Chapter 75
After showering and dressing in something comfortable for the ride over to Tampa, Kristina and Howie made their first stop the police station. They were expected to tell the detectives anything and everything they could that might help in their search for Stephen. Arriving at the police station, they were met by Sarah and AJ who was to share their story of Stephen’s phone call from the previous night.
The next few hours were tense for all of them, rehashing old wounds and feelings. When the detectives felt they had enough information from the four of them, they allowed the two couples to leave with the promise to apprehend Stephen as soon as possible.
Allowing AJ to drive, Howie dropped his car off at the club and the four of them piled into AJ’s BMW for the drive to Tampa.
Once they had reached the coast, the four of them went sailing, had lunch, laughed and over all had a great time despite all that had been brought to the surface that morning at the police station. As the sun set, the four of them sat huddled together next to a bonfire the guys had built out on the beach.
Kristina was sitting between Howie’s legs, his arms draped over her shoulders as he sat on the log directly behind her. She had her knees pulled to her chest, her arms resting on her knees as she listened to AJ talking about some of the new music he was currently working on.
"I’ve got this one song that has a rock and roll edge to it and I would really like to see what you can do with it, Kris."
"Really?" she asked excitedly.
He laughed at her reaction. "Yeah! I’ve heard some awesome things about your voice and I would like to find out first hand what you’ve got."
Sarah looked at him and then back to Kristina. "Wait! Are you telling me that you are singing now?" she asked bewildered.
"That’s how I found out she was still alive" Howie offered as he kissed the top of her head. "She’s been singing at Tabu for a few months now."
"Okay, I’m confused. When did you start singing and why did you go to Tabu if you didn’t want anyone to know that you were alive?"
Kristina smiled, looking back at Howie, and began to play with the engagement ring on her finger as she explained her involvement with Tabu.
"But when did you start singing? I use to try and get you to sing all of the time but you wouldn’t do it unless you were drunk!" Sarah said rolling her eyes.
"In rehab I met this guy who sat in his room playing guitar all of the time. He had been in a really bad motorcycle accident and was bed ridden for a while. His music just reached out and touched me and one day I finally got the nerve to go and talk to him."
Over Kristina’s shoulder Howie and AJ’s eyes were locked, no words being needed to tell AJ that Howie was obviously jealous. The look on his face didn’t escape Sarah’s attention either as Kristina continued.
"We soon became really good friends and he encouraged me to sing after we got drunk one night and I sang Elvis so much that the nurses threatened to kick us out of rehab."
"Elvis?" AJ laughed. "Which song’s?"
"More like which song!" Kris laughed. "I sang ‘Fever’ over and over, doing the hip thrusts and all."
Sarah giggled, remembering how crazy Kristina could be, especially when she was drinking. Wine always mellowed her out where as hard liquor gave her the courage to do and say things she normally wouldn’t otherwise.
"Uh uh" AJ laughed.
"Have you never seen her drunk?" Sarah asked, looking up at him from the same position Kristina and Howie sat in.
"Only once, but she didn’t get wild or anything. She just kept telling me and ‘D’ how much she loved us."
"Wine!" Sarah and Kristina said laughing.
"I’m confused now," AJ said as the looked back and forth between the two girls.
"If I drink wine, I get mellow and seductive. If I drink liquor I become uninhibited."
"Oh okay" AJ said with a wicked smile. "Remind me to get you drunk on liquor some night. I’d like to see just how uninhibited you become."
"Bone!" Kristina laughed, not realizing how quiet Howie had become.
"So, this guy at rehab helped you lose your fear?"
"Yeah. He’s a singer and after a few weeks of coaxing, I felt comfortable enough to sing. After that, the two of us were always entertaining the other patients and staff, until I was released."
"So, what happened then?"
"I came out here and got the job at Tabu, not realizing it was Howie’s club."
"What do you sing? Cover tunes?" Sarah asked, surprised by her friend’s brazen ambition.
"Actually, I wrote a lot of stuff during that time and Brett helped me arrange it. The guys in his band bought me a keyboard and I started writing my own material. I don’t know how I would have gotten through rehab if he and the band hadn’t been there."
"Have you talked to him since you left?" AJ asked, wanting to squelch Howie’s unspoken fears.
"Only once. He called me on my cell phone when he got out of rehab to tell me that he and the guys were going back out on the road."
"Sounds like a pretty special guy" Howie said quietly.
Looking up at him, Kristina said, "He is. But not as special as you. You are the only man for me."
Howie smiled, leaning over to kiss her tenderly.
"So, Kristina dear" Sarah said with a playful sarcastic tone. "When do I get to hear you sing?"
"I’m performing tomorrow night at the club. Howie’s sisters are gonna be there too. You should come."
Sarah looked up at AJ and smiled sweetly. "Cool. We’re gonna be there too, right Alex?"
AJ looked at Howie and then to Kristina, knowing how badly Howie wanted him to help talk her out of singing at the club.
"I was kinda hoping we could all stay the weekend here in Tampa and go visit my mom."
"That’s a great idea" Howie exclaimed. "How long has it been since you’ve seen Denise, baby? You know she would love to see you again."
Kristina looked to AJ, seeing right through him as he averted his eyes. She then looked at Sarah and said, "I’m being set up. ‘D’ doesn’t want me to sing at Tabu so he’s getting Alex to help him do his dirty work. Right, ‘D’?"