Free Raucous by Ben Paul Dunn Page A

tiptoed up to speak into the ear of the big man next to her.  He nodded at her words, turned to Jean and grinned and saluted.
    Jean squinted but was sure.  The man who drove Jim away.
    The woman moved through the crowd to the bar.  She had applied make-up expertly, there were no cracks.  But most muscles in her face would not contract due to the high percentage of poison injected at high cost.  She retained expression in her eyes.  Green circles that told every emotion.
    She walked across and slid up to Jean.  She was expert and knew what to do.  Her loose top fell in different directions revealing the violet lace bra underneath.
    "Remember me?" She asked.
    Standing up she was one meter sixty at most.  She tiptoed to speak into Jean's ear.
    Jean shook her head.  She would never remember.   Trying was a wasted effort.
    "Do you want to drink, get high or come with me?"  The woman asked.
    Jean scanned the room again.  Nobody was watching except the big guy.
    "Do you know him?" Jean asked.
    "We grew up together," she said.
    "And who are you?"
    "You really can't remember?  I'm Sophie, and the big guy is Raucous.  That mean nothing?"
    Jean shook her head.
    "Not a thing.  And if I leave with you, the big guy there will be straight out after me for one of those fights organized to impress his lady."
    "I'm not his lady, and if he wanted to hurt you, he would do it inside and right now.  You don't know him?"
    "We have an old friend in common.  Saw them both for the first time a few days ago."
    Sophie looked confused.  "You won't find better than me," Sophie said.
    Jean stared at Raucous but spoke to Sophie, "Not this easily, no."
    Sophie took Jean's left hand in her right and squeezed.  She pulled and started to move Jean toward the exit.
    "Where are you taking me?" Jean asked.
    "Mine."
    ******************************************************************
    Sophie rented a small two-roomed apartment.  A living room, bedroom and bathroom.  The kitchen a corner in the main room.  It was a 1970s council build.  Five floors in the complex and no lift.  The walls were thin, the floor creaked and there was a smell of age.  Sophie's apartment was on the fifth floor, an attic space.  The walls sloping into a ceiling.  The usable space was limited by the low angle where the ceiling met the walls.  The sofa, table and bookcase came with the apartment.  The four pictures on the walls, each a print of a Constable, hadn't been moved in a decade.  The place was worn but clean, humid but not hot. 
    As soon as Jean stepped in, Sophie pushed her up against the wall and slammed the door shut.  Sophie removed Jean's clothes quickly, and removed her own.  She was fast, kissing, ripping and pulling.  Naked they moved to the Sofa.  Sophie was the aggressor with Jean riding along.  But Sophie bit hard into Jean's stomach and Jean woke up, snapped from her passive trance.  She matched Sophie's aggression and they fought a battle of wills and tested strength and desires until they lay silent and still.
    After thirty minutes, Sophie stood.  "You can stay here," she said.  "Sofa or bed.  Depends on the day."
    "The big guy?"  Jean asked.
    "Raucous?”  Sophie giggled like an innocent girl she had never been.  “He never stays here.  There is a spare key in the kitchen drawer.  Sure be more comfortable here than in your cheap hotel.  But you decide."
    Jean smiled, stood and found the key.  She found her clothes and dressed.
    Sophie watched, "What are you doing?"
    Jean walked to the door.
    "I'm going now,” Jean said. “Pick up my stuff and come back tonight. 
    “There’s no rush,” Sophie said.
    “I have a tendency to wake up and think differently.  I think I'll take up your kind offer while I'm still feeling like me."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
    He had an inquisitive mind.  He knew this fault got people killed.  A trip down memory lane, but he had to make peace with it.
    Raucous drove in circles for two hours