Crimes in the heart of Blackcliff (part 2)

James arrived a while later. He walked over. "So what happened?"

"She's in the back area, and be careful... she's like an aggressive dog at the moment," Martin said, "And for the record I wanted her to wait but she went out to her car on her own."

"Right." James said heading into the back to see her.

"Think you guys are so smart. It didn't take us long to work out that we didn't have Nadine Carter. So here's a reminder of what happens when you mess with us," Tiffany said to James hearing his footsteps behind her. She turned to face him, and handed him the cassette and note.

"Am I going to be getting any more of these messages punched into my face?"

"No, you're not." James said. "These guys are dead."

"Oh, you can bet your bottom dollar they are, James," Tiffany replied still dabbing her face, "Though..." she said dropping her anger, "I didn't think you'd come. You didn't stand a chance with Tiffany the bar maid, but you've earned a step up with Tina."

"Right, well are you okay?" James asked.

Suddenly she laughed, "I'm that worried about a few cuts to the face, I don't know about the rest of me. I've been broken and humiliated, I don't want to go home. They have my keys... and my phone too."

She headed over to the cabinet, opening it and tried to reach up to get it, "Ouch, alright already... maybe it is a good idea to keep you around for a bit longer. Care to get that down for me? Butyl cyanoacrylate, its better than a hike to the local hospital. And if any one asks, I'm sick...caught a cold and will be at home for a few days. They'd have a field day if they discover I allowed seven men to get to me."

Sighing, she pulled over a chair and sat down on it.

James got her the medicine and he walked over crouching in front of her. "Just hope you'll be able to try out for Gwen's club soon." He said. "Can you get into your place with out your keys?"

Tiffany pulled back her black hair from her face and neck, "I'd break a window, but they took my money so I wouldn't be able to get it fixed. Besides, they'd be expecting me to return home or get taken to Talbot's... so I think I should play the unpredictable card. I should know how to play that card well, I use it a lot on you."

"And what's the unpredictable card?" James smiled.

"That you never know what I'm about to do next," Tiffany said giving him a kiss on the head as she hopped off the chair.

James smiled a bit standing up. "Obviously but where are you going to stand? If you don't have anywhere to go, you can stay with me."

"But aren't you staying with at John Talbot's house?" Tiffany asked going through her staff locker for some stuff. She pulled out a uniform jumper she had in there.

"I have a room there but I have my own place. I stay at Talbot's when he needs extra security." James said.

"Let's say I'll go with that, on the grounds that you know that I've had 7 blokes mess with me, you're not becoming the 8th," Tiffany said turning and shaking her head, "James, I need to get pass you. Is please going to be enough?"

"Just giving you a safe option tonight. I've got a big couch I can sleep on, you can take the bed." James said stepping aside.

Tiffany gazed at him once she pulled a jumper on, "You really do look past everything and see me underneath? Some might say I deserve all this."

"I'm not one of em." James said. "Offer still stands."

Tiffany blinked, "No... No! If I do this, then what kind of a girl have I become?! Like Nikki? Nikki would be bawling in your arms. No, not me. That's my home, I live there! And those bastards won't expect me to put up a fight. Cause you once said, why take on any of those girls? You can find them any where. Those that are different are harder to find. So I'm going make it hard for them to find me again."

"It would be harder for them to find you at my place than your's or Talbot's." James said.

"Well, what do you know? You did eventually have me at your place," she tried to tease, pulling a grin that was more a wince.


(Heading off now.)

James smiled smiled a little. "C'mon Tiffany let's get you out of here."

"Tonight, you can call me Tina, James. I think you've earned that privilege," she replied grinning, and then looked on her car as they stepped outside, "Funny, you'd expect that I would've used my wages long ago to get a better car, but the old Volchi kept the petrol cheap for me."

James smiled. "I understand saving the cash Tina." He said heading to his car with her.