Catch Two and Take a Look

Catch Two and Take a Look

The unpleasant encounter finally came to an end with Stark's apology.

Stark had some guts, at least. He hadn't screamed at the top of his lungs. Now he was simply holding his aching right hand in his left, resting it on the bar, and repeatedly sucking in breaths through his teeth.

Alvin thoughtfully brought him an ice pack to put on his hand, without forgetting his bodyguard, Happy. Looking at Happy's broken nose and swollen, comically pudgy face, Alvin wondered if his parents must have hated him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have given him a name like Happy.

Stark pressed the ice pack to his right hand and shot Alvin a sidelong glance. "Kid, you're in trouble. Your restaurant is in big trouble."

Alvin smiled, giving Stark a thoroughly punchable look. "Are you going to sue me? Because you harassed a waitress, then got your hand squeezed so hard by a nineteen-year-old waitress that you nearly wet yourself? Ha! Mr. Stark, are you sure? I don't mind. The restaurant has security cameras and audio recordings. If you sue me, my restaurant will be famous."

This was the first time Stark had taken such a big loss, and he wouldn't be able to let it go without restoring his pride. He said angrily, "Kid, I don't hit women, but I'll teach you a lesson. One-on-one. My bodyguard's a professional boxer, and I've trained with him—" He paused, then looked at Happy's battered, unrecognizable face. "I'll sign up for judo lessons too. When I'm healed, I'll come teach you a lesson. One-on-one."

"Are you sure?" Alvin asked with a smile.

Stark glared at Alvin, full of bravado. "I'm sure. I'll beat you so badly you'll be picking your teeth up off the floor."

Chief George wiped his forehead, hesitant to speak. He looked at Stark, the awkward, stubborn genius who acted like a child in certain ways. George shook his head, but in the end said nothing. If Stark wanted to make trouble for himself, that was his business.

Alvin nodded with a smile. "No problem. The Peace Hotel welcomes you anytime!"

Pepper tapped on the bar. Like a worried mother, she glanced at Stark, who was glaring at Alvin like a child, then asked Alvin, "I came here to discuss something. Can we get started?"

Alvin shrugged, took out a pen and paper, and sat down across the bar from Pepper. "Then tell me in detail about the vampire you saw. Let's see if it's the same thing I know about."

Pepper thought for a moment, then recalled, "They look no different from ordinary people, except that their skin is very pale. I ran into one at a nightclub. It was incredibly fast and could crawl along walls. It had two very long fangs, and one of my bodyguards was killed after it drained all his blood while he was saving me. Oh—and their bodies are almost completely cold."

Stark, who couldn't resist running his mouth, cut in from the side. "A nightclub? Its body was cold? Pepper, how would you know? You never told me! You'll have to give me a report on that cold-body business when we get back!" He was being obnoxious, but the jealousy in his voice was impossible to hide.

Alvin raised his eyebrows suggestively at Pepper. The sharp, capable blonde beauty flushed, avoided Alvin's gaze, and glared at Stark. "You don't even believe these things exist. What was I supposed to tell you, Tony? Whenever I mention vampires, you make fun of me and say I'm delusional!"

Stark irritably tossed his sunglasses onto the bar and called to Jessica, "Miss Waitress, since I'm injured, get me a beer. Let's hear what your lying boss has to say."

Alvin put away his pen and paper and smiled at Pepper. "I think I know what those things are. Thanks for telling me. And, if you don't mind me asking, Miss Potts, have you ever thought about changing jobs? My Community School is expanding and needs excellent female leaders like you. The work would be more fulfilling than looking after a willful grown child."

Pepper gave an awkward laugh. "Thank you. I'll consider your offer." She paused. "If you go looking for those things, please be careful."

Alvin smiled and shook Pepper's hand, raising his eyebrows at Stark as if to show off. He held on for five seconds longer, and just as Stark looked ready to explode, Alvin let go and said with a smile, "Please give my offer serious thought. You could even visit my school sometime when you have a free moment. My doors will always be open to you."

Pepper watched the two grown men try to outdo each other, somewhat amused. She shook her head and said nothing.

Ginny had been leaning against the bar with her chin resting on her hands, listening to the adults talk. She looked curiously at the ice pack on Stark's right hand. "Cold. Hurts."

The eccentric, unpredictable Stark was surprisingly good-natured with Ginny. He made a face at her and said, "Your waitress is too savage!" He theatrically blew on his right hand to show how much it hurt.

Stark's expression made Ginny laugh. "You, Nick, same, silly. Jess mad, punch you."

Stark clearly wasn't used to the way Ginny spoke. He paused, then said, "Hey, beautiful, I'm not a silly. I'm a genius inventor."

Ginny nodded firmly. "You, Nick, same, silly."

Stark looked at Alvin in frustration. "Who's this Nick idiot?"

Alvin was delighted to see Stark get put in his place. He shrugged. "Nick's a second-grade troublemaker, but you can't call him an idiot. His dad has a pretty bad temper."

Stark waved his hand angrily. "This really is the worst day of my year!" With that, he turned and strode out of the restaurant. Pepper nodded goodbye to Alvin and hurried after him, no longer listening to what Alvin had to say about the vampires.

At the entrance, Alvin could still hear Stark grumbling to Happy. "You couldn't beat two big dogs? Find me a judo or martial arts teacher—or whatever. I'm going to beat up that guy inside. Just looking at his face makes me want to smash it in."

Chief George watched Stark and the others leave and breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been afraid Stark and Alvin would come to blows. The outcome had turned out well enough.

Chief George looked at Alvin questioningly. "Do you have any idea what those things are?"

Alvin thought for a moment. "I think I know what the hell they are. I need to verify it first. If my guess is right, then, Chief, you're going to have a big problem."

Chief George asked irritably, "How are you going to verify it?"

Alvin smiled mysteriously, opened his palm, then clenched it tight. "Catch two and take a look. Then we'll know."