Cabin Fever and the Cure

Hank Strauk sat quietly nursing his beer at the end of the bar in the Blue Bell Bar and grill. Several men and two women occupied places at the tables in the room; otherwise, save for the bartender, the room was empty. The two women Hank recognized as regulars at the bar and probably just ‘hooked up’ with the two men who were seated with them.

One more beer and Hank would go to the grill and order his dinner. Two beers after work; then dinner, and back to the bar for some stronger libations before going home to bed. The routine hadn’t varied in the three weeks since he’d arrived in this city,

Hank had once been gregarious and the life of every party but his last tour in Iraq had changed all that. He had gone to war to fight. . .and fight they did! He saw his fellow soldiers killed by terrorists who looked like any civilian. He had been ordered not to shoot civilians! The fighting had been fierce and when it was over, he had been charged with shooting innocent civilians. . . a charge never proven but one that ended his army career.

As he returned home, he found his wife changed. . .no longer a kindred spirit and helpmate. She had a life with their kids and there was no longer any room in that life for Hank. He sent family support money each month but no longer saw his wife or kids.

Hank had grown morose and kept to himself after that! His job paid exceptionally well and he had a six figure income along with generous perks as he performed it well. Fact was that he was close to a millionaire due to some wise investments. He was not a happy man.

So it was on the night of August 6th when Hank had finished his dinner and was starting his second G. & T. In the bar. From his usual spot at the end of the bar he was surprised to see a beautiful, tall, dark haired woman walk in. Such women, of obvious class, seldom entered the Blue Bell Bar and Grill. His interest was piqued!

He observed the woman step in to the room, survey the half-dozen patrons carefully and walk to a table near the back corner where she seated herself as the bartender moved from behind the bar to take her order.

With covert looks he managed to ascertain that she was tall, with a creamy complexion, perhaps thirty years old. She was drinking a G.&T. Then, something else attracted his attention and the woman was forgotten.

It was as he arose to leave the bar that the woman motioned for him to join her and mostly out of curiosity, he moved towards her table. Their eyes met as he approached and something in the woman’s eyes told him she was trouble. On the other hand, she was attractive and Hank was a man!

As he reached the table, the woman arose and said, “Hi! I’m Anne. Come and have a drink with me. . .Gin and Tonic, isn’t it?” Hank sat with her as he noted that she’d been observing him as he’d been watching her. This might prove to be more interesting!

“Well Anne, What brings you to the Blue Bell Bar tonight?” Hank asked.

“I guess you could say that I’m looking for some company,” Anne responded.

“Not much in the way of company in here.”

“Why! You’re here and drinking G. & T. with me. Are you married?”

“Was once but it didn’t work out. How about you?”

“Was once but it didn’t work out!”

Hearing this Hank was not only puzzled but now he felt the gnawing ache of concern in his stomach. He replied, “Look Anne, you’re a beautiful and intelligent woman and you could have most any man you wanted from men of your own ilk! Why are you here propositioning me? Believe me when I say that I’d follow you anywhere if there was a promise of having you but, why me?”

“Come home with me and you shall have me. I promise you!” Anne replied and her demeanor had changed to fearful and trembling. Her eyes spoke of fear. “Please,” she said quietly.

A Hank continued to talk to her, small talk mostly, he assured himself that see didn’t
belong in the Blue Bell. She was much too refined and intelligent to be comfortable around the clientele of the Blue Bell; yet, she was sitting there, obviously uncomfortable and tense. Finally, he put his thoughts into words, “You obviously don’t belong her. This is not your type of place; yet, you are here and obviously uncomfortable. Why?”

The woman known to him as Anne responded slowly, “I want you with me tonight. I want to take you home with me.”

Half an hour later, Hank accompanied Anne into her small apartment as he sensed Anne’s mounting fear and concern. He hesitated before taking off his sweater as though he might turn and go only to have Anne grasp him and kiss him on the lips. “Don’t go,”she said as she turned to go make coffee and dessert!

Then, with food and drink to calm them, Anne seemed to relax. She worked at making Hank comfortable and catering to him. As they talked and grew familiar, Hank found that he really liked this woman known as Anne. For the first time in years he began to take an interest in something. His hormones were evident as he felt a tinge of lust.

An hour later, Hank steered the truck off the freeway, into a commercial center where he bought groceries and supplies before continuing on to a local road and several miles later he turned again into a small lane leading into a box canyon. A mile further brought him to a small log cabin of recent vintage. There, he parked the truck and produced a key to open the locks on the cabin door.

It was when Anne arose to refresh their coffee cups and bent over to retrieve the cups that two shots rang out and the sound of the bullets passing through the window and into the wall sounded. Had she remained standing, she’d have been killed!

Instinctively, both Anne and Hank had dived for the floor to escape more shots. Then, after a time, Hank stood and placed the sofa on end across the window to stop any further bullets. He turned and angrily face her as he said, “Now, What the hell was that all about?”

Anne spoke firmly as she said, “It’s better you don’t know. Please get out of here as fast as you can and don’t look back.”

“What and leave you here for who ever’s out there to kill. No. You’re coming with me!”
He had just picked a hell of a time to be chivalrous! Then Hank said, “You can tell me what’s going on as we travel.” Having made the split second decision, he felt his own recrimination. . .this matter, whatever it was, was really none of his business. Too late! He was committed.

So it was that five minutes later, the two were in Hank’s truck traveling north on the interstate. Anne began explaining the situation to him.

Anne had been married to a lawyer for the mob! At first it was great as he brought home huge paychecks and they’d lived well. Her husband had gradually taken up the mob’s ways and lost all sense of morals or ethics as he also had taken a couple of mistresses which Anne wouldn’t tolerate. She’d left him and hurt his pride as he swore vengeance on her. He’d placed an offer of $100,000 for her death.

She had gone to the Federal Authorities for protection in exchange for what she knew about her husband’s business. Those authorities had gladly taken her information before sending away to fend for herself. They had frozen all her accounts save two small credit cards and she was left with only a few dollars.

It was then that she’d hit on the idea of going to the Blue Bell and offering herself to induce Hank to stay with her as a sort of unwitting bodyguard. It had worked and she felt safe until the shots into the apartment. The rest, he knew.

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