No Strings Attached

Chapter Ten

In the dimly lit waiting room, Alex sat beside Norma, trying to appear calm, though the tension was coiled tight in his chest. Norma's leg bounced anxiously, her fingers twisting in her lap as she glanced toward Bob's closed office door. She hadn't noticed Alex's quick, watchful glances; moments when he studied her, noting every small sign of her anxiety.
The stakes felt impossibly high, and he couldn't shake the unease that flooded him at the thought of Bob's ever-present gaze watching her too closely. But he had to be careful, he couldn't let Bob pick up on even a hint of his concern for her.
"Norma Bates," the receptionist called, and Alex stood as she did, his hand barely brushing her arm in a motion that felt natural and reflexive, but it made Norma's skin buzz. She cast him a quick, almost defensive look, but he gave her nothing. Just a brief nod that she read as the silent encouragement he'd perfected over the years.
They entered Bob's office, the air heavy with the weight of intentions unspoken and alliances uncertain. Bob rose with a smile that was too wide, too knowing. His gaze lingered on Norma in a way that made Alex's jaw tense in an almost primal way, but he forced himself to look away, to focus instead on keeping his own emotions tightly bound and hidden as he introduces them.
"Bob, this is Norma Bates."
"Welcome. Can I get you guys anything? Coffee? Perrier? Something stronger?" Bob says as he moves to shake Norma's hand before gesturing towards the chairs, a silent command for them to sit down.
"Oh, no, thank you." she replies as they sat down, Alex's gaze sliding over to her for just a second before he steadied himself. She looked composed now, her earlier nervous energy masked by a calm, almost challenging look in her eyes as she stared at Bob.
Alex stared down Bob as he stared at Norma, his hungry eyes roaming her with a smile, making Alex struggle not to grip the arms of the chair too tightly.
The silence went on for a beat too long, and Alex could see out of the corner of his eye as Norma glanced to him, but he couldn't help her. This was her decision, and this is how they had to play it.
"Um," she begins, her nerves beginning to show in her voice. "So, I am here because I think I may have something that you want back."
Bob simply stared back at her, his expression unchanging as if he had no idea what she was talking about. Alex could see that he was already playing the game, and she didn't even know it.
"Um, a flash drive?" she says, trying to clarify even further, but Bob's smile only grew.
Alex clenched his jaw once again before he could stop himself, his blood boiling as he had to sit back and watch her fall right into his trap.
"So here's what I was thinking, and you can tell me what you think about it," she begins, making Alex look over to her with disbelief before he quickly grounds himself again. He probably should've coached her before they came.
"This bypass that's being built, it's going to destroy my business. I've tried so hard to fight it, but there's just...there's nothing I can do." she says, her nerves causing her words to spill out of her. "I mean, I have no power here. I tried, I really did, but I don't-"
"Norma, maybe just cut to the point," Alex murmured, daring another glance to her, though he was sure to keep his face stoic as he looked at her.
"Well, it's kind of all the point," she shoots back, as if that were obvious. Bob chuckled, leaning back, a glint in his eye as he looked between the two of them, but he still said nothing.
"Anyways, so I was thinking, since I have this thing you want back, that maybe I could ask you for something in return?" she proposes, and Bob just raises his eyebrows slightly, feigning interest, though Alex could always see right through his acts.
"I want you to create an exit off the bypass," she continues, her voice sturdier now, though she continues to steal nervous glances to Alex who refuses to look back to her, his eyes never straying from Bob. "One that would lead to a two-lane highway that would connect to Main street near my motel, and I would like a large billboard just before that exit on both the North and South side of the bypass. And I would like approval on any design."
Bob simply stares at her with disbelief, soaking in all of her demands, but it seemed Norma wasn't finished yet. "And I would like a pool. Nothing fancy, just 20 by 40 feet with a fence around it so it's safe," she says, as if listing items on a grocery list. Alex glances to her with disbelief though it was masked by his stoic composure, and she catches his gaze with a nonchalant shrug, as if she wasn't even asking for much. He turns back to see Bob looking between them, an entertained smile glued to his face.
"And when will I get the flash drive back?" he asks with a smile, as if he was more curious about her answers rather than actually indulging them.
"Well, maybe not ever, actually. And it won't do you any good to threaten me or hurt me. Not that I'm saying that you would do something like that, but let's just say, I suddenly go missing, or my brakes suddenly go out, I will make sure there is one person, someone you do not know, who knows where that flash drive is. And I will make sure that as soon as anything happens to me, it gets turned over to the FBI."
Alex can't help but glance at her again, careful to keep his expression neutral, though he could feel the familiar twist of dread in his stomach.
He wasn't sure how far she was planning to go with this, and as much as he wanted to pull her out of this mess, he knew he couldn't stop her here. Not with Bob watching. It would risk everything they both cared about.
"So I give you all of these things and you give me...nothing? And then because you still have the flash drive, you could come back later and ask for more stuff." Bob points out, though his eyes gleamed with a sinister sort of amusement.
"No, I'm telling you I won't. I'm making a deal with you. And I'll honor it, if you do." Norma says, making Alex almost pity her. She really didn't know what she was playing at, who she was making a deal with.
"I have to hand it to you, Norma Bates," Bob began, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration, though Alex could hear the slyness threading every word. It wasn't praise, it was bait, meant to lull her into a false sense of victory.
"You got me. Well done, Norma."
Alex's jaw tightened as Bob shifted his gaze to him, the taunting gleam in his eyes unmistakeable. Having known Bob for years, Alex recognized the subtle menace behind his carefully controlled expression, the kind of look that made his gut twist with unease. It was a look that said this wasn't over, not even close.
Bob's smile widened, though his voice dropped into something darker, sharper. "I would hate for you to lose something so precious, after all."
His words hung in the air like a threat, his gaze lingering on Alex for a fraction too long before settling back to Norma.
Norma, oblivious to the danger woven into the exchange, smiled warmly and extended her hand to shake on the deal, sealing it without hesitation.
Alex wanted to grab her, to pull her away, make her understand the peril she was stepping into.
Instead, he could only stand there, fists clenched, as Bob's pleasant facade masked the storm brewing underneath.
As they stepped out of the building and into the cool evening air, Norma's heels clicked against the pavement with a determined rhythm. She clutched her purse tightly, a triumphant smile lighting up her face.
"Well, that went better than I thought it would," she said brightly, her voice carrying a note of relief.
Alex walked a step behind her, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he bit the inside of his cheeks to keep himself from saying anything. His expression was unreadable as he watched Norma lead the way toward her car parked down the street.
"Don't you think so?" she asks, glancing back at him.
He hesitated before answering, his jaw tightening. "It went fine."
Norma frowned, slowing her pace as she easily read his tone. "Fine? That's all you have to say?"
He looked away from her, his jaw tightening again and Norma stopped walking to turn to face him fully.
Alex exhaled, his breath visible in the cold night air. "Norma, Bob isn't someone you can trust." His tone was calm but firm, his eyes searching hers.
Her expression hardened. "I know that, Alex. I'm not an idiot."
"I didn't say you were," he replies carefully.
She crossed her arms, standing her ground. "Then what is it? You think I can't handle myself?"
Alex shook his head, his frustration barely concealed. "That's not what I'm saying, Norma-"
"Then what are you saying?" she pressed, her voice rising with frustration.
He sighed, glancing around the empty street before stepping closer to her and lowering his voice. "I'm saying Bob plays a long game. He will smile in your face while he's setting a trap. You need to be more careful."
Her eyes narrowed even more as she stared him down. "Careful?" she repeated, her voice sharp with indignation. "I've had to be careful my whole life. I've been the one protecting myself since I was a kid, Alex."
The intimate detail slipped from her tongue before she could stop it but she continued with her rant, hoping he didn't catch it. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you, or anyone else, to tell me how to do it."
He stared at her, his expression softening as she vented her frustrations. "You asked me to come to this meeting. You wanted me here-" he started to remind her but immediately stopped as her face flushed with frustration.
"Because you're the sheriff, Alex. Its your job to protect people-"
"And that's exactly what I'm doing, Norma," he says, his voice hardening just slightly. "I'm trying to keep you safe. You should never have gotten involved with him in the first place."
Her lips pressed together as she stared back at him, her blue eyes sparked with fury. "You know what? Forget it. I thought you might actually believe in me, that you might actually want to help me, but clearly I was wrong."
"Norma-"
"No," she snapped, holding up a hand to silence him. "You don't think I can do this? Fine. I'll do it myself. You're off the hook, sheriff."
Before Alex could say another word, she spun on her heel and stormed toward her car. He followed behind her, stopping just short of her as she wrenched her door open.
"Norma," he says, placing one hand on the top of her car while the other held her door for her as she slid into the drivers seat and turned back to look at him with an icy stare.
"Just...be careful with him. Please." he says again, his voice low and insistent.
"I don't need your advice, Alex." she says with an icy tone before reaching over to slam her door closed, making Alex step back to avoid getting hit with it.
Alex stood there for a long moment, watching as her car disappeared down the street. Despite her anger and her words, Alex knew he would have to step it up if he was going to ensure Norma's safety. Whether she wanted him to or not.