Chicken Shit
Previously: The team sort out a game plan after burgers at a local favorite, only to be interrupted by some unexpected arrivals.
2:05 PM - Sunday, November 2, 2014
Balboa Cafe, Fillmore and Greenwich Streets, San Francisco
Mark had noticed Jeannie’s discomfort when her brother and boyfriend had arrived unexpectedly. He’d noticed her boyfriend’s possessive arm and long kiss, and the way he looked at him and Paco with suspicion. He knew jealousy when he saw it. Despite that, Jeannie and the guy seemed simpatico somehow, and visually they just looked good together — he knew because people said that about him and Katie. It seemed he wasn’t the only one with a disgruntled partner at home. He wondered if Chris Rossi knew how lucky he was.
He phoned Spiro Thomas from the car and Carole Thomas answered the phone.
“Mrs. Thomas - it’s Mark Greenberg from the FBI - I just wanted to update you and your husband on a few things.”
“Yes, yes of course.” Her voice was soft and weary. Mark recapped the morning’s interviews with the students, and said that they would begin compiling evidence in the morning to guide their next steps. He asked for the name of Alexa’s family friend that she’d spent time with over the summer.
“His name is Andrew Barrington.” Carole said simply, her sadness palpable. “I - I haven’t — called his parents yet with the news, but I’ll do it now. I’ll have to ask them how to contact him.”
“Thank you. We’d like to speak with him tomorrow or Tuesday, if possible.”
“I understand.”
“Also, now that the students know what happened, there may be a lot of them trying to call or stop by - I just wanted you to know. Ryan Dominguez was also at the meeting this morning, so he’s also aware.”
“I - I understand.” Carole sighed. “Gosh, we have so much to think about and no idea where to even begin.”
“I know.” Mark knew that offering more condolences wouldn’t be helpful, but felt she needed some kind of comfort. “I want you and your husband to know that I’m going to be updating you as often as possible, so you’ll be hearing from me frequently in the coming days. I’ll also be having Jeannie Hagen stop by - she will need to retrieve some things from your daughter’s room for evidence. If you can keep that space secure, we would really appreciate it.”
“Secure? How do you mean secure?”
“Just - just if you could close the door, lock it somehow? We just want to make sure that as few people as possible go in there.” He heard Carole huff another sigh.
“Okay. Yes, I understand. I’ll get back to you with Andrew Barrington’s information.” Mark heaved a sigh as Carole Thomas ended the call.
He looked at the clock and calculated that he’d be home within the hour. He thought he’d make a stop and pick up some steaks to grill for dinner — he wanted to cook for Katie.
Jeannie leaned against the shaded end of the Balboa’s Greenwich Street wall, her emotions reeling. She knew she needed a moment to just breathe before going back inside to face Chris and Brandon. What a way to have to introduce them to her new colleagues: tipsy from a day at one of the most elite golf courses on the west coast. Nice. She was embarrassed, but she knew she had to let it go. It was Sunday, and if she had been there just with friends it would have been fine, if not normal. The fact that it was work was the root of the cringey feeling in her middle. And what was Chris’ shock about? Actually, both of them were shocked when she said the Sunday meeting was work-related. Did they not know she worked most weekends these days? She reminded herself to breathe again. It had been a very long few days, and she didn’t need a fight. The last thing she needed was to go in hot with annoyance and accusations, especially with Chris. She kept herself cool all day, she couldn’t stop now. Let it go let it go let it go.
The two were standing at the long end of the bar just inside the Greenwich Street door, fresh beers in front of them. There was even a third one, which she assumed was for her. Chris’s eyes were on her the moment she came in, obviously clocking the door. He stood up straight as she approached.
“You two know how to make an entrance.” She said wryly, putting herself between them.
“Here, we got you a beer.” Brandon said, pushing the pint toward her. “Are you still on the clock?”
“No. No I’m not. We’re done for the day.” Saying it made her tired all over. She flagged the bartender and asked for a club soda no ice.
“You’re not drinking?” Chris asked.
“I’m pacing myself.” She said. “I still have family dinner to make later.”
“Oh, yeah - Chris is coming too.” Brandon offered. Jeannie looked at Chris who shrugged ruefully, raising his brows slightly. Chris had been coming to most family dinners for the last five years, but in the last few months his absence had been noted by everyone. Jeannie didn’t know what to say. She felt a little cornered, coerced even. She hated it. She loved Chris, she knew that completely, but they’d barely been speaking lately and now he was just coming to family dinner? Let it go it doesn’t matter. She breathed and turned to her soda water. Fuck that. She reached for the pilsner and took a long gulp. “So are you going to tell us about this job?” Jeannie swallowed, leveling a glare at her favorite brother.
“Like I said, I can’t say anything - it’s pretty critical right now and we’re not exactly in private.”
“Oh, okay.” Brandon looked confused.
“What, you’re both lawyers, you know the deal.” She looked between the two of them.
“Got it.” Her brother said, taking a gulp of beer.
“I’ll be right back,” Chris said quietly, departing for the bathroom. Jeannie immediately turned to Brandon.
“You invited him to family dinner?”
“Yeah, I did.” Brandon shot back. “He’s my best friend and basically a member of the family already, and I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but icing him out the way you have been isn’t helping.”
“Brandon — “ Jeannie felt her eyes flare.
“Jeannie, you need to talk to him. He’s - he’s — I don’t know what he is, but if his golf game is any indication, he’s a mess. And you don’t look much better. Can you please, just try? I love both of you, and I know you love each other.” Brandon got quiet, looking into his glass. “I - I know I was the last person who wanted you two to date, and I was pissed when it happened because I didn’t want you to get hurt, but you two are endgame and we all know it.” Jeannie felt tears pricking at her eyes. “I don’t know why you moved out.”
“You don’t know why?” She accused. “I moved in with Dad. He needs one of us there, and no one else was volunteering.” Jeannie felt shitty saying it, but there it was. Brandon’s cheeks flushed.
“So you’re blaming me and PJ for ruining your relationship? Jesus Jeannie, you’ve never been bitter like this. What the fuck?”
“It’s not you.” She said quietly, heaving a breath. “It’s - it’s not the thing with Dad, but the timing sort of worked out. Chris and I were already moving apart when I left, we’d barely been speaking. I don’t know, Bran, but when I failed the bar it’s like —” Jeannie felt the tears rising again and immediately shoved them down. Her shoulders trembled. “It’s like all of you started to look at me with this disappointment, especially Chris.” Brandon’s eyes softened at the admission. “It’s like every day he made it known how I’d let him down somehow and he just punished me with silence. So I punished him back. And when I went to the Academy…” She shrugged at her brother who sighed.
“Yeah. He didn’t like it.” Brandon said quietly. “He didn’t like it because it scared him. He’s scared, you’re scared - you’re both chicken shit.” Jeannie glared at him. “Don’t think I haven’t said the same to him, because I have. You love each other. Whatever this is, you have to move past it or end it, once and for all.” Brandon’s eyes - her eyes - flashed at her. Brandon tossed back the end of his beer.
She nodded silently as Chris returned, venturing a warm hand to her waist under her blazer. She instinctively leaned into it and looked up at him. His eyes were so soft — the deepest blue. All he ever had to do was look at her like that and she couldn’t resist him. End it, once and for all — her very core knew there was no way that was happening.
“I’m taking off,” Brandon said. “I’ll see you guys at dinner. 7, right?”
“Yes. Seven. You guys are bringing salad and dessert.” She both loved and hated that he was leaving her alone with Chris. They watched him duck out the door and looked back at each other. Jeannie felt shy suddenly.
“Hey.” Chris began quietly, the hand at her waist pulling her slightly closer to him.
“Hey.” She replied, considering him. “Hey - what was that kiss about? You usually aren’t into that kind of PDA.”
“Ummmm, I saw you with two guys I don’t know and I - I guess I saw red.” The bar crowd roared at something happening on the football game on the TV above them.
“Jealousy?” Chris nodded slightly. Jeannie chuckled a little. “You know better than that.”
“Do I?” Chris rolled his lips, a silent question in his eyes. She knew everything Brandon had said was the truth. She loved Chris Rossi. She’d loved him since she was 8 years old and it wasn’t likely to change, ever. Just standing close to him made her whole body and soul feel better than it had in weeks. She went up on her toes and kissed him lightly, his eyes fluttering closed.
“Yeah you do.” She whispered just for him to hear. A slight smile formed on Chris’ mouth as he looked at her. He reached up and smoothed a strand of hair away from her brow. “Want to get out of here?” Chris nodded, a slow smile blooming on his face.
“I’ll call an Uber.”
“I have Martha.”