Page 76 of Jackass
“Alone, Sam.”
“Alone, Carrie.”
The call disconnected, and I hung up and went back to work. I had a few hours before I had to decide what to tell Jack. Right now, I needed to be as honest as possible.
I walked over to the table where the Shadows sat. Mimic watched me carefully. I knew there were a handful of brothers who didn’t trust me. They made it clear with how they watched me, like they were waiting for me to prove them right.
“Who was on the phone?” Mimic asked as soon as I reached the table.
“It was Carrie. She wants me to meet her on Friday night. Alone.”
“That’s not an option, Sam,” Winchester advised.
“I know, and I will tell Jack tonight. I need to meet with her, but you guys all know how to hide well. She doesn’t need to know someone is watching.”
Mimic never took his eyes off me. “She’s right. Carrie only needs to think Sam is alone.”
“I have to get back to work. Your order should be ready soon,and I’ll bring it over,” I told them.
The rest of my shift was uneventful. Romeo and Winchester left, but Mimic stayed. He drank coffee and ate a few pieces of pie. He moved from the booth to sit at the counter. When King spoke with Joellen about this arrangement, he promised the Shadows would not interfere with her business.
Sitting at the far end of the counter, Mimic could see both the front and back doors. His back was to the room, but I knew he’d seen everyone enter; though, once they were inside, I guess they didn’t concern him.
A few minutes before the end of my shift, Jack and Charlie walked in.
“Mommy!” Charlie ran over and threw herself into my arms.
“Hello, baby. What are you doing here?” I asked, looking up at Jack.
“Daddy said we could have dinner with you.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” I looked at Jack, then turned to look at Mimic. I set Charlie down and walked over to the counter. “I said I would tell him, and I will. I wouldn’t have told you the truth if I wasn’t going to tell Jack. Why would I, when I know you would tell him if I didn’t?” I asked him.
“Did you tell us the truth?” he asked.
My eyes narrowed, and I gave him my best mom stare.
He didn’t flinch.
“Yes,” I growled.
“Hey, Sammy,” Jack called out. He placed a hand on my elbow and turned me toward him. “Mimic didn’t tell me, Romeo did. He was worried because you looked spooked after the phone call.”
I sighed heavily, but I didn’t apologize to Mimic for my outburst. There was something about him. I knew he didn’t trust me. Sure, I lied to him, but he had no way of knowing that. Did he?
“Come on, Sammy, go clock out and have dinner with us. We can talk about the phone call.”
“Not in front of Charlie,” I said.
“No problem,” Mimic offered. “Charlie, wanna sit at thecounter and have dinner with Uncle Mimic?” He spoke to my daughter like I wasn’t standing right in front of him. He was really the only brother I didn’t feel comfortable with.
“Yes! Mommy, can I?” Charlie bounced up and down, waiting for my answer. I knew she loved sitting at the counter. What child didn’t love spinning around on the stools?
I glared at Mimic. He had put me on the spot with Charlie, so if I said no, I’d look like the bad guy. He was forcing me to lie to Jack.
Ok, so, I know I’m making the choice to lie, but that’s not the point, dammit!
“Sure, baby. Daddy and I are going to sit in a booth. So, if you get tired ofUncleMimic, you can come sit with us,” I told her, then walked into the back to clock out of my shift.