Guitar Strings

In the music classroom at Pixfare Elementary school, Ben Cruise, a muscular, tan-skinned man with brown eyes and a thin mustache, was setting up the instruments and sheet music for the day.

The door opened and Ms. Cordwain entered the room. "Señor. Cruise. Just the one I was looking for."

"Class hasn't started yet."

"Actually, it's about the big recital you planned. I'm afraid your little performers will have to go barefoot."

"What? No. The kids need dancing shoes. You always make them."

"I have a business to run. Since you never paid for the last several times, I'm not making shoes for you anymore." She began to walk away with a smug look on her face.

"This is no way to run a partnership, Cordwain!" Ben shouted. "People aren't gonna put up with this!"

She walked down the hallway and came across Derek, who had been watching them.

"That was quite a show back there, Ms. Cordwain."

"Well, Mr. Cruise is just having a bad day." She shrugged. "Happens to the best of us."

"I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

"Yeah, and the moment you have something I want to discuss, we'll have that little chat."

"No, we're gonna do this now. It'll only take a moment."

"Is there something eating you? Something you need to get out in the open? 'Cause it's gonna have to wait. Please." She walked away, leaving behind a confused-looking Derek.

--------

In the diner, Clark and Laura Reed were seated at separate tables. At his own booth, Clark was reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Laura Reed noticed the book's title. "Oh, you got the book."

"Yeah. Yeah, I just started it. It's great. I can't wait to see how it ends."

Michelle came over and refilled Laura Reed's cup with coffee. "Uh, I can push the tables together if you guys..."

"Oh, no, we're not together." They both replied at the same time.

Jack arrived and sat at Laura Reed's table across from her. "Hey, Clark."

"Hey."

"Laura Reed. So... how's your day going?"

"Hilary's fine."

"That's not what I asked you." She gave him a knowing look. "You sure?"

"Really. She's her normal self. Derek won't keep you separated forever. When people are supposed to be together, they find a way." She looked over at Clark, who glanced at her.

"So, she's her normal self? She's fine. She's happy?" Jack asked with his mouth full.

"Yes." Jack made a face at Laura Reed's response. "No. She misses you. A lot. Trust me. I'm with her, like, six hours a day." The diner bell jingled as Sarah walked in. "Sarah! So good to see you." Laura Reed smiled, turning toward her.

"Good to see you too." Sarah grabbed a chair to sit down at their table.

"How's it going?" Jack asked.

"It's, uh... I mean watching the races is fun, but, uh, it's been lonely since Ray went back to training."

"Well, that is his passion." Laura Reed commented.

"On Valentine's Day? Yeah. He couldn't get out of it."

"I'm sorry, that stinks."

Michelle came over and brought Sarah a cup of coffee. "It doesn't have to. Come out with me. Let's have a pals' night. We can all go. Laura Reed, Jack, too, if you promise to leave the badge at home."

"I'm not really in the party mood, but you guys go and have fun." He exchanged a glance with Laura Reed. Michelle walked away and Jack's phone rang.

"What's that?"

"It's the station. Something's up." Jack got up and left.

--------

Ms. Cordwain walked up the front steps of her house to see the door was ajar. She drew a gun as she entered, walking slowly through the house. She turned around, ready to shoot, only to find Jack, also with a gun drawn. "Sheriff Swan."

"Your neighbors saw your front door open. They called it in."

"It seems I've been robbed."

"Funny how that keeps happening to you."

"Yeah, well... I'm a tough woman to love." They both lowered their weapons. Jack began dialing his cell phone. "Sheriff Swan, you can go now. I know exactly what was taken and who did it. I've got it from here."

"No, you don't. This was a robbery. Public menace. And if you don't tell me what you know, I'll have to arrest you for obstruction of justice. I have a feeling you don't wanna be behind bars."

"Of course not." Jack gave her a look as if to say 'Well, go ahead. Spill it.' "Alright, his name's Ben Cruise. He's the school's music teacher. I used to make dancing shoes for his class."

"Okay. I'll go get him, check him out." Jack began to leave.

"I'm sure you will, assuming I don't find him..." She chuckled. "Let's just say bad things tend to happen to bad people."

"Is that a threat?"

"Observation." Jack turned to leave again. "Good luck." He looked at her for a moment and then left out the door.

--------

Later at the Sheriff's Department, Jack pulled back the sheet revealing Ms. Cordwain's stolen items spread all over his desk. "You're right. Your man Ben ripped you off. It was all still at his place." He sat in his chair, smiling. "You're welcome."

"And the man himself?"

"Closing in on him."

"So, job well half-done, then."

"In less than a day, I got everything back." He noticed the troubled look on her face. "Is something wrong?"

"Something is missing." She turned to leave.

"I'll get it when I find him."

"Not if I find him first."

--------

For their girls' night, Sarah, Laura Reed, and Michelle went to a local club, the Axiom. They were seated at a table, drinking. Michelle checked out some guys across the bar. "Ooh, Sarah, check out those guys."

"Honey, I'm still with Ray."

"You're not married, and he's not here."

"He's racing."

"He's always racing. Have fun moping." Michelle took her drink and walked over to the guys.

"She's right. He's always training." She sighed in disappointment. "I thought love would be different."

"Me, too." Laura Reed sipped her drink.

--------

"Let me explain. Okay?" Ben pleaded, gagged and tied up. Ms. Cordwain had taken him to an abandoned cabin in the woods. "Let me explain."

"Oh." She pulled up a chair and sat down. "Well, that is... fascinating. Truly fascinating." She pressed the toe of her boot into Ben's throat. "I'm gonna let you breathe in a second, and you're gonna tell me where it is, and who told you to take it. Do you understand?"

"Yeah." He agreed in a strained voice.

"Good. Let's begin." She removed the boot.

"I needed those shoes."

"Ah, ah, ah. Now, you see, that's not a good first sentence." She smacked Ben across the face with her boot.

"Oh! Cordwain! Listen."

"Tell me where it is!" She hit him again.

"Oh! Stop."

"Tell me where it is!" She smacked him again.

"Oh, Stop! It wasn't my fault. "

"'My fault'? What are you talking about, 'my fault'? You convinced him to go. You had his trust and you threw him away!" She struck him again. "He's gone. He's gone forever. He's not coming back. And it's your fault!" She emphasized her words with strikes and Ben shouted when he's struck. "You were his best friend! You took him away from me! It's yours! It's your fault! It's your fault!"

Suddenly, Jack intruded on the scene by grabbing Ms. Cordwain's wrist. "Stop."

--------

"Girls' night's really working out for you." Laura Reed returned to her seat, noticing Sarah wasn't having a good time.

"Thought it would make me feel better. But the truth is... I need a 'be with my guy night'. But he's never around. And I'm at home all day. I mean, what's the point of being together if we're not together?"

Laura Reed thought for a moment, realizing that she was in the same situation. "I get it. Loving someone you can't be with... it's a terrible, terrible burden."

Sarah looked at Laura Reed, feeling sorry for her, but then shook her head. "Look, this was a bad idea. I should- I should go home."

"Sarah." A voice spoke to her.

"Ray?"

He came up to her, holding a bouquet of roses. "Hey."

"I thought that you were training tonight."

"I am. I'm on a break, and I had to see you..." He handed her the roses. "And ask you something." He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. "Will you marry me?" Sarah looked shocked. Michelle and Laura Reed watched from the table. "I only have a twenty-minute break, so, um, anytime now."

"Yes!" Sarah shouted, nodding. He put the ring on her finger, and they hugged as the other people in the bar applauded.

"My car's outside if you want to take a ride before I head back. It's not much of a date."

"It's the best date." They kissed.

"Then your carriage awaits." Sarah looked back at the table before they left. Laura Reed, looking sad, also prepared to leave.

--

Outside, Ray and Sarah got into their car as Laura Reed watched them longingly from a distance.

Clark walked up to her. "How's girls' night?"

"Clark? What are you doing here?"

"I knew you'd be here, and I, uh, I wanted to give you your Valentine's Day card." He handed her the card.

"Check up on me?"

"Maybe a little. I didn't want you to find somebody else."

"Like you?" She opened the card and read the writing. "Evelyn, I woof you."

"No. I'm so sorry. I meant..." He took the card back and then pulled out another one. "I meant... I meant this one."

"I-I-I always thought that if two people were supposed to be together, they'd find a way, but Clark, if this is our way, I think we should find another one."

"Laura Reed-"

"I think you should go home to Evelyn."

"I know. You're right. But it doesn't mean I'm gonna give up. We'll find that way."

"I hope so."

"Happy Valentine's Day."

"Happy Valentine's Day." She chuckled sadly, and they walked away from each other.

--------

Outside the cabin, Ben was being loaded into an ambulance. Off to the side, by the police car, Jack was talking to Ms. Cordwain.

"So, I hear you managed not to break anything he needs. You're lucky."

"You got a funny definition of lucky."

"You have a funny definition of justice." Jack crossed his arms. "What did he really do?"

"He stole."

"That reaction was about more than taking a few trinkets. You said something about how he took 'him' from you? What happened to 'him'? Who was he? If someone needs help, maybe I can help."

Ms. Cordwain shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sheriff. I think you heard that wrong."

"You really don't wanna cooperate."

"Look, we're done here." She began to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.

"Actually... No, we're not. You're under arrest." He turned her around and cuffed her wrists.

--------

The next day, Jack sat at his desk at the sheriff's office, eating a sandwich. "Pastrami. You want half?" He offered Ms. Cordwain in her cell. "Nice fatty pastrami. A delicious way to clear the books."

She turned to look at him but said nothing.

Jack soon heard footsteps approaching. Derek arrived with Hilary. Surprised, Jack set down her sandwich.

"Sheriff Swan? I'm letting you have thirty minutes with Hilary. Take her out. Buy her ice cream."

Jack looked at him, suspiciously. "You want me to leave you alone with a prisoner?"

"Twenty-nine and a half minutes." Derek replied while his eyes were set on Ms. Cordwain.

"Hi, Jack."

"Hey." He grabbed his coat off the rack. "Come on. Let's go." The two headed out.

"Well... You really wanted that little chat, didn't you?"

Derek approached the cell with a smirk. "Apparently, this is the only way I could do it."

"Please, sit." He sat on the edge of the couch near the cell. "Do you have what I want?"

"Yes." He answered with a sinister smile.

"So... you did put him up to it, then."

"I just suggested that... strong men take what they need."

"Oh, yeah, and you told him just what to take, didn't you?"

"We used to know each other so well, Ms. Cordwain. Has it really come down to this?"

"It seems it has, yeah. But you know what I want. What is it you want?"

"I just want you to answer one question. What's your name?"

"It's Ms. Cordwain." She looked at him like it was obvious.

Derek gave her a stern look. "Your real name."

"My entire life, that's been my name."

"But what about in another life?"

She paused for a few minutes, not really understanding. "What are you asking me?"

"I know a thing or two about secret identities. If you want me to return what's yours, tell me your name."

She paused again and then chuckled. "Imelda Rivera." She stood up and gripped the cell bars. "Now give me what I want."

"Such hostility. Over this?" Derek reached into his pocket and pulled out the photo of Imelda, Coco, and the faceless musician. Ms. Cordwain reached for the photo through the bars while he shifted it from side to side, teasingly. "Such a nice family picture."

Her hand latched onto the photo, to which he stopped moving it. He loosened his grip as she snatched it back. "Thank you... Syndrome. Now that we're being honest with each other, let's remember how things used to be, shall we? And don't let these bars fool you. I'm the toughest woman around here. I'm going to be out of here in no time, and nothing between us will change."

"We'll see about that."

She sat down on the cot to examine the photo in relief. Her thumb touched the image of baby Coco and she sighed sadly.

--------

Derek entered the hospital lobby and gave a marigold to the nurse at the front desk.

"Pretty."

"Well, I know how hard you work. Has anyone been to see him?"

The nurse shook her head. "No, sir. Not today. Not ever."

Derek walked into the ICU and over to the only patient's bedside. A tan-skinned, black-haired man with a goatee laid unconscious. Derek gave a sinister smile and then left.