Ease Me

“I can’t believe that guy hasn’t called you yet.” Anita darted her eyes over at Ororo.
The four friends were all sitting down for a quick lunch at, The Looking Glass. It was a nice cozy restaurant that served divine homemade bread sandwiches and fresh soups. The Looking Glass was an all time favorite when the girls had time to meet up with each other for a quick lunch. Today they were sitting outside enjoying the cool breeze and bright sunny sky.
Ororo glanced back at Anita. Her face told her that she was just as confused about why Logan hadn’t called her.
“I know you two sure looked like you were having a good time. Hell, with his fine ass I know I would’ve enjoyed him bumpin’ and grindin’ all on my bumper too.” Betrisha giggled.
Jean frowned while she sipped her sweet tea. She didn’t like their topic. Hearing anything about Logan made her stomach turn uncomfortably.
“Yes, I was a little disappointed with that one, but there are other fish in the sea.” Ororo put up a small smile to hide her disappointment. The truth was she had been waiting and waiting to hear Logan’s deep seductive voice. Every time her phone had rang she had rushed to it, in hopes that it was him on the other line. She was starting to feel foolish for even giving him her digits in the first place.
“Girl…did you tell him you were saving yourself?” Anita asked before she took a bite of her turkey sandwich.
Ororo nodded her head, “Why not. Might as well be honest and not waste my time.”
“Girl! That’s probably what ran him off.” Anita’s voice rose up.
“Humph, O you did the right thang. If he hasn’t called you because of that then he was no good for you anyway.” Betrisha reached over and rubbed Ororo’s back,” By the way are you even really moved on from Shawn?”
“Why wouldn’t I be!” Ororo suddenly became defensive, ”I’m not an idiot, Trisha.”
“She’s not saying that, Ororo.” Jean finally opened her mouth, “We all know how much Shawn meant to you. He must’ve hurt you deeply. We just want to make sure….”
“I’m not going to cave in and forgive him. Maybe I should just forget about men all together and be gay.”
“What?!”
“Oh Hell Naw!”
“Excuse me!”
All of her girls had something to say about her last statement immediately.
Ororo snickered at their reactions, “I’m only joking, but honestly I’m not going to let Shawn get a second chance at fooling me. In fact all of his things got picked up yesterday by the trash man. I told him to come get his things before it was to late, but I guess he didn’t care. All I know is I don’t care and I made sure I got every last thing he gave me got thrown away too.”
“You threw away the gifts too?” Anita rolled her eyes,” Girl you keep the gifts.”
“Ororo don’t you dear listen to this heifa over here,” Jean narrowed her eyes at Anita, clearly becoming annoyed, “You definitely did the right thing. That is a sure sign of moving on.”
“Hold up, O. Now what Jean is saying is right and dandy, but if home boy gave you a ring you don’t give that up. Never, ever give up the fine jewels, hon, because regardless of what he done you deserved the diamonds.” Betrisha added her two cents confidently.
“Amen!” Anita chirped and she and Betrisha slapped five.
“Hey!!” They sang out in unison as the loud smack of their hands echoed out.
“Well enough of that, Betrisha how’s work?” Jean saw her chance to change the subject.
“Guys I think, Arbor has a serious criminal on the loose.” Betrisha sat back in her chair, her face becoming perplexed.
“What town doesn’t, Trisha?” Ororo looked up from her grilled chicken salad.
“Well, that is true, but…this criminal no one seems concerned about, least at the station.”
At her last statement Betrisha had their eyes and ears. They watched as her large hazel eyes narrowed and her plump lips squeezed together.
“I just….Well I picked up a paper the other day and I got to reading it. Three of this month’s top criminals were in it, reported dead.”
Betrisha paused a second to long, “Well, what’s the big deal about that?” Jean asked.
“None of our police force had anything to do with it. All of them had been murdered brutally.”
“So you’re telling us that three top killers were simply killed in one night, by some random person off the streets?” Anita’s brown eyes got wide and she could feel goose bumps forming on her arms.
Betrisha nodded her head, “Yep. The paper said, ‘The Punisher’ strikes again.”
With her final comment the other girls sighed of relief. Betrisha grimaced. This was the same reaction Nick gave her.
“How can you all get comfortable and relax like that. This means we have an even more dangerous person running around.”
“Trisha, babe you’re still kinda new to the area. ‘The Punisher’ is kind of like our hero in the shadows. He’s been lurking about taking care of revolting child molesters, bank robbers, drug dealers for the past three years. You should be sighing with relief too.” Anita preached.
“This person isn’t some goddamn savor, he’s fuckin taking the law into his own hands, a damn bounty hunter. If you want to take a bad guy down, you can’t become one yourself.”
“Hold on, honey. He’s not a bounty hunter, he doesn’t expect to get rewarded for what he’s doing.”
“Oh come on. You’re telling me Arbor has it’s on freakin’ hero? This isn’t Gotham City. This is Arbor and I’ve made up my mind.”
“What is that?” Ororo asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’m going after this guy.” Betrisha spoke critically as she got up from the table.
“Betrisha I know you don’t plan to go after this person alone. You know nothing about him, nothing.” Jean spoke apprehensively,” You need to take a step back before you jump into anything.”
“Yeah, Trish, Jay is right. I don’t want you going after anyone all by yourself, besides I’m sure you read what homeboy kills with. The Punisher is seriously packin’ them military arms. I don’t want you getting in his way and making him….”
“Oh…so you think your mighty hero will turn on me? Some hero.” Betrisha said sardonically as she narrowed her eyes at Anita.
Ororo sighed as she gathered up her purse and glanced at her two-tone Bulova watch. It was time for her to get back to her office. She wished she could say the same things to Betrisha as Anita and Jean, but Ororo knew Betrisha rarely changed her mind once she had formed her opinion, ironically it seemed that her opinions were to much for the men she had.
Betrisha was a beautiful woman. She had large hazel eyes between long thick lashes. Her hazelnut complexion made them even more appealing, her nose was slender and looped up slightly at the end, she had full lips that she kept splashed with the latest Revlon lipstick shade. Today was Revlon’s, ‘Cherries in the Snow‘. She was about five six, with big hips and a small waist. Most of her body was nothing but a pair of shapely legs that she kept hidden in her business pants suites. She was very bright and carried herself with confidence. She had a sweetness to her, but many never would agree do to her steady habit of blasting out her opinions, on almost everything at any occasion, if you didn‘t have the same one, well you‘d better back off or keep silent because Ms. Thang Betrisha wasn‘t about to hear it.

“Come on Anita, guess it is time to report back to the hospital.” Jean shook her head from side to side in defeat.
“Its two o’clock already?” Anita whined as she out up and began digging in her purse for her sunglasses.
“Yep, time to go.” Ororo answered before they all headed towards the front to pay for their meals.
Afterwards they all hugged each other and promised to call later on that evening.
Betrisha hopped into her black Envoy Denali still very much concerned with ‘The Punisher’ issue. She was slightly frightened about the weapons Anita had mentioned, but she wasn’t about to let her know that. She realized that the Punisher had to have help somewhere, especially within the local police force. Someone had to know something and she decided that was where she’d start looking.


“I’ve got a friend that might be trying to hunt you down.” Jean’s voice was at a whisper even though it was only her and him on the roof top.
“Jean, you know I don’t care about some idiot trying to track me down. I’m not worried about that. I have other things that concern me.”
“Look, she’s not an idiot.”
“She’s a she, huh?”
“Frank, this is not funny. She’s very smart and stubborn. She’s a police officer.” Jean’s voice became lowered as she took offense to Frank under estimating Betrisha.
“Police officer? I’m not worried about one little chick with a badge. Do you know how many people at that place back me up.”
“She thinks you’re a murderer.” Jean looked over at her long time friend with saddened green eyes.
Frank’s nonchalant demeanor remained the same, “I’m not worried and I’m not stopping what I’m going to do just because your little female friend thinks she can get in my way. I’ve been to jail before, and I can get out….always do.”
“I’m worried about her. Don’t hurt her, Frank. Don’t you dare hurt…”
“Jean, like I said she might not ever even get close to me, but if you really think she might, maybe you need to be warning her. I take no prisoners, no one gets in my way.” Frank started for the door, when Jean reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Scott and I helped you when your wife died, but that was two years ago. When are you going to realize what you’re doing is wrong. I don’t know how long I can stay loyal to you, Frank. I understand your cause, but you…you are wrong.”
“Don’t give me that shit! I thought you were helping me because you believed in me, not just because we were supposed to be friends. You know what the fuck is going on around you. How many damned children come to your office cryin’ cause daddy’s coming into their rooms late at night when mommy’s asleep? You know the worst them damn perverts get is five to ten. That’s not justice, not damned justice at all.”
“You’re playing God!” Jean screamed at him trying not to be shaken by his words.
Frank snarled at Jean and yanked his arm easily from her grasp, “Well Ms. Mind reader, Ms. Psychiatrist, who’s going to do it when I’m gone? I watched as my family died in my arms because of people like you, “Your Playin God!” shit…Those fucks wouldn’t even be in jail, they would’ve gotten off with their over priced lawyers. I stand for justice and I’ve gotten my revenge…it was just.”
“Their lives weren’t supposed to be taken by your hands.” Jean practically wailed, her eyes filling with tears.
“Then tell me why they’re dead.” Frank scoffed before he left her to stand on the ceiling alone.
Jean wiped at her eyes and ran after him screaming,” Please! Don’t…hurt her. Take these, look at this!”
Frank didn’t know why he had stopped. His blood was over heating due to his conversation with her. Jean was supposed to be one of his allies. How many times had he assisted her and the X-Men. Did they not also ‘PLAY GOD’. He couldn’t believe how she had turned on him. This must be some friend she’s talking about. Why couldn’t she just tell her to back the fuck off.
He turned in time to see her pulling a picture out of her wallet and trusting it into his chest.
“What the hell is…..”
“Look at it. Know it’s her, the one with the hazel eyes and straight black hair.”
Frank gripped the picture of four pretty woman all bunched together at what appeared to be a club. He recognized Ororo immediately and moved his eyes away from her to focus more on the female beside her, hugging her tightly. He’d seen that breathtaking face before, but where, he couldn’t remember.
“This is the police officer?” He asked instead of asking for her name.
Jean nodded and sniffed in her emotions, ”Detective.”
“Looks more like a model.” Frank couldn’t believe he said what did out loud.
“Yeah well, if she wanted to be one, she probably could’ve been, but she’s daddy’s girl. Following in his shadow. Her entire family is into law.”
“Makes me wonder what the fuck she’s trying to come after me for then. She ought know how fucked up the system is.” Frank muttered as he started walking away again.