“Is that really the name of the diner?” Allie laughed. Her fingers flew across her screen as she sent the invite to Gerri.
“I kid you not. Now let’s get a move on before you have any more unexpected visitors.”
TWENTY-FOUR
ALLIE
After a quick stop at Marc’s house for him to change his clothes, they arrived at the diner. Gerri stood outside, waiting for them.
“Sorry it took us so long to get here,” Marc said. “We had to run to my house. I didn't want to go running around town covered in blood.”
“Oh, my! Are you all right, dear?” Gerri asked.
“I'm perfectly fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Then why were you covered in blood and needing to change your clothes?”
“As we were leaving Allie’s house, Clinton ran into my fists a few dozen times,” Marc explained.
“Alrighty, then. That will do it. Considering he definitely deserved it and more.” Gerri held the door open for them.
“I most certainly agree.” Allie smiled and headed into the diner.
She hit the brakes the second she glanced at the corner booth. Marc slammed into her back, not realizing she had stopped.
“Well, I'll be damned,” Allie said as she saw the person they'd been trying to track down sitting in the booth all by her lonesome.
Allie didn't hesitate, not for a second. She marched over to the booth and sat her ass down. Marc slid into the booth beside Helena, and Gerri took the seat next to Allie.
Helena looked up in surprise as they quickly surrounded her. She was a trapped pirate ship with nowhere to go.
“If you even so much as try to utter a single syllable of a spell, I will snap your neck right here in the diner. Do I make myself clear?” Marc asked.
Helena nodded.
“You're just the person we were looking for,” Allie said.
“Look, girl. I don't want no trouble with you. Your dad paid me to do a job, and I did it. If you've got a beef, it's with him. Not me.”
“Oh, I agree. I definitely have a beef with my father and my mother, but also with you. You took something for me, and I want it back,” she growled.
“And we'll even pay you for it,” Marc said.
“And what are you two plannin’ on paying me? I'm pretty sure you don't have the money lying around that the mayor has,” Helena replied.
“We have something far more important.” Allie smiled at Helena.
“Really, child? What's that?”
“You give me my memories back, and you get to leave with your life. I'd say it's a pretty even trade, wouldn't you?” Allie was not about to let Helena dictate the terms of how this was going to go down. The witch could either give her memories back, or she could die. It really was as simple as that.
“Well, when you put it like that, I guess we better get this show on the road. I've got people expecting me today and things to do,” Helena said.
“If you try any funny stuff at all, you won't have to worry about Allie killing you. You'll be dead before you even know what happened,” Marc said, warning the witch.
“Damn. You people need to chill. All this violence isn't healthy for anyone. Now, child, give me your hand.”
“Stealing one's memories isn't healthy for anyone,” Allie returned the barb.