Cosmic Girl Rising Up

by R S J Gregory

  “Let’s get one thing straight right away. I don’t have an employer. I employ, I am not employed.”

  “Whatever. The number you gave Rick was not your number, was it? So who’s was it?” I ask.

  His expression turns cold and hard.

  “That’s none of your god damn business.”

  “Rick wants to know, so he can shake the money from whoever it is.” I say, unfazed by his anger.

  “Well, you can tell Rick, that he’s going have to get used to disappointment.”

  “It’s not wise to piss off the mob, you know.”

  “The mob?” He asks.

  “You didn’t know? Who else would take on the job you offered him?” I say and chuckle at his stupidity.

  “Hey, I didn’t offer him the job. I just put him touch with the guy who did.”

  “And that was?” I ask and gesture with my hand for him to spill the beans.

  “I….I can’t say.”

  “Can’t, or won’t?” I ask.

  “Take your pick. This meeting’s over.” He says roughly, then turns on his heel and stomps back to his table.

  He smooth’s his suit jacket, and then sits back down again, with a big smile like nothing’s happened. He could win an Oscar with his performance. Well, that got to him. He’s scared of someone more than the mob. How bad can this guy be?

  I limp back to the entrance and head outside. Beth is sitting on the sidewalk with her feet in the street. I sit down next to her.

  “Well, that was interesting.” Beth says and looks at me with a strange expression.

  “Did you get anything?” I ask, and hold my breath.

  My mouth hangs open when I see her shake her head.

  “He clammed up as soon as you asked about his contact.”

  “Damn it!” I scream and stand up. “I’m gonna tear him a new one, if he doesn’t tell me, right now!” I say and stomp towards the entrance.

  “No. Stop.” Beth urges, and grabs me from behind, and pulls me back to the street. “Calm down, for crying out loud, girl.” Beth says in my ear as she struggles to pull me back.

  “There’s always later. Come on, we better leave before they call the fuzz.” Beth says and pulls my arm, tugging me to the right.

  I let her pull me along the sidewalk, and then begin to hobble next to her as I try and control my breathing.

  “He’s scared now, right?” Beth says, and I nod numbly. “Right. And people do stupid things when they’re scared. We’ll wait, and watch, and see what he does next.”

  “Okay.” I grumble. I then stop and point my finger at her face. “But if he doesn’t help in anyway, I’m gonna break something. And I would prefer it to be his legs.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m on your side, Britney.”

  “I know.” I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I really thought this would be it. We would finally have a name, or an address or something.” I say and throw my arms up in frustration.

  “I need you to calm down. Can you do that for me?” Beth asks gently.

  I nod and close my eyes.

  “God, I’m hungry.” I say as I open my eyes and look around.

  “Well, we can’t go back there.” Beth chuckles.

  “Can’t afford those prices anyway. The minestrone soup was $25.” I say.

  “Wow. Do they give you a gold spoon to eat it with?” Beth says and lets out a deep breath.

  “I bet it’s not that good either.” I grumble, as my stomach growls louder.

  “How long do you think they’re gonna be?” Beth asks.

  “They were having a salad at the time. So, I don’t know.” I say.

  “It might have been a starter. So they could still be a long time. I say we go grab a bite, and then continue the steak-out.” Beth suggests.

  “Mmm, steak…” I murmur as I follow Beth along the sidewalk.

  We find a café a block away, and I get myself a pastrami sandwich with the works on it. I finish it as we walk along, then pop into another shop, and buy a beautiful little pastry and a large cappuccino to go. The pastry is amazing. flaky layers of pastry, topped with a cream which tastes like peach, with fresh pears on top drizzled with chocolate sauce. I don’t know why, but everything tastes better with chocolate. I wash it all down with some of the frothy cappuccino, and then we walk slowly back towards St Patrick’s cathedral. My foot has almost fully healed, so my limp is just a slight hobble now. We stop at the corner and look up the sidewalk at the restaurant a hundred feet away.

  “He still in there?” I ask Beth.

  She waits, then turns to me and nods. “They’re discussing an action movie that’s going to be set in Russia. Paul’s talking to the director, and the casting director. A few names come up.” Beth says and shrugs.

  “Whatever.” I grumble and sit down on the sidewalk and rest my aching back against a wall.

  I sip my cappuccino, and look at my legs as I stretch them out in front. I swivel my feet and flex my toes experimentally. Nice to know my feet are tough as well.

  I take another sip and look up at the sky above us, as it begins to change color. The dark blue is now changing to a lovely purple. I crane my head and look to my left past Beth, and see the sky in the west beginning to glow red.

  “What time is it?” I ask.

  Beth checks her cell phone. “Almost seven.” Beth says and then sits down next to me.

  “What are they thinking about now?” I ask.

  “Desserts.”

  “Good. That means we shouldn’t have to wait much longer. I hope.” I say and sip my cappuccino.

  Beth takes a swig from her bottle of mineral water, and then notices her white catsuit showing on her forearms. She pulls the sleeves of her cherry top down more, to cover the white.

  “I’m sorry I dropped you earlier.” I say and touch her shoulder.

  “At least you caught me again. No harm done.” She says and sighs. “But let’s not do that again, huh?”

  “Definitely. It’s not on my list of all-time favorite experiences.” I say, and Beth chuckles.

  “Those bullets sure pack a wallop.” I say and rub my back.

  “I thought you’d died.” Beth says and reaches down and holds my hand. “I thought I might have to tell everyone that you’d been killed.”

  “Stupid Air Force.” I grumble and pat her hand. “I’ll be more careful next time.” I say.

  She nods, and leans over and gives me a hug. I hug her with one arm, and then pull away as she whips her head around and looks back at the restaurant.

  “They’re skipping dessert. They’re asking for the check.” Beth says.

  I gingerly get up and finish the rest of my cappuccino.

  “We better get off the street. We don’t want him to see us.” Beth says as she gets up from the sidewalk.

  I crane my neck and look up at the buildings around us. There’s a tall hotel across the street from where we’re standing. The brownstone building is at least twenty five stories, and on the lower levels there are what look like steps several stories up, and then another one higher up. I grab Beth, and then wait for a yellow cab to pass, before launching up to the ledge about a hundred and fifty feet up. I land and set Beth down. We get changed back into our costumes, and then crouch and look down at the street, and watch the restaurant entrance.

  “Here they come.” Beth whispers.

  I watch as three men in suits emerge.

  They shake hands, and then two walk together back towards Madison Avenue, while the third man turns and walks down the street towards us. I notice his blond hair, and nudge Beth.

  “That’s him.” I whisper to her.

  She nods and peers over the ledge as he crosses the street and walks by the hotel. I look over the ledge and follow his blond head as he walks right beneath us. I see him reach into his suit, and pull out a cell phone.

  “He’s making a call.” I whisper to Beth.

  She stares after him, and her eyes narrow.

>   “He’s just calling his driver.” Beth says.

  He walks to the end of the street, then turns and disappears around the corner. I wrap my arms around Beth, and then look up as I fly us towards the sky. I fly over the hotel and then hover over the street, and look down. He’s still on his cell phone. He’s now walking up Park Avenue, and I see him stop. He puts his cell phone away and then begins to pace back and forth on the sidewalk.

  “You think he looks nervous?” Beth asks.

  “I hope so.” I say, and watch as a long black limousine slows down and pulls over by the sidewalk near a clearly agitated Paul Thomas Richardson.

  He yanks the rear passenger door open and climbs in, slamming the door shut behind him.

  The car pulls away and begins to drive south again briefly, before taking a sharp left turn, and then heads north up Park Avenue. I turn and begin to follow the car.

  I fly us higher, about a thousand feet up, and keep my eyes locked on the black limo as it weaves its way north through the traffic. After about fifteen minutes, the car turns right. I fly over the hotels and stores, and look ahead to where he’s headed.

  There’s an on-ramp up ahead that leads to a bridge. I notice the iron struts going across the top of the bridge, and then I recognize what bridge this is, when I see the cable car moving slowly next to the bridge as it crosses the dark river.

  “Hey, this is the bridge they used in Spider-Man.” I say excitedly.

  “What?” Beth grumbles. “Where’s the limo?” She asks as she tries to look down.

  “There.” I say and point down at a small black object that’s moving towards the bridge.

  I stop and hover over the Queensboro Bridge as we wait for the black limo to catch up with us.

  “He’s heading home.” Beth says. “Let’s head over and wait for him.” Beth suggests.

  “Okay. But you’re navigating.” I say and then take off over the river and fly east.

  We fly over Queens, and then Beth tells me to turn left and fly a little more north.

  “Okay, slow down. We’re not far.” Beth says as she looks at her cell phone.

  We’re flying over some clay tennis courts and some baseball fields. I can see far below, some tree lined streets and some tall apartment complexes.

  “Turn left.” Beth says and points.

  I bank left, and fly us slowly north as Beth gazes at her cell phone. We fly over the streets and head on past an industrial area. Then we fly past the complex and over some trees, and head on towards a more residential looking area. I start to see houses now, and some have pools in the back yard. We continue for a few more minutes, and then Beth checks her cell phone one more time, and then switches it off and slips it inside her left white leather boot.

  “That one.” Beth says and points down.

  In the backyard, two teenage boys are throwing a football to each other, while an older woman lounges in the large rectangular swimming pool.

  “You’re sure?” I ask.

  “Yep.” Beth replies.

  We then wait for Paul Thomas Richardson to arrive. Traffic must have been bad, because we’re waiting in the air above his house for at least an hour before I see the black limo’s headlights turn on to the street.

  “Well, it’s about time!” Beth grumbles.

  The sun has sunk far in the west, and the sky is now a very dark purple.

  I’d be almost invisible, if it weren’t for Beth in her bright white costume.

  “You know. White is not a great color for you.” I say as I watch the limo pull to a stop outside the house.

  “What do you mean? I look fabulous.” Beth replies.

  I chuckle quietly as I watch Mr Richardson get out and head towards the house. The black limo reverses off the drive, and then turns and heads north. I hear the door close faintly far below, and then the two boys in the backyard say something to the woman. She climbs out of the pool, and then lights a cigarette.

  Ten minutes later, and Mr Richardson emerges into the backyard, and walks over to the woman.

  “This is boring.” I moan as I watch the scumbag play happy families. “Can’t I just break his legs and speed things up a bit?” I ask Beth.

  “Don’t be silly. Don’t you want to protect people, huh? Help them? Not break people’s legs, and have the police after you.” Beth says and laughs.

  “I know. It’s just…I know this man is no good.” I say.

  “But what has he done, really?” Beth asks. “He just gave someone’s number to a mobster.”

  “Only, he didn’t know he was a mobster.” I add.

  “Exactly. He’s hardly a criminal, Britney.” Beth says, and I sigh and have to agree with her.

  “Okay. We do this your way. Which is what exactly?” I say.

  Beth chuckles darkly. “Watch and learn, my young Padawan.” She says and rubs her white leather gloved-hands together.

  “I didn’t know you liked Star Wars.” I say in shock.

  “A guilty pleasure.” Beth says. “Just don’t tell anyone else, okay?”

  “Your secret is safe with me.” I say and grin.

  Beth then cranes her neck and gazes down at the little family gathering below. I descend slowly until we’re only a few hundred feet up, and then stop again. I can just about make out what they’re saying now.

  “Watch this.” Beth whispers, and winks up at me, and then looks back down.

  “Did you say something, darling?” The woman asks as she puffs on a cigarette.

  “No.” Mr Richardson says and sits down in a sun lounger.

  I fly us to the right, so that we’re hovering over the house instead of the backyard.

  “Oh. Who’s Ricky Morano, darling?” The woman asks.

  “Ricky, who? I…I don’t know.” Mr Richardson replies hesitantly. “Where did you hear that name?” He asks, I can hear the worry in his voice.

  “I don’t know. The name just popped into my head just now. Do you know him? I can’t remember him.” His wife asks, and looks at her husband. “Las Vegas?” She says. “Is he from Las Vegas?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Have you been drinking again?” He asks, clearly irritated.

  “Only a little.” She admits and then chuckles. “So why did you go to Vegas and see this Ricky Morano, darling?”

  Mr Richardson gets up from the sun lounger and walks quickly indoors.

  “Now let’s see what he does.” I whisper.

  “He’s going to his office. A room near the front of the house.” Beth says.

  “The loft.” Beth adds after a few more seconds.

  I fly us to the front and then descend to the roof. I look down at the front of the house. There are three windows below us. I see a light come on in the window to the far right. I quickly hover over and wait. I hear Mr Richardson cursing as he slams a door. Then I hear him pick up something. Then I hear some buttons being pressed roughly.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” I hear his agitated voice say. “Have you spoken to my wife today?”

  “You’re sure?” Then there’s a pause. “I don’t know, but she knows stuff. And I didn’t tell her.”

  I look at Beth and grin. Here we go.

  “Look, I’m not panicking. But if you came home one day to find your wife asking questions, how would you feel?”

  Beth chuckles quietly as we listen.

  “You promised me that this was just business. What the hell am I involved in?”

  I almost forget to breathe as I listen, and take a slow breath to calm my nerves.

  “Did you know the friggin mafia are involved? What the hell is so funny?”

  Beth looks at me and I give her the thumbs up. Good job, Beth.

  “Hey, don’t talk to me like….what are you……burn in hell, Devlin, you freak!” Mr Richardson says and then slams the phone down.

  I let out a gasp. Devlin?

  “Who the hell is Devlin De Marco?” Beth asks.

  “Holy guacamole!” I blurt out.
<
br />   “Who’s there?” Mr Richardson calls out.

  I fly down, and hover in front of his window as he approaches it, and throws open the curtains.

  “What the hell?” He blurts out when he sees us, and then steps back.

  I push the window open and fly inside.

  “Hello, Mr Richardson.” I say as I hover in front of him while carrying Beth.

  I drop Beth to the carpet, and she quickly walks to the door and bars his way.

  “Who the hell are you?” He asks as he stares up at me.

  “You don’t watch the news much, huh?” Beth says and I chuckle.

  “I’m Cosmic Girl. This is I-Spy. We’re not here to hurt you.” I say as I grin from ear to ear.

  “Why are you in my house?”

  “We’re after someone who likes to kidnap and murder people.” I say.

  “The joker you were just talking to, in fact.” Beth adds.

  His eyes lower, and he lets out a deep sigh, and then sits down in an office chair near his desk.

  “This friend of yours...” I begin. “…is responsible for causing the deaths of over forty people. The kidnapping and torture of at least fifty innocent people…”