Free 5 Highball Exit by Phyllis Smallman

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    “If I don’t know you, I’m certainly going to.” He pressed his body up against mine.
    “She’s just leaving,” Cal said.
    Ryan ignored Cal and studied me, his forehead creasing, before he asked, “Really, come on now, aren’t you someone I know?”
    This guy was as high as a kite. Now call me a prude, but it was like the middle of a Monday morning. Even I knew Monday mornings are all about sobriety.
    “Who do you know?” I asked.
    “I know everyone,” he said, exhaling a foul smell into my face. “Everyone.” He wasn’t high on alcohol.
    “Then you’re right. If you know everyone, you know me.” He grinned with delight. “I knew it.”
    “But I don’t know you,” I said.
    He stuck his hand in between our shoulders for a shake. “Ryan Vachess. How can I . . .” He paused before adding, “ . . . be of service?” And he meant the word service .
    “Goodbye,” Cal said loudly, shoving me out the door with his right hand as he pulled Ryan inside with his left.
    Without ever looking at Cal, Ryan pushed him backwards, sending his brother crashing into the wall. Then Ryan reached out and recaptured my face in his hand, pulling me towards him by my jaw while moving my face from side to side, his eyes fixed on me, focused and intent.
    I fought the urge to slap his hand away.
    Cal recovered and said, “Get in here, Ryan. We have work to do.”
    “In a minute,” Ryan said. His eyes never left my face. “Greatbones. I can do wonderful things with them; get the lighting just right . . . haunting. I’m going to shoot in black and white. When do we start?”
    “Did you take the pictures of Holly? You made her look real nice. Not like she normally looked at all.”
    He laughed. “No one comes to me to look normal, honey. I create the secret someone they always wanted to be . . . their inner fantasy. Holly Dolly was born to serve and submit, while you . . . well, you’re something more interesting. You, I’ll do in leather, the full treatment, whip, thigh-highs, all black and catlike. A predator.” He growled at me.
    “Ryan, shut up. She isn’t here for that.”
    Ryan reached for my left hand. “No ring, so it isn’t a bedroom shot for hubby. Are you coming to work for us?”
    Cal’s hand locked around his brother’s forearm and he jerked Ryan into the office. Cal turned back to me and said, “Get out of here now.”
    I didn’t move fast enough so he gave me a little push. I was barely out of the way when he slammed the door.
    I went about ten feet down the hall before I stopped. I really wanted to know what they were talking about.
    I tiptoed back to the varnished brown door and then leaned into it, straining to hear. Nothing.
    There was the sound of a phone ringing but I couldn’t make out another thing until there was a crash.
    Cal’s voice came through clearly now. “You stupid fuck. Get the hell out of here.”
    Before I could move, the door was jerked open. Cal stared at me. “What do you want now?”
    The ice in his voice froze my brain. I couldn’t think. I looked just beyond him to Ryan.
    “It’s me. She wants me.” Ryan gave me a reptilian smile of joy and pointed a finger at me. “I told Cal you came looking for me.”
    Ryan started for the door but Cal held out his arm to stop him. “I said, ‘What do want?’” Cal’s outstretched arm held Ryan away from me.
    “My keys?” My heart was pounding. “I forgot my keys.” Cal looked down at my hand and right at my keys.
    “Oh,” I said. Cal said, “Was there anything else?”
    “Stupid of me. Sorry.”
    Behind him Ryan slapped at Cal’s hand and said, “Oh, she wants me . . .”
    Before Ryan could finish Cal catapulted into action, slamming the door to 204 .
    I stared at the door in shock. I could hear them now, yelling and cursing at each other.
    Their anger jolted me into action and I sprinted down the hall. I flew out the door.
    Aunt Kay’s eyes opened in surprise and she rose from the bench. I