by Eliza Master
He paused, breathing heavily. “Take off your shirt.”
Renata pulled the shirt over her shoulders. Her bra was purple satin with pretty ribbon. It was chilly in the room, but she was sweating.
“Now take off your pants.”
Renata started to stand and lower her leggings.
“Do it while you’re sitting. And you, Jan – she’s a pretty lady. You put your hand over her mouth. She talks too much.”
The scientist’s hand tasted like metal, and it trembled against Renata’s head.
“It’s okay to touch her.”
The scientist didn’t move.
“I said touch her!” Robert shouted.
“It’s okay,” said Renata, through his hand. He stank of fear and urine.
“Don’t talk!”
Nima shook her head sideways, saying no. Her face was wet with tears, but she was too shocked to sob.
“Bah, bah bah.” The baby was making noises, and Renata saw her close her eyes and scrunch up her nose. She was a cute thing, and so tiny. Where was her baby boy now? If she died right here, right now, she would never meet him. A tear threatened to run spill down her face.
“Unhook her bra,” Robert commanded the scientist. The bra had a front closure, and Renata worried that the scientist might not be able to open it.
“I can do it.”
“I said, don’t talk!” Robert tightened his grip around Nima’s throat as the scientist fumbled between Renata’s breasts to get the bra off. He released the catch and stood awkwardly holding the bra.
“Now you put it on!”
The scientist tried, but the bra was way too small and looked like an open vest around his shoulders.
Robert laughed. “Forget it.”
Meanwhile Renata was freezing. Her nipples were hard, and so were her eyes. She had to do something; but what?
“Now touch her!”
The scientist cupped Renata’s breast awkwardly. His hand was cold and stiff against her body.
“Suck her!”
Giving Robert a desperate look, the man did what he was told. His saliva was thick and repellent, but Renata didn’t care. This was all about saving Nima, who was completely innocent.
“Maybe I could suck you? Or Nima and I can do a private show.” The first step would be to get Nima out of his grip.
“That could be fun.” Robert released Nima and thrust her at Renata, while the scientist retreated into his corner.
Renata stood and held her friend, and Nima sobbed into Renata’s bare breasts.
“Start the show.”
“Okay,” said Nima, straightening. She removed her top. Renata saw that her nipples were still stained red from the shibari show. She took Renata’s hand and placed it on her chest and held it there.
“More!” Robert commanded. “Get on the floor. The she-man on top.”
Renata lay on the floor, and Nima straddled her.
“Pow!” said Robert, moving the gun back and forth to point at each of their heads. The scientist hiccupped from the corner. “Now ride her.”
Nima gyrated on top of Renata.
From downstairs there came a click followed by a whine, like the door was being pushed open slowly.
Robert’s face twisted. “Don’t move!” he whispered, waving the gun. He stepped over Lanying and fired at a man who was racing at him. The bullet hit his chest, but he continued moving forward and pummeled Robert like a football tackle. They both fell onto Lanying, and Robert’s gun flew out of his hand toward Renata.
The man pinned Robert down as other burly crowded through the doorway. Renata picked up the gun and pointed it at the group. She was only wearing her thong, but it didn’t matter. Nima crouched behind her.
“Everybody stop right there,” Renata told the group of men.
They put their hands in the air. One guy was smiling at her nakedness. Their unfamiliar military gear confused Renata. Could they be here to steal Lanying’s baby? She knew that a shot in the head would kill at least one of them before they could get to her.
“Renata, it’s me. Renata, it’s Abramo,” said a man as he pushed through the group. It took her a moment to recognize the police chief; this was certainly the last place she’d have expected to see him.
“You’re… you’re Miguel’s friend? From Brazil?” She was sure it was him; but how and why was he here?
He nodded. With one hand in the air, he gathered Renata’s clothing from the floor and handed it to her, looking away modestly. She was still pointing the loaded gun at him. “You’re safe.”
Renata put the gun down next to the incubator and got dressed. Meanwhile, Abramo gave directions to his team. They put Robert in handcuffs and dragged him away. Abramo handed a business card to the scientist, saying, “You can go home for now, but the police will be in touch, so don’t try to leave town. Here’s my card if you have anything you want to tell me.”
Renata opened the door of the incubator and unlatched the belts over the baby’s arms and legs. She yanked out the IV, and pressed her thumb over the red dot on her arm.
“Bah,” said the baby.
“Liwei, oh, Liwei,” Renata cried, holding the orphan in her arms. “I am so sorry. So, so sorry.”
Nima stroked the baby’s head as Liwei snuggled into Renata’s chest.
35
Renata and Rose
Baby Liwei swallowed the tiny spoonfuls of applesauce Renata had hijacked from Jeff’s refrigerator. In the other room, Nima slept soundly. At least someone could, thought Renata, smiling at the baby. Her petite lips were like a red rosebud. She tickled them lightly with a finger, and Liwei wrinkled her nose.
Renata called Miguel. “It’s me. Some … some terrible things happened, and I need to come down there” – the words spilled out – “and I have a baby.”
“Whoa, it’s okay. Slow down. I know. Abramo called this morning, and he told me everything.”
“So you know about Robert Johnson?” Renata asked in a loud whisper. She didn’t want to disturb Liwei.
“Yes, I know about him. And he’s in custody now. You’re safe. I can arrange a flight for you and the baby if you want. And she can be adopted with your … ah, with your son, like a sister, if you want. I talked to the parents already, and they agreed.” He still hadn’t told Renata that she’d had a baby girl.
Renata’s feelings were all a jumble. But surely that would be best. “Yes. I have to talk to Dmitri, but yes.” Renata was dead tired and stressed. She fantasized about her casita in the Brazilian mountains and having Erik there with her. She’d had enough of partying with people without a solid connection. He was the man she wanted. But Brazil was a place she could retreat to and rejuvenate. She stifled a yawn. “The baby is asleep now, and I’m going to lie down.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
A few hours later, Renata woke to daylight. She stretched her arms high and took a deep breath. The events of the last few days flooded her thoughts. First the shibari show; then Lanying. And Lanying on the floor, dead and bleeding. Her chest constricted. She cringed when she remembered how Robert made her undress while holding Nima hostage. And then there was Liwei, beautiful Liwei, newly orphaned.
Where was the baby? Renata charged into Nima’s room. She was swinging Liwei, saying, “Wei, Wei, Liwei.” The baby was gurgling as Nima cooed at her.
“I checked online,” said Nima, “though it took me a few tries to guess the right spelling. Do you know what her name means? ‘Beautiful rose.’ ‘Li’ is beautiful, and ‘wei’ is rose.”
“Rose,” breathed Renata. “That suits her.” She reached for the infant. Already Liwei felt like her responsibility.
She texted Dmitri.
I am sorry but I can’t finish the tour. Something came up. Family. She added, Nima can explain. I’m really sorry. Then she took Liwei and wrapped her tight. Nima threw her arms around both of them.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay in Amsterdam. I’m not going
to do the rest of the shows,” Renata said to Nima. “I need to take care of Liwei – Rose – for one thing. But there is something I can do. I want to pay for your transition. Will you let me do that for you?”
36
Abramo Sleeps Badly
Abramo brought Robert to the Amsterdam police station, and once the explanations were over, took his team to an airport hotel for the night. It was only six hours until their return fight.
He stretched out on the bed and tried to sleep. But he kept running over the strange scene. Miguel’s sister had been beautiful, standing there naked pointing the gun. Was the transsexual her lover? wondered Abramo. Then there was the baby in the glass box, and the scientist who had peed himself. “Ick,” he said out loud.
How many innocent children had he saved tonight by arresting Robert? But surely now, Renata, Miguel, and little Renée were finally safe.
Abramo sighed deeply. He wanted to go home, and thought of his wife and her soft figure. He wanted to call her. But it was two in the morning in São Paulo, he’d already sent word that he was safe, and he knew she had work the next day. He’d be home soon enough.
37
Robert Johnson
The American woke up to a kick in the gut.
“Hey, you. You like to fuck kids, is that it?”
The holding cell smelled like feces, and it was crowded. He sat up and rubbed a finger over the red line the handcuffs had left.
“No, not me. Wrong guy.”
The man bent down and looked him straight in the eyes. “You fuck kids!” he shouted, spraying saliva on Robert’s face.
Robert raised a hand to shield his face, and his eyes darted around the room.
“I’m the clean-up crew for newcomers, and I don’t like you.”
Even prisoners spoke perfect English in Amsterdam. Robert nearly laughed before realizing the danger he was in. “Not me, I stole something.” Damn it, why did he say that? Maybe this holding cell was only for murderers. “I mean, someone got shot. But I didn’t do it,” he added.
The man turned around and called out something in Dutch. A half circle of men formed around Robert. He tried to squeeze back against the wall, afraid to stand up.
Someone placed a boot against his abdomen. “Watch this, guys,” he said with a heavy accent.
“Please, no,” Robert begged. He tensed his muscles, hoping to deflect the impact. The man leaned in slowly and Robert was able to protect his organs. Then he removed his foot and Robert took a deep breath and re-tensed his stomach. But the man was quick and hurtled his foot back into place, knocking the wind out of Robert.
“Ahhgh!” Robert gasped and wrapped himself into fetal position on the floor. He scooted his head under a dirty bench that was secured to the wall. Like a dance, the first kicker stepped away and allowed the others to do their share. Robert buried his face in his knees, but it didn’t stop the kicks to his head. There was blood, and he released his neck to look around. His thoughts weren’t coagulating. A swift blow to his jaw busted his lip. Robert closed his eyes and swallowed a gulp of his own blood. The room faded away.
After a few more jabs, the men lost interest in abusing the unconscious man.
“Robert Johnson?” a guard called into the cell. There was no response. “Robert Johnson?” he called louder.
The guy who’d first accused Robert said, “He’s sleeping,” and gestured to the prone form under the bench in covered in blood smears.
“Fuck,” sighed the guard, and walked away. He returned with a gurney and gloves on. He commanded the men to help him, and he wheeled Robert to the infirmary.
The prison nurse swabbed his head clean to reveal an impact wound more than an inch deep. “Arrange transport to the hospital,” she said, like she was bored.
After three days, Robert’s eyes fluttered open. “Nuh,” he said. It was a guttural sound, but it was all that the man could manage. His thinking self was floating nearby, but he couldn’t grasp it. “Nuh,” he repeated.
A soft hand touched his forehead, soothing him. “You’re going home,” a voice said. The sound was calming.
“Nuh,” said the man who used to be Robert Johnson. Drool dripped down his chin.
38
One Year Later
“Here, girls,” said Renata as she broke a granola bar in half. She watched her daughter Renée with her sister Rose, as a small ocean wave licked at their bottoms. They ate hungrily before going back to digging holes in the sand.
It was a perfect summer day, thought Renata. She always planned something special for her day with the girls. They were living with Miguel’s parents in a country house close by. After their beach outing today, Miguel would join them for dinner. They had simmered into an easy friendship, and he was an important part of her life.
Hearing a text come in she dug her phone out. Erik. See you soon, pretty lady. Renata had finally gotten up the nerve to invite him to visit, after many long phone calls and texts. She smiled just imaging his face. He was flying in next week, and they’d planned on a romantic getaway in Ipanema.
She knew she’d never go back to work at a place like Agri-Gen, but maybe it was time to think about some freelance consulting. And maybe it was finally time to think about letting someone into her life. Someone else, that was; Renée and Rose were already there. How had she thought she didn’t want children? Now she couldn’t imagine being separated from either of them.
Her phone chimed again with another text from Erik. This one said, I Love You! Renata’s heart surged with pleasure, and she blushed. The white sand sparkled at her feet like diamonds.
“Mommy, mommy,” Renée called.
Renata scooped up one girl in each arm and waded out in the turquoise water.
About the Author
Eliza has been writing since she first gripped a crayon. She indulges in deep thinking, pottery and podcasts. Several magazines have published her stories, and her Shibari Series is newly released by Wayzgoose Press. She loves to throw pots and play with friends, but most of all to write fiction.
About the Publisher
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