The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 57 Martini
Cristos
I waited patiently for Xavier to compose himself knowing he had done the same for me on many occasions. Among the three of us, Xavier enjoyed violence. He had a stomach for all the gore that came his way.
It wasn’t like Xavier to experience any aversion when it came to certain things like assault… unless whatever happened to Joy was more than disturbing. It was horrifying.
Luckily, Joy and Sebastian didn’t pay much attention as I assisted Xavier. They were both busy going through the boxes of decorations for tomorrow night’s event. While she and Sebastian discussed her plans for the stage, Joy had this winsome smile on her face. I didn’t want to upset her with news that Xavier had found the gruesome evidence of her assault at the coroner’s house… not just yet..
“Sorry, Base, Xavier finally said, sounding much better. “I’m not usually like this. Maybe because it’s her. By the way, I noticed Liam’s car isn’t parked up front anymore. Whatever business he had with the McDowells, I guess it’s done.”
I
“We did overhear him saying he had a meeting with someone tonight,” I said, taking a look at my monitor of the CCTV footage from the pub. “That someone could be either one of the McDowells. Anyway, Jack just walked into the pub, so Liam may be on his way here or he may be heading to Hillcrest.”
“Well, just message me if he finds his way to the pub,” Xavier said. “I’ll head to Hillcrest to
check.”
“Copy that.”
I briefly went to the bathroom to freshen up. When I came out, Sebastian and Joy were about to leave the office, each carrying a box of decorations.
“What’s your hurry?” I asked. I still had to hide my laptop and lock it in my safe.
“Liam and Nicole just walked in. I need to find out what Nicole did in Fargo yesterday, so I told her I was here,” Sebastian explained. I looked at him surprised.
“Noah told Patrick he was at Fargo yesterday when he came by the pub this afternoon to buy tickets,” I said. Was it a coincidence or not?
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CHAPTER 57 Martini
“But Noah’s truck was parked in front of his house when I came home last night, Joy said, puzzled. “Let’s check the footage from the cul-de-sac. I didn’t notice if anything came through the cul-de-sac, except for-
“What is it?” Sebastian asked.
“Old Man Tucket who lives right across from me, Noah was about to kiss me a while ago, but the elderly man interrupted us. He definitely saw something,” Joy said. I opened the door and
ushered them out.
“I’ll check the footage while you guys entertain. I’ll see you at the bar,” I said. Joy and Sebastian nodded their heads and left the office.
After messaging Xavier that Liam was at the pub, I checked the early morning CCTV recording of Joy’s neighborhood and found Nicole’s Volvo XC40 had stopped just before entering the cul-de-sac. I saw Noah exit her car and slowly walk towards his home. He suddenly stopped several feet away, turned around and gave Nicole a flying kiss.
They’re f ucking…
I zoomed in on Noah’s face as he walked home and found him smiling which only meant. Nicole reciprocated before making a U-turn and driving home.

I didn’t hear Noah mention anything through the bug Joy placed in his home. Most importantly, I didn’t even hear Liam mention any of it.
Did Liam know about this or was he clueless like the rest of us?
After placing my trusty laptop in my safe, I walked out of my office and went straight to the bar to help Patrick. Fortunately, tonight was a slow night. Everyone was getting ready for tomorrow’s events… inside and outside the pub.
I watched Joy joke around with Liam and Jack as I manned the bar. Every single time I heard Joy laugh, I had the urge to throw my Kiwi Chef knife either at Liam or Jack’s head.
After Xavier’s ‘violent’ reaction, I felt they had no right to any of Joy’s affection, even if it was
all an act:
“Base, all is quiet in Hillcrest. No one is here. Not even Dan or Cris. I’m returning to the warehouse,” I heard Xavier’s voice through the earpiece. I bent down to grab two martini glasses from the under bar.
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CHAPTER 57 Martini
Copy. Over and out, I said while I proceeded to make a dirty vodka martini for me and Joy. This was the one benefit of acting like we were best friends… we could do things together
like a couple.
Yum, a vodka martini,” Nicole said as she and Sebastian sat in front of me. The rest of the drinking public were calling it a night and here was plagued with a ‘Marilyn Monroe” sounding troll.
“Chip, two please,”
tian said.
I placed two napkins and gave them the two I had already made and garnished it with olives.
I watched as Nicole took an olive in her mouth and began chewing it like she was giving
head.
How entertaining…
I quickly made two more dirty martinis and gestured for Beth to hand one to Joy. Instead of savoring mine, I downed it, grateful for the salty sour taste of the brine. I quickly made a couple more glasses.
Tonight, before my event, I will drink. Joy or Sebastian could drive me home.
“Aw, you missed me, Dom?” I overheard Nicole say. “I had to go to Fargo for a client of mine.”
I scoffed at her.
“What was in Fargo?” I asked, demanding an answer.
“Tiles,” Nicole answered defiantly.
“You couldn’t find a certain tile at Dom’s, so you drove almost three hours away to buy it?” I asked, downing another vodka martini. Sebastian watched with interest as Nicole squirmed
in her stool.
“W-well, w-we needed it right away and deliveries at Dom’s usually take a couple of days.” At first she looked unsure, but since the lie made sense, she eventually looked more confident. “My client was willing to pay anyway.”
“Who’s your client?”
She paused for a moment. “S-sheriff Combs.”
“Sheriff Combs who used to live in a rickety old house wanted a specific tile and was willing
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CHAPTER 7 Marium
to pay yo ve van travel across the state to purjuse this specific tile. You know what? I
so
does make sense, I mumbled while looking like was thinking. I threw my hands up in the ait Anyways, why should I care?
W what do y you mean? Nicole asked, looking as if she wanted to dump the martini on my
head
Noah mentioned he went there when he came to the pub to buy tickets for tomorrow’s event. Did you see him there?” asked, watching the blood drain from her face,
“Uhm, yeah, I did see Noah at Fargo,” she admitted.
“It’s a good enough alibi, Nicole,” I said, gazing her. “Personally, I think you’re cheating on Dom, but maybe I’m wrong.”
Nicole’s face paled like she saw a ghost. I nailed her.
But before Nicole could answer, Sebastian said, “You are wrong, Chip. She isn’t cheating on me. Nicole and 1… we’re just friends. Whatever she does during her free time is her business Sebastian downed his martini and yawned. “I need to get some sleep. I have some deliveries coming in tomorrow.” He threw some money on the bar top. “Good night, Nicole, Chip, make sure she gets home safely.”
“That won’t be necessary, Chip. I’ll drive her home,” Liam said with Jack and Joy behind him. “Nicole, your keys. I’ll just have Henry follow us. It’s late and I still have things to do
tomorrow.”