Lovers and Gamblers

by Collins, Jackie

  ‘I’ll come with her,’ Cody said.

  ‘I’d sooner meet with her alone.’

  Cody had a bad feeling. His gut reaction was not in good shape. Either that or it was his developing ulcer.

  * * *

  Linda lit a cigarette. Her hand was shaking.

  God! Miss Sophistication. One lesbian scene and she was a mass of nerves.

  How could Dallas do it? It was difficult to understand. This whole blackmail thing was going too far. Once – to help a friend out. Twice – Linda was disgusted with herself. It was sickening. And to have had to watch Dallas and Doris Andrews together. Ugh! She was certainly no prude. But two women together… It was not that they had done much of anything – a man and a woman doing the same things would have been fairly tame stuff – but two women doing it. Linda couldn’t reconcile herself to that. Lesbian tendencies she had never had, and this had put her off forever.

  She went into the bathroom and lifted the photos out of the solution. They were good. Clear. Revolting.

  Dallas had shut herself in the bedroom and Linda was glad. In a way she was almost embarrassed to face her. It made things somehow different between them.

  As soon as she had finished the pictures she wanted to get away. Dallas had asked too much in return for sleeping on her couch. The very next day she would find herself an apartment.

  * * *

  Dallas lay on her bed staring blankly into space.

  What had happened to her Californian dream? A nice home, a steady career, a baby. What did she want now?

  She had her house, that was okay. But the desire to have a baby was gone. Who needed to bring children into a world like this? Career was important too. The desire to be some one. And she enjoyed working. When she was before the cameras she could really forget everything and become the character she was playing. So why couldn’t they all leave her alone? Why did she always have to be on her guard, scheming, planning, plotting a way to come out on top?

  Bobbie had known how to escape the pressures of just existing. Heroin. It had killed her. Maybe she was better off.

  Dallas turned over and lay on her stomach. She had showered when Doris left, scrubbed her body thoroughly. Sex became more and more of a hassle. She hated it. She went through the motions with a complete lack of feeling. The scene with Doris had been particularly difficult.

  Why did they want her? The face. The body. Is that all they saw?

  She shut her eyes, squeezing them tightly so that the tears that had suddenly formed couldn’t escape.

  Cody had phoned earlier to tell her that Aarron Mack requested her presence in Palm Springs the next day. What did he want?

  She reached on her bedside table for the bottle of Seconal pills – took one – two – three.

  Soon she was asleep.

  The insistent ringing of the telephone woke her the next morning. She could hear the ringing, hoped that Linda would pick it up. Goddamn it. The phone kept ringing. She reached for it, mumbled ‘hello’.

  It was Cody, cheerful and bright, reminding her that he would pick her up in an hour to take her to the airport.

  ‘Why do I have to go?’ she complained.

  ‘Because we don’t want to blow this deal – he needs jollying up.’

  ‘Terrific. Play with his balls and lick his ass.’

  ‘I’ll ignore that. You know how to handle him.’

  ‘Sure.’ Sourly she hung up.

  She got out of bed, stretched, yawned. She felt terrible – heavy and hungover. She reached for a joint, lit up. Soon she felt better.

  There was an envelope and a note from Linda in the kitchen. The envelope contained a set of photos complete with negatives. The note read, ‘Here you go – guess they are what you wanted. Got great deal on apartment – so am moving. Will call you. Thanks for everything – Linda.’ Dallas crumpled the note in her hand. She didn’t blame her.

  Critically she examined the photos. They were better than she had hoped. Doris revealed as Lew had never seen her beforehand, obviously not a reluctant participant. Good.

  She carefully chose two, sealed them in an envelope, and addressed it to Lew marked ‘Personal and Private’. Then she sealed the negatives in another envelope, which she planned to deposit at a bank near the airport under a false name. Let Lew find them there. The remainder of the photographs she hid around the house. As long as the negatives were safe it didn’t matter if Lew found these.

  She dressed. Smoked another joint. Packed a small bag in case she stayed overnight in Palm Springs.

  Cody picked her up on time, chatted inanely all the way to the airport. He thought he was cheering her up. Before boarding Aarron’s plane she squeezed his hand. ‘Don’t worry, kid, everything’s cool.’

  ‘I know, I know,’ he agreed. ‘Let me know what time you’ll be back and I’ll meet you.’

  She giggled. She suddenly felt great.

  Cody realized she was stoned, but it was too late to stop her from going.

  ‘Don’t call me, I’ll call you,’ she chuckled. ‘Be a good fella.’

  He didn’t like to see her in that kind of state. He wished he was still around to look after her. ‘Watch it,’ he said sternly. ‘Don’t do anything you don’t want to. Remember we have a contract, he has to honour it.’

  ‘Course I’ll remember.’ She winked lewdly. ‘I won’t even fuck him unless he asks me!’

  She slept on the short flight to Palm Springs. Slept in the car on the way to Aarron’s estate.

  He sat beside the swimming pool, a gnarled, nut-brown figure in snappy red-striped bathing shorts.

  He kissed her hand, offered a choice of champagne or mineral water. ‘Are you hungry?’ he asked solicitously. ‘Shall we eat lunch now or later?’

  She opted for later, changed into a bikini, and flopped out beside him, immediately falling asleep.

  He watched her sleep. How could he believe what he had heard about her? She breathed deeply, her magnificent breasts almost escaping from the brief bikini top. He wanted to reach over and touch her. He didn’t care what he had heard. He was determined to possess her.

  She slept for almost three hours, then she woke, stretched, rolled into the swimming pool, splashed around, emerged, and said, ‘I’m sorry Aarron. Did I sleep for long?’

  He nodded. ‘You must have been tired, it’s past four. I’ll tell them to serve lunch.’

  ‘Great! I’m famished.’ She excused herself, went into the house, got a joint from her purse and smoked it in the john.

  Lobster, caviar, and smoked salmon with an array of salads waited. She ate heartily, and then polished off half a delicious chocolate cake.

  ‘That was good!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘You were hungry,’ Aarron stated.

  ‘Yeah. I guess I’ve been working too hard. It’s really nice to have a few days off.’

  ‘A few days off?’ He paused, obviously puzzled. ‘But I thought—’

  ‘Oh, don’t tell me you’ve heard the rumour about me being off the series too.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Don’t believe it. I’m having a week off.’

  ‘But Lew Margolis telephoned me himself.’

  Dallas laughed. ‘Poor old Lew. I think he’s getting senile. It’s all a mistake. I told him I needed a rest, he seems to think I want more money. Everything’s a bit confused, but I can promise you I’ll be back on the set next Monday. By the way, what was it you wanted to discuss with me?’

  She had Aarron completely puzzled. He had prepared a speech but it didn’t seem to fit now. Finally he said, ‘I am really most perplexed.’

  ‘Why?’ she asked, pouring herself some more champagne.

  Aarron shook his head sadly. ‘I have known Lew Margolis for many years. We are not close friends but we are old acquaintances. I should warn you that he is saying some very strong things about you.’

  Dallas widened her eyes in surprise. ‘About me?’

  ‘Of course I do not believe what he is s
aying,’ Aarron hastened to add, ‘but all the same, they are disturbing things and I think we should discuss them. You see, being the Mack girl will identify you very closely with all the Mack products, and should there be even the slightest grain of truth in what Lew is saying…’ He paused to have a short coughing fit. ‘I can be quite frank with you, Dallas. Mack Cosmetics is my company, but I am getting on in years. I have had to make certain tax provisions for my family. I have a son and a daughter, they are both married. I have five grandchildren.’

  ‘So?’ questioned Dallas impatiently. She didn’t want his life history, she wanted him to get to the point.

  ‘I make the final decisions, but there is a family board of directors at Mack Cosmetics. They are happy that you are to be the Mack girl, but any scandal…’

  Dallas laughed. ‘I thought we had a contract?’ she questioned mockingly.

  ‘Oh yes,’ agreed Aarron, ‘with options, of course.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘If anything Lew Margolis is saying about you is true… then you would be paid up to the first option…’

  ‘And not used.’ She finished for him.

  ‘Exactly.’

  She sipped her champagne, her green eyes glinting dangerously. ‘So tell me, Aarron, what exactly is Lew saying about me?’

  He looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t believe it. I know it can’t possibly be true.’

  ‘But you felt you had to ask me anyway, just in case.’ Suddenly she hated him, sitting in his Palm Springs mansion so rich and secure.

  ‘Yes.’ He was relieved she was so understanding.

  ‘Spit it out, Aarron, I can’t wait to hear.’

  ‘He said that you were a prostitute. That you and a coloured girl used to work together. Also that you were a lesbian and the two of you used to give shows.’

  Dallas threw back her head and roared with laughter. ‘He said that – about me. It’s unbelievable! And anyway, even if there was the slightest bit of truth in it, how the hell would he know? The whole thing is utterly ridiculous – I mean it’s absolutely laughable!’

  ‘I knew it couldn’t possibly be true,’ said Aarron quickly. ‘I just wanted to hear you deny it.’

  ‘Deny it? It’s hardly worth denying, it’s so ludicrous. Who could possibly believe it? I told you the man is getting senile.’

  ‘If you wish, I can have my lawyer draft a letter on your behalf to restrain him from repeating such a vicious story. It would be best to stop him now.’

  ‘Yes. I think we should.’

  Aarron leaned across the table and patted her fondly on the shoulder. ‘I knew there was no truth in it. I remember in New York when we first met how you wouldn’t even let me touch you.’

  She lowered her eyes. ‘I’m like that, Aarron. A man must be prepared to wait with me.’

  He sighed happily. ‘Yes, yes. I understand. In spite of your looks, at heart you are really just an old-fashioned girl.’

  She hid a smile that threatened to break into uncontrollable laughter.

  ‘Yes, Aarron, you are so right. At heart I’m really just an old-fashioned girl.’

  At Aarron’s request she decided to spend the night. Why go rushing back to LA? For what? Anyway, she wanted to wait until Lew received the photos. Let him stew a little before she contacted him. Let him call Cody and beg to have her back on the series. Let him suffer when he saw the intimate pictures of his wife.

  Aarron wanted to take her out to dinner, but she pleaded a headache and retired to the guest suite, where she sat in bed watching TV and smoking another joint.

  There was an interview with Al King arriving in Las Vegas. He was there for a big charity concert the next day. She stared at his image on the screen, dragging on the joint, and beginning to get the feeling that seemed reserved only for him. He was a bastard. He had stood her up for a skinny bag. Screw him.

  Why not? He was available. Why not get him out of her system once and for all?

  Yeah – why not? She had nothing better to do.

  She grinned. She could just imagine his surprise when she turned up in Las Vegas.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Cristina telephoned Louis Baptista. He was delighted to hear from her, even though she had given him a most abrupt and hurtful brush several months previously.

  ‘Can we see each other again, Louis?’ she asked sweetly. He was hesitant; he had started to date other girls, started to forget the hurt. ‘What did you have in mind?’ he questioned falteringly.

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Maybe we could go riding in Tijuca forest like we used to.’

  ‘Yes, all right.’

  ‘If you want to, that is.’

  ‘You know I want to.’ His voice was gruff.

  ‘Tomorrow?’

  ‘I’ll collect you from your house at noon.’

  ‘That would be fine.’ She banged the phone down and stuck her tongue out at Nino, who stood by her side. ‘Satisfied?’

  ‘Excellent. I bet he was thrilled.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Is he still mad for your childish body?’

  ‘I expect so.’

  ‘I told you it would be easy.’

  ‘I knew it would be easy. I just didn’t want to do it.’ She threw her arms around Nino. ‘Do I have to see him?’

  ‘Only for a few weeks. It won’t be so bad. Then when it’s all over, if you still want to, we can go to your parents and tell them we want to get married. And if they don’t approve, we’ll do it anyway.’

  She hugged him. ‘I wish we could do it now.’

  He removed her arms. ‘You know that’s impossible. Listen, I have a meeting this afternoon. You had better run on home.’

  ‘Can’t I come with you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Why not? If I’m going to be a part of it, why can’t I come?’

  ‘Because they wouldn’t like it.’

  She pouted. ‘Who are they? And why wouldn’t they like it?’

  ‘How many times do I have to explain things to you? Before you can become a member of the organization, you have to have proved yourself. After all, you are not one of us.’

  ‘I should think setting up these two burglaries would have proved whose side I was on.’

  ‘I know whose side you are on, and after the kidnapping – if all goes well – you’ll be accepted. But not now – not yet. Don’t push.’

  ‘All right. But when I’m your wife they’ll have to accept me. Then I’ll be one of you.’

  He laughed bitterly. ‘Yes. Poor.’

  ‘I’ll go home now. Shall I come over after seeing Louis tomorrow?’

  Nino hurriedly said, ‘No. Certainly not. Concentrate on Louis. I don’t want to see you for a week.’

  ‘A week! Nino, that’s impossible. I couldn’t live that long without seeing you.’

  ‘In three weeks, if this is successful, you won’t have to live two minutes without me. Isn’t that worth giving up something for?’

  She sighed. ‘I suppose so…’

  He cupped her face and kissed her gently. ‘A little something to be getting on with. Well – child, I’ll see you in a week.’

  ‘If I live, and don’t call me child.’

  ‘I’ll call you woman when you have proved that you are.’

  ‘I thought I had done that.’

  ‘Maybe – we’ll see how you get on with Louis.’

  She stuck out her tongue again. ‘Pig!’

  ‘Child!’ He guided her to the door.

  ‘I’ll phone you every day,’ she said.

  ‘No. Not even that. I want all your energies to go in his direction.’

  ‘But, Nino…’

  He placed a finger on her lips and moved her gently out the door. ‘Goodbye, my love, do a good job.’

  When she was finally gone he let out a groan of relief. A whole week! It was too wonderful to contemplate. He would be free to see Talia, spend some time with her, sleep with her. A so
lid diet of Cristina was so boring. Now if it had been her mother…

  Louis was essential to the plan. As Carlos Baptista’s son he would obviously have access to places Al King would be – and access was the most important part. Unbeknown to Cristina the kidnap had been planned. Why should he tell her? Who was she but a stupid little rich girl whose mind could be manipulated by his body. And his body was going to become famous and powerful as a result of the Al King kidnap.

  He smiled. When this plan proceeded to its triumphant conclusion he would no longer have to tout his body. He would automatically become one of the leaders. He knew it would be so. Besides, his fortune had been told, and it was in the cards.

  Nino was confident that the cards never lied.

  * * *

  The week dragged by as far as Cristina was concerned. Louis, thrilled to be reinstated in her life, was happy to spend every day with her.

  They went riding in Tijuca forest twice. They took the cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain, which was a really tourist thing to do but which Louis said would be fun. They went to the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Modern Art, the Jockey Club, the Yacht Club.

  Cristina found herself mixing once more with all her old friends. How childish they all seemed to her. How unaware of what was happening in the world. All they seemed concerned with was parties, new cars, and having fun.

  The girls would group together and giggle about the boys. ‘He tried to put his hand up my shirt.’ ‘Santiago is a great kisser.’ Such silly things. Cristina could hardly believe that only months before she had been a part of this juvenile group. Oh, the things she could tell them now! How she could shock them!

  One afternoon she was cornered by Marella Bogato who insisted on telling her the gory details of the robbery her family had experienced. ‘It was so dreadful, Cristina, you just can’t imagine. They cut off the poor dog’s head – cut it off. Then they wrote terrible things all over the walls in his blood.’

  Cristina shuddered. She was sure Marella must be exaggerating. Nino and his partners in crime couldn’t possibly be that cruel. Thank God she had never allowed them to rob her house.

  ‘These people must be sick,’ Marella continued. ‘They must be animals. Mama has had a complete breakdown and we are selling the house. It’s not what they took, Cristina, it’s just the horrible feeling that their senseless violence has left.’