Killing Reality

by Bob Henderson

  Armando looked surprised to see me, and a little concerned. But with his cat-like reflexes, he was able to quickly move out of my path.

  That’s when Benny fired.

  Armando quickly assessed the situation and made a grab for me. As I stumbled toward the ground, I felt a fire begin to burn in my stomach. Armando motioned one of the parishioners to stay with me, and another to call 911. Then, he went after Benny. Benny was armed but bulky and slow. I hoped Armando could use that against him.

  As I lay on the tiled floor, I started to get dizzy. A very nice lady, who smelled like jasmine, was holding me, trying to staunch the blood flow from the bullet wound with a towel. She spoke to me softly, “You’re going to be all right, sweetheart. Just hang in there.”

  As I tried to stay conscious, I noticed a flash of something way up in the back, among the balcony. I spotted a few people from my old crew, who had been filming Armando and the service the entire time. I stared at the grips, who were once my friends. Even as mayhem ensued, all the noise around me started to fade. Mercifully, I blacked out.

  44 A Star Is Born Again

  I awoke in a hospital bed. God-awful fluorescent lights. I looked around and saw I was in a private room. Nice. I tried to move but quickly realized I was strapped to the bed. There was a lot of commotion outside my door that sounded like people arguing. Then the door flew open and Artie stormed in. I could see behind him that there was a mob with cameras and microphones, all pushing and shoving. There were a hundred flashes in that split second. I was literally blinded by the light.

  Artie turned back to the crowd, clearly pissed. “Look, if you people don’t behave, I’m going to have my two sergeants here start tasering any and all of you. Capeesh?” That seemed to subdue them, at least for the time being.

  Then the door flew open again. This time it was Jonathan.

  “Thanks, Artie.” Jonathan said.

  Artie responded with his customary grunt. He and Jonathan proceeded to pull up chairs alongside my bed. Man, my head hurt.

  “You were beautiful, Marc.” Jonathan beamed, like a proud parent.

  Whoa. What, did I miss something? Am I still unconscious and dreaming?

  Artie, who sensed my confusion, gave me a quick debrief of what had transpired. That helped fill in some of the gaps, but not all.

  “What about Armando? Is he okay? Before I blacked out, he was going after Benny,” I said worriedly.

  “Don't worry about him, kid. Armando is fine, more than fine. Benny was no match for him. But the real story is you. You’re a hero. Hell, you’re like the damn Energizer Bunny. Just when everyone counts you out, you come bouncing back.”

  I looked to Jonathan, who was smiling so broadly that I thought his jaws would crack. He then told me his good news.

  “Marc, everyone is calling me—they all want interviews with you! Wait till you see the footage. It’s incredible. We’re going to sell it to everyone. I’m going to make TMZ pay out the nose for what we put together. The producers of The First 48 want to do a documentary on this whole thing!”

  I saw Artie’s ears perk up at that.

  My head was swimming and I wasn’t sure it was just from the bullet wound. This was all too surreal. And I was exhausted, even though I had only been awake for a few minutes. They must have noticed the tiredness etched on my face, because Jonathan said, “Marc, get some rest. We’ll be back in the morning to see you.”

  I dozed on and off, for how long I couldn’t say. The pain meds they had me on must have been good, because the realization of what transpired hadn’t fully dawned on me yet. When I did manage to stay awake for more than a few minutes, I kept playing the scene at the church over and over again in my head. What the hell had made me do that? It was like an out-of-body experience. Taking a bullet for someone? That was so not me.

  Nurses came in periodically during the night to check my pulse and take my temperature, always making all kinds of “hmm” noises. I think a few came in just to check out the patient who’d caught a bullet on live TV. At one point, my door opened, and a female voice spoke softly. “There he is. Poor guy, he looks exhausted. And shorter than he does on TV.”

  Once again, I was all over the news. Nurses would sneak in newspapers and magazines with me plastered all over the cover. They read “Untouchable!” and “Henderson Takes A Bullet” and on and on. I could do no wrong. If only they knew.

  45 Snakes

  A couple of days passed. I was still sleeping a lot, thanks to the pain meds the doctors had me on. I awoke from another nap to find Jonathan sitting in the corner of the room with a beautiful woman. She wasn’t a friend, but I knew who she was. Anyone who watched Entertainment Tonight on TV would, as well. No doubt Jonathan had cut a deal with her for an exclusive to my story. I wondered what his asking price was.

  Sheila Cox was more beautiful in person than she was on TV, if that was possible. Jonathan and Sheila looked to be very buddy-buddy, which had me wondering what else she had to do to get this interview. Jonathan started the introductions, but I cut him off.

  “Sheila and I know each other. She did a piece on me right after I was acquitted for Lync’s death—she screwed me on that piece. Everyone knew it is was self-defense, but no, not Sheila. She said it was too coincidental that three reality stars were killed around the same time and wondered why the police didn’t consider me as the prime suspect in all three incidences. She lied to me then, and she’ll lie now. Isn’t that right, Sheila?” I looked to her for confirmation.

  “Marc, Jonathon and I have a deal. I can understand your frustration over how we handled that interview, but my producers call the shots, not me.” She smiled like the snake she was. “Besides, we have a deal, you or Jonathan try anything, and they will sue your collective asses so fast, you won’t know what hit you. Be reasonable. I can be your greatest ally or your worst nightmare. Let’s just move on and get this interview behind us. So, what do you say?”

  I talked to Sheila for a good two hours off and on, with a little light dozing in between. I relayed some of the information Artie had shared with me over the past week. During questioning, Benny had admitted he’d been ordered by his gang leader to kill Armando because he was causing too much trouble. According to Benny, after his arrest some of the gang members tried approaching Armando about cooling it a bit and to stop recruiting members to “his club,” but Armando refused to listen. When Armando got his church and the Saving Grace spin-off show—which now included members of numerous gangs—it was too much. Proven Killers had been bad enough and they needed to put a stop to this once and for all.

  I was exhausted and hoarse by the time I got to the point in the story where Benny busted into the church. I told Sheila I was getting tired and needed my pain medication. I asked her if she could finish up the story with Jonathan. She seemed happy with what I’d given her, apparently satisfied she’d gotten her money’s worth. I was just glad to see her go, and glad it was over.

  46 A Fine Romance

  I spent a few more days at the hospital, while they weaned me off my meds and kept tabs on my vital signs, and then I was finally discharged. I was wheel-chaired to the exit, where I painfully eased myself into the limo that Jonathan had graciously provided for me. He also included a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne and a box of DeLafee Switzerland Gold Chocolate. Oh boy, I thought, here we go again. I was so tempted to crack that ice-cold bottle and drink up, but something stopped me. All I could think about was the clarity and peace I had felt at the church that day, and I knew I wanted to keep feeling like that. So, I passed on the bubbly but did enjoy a few of those amazing chocolates.

  The limo dropped me off at the front of my apartment building. I went inside, expecting the good feeling to stay with me. Instead, I felt very alone. My mom had called me incessantly while I was recovering in the hospital and wanted to fly home from her yoga retreat in India, but I persuaded her to stay. She wouldn’t be home for another few days, and international calls were expensive
, but I needed to talk with somebody, someone who was on my side, who always had my back and made me laugh. Mrs. Fox came to mind. It felt like it had been years, not months, since we’d last spoken. I was instantly ashamed for neglecting our friendship and treating her so poorly. I definitely needed to make amends.

  I got my car out of the garage, stopped by a liquor store to get the ingredients for making her favorite margaritas, threw some chips and dips in for good measure, and headed to the old neighborhood to see my “best girl,” Aud. I just needed to hear some of her stories and see what has been happening in her life. I thought about calling first, but I decided to make a surprise visit. I knew she would forgive me of my sins and never hold a grudge. Besides, she loved my margaritas. If I was lucky, we’d even get out with Daisy for a while. I parked the car in front of the apartment complex and got out, nervous as hell.

  I knocked on her door a few times, but there was no answer. While I was standing there, I could hear what sounded like Daisy barking, but it wasn’t coming from inside Aud’s apartment, but rather my old apartment. What the—? I moved over to my old apartment door and knocked, wanting to see if that really was Daisy. Maybe Aud was out and her new neighbor was dog sitting for her. A really pretty girl in her mid-twenties answered. Wow, I mean she was beautiful.

  “Hi, can I—?” She stopped mid-sentence as she opened the door and saw me. “Oh my gosh, you’re Marc. I mean, of course you are! It’s just that Audrey always“—she stopped for a moment, flapping her hands—“sorry, I sound like an idiot. Let me start over. Hi, I’m Lisa, it’s so nice to meet you.” She looked flustered but in an adorable way.

  I said hello and the next thing I knew, Daisy came bolting out and practically jumped into my arms. “Daisy, behave!” Lisa scolded her and laughed. She started to explain that Daisy doesn't usually jump on people. I said, “I know,” and Lisa caught on, remembering that I’d lived here before her. We smiled at each other. I explained that I’d come to see both Audrey and Daisy, but that Audrey must be out on the town with her peeps.

  Lisa looked shocked, which was confusing, but she invited me in and asked me if I wanted something to drink. I told her water or soda was fine, if it wasn’t a bother. She motioned for me to follow her into the little kitchen, where I sat at my old kitchen table. It felt weird being back in the apartment when I didn’t live there.

  Lisa seemed reluctant to talk while she retrieved two Coke Zeros from the fridge and placed them on the table. She sat down to join me, but I sensed something was up.

  “I hate to be the one to tell you this, Marc, but Mrs. Fox passed from a heart attack just under a month ago,” she said, her eyes full of sympathy.

  I felt my heart shatter. Lisa’s eyes were welling up. I could tell she’d adored Audrey too. How could anyone not?

  She said Mrs. Fox’s estate wanted to keep everything quiet and private. She also went on to tell me they’d wanted to put Daisy in a shelter. Lisa had learned this from Mrs. Fox’s attorney, who also notified her that Mrs. Fox had left Lisa a bracelet of hers that Lisa had always admired. Lisa told the attorney that no way in hell was Daisy going to a shelter—she loved Daisy almost as much as Mrs. Fox did, and that she would be Daisy’s family from now on. Lisa was getting worked up all over again on Daisy’s behalf. I could have married that girl right then and there.

  We were both hurting and before the mood got too low, she started telling me stories about how Mrs. Fox would go on and on about our weekly margarita happy hours we had, and how proud Mrs. Fox was to know me before I got so popular, Aud had said she loved those times. I got a little teary-eyed when Lisa told me that Mrs. Fox had missed me, but still always hoped everything would go well for me.

  I felt like I’d just swallowed a huge stone. I did what was starting to come natural for me—I said a quick prayer under my breath, “Please God, watch over my Aud. And tell her I’m sorry and that I miss and love her.”

  Thankfully, before I got too maudlin, Daisy started jumping up and down, yapping, going crazy. It was her signal to go for a walk. Lisa said she was sorry about having to be the bearer of bad news and that she knew Mrs. Fox had really loved me.

  She then changed the subject and told me she was working at a vintage clothing store that sold secondhand high-end brands like Gucci, Valentino, and Chanel, but hastened to add that it was a temporary job while she pursued her acting career. We chatted for a few more minutes, but Daisy had had enough of not being the center of attention. I finally worked up the guts and asked Lisa if she wanted to go grab a bite, and I’d tell her some of the more outrageous things that went on behind the scenes of the reality shows. Lisa said, “I’d like that,” and dazzled me with that smile of hers. I told her I’d take Daisy for a little walk by the river and be back in half an hour or so.

  We set off, and Daisy was thrilled to be out and walking by the water. It brought back memories of a better time, a simpler time, when Aud and I would come here and throw a Frisbee around for Daisy to catch. As heartbroken as I was about Aud’s passing, she’d be the first to give me a good shake, kick me in the ass, and tell me to snap out of it. She was one in a million. The more Daisy and I walked, the more I couldn’t get Lisa out of my head. I hoped she liked me, as I felt we had made a real connection. Wait till I take her out in my car, I thought, and then laughed at myself.

  We came to a beautiful old tree along the water’s edge, one that Audrey loved. It seemed like the perfect spot to say goodbye to Aud and give her a proper send-off. I sat down next to the tree, thanking God for the blessing that was Aud. I also asked for His help with this nice new girl I’d just met, knowing Aud was smiling down on me. It was peaceful.

  Then I heard a loud yelp from Daisy. Turning, I saw Daisy just lying there, half in the water and half along the embankment. I turned to go help her, but not fast enough. Something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. The blunt force spun me around to see Benny’s sidekick Eddie with a baseball bat in his hand, with Sandy Stronge next to him. What the hell? Eddie and Sandy? How had these two ever gotten together? My mind scrambled to put the pieces together. Revenge!

  I couldn’t dwell on any of that right now. I only knew I was in deep trouble and that I had to save Daisy. I had lost Aud, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose Daisy. That first blow had done something to a few of my ribs and they hurt like a mother. I tried yelling to Daisy but still hadn’t gotten my breath back. I was standing up when Eddie charged at me with the bat like a battering ram, knocking me into the water. Now I was struggling to breathe and needed to get myself out of the water. Daisy was also trying to move, but she must have sustained an injury as well and couldn’t roll over enough to get traction. I crawled over to her but was stopped—this time by Sandy, wielding the bat and shoving me hard on my shoulder. Luckily, this time it knocked me a little towards Daisy, and as I was falling, I grabbed Daisy and threw her with all my might. I only managed to throw her about five feet, but it did the trick. She was out of the water and hopefully out of danger.

  I was in shallower water now, which helped me regain my footing. I stood up just as Sandy took another swing. She swung with all her might, but this time, she lost her footing and missed. She had counted on a direct hit, and the momentum carried her clear into the water. Thank you, God, I really needed that. I finally caught my breath as Eddie picked up the bat from where it had fallen from Sandy’s grasp when she’d swung and missed. Eddie was short but wiry and strong, if his first hit had been any indication. I knew his next hit was probably going to do me in if I didn’t do something quickly. Eddie raised the bat over his head, screaming like a banshee, and came at me. I was able to get a little traction with better footing. I remained in a crouched position, hoping Eddie thought I was still unsteady and struggling to get back on my feet.

  At the last possible moment, I got up and under Eddie, half tackling, half lifting him up off his feet. The impact jostled the bat out of his hands. It must have been all that adrenaline pumping through my syst
em, for I knocked him a good two or three feet into the river. Eddie was flailing around and coughing, trying to keep his head above water, just as I had moments ago. How does it feel, asshole? But Eddie didn’t go down easily—he was already making his way back to the embankment with a murderous look on his face. I knew I couldn’t keep this up much longer; the adrenaline surge was going to drop any second. I had to finish this before he or Sandy—who by this time, was also heading towards the embankment—had another chance to kill me.

  Fortunately, when Eddie had dropped the bat, it had landed close to me. As Eddie stood up and climbed out of the shallow water towards me, I crouched down and took a few crab steps closer to him, keeping my new weapon under the water and out of view. I closed my eyes and swung with all my might. I heard the not unfamiliar sound of a heavy crack. Before even opening my eyes to see what damage I had done, I knew I’d gotten him good.

  I turned, checking to see how Daisy was holding up. As I did, Sandy was coming at me with something in her hand. I didn’t wait around to find out what it was. I still had the bat in my hand, so I took a three-quarter swing and hit a line drive off her mid-section, and she went down for a second time. I dropped the bat, stumbling and falling back into the water. I could hear Sandy screaming in pain as I crawled my way back up the embankment towards Daisy. When I got to her, she was barely moving but still breathing. I thanked God. Again.

  Scooping Daisy gently up into my arms, we made it back to the grass under the tree, where I collapsed, spent. It was then I heard the police sirens. Who would have thought I, of all people, would love to hear that sound? But at that moment, it was music to my ears. Daisy gave my cheek a weak but encouraging lick. I hoped it was Daisy’s way of assuring me she’d be okay. I sighed with immense relief and would have cried if I hadn’t been so damn tired. The sirens grew closer, and as I slowly passed out, I thought, Here we go again.