Ink Drift - July

The Creep Factor
Issue 12 - Fear
sleep and that the man had decided against
the ring, and therefore, wouldn’t return.
How foolish, she thought, to work herself
into a panic. Tammy hated being a victim.
She was sprucing up a case when the
door opened the buzzer alerted.
A young Asian woman walked in, small
and delicate, with long black hair parted
down the middle. She went to the right
aisle.
Tammy saw her looking into the second
showcase. “Can I help you?” she asked,
walking toward her.
The woman pressed her forehead
against the glass. “My boyfriend wants me
to see that jade ring.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“Yeah.”
“You mean—”
“He was here the other day.”
The man had a girlfriend!
“He can’t afford it, but he’s up for a part
in the new James Bond film.”
“He’s an actor?”
The woman looked at Tammy. “Yeah.
He’s up for the role of the new henchman.”
“Henchman?”
“Yeah, the other actor died. They need to
cast someone scary looking.”
Tammy felt a hiccup launching in her
stomach. “So, he’s like getting into the
role?” The hiccup expanded into a chuckle.
“I guess.”
Tammy felt giddy. She laughed. “I have a
feeling, he’ll get the part.”
“I hope. What’s so funny?”
“Me. I’m laughing at myself. Can I take
the ring out for you?” Tammy asked, feeling
like the sun, the moon and the stars aligned
instantly for her. She felt ashamed for judging
him, stupid for being afraid, ridiculous
for having nightmares about him.
The woman sighed and stared into the
showcase. “No, I’d have to work overtime
for a month if I were to buy it for him.”
“Why buy it for him if he gets the role?”
“Even if he gets it, he can’t afford it.”
She looked at Tammy. “He has a hard time
finding work.”
“Because of his,” Tammy searched for a
kind word, “distinctive looks?”
“That, too. People are picky about who
they hire. So now he’s trying to be an actor.”
What did she mean by, that too, Tammy
wondered?
“He thinks because I’m Chinese, I know
good jade. I’m about as Chinese as Taylor
Swift. It’s a nice ring. But he’s dreaming.”
She turned and walked out the door.
Tammy went back to the counter and
sat on the stool. She pondered the meaning
behind everything the woman told her. He
was trying to be an actor, had a hard time
finding work and not just because of his
looks. What other reasons? Had he a prison
record? Murdered someone? Would let his
girlfriend work extra hours to buy him a
ring—selfish, but so were a lot of men. She
seemed intelligent. But Tammy knew love
wasn’t just blind. It could be deaf, too.
She was reaching for her phone to call
Qwan when the ringtone let out, “All You
Need is Love”.
“Dazzles, Tammy speaking.”
“I was in the other day.”
Tammy’s neck and arm hairs became
stiff as antennas. “I remember.”
“Don’t sell the ring. I’ll be in tomorrow.”
“Congratulations,” she said trying to
keep the tremor out of her voice.
“What for?”
“The role, of the henchman, in the new
James Bond movie. Congratulations.” She
heard his snicker and then the dial tone.
Tammy glanced about as if something could
save her. God help me!
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