Sherine looked at Michelle and stared through her; hard and deep. She said slowly and steadily ... “It is not like I have not told you a million times that I will kill her. Some-day - I – will!” She said, enunciating each word. “That is exactly what I want to do, I will kill her.”
They sat there in silence for a while. Sherine slowly got over her panic attack. Her ashen face regained some color. She looked at Michelle and patted her hand. “Take it easy there sis. I just get a little crazy there when I think of it all. You know I am only kidding don’t you?”
Michelle's voice was shaky, “You scare me when you say stuff like that Sherine. And the look on your face … why, if looks could kill … “
Well, I am going to kill Smitty, and if Mom gets in the way … ”
Michelle jumped up, “You are fucking schizophrenic! You just said that you loved her.” Sherine looks at Michelle directly, “We all loved each other. Don't you get it? It is a love triangle of death. It has to be; you, me, mom and Smitty... it is us or him. So logically is has to be us all. I know it, don't you?”
“Yeah, and then if you fail you would end up living the rest of your life in some filthy jail, or worse yet, in some stinking mental hospital sucking out of a straw! And then you would be really nuts. Meanwhile, all the orderlies would be having their way with you and no one would even know they were doing it. Sounds great Sherine … real good plan!” Michelle continued.
“Maybe you are right, but maybe it would be worth it too!” Sherine told Michelle. “At least I would have some closure!”
“Yeah you would have closed your life and that is all you would be closing.” Sherine said,
“Well, maybe. But maybe it would still all be worth it too.”
Michelle looked at Sherine and told her, “You are crazier than I thought.”
Sherine was already moving on to other things. “Yup I am. I am nuts – certifiable!” She got up and crossed the room. “Hey Michelle, do you remember where I put the vodka the other night?” She laughed, “I got really ‘certifiable’ that night too. I had a bunch of shots when Joe wasn’t looking and I took a couple of your Xanax. I could not see by the time I passed out. I thought I put it somewhere in the bedroom.”
“There it is, under the bed.” Michelle told her after she spent a few moments looking around. “How did you manage that?”
“Manage what?”
“Losing your best friend; the vodka bottle.”
“Hell if I know, I guess I kicked it.
“Sherine you are a real case.” Michelle was laughing a little hysterically. Sherine had shaken her but now she felt the slightly obsessive pulse surge through her body at the sight of the vodka bottle. “So what did you tell Joe about your drinking?” she asked as she nonchalantly reached for the bottle. Her suddenly immense craving was precisely at the tip of her tongue.
“Nothing; why? What should I tell him? Actually he thinks I do not drink, or very little anyway. It’s easy; he only sees what he wants to see.”
“You are kidding, aren’t you Sherine? You? The fish of all fishes, and he thinks you do not drink. That freaking takes the cake! Well, you might want to tell him that you have a few … dozen drinks each night!”
“What, you mean as in, ‘Oh yes Joe, I only have one a night? Yeah, one after the other … after the other … after the … ’!” She laughed and Michelle had to join her at this old joke. “Really though; why? What good would that do? I need to get married to him. And besides he goes to sleep early; usually about the time I start to drink. I will work on it as time goes on. I just need to start slow, you know,I need some time to do what I have to do. I will metamorph into whatever he wants. I will be the perfect“perfect” for him.”
Michelle just sits and stares as Sherine continues, “Well, either way, it'll be fine. He loves me. It'll be perfect. You'll see.”
“Hey Sherine, what if I needed a place to live? I mean, well you know that Spinner and I are on the outs and I was thinking, maybe I could live with you.”
Sherine looked at her sister, surprised at this idea but said almost immediately, “Sure Michelle, I don’t see why not. It’s a little early to pull this on him, but I'll mention it to him and see what he thinks … after we are married though, not before.” She reached back for the bottle and unscrewed the white metal cap. “You know? Now that I think about it, I'm sure it will be ok with him. The way he was looking at you the other night he might even like it.”
Michelle cocked her head and asked, “And just what the hell are you thinking?”
“Oh, come on Sherine, you know men, they love threesomes. But listen Michelle; let’s take this a little slower, ok? Joe is a good guy and I want to keep him.”
“OK Sherine, but you’re right, it could be fun. He's strong, handsome, has the body of best and has a smile that could kill and anyone can tell, he loves sex.”
“I know, but let’s go slow; besides I haven't even asked him what he would think about you being there let alone sleeping with us.” Sherine smiled at Michelle and added, “I think it could be like old times Michi ... waking up between the two of you. Except this time we would have a million dollar house, a yacht, new cars and service people. It would be a little different than waking with an empty refrigerator and no money for anything but beer and smoke.”
Michelle smiled. She took the bottle back and tilted it up for a long pull. She shiver-shook her head and she wiped her mouth, “you’re right Sher, let’s go a little slower with Joe. We don’t want to scare him away ... ’blow’ a good thing if you know what I mean.”
Sherine shook her head at Michelle and smiled, “yes a little slower, remember so far I do not want to kill this one. That is a start. Work with me on this, please. He has allowed me to have feelings I lost so long ago I had forgotten them. We need that marriage contract and that pretty gold ring on my finger before we do anything crazy.” It was Sherine’s turn on the bottle. “Do you understand Michelle? I can do this with Joe.” Michelle shakes her head slightly and mumbles as she leans into Sherine, “I know you will sis. I know you will.” “Michelle I will talk to him immediately after the wedding, but not before. Until then you stay here in the apartment. Let me gain control of Joe before we take over, ok?”
“OK baby. It’ll be great, you’ll see!”
28
Frank was about to walk out of the plastic surgery clinic when the receptionist stopped him. Señor, disculpa me; excuse me please señor. Please let me apologize for how rude Dr. Sanchez was. He’s not normally like that.
Frank wasn’t concerned. He knew there wasn’t much more to be gleaned here. “That’s quite alright miss. You were very helpful. You just remember what I said and you call me if you hear anything about our friend.
“I wonder though, could you recommend a cab for me?”
“Why of course señor. I can call one right away for you.”
Frank asked, “Do you have a specific one you use? I understand it can be quite risky to use the wrong cab company here.”
“Oh yes, I know. Be careful with the cabbies here, you never know,” she shook her head, “sí señor, you never know. I'll call Lino Cab Co. They are priced right and they are always here in less than three minutes. Apollo is very good too, but mi primo works for Lino so ... ”
“Perfect,” Frank said and continued, “This may sound weird, but do you know if Robert; you know ‘my buddy’ … your ‘Mr. Jones’; … did he also use Lino Cab when he left?”
“I’m not sure. You know it was a little while ago. I believe he just walked out front and called one. Chances are good that he would have used Lino though because they are everywhere. They seem to come out of the woodwork!
“I will call my friend, Luis for you. He is actually mi primo … my cousin, a Lino driver. He normally sits close to here when he is waiting for a passenger. He is safe. He is honest too, and a very nice guy. He can even show you the local sites if you would like.”
Frank smiled and said, “That w
ould be very nice. My wife flies in this evening and it would be nice if I had a driver arranged to get her from the airport. Also, it would be a nice surprise for her if I had a fun day arranged for us tomorrow. Please if you will, call Luis for me.”
“Of course, Señor Burns, it's my pleasure.” After a minute on the phone she told Frank the cab was already waiting at the curb out front.
The cab flashed his lights; a signal to Frank. He walked over and got in. As they pulled away, he tapped the driver lightly on the shoulder and flashed some pesos in the rearview mirror. He held the picture of Robert out so the driver could see and asked, “Hey amigo, ever seen this guy?”
“I am not sure señor. He looks familiar … something about his eyes. It would be very hard to forget those eyes señor.”
"It would have been a fare you picked up at the clinic here … oh, maybe four, five … maybe even six weeks ago.”
The cabbie sucked in his breath. “I am not sure señor. I pick up many peoples.
Frank caught something in his hesitation. He tapped the guy on his shoulder again and held up three thousand pesos in the mirror. The cabbie nervously licked his lips but he caved.
“I have only picked up one fare there in the past couple months. I remember a man, but he was wrapped in bandages. His whole head was covered like he had a lot of surgery. But those eyes señor; grey, como un lobo … a wolf. If it is him, I took him to a hotel. He was a scary hombre señor. A very angry man. He almost stiffed me for the fare and it was only one hundred fifty pesos. He was not very happy - actually he was very rude and in a hurry to get to his hotel.”
“Sounds like Robert.” Frank extended his hand offering the money, but when the cabbie reached for it, Frank held it tight. “One more question amigo, do you remember which hotel?”
“Oh sí señor, claro. I sure do. I took him to the Mystic Hotel at first and then he changed and went to the smaller one next to the Mystic. He wanted it quiet, you know, no names. Yes, I remember him, No me gustó él – I didn't like him. Sorry to say but your friend is no friend of mine; I couldn’t wait to get him out of my cab!”
Frank laughed and let go of the money. The cabbie looked around surreptitiously, even as they drove, and quickly stuffed it into his waist band. “Can you take me to the Hotel Mystic? I mean the one next to it.”
“Sure, it'll take ten minutes at most.”
“Perfect.” Frank dropped another five hundred peso note in his lap and leaned back satisfactorily.
A few minutes later they pulled up in front of the Mystic Hotel and the cabbie pointed to the hotel next door. Frank jumped out. He thought to himself that if this guy left an easier trail to follow he wouldn’t feel like he was earning his pay. “He must not think anyone is looking for him. What an amateur! I will love ‘correcting the problem’, as David called it. This will be fun and I know there will be a great bonus in it for me. I know that as pissed off as David is, the sky is the limit! This will be great.”
When he got out of the cab, Frank leaned into the open driver window. “He held another thousand peso note out and told the driver, “Listen, keep your ears and eyes open and there’s more where this came from.” He tucked the bill and another of his business cards into the driver’s front shirt pocket. The driver shook his hand and nodded seriously.
Frank walked inside the dark lobby and up to a compact little man at the front desk, “Excuse me, I'm supposed to meet my friend here and I wonder if you have seen him. He hasn’t called and I am getting a little worried. Here, I have a photo of him.”
The man squinted and scrutinized the picture. He scratched his leathery head and pulled on the straps of a scruffy wife-beater T-shirt with both thumbs. He nodded vigorously, “Oh yes señor, it is him. He look very different now, but he was here; for a while anyway. He pretty much keep to himself. He have a surgery you know? A facial surgery. It look good too, but he left after he remove his stitches hisself.” The guy leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, “La policía were looking for him too. We find Josephina Martinez in his room! She was dead señor! Asesinado! Murdered. We find her stuffed in the bed a few day after he check out. She never miss work you know? And then the smell … La policía think he did it.”
“You’re kidding!” Frank said, truly amazed. “Did they catch him, your ‘La policía?”
The attendant smiled and said, “Nobody ever catch that man.” He cackled, “He turn hisself in, that when they catch that man!” He stopped for a second, really looking at Frank for the first time. “You say he a friend of yours? Señor, I no know this man, but I no think he could be a good friend to anyone. Su alma es muy malo. How you say, his ‘alma’ … his soul … He had an aura about him that make you want to leave the room.”
Frank looked at the attendant and paused for a second while he thought about what to say next, “Yeah, he’s really not that much of a friend but I promised him I would help him, so here I am. Waddaya say buddy, any idea where he went?” He flashed his roll again.
The attendant’s eyes bulged and he swallowed. His mind was working like a rat’s in a maze but he couldn’t come up with anything. “No, but, he did sit and have coffee in the bar a few times. Maybe the barmaid know something. She and him had an evening or two together, if you know what I mean?”
“Yup, now that's Robert. Quite the lady’s man - or at least he thinks he is.” And to himself, “ … more like a lady killer.” He peeled off a couple hundred peso notes and threw them on the old seedy counter and repeated his bribe. “Pretty soon the whole fucking town will be on alert!”
‘Grandpa’ flashed a yellow grin and said, “She is on break, but will be … Oh, here she comes now. Si señor, ella es muy muy simpatico – very very nice, I’m sure she will help you. Pero, una pregunta por favor, one question señor … Why do you waste your time with this hombre malo? El es peligroso … a very dangerous man I think!”
Franks laughed slightly and nodded, “It’s a long story.”
“Ok, yo comprendo, es privado … private.”
“I guess you could say that.”
The old man tried to flag the barmaid over but she didn’t see him. Frank waved him off and followed her up a set of stairs located to the side and a little behind the front desk. He yelled ahead to her, “Excuse me, senorita, I’m looking for my friend, Robert. Have you seen him lately? He pulled out his photo and showed it to her.
She stopped and turned. She looked at the photo and gasped, “Oh, that is hees name? I wondered ... he never tell me hees real name. Actually he never tell me any name. He say hees wife mi’ find out and he no want problemas weeth her. He a bad man though señor! A bery bad man! He keel my fren Josephina I tink!” She thought back and tears bubbled. “I thought bery weird that he would have surgery for hees wife and then stay here a couple weeks. She stiffened and then shrugged, “sí, es verdad, he hustle me … yeah sure, he a great huzban ... then he just leefe ... never say nothing ... just leefe.”
“Did he call anyone from here? Any idea where he might have gone?”
She replied, “No not really ... I heer him tell someone on el teléfono one evening that he was eentown an hees name ees Campbell … That bery strange to me you know? Heem being a doctor and all … eet no seem right to me ... He act more like a hit man en mi telenovela favorita than doctor.
“He no seem like he be in beezness of healing peoples, more like he in beezness of desconecte las máquinas de soporte de vida. Entiende? I try stay away from heem after the first night but he tol me that if I deed not cooperate he mi’ have to persuade me … sí, that what he say, ‘persuade me’, … como mi telenovela! Eet was kinda like a threat, but weeth a smile you know? He scare me bery much.
Wheen he say thees I get sheevers en mi espina. I want leave but, you know seence I already been weeth heem I figure eet better por me to do wa’ he want. I no want take chance of geetting hur’. An you know senor, the cops here don care … they may have actually been on hees side.” She shook a miniscule red
fist. “La policía change their minds wheen they find Josephina I tell you!”
She fumed a minute over this and then continued, apparently not done. “He never tol’ me hees name but one nigh’ ... I tol’ you thees, … I don tink he know I hear him talking on el teléfono ... he ha’ a couple drinks so he was a leettle lou’. He say, ‘I tol’ you, yes thees ees Dr. Campbell.’ I was walking by hees room and the door no was e-clossed tight and he talk bery lou’, and bery politely. Not like he talk here ... here he ees demanding and rude. I never ask, but I though’ he up to something.”
Frank is wowed by all this information and wants more. He asked, “You say he was talking very politely? What do you mean, why do you think he was talking politely.
She shook her pretty head, “I no know for sure señor. Eet soun’ like maybe he wa’ maybe a leetle scared. He say ‘I sorry’ an’ ‘eet will neber happen again’ two or tree times.”
Frank chewed a lip at this revelation. “Anything else linda?” Out came the wad again. “How did he get around; cab, walk, bus ... ”
She smiled brightly. “I don know, he no leefe much. I go hees room a couple a times ... he act like he no like me there unless he there too, and I know he no like me to look at hees things. But sometime he come to the bar and ask me to stop in after work. I deed you know. There are not many interesting peoples here, so the first time I though’ he look good and … “She hung her head and tried to explain, “you know my opportunity to meet anyone that ha’ a yob here no es muy bien. I hope eet might turn out to be something, but after I see him the firs’ time, well ... le’s just say … I was bery glad he leefe ... at firs’ he was ok and then he kinda start to scare me a leettle … and then I was bery terrified of him.
My My Little Prince Page 24
