still waiting for him to get me back for beating the piss out of half the football team,” Ashe said with a smirk.  “He’s tried petty shit, but nothing that really hits home.” 

“He knows you’ll be at prom,” Rachel said.  “Trust me, he has plans, he’s just not sharing them with me.” 

“Ashe,” her mother said sharply.  “Just how much have you been keeping from us?  It sounds like school hasn’t gotten better at all.” 

Shrugging, Ashe sat back in her chair and looked up to the ceiling.  “I have things under control.  Crystal and I have them scared shitless, and each time they try something, I stand up to them and dare them to make something of it.  If they’re dumb enough to attack me in public, off school grounds, that will be even better.” 

Prom wasn’t even happening on school grounds, they had rented out the same stadium that Senator Ellington had for his last campaign event.  Ashe was rather familiar with the back halls of the place after her running firefight.  The school auditorium wasn’t big enough to hold all the students and allow them to dance as they pleased, that was the sole reason the bigger venue was chosen for each dance. 

Ashe wasn’t sure how she felt about returning to the place she almost died, but she refused to let fear control her.

“He knows this will be his last chance,” her mother said with a calculating gaze directed at Rachel.  “You’re convinced he won’t let the insult go, and he’ll try to prove himself by doing something drastic.” 

Rachel nodded timidly.  “It’s what we would have done, and we weren’t emasculated by a trans girl.  He’s going to be out for blood.” 

Frowning, her mom turned to face her mother.  “We couldn’t get him on threats, could we?” 

“Not without hard proof,” her mother said, “and even then we would be lucky to get a judge to sign a protection order that won’t do anything until after the fact.” 

“Then we can’t tip him off even if we learn what he’s planning,” Ashe said, crossing her arms.  “Enough about that asshole, I can’t see you agreeing to meet with us and risk your current anonymity just to get back at your ex.”

“Er, yeah,” Jessica said, glancing at Ashe’s parents as if she were expecting something else.  “The people that were handling me were Iron Patriots, and were having us work with the drugs to get us addicted, then r—”  Her voice hitched.  “Assaulted us, upstairs, so that we would break.  I was there less than an hour, so I didn’t get that far, but some of the girls had been there for weeks.  They told stories, and some heard where we went after we were sent off.”

“And where was that?” Ashe asked, already knowing what they would say and hoped it wouldn’t be a mistake. 

Jessica swallowed, looking away.  “To the Viuda, to be used as prostitutes in their brothels.” 

“You’re sure of that?” her mom asked.  “The Viuda aren’t like most gangs, and even the other gangs tend to leave them alone.” 

“Maybe,” Ashe said.  “But didn’t they get a new leader recently?” 

Her mother nodded.  “Yessina, no known last name.  She came into power sometime late last year.  Not much else is known about her, because prior to her, the Viuda kept their heads down.” 

“They’ve been making waves then?” Ashe asked. 

Her mom nodded.  “There’s speculation that a smash and grab outfit was taking orders from them.  The same group was believed to have hit the place you were held.” 

“You mean Inferno,” Jessica said, looking Ashe’s mom dead in the eyes.  “She did that on her own, against the Viuda, and against Alejandro.  They killed a member of the crew as a message to not defy them again.” 

Her mother’s eyes narrowed.  “That is oddly specific.  Did Inferno tell you to pass that along?” 

“No,” Mom said, shaking her head, “Inferno probably just vented about it, loudly, in front of her so that she would think she overheard something she shouldn’t.”

“Doesn’t mean it isn’t valid information,” Ashe said.  She couldn’t let them dismiss it out of hand.  “Just means that we need to investigate things properly, not jump to conclusions.” 

“True enough,” Mother said, pinching the bridge of her nose. 

Ashe internally sighed in relief.  “It sounds like Inferno wants the police pointed at the Viuda.  Would you agree with this?”  That last part she had directed at Jessica, who nodded.  “And she offered up a hook just juicy enough that it can’t be ignored completely.” 

“Unfortunately,” her mother said in agreement.  “Fuck.” 

Ashe almost jumped at the curse that had come from her mother’s mouth.  

Her mom, however, just snorted.  “Yeah, she set us up.”

“Alright, anything else the two of you need to drop on us?” Mother asked. 

Jessica and Rachel shared a look, then the latter answered for them.  “No ma’am.” 

“Then run along before we find a reason to report a sighting of a missing person.” 

The two were on their feet and made it to the door before Jessica paused.  “Oh, I was supposed to mention, don’t worry about the bill, or the tip, Inferno paid in advance.” 

And on that note, Ashe was left in the private room with her parents.

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