“Yeah, Cin, I know. But this is different. David is this big superhero. He was supposedly just doin’ his job. And you know boys will be boys. Everyone agrees all guys want two women—he was just livin’ the dream. And Ellen—sweet little Ellen—well she’s got the heart of gold. It’s her mother that’s the hooker. Not Ellen. Well, now it’s Glori, and it was my mistake. No one else’s—my mistake. My pictures. I gotta take the responsibility.”
“Yes, honey, you have to take some responsibility. But you were just fourteen years old. That’s why there are laws. You were a child. You couldn’t deal with that all by yourself. It’s like you said. You wanted a family. You needed love and guidance, not abandonment, from your parents. I know Alain, and Joe, and everyone else in the family will understand that.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Glori
The Lambrecht kitchen was always spotlessly clean and organized. I was grateful David had returned home and retired early with Debbie. I had the kitchen to myself.
It was probably for the best that Alain chose tonight to work late to finish up paperwork. And I was relieved when he told me he’d join me at home for a late dinner, instead of staying at his apartment in the city.
In a frenzy of activity, I had every cabinet door wide open, pots, pans, and food stacked everywhere, pina coladas whirring in the blender, and all of Alain’s favorite dishes cooking furiously on the stove.
He burst out laughing as he came through the kitchen door.
I wiped pina colada foam from my lip. “Hi Alain.” My voice quivered in my throat.
For the first time, I noticed the mess that was the kitchen. I shuddered, then managed half a smile. “Good thing David’s havin’ dinner upstairs with Debbie. He’d kill me if he ever saw this place.”
Alain gathered me in his arms and kissed me. “Two questions. Why are you drinking? And why are you cooking all this food?”
“Well—well you know I like pina coladas. And you were late—so—so I thought I’d just have one. And I wanted to make you some of your favorites for dinner. You know I’m not the greatest cook. So I figured if I made a bunch of different dishes, at least some of them would be edible.”
He was still chuckling as he left to go wash up. My stomach in knots, I did my best to clean up the mess and prepare to serve the meal in a cozy dining area.
Relaxed after the dinner, Alain snuggled me in the window seat. I was too uneasy to admire the starry sky, and he picked right up on it. “Are you cold? Do you want a sweater?”
“No, I’m fine.” I rolled over his lap to face him, but I couldn’t look him in the eye. “But I need to talk to you. It’s important, Alain.”
He followed me into the kitchen and watched me remove the envelope from the back of a cabinet. He sat me at the kitchen table and held his arm around me. I saw his eyes bulge as I took out the photos.
He listened intently as I told my story, and kept his emotions well in check. I just sputtered on and on until my voice gave way and there was nothing but bitter tears.
He drew me to his chest and whispered, “You don’t need to worry any more, Glori. Those pictures aren’t going to be published, and he’s going to pay for putting you through this. He’s going to pay.”
Alain
It was lunchtime the following day when Alain settled into a private conference room with his three colleagues. Eduardo and Jimmy bantered about the significance of Aubrey’s attendance at the upcoming wedding.
Alain focused on his laptop.
Eventually Eduardo turned to Alain. “So Dusseault, you’re awful quiet today.”
“I’m on a plane Friday night for Los Angeles. I could use your help.”
“What’s goin’ on? Aren’t you goin’ to the party?” Jimmy talked around a mouthful of food.
“I’m leaving right after the ceremony. Sorry I won’t make your party, David.”
“What’s wrong?” David asked.
“Glori is being blackmailed. Some photographer has pictures. She was talked into posing nude for this lowlife when she was fourteen years old. Now this jackass, Henry Korn from Los Angeles, is threatening to make them public. She’s been paying him since their concert in L.A. He keeps calling her, looking for more. I’ll give him more all right.”
Jimmy smirked. “So another scumbag from L.A. You know this guy, Lambrecht?”
Eduardo choked on laughter as they noticed the curl of David’s lip. “Maybe not, but I got a feelin’ he’s got a few ideas on how to get even.”
Glori
Everyone in the entire family descended on the base late Friday afternoon to attend the ceremony honoring David, Eduardo, and Tony Cooke. We weren’t entirely sure why they were being recognized, but it seemed like a big deal. Everyone was dressed to the nines in their uniforms, and some big shot from Israel was handing out the honors.
Debbie was all smiles, and David never left her side until he had to go up to receive his medal. Then they gave out some commendations to Eduardo and Mr. Cookie, the helicopter pilot.
I had no idea how the three of them could’ve had time to get to Israel and do some heroic thing. Alain wasn’t helping me on that either.
But Alain was helping me with Henry Korn, and I was so grateful. He never even yelled at me about how I could be so stupid to pose nude at age fourteen. He was only supportive—incredibly supportive. I guess he got kicked around as a kid, too, so he understood what it’s like. I made a bad decision. And Alain only said “The past is in the past.”
So after the General’s reception and dinner, Alain slipped out to hitch a ride on some military plane headed for the U.S.
I went with the rest of the family over to Nita and Eduardo’s home for the party. I’d completely forgotten Debbie’s birthday was the following day. Debbie looked shocked, too, when Cindy and Cat wheeled out a huge cake with twenty candles on top. It took her more than a few breaths to blow out all the candles. Then she jumped into David’s arms, all excited. That was the best part—seeing them happy together again. It was like you could see the light again.
***
It was the end of October, and wedding guests were arriving in Salzburg for the upcoming event. We were in the midst of a week-long party.
Cindy and I were fascinated to meet Raphael’s old friends from college. They were full of stories about the good old days on the soccer team. Our single friends from California wasted no time in flirting with the soccer stars.
Alain
Alain returned to Salzburg just in time for Raphael’s bachelor party on Thursday. He entered Jimmy’s office and topped the precarious pile of papers and files on his desk with the latest issue of a tabloid newspaper.
Jimmy grinned. “My favorite! The Weekly World Gossip. And look at the headline: ‘Dallas does Henry! Porn star Dallas Cummings caught on video with celeb photographer Henry Korn—now known as the Korn of Porn—his wife has already filed for divorce.’ Naughty pictures, too. I didn’t know they could print that stuff. Pretty quick work. Seems Lambrecht knows all the finest people out there in L.A.”
They erupted into laughter.
Jimmy slapped him on the back and headed to the door. “So I hate to cut this little celebration short, but we gotta get going. We’re supposed to be playing soccer for Raphael’s team—us against his old college buddies. Or as Cindy says—the guests against the groomsmen.”
“No problem.”
“Yeah, well I neglected to mention—half their team plays professionally.”
“We’ll manage.”
“Yeah, and the other half is that bunch of royal guys they’ve had at the other weddings.”
“Royal guys?” Alain smirked.
“Yeah, so we gotta behave. One false kick and it could be the firin’ squad.”
***
As they headed out the door, David waved them into Eduardo’s office, concern on his face.
“What’cha got?” Jimmy pointed to a package in David’s hand.
Eduardo groaned. “No
t another painting. I can’t take another clue—to who knows what.”
“This one’s pretty clear.” David revealed the painting. “It’s the Monchsberg Hotel.”
“Shit!” Eduardo put his hand to his head. “I suppose this is during the reception?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll need to make damn sure we have security nailed down,” David said.
“I thought we already did that.” Eduardo examined the painting. Flames and smoke billowed out of several windows.
Glori
It’d been ages since we’d seen Tamara Everett. So Cindy, Debbie and I were there when she checked into the Monchsberg Hotel with her own security force. Since her dad, Senator Everett, and all his bodyguards were murdered—almost a year ago now—Tamara was a changed person. She was way more serious—and paranoid. They never did find who did it. And they never found out who murdered her best friend Kendra, just a couple months after her dad.
But today as we all sat over a few drinks and a late lunch at the hotel, I could see the old Tamara slowly coming back. She started to ramble on about all her travels, and all the great Fashion Weeks she’d attended. With a pina colada in my system, I got a bit giggly, and she did, too. We even told some stories about the good old days with Kendra.
Tamara accepted another glass of wine. “I know Debbie was in a rush to marry David, and it was so soon after I lost Dad and Kendra. I wasn’t sure I’d even make it to your wedding, Debbie.”
“I’m so glad you did, Tamara.” Debbie was almost breathless.
Tamara smiled at Debbie and pointed at Cin. “But you—Miss Cindy Bainbridge—I’d have been destroyed if you didn’t invite me to be a bridesmaid. I know I’m half a world away now, but my dressmaker did a fantastic job, if I do say. You’ll never know the dress was made by a different person.”
Cin chuckled. “I’m not worried. I’m thrilled you’re able to be part of my wedding.”
Tamara raised her glass. “To my wonderful friends. It’s been too long since we’ve been together. Let’s not let so much time go by again.” Then she winked at me. “So have you scoped out any of those handsome soccer players for me, Glori?” We all giggled.
***
General Pearson let us use a soccer field on the base for the guys’ game that Thursday afternoon. The weather was dry and chilly, but it could’ve been a lot worse this time of year. I pulled my wool coat around me and left my friends chatting in the stands when I saw Alain arrive.
I practically ran into his arms. “You look so handsome in your soccer outfit.”
He smiled. “Good, I grabbed an old pair of shorts and a shirt from the bottom of my locker. I had no idea I’d be in fashion.”
“Hmm. You couldn’t look bad if you tried.”
He took me aside with a big hug and a kiss. I was so relieved to see him, and he obviously hadn’t changed his mind about me in the last two weeks.
“Glori, everything is squared away. Henry Korn won’t be bothering you again. I have your photos and your money back at my office in a safe.”
I felt that damn mascara giving way. “Thank you, Alain. Thanks for taking care of it.” Of me.
I repaired my makeup as best I could and joined my friends in the stands to watch the groom and his men trounce the guests on the soccer field.
After the game, the men headed to the Monchsberg Hotel for a bachelor party. Raphael had decided to contain everything for security reasons. There was no reason to go anywhere else. The Monchsberg had everything a discriminating guest could want.
The bridesmaids had a party for Cindy just a few floors above the men. I caught up with Tamara and some of our old friends from Beverly Hills standing on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Even though it was November, there were green shrubs and flowers blooming in the garden below.
The girls were picking out men they wanted Cin and me to introduce them to. And I could see some of the guys pointing and calling to them. It was pretty funny, especially with a few drinks in me. I decided to play matchmaker. When Aubrey Rose showed up, I told my friends she belonged to Jimmy Hollinger. She didn’t protest.
So I had a whole new line of gossip to follow up on.
Being his usual overprotective self where Debbie was concerned, David showed up to whisk his bride away. She looked like she’d had it by that time anyway. Her eyelids were slowly closing.
Debbie
A loud explosion startled me awake, and David landed on top of me, covering us with the comforter.
“David!”
“It’s all right, Sweetheart. We’re getting out of here. Just relax.”
He lifted me from the bed, now coated with plaster and dust. I could see a large hole opening in the ceiling above us. There was fire, smoke and clouds of dust. I remembered my painting. Screams and loud voices came from all around us. An emergency alarm was blasting.
Once he decided it was safe to enter the hallway, he carried me into a sea of people running scared. He spoke in a loud commanding voice to get everyone to calm down and follow us to the emergency exit and down the stairs. He kept my face covered with his shirt so I wouldn’t breathe in the dust that could harm the babies.
Once in a while I took a peek to see the firefighters and law enforcement team running up the stairs to the mess we just left. David pushed my face into his chest.
We made it to the lobby and almost out the door. Daddy’s voice rose above the crowd. “Is she all right?”
“She’s okay, George, but I’m getting her to the hospital to make sure,” David said.
The next thing I knew, we were in the ambulance with Mama and Daddy, and I had an oxygen mask on my face. David coughed into his sleeve. He was the one that needed oxygen, but he wouldn’t take it. Daddy continued to badger David until we arrived in the emergency room.
***
Tamara was brought into the emergency room, and I heard her crying. David said she was okay—just some cuts and bruises. She was badly shaken up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eduardo
It was 2:30 AM when Pearson assembled with Eduardo, Alain, and Jimmy in his office. “All right Clemente—what do we know? And first of all—David and Debbie are okay?”
“Yes, Sir. They’ll be fine. Mostly just the dust—and the shock she had from the explosion. They’re keeping her overnight, just to make sure. But they had her ob-gyn check her out, and the babies are fine.”
Pearson rolled his eyes heavenward. “That’s a relief. And what else?”
“Fortunately, there were only a few injuries in the explosion. Most guests were transported here to the base for safety and security, and they’re in the Guest House. Those with injuries or concerns were transported to the hospital in Salzburg.”
“Good.” Pearson nodded.
Eduardo continued. “The bomb squad determined that a bomb placed in Tamara Everett’s luggage had detonated when her bodyguard opened the door to her room. The man was injured, though not seriously. Tamara Everett received cuts and bruises. She was shaken up, but otherwise okay. She’s in the hospital now. They intend to keep her overnight.”
“The plot thickens.” Pearson sighed. “Any connections to Colonel Johnson?”
“A guy on her security team named Charles Wheeler. According to Miss Everett, she asked someone on her father’s staff for recommendations for her security team. This guy Wheeler was recommended, and a check of the records indicates he’d met Colonel Johnson in the course of his employment with Senator Everett. That’s what we’ve learned so far.”
“And do we have Mr. Wheeler in custody?” Pearson asked.
“He’s conveniently disappeared, Sir.”
“Convenient.” Pearson rubbed his chin. “And how about the hotel? Will it be possible to hold the wedding reception on schedule?”
“Tamara Everett’s room was directly above David and Debbie’s room. The building inspectors found the damage was contained to Tamara’s room and those adjacent, as well as the rooms directly above and bene
ath. The building itself is structurally sound and they said it can be used for the wedding reception on Saturday. So that’s a relief. They have a big clean-up to do, but Raphael is confident they can get most of the guests back in and the ballroom ready for Saturday.”
“That’s the good news.” Pearson clapped his hands. “Okay, let’s try to salvage a couple hours sleep.”
Glori
Blue skies and reasonably warm temperatures for November greeted the wedding guests on Saturday. Papa Roberto and Raphael had gone into high gear to salvage everything after that scary explosion on Thursday. They did a beautiful job, and everyone seemed in high spirits to match the sunny skies. Security was everywhere as royalty and rock stars arrived at the massive, historic cathedral. Paulo serenaded them as the groomsmen ushered them down the long, wide aisle to their seats.
Paulo began the Ave Maria as Papa Roberto, and then the entire extended family, was seated. At last Raphael’s parents marched down the aisle, then Raphael and his best man, Cisco, appeared on the altar. Cindy’s nieces, her flower girls, led the bridesmaids: Cat, me, Ellen, Tamara, and Nita. Shyly, slowly, matron of honor Debbie took the long walk, her eyes fixed on David, who stood with the other groomsmen in the first pew.
Fame, Fortune & Secrets (The Redemption Series: Book 2) Page 21
