Weekends

by Lindy S Hudis

  "May I see your driver's license?” The cop held out his hand.

  "Yup, just let me get it.” Donnie reached into the back pocket of his jeans for his wallet. It wasn't there. He felt for it in his other pocket, and it wasn't there either. He always kept his wallet in his pant's pocket. Where the hell was it? The police officer started to tap his foot with impatience. Where the hell was his wallet?

  "Sir, I need to see your driver's license.” The cop repeated himself.

  "Sheet, I swear it was right here in my pocket, officer.” Donnie was losing it now. The cop didn't buy it.

  "Please step out of the car.” The policeman ordered. Donnie kept searching for the missing wallet. One of those sluts stole it, he was positive. Boy, would he have to teach them a lesson.

  "It's illegal in the state of California to drive without a license.” The cop told him sternly.

  "I got me a license, I just don't know where it's at. I think I done lost it. Just give me a minute and I swear I'll find it.” Donnie pleaded. The cop would hear none of it and opened Donnie's door. It was then the cop smelled the alcohol on Donnie's breath. “Sir, have you been drinking?” the cop asked suspiciously.

  "Uh, no, sir. I ... I have not been drinking today.” Donnie stammered. The cop lost his patience.

  "Step out of the car, you are under arrest."

  "What?"

  The cop pulled Donnie out of the car, jerked him around, and handcuffed him.

  "You have the right to remain silent..."

  * * * *

  Shauna was growing concerned now. No answer in Jason's room, and no answer in her father's room. She called her Uncle John's room and her Aunt Joyce told her that they had to take care of some business. What business? What was her father's deal? She decided to take matters into her own hands and go look for everybody. Michael, in a typical show of rage, had yanked the phone clean out of the wall. It was almost ten and she wanted to know if the family was meeting for breakfast at least.

  She turned to her brother. “I'm going to look for Dad and maybe grab some breakfast. You want to come?"

  "Do I fucking look like I want to come?” he sneered nastily and went back to the television.

  She just shrugged and went out the door. Down in the lobby, she looked for her father, her cousins, or anybody for that matter. She ventured into the Velvet Room. The waiters were cleaning up from breakfast. Where was everybody? She thought about asking the front desk if they knew, but decided against it. She had bothered them enough already. Shauna decided to wander outside; maybe they were having a mid-morning swim. She stepped outside and squinted her eyes from the bright morning sunlight. A young mother and her two toddlers were splashing around in the pool. She saw nobody in her family around.

  "Hey Shauna!” She turned to see who was calling her name. In the glare of the sun she barely made out shadows.

  "Shauna!” She turned in the direction of the poolside café. Beverly and Justin were waving her over. She smiled and ambled over to where they were sitting with Angela and Shelly. Justin was chatting on his cell phone.

  "Want to join us?” Angela asked congenially.

  "Sure.” The waitress brought over another chair, and Shauna sat down. “I tried calling Jason's room but there is no answer. My father's too."

  "Jason's in the hospital.” Beverly told her cousin.

  "What?” Shauna's eye went wide.

  "He's okay, just a bump on the head.” Justin explained, putting down his phone. “That was Dad, they're coming back from the hospital right now. Jason is gong to be zonked out on painkillers for the rest of the weekend though."

  "What happened” Shauna asked, taking a sip of water. Jason hurt? Oh, God!

  "That redneck guy gave him a whack across the head with a lamp.” Angela told her.

  "And Lilly is missing.” Beverly added, taking a drink of her orange juice.

  "I miss all the excitement.” Shauna smirked. “Where is that hillbilly?"

  "Who cares! He ran out the door after whacking my brother, but he won't get very far.” Justin gulped his coffee. The waitress came over to take their orders, and then sauntered away.

  "I think after breakfast, we should start lookin’ for Lilly. Will ya'll help me?” Shelly spoke up suddenly, her eyes were red from crying.

  "Sure we will, in the meantime, you need to eat. After what you have been through, you need your strength.” Beverly gave her a caring pat on the hand.

  "I just hope that she's all right, wherever she's at.” Shelly started to cry again, and Beverly put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  "Don't worry, when my brother gets back, we'll put him right on it. He can be a pit bull when it comes to shit like this.” Justin nodded confidently to Shelly.

  "I hope so, ya'll have no idea how evil Donnie can be.” Shelly said weakly, taking a sip of water.

  "Oh, yes, we do.” Beverly chimed in. The waitress brought their food to the table, and they all ate in silence, each wondering what to do about Lilly.

  * * * *

  They arrived at Diamond's apartment on Franklin Avenue, a squalid little street two blocks north of Hollywood Boulevard. Lilly noticed the abundance of very pretty girls and longhaired guys that seemed to be coming and going. Once inside the building, Diamond smiled sweetly at her.

  "If you have no place to stay, Little Mama, you can stay with me."

  "Thank you."

  "Don't mention it, sweet thing.” He patted her lightly on the behind, making Lilly uncomfortable.

  She followed him down the pink-carpeted hall, passing more pretty, sexily dressed young girls. Lilly thought she smelled the aroma of pot, but she wasn't sure. They arrived at his small apartment, and went inside. Lilly was surprised to find that there were two other girls already living there. Both were dressed very provocatively, and both were scowling at her. She did not feel welcome already. She mildly made her way over to the black leather couch and sat down.

  "Lilly, this is D.J. and Jordan. They live here, too.” Diamond introduced her to the girls, who didn't even smile.

  "Hi.” Lilly said weakly. D.J. had white blonde hair and sat in a chair with her feet propped up, filing her nails. Jordan was Hispanic with bright red lipstick and frizzed out black hair. Both had enormous breasts and wore tiny leopard print mini dresses and matching high heels. They both looked very tired and angry at the world.

  "She's going to be staying here with us.” Diamond told them, and disappeared into the bedroom.

  "Great.” D.J. snorted and continued to file her long, red nails. Jordan just stared at her with contempt. Lilly looked around the apartment. It was a dreary one-bedroom with a couch, a coffee table, and very little light due to the thick black curtains. A lone purple lava lamp in the corner offered some illumination. Where did the girls sleep? She noticed many magazines around with pictures of naked women and men with their things in the girl's mouths. She also noticed on the coffee table some odd-looking objects, things that looked sort of like pipes and needles, and little bags of white powder.

  Diamond came back into the living area wearing workout clothes. She saw for the first time that he was very muscular, and he had a huge tattoo of a heart with a knife through it on his chest. “I'm going to the gym, girls. You guys fill Lilly in while I'm gone.” He winked at the girls and bounded out the door, grabbing what looked like a gym bag. Lilly was left alone with the two unfriendly girls. She felt even more uncomfortable with them than with Diamond.

  "So, where are you from?” D.J. finally asked her, breaking the awkward silence.

  "Blue Mountain, Mississippi.” Lilly answered quietly.

  "Where the fuck is that?” Jordan sneered, examining her teeth in a hand mirror.

  "Down South,” Lilly replied.

  "Down South.” D.J. mocked, mimicking her thick Southern accent.

  "How did you hook up with Diamond?” Jordan asked, picking her teeth.

  "I met him on the street today.” Lilly told them.

  "Are you
a runaway?” D.J. asked, smiling wittingly.

  "Yes.” Lilly answered, staring down at the pink shag carpet.

  "How long have you been in Hollywood?” Jordan inquired, putting on mascara.

  "I just got here this mornin'.” Lilly told them meekly.

  "How old are you?” D.J. asked, applying red nail polish to her toes, with her legs propped up. Lilly noticed that they were covered with bruises.

  "Sixteen.” Lilly said.

  "Underage.” D.J. and Jordan looked at each other.

  "What?” Lilly asked them.

  "Sweetie, do you know what Diamond is?” Jordan smiled scornfully.

  "He's a nice man who gave me some food, clothes, and a place to stay.” Lilly replied indignant.

  "Diamond is a pimp, sweetie. You are going to have to pay him back for those clothes.” Jordan told her, getting up and sitting next to Lilly on the couch. Lilly noticed her pungent body odor, but Lilly didn't smell too great herself. Lilly didn't understand what the girl was talking about.

  "I'm sorry but I don't..."

  "He's going to expect you to go out today.” Jordan rudely cut her off. “And you better bring him back some cash. He doesn't like to lose money on his investments. He can be one mean mother fucker."

  "How mean?” Lilly asked fearfully, reminiscent of her father. Jordan lifted up her dress to reveal horrible scars and scabs under her armpits and around her belly. Lilly recoiled in horror.

  "Diamond thought I was holding out on him, so he took a razor blade and cut me up. He said next time he'll cut my tits off.” Jordan put her dress back down and reached for a cigarette.

  A feeling of dread suddenly filled Lilly. She thought about making a run for it, but remembered that Diamond had the wallet. She had no money. Where was she going to go anyway, back to her father and Shelly? Go back out on the street? Only a miracle could help her now, and she wished painfully that one would happen.

  * * * *

  Jason was high as a kite on Vicodin. He needed five stitches on his forehead, but that was fine with him. It only added to his character to his already handsome face. He arrived back at the hotel to cheers from his family, and a kiss on the cheek from Shauna. All he wanted to do was lie down. He was in his father's hotel room sprawled out on the bed. Shauna and Stephen were close by. The rest of the gang went about their weekend activities.

  Andrew picked up the phone and dialed. “I'm going to order room service, you want anything?” he asked everybody.

  "I just ate, thank you.” Shauna told him.

  "Nothing for me.” Jason said groggily, holding his head.

  "You've got to eat something.” Shauna sat on the edge of the bed and playfully rubbed his leg.

  "All right, Mom.” he joked.

  "Two cheeseburgers, two fries, and two Cokes, please.” Andrew said into the phone and hung up.

  "Oh, that feels nice. Lower. Yes, right there.” Jason was enjoying the leg massage Shauna was giving him.

  She worked her way down his leg to his feet, where she removed his shoes and socks. “This is called foot reflexology. I learned about it in school. Lots of nerve endings in the feet.” Shauna went to work on his toes.

  Jason stretched out and moaned with delight. “What ever it is, I like it. Keep doing it.” Jason instructed.

  "When do you have to take your medicine again?” Stephen asked.

  "After he eats, that's why we're getting cheeseburgers, and you are going to eat.” Andrew answered, wagging a finger at his son. Jason saluted his overbearing father. Shauna kneaded the soles of his feet, to Jason's groans of pleasure.

  There was a knock at the door. “Room service already? That was quick.” Andrew ran to answer it. Standing there was a quivering, scraggly young woman.

  "Can I help you?” Andrew asked, remembering now that she was the wife of that scumbag Donnie.

  "I'm sorry to trouble you, sir, but Mr. Justin and Miss Beverly told me I should come talk to you."

  Shelly's voice was quaking. Stephen quickly assessed the situation.

  "Shelly, come in, sweetie.” He gently took her by the hand and sat her down. “Would you like some soda or water or anything?"

  "Yes, water, thank you.” Shelly looked pitiful, shaken, and upset. Andrew got a good look at her for the first time. It didn't take a homicide detective to figure out that she had been horribly abused, emotionally, physically, and mentally.

  Stephen poured her a glass of water and she took a sip, the glass wobbling in her shaking hand. “We are going to find Lilly. Don't worry, we will find her.” Stephen assured Shelly.

  "She's run away. She told me she was going to.” Shelly told them all, feebly.

  "Do you have any idea where she might have gone?” Jason asked her, propping himself up on his elbows. He honestly felt sorry for the two sad young women, and even though he was on vacation, he was determined to help them.

  "I have no idea where she is. All I know is she wanted to get away from her father.” Shelly sobbed, holding her head in her hands.

  Andrew sized up this poor helpless woman and realized that he had to get rid of a certain scumbag who was hurting a lot of people. Shelly was a very pretty young woman, and if her circumstances were different, she would probably be a college student somewhere, going to frat parties and having a life. But instead, she was mixed up in the horrible mess known as Donnie McCoy. He decided to intervene. “Listen Shelly, I used to be the chief-of-police in Philadelphia. We are all going to help you. We are going to get Lilly back, and then see to it your jerk of a husband gets thrown behind bars.” Andrew put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

  She looked up at him hopefully, her eyes filling up with tears. She managed a slight smile. “You really know a lot of policemen?” She asked him

  "I know policemen all over the country.” Andrew bragged, “And if I have to contact all of them to find Lilly, I will."

  "And then you will make sure we are safe from Donnie?” she pleaded.

  "That asshole will be going to jail,” Jason told her.

  "Promise?” Shelly looked up at Andrew, her eyes wide.

  "Promise!"

  * * * *

  The name of the boat was the True Love. The hotel had it chartered for the guests who wanted to go deep-sea fishing. Paul had read on the itinerary that the True Love left at noon. Everyone had to be on board when the ship sailed.

  Beverly had decided to join her brother and Justin. Justin had never been fishing before and came along for the ride. It was a good-sized boat, with an upper and lower deck, a bar, and even sleeping quarters for the guests who suffered from motion discomfort. There was also a captain, first mate and crew. Other guests from the hotel went along, too. Angela decided to sit this one out, saying she was tired and wanted to take a nap. That was fine with Beverly, who decided that her lover was being too weird anyway.

  "All ashore who are going ashore.” the salty old sea captain called. He motioned for the crew to raise the anchor, and the True Love set sail over the blue Pacific Ocean. The sun sparkled off the water, making the sea look like a spattering of diamonds, and there was not a cloud in the sky.

  "The Love Boat, soon will be making another run...” Paul sang to them. Justin and Beverly laughed heartily, their hair billowing in the wind. It was a fabulous, beautiful day.

  The boat bobbed up and down as it plowed through the waves. “I hope I don't get seasick.” Justin looked over the rail of the boat, down at the glistening water.

  "If you do, I'll hold your hair back while you puke.” Beverly giggled.

  "Good! With all this hair, I'll need it.” he joked back. The little old captain was going around introducing himself to all the guests.

  "Hello there, I'm Captain Jack O'Neil. Welcome aboard the True Love.” He shook hands with them, smiling. He was a nice, grey-haired man whom had obviously been doing this for years.

  "So, where are we going, Captain Jack?” Justin asked him, his black curls blowing back off his handsome face, his no
se ring shining in the sun.

  "Out to sea, sir.” The captain tipped his hat, and moved on to the other guests.

  "That's why they call it deep-sea fishing.” Paul bantered.

  "Hey, I'm just a guy from Philly.” Justin laughed.

  "Don't worry, Philly boy. No icebergs off the coast of California.” Paul laughed and disappeared inside to grab a beer from the bar.

  "We're just going a few miles out, no biggie.” Beverly told him. “Want to go up to the top deck?"

  "Sure, let's go.” Justin and Beverly made their way through the narrow walkway and ascended the stairs leading to the windy top deck. They joined a family with two small children, who were laughing and pointing at the leaping dolphins in the distance. They sat down on a bench overlooking the lower decks of the boat and watched the people fishing, drinking, and partying. “So, tell me.” Justin leaned over the railing, and grinned at her.

  "Tell you what?” She asked him coquettishly, the wind in her blonde hair.

  "Something about yourself that I should know.” He gazed hard at her, his shadowy eyes penetrating. Now was the moment of truth. Beverly looked out into the ocean and took a deep breath.

  "Justin, I'm in a relationship with Angela.” She blurted out, surprising herself.

  "A relationship with Angela?” he asked, wide-eyed. The family with the children disappeared down the stairs, leaving them alone.

  "Yeah, you know. Lezbo, muff diver, dyke. That's me.” She laughed, yet she was having trouble sounding convincing, especially to herself.

  "Wow, I didn't know.” Justin said, disappointment suddenly audible in his voice.

  "But, you see, I'm confused."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, the person I'm in a relationship with just happens to be a woman, that's all.” she explained

  "Are you still attracted to guys?” he inquired, leaning in closer to her.

  "Absolutely."

  "Any one in particular?” He was close to her now, his full lips inches from hers. She knew he wanted to kiss her, and she was unable to move away. He reached up and gently caressed her cheek, bringing her face closer to his. Her mouth moist with anticipation.