{"id":162657747,"date":"2025-10-27T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/?p=162657747"},"modified":"2025-10-25T09:50:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T14:50:02","slug":"chapter-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/?p=162657747","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 21"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who knows where this impulse came from, but Mara always expected something else to happen when a band finished playing. A bigger curtain call than would make sense for a 150-person venue, a bigger roar from the crowd, some stranger to turn to her and say wasn\u2019t that incredible?<\/em> and validate what they all just saw, acknowledge the beauty of being in the same room as three musicians who could lock in together like that<\/em>, who commanded their instruments with the precision and trust of a falconer. Did anyone else in the crowd experience that<\/em>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tonight, Amparo and Mart\u00edn experienced it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMara, Mara<\/em>!\u201d Amparo was waving to her from five feet away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara had been staring at the stage, at the band breaking down while the next one set up. \u201cSorry, zoned out,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was incredible<\/em>,\u201d Amparo said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know your friends had it like that<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re really good, right?\u201d Melissa said. Melissa and Amparo had been vibing together and the music had solidified them as new best friends for the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mart\u00edn was wearing a smile that Mara decided to interpret as blissed out<\/em>. She clapped him on the shoulder. \u201cHow you feeling, boss?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had to say it three times before Mart\u00edn shouted that it had been a while since he\u2019d been in a room this loud. \u201cBut the band was really good,\u201d he confirmed with a thumbs up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara felt like her soul had been flushed out. The house lights came up and some danceable hip hop track she couldn\u2019t place came on over the speakers and somehow she was lighter, bouncing on her Chuck Taylors. This was the kind of feeling she wished she could bottle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara kept one eye on the stage as the Counselors took down pedalboards and cymbals. She listened to a story Amparo was telling about seeing Spitboy and Los Crudos at Fireside Bowl 30 years and how her boyfriend at the time took an elbow to the eyelid. Blood was pouring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTurned out, the guy who had thrown the elbow was a nurse,\u201d Amparo said. \u201cHe had a first aid kit in his backpack, and stitched my man up before Ebro counted off the first song.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNobody in the world nicer than punks in the pit,\u201d Melissa said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strangers who understood each other on an intuitive level\u2014without wanting to, Mara was thinking about Tommy again. Tommy with blood streaming down from his forehead, but whining and getting huffy instead of accepting help. Tommy lurking at the edge of the crowd for the rest of the show, blood drying over a sour face, counting the minutes until he could get home and stroke his chef\u2019s knife, caress his boning knife, instead of actually connecting with a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was happening to her? She had to get Tommy out of her head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMart\u00edn! Hey, Mart\u00edn!\u201d a voice panted, somehow cutting through room noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fuck, she had to get Tommy out of Alewives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She watched without hearing. About 10 feet away, near the sound booth, Tommy was pleading with Mart\u00edn for something. Mart\u00edn made his pursed lips face, his features scrunched like a dad who was realizing in real time that Mom\u2019s not home, he can\u2019t tell the kids to go ask her. Melissa and Amparo were in their own little world. After another minute of Tommy looking desperate, Mart\u00edn reached into his pocket and pulled his key ring. Mara watched as Mart\u00edn said something emphatic, then held up seven fingers. His lips dragging out the words se-ven a.m.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tommy, too relieved to say another word to anyone, ran out of the venue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drum sounds. A bassist playing each open string individually. \u201cCheck, check.\u201d On the stage, the next band was settling in: drummer, bassist, and guitarist\u2019s face obscured by vaguely green stage lights. A man sat down at a keyboard, facing stage left. Everyone in the band had a patterned button-down shirt: one dotted, two vertical stripes, and one paisley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara turned back around, but Tommy was already gone. She turned back to the stage, but missed the name the keyboardist announced. He started playing, chords held out in reverby waves. He started singing, his voice high and similarly ethereal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An elbow at her side. Parth was back. They held hands and waited for the second band to get interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the shit did Tommy want? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drums kicked in. The bass began an eighth note heartbeat of root notes, but kept going low to high in a way Mara couldn\u2019t explain why she didn\u2019t like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did Mart\u00edn give him keys<\/em>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background vocals came in, long oooohs while the singer repeated the same line four times. This must be the chorus. After the chorus, the guitar kicked in, chiming and reverby and delay-pedaled within an inch of its life. Finally, Mara realized it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coldplay ripoff band. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara tugged Parth\u2019s arm. \u201cI can\u2019t handle these guys,\u201d Mara said, trying to be audible but quiet. \u201cCome outside with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said in her ear. \u201cFeel like I should stay and support, you know? Like, be seen<\/em> supporting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gestured to the stage and Mara nodded. Didn\u2019t like it, but got it. Amparo and Melissa were eyes-closed swaying to the music. Of course they were enjoying these guys. Their music was designed to yank the heartstrings of unironic Lifetime Channel Christmas Movie Marathoners. Mara couldn\u2019t ask her girls to deny their programming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hand on her arm. \u201cCan you show me where to get a tequila around here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it was Restaurant Manager Instinct or Terminal Dadness, Mart\u00edn had sensed she was looking for an out. She motioned for him to follow her and the two of them zagged through the swaying crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t see this big ol\u2019 bar when you came in?\u201d Mara chided Mart\u00edn. \u201cYou don\u2019t remember how I already found you here, abuelo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s my old eyes,\u201d he answered with a twinkle in his voice. \u201cUsually I\u2019d just hear the tequila calling to me, but all this loud music, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara could barely wait until they sat down. \u201cHey, what\u2019d Tommy want?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I would like a Paloma, please,\u201d Mart\u00edn said to the bartender. \u201cAnd Topo Chico for my friend. Oh no, Mart\u00edn, you don\u2019t have to do that<\/em>. Yes I do. That\u2019s what I want and what she wants.\u201d When the bartender left, Mart\u00edn turned to Mara with a whole face of undisguised mischief. \u201cI\u2019m really having a good time. Thanks for letting an old man tag along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no age limit to live music,\u201d Mara said. \u201cYou\u2019re dodging my question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mart\u00edn sighed. \u201cTommy said he forgot something in his locker. Said he couldn\u2019t talk about it, but I could tell he was in a bad way. So I gave him the restaurant key. Told him to be back at seven tomorrow so I can open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bartender brought their drinks. Mart\u00edn took a big sip of sunset-colored liquid. Tipped the lime and grapefruit garnishes into the glass. Mara wasn\u2019t thirsty, but was worried about being rude, so she took a couple quick gulps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara debated telling Mart\u00edn about Tommy using the forgot something in my locker<\/em> excuse to stalk her into the basement earlier. Then she worried she might be getting True Crime-brained, seeing connections where there were none. Then she remembered Lilypad, Chili\u2019s. She settled on sticking to the immediate. \u201cYou gave him the key?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWould you give me the key at 10:30 p.m. on a random Tuesday?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou? Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s just make copies for everyone, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow hang on. I said I could tell he was in a bad way, didn\u2019t I? Listen. I\u2019ve been in the restaurant business over 30 years. I\u2019ve been managing Olly\u2019s for 10 years. Sometimes, you just know when to trust someone.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou trust Tommy like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou believe that hand-cutting story? You believe he did that with a paring knife in his apartment at 3:30 in the morning and then worked a shift without going to urgent care?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It surprised even her, how deeply she felt her suspicions now. The words became more and more true as they left her mouth. What was Tommy hiding in his work locker? Still, Mart\u00edn\u2019s tone had shifted. She didn\u2019t feel like stopping, but sat in mouth-open silence while Mart\u00edn took another deep drink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what happened with his hand. But you know, I\u2019ve had lots of cooks and dishwashers and bussers and servers working for me that I don\u2019t want to know what they’ve been doing when they\u2019re not on the clock. That\u2019s the restaurant business for you, mija. I\u2019m going to ask you something. Do you feel unsafe working with Tommy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t something she\u2019d considered, exactly. She had been thinking in vague, we-can\u2019t-have-a-killer-on-the-loose terms, not in I\u2019m-clocked-in-with-a-killer terms. The question felt like swallowing a bite she hadn\u2019t chewed enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I guess not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor what it\u2019s worth, I totally believe that Tommy,\u201d Mart\u00edn paused to consider his phrasing, \u201cis a person with secrets. Is a person with a past. Then again, todos tambi\u00e9n.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, but I bet my past doesn\u2019t look like Tommy\u2019s,\u201d Mara said, eyebrows raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure. I know that about you, mija. With Tommy,  I don\u2019t know. If he had a drug problem, if he\u2019s mob connected, if he\u2019s on the run and wanted for murder. Ha! But I think he\u2019s ultimately harmless. Or, at least, I know he\u2019s trying to do good at our little diner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara nodded her head for a minute. Took a thoughtful pull at her Topo Chico. Shared a smile with her trusting old boss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDrugs, mobbed up, or wanted for murder,\u201d she repeated while thousand-yard staring. \u201cThree things we can just. Gloss. Right. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mart\u00edn shook his head. \u201cSure, mija. Look\u2014at some point, this conversation has to be over. I think Tommy\u2019s weird. I also think he\u2019s harmless, okay? Now, are we gonna be sour at the bar all night? Or do you wanna go make fun of this band with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Couldn\u2019t push farther than that. It did make Mara feel less alone to hear him say that Tommy was a weirdo. She\u2019d have to get by on that for tonight. Go try to get the good music vibes back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she said. She finished her Topo Chico too fast, the bubbles burning all the way down her esophagus. \u201cLet\u2019s do it. Let\u2019s get back there before we lose Amparo and Melissa to this band\u2019s green room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They started walking back to the stage area. Mara pulled the door to the venue open for Mart\u00edn, who quickly disappeared in the crowd. Three strangers had been coming from the bathrooms, and Mara held the door for them, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She couldn\u2019t see Mart\u00edn. It made her start thinking again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the shit did Tommy want?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thought she saw him earlier, at the window. Was he really at the window? Or had she summoned him, somehow? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara was still holding the door, staring into the stage space. She must have drifted to block the door, because now someone was saying excuse me<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara looked up. \u201cHey, you\u2019re Ether, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, have we met?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t remember me. Mara. I was in your store a couple weeks back, you got a copy of Swamp Thing <\/em>out of the back for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, shit, yeah\u2014Melissa, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cClose, that\u2019s my friend. I\u2019m Mara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, nice to meet you again. Hope to see you around. I gotta go meet my friend right now, but please say hi next time you\u2019re at the store?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTotally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It didn\u2019t even matter that Ether had mistaken her for Melissa. Those seven seconds talking were all Mara needed. Ether, Mart\u00edn, Parth, the rest of her friends. Her neighborhood, her community. She was flooded with a rush of love for all of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except, there was possibly a killer loose in her neighborhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mara closed the door, went outside of Alewives, and started walking toward Olly\u2019s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Who knows where this impulse came from, but Mara always expected something else to happen when a band finished playing. A bigger curtain call than would make sense for a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":162657656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[168],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162657747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behind-with-knife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162657747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=162657747"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162657747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162657748,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162657747\/revisions\/162657748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/162657656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=162657747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=162657747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lazyandentitled.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=162657747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}