by Edwin Dasso
Kat nodded, took Allison’s arm and the two walked over to their table where Mike and Joe sat quietly. Mike was nursing his beer and Joey had a cup of coffee. Joe looked worried. He smiled at Kat. “Lida always said you were the one who rescued them and kept everyone out of trouble. I can see that now.” He gave her a warm smile, stood and pulled a chair out for Allison who plopped down and rolled her neck back.
Kat laughed. “Yeah. I’ve done this before, many, many times along with Mike here.” She beamed at Mike. “We’re Allison’s self-appointed handlers at parties.”
Mike winked at Kat and looked over at Allison. Kat rolled her eyes and shook her head. “We’ve been taking care of Allison since our freshman year at the University of New Orleans. And sometimes, it was a huge job.” Mike gestured to Kat. “Wouldn’t you agree.”
Kat nodded in agreement. “Indeed I do agree and yeah, it was a real job. Especially during Mardi Gras. Allison has always been a real party girl, unlike the rest of us,” she remembered.
Joe laughed. “Yeah. That’s exactly what Lida said. She told me a few Allison stories but I have to admit, she is delightful.”
"Yep. She is delightful and some things never change," Mikey smiled at Kat. He turned to Joe. “But, in all fairness, she’s not the only one. Lots of our friends did, and still do a lot of partying as you can no doubt tell.” Mike watched a few of their friends on the dance floor.
“Apparently, from what I’ve heard, Allison has been a regular at partying.” Joey motioned the bar tender to cut off Allison’s non-ending supply of Vodka.
Kat flashed Joe a grateful look. “Thank you, Joe. That should make the next couple of hours easier on all of us.”
Joe nodded. “By the way, how is your friend Barb? Did they figure out what was wrong with her? That sounded scary.” Joe studied his coffee cup. “I heard you were with her when she became sick.”
“She was poisoned.” Kat’s voice was flat. “The doctor said she’d been deliberately poisoned. I still can’t believe it.” Kat locked eyes with Joey. Was it her imagination, or did his face pale?
“What? She was poisoned? Who in the world would do that?” Joe seemed shocked. “Are you sure it wasn’t bad seafood or something?” He took a sip of his coffee and stared at Kat.
Kat flashed a look at Mike. “We’re positive. The hospital specifically said they’d found evidence of hemlock poisoning in her blood. But,” she smiled, “she’ll be better soon. She’s already more alert.”
Joe shook his head. Kat noticed his left hand gripped the table as he held his coffee cup. “I’ve not known of anyone being poisoned around here, especially with hemlock.” He shook his head. “That’s cold, man. To poison someone like that.”
Mike shrugged. “Well, I guess there’s always a first time. The good news is she’ll be fine in a few days. I plan to stop at the hospital first thing in the morning.” He looked at Kat. “You want to go with me?”
“Absolutely.” She turned to Joe and smiled. “Thanks for cutting Allison off, Joe. I appreciate it." Allison pulled at Kat’s arm to get her attention.
“I need a drink, Kat. Will you ask Mike to get me a vodka?”
Kat shook her head. Her friend was a mess. Her mascara was smudged, her lipstick smeared, and her eyes watered. “Allison, we’re taking an alcohol break. Would you like a Diet Coke or water? You’ve had enough vodka for a while."
Allison shook her head, smiled and played with her earring. She’d even lost a fake fingernail. She was sauced. "Sure, Kat. You always take care of me, don't you?" She sighed. “I’ll have a Coke, I guess, but I sure would like it better with bourbon.” She grinned incoherently.
Kat smiled and noticed that Joe Minelli drummed his fingers against the table. He seemed uneasy, anxious, and apprehensive. Kat shot Mike a look and Mike shrugged his shoulders.
Joey touched Kat’s arm. "Where's Lida?" His face was strained, his body rigid.
"She's in the ladies’ room, Joe. She was upset about something your brother said," Kat admitted honestly as her eyes caught Joey's. “She'll be back in a few minutes, after she repairs her make-up.”
Allison clawed at Mike’s arm to get his attention and lay her head against him. Mike detangled himself, stood and looked down at her. "Allison, I'm gonna get you some water and a diet coke. I'll be right back."
Allison mumbled something unintelligible and grinned stupidly at Kat. "Where's Lida? We want to toast her good luck," she slurred.
Kat shook her head. This was so much like old times, but this time she resented having to babysit Allison. She should have grown up after their reunion in Nags Head. "She's still in the restroom. Didn't you hear me tell Joe?" Her voice was impatient. Sometimes Allison was a bit too much for her, especially when she was worried about Lida and Barb. She felt like the last girl standing.
"Oh," was Allison's response. She turned to Joe. "I'm happy for you and Lida. I'm a little jealous as well," she mumbled. “Lida is lucky to have you, you know,” she said brightly and smiled at Joe.
Joe nodded. "Thank you, Allison. I know how fond Lida is of both you ladies." He smiled faintly and turned his head towards the direction of the ladies room. Kat read his anxiety.
Several minutes passed. Kat asked Joe a few questions about the Magnolia, and his job. His answers were perfunctory, almost automatic. His eyes never left the direction of the restroom. He was worried and appeared upset.
Joe touched Kat’s arm and searched her eyes. "Kat, will you please check on Lida? She's been gone for too long, and I want to be sure she's okay." His face was grim. Kat felt his panic as he gripped the table with both hands.
Kat smiled, touched his shoulder, and said gently, "Sure. I’ll go check but Joey, she hasn't been gone but about five minutes. We talked outside the restroom for about 15 minutes. I'm sure she’s okay. But if she’s not back in a couple more minutes, sure, I'll go and bring her back," Kat promised him.
Joe checked his watch and nodded just as Mike returned with a cup of coffee and a glass of water for Allison. He looked at the glum faces at the table. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing," Kat said. "Joe wants me to go to the restroom and check on Lida, so I guess I will." She stood up and smiled. "I'll be right back, I promise, with Lida in tow.”
Joe gave her a grateful look. His eyes followed her as she crossed the bar area and turned towards the closest ladies room.
Mike smiled at Allison who cocked her head, grinned, and winked at him. "Your Coke will be here in a minute. Drink your water." Then he turned to Joe. "I hear you guys are planning a huge expansion in the spring. Tell me about it," he tried to ease Joey's anxiety.
Kat smiled to herself as she wandered towards the restroom. She thought about Mike and how good he was to all of them. Mike was handsome and successful. He’d never had a real girlfriend that she’d known about. He’s always been there for her as well as Barb, Allison, Lida and a few of the other girls they’d hung with in school. She’d often wondered why he and Liam had been such great friends in college, especially since they were so different. She saw now that Liam was a player and a total creep. I need to seriously consider Mike in a romantic way. He's the best guy around, Kat admitted to herself as she walked to the restroom. But it would never work. Our lives are a thousand miles away. “
Kat opened the door to the restroom. It was quiet. No one was primping at the mirror which was where she was sure she’d find her friend. Her heartbeat quickened. "Lida, are you in here? You've gotta hurry up. Joe is about to have a cow for you to get back to the table."
There was no answer. Kat felt panic set in. Where was she?
"Lida, where are you?” Her voice was loud and anxious. “You've had plenty of time to fix your make-up.” Kat walked up and down both sides of the restroom. “Let's get out of here," she called again. “I wanna go dance.”
There was still no answer. Kat walked up and down both sides of the lines of stalls. She pushed on each restroom stall door until it became obvious that Lida was
not there.
Fear clutched heart and chill bumps popped out on her arms. Her heart raced. Where was she? She ran back to the table and looked at Joey. Her face was grim. "She's not there. Lida’s not in the restroom." Her voice was shaky. "Joey, could she have gone up to her office?"
Joe Minelli’s face turned as white as a ghost. His voice was hoarse. "No. The offices are locked. Lenny. Lenny took her," he stammered in a loud whisper. His eyes welled with tears, but his lips were set in a firm line.
Mike turned to Joey. “What the hell do you mean when you say Lenny took her? What the hell does that mean?" His face was red with anger. “Where the hell is she? Where would he take her?”
Joey shook his head. He studied his fingernails. “Lenny took her.” His voice was a whisper. “I don’t know where. I just know he did.”
Mike got in Joey’s face. “What the hell, man. Are you deaf?” He shook Joey’s shoulder. “Talk to me. What does Lenny want with Lida?”
Minelli shook his head, unable to speak. "It… it means he is gonna “teach” her a lesson." Joey’s hands covered his face. “He’ll hurt her. He’s threatened to hurt her in the past few weeks.”
"What the hell are you talking about, man?" Mike’s voice was loud. "Are you saying Lenny abducted her? Did he kidnap Lida? Where would he take her and how will he hurt her?"
Joe shook his head but didn’t speak.
“Lenny has already hurt Lida. He broke her arm and gave her a black eye. She’s terrified of him.” Kat’s voice was frantic. “She said she was afraid he would kill her.” She turned towards Joe Minelli. “And you, Joey, Lida thinks your brother will kill both of you.”
Joe stood still and stared at the table. He shook his head back and forth but was unable to talk. “I, I don’t know what Lenny will do.” He looked into her eyes. “But Lida is right. It is possible he’ll hurt her, hurt her badly.”
“What the hell, Joe! Where would he take her?” Mike glared at him. “What will he do to her?”
Joe nodded slowly. "Yeah. He’d hurt her in a heartbeat. Lida told him she wouldn't alter the books -- she refused to cook the casino’s books for the state regulators. Lenny’s furious about it."
Mike jumped out of his chair. "Get up man, get up, get the hell up!" Mike’s voice was harsh. "We've got to find her."
Joe stared at him dumbly. “And do what? We have no idea where she is. There are a million places Lenny could take her.”
Mike jerked Joe out of his chair. “We’re gonna figure that out. Now.”
Kat was shocked. She felt numb all over, but she hadn't said a word. Fear traveled through her as she considered the danger her friend could be in. Fortunately, Allison was quiet. She had passed out and was asleep at the table.
15
Lida had finished reapplying her makeup. She looked at herself in the mirror and was basically pleased. Not too bad for someone who just cried their eyes out. She zipped her make-up bag and was ready to return to the bar when she saw a reflection in the mirror. A moment later she briefly felt someone behind her. A second later a rag with a sickly-sweet smell covered her mouth and nose. Lenny. Fear tore through her heart. She tried to stay alert as she felt herself being dragged out the service entrance of the ladies’ room through the back halls of the Magnolia Casino. A couple of moments later, her abductor pressed the emergency buzzer and a door opened. The damp Gulf Coast humidity slapped her in the face. She knew she was outside. She fought her attacker, but he pressed the rag firmly over her mouth and nose as he half carried, half dragged her through the darkness. He’s going to kill me. She heard voices that seemed far away. She fought to stay awake. She knew the rag would cause her to pass out.
The man continued to drag her. She recognized the sound of her heels dragging on concrete. Lida listened as best she could but couldn’t identify the voices she heard. They sound far away. A second later, rough hands picked her up, folded her legs into her body and tossed her into a small space. She knew she was dead. Joey, Mike, Kat… where are you? She panicked with fear and her world went black.
She had no idea how long she was unconscious, but when she woke she felt motion all around her. Her head was splitting, and nausea bubbled into her throat. She lay on her side, blindfolded. Dread and horror twisted through her body. Her broken arm was positioned above her head. Her other arm was scrunched underneath her, and she couldn't move at all. As her mind cleared, she realized she was in the trunk of an automobile. She panicked as she poked her feet around. It was a tight space. She began to choke. Lida hated small spaces. She was claustrophobic and barely able to breathe. Panic enveloped her. I’m gonna suffocate. I can’t get enough air. I must calm down. She closed her eyes and took long, deep breaths to combat the claustrophobia she’d fought most of her life. She allowed herself to become mesmerized by the sound of the car. There was something normal, almost comforting in the sound of the wheels as they spun on the pavement. She prayed. She remembered several scriptures her father had instilled in her in time of trouble.
The car stopped. It must be a red light. Her heart hammered in her chest. Panic seized her brain. She smelled damp, humid air in the trunk. At least she had an endless supply of air. That calmed her. She tried to think but pain shot through her head down into her neck. It was excruciating. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
A short distance later the vehicle turned and the road became bumpy. Lida knew they were driving over large rocks. They were near the water. She recognized the smell of dead fish, toxic algae, and salt water in the air. Was Lenny going to drown her? Why would they go near the water? Fear consumed her. Her body broke out into a sweat and suddenly she was freezing. Her teeth chattered and her body shook as she waited to see what would happen next.
A few minutes later the car stopped. She heard two voices. She recognized one of them as Bruno Delgado, Lenny's chief of security at the Magnolia and his right-hand man. Bruno did most of Lenny's dirty work, or at least that was the rumor. But sometimes Lenny wanted to inflict pain and torture himself. She couldn't identify the other voice, but it was vaguely familiar to her. The other man was soft-spoken, but she didn't recognize his voice. A minute later the trunk popped open and rough hands grabbed her by her shoulders and dropped her on the ground. Lida screamed when her broken arm hit the pier. Her head smacked against the salt-treated wood of the deck. She tried to stand but couldn't because of her broken arm. Bruno grabbed her by her good arm and stood her up on her legs. She screamed in pain as the cramped nerves in her legs woke up. Tingles of agony shot up and down her legs as her blood supply woke up. It was excruciating anguish. She cried out again.
“Shut up, bitch,” Bruno cursed as he half-dragged her down the pier. “Shut up or I’ll kill you right now.”
Lida screamed again and Bruno smacked her hard in the face. She felt bones crack and the warm flow of blood pour from her mouth.
“Now shut up, or I’ll hit you again.” His voice was a low growl.
Lida gulped and swallowed her pain. She was terrified. She knew Lenny Minelli would kill her as certainly as he'd killed Valerie Taylor a few days before. She tried to wiggle her way out of Bruno’s grip, but he held her tightly and half-dragged her down the pier. Splinters grabbed at her tender flesh. Her jaw continued to bleed and the pain in her ear was excruciating.
Bruno cursed her the entire way. Lida dragged her feet and did everything she possibly could to twist away from him. She couldn’t. He was twice her size and strong. She new exactly where she was. She was in the Pass Christian harbor. She recognized the smell of the harbor and could see the bright lights of the Minelli yacht a hundred yards in front of her. She panicked. She knew Lenny would kill her on the yacht. When he was done, they’d head out to open sea and drop her body somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. She’d be fish food. Another missing woman, gone without a trace. Realization and dismay raced through her brain as her life passed before her eyes. She was as good as dead. Her chest hurt and her eyes burned as she mourned her own death.
<
br /> I’m gonna fight this. Lida’s teeth chattered with fear as pain riveted through her brain and shattered in her head like a million tiny pinpricks. She was incensed, outraged, and infuriated at the same time. She couldn’t die this easily. Damnit. Lenny would have to work to kill her.
A second later she kicked Bruno in the knee with her high heel. He lost his grasp of her and she quickly stomped his foot and twisted away. A second later she jumped into the Gulf of Mexico and quickly went under water.
If I'm going to die and become fish food, I’d rather drown than be murdered slowly by Lenny Minelli.
The water was still warm, dark, and relatively shallow. Lida knew if she stayed fifty yards from the yacht she’d be okay. She paddled furiously with her one arm away from the Minelli yacht. Her heart raced furiously in her chest as her adrenalin sky-rocketed and provided the energy she needed to continue. Her body and mind urged her on. Even in the water, she could feel warm blood trickle from her face and head. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to keep her anxiety down and preserve her energy. She knew that soon they’d activate the search lights on the yacht and pier to search for her. She needed to get as far away as she could before she was spotted and picked up in a small skiff. She headed for shore, towards a lighted area she recognized as a restaurant with an outdoor bar. She paddled relentlessly forward through the dark murky water. She tried not to think about what lay beneath her. Lida didn’t like swimming in the ocean or lakes. She preferred pristine turquoise pools filled with chlorinated water with clear bottoms. She smiled as she remembered how her father used to tease her about not wanting to swim in the river or Gulf.
Lida paused for a moment to rest. She touched her broken arm and realized her cast had softened. She raised it out of the water to keep it dry and continued her slow arduous movement forward in the water. A few minutes later, her knees rested on the sand. She knew she could get up and walk to shore but was afraid they’d see her. She lay in the water to rest and catch her breath.
