The lowdown: Alone in the world, Cassie finds a friend in Chris. They get along and she supports him as he stands up to those who have dragged him down. But when unfinished business with some powerful people catches up with her, she is forced to take a turn in life that will jeopardize it all. Because the only person who can help her dig herself out of trouble is Chris's number one nemesis.

Subplot (later chapters): Eyeball finds inspiration from a free-spirited Catholic girl to step up and make some dramatic changes in his life. But as well as making a stand against his abusive father, Eyeball must decide whether to leave his life of crime behind him... and that would mean leaving his best friend in the lurch at a time when he needs him the most.

AcexOC... or will it be? Crime/Drama/Action. Warnings: Offensive language, drug references, Vince's smelly feet.

The Alleyway

The name 'Chambers' arose in whispered conversation often, but the name 'Merrill', I had never heard. Perhaps people knew who they could get away with gossiping about and who they couldn't. Anyway, I wouldn't have known a Chambers from a Merrill if I tripped over one. None of them had ever come into the diner and I hardly ever left it, so I guess that's why. Even after living in Castle Rock for three months, I still hardly knew anybody. Not really. Sure, I knew a few faces and names, but the only people I 'knew' properly were the ladies I worked for and with. Other than that, I hadn't done much socializing. I preferred to keep to myself for the time being. For good reasons. And so, when I walked in on some bleach-blond asshole strangling a thirteen-year-old kid up against a fence, I had no idea who I was dealing with.

I had just taken a stroll on my lunch break and was walking back to the diner on Main street through an alleyway. There were two assholes actually, both about my age – the blond one and another with a brown mop and a scar at the corner of his eye that looked like someone had melted the skin with a cigarette.

"Get off, man!" the kid struggled to say as the blond clenched two fists full of his T-shirt collar tight around his throat.

"Don't even try to fuck with me. I know it was you who told him. Now, who else you been blabbing to? What about Lachance?"

"I haven't told Gordie anything."

"What the hell is going on here?" I asked, walking straight in on them. All three of them glanced at me briefly, but other than that, my sudden presence didn't earn much of a reaction.

"You better be talking the truth here, Chambers, 'cause if I find out any different, I'm gonna shut that loose mouth of yours so good you won't even be able to scream."

The kid stared at his tormentor, his eyes gleaming with pure hate. If looks could kill, his would have shot a bullet. "Fuck you, Ace," he seethed.

My jaw dropped in shock. And in admiration.

Ace leered over his shoulder at his friend who had been standing behind him the whole time, watching the antics with a pitiless grin. "Your brother can never help himself, can he Eyeball?"

Eyeball's grin widened. "Nope."

"And neither can I." Ace tightened his grip on the kid's T-shirt and began to raise him up against the fence. The kid's dirty, white runners lifted an inch off the ground, and he started kicking out and desperately clawing at Ace's hands.

"Hey, let him down!" I yelled. I grabbed onto one of Ace's arms and tried to make him loosen his grip, but it only made them laugh. I didn't care. "Let go of him!"

Ace forcefully swung his arm out, flinging me away so hard that I stumbled and nearly went down onto my backside. "Eyeball, grab her," Ace said.

Eyeball acted on command and stepped forwards to take me. I ducked and dived to avoid capture, but he managed to grab me around the chest from behind and pull one of my arms up behind my back in an uncomfortable hold.

"Move and I'll break it," he sneered in my ear.

Meanwhile, the kid was down off the fence, coughing and frantically sucking air back into his lungs.

"That's your warning," Ace said. "Don't do anything stupid." He grabbed Chris and shoved him onwards, down the path and in the direction of Main street. "Scram."

Chris steadied himself, still massaging and rubbing his throat. "I'm not leaving 'til you let her loose. She has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, she does now. Eyeball, get your brother outta here."

Eyeball released me with a snicker, and I stretched my arm with relief. "Get goin' ya little runt," he laughed, pushing Chris down the path.

Chris looked back at me as he stumbled along, swatting and fighting off his older brother's insistent pushes until one final push at the alleyway entrance sent him out of sight.

Ace closed in on me until he had me backed right up against the fence. He topped my height by three inches, and his stony blue eyes looked me over like a dog taking an interest in its new plaything. I stepped sideways to leave, but he put his hand on the fence to block my way. "So, what do we have here then?" he said. His voice was so soft but had a slight husk which gave it its menacing edge.

"A big problem if you keep holding me here like this. What you and your sidekick just did is assault."

"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots." He snickered and looked at Eyeball who was back to join him in the joke. "I think we've got one with a smart mouth. Perhaps even a big mouth." Ace's eyes drifted down to my bust where my buttercup-yellow waitress dress was very fitting. "Have you got a big mouth, Cassie?" he asked, and I realized he'd read the name on my tag.

"Piss me off enough, and I'll sing like a bird."

He cracked a laugh. "So, what do you know then?"

"Just that, Chris told somebody something and you're extremely paranoid about it. Other than that, I didn't hear anything specific. So, consider this your lucky day."

Ace got a curious look in his eyes as he stared at me, and he shook his head with a disbelieving grin like some unfathomable idea had just come to him. "How long you been working at the Blue Point?"

"What does it matter?"

"Couple months?"

"About that… why?"

Ace leaned in close to my ear, and although he didn't touch me, I could feel the warmth of him and could smell the sweet scent of whiskey. "There's been a thief in town, and they're still on the loose," he whispered softly. "You know anything about that?"

I went cold and my heart probably even stopped for a bit. "I… have no idea what you're…"

My voice trailed off as he stared firmly into my eyes like he could see straight through me and was watching the memories play through my head. "I think you do."

"You can't prove anything."

Ace smiled, seemingly proud of himself for being such a smart ass. "The only proof I need is the look on your face. And, you know, I am feeling lucky today. See you 'round, sweetheart." He pushed off the fence, and him and his compadre left me standing there with my heart pulpatating as they headed down the alleyway and out to the main street.