by Leonie Gant
Antonia drew herself up as if in shock. “She was hated by everyone she met. She used people and she stole from them. I knew her since high school and I don’t think she ever did a selfless thing or had an original thought in her entire life.”
“That can’t be true” I said. “She wrote those movies and she won all those awards. I remember everyone saying that she was some kind of prodigy.”
Antonia snorted. “I knew Catarina. There is no way that she wrote those movies. Her only talent was being a con artist and a thief. In high school she stole boyfriends and clothes. She cheated in every class she was in. Her greatest gift was being able to convince everyone that she was so talented and hard working. I’m amazed it took this long before somebody killed her.”
“Any idea who that could have been?” I asked spotting Jorge coming towards me and indicating that he keep back.
“Catarina was a horrible human being. I was her best friend in high school and she stole my boyfriend for no reason other than he was there and I wasn’t. And she liked me. She had no limits as to what she would do. You know how people have that thing in their head that tells them what’s right from wrong.”
I nodded.
“Catarina didn’t have that. Everyone on this planet was here to do what she wanted.”
“Hey babe” some bearded hipster wannabe threw an arm around Antonia’s shoulders. “Why did you wander off, I got worried about you.”
Antonia giggled inanely.
“This is my boyfriend David” she said, “and this is...”
“Trudie” I supplied.
“Yes Trudie. She was at the funeral this morning.”
David rolled his eyes. “Wasn’t that the biggest waste of time?” he grumbled. “I thought there would have been far more directors or producers there. I’m getting more networking opportunities here and it’s a much better party.”
You know you’re in a good place when a funeral is considered a networking event.
“Come on Toni” David said. “Let’s dance.”
Still juggling her drink Antonia kept giggling and followed David to the dance floor. Jorge slipped into the seat she had just vacated and passed over a water to me.
“What was that all about?” he asked opening his own bottle of water.
“Some woman, she recognized me from Catarina Badal’s funeral this morning” I said.
“Another funeral” Jorge said thoughtfully.
I peered over the top of my bottle at him. “You want to say something don’t you?”
“Nah,” he said, “well it’s just that people around the agency are kind of starting to talk about the body count you seem to be racking up.”
I placed the bottle gently on the table. “Body count?” I queried.
Jorge started to look uncomfortable. “I’m not saying it bothers me, I’m just saying that you’re beginning to get a bit of a reputation. Fact is, despite the fact the guy seems like a douche I’m kind of glad you’re seeing that cop. At least he can keep an eye on you, you know, make sure that you don’t get hurt.”
“You know people die all the time” I said starting to feel defensive. “I didn’t actually kill anyone.”
“Of course not” said Jorge soothingly, obviously regretting his part in instigating this line of conversation.
“What exactly are people saying?” I asked.
Jorge hesitated, obviously trying to decide what he should and shouldn’t say.
“Tell me the truth” I said quietly.
Jorge sighed. “I’ve heard you being called the Grim Reaper. The rumor is that people who annoy you die suddenly.”
“If that were really true” I said, “believe me the body count would be much higher. If anyone calls me the Grim Reaper again you can quote me on that.”
“I already said that” said Jorge. “Considering the fact you seem to be signed up for the worst cases that the agency gets, I figured if you had some weird voodoo power killing people, there would be a lot more unexplained deaths.”
“They’re not unexplained” I said dourly. “The police arrested people in all of the cases.”
“Catarina Badal?” Jorge queried.
“Okay, the police haven’t caught anyone for that one yet, but they will. I didn’t even know the woman so there is no way I can be blamed for that.”
Jorge grunted with a smile and took another drink.
“I thought Monique put you with me tonight because you’re the nice one” I complained.
Jorge shrugged. “Truthfully, your reputation makes some of the other security guys a little nervous about working with you. Lucky for you I don’t believe it and I’m just that brave.”
I looked at him sourly. “Considering my reputation I’m not sure giving me attitude is a smart idea.”
“I’m a man who lives on the edge” he said grinning at me.
Chapter Fifteen
When my head finally hit the pillow at seven the next morning, I groaned with how good it felt. Jorge and I had accomplished our mission of getting Blythe Stanton on the plane back to rehab. Carl had accompanied us to the airport as well. After spending the entire night in his office, they had decided to give their marriage another go. That started with Blythe getting herself clean, so she bravely got back on to the plane. We then had to deal with Carl, who was so overwhelmingly grateful for the part we had played in helping him get Blythe back, that he got weepy with us in the limo when we were taking him home. Poor Jorge had looked uncomfortable as the man had hugged him repeatedly on the way back. For me that sight alone had made the whole night worth it. The only thing that would have made it better is if I’d managed to immortalize the moment with a photo. Although considering the dirty look Jorge was shooting in my direction as I was obviously trying very hard not to laugh, I don’t think my camera would have survived the experience.
Just as I was drifting off my cell rang. Drowsily I slapped my hand on the bedside table and knocked the phone on the floor. Faced with the choice as to whether I would get up and answer the phone or cover my head with the pillow and go back to sleep I decided that no one was more important to me than sleep at the moment. Finally the ringing stopped and I snuggled down further into the covers and drifted off, only to be woken suddenly when the covers were ripped off my bed.
“What the...?” I gasped as I looked up into Crystal’s smiling face.
“Get dressed, we’re going to Vegas” she said as I tried to pull the covers back over me.
“I’m not going anywhere” I groaned. “I just got home from work and I need to sleep.
Crystal turned and grabbed my overnight bag and started throwing clothes in. “You have to come. I’m getting married and I need you with me.”
I laughed. “I must be more tired than I thought. I’m beginning to hallucinate. For a moment there I thought you said that you were going to get married.” I dropped my head back to the pillow. “Go away and leave my key here.”
“Not going to happen” said Crystal, still packing my clothes. “Edwin and I are getting married today and you’re going to be the bridesmaid and best man. You are going to be standing there so I don’t panic and run at the last minute.”
Something in Crystal’s voice finally made it through my sleep deprived brain and I sat back up. “You’re getting married?” I said.
“Yes.”
“To Edwin.”
“Yes.”
“In Vegas.”
“Yes.”
“Have you told your dad?”
Crystal gulped. “No.”
“Do you think you should?”
“No” and in case I didn’t get it she shook her head emphatically.
“Why the rush to get married?” I asked. “Don’t you want a big wedding, have your family there, except your mom of course.”
Crystal grabbed hold of my hand and forced me to look at her. “I don’t want the big wedding, I don’t want to wait. I know, in my soul that Edwin is the one for me, I’ve known it forever
but I just didn’t want to risk doing anything to our friendship. If I wait and get caught up in the whole wedding fiasco I may run or do something really stupid. I may find out that I’m a little too much like my mom. I just want him, do you understand?”
I nodded, tears forming in my eyes. It was crazy but it was so sweet. “Crystal, you know I’m your friend and I’m with you all the way and it is only as your friend that I am saying this, but have you really thought this through?”
“Yes” she said.
“Fine, I’m with you, just get me some coffee.”
By the time we got to the airport I was on my second cup of coffee and was feeling much better. In no time at all we were in Vegas. Racing straight from the airport to a Vegas chapel it hit me that Crystal and Edwin were actually going to do this. Admittedly there seemed to be some undue haste around the whole thing but they were actually going to do this. As we stood in front of the duly authorized celebrant of the state of Nevada, a part of me envied how sure the two of them were that they were making the right decision. Despite Crystal’s fears that she would be tempted to run at the last minute she stood next to Edwin and recited her vows in a strong voice. Edwin rushed through his vows as if desperate to finally make Crystal his. I provided the happy tears as my two friends promised to love each other forever. When Edwin swept Crystal into his arms and kissed her at the end of the ceremony I felt a tiny bit of jealousy. Edwin looked at Crystal like he couldn’t believe his luck. I hugged them both.
“I am so happy for you” I said fiercely.
When Crystal was a child, whenever her mother wanted to squeeze a bit of money out of her father, she would exercise her maternal rights and Crystal would be spirited away to Vegas. How long her stay was depended largely on how big a payoff her mother was looking for. Of course once she had her daughter in Vegas, Crystal had been pretty much left to her own devices. As a result Crystal had a good knowledge of parts of Vegas which didn’t necessarily show up on the tourist map. This included a little Italian restaurant where the three of us toasted a great day and some truly exceptional food. As the morning wore on I could feel my eyelids growing heavier until Crystal clicked her fingers in front of me.
“We need to get you to bed” she said.
“On your wedding night” I said smiling. “I know we’re friends but that’s going a bit too far.”
Edwin grinned.
“Very funny” said Crystal. “We’ll take you to the hotel and you can get some sleep.”
“No” I said, “you guys are having fun. It’s your day. I can take a cab to the hotel, no problems and you can enjoy the rest of your day.”
The two of them protested but I finally managed to find a cab and make it back to the hotel.
Crystal had organized a suite for the three of us but at the front desk I ordered my own room. The three of us were close but I knew the friendship etiquette for sharing a suite on your wedding night was kind of gray. So they didn’t worry, I sent a text message to Crystal as I unlocked the door. Dropping my bag I felt like I was not going to make it to the bed. I am not the sort of person who deals with lack of sleep well. If I don’t get a decent night’s sleep I am a bitter and angry person until I can put my head down on a pillow.
Just as I started towards the bed there was a knock on the door. I contemplated ignoring it but the knock happened again, this time more insistent. I grabbed the door handle ready to politely tell whoever was knocking to go to hell. I was stunned to see the mobster debt collector from the funeral standing at the doorway. In a moment he had grabbed my arm, spun me around and was holding me against his chest.
“This isn’t gonna hurt a bit” he murmured in my ear.
I struggled desperately as I felt a small prick in the side of my neck. I started to scream and a hand was clasped over my mouth. As I fought against the iron bars holding me, I could see the room getting darker like storm clouds crossing the sky until everything went black.
Chapter Sixteen
Opening my eyes was a struggle. I felt like I should use my arms but my whole body felt heavy. When I finally got my eyes open, I found that I was lying on a hard wood floor. My stomach started rolling and I felt like I was going to be sick.
“Oh good, you’re awake” I heard from above me.
I had to concentrate to move my head in the direction of the voice. The voice came from behind a desk and I couldn’t see who was talking. I was going to have to sit up. Concentrating hard I managed to pull my arms up underneath me. I levered on my hands and felt my stomach starting to rebel again. Pushing up into a sitting position I squinted my eyes and saw a well-dressed man walking towards me. His suit said businessman but there was no way that was all he was. Every move he made seemed to scream danger and I’m not just saying that because I’d been kidnapped and ended up on his floor.
“Here, I think you’re going to need this” he said passing me a glass of water.
I looked at it suspiciously.
“If I had any nefarious plans for you I could have carried them out while you were passed out on my floor” he said. “I did not mean for you to be here. One of my colleague’s made an error in judgment. I am now trying to rectify it.”
“And yet I don’t see any police or paramedics” I croaked.
He smiled crookedly. “Unfortunately, my colleague’s rash actions have put me into a bit of a difficult position. I have a certain reputation which could count against me if I contacted the police. That being said I was starting to get concerned. I was assured the drug cocktail you were injected with would only last a few hours and you’ve been out considerably longer than that.”
“How long?” I asked.
“You’ve been unconscious for approximately nine hours. If it makes you feel better you have been checked by a doctor.”
“I’ve been laying on a floor for nine hours.” No wonder I needed a bathroom. “You couldn’t have found somewhere more comfortable for me.”
“As I said, I didn’t expect you to be out for so long. I just kept thinking you would wake up soon and I had work so I kind of forgot that you were even there and the time just flew by” he said waving his hand around to emphasize his point.
“That makes me feel special” I grimaced taking a sip of the water. It didn’t taste like I was being poisoned.
“Why am I here?” I asked.
“Have a seat” the business man went to his chair behind the desk and gestured to the one opposite.
I sat down carefully.
“Are you going to kill me?” I asked.
He smiled. “You are very direct” he said. “I don’t intend to kill you but as you are here I do have some questions for you.” It could just have been my sensitive state but I think I noticed a slight emphasis on the word intend.
“Can I go home?” I asked.
“No, not yet, I think we need to get to know each other better before you go home. This situation could be misinterpreted.”
“Really?” I asked trying very hard not to let the sarcasm through too much. Obviously I failed because he looked at me reprovingly.
“Of course, how do you think I feel? Through no fault of my own I’ve ended up with you in a precarious state for most of my day. I had plans that didn’t involve babysitting an unconscious woman.”
“From the sounds of it you didn’t put a great deal of effort into seeing to my comfort” I said scathingly and wanted to kick myself. Obviously whatever drugs had been injected into my system had completely shut down the self-preservation center of my brain.
“I need a bathroom” I said.
He looked at me with the expression of someone whose patience had reached the limit of normal humans but that I should be grateful that he had saint like levels available to him.
“Through here” he said tiredly coming around the desk and helping me up. He seemed to have a bathroom attached to the office and gave me a small push through the door. I closed it behind me and heard him sigh through the door. Considering I was th
e one who had been drugged and kidnapped he was definitely making a drama out of being the one who was the victim here. I looked around the bathroom for a window, or any other way of escape.
“There aren’t any windows and no vents” the tired voice called through to me. “The only way out is through this door. Once we’ve had our little chat I’ll take you back to your hotel myself.”
I wondered if I could take him. I’m not particularly petite and thanks to an inability to diet for any length of time I had a bit of weight to me. Not much but enough to ensure I never intend to wear a bikini. For several seconds I fantasized about taking him by surprise, but who was I kidding? At the moment going to the bathroom seemed to be a huge task for me to accomplish. Taking on a man who didn’t intend to kill me, but seemed like he could change his mind in a heartbeat, was completely out of the realms of possibility. After cleaning myself up in the bathroom, I opened the door to find him leaning against the door frame.
“Who are you?” I asked when I realized that I had no idea who this man was.
“You don’t know?” he asked as he sat down behind his desk.
“I don’t mean to offend you if I’m supposed to know you, but I honestly don’t have a clue” I said.
“At least it makes us even” he said, “I have no idea who you are either. All I know is that my colleague saw you as a threat so decided to bring you here.”
“Then why don’t you ask him what was going through his head?” I said. “Because this whole thing is crazy. There is no reason for anyone to kidnap me.”
“Really?” he said as he leaned forward on the desk and looked thoughtful.
“You don’t know the man who took you.”
“No” I stuttered a bit and the man eyed me suspiciously.
“I saw him at a funeral that I went to yesterday. I’d never seen him before then and I have no idea why he would kidnap me.”
“Maybe because you followed him to Vegas” the man ventured.
“I did not follow him. My friends decided to get married on impulse and I came with them. That is the only reason that I am in Las Vegas. I have no other reason to be here. I really have to say that I don’t want to be here. I really just want to go home.”
