by Gerald Lopez
Chapter 46
Playing Catch Up
ATTEMPTING to make sense of everything that was going on in Maynard Shores was beginning to aggravate Bart, so he took Simon’s advice and called Reese. They had a pleasant night together, and breakfast in the morning before going their separate ways. Reese had lifeguard duty, and Bart was meeting with James.
At lunchtime, Bart excused himself from going over resort business with James in order to meet Jenna. She’d called him earlier to say they needed to meet and play catch up. No other details were given, so Bart arranged to meet her for lunch.
Bart walked into the McDonald’s on the outskirts of town still dressed in his pseudo work uniform, consisting of khaki shorts, a polo shirt—green today, and Birkenstock sandals. Jenna, who was dressed in similar fashion, except she wore sneakers, was already waiting in line behind two people. She smiled when she saw Bart and motioned him over.
“Good morning, boss,” Jenna said. “Funny seeing you here.”
After placing and receiving their lunch orders, Bart followed Jenna outside, where they sat at an empty picnic table under a large shade tree. Before eating, Jenna pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“How goes it?” Bart said.
“Not good, unfortunately,” Jenna said. “Time is up.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Bart said.
“It means that the daughter of a wealthy and influential gentleman, with friends in high places, had a run-in with a chupa cocktail.”
“Is she dead?”
“No,” Jenna said. “But her father wants answers, and sooner rather than later. He’s putting pressure on some of his friends to get government agencies involved.”
“What does that mean to us?”
“That means that we need to find the ingredients used in those cocktails,” Jenna said. “Dr. Farrow had bought us some time by asking for a few days to find the ingredients herself and get the situation under control.”
“A few days—‘had bought us some time’?” Bart said. “When did she tell the government people all that stuff?”
“A few days ago,” Jenna said. “She’s only just now getting around to telling Tara and me about it.”
“Why did she wait so long?”
“She didn’t want to put any additional pressure on us,” Jenna said. “And she was hoping that by now, we would’ve found some useful information.”
Bart took a bite of his Big Mac, before responding. “Jenna, I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels in the sand out here. Everything I’ve done and every lead I’ve followed has turned up zilch, nada… absolutely nothing.”
“Don’t say that,” Jenna said. “We have to have something to work with, otherwise—”
“There’s no need to finish that statement,” Bart said. “I was hoping the Mr. Orion situation might at least bring out some of the players involved with the chupa.”
“Yes, but you’re putting all your eggs in one basket there, aren’t you? What if those aren’t the players we need?”
“Then we’re screwed,” Bart said. “There just aren’t any other leads. Unless we get lucky and find the ingredients at Rachel’s tonight. Simon and I were discussing things last night, and we came to the same conclusion about Rachel.”
“Which was?”
“That she clearly isn’t taking the same chupa cocktail mixes the others who’ve gotten sick were given,” Bart said. “At least, not in the same amount or mix—I don’t know how to say it, but she’s not taking the same thing that’s making everyone else sick.” He was getting frustrated and drank some of his Coke.
“Don’t get frustrated right now,” Jenna said. “I know this is hard for you. Not a lot of people could do what you’ve been doing here.”
“You mean sleeping around to get info and coming up empty handed.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Jenna said. “I think you have found pertinent intel. The only problem is we’re missing a major chunk of information to help it all make sense.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Bart said. “Where do we go from here? I was counting on the Mr. Orion plan to rattle some cages and get us more info.”
“And I’ve been counting on our meeting with Rachel tonight,” Jenna said.
“Do you really think you’ll find something helpful in Rachel’s place?”
“Maybe… maybe not,” Jenna said. “But Rachel’s the key, in my opinion.”
“How so?”
“All we need to find out is what ingredients are being used in that chupa cocktail,” Jenna said. “Rachel’s blood is bound to have at least some of those ingredients in it. The amounts don’t matter to us. Dr. Farrow and her team can deal with the ingredients, if they can find out what they are. Wednesday night is our firm deadline on that.”
“Why does that statement have chills running up and down my spine?” Bart said. “What exactly are we going to have to do?”
“We’re going to have to hope and pray that either we find those ingredients in Rachel’s apartment, or that she willingly gives us a blood sample, because one way or another, we must have an answer by Wednesday night.”
“She’ll never agree to it, Jenna.”
“Jeremy, there’s a target on Rachel so big that it can probably be spotted from outer space. Either we handle things and get the information we need, or the government steps in and mucks things up. We need to make this work, and not just for our sakes.”
Chapter 47
Queen of All
WHEN BART was finished with lunch, he went back to the resort and concluded his business with James. After that, he indulged himself by spending time in the steam room, where he thought about things. His mother and her team were in town. They’d gotten permission to use a mobile lab the hospital had in order to be able to analyze stuff he didn’t even want to think about… but had to. They were in the area in order to be able to analyze a blood sample quickly, while they could still find traces of the ingredients used in the chupa cocktails. Bart couldn’t afford to feel sorry for Rachel; especially now. More and more people were getting seriously ill from what Rachel was selling. Some people had died and the latest victim to pass away was only fourteen years old. The really young or the really old always had the least resistance. Any emotions he felt had to be pushed to the back of his mind for now. All that mattered was doing what had to be done. And as quickly as possible, for everyone’s sake.
IT WAS A small group at Rachel’s apartment that night. Jenna and Julia were there, along with a thin young man with wavy blond hair, who was working as a model. The model had brought his boyfriend, who could’ve been his twin, except he had a crewcut. Their friend, a quiet twenty-year-old woman with long black hair and dark eyes was also with them. Someone had made a joke, and Bart pretended to laugh along with the others, though he hadn’t heard a word that was said. Rachel jumped up when she heard a knock on the door. The hem of her ankle-length sun-dress swirled as she walked excitedly to the door and opened it.
“Now, the party can really begin!” Rachel said.
Julia shot Bart a look of concern as Rachel opened the door. Rachel ushered a short man with black hair and a mustache into the room. He carried a large brown paper bag, which Rachel took from him and placed on the table in the center of her and Julia’s living room.
“OK, show us, Jonesy… show us!” Rachel said. “My new friends here come all the way from New York, and I told them you would bring us some really unique merchandise.”
The young male model with wavy hair walked up to Rachel and stood by her side, looking eager to see what was in the brown bag. Jonesy reached into the bag and pulled out a cigar box.
“That better not be what I think it is, Jonesy,” Rachel said, grabbing the box from him. After opening the box and peeking inside, Rachel angrily threw it across the room, scattering its contents. “Marijuana cigarettes! Anybody can find those anywhere. What else have you got in that bag?
Jonesy reached into the brown bag
once more, and pulled out a clear Baggie filled with white powder. Bart looked at the male model next to Rachel, and saw his eyes light up.
“The finest Columbia has to offer,” Jonesy said, waving the Baggie in front of Rachel, who was not amused.
Rachel growled at Jonesy, and slapped the white Baggie out of his hand so hard that the ring she was wearing tore it open and sent white powder everywhere.
“Oh my God, Rachel!” Julia said. “You’ve just flung cocaine all over our apartment.”
“Are you nuts?” the male model said.
“I’m not nuts,” Rachel said. “I’m the queen of Maynard Shores, not some two-bit slutty debutante that can be satisfied with common cocaine and marijuana! I’m the queen of all,” She held the model’s chin in her hand and looked him in the eye. “I’m the queen, Bo Grant, and I’m not easily satisfied.”
“You’re a queen with an apartment that’s gonna be party central for a bunch of cockroaches and mice looking to get high off marijuana and cocaine,” Bo’s boyfriend said.
“I thought you were gonna have some of that chupa stuff here,” the girl with dark eyes said.
“Yeah,” Bo said. “Lori, Max, and I have been wanting to check out that chupa product.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place, then,” Rachel said. “We are the only supplier of chupa in the area.”
“Now you’re talkin’,” Bo said.
Jonesy turned to Rachel and shook his head.
“Why are you shaking your head like that, Jonesy?” Rachel said.
“No chupa till tomorrow,” Jonesy said.
“What!” Rachel said, then she was quiet and seemed to be lost in thought. “We’ll just share mine then. Give it here, Jonesy.”
Jonesy shook his head again.
“You don’t even have mine for me?”
“No, Miss Rachel,” Jonesy said.
“Well, what the hell do you have, then?” Rachel said. “What exactly did I pay you for besides marijuana and coke?”
Jonesy removed a clear box from the bag, and everyone leaned in to get a closer look at its contents. Inside the box was an eight inch toad with greenish-gray skin.
“Usually, I’m only the delivery man, not the supplier,” Jonesy said. “But tonight I brought you something special from my home state. Your chupa people can’t bring you this… only I can. This is the famous, or I should say infamous Bufo Alvaris toad from Arizona.”
“Are we gonna lick that thing to get high?” Bo said.
Jonesy laughed. “Only if you want to get very sick.” He placed the clear box on the table and reached into his bag once again. This time he pulled out another cigar box. “The toad was merely a gift for Miss Rachel as a way to apologize for not having any chupa. The hallucinogen has already been harvested. The safest and best way to get high off toad is to let its secretions evaporate into crystals. The crystals can then be gathered, put in a glass pipe, and smoked.” He removed a glass pipe from his bag, then opened the cigar box to reveal crystals inside. “I have another appointment… so I’ll be leaving.”
“Let me walk you to your car,” Bart said.
BART WALKED outside with Jonesy, and they talked. “Did I hear a bit of an accent in your voice there, Jonesy?” Bart said.
“I’m half Mexican. You don’t like to get high, as the others do?”
“Not off the secretions of toads,” Bart said. “I might be interested in some chupa, though.”
“It’d be safer getting high off toad,” Jonesy said, as they walked into the parking lot.
“What do you mean?” Bart said.
“I know the toad,” Jonesy said. “My father’s family owns a ranch in Arizona and these toads can be a pest in the area. We learned how to turn a liability into an asset. My father and older brother sell toad legally. Being a younger son, I learn to get by on the scraps, and making my money selling toads on the side. I know the safe way to get high off toad, because I grew up with the toad and know him well. He and I are like brothers.”
“And you don’t ‘know’ chupa,” Bart said.
“No, and neither do the people selling the chupa cocktail.” He walked up to a gray car, opened the driver’s door, then turned to Bart. “Making a chupa cocktail is like making a soup. An experienced cook can throw a variety of ingredients into a soup and make it work. An inexperienced cook can try to do the same thing, but may come up with a soup that is too salty, or has too much of one ingredient and not enough of another. With bad soup, one can suffer from indigestion, nausea, or diarrhea, but with bad chupa, the outcome is more serious.”
“Then why do it?”
“Why indeed?” Jonesy said. “Some people are concerned with the quick and easy buck without thinking of the future. I may work with those types of people, but I don’t have to like them.”
“Why work for them at all, then, Jonesy? You sound like a smart man.”
“I am a smart man. I work ‘with’ them, because they are the main game in town for now, but they won’t be for much longer. Good night. Rachel will get her chupa early tomorrow evening… if you’re still interested in trying it. But take my advice and don’t.”
“Good night, and I’ll take your advice to heart,” Bart said.
It took everything inside Bart to keep him from asking Jonesy who the people making ‘the soup’ were, but he didn’t want to make him suspicious to the point of not making the chupa delivery tomorrow. He waved good-bye to Jonesy as he drove past him, then spotted someone at the other end of the parking lot, close to the guest rooms, waving to him. Bart walked toward the figure and noticed it was Alstair. When he’d finally caught up to him, and was about to speak, Alstair merely put a finger to his mouth and beckoned Bart to follow. Without saying a word, Bart followed closely behind Alstair, until they were within view of the rose garden and its gazebo, but well hidden from the people who occupied the gazebo. Alstair patted Bart on the back and left. It took a few minutes, but Bart was finally able to make out who the two people locked in an intimate embrace inside the gazebo were: Lorena and the valet Joe. Taking his cell phone out of his pocket, Bart sent a text message to Frank, then tried to take some pictures. He wasn’t in the least bit hopeful his pictures would turn out without use of the flash, but he was hopeful that Frank would manage to get the amorous couple on film. He was done taking pictures just in time to look at a text message, that had just come in, from Jenna, and was making his way back to his apartment when he thought he heard Reese’s voice coming from down the hall. He followed the voice to the front door of the resort’s chapel. The door was cracked open, so Bart took a look inside. What he saw shocked him. Reese was standing in front of Mr. Orion, who’d just handed him a manila envelope that was full of something that looked like it could be a stack of money. A moment later, Reese kissed Mr. Orion on the cheek, and the two men embraced. Having seen more than enough, Bart walked back toward his apartment while he texted Frank. Damn! He hoped beyond hope that Frank had a camera in the chapel, so he could know what went down between Reese and Mr. Orion.
Once he was inside his apartment, Bart started pacing while he wondered if he’d been wrong to trust Reese, or if Reese was naive enough to have gotten himself into trouble yet again. He couldn’t make up his mind what he thought, so he took a shower and went to bed. Before the sun had come up, he was awakened from his sleep by someone gently touching his cheek. After opening his eyes, it took him a couple of seconds to wake up enough to tell it was Jenna next to him.
“Move over, I’ve got news,” Jenna said.
Bart moved over, and Jenna lay down next to him. “I’m glad to see you survived the toad,” Bart said.
“Yes, and thank you so much for leaving Julia and me to deal with three tripping fools.”
“You’re the one that texted me and told me to go on home,” Bart said.
“I know, but I had to get at least one dig in,” Jenna said. “And actually, Julia was more of a help than I thought she would be. Initially, I thought
she was just an airhead party girl alongside Rachel, but she’s actually more of a motherly type looking out for a lost soul.”
“Interesting, but I can’t say I’m surprised, for some reason,” Bart said. “And I was not just off having fun, I’ll have you know. I talked with our deliveryman Jonesy, and discovered he’s not happy with the people who mix the chupa cocktails. He more than implied that they don’t know what they’re doing, and compared them to bad cooks in the kitchen making soup.”
“He didn’t happen to give you the names of the ‘would be’ chefs, did he?”
“No, and I didn’t ask,” Bart said. “I didn’t want to scare him off before his scheduled chupa delivery tomorrow.”
“That was good thinking on your part,” Jenna said, yawning.
“Oh, and speaking of discoveries,” Bart said. “I saw George the valet’s wife Lorena making out with his best friend Joe. And not just that. Reese was meeting Mr. Orion in the chapel. Mr. Orion handed Reese a very full manila envelope, and they hugged it out afterward.”
“That’s a lot of stuff you witnessed,” Jenna said. “Do you have any idea how it fits in with everything else around here?”
“None, other than it felt kind of like being in a nighttime soap opera, where everyone’s screwing everyone. I’ll see what I can find out from Reese tomorrow.” He turned and looked at his clock. “I mean today. I’m guessing you didn’t find anything helpful last night in Rachel’s apartment.”
“And you’d be guessing wrong,” Jenna said.
Bart sat up. “What? You found out something that can help us, and you’ve been letting me carry on.”
“I wanted to make sure you were wide awake, before I said what I had to say,” Jenna said. “We’ve still got a ways to go, but we were somewhat successful last night.”
