Here’s the next installment of my latest release. If you like what you read, you can buy the book here for 2.99: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=turning+the+tables+mj+wil&i=stripbooks&crid=2NCV9FXDYLLC8&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C175&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

Thursday evening rolled around and Jessica Byrne closed the top half of the door to her bar and considered the workday over. She mixed herself a martini and sat to contemplate life. She needed something to give soon. Business had been slower than usual. It was the third day in a row she hadn’t had a single customer. 

A knock on the door startled her. Who could it be? And with no bartender or cook, she’d have to tell whoever it was that she was closed. No sale there. She looked out and saw Tammy, her right-hand woman. She opened the door and noticed the scowl on Tammy’s face.

“Good to see you, too.”

“Sorry. It’s always good to see you.” She hugged Jessica. “Sorry. I know how you are about being touched and hugging and all that, but you need a hug.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Have a seat.” Tammy set her backpack on the table.

“You seldom come up after hours, so I’m a little concerned. And why didn’t you just use your key?”

“Which would have scared you more? A knock? Or someone opening the door?”

“Point taken. Now, why are you here?”

“Let me make you another martini.”

“Tammy…”

“I’ll make it a double.”

“Shit,” Jessica muttered.

Tammy served Jessica then sat and unzipped her backpack. Jessica watched with trepidation as she withdrew some papers.

“What are those?” she said.

“They’re payroll taxes. They haven’t been paid since May.”

“Shit,” Jessica repeated. “Well, it’s only October.”

“Very funny. Plus, we owe the accountant money.”

“How much?”

“About twenty thousand,” Tammy said.

“Something’s got to give. I can’t keep going like this.”

“Things will pick up. Just hang in there.”

“I’m tired of hanging in there. We need to get more acts up here but can’t pay them. We need to run specials but can’t afford to.”

“Look,” said Tammy, “we need to stop looking at what we can’t do and start looking at what we can.”

“Which is? I’m all ears.”

“Good question. Look, you’re four kilometers from town, up in the jungle. That sounds like a bad thing, but we need to look at it as a good thing. Start advertising about the beauty of being removed from town. Post about the serenity of the mountain.”

“Advertise where? And with what?” Jessica said.

“Advertise was a poor choice of words. Post. On social media. Everywhere. Pictures of the rooms, the pool, the food, the waterfall.”

“I don’t have the energy anymore, Tam. I’m about to concede defeat.”

“And let that bitch win?”

Tammy’s words landed like a gut punch. She knew Jessica too well. Jessica and who she thought was the love of her life had bought this property together. They’d built it from scratch. And then, when it was complete, Natalie had announced that Jessica would run the place. It had all seemed like such a dream come true. Jessica had jumped at the opportunity.

Then, little by little, Natalie had started to undermine Jessica.

“You’re a lousy manager,” she had said.

“I’m trying. Why don’t you help?”

“Because you’re the one with the degree. You’re supposed to be the brains of the place. Obviously, you’re not. But you’re supposed to be.”

“I need help. I can’t run this place by myself. Why don’t you help in some way?”

“I am helping. I’m telling you your ideas are shit. Someone needs to tell you that.”

“Gee, thanks,” said Jessica. “And what are your ideas?”

Things had gone on like that for three years, until one day out of the blue, Natalie announced, “I don’t want to be with you anymore. And I don’t want to be affiliated with this garbage dump you’re ruining. I’m moving back to the states.”

“You can’t be serious. You can’t just bail on me and this place.”

“Watch me.”

And Jessica had. She watched while Natalie packed her bags, called an Uber and left for good, breaking Jessica’s heart, taking her financial backing, and demolishing her dreams.

That had been two years prior and Jessica had busted her ass to keep the resort afloat. But she was out of money, out of ideas, and she felt, out of time.

“Maybe it’s time to sell,” she said out loud.

“No. You love it here. It’s an oasis and you don’t want to sell it. Look, let’s table this discussion for another day. Let’s go to town.”

“And do what? Spend money I don’t have?”

“My treat. I have enough pesos to treat you to a few drinks at Catrina’s.”

“Catrina’s sounds lovely.”

“Great. Let’s go.”

Jessica was silent on the drive into town, lost in her thoughts and concerns about Guerreras, her resort in the jungle. Tammy found a parking spot two blocks away from the cantina and tried to lift Jessica’s spirits.

“Excellent parking karma,” she said. “Tonight’s going to be a great night.”

“Who’s on tonight?”

“The incomparable Kim Archer.”

“Oh. She’s amazing. Now, I’m excited.”

“Then act like it,” said Tammy.

They walked up the steps and were greeted by the sounds of smooth singing. They had a few minutes before Kim was scheduled to come on so they scanned the room in search of a place to sit. There was a table left right in front of the stage, so they sat there, ordered their drinks, and Jessica started to relax.

“Oh, shit,” Tammy said.

“What?”

“I think I just saw your future ex-wife.”

“Can it.”

“No can do. She’s just your type. Butch through and through, tall, dark hair, and piercing blue eyes.”

“Tempting,” said Jessica. “But I’m sworn off women.”

“I don’t know. Casually glance to your right.”

“I’m not glancing anywhere.”

“Your loss.”

* * *

“Damn,” Cash said. “Who’s the redheaded bombshell who just walked in?”

Candy burst out laughing.

“Her name is Jessica and she owns a resort up in the jungle. It’s a great place. Maybe we’ll go up to the pool this week. But Jessica herself? Ice, ice baby.”

“I could melt her.”

“Give it up. No one can.”

“I don’t know.”

Cash signaled the waiter over.

“What’s Jessica drinking?” she said.

“A cantarito.”

“I have no idea what that is, but please send her one from me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” said Cash.

She and Candy watched as the cantarito was delivered to Jessica. They couldn’t hear over the singer but watched the exchange. They saw the waiter point to their table. They saw Jessica shake her head and saw the waiter take the drink back to the bar.

“Shit,” Cash said.

“Told you.”

“Maybe I should go introduce myself.”

“Maybe not. You don’t want to spend the rest of your vacation in a hospital.”

“That bad?”

“Worse,” said Candy.

The crowd erupted in applause and Cash realized the singer was through. 

“I’m bummed he’s done,” she said. “He was amazing.”

“Just wait until Kim sings.”

“She can’t be better than him.”

Candy laughed.

“You have no idea.”

A tall, fit, black, butch woman took the stage.

“How’s everyone doing tonight? I’m Kim Archer. You ready to have some fun?” She raised her glass. “Salud, everyone.”

There was a chorus of saluds from the crowd. When they settled down, the music started. Kim belted out Tell Me Something Good.

“Oh, damn! She can sing,” Cash said.

“Yes, she can. Now shut up and listen.”

Cash didn’t even make it through the first song. She walked to the stage and put two hundred pesos in Kim’s tip jar. As she walked back, she caught Jessica’s attention and winked. Jessica flipped her off.

“Damn.” Cash told Candy. “She’s a raging bitch.”

“Kim?”

“No, the ice queen.”

“Jesus Christ, Cash. What did you do?”

“I just winked at her.”

“You’ll never learn.”

“I remember when you would have given me an A for effort.”

“Not with Jessica. Leave it, Cash.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Kim Archer sang for an hour, and every song was more impressive than the last. The crowd sang along with every song and erupted into applause at the end of each. 

“You ready to see a DJ?” Candy said.

“I guess.”

“What?”

“That Kim woman. Her voice was incredible but her guitar playing was also out of this world.”

“So you want to stay here?”

“No, I’m ready to go,” said Cash. “How far to the next place?”

“It’s a short walk.”

“Define short.”

“Come on wonder masc. You can handle it.”

They walked to the end of the block and turned right.

“I can hear it.” Cash increased her speed.

They came to a three-story building with a line out the front. Cash’s gaydar pinged like crazy at all the men and women lined up.

“This must be the place.”

“It is indeed.”

“That line looks like we’ll be out here for a while.”

“Oh, ye of little faith.”

Cash watched Candy walk up to the doorman. His face broke into a smile and he hugged her. They talked for a few minutes before he turned to Cash and motioned her to come in.

“How did you manage that?” said Cash.

“It’s not what you know. It’s who you know. Now, come on, let’s get to the main floor.”

Cash followed Candy up the stairs until they came to a large dance floor with disco lights, and a stage with a DJ entertaining the crowd.

“Let’s get a drink.” Candy yelled above the din.

“No way. I’m not going back downstairs.”

“You’re an idiot. An unobservant idiot. There’s a bar to your left. Now, come on.”

The bar area was actually calm, so Cash and Candy sat on barstools. They got their drinks, then turned around to watch the DJ.

A woman walked up and hugged Candy.

“No wonder I haven’t seen you in a long time,” she said. “Your new boi toy must be keeping you busy.”

“No!” Cash and Candy said in unison.

“No?”

“She’s not my boi toy. She’s been my best friend since grade school.”

“Well in that case, hello handsome. My name’s Trish.”

Cash got off her barstool and bent to kiss Trish’s outstretched hand.

“Cash. It’s a pleasure.”

Trish put her hand over heart.

“I’m never washing this hand again.”

Cash grinned, knowing her dimples were on full display.

“Would you like to dance?” she said.

“Would I ever.”

Cash took Trish’s hand and led her to the dance floor. The DJ was laying down some hot beats, covering everyone from Honey Dijon, a black trans woman to playing Lady Gaga, Rhianna, and Abba. Cash was in heaven. She acted like she was paying attention to Trish, while she focused on every drop, every beat, and every vocal. The DJ was good. Not great, but good. Cash longed for the opportunity to play in front of a crowd like this. She knew she was better than the guy at the controller.

Trish and Cash danced for several songs until the DJ announced a new DJ and stepped off the stage. Cash was through dancing. She wanted to focus on the new DJ.

“I’m thirsty,” she said. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Cash placed her hand on the small of Trish’s back and guided her to the bar. They ordered their drinks then joined Candy.

“Remember me?” she said.

“Sorry, not sorry,” said Trish.

The new DJ started with Gasolina. Cash was in her element. This guy was good, too.

“I could do this. I could play to a crowd and make them dance.”

“Yes, you could,” Candy said.

“You’re a DJ?” Trish sounded impressed.

“Guilty. Or I was. I don’t know if I still am.”

“You are,” said Candy. “You can’t give up now.”