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Godiva: International Woman of Intrigue (Chapter Nine)
02 June, 2010 by chris
Godiva, International Woman of Intrigue
Godiva, International Woman of Intrigue
By Mathew D. Rhys and Chris Lawton
Chapter 9
Hugh was waiting for me in the restaurant. He did not look happy, but still rose and pulled out my chair when I approached. He reached over and kissed me stiffly on the cheek. His manner was so—rigid, I guess—it took me aback. I sat down and looked over the menu, but nothing struck my fancy. I suppose anything looked bland—sad to say, even the presence of my good friend—when compared to the breakfast I shared with Etienne hours earlier.
When the waiter returned, I ordered something with noodles, and Hugh and I sat silent for a few strained minutes "Maddie, I need to talk to you about a very serious matter," he abruptly said. He looked intense and nervous, which I didn't understand and all.
"What is it?" I asked, dumbfouned.
"It's about the white lithium grease," Hugh replies.
"What about it?" I asked. I had honestly forgotten everything about the robbery, much to my personal embarrassment.
"Well, here's the thing—I was helping the guys clean up the starting pits this morning, when Smacker O'Toole barrelled past me, still drunk from last night. You know how he gets after loosing a race--"
"Which is usually," I replied with a smirk.
"Right," Hugh contiued, "Anyway, he knocks me over and I hit my shin on a crate or something. Hurt like hell, I suppose, but when I pulled my pant leg back down, guess what I saw? White lithium grease."
"And?" I asked, not seeing his point. "It is a pit."
"White lithium grease isn't normal for cars, racing or otherwise." He stopped himself short and looked past me blankly, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "Now, you know I'd never want bad to happen to you, right? That I'd never wanna see you hurt. Your like family, you know?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I could feel myself growing impatient and nervous, but I didn't know why.
"I've done some checking," Hugh stared again. "Maddie, there was only one racer in the entire race that uses white lithium grease. It's Etienne."
I felt a pang of resentment escape my eyes, as they narrowed. "Damn it, Hugh," I said with more vitriol in my voice than I intended. "Don't do this."
"I'm sorry, Maddie," he said. "I know how much you like him, but it's the truth. He is the only one that uses that type of grease. I don't see many other possibilities. I think he's the culprit."
I stood then, scraping my chair along the floor. The screeching sound echoed throughout the restaurant. "You are a jerk, you know that?" I screeched. "I cannot believe you could be so petty. I know you don't like him, but--" I spun around to leave.
"Maddie, please don't go," Hugh said. I can still see the hurt on his face.
"I'm sorry, Hugh," I replied, a cold gravel in my voice. "But, I'm not very hungry right now."