The Baker Tapes

Eskino sat in the back of the yellow cab, frowning out the window at the passing traffic. He was in Los Angeles purely for personal reasons, but he was still more anxious than if he were going for work. He was there to see his old school friend, but also to try and raise funds for the rally that was happening in less than two weeks. He was going to meet with a key financer who he hoped would fund the majority of the rally. It wouldn’t be an easy sell, but he did have an advantage that he was willing to put in play.

The past was something he rarely dipped his toes in to. He was more of a live-in-the-moment kind of person, but then again it was just that kind of outlook in life that had gotten him where he was. And at the centre of all that was his daughter and the woman who had brought her into the world. And, a trip down memory lane never hurt anyone. He made his men endure it therefore it made sense for him to go through it as well.

The cab pulled up outside a coffee shop. He preferred to meet the prospective financer in a public place, and he also remembered that she was always more bendable when having a shot of caffeine.

“Peter?” Her voice hadn’t changed much, maybe a little huskier with age, but he recognised it straight away as he saw her approaching his cab.

Paying the fare he then managed to get out of the cab, bracing a hand on the taxi stand.

“Amelia,” he said, voice uncharacteristically soft. The lines at the corner of her eyes crinkled in delight.

“Pete, it is good to see you.” She clasped his hand, squeezing it. “I’ve made reservations.”

“For coffee?” he said, the corners of his mouth twitching. Amelia laughed, the sound was low and inviting.

“I feel like we have a lot to catch up on, so I decided that lunch would be more suitable.”

And, wasn’t that the truth. Too many years had passed that they could just have a quick coffee and chat then part ways. And this was too important, to both of them. He smiled and held an arm out to her.

“Lead the way.”

Amelia’s laugh was warm and caught in her throat a quality that was always there. “I didn’t think anyone ever led you, General.”

Eskino smiled and said, “There’s always a first for everything.” The woman glanced sideways at his comment, one sculpted eyebrow lifting a little. He tilted his head at her an expectant look on his own face. She just smiled and turned to walk along the foot path. He followed.

Once they were seated at a lovely Italian restaurant, garlic bread on a plate between them, and both lubricated by a bottle of a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 vintage, Eskino felt that he could get down to business.

“Amelia, you’re probably curious as to why I sought you out after all this time.”

Amelia, surprisingly sober, smiled a little as she said, “I know this isn’t just a social call, Peter.” He observed her posture as she straightened her back and met his gaze, direct and alert. “I could tell that this was an urgent matter.”

Eskino nodded, lacing his fingers together in front of him. The hairs on his knuckles seemed to stick out in stark relief, an odd thing to notice, but he was inexplicably nervous all of a sudden. He could sense that she was waiting for an explanation, though.

“You’ve heard the whispers?”

Amelia lifted an eyebrow. “Avenged Sevenfold?”

“So, you’re familiar with the name?”

A wry smile graced her lips as she said, “They’re all over the news. No one knows much about them, though.”

Eskino nodded. “I know them personally.”

Amelia laughed low. “That really doesn’t surprise me.”

“No? Well, perhaps it would if I told you that one of them used to be the TaskerOne.”

To her credit, Amelia didn’t even blink; she calmly took a sip of her wine then leaned forward reaching forward to unlock his fingers and take his hand in hers. He looked down at their joined hands, but didn’t pull away, even though it felt too intimate.

“He used to be?” Amelia pressed gently.

Eskino nodded, meeting her eyes. “He…I had him demoted. Then he quit the Creed.”

That got a reaction. “He quit? No one ever quits.” She released his hand and sat back, taking a bigger gulp of her wine.

“Shadows did.”

Amelia rolled the name on her tongue, expression becoming thoughtful. “Shadows…”

“Matthew Charles Sanders,” Eskino said. She looked at him eyes lighting up at the name.

“Gary’s son?”

He nodded. “I’m seeing him tonight.” They had all been friends back in the day…back before all innocence was lost…

Amelia looked at him a steely look appearing in her eyes.

“What is it you need?”

Eskino sat back again. “Funding. There is a rally in a couple of weeks. Avenged will be performing.” He looked at the woman in front of him waiting for her response. Amelia smiled, tilting her head at him.

“I want to come with you tonight.”

“Pardon?”

She smirked and said, “You want the funding? I want to be completely involved.”

Eskino’s brows drew together. “Tonight’s just two old friends getting together…” It would end up being more than that. He needed to let the Sanders know how their son was, but he didn’t need to explain that to Amelia.

Amelia’s smile softened. “Make it three old friends, Pete. Please?” She reached for his hand again; he let her take it, squeezing hers a little.

“I could never say no to you, Amelia.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.” She smiled at him then up at the waiter who approached, bearing their food. “No more talk of business, ok?”

Eskino laughed agreeing with her and he set to enjoying his lunch with her.

Notes

This chapter took so long to write. And I've sat and stared at it and wrote and rewrote it so many times I felt I needed to just get it down. It's a lot shorter than most. But, I feel that if I write any more for it it will just drag, so that's why it's here now. Please let me know what you think. :)