Single Lady Spy 01 - The End of Me

following him.
    "Grab me some chocolate and flavored water please!" I shouted at her.
    She gave me a thumbs up and walked inside.
    I looked down at the map, still rubbing my neck. Coop grabbed my arm and spun me around. He handed me the phone and started massaging.
    "Let me. You look at the map," he mumbled.
    I closed my eyes and let the warmth and strength of his fingers relax me. I moaned, “That feels amazing."
    "Map."
    "Shhhhhhhh. Just rub."
    He chuckled, "Oh the things I could add to that comment."
    I smiled, but kept my eyes closed.
    "Your dad was a good man, right? The reports are true, right?" he asked after a couple minutes.
    I nodded, "He was the best. He sacrificed everything for this country."
    His breath tickled the back of my neck, when he let out a long sigh.
    I opened my eyes and dragged the map so it zoomed in on a spot, "Corner of Edison and ninth, next to Randy's Record Shop."
    He increased the pressure, digging into my neck. I closed my eyes again.
    "You're so tense."
    I scoffed, "Uh… yeah. Of course I am."
    He laughed, "You gotta learn to roll with the punches a little better."
    I pulled away and gave him a horrified look , "Excuse me? You bury your husband and the next day get molested on a plane by an arms dealer, and kill a fat guy who wants you to spank him and jerk him off, then tell me how YOU feel." I shook my head and climbed back into the van.
    He clenched his jaw and gave me a steely look, "He isn’t even really dead, and I said sorry about the plane. I had no idea."
    I sneered, "Tell that to my kids. Oh wait, you can't. They’re being protected by the witness-protection agency. Right." I slid the door shut and folded my arms. My neck ached still but he looked less than impressed, little shit.
    Luce climbed in and passed me the small bag of snacks. I looked in and frowned, "This isn’t flavored water."
    She nodded, "I know, but you shouldn’t eat all that artificial sweetener. It gave all the rats cancer, dude."
    I wanted to snap at her, but I knew it was just that I was losing my mind. I took deep breaths and reminded myself, it was just flavored water.
    I took the cap off the bottle of sparkling plain water and shuddered when I took the first sip. It was bitter and horrid. I gave her a look. Her eyes widened, "What?"
    I snatched the orange juice out of her hand and passed her the water.
    "I don’t drink that crap, it's bitter." She reached for the juice.
    "Then we compromise." I swatted at her and sighed taking the water back. I opened the van door and dumped some of the water out. I poured the juice into the bottle and passed her back the half empty bottle of juice.
    She scowled, "You suck."
    I nodded and sipped my flavored water.
    Coop climbed in, stuffing a protein bar in his mouth. When Jack got in, we drove to the spot on the map. It was a flower shop, last time I had come by. I glanced out and frowned at the small sign.
    "Lester's Art Hut?" Coop asked.
    I nodded, "I guess. Maybe he sold it. Maybe they know where he went." I climbed out.
    Coop did the same, "Wait. What if they're expecting you?"
    I laughed and limped to the front door. I opened it and smiled. It was Fitz's place, for sure. It still looked like the set of the movie The Birdcage.
    Coop stalked in behind me, stopping and pressing his body against mine. I don’t think he even noticed me. His mouth was agape as he looked about, "Where the hell are we?"
    It was decorated like it was a PRIDE float.
    I looked back, wincing at my sore neck, "Uncle Fitz's."
    He pointed, "It said Lester."
    I shrugged, "This is Fitz."
    He came around the corner in a pale pink bowling shirt and a beaming grin, “I knew that voice, the second my ears heard it.”
    His Jersey accent was replaced by a southern one . He was big on characters.
    He spread his arms like wings and pulled me in when I stepped to him.
    “Uncle Fitz,” I whispered.
    He kissed the top of my head, “I heard you are in some trouble, young lady.”
    I nodded into his silky, pale-pink shirt. Hugging him was like coming home.
    “I’m in huge shit.”
    He chuckled, “Who is that sexy piece of military man-meat?”
    I snorted, “Coop—Uncle Fitz, Uncle Fitz—Coop.”
    His hand left my back and I felt the motion of them shaking hands.
    “Pleased to meet you, son.”
    I looked back at Coop and winced when my neck turned.
    Fitz swung an arm around me and waved his hand at Coop, “Tell them others to come in too.” He walked me to the back of the store and