Fink shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Mark, but I’m honor-bound to call them myself.” He dialed and held the phone to his ear.
“Hang up if you want any chance of still having a job on Monday,” Mark hissed, trying to get back up while also cupping his nose as it gushed blood. “I’m your boss, damn it!”
“Yeah, but my dad is your boss, and you just tried to date-rape his surrogate daughter,” Fink pointed out. “Hello? Yes, I’m at a party and my roommate’s been drugged – yes, that’s the correct address. Apartment 203. We have the man responsible here. Okay, thank you.” He hung up the phone. “Cops’ll be here in a minute.”
Mark had finally managed to stand, still clutching his face, and glared. “I’m pressing charges. You can’t prove I gave her anything. Who’s to say I didn’t find those pills somewhere in the apartment and confiscate them? The bottle has your fingerprints on it now, too – maybe I took them from you and got assaulted in my own home for the trouble. You can’t prove I did anything.”
Fink tapped his phone, playing back Mark’s words, starting from “You don’t know what you’re talking about” and ending with “I’m your boss, damn it!” Then, he played back the conversation from after the phone call. “I’m not completely naïve, you know,” he told Mark. “I have a great app that records conversations all the time. Leading a well-documented life will aid in the writing of my autobiography one day.”
Mark made a run for the front door and Fink chased him, tackling him to the floor before Mark could get the door open. Just then, there was a loud pounding at the door. “Carrollton PD – open up!” a voice called. By now, the apartment had quieted as everyone stared at Fink and Mark on the ground, and Jake holding Miriam up by the waist. Still struggling with Mark, Fink yelled, “It’s open!”
Two burly policemen entered the apartment, nearly tripping over the two men on the floor. One of them looked around the room as the other managed to haul Mark out from under Fink. “We received a call that a girl here was drugged,” the first officer informed the room at large.
“Yeah, she’s right over here,” Jake called, hoisting Miriam, now mostly unconscious, into his arms and carrying her to the door.
“There’s an ambulance outside; I’ll take you down,” the second officer told him, leading them out.
The first officer sidestepped Fink, still gripping Mark by the arm, and asked, “So, what’s going on here?”
“This guy,” Fink pointed to Mark, “drugged my roommate and attempted to flee the scene after I called 911.”
“Officers, this is all a misunderstanding,” Mark protested, wiping his bloody nose. “I have no idea how the alleged drugs could have gotten into her system. I firmly believe it to be a case of too much to drink, and given that the girl is of age, I have committed no crime in allowing her to drink in my home. This man and his friend assaulted me without provocation, and I would like to press charges.”
Fink stood and handed the pill bottle to the officer. “These fell out of his pocket.”
“When your roommate punched me!” Mark yelled. “And they’re not mine!”
“He punched you because you drugged our roommate and tried to take her into your bedroom!” Fink retorted. He handed his cell phone to the policeman. “I have him recorded, threatening my job for calling you, and trying to pin the offense on my roommate and myself.”
“Do I have any witnesses here that were not involved in this that can tell me what happened?” the officer asked exasperatedly.
Tim, Mark’s fraternity brother, stepped forward. “I saw Mark give Miriam a drink after putting that pill bottle back in his pocket. And I saw him dragging her down the hallway – that’s when I brought it to Jake’s attention; he’s the man who took her downstairs with your partner.”
“Tim, what the fuck?” Mark was aghast.
Tim shook his head. “You used to get away with this all the time at the frat house in college, and I never said anything about it – I’ve felt guilty about that for years. This is my chance to start making amends.”
“This is outrageous!” Mark yelled, as the policeman cuffed him and read him his rights, leading him outside. Fink, Tim, and the other party guests followed them out, shutting the door behind them. “I want my lawyer!” Mark glowered at Fink as he was put into the police car. “Don’t bother coming to work tomorrow!”
“Well, it being Memorial Day, I wasn’t really planning on it,” Fink replied dryly.
“Tuesday, whatever! You’re fired!” Mark yelled as the officer shut the car door.
Fink shrugged. “Yeah, I doubt that.” He hurried over to the ambulance where Jake was getting in behind an EMT and Miriam on a stretcher. “What’s going on?” he asked worriedly.
“They think she’s going to be fine,” Jake answered uneasily, “but they want to do some tests and keep her overnight for observation, just in case. They don’t know how much he gave her of whatever that stuff was, and she’s so tiny...I’m gonna ride over with them, just in case she wakes up before they get there. I don’t want her to wake up alone and scared.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you there,” Fink nodded decisively. “They arrested Mark, thanks to that guy you were talking to earlier stepping up as a witness. Apparently Mark has a history of this kind of thing and he’s never been caught because no one ever said anything...we should send that guy Tim a fruit basket or something.”
“Yeah, okay,” Jake nodded, distracted by his concern for Miriam. The EMT went to shut the doors. “See you there,” Jake called, and the doors closed. As the ambulance drove off, Fink made his way quickly to his car before pulling out his phone.
“Dad? I know it’s late, but there’s been an incident.”
***
Miriam awoke confused and disoriented on Monday morning. It took her a minute to absorb her surroundings; she was lying in bed in what appeared to be a hospital room, and Fink was asleep in a chair in the corner of the room. Jake was there, too, sleeping in a chair that was pulled up close to the bed. His head and shoulders rested next to her right side, his hand almost touching hers, as though he’d fallen asleep holding it – his neck would be killing him when he woke up, for sure. She noticed an IV plugged into her right arm and one of those little monitors clamped onto her finger.
“Jake?” she whispered nervously, reluctant to wake him but needing to know why they were at the hospital.
He stirred, blinking sleep out of his eyes. “Oh, thank god, you’re awake,” Jake mumbled, grasping for her hand and mindful of the IV. “How do you feel?”
“Confused,” she answered; looking around again as Fink slowly opened his eyes. “What happened? Why am I in the hospital?”
Fink’s expression was guilty as he pulled his chair to her other side. “It was all my fault, Miriam, I’m so sorry! I should never have dragged you guys to that stupid party. Please, please forgive me.”
“What exactly do I need to forgive you for?” Miriam asked warily, though given how bad Fink looked right then, it wasn’t likely that she’d be holding a grudge against him for anything.
“Fink, it wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know Mark was one of those guys,” Jake argued. He turned back to Miriam. “You got roofied last night at the party – Mark slipped it into your drink.”
Miriam gasped, wide-eyed, her gaze flipping to the rest of her body, covered by the sheets. “Did he–”
“No,” Fink quickly assured her. “Your knight in shining flannel, here, knocked Mark on his ass – broke his nose, probably – and I had him arrested, all before he could do anything other than try to pull you into his room.”
She shuddered. “Thank you both.” She got a better look at Jake’s bruised knuckles. “Are you – does that hurt?”
Jake shrugged. “Not too badly. They gave me ice and ibuprofen last night.”
“Did you get an x-ray, at least?” Miriam bit her lip, worried.
“Nah, I didn’t want to leave you here,” he admitted. “You had us really wo
rried. And I’m sure my hand is fine.” He flexed his fingers carefully, still clutching Miriam’s hand with his uninjured one.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the doorway – Libby, Damian, Fink’s parents, and Miriam’s parents were all trying to fight their way through the door at once. “Miriam!” Barb Silver exclaimed, breaking through, as the others quickly followed. “Oh, sweetheart, are you alright?”
“Yes, Mom, I’m fine,” Miriam assured her. “You didn’t have to come.”
“My baby is in a hospital bed – how could we not come?” her mother shrieked, before turning to Jake and hugging him hard. “You saved my little girl!” She hurried to the other side of the bed to give Fink the same treatment. “And you, too!”
A man in a white lab coat entered the room, doing a double-take as he registered the number of people present. “Is everything okay in here?” he asked tentatively.
“Why don’t you tell us?” Miriam’s dad suggested, coming forward to shake the man’s hand. “I’m Warren Silver – my daughter Miriam is the one in the bed over there.”
“Ah, good morning, Miriam!” The doctor smiled warmly at her. “I’m glad to see you awake and alert. I’m Dr. Thompson.”
“It’s nice to meet you, doctor – but can I go home now?” she asked, causing the others to laugh.
“Well, I don’t see why not,” Dr. Thompson nodded, looking over her chart. “You had a large amount of Rohypnol in your system last night, but it seems to have flushed itself out now. We just wanted to keep you overnight for observation to make sure you woke up okay after passing out at that party.” He glanced at Jake and Fink. “These two were beside themselves when you got here – they refused to leave your side for anything. I understand they did a number on the man who drugged you – he was here briefly last night, accompanied by the police, to have his nose re-set before spending the night at the police station. I certainly don’t condone violence, but I have to commend you boys for your actions – you’ve got some good friends here, Miriam.”
“I know,” she said, smiling at both Fink and Jake.
“Alright, I’ll just remove your IV, and you can get out of here,” Dr. Thompson offered, carefully taking the tube out of her arm. “It was good to meet you, but I’d better not see you in here again!” He chuckled and left the room after the Silvers thanked him profusely.
“Well, let’s ditch this place,” Ben Finkelstein suggested. “Who wants breakfast? I feel like hitting up a diner.”
“Food would be nice,” Miriam admitted. “Um, do you guys think I could have some privacy to change out of this hospital gown?”
“Oh, sure!” “Of course!” “Take your time, sweetie.” “God, I have to pee.” “Ugh, me too!” Everyone but Libby trooped out of the room to wait in the hall. Libby sighed.
“I just got in an hour ago – Fink was supposed to pick me up at the airport, but Damian showed up instead and we drove straight here. I was so worried about you!” She hugged Miriam tightly before handing her the pile of clothes that had been left on the bedside table for her.
“I’ll try and stay out of trouble for awhile,” Miriam promised. “Now move – I have to pee, too.”
Chapter Twelve
“Man, what a great day,” Damian sighed happily as he slid into a booth at a classy Addison bar. “I got five phone numbers today, and the night is still young!”
Miriam rolled her eyes, sliding in on the other side of the booth next to Jake, as Fink and Libby got in next to Damian. “I think a few of those girls may have been overdeveloped minors.”
“Nah, they just know how to take care of their skin,” Fink commented, wrapping an arm around Libby. “Just like my lovely lady here – she’ll never age, either.”
Libby rolled her eyes at him. “You know, models do eventually get old,” she told him. “And quit the business, like I’m planning to after graduation so I can concentrate on my design label.”
He patted her shoulder. “Baby, I’ll support you no matter what you decide to do,” he assured her, kissing her on the cheek.
“If it looks like I’m gagging, it’s probably just a nervous tic,” Jake said dryly. “It has nothing to do with how disgusting you two are.”
Truthfully, Libby and Fink weren’t nearly as nauseating as they’d once been – they’d been together for more than half a year and it seemed like maybe the honeymoon was over. Libby slept alone at her apartment with increasing frequency, and she spent more time with her ‘colleagues’ – fellow models, photographers, and even a few aspiring designers. She was getting ready to start a two-semester design internship and had been doing a lot of solo networking.
They had come to Addison for Kaboomtown, one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s top Fourth of July events (though it actually took place each year on the third of the month). They’d been invited to a few parties, but Miriam had been avoiding those since Memorial Day weekend and had suggested coming to Addison for a change of scenery.
After dinner and drinks at the bar, they all headed back outside to find a section of curb to watch fireworks from. They had just picked a spot to settle in when Miriam decided she wanted a drink from a vendor they’d seen down the block. Jake accompanied her to the tent.
As Miriam ordered her drink, Jake heard a voice call from his left, “Jake, hi!” He turned and came face-to-face with Callie Hamilton for the first time in a year and a half – since their messy, messy breakup.
“Hi, Callie,” Jake mumbled awkwardly. “Um, how are you?”
“I’m great!” she said brightly, ignorant of his discomfort. She thrust her left hand into his face. “I’m engaged!”
He briefly forgot how to breathe normally. “What?” he asked, feeling dizzy as he got a closer look at her ring.
“Yeah, I’m getting married!” She pointed to a man in his early thirties walking up to them. “This is Rick Anderson. Rick, this is Jake!”
“Ah, right, the ex,” Rick nodded, wrapping an arm around Callie’s waist. “I’ve heard...things about you. Good to meet you, Jake.”
“Oh, yeah,” Jake replied in a daze, “likewise.”
“How are you doing these days?” Callie inquired. “I haven’t seen you since before I graduated last year.”
“Uh, you know, fine...still managing Mack’s, still taking classes...”
“That’s great!” she gushed, cutting him off. “I’m writing for a local paper in east Dallas – that’s where I met Rick, we work together – and I just love it there! I really feel like my editorials are making a difference, and things are just going so well for us.”
“Well, good for you, Callie,” Jake told her sincerely. “I’m glad you’re happy.” And he was, in a way – he didn’t have feelings for her anymore. It wasn’t all too pleasant, though, having the woman who’d stomped on your heart flaunt her way-too-handsome fiancé in your face when you were still alone. It was clear who’d won the breakup.
“So, are you seeing anyone special?” Callie asked, and even though he didn’t think she was actively trying to be a bitch about it (though with Callie, you really never knew), he kind of wanted to throw something at her. Did it look like he had a girl with him? “Well, you know—”
“Jake!” Miriam cried, bouncing over to his side. “I got you a beer – and they didn’t have any sodas I liked, so I got a Chardonnay instead.” She turned to Callie and Rick. “Hi, are you friends of Jake’s?”
“I’m Callie, and this is my fiancé, Rick,” Callie introduced herself. “Jake and I used to date.”
Realizing exactly who Callie was, and having heard all about her over the past year from Fink and Damian, Miriam’s eyes widened slightly. “Really? That’s funny, he never mentioned a ‘Callie’...I’m Miriam.” She smiled impishly. “Jake’s girlfriend.”
Jake tried hard not to choke on his beer.
“It’s so nice to meet you!” Callie smiled, but Jake could see that it didn’t reach her eyes. Miriam was gorgeous, younger, with a much-hotter body, and Callie was obvi
ously miffed at the idea that he wouldn’t have mentioned her name. Ah, there was the real Callie, the one he remembered – self-centered and bitchy. She was clearly putting on an act for Rick, who probably had never seen her true nature, or he’d likely never have proposed to her. “How, uh…how long have you two been together?”
“Gosh,” Miriam appeared deep in thought, “I guess our first official date was on Valentine’s Day this year – so about five months, I guess? But I moved into the house over a year ago and things sort of heated up over time, if you get what I mean, so it seems like so much longer...I knew from the day we met that he was the one for me. He’s the most wonderful boyfriend a girl could ask for – so caring and supportive.” She smiled sweetly, taking his hand and gazing at him adoringly. “Plus, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how great he is in the sack – have you ever met a more selfless lover? I know I haven’t.” She shivered for effect.
Jake was speechless. Miriam might have laid it on a little thick, but Callie had definitely bought it; it looked like she was having a hard time keeping the fake smile on her lips from becoming a sneer. “Oh, that’s...sweet. I’m very happy for you both. Well, we’d better find a spot to watch the fireworks, nice talking to you!” She pulled Rick away with her.