Ethan crossed his arms looking from one sister to the other.
"We didn't get a chance to discuss anything when you called me last night. So tell me love, what's all the fuss about"
"What do you mean Ethan," asked Andrea.
"Why are folks trying to kill you? Who'd you piss off?"
"To be fair, we don't know that those people mean to kill us. They could just want to talk."
"So why didn't you sit down and have a nice little chat with them?"
"Maybe I have nothing to say to them. You know what? I think I will have a sandwich."
"Don't try to change to subject. You've got something they want and I wanna know what it is."
"What's with the third degree? Do I put you on the rack when you show up at my place in the middle of the night looking for someplace to hole up for a few days? Have I ever tried to pry into your business when you ask me to lie for you? We are friends but that doesn't mean I'm obligated to tell you a damn thing!"
"Don't be so touchy Andrea. I was curious that's all. You've never asked me for help before. You girls want something to wash those sandwiches down with?"
Andrea accepted a beer and Janet a ginger ale. Janet sat back to watch things develop, interested to see if Ethan knew Andrea well enough to recognize what the hard edge to her tone meant. She knew that if he kept going he would step out onto thin ice. Andrea's anger was going to flare up if he kept pressing her.
When anyone ignited Andrea's ire she lashed out without a moment's thought for the consequences. Janet never could see any rhyme or reason for the forms that Andrea's vengeance took. Sometimes, it was a punch or a stab, a shove or choke. Other times, Andrea would bide her time as she plotted some vicious retaliation.
Janet chuckled to herself, maybe she wouldn't even have to try to convince Andrea to ditch that creep. It looked like he was going to do all the convincing for her. She watched him struggling to come up with a different tactic to make Andrea tell him what he wanted to know.
Wasn't that just like a man? That's right moron, go ahead and push your luck, Janet thought. His features settled into a mournful frown. This ought to be good.
"I didn't mean to pry. It's just that I've been having a run of bad luck lately. I owe a lot of money to some very scary dudes. I thought you might be able to help me out with a few duckets. Just enough to get 'em off my back."
"How much are we talking about Ethan," Andrea asked cautiously.
"Oh, fifty thou ought to do it."
"Fifty thousand dollars? Janet can you believe this joker? I love the way he just causally tosses it out there like it's chump change. Fifty thousand dollars! Really? Are you shitting me? After everything I've done for you over the years without ever asking or expecting any return, the one time I ask you for something you try to jam both hands into my pockets!"
Janet wanted so badly to blurt out that she had warned her sister not to trust him but she kept her mouth shut. One "I told you so," no matter how satisfying it might be, was not worth derailing her anger. Janet wanted things to run their course. She shook her head and arranged her features into a shocked expression that mirrored her sister's, hoping that it would egg her on.
"That really hurts Andrea. You know I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate."
"You're always desperate Ethan! The only time you come around is when your ass is in a bind and you want me to pry it loose! Why do I get the feeling that you won't help us unless I come across with the money? I'm beginning to think my sister was right about you. Maybe you're working both sides and you'll turn us over to them whether or not you get what you want."
"Now you're talking crazy! You've known me how many years? You know good and damn well that there were plenty of times that I could have sold you out for a tidy little profit. I've been in a bind before and managed to wiggle out of it. I'm just so used to you bailing me out of trouble that I didn't stop to consider that you might be feeling a little cornered right now. But I wouldn't be here if I didn't intend to help. Finish your lunch love."
Andrea remained pitched forward in her seat a few moments more, glaring at Ethan as though she might reach across the scarred table and throttle him. Janet was disappointed when Andrea wordlessly picked up the sandwich and bit into it.
She could tell by the way that Andrea tore bites from her sandwich that the insult wasn't forgiven but there wouldn't be any knock down drag out fighting during lunch. Ethan would be wise to watch his back. Janet looked down at her own lunch and took a swig of her ginger ale. She wrinkled her nose.
"This ginger ale is salty."
Andrea rolled her eyes to the ceiling, "Oh lord, don't you get started again. Give it a rest Janet. We get it. You're not happy. Your displeasure is duly noted, now shut the hell up for two seconds will ya?"
Janet was about to argue back and suddenly felt too tired to care. She ate the rest of her sandwich in stony silence. Janet took another sip of her ginger ale and almost dropped the bottle. Ale splashed onto the table. She started to apologize and everything momentarily swam out of focus.
Janet felt strange and thought the heat must have affected her more than she realized. She wondered if she was a little dehydrated. Janet suddenly felt dizzy. The sensation intensified until the table seemed to be tilting at a crazy angle. Janet felt as though she might slide out of her chair. She grasped the edge of the table to steady herself. and looked over at her sister. Janet was startled to see that Andrea appeared to be having the same issue.
Andrea clumsily knocked her bottle of beer over. It splashed beer in Ethan's direction before tumbling off the table and shattering on the wooden floor. He jumped up cursing and stalked over to the sink, searching for something with which to dry himself.
While his back was turned, Andrea quickly bent down, grabbed a piece of broken glass and concealed it in the palm of her hand. Janet intended to ask Andrea what she was up to but her lips wouldn't cooperate. Ethan returned to the table with a rag and mopped up most of the beer. Surprisingly, he didn't look angry. A smile slowly spread across his face as he addressed Janet.
"You were partially right you know. I did go on a drug run last night. I had to get a few party favors for you ladies," he said slyly.
Andrea's eyes slid shut and her head fell forward onto the table. Janet's drug addled brain finally put two and two together and she suddenly realized that he had drugged them. She could feel her strength beginning to leach away.
Her eyes were getting heavy. She forced herself to sit up straight in the chair, determined to stay awake, knowing that in a few short moments she would be unconscious. She looked at him, struggling to ask the question. He smirked, looking at her as though he could read her thoughts.
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