by Jesse Jordan
It's hard to even think about trying to play the media game, but going off right now would do nothing but cause trouble, so I come over, clapping Larry on the back and giving Jimmy the reporter a respectful nod. “Of course, but then I've gotta talk with you, Larry. In private?”
“Sure,” Larry says, still smiling. He can see it in my eyes, something's wrong, but he's been a pro at this a long time.
“So, Rocky, after tonight's smash premiere concert, what's next for the Fragments?” Jimmy asks his voice recorder out.
“We're going to keep putting our hearts into our music, and I hope we can keep entertaining the fans,” I say. “I'll let Larry and the team at Gashouse figure out the details.”
“One more thing...” Jimmy says. “During your intro for Four Letters, there was a bit of a pause. Uh, got anything to comment on that?”
I nod, my false superstar smile disappearing. “Yeah... that song was written by a very, very special person. I paused because I was thinking of her, that's all. Who knows, maybe someday I'll tell the full story. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with Larry.”
“Of course. Thanks, guys,” Jimmy says, leaving us. I wait for him to be totally out of earshot, and turn to Larry.
“What's going on, Rock?” Larry asks, his face written with concern.
“Larry, I'm going to have to miss the after party,” I explain, taking my phone out of my pocket again. “Here, copy this voice file. You've got a worm in your apple, and I think you need to know about it. And I need to apologize to Cora.”
“Cora?” Larry asks, surprised. “Rocky... I just got done talking with the cops. She was arrested tonight, she's been taken to jail.”
“WHAT?!?!?!”
Chapter 21
Cora
“No Mom... no, I want you to keep Bella with you guys. Don't bail me out, I don't need it. Yeah, the processing guys said that LA County runs arraignments seven days a week, so I'll be put through tomorrow. No Mom... no... no. Mom, I understand, but I'll be okay. Okay, Mom, the guard's giving me the signal, my time's up. I love you too, give Bella a kiss. No, if she asks, tell her what happened. It's okay and I don't want to have to explain away a lie later. I love you too. 'Bye.”
I hang up the phone and take a deep breath. The guard, who's probably seen a million people come through the processing cell at the Burbank City Jail, isn't sympathetic, but at the same time doesn't look like they're about to bust my head in either.
“Guess I got lucky to be arrested in Burbank instead of Compton,” I mutter to myself, but the guard overhears me anyway, laughs.
“You're lucky that we're slow tonight and that you're a woman here on something minor,” the guard says. “Anyone arrested on serious charges we ship to LA County Jail. Guys got a ninety percent chance of going to County. What'd you do, anyway?”
“Got in a fight with a bitch who's wrecking the life of the man I love. Huh, she told the security guys who arrested me that I tried to kill her.”
The guard starts to escort me back to the holding cell, laughing. “Yeah well, obviously, the guys who brought you in, put something different down. All right, here we are. We'll see if we can get you processed into a bed sometime soon.”
The guard unlocks the door of the holding cell and lets me back in. It's your typical holding cell, ten people sharing three benches, all of us sitting around looking at each other. Most of them look like they're off in their own heads. Two of the girls are drunk. One of them sleeping it off, while one of the others, a knockout redhead who is dressed in what looks like haute couture, sits back, bored. I try to settle in, and lean back against the wall, sighing as I think about what a fuck-up I've made of everything.
“So, what are you in for?” the redhead asks, turning her head to look me over. “You're not drunk, no drugs, and no offense honey, but you're no gangbanger.”
“Thanks, I think,” I answer, looking off into the ceiling. “I'm... I'm in for going after my heart.”
The redhead nods, humming. I don't know why I answered the way I did, it's a different answer than what I told the guard. Maybe it's just different sitting around with a bunch of other women who are also in the system instead of talking with a guard, maybe it's just that it's ten minutes later.
“Love, huh?” the redhead asks after a moment. “Over a man?”
I nod, tears threatening. “I... I fell in love, but another woman lied about me, she's trying to hurt the man I love. I went to the concert tonight to try and talk with him. I never got my chance and ended up here. How about you?”
“I guess you could say love too,” the redhead says with a mirthless chuckle. “I'm an escort. I was with one of my clients when his wife came in, the cops with her.”
“Didn't know the cops did that for cheating husbands, even if you are... well, I guess they arrested you for prostitution?” I ask, not sure how to broach the subject.
“Yeah, that's what's on the arrest sheet. Trust me, I'm no mere hooker though. As for the cops, when the wife happens to be a member of the State House who is up for election next year and doesn't want the press sniffing out the fact that her husband was trying to charge off fifty thousand dollars of the campaign funds on, well I believe the term she screamed at him was, consultation fees.”
“Fifty grand?” I ask, incredulously. “For... what?”
“Monthly visits. He's been my client for about a year now. I'm quite good at what I do,” the woman replies proudly. “Like I said, I'm not just a hooker. I actually do have my master's degree from Yale.”
“Wait... how does a master's degree from Yale lead to escorting?” I ask, perversely intrigued. “I mean... if you want to share.”
“Sure. Last year I filed taxes with the IRS for two hundred thousand dollars, all legally listed as consulting fees. The degree comes in handy there. And that's just what I declared, there were a lot of perks. I haven’t had to pay for much of my life for the past three years, it’s all gifts from clients. I'm twenty-six with a house already paid for, half a million in investments, and even if this shuts me down I'm pretty much set for life,” she says, not cocky but just proud of what she's done. “I can see you're still confused.”
“No... yes... I guess. I mean, I'm nowhere near as experienced with men as you are obviously, I guess sex carries a lot of emotional weight for me,” I stammer, trying to put what I want to say into words. “Sorry, I'm not trying to be mean.”
The redhead shakes her head, laughing softly. “Don't worry about it, I know what you mean. And I'm not trying to be a robot either. If the right person comes along, I'll leave this life, sell off my client list to another girl who I can trust to take care of them. Client list I have, I'll score an easy quarter million even if I let it go on a fire sale discount. As for emotional weight, I've felt that from time to time. Who knows, maybe I'm just waiting for the right person.”
“I... I knew the right guy as far back as high school,” I admit for some reason. “Back then, he didn't recognize what I felt for him. Then we got back together through our work, and well... it clicked this time. Until the other woman got in the way.”
“Don't they always?” the redhead asks. She offers her hand, and we shake. “By the way, I'm Kelly.”
“Cora,” I reply, shaking. “So, do you think you're going to get busted? What about your savings and stuff, you know?”
Kelly shakes her head, smiling. “Most of what I've got is in offshore accounts, and besides I declared it properly, as consulting fees like I said. And with my client list... well, let's just say that I might be forcibly retired, but the names I've got in my little black book, they don't want to even take the chance that I might leak. The Assemblywoman's husband isn't the only powerful client that I visit. Once my lawyer gets here, I'll be good.”
I lean back, the two of us staring at the walls, the silence stretching out except for the snore of the sleeping drunk until Kelly asks again. “So... do you have any kids?”
“A daughter,” I admit, the th
ought of Bella bringing tears to my eyes. “She... I have no idea how I'm going to explain this to her when I get out. She's three, she turns four in the spring.”
Kelly smiles, and scoots over, taking my hand. “You're lucky, and no lie, I'm jealous. You have a daughter who loves you, I can see that just in your eyes and by how you just talked about her. We... we escorts have to know how to read our clients and people very well, very quickly, to get as good as I've become. So focus on her... just take care of her. Maybe someday, when I find the right guy, I'll be as lucky as you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, tears slipping down my cheeks. “I just... I love him, too. Rocky's the man I wish was her father, he and I... I've loved him for years. But, am I just being delusional?”
“No, you're not delusional,” a choked voice comes from the front of the cell, and I turn my head, sure I'm imagining things. Rocky's there, still in his stage clothes, a guard next to him. “Come on, I'm getting you out of here.”
Kelly pats my knee and gives me a smile. “I think you've got your answer. Good luck.”
“So, you told Larry what you overheard?” I ask, sitting in the questioning room of the police station that's attached to the jail while the rest of the paperwork is being filled out. I'm still in shock, Rocky's right here, and since leaving the cell he's not let go of my hand, except when I had to go pee.
“I did more than that, I shared the whole sound file with him,” Rocky says, reaching up and stroking my hair. “Oh, Cora... I'm so, so sorry. How could I have doubted you?”
“It's okay,” I reassure him, on the edge of tears again, the fifth time since stepping out of the cell and into his arms for a hug. “You were being lied to by someone you thought you could trust. You knew her for years.”
“I've known you longer,” Rocky whispers, his thumb stroking over my cheekbone. “And yet I didn't believe you. I'm... I'm a terrible person.”
“No, you're the man that I love,” I reply, putting my hand on his heart. “I was hiding something from you... my daughter.”
“I overheard something Martha said about a child, and it made sense as I got a ride over here,” Rocky says, then he smiles. “Okay, enough of that. I was a fool for not believing you, and you were one hundred percent right to protect her. The rest of that we'll chalk up to just bad timing and Martha's lies.”
“Really?” I ask, and Rocky nods. “Rocky... I know this isn't my apartment, but I'd like to still lay things out between us in the free time right now. Like you know, I have a little girl, her name's Bella.”
“That's a beautiful name,” Rocky comments. “How old is she?”
“She'll turn four in April, actually. Uh... you know the father,” I say with a shake of my head. “Duane Phillips. He and I hooked up at LACU for a minute there.”
“Is he still around?” Rocky asks. “I mean, I know you're single Cora, but... well, I'm just curious.”
“He hasn't been part of my life since about a month after I found out I was pregnant. The only interaction he has in Bella's life is the monthly child support payment he sends,” I tell Rocky, shaking my head. “It was a mistake to ever sleep with Duane. But... Bella's the best thing in my life. Rocky... Bella and I, we're a package deal. No more lies, no more deceptions, I want to be upfront with you on that.”
Rocky nods, holding my hand still. “I've been thinking about that ever since I had a chance to reflect on what Martha said to her source. I was thinking, am I really ready to be put into a fatherhood role? Because Cora, I'm not interested in something casual, especially with you. And the more I thought about it... the more I realized that I am. Now, I'm not saying I'm going to step right in and start playing Daddy, I realize I need to get to know Bella and she needs to get to know me. But... well, the more I thought, the more I realized that I love you. And I've loved you for years, probably as far back as high school.”
“Really?” I ask, stunned. “But...”
“But I was a dumbass,” Rocky completes for me. “Cora, do you want to know why Martha was so vicious in what she did to you?”
“She said something about you rejecting her when she pulled her gun on me,” I comment, and Rocky nods. “You did? I never knew.”
“I didn't even know until tonight. Back when I turned twenty-one, Martha and I went out to celebrate,” Rocky says, kind of embarrassed. “We did the normal thing, got pretty wasted at a club. Now, we'd been working together for a while, and I was friendly with her but I didn't have any feelings for her. Apparently, she did... but when she had almost seduced me, she walked away.”
“So, she started making up the scandals,” I comment, sighing. “But why Rocky? You say she walked away after she'd almost seduced you. Why would she hate you so much as to try and wreck your life?”
“Because of what I said to her,” Rocky says softly, squeezing my hand. “You see, the reason Martha tried to destroy you so much wasn't just because we fell in love... but that when I was nearly seduced by her, I called her Cora.”
His words hit me like a thunderbolt and I feel my heart swell, and I grab Rocky's head, pulling him into a kiss. All the pain, all the hurt of the past days wash away in the feel of his lips on mine, and I lean in, giving him all of me. We're interrupted when the door of the interview room opens, and Larry comes in, along with a lawyer from Gashouse Records. “Well, I guess you two made up.”
“Uh... yeah. Larry, I'm sorry about causing trouble and making you miss the after party,” I plead, getting to my feet. “You guys didn't have to come down here after midnight to get me out of jail.”
“Considering that an employee working for me was leaking information to the press, ruining not just your life but Rocky's, and all of it under my nose without me knowing, it's only the beginning of what I need to do,” Larry says. “Mr. Thompkins, you have anything to add?”
“Yes,” the lawyer says. “As part of the agreement that Larry had me work with Martha Mellors, she has withdrawn her complaint against you, everything's been dropped. Also, Mr. Olson took a few minutes to discuss something else with me. I told him I advise against it, but he seems to not want to listen to that advice.”
“What?” Rocky asks, confused. “Larry, I thought we were just going to get Cora out of jail.”
“We are, but you guys need a ride, and I figure we can talk business in the back. It's one perk of having to bail people out after a concert, we get to ride in a limo afterward,” Larry says, gesturing to the door. “Come on Cora, you're a free woman, and I will at least give you a ride home, or wherever else you want to go.”
The four of us climb into the back of a limo, which pulls away, and I feel like I'm in a surreal situation, sitting in the back of a limo at roughly one thirty in the morning with Rocky, Larry, and a lawyer. Finally, after a block of the four of us staring at each other, I speak up. “Uh, this is weird.”
“Welcome to showbiz,” Larry jokes. “But if I can be serious, what Martha did, it's inexcusable. Unfortunately, trying to prosecute it would be nearly impossible. Still, I got her to sign a resignation letter, while Gashouse promised not to prosecute for hacking and stealing footage from our security system. There are a few other laws as well, but Gashouse promised not to go after her.”
“But I can,” I growl, and Larry nods. I think about it, and look over at Rocky. “No... no, I don't need to do that.”
“Good, because I'd prefer if you were focused,” Larry says. Rocky gives him a questioning look, and Larry grins. “Rocky, your band is missing a manager now. So, I had an idea. Instead of hiring a producer and having your manager do publicity, what about hiring a publicist and having your manager do production instead?”
Rocky's lips spread in a grin and he looks at me. “Well? What do you say? I mean, we'd need to run it past the guys, but I think Ian and Joey would go for it. And I can't think of anyone who'd look out for our well-being better than you.”
I take Rocky's hand and nod. “One question.... does this mean I need to start wearing suits?”
>
“Nope,” Larry replies, laughing. “As long as you won't get arrested for public indecency, you can wear anything you want to work. Hell, you make songs as good as Four Letters, you can do production work wearing just body paint for all I care.”
I nod and let go of Rocky's hand just long enough to offer my hand to Larry. “Larry, you have a deal. We can talk details later. In the meantime, do you mind giving Rocky and me a ride to Simi Valley?”
“Simi Valley?” Larry asks, surprised. “I thought your apartment was closer to Burbank.”
“Yes... but my daughter's in Simi Valley, and I think Rocky is due an introduction.”
Chapter 22
Rocky
Larry wishes us both a good evening as we get out of the limo, still holding hands. We'll see him Monday. We watch as the taillights wink at the stop sign, cherry for a moment before the limo turns right and starts driving back towards the freeway to take Larry home. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah... kinda pissed that my phone got broken in the scuffle,” Cora says lightly. “It'd have been nice to be able to give Mom and Dad warning about us coming.”
The porch light turns on next to the front door of Mr. and Mrs. Clearwater's house, and I put my arm around Cora's shoulders, smiling. “I don't think that they went to bed. Come on, let's go see your daughter.”
The door opens even before we're halfway up the walk, and Mrs. Clearwater comes running out, pulling Cora into a hug as she sobs, happiness and concern written on her face. “Cora... oh my baby girl, how....”
“Shh, Mom, it's okay,” Cora whispers, trying not to cry herself. Mr. Clearwater is right behind, and while his eyes are shining in the streetlight, he's not quite as openly emotional as his wife.
