If she couldn’t see Charmain Bienville, her cameraman sidekick in tow, arriving at the top of the stairs, she would leave. Trapped, she said, “Thank you, but I’m waiting for someone,” and felt lame.
“So, chère.” Dark eyes could show so little, or so much. These dark eyes were too interested. “Just because you wait for someone who isn’t here means you can’t have a drink with me?”
She faced him squarely, then looked past him to the woman at his side. “You’re both so very kind,” she said to the obvious surprise of the other. “I’ll have an orange juice, please.”
The dark-eyed man tipped his head back and laughed. The lady with him ordered the orange juice and Celina found herself, for the present, a member of a party of three. She’d make her getaway as soon as Charmain passed. At the moment the woman remained too close to the head of the stairway.
The orange juice arrived and Celina thanked her newfound “friends.’’
“I’m Mavis,” the woman said. “This is Hector, him.”
Musicians wandered onto a stage that separated the lounge from the gambling floor and began testing mikes before soothing their way into a gentle Dixieland number Celina didn’t recognize.
“You like Dixieland, you?” Mavis asked.
“A lot,” Celina told her, and laughed. “Probably because my parents don’t.”
This brought laughter. Celina decided that Mavis had enjoyed the rebuff Hector had received, pleasant as it had been. “Oh, my God! It’s Miss Louisiana herself! Celina.”
Celina slowly raised her eyes—and met Charmain’s in the mirror.
All conversation faded.
“Well, look at you, Celina Payne.” Charmain, resplendent in a short red-sequined dress, her white cap of hair spiked, rushed toward Celina with outstretched arms. “You are such an enigma, darling. You can’t resist doing the unexpected, can you?”
Celina braced herself and swung the seat of her stool around. Both Hector and Mavis did likewise, as did the couple on the other side. Mavis leaned over and said, “You’re Miss Louisiana?”
“I told you I had good taste, chère,” Hector said.
The photographer’s camera flashed, flashed again, and again. Celina felt angry and helpless.
Charmain embraced her at arms length and came in a little closer to land a peck on her cheek.
Celina said, “I haven’t been Miss Louisiana for some years, Charmain.”
“Oh, you’ll always be Miss Louisiana to me, darlin’. This is perfect. I called your place today and spoke to some man with a dark-honey-and-gravel voice. Οοοh!” She winked at Mavis. “He said you were otherwise occupied. And I thought, I’ll just bet she is. Who was that man?”
“My brother,” Celina said shortly, bringing another gust of laughter from a rapt audience.
A sly light entered Charmain’s fascinating eyes. “Is that who that was? Now, there’s an interesting story, I’m sure. The beauty queen whose brother became a priest. The priest from the society family. Why, one wonders?”
If Charmain’s design was to pry Celina from the stool, she got her way. Celina stood up and made purposefully for the stairs. She paused to call back a thank-you to Hector and Mavis, and gave the reporter the instant she needed to slip a hand beneath Celina’s arm and make it impossible for her to escape without making a scene.
“I just know there are people who come here who wouldn’t want the world to know it,” Charmain said, leaning close to Celina and whispering as if they were friends sharing confidences. “These places are only supposed to be the playgrounds of the wanna-be movers. I’ve meant to come and take a look for ages. I think a lot of money changes hands here, and wanna-be movers don’t have that kind of money.”
Celina made a polite noise. She didn’t ask which category she’d been judged to belong to, the wanna-be’s, or the real movers.
“Let’s sit over there.” Without waiting for a response, Charmain half dragged her captive to a table in the lounge. “Why don’t we have a bottle of champagne? Just to celebrate? Get lost for now,” she told the photographer, who obliged.
“What would we be celebrating?”
Α momentary blank look smoothed Charmain’s face, then she said, “Why, you and me getting together at last, of course.” She signaled for a server.
“No champagne for me, thanks,” Celina said.
Charmain ordered a bottle of Dom Pérignon anyway and whipped out a small notebook and a gold pen from an enameled evening purse molded like a scarlet apple with bright green leaves. Charmain lifted the purse, said, “Judith Lieber, isn’t she the end?” and stroked the hard, shiny surface.
“I need to get home,” Celina said. “I’ve already been gone longer than I should have been.”
“Oh, nonsense. You’re a big girl. Don’t tell me that lovely brother of yours imposes a curfew when he’s in town—even if he is a priest. I want to talk to you about poor Errol.”
“I thought you were here looking for celebrity sinners.”
Charmain batted her arm playfully. “I am, darling. But then I saw you and you are much more interesting. Why did you say you were here?”
“I didn’t.”
“Oh, dear, you think I’m being pushy. I’m not, Celina, I just find you engrossing, and I always have. You’re such a dichotomy. The kind of woman every man drools over—that’s on the outside—but so quiet and thoughtful. Still waters run deep? Isn’t that what they say?”
“Whoever ‘they’ are,” Celina agreed. Coming here had been one of her poorer inspirations.
“So talk to me about yourself. What turns you on? Who turns you on? Did Errol Petrie turn you on?”
Celina made a move to get up, but Charmain caught her hand. “Forgive me. I’m a reporter and I’ve been a reporter for too long, I suppose. Too long for a gentle thing like you. Sit down again, please.”
She did sit, but only because people were looking their way again.
“You don’t even know what an enigma you are, do you?” Charmain asked. `You move about as if you weren’t anyone at all.”
“Ι’m who Ι am, and that’s not very interesting. I don’t believe I can help you with a story, and that should mean you’ll be perfectly happy for me to go home.”
“Au contraire, darling.” Charmain didn’t release Celina’s hand. “ I know you’re interesting. And it’s only a matter of time before I find out where all the little pieces of you come together for me. The woman who looks like a movie star. Who worked for a charity. Who has parents who are a joke. A whining barracuda mother, a lush for a father.”
Celina’s mouth felt like a desert. Her heart thumped. She pulled against the woman’s strong, thin fingers.
“Settle down. I’m going to have my say. Whatever you think of me, I’m fair. You play ball with me and I’ll play ball with you. Make sure I get first shot at this story—and there is a story—and I’ll make sure you don’t come out covered with shit.”
“Don’t,” Celina said.
“Oh, no, of course I mustn’t shock your delicate sensibilities. Why did your brother run away to a seminary?”
“My brother had a calling. He didn’t run away.”
“Were you sleeping with Errol Petrie?”
“No. Νο.”
“Intelligence says you were. After all, he was a handsome man with a reputation for having quite an appetite.” She held up her free hand. “Don’t argue. I’ve got a long memory, and Ι remember everything I read anyway. Maybe I won’t have to use some things. That could depend on you. What about the night he died? What happened? All the sex stuff.”
How could that kind of information have been leaked? Or known at all. Celina composed her features into a semblance of empty confusion. Only she and Jack knew exactly how Errol had been found.
“Did he always like to be tied down?” Charmain chuckled. “How prosaic that’s starting to sound. Do you like to be tied down? They say it’s the quiet ones who gravitate to the kinky stuff.”
&nbs
p; “I don’t have any idea where all this is coming from,” Celina said while her heart pumped even faster. She must be cautious not to get overstressed or she’d become ill again. The prospect of not being in control here panicked her. “Errol was found on his bathroom floor. I don’t mind telling you that, because it’s public record.”
“But there were skin burns on his wrists and ankles. From some sort of fabric, they think.”
“Who are these—they? Who are the people you say are telling you things?”
“The marks on his penis were different.”
Celina fell back in her chair and jerked her hand free. “Go away.”
“Oh, I do believe I hit a nerve at last.” Fishing a gold case from her purse, Charmain lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. “You do see why you should talk to me, don’t you? There’s no power like the power of the press, sweets. And I didn’t get on top because I’ve got tender skin. You can either give me what I want and I’ll be kind to you, or I won’t be kind to you.”
“Go away.”
“You’re repeating yourself. Why did you come here tonight? To see Jack Charbonnet?”
What could she say? Celina got a faceful of cigarette smoke, and her stomach turned.
“That’s right, Charmain. Celina’s here to see me. To meet me, actually. Errol and I were partners in Dreams. Now he’s gone and we intend to make sure his work keeps right on going. I need Celina’s help with that. If there’s anything else you want to know, give me a call sometime.”
Celina stared up at Jack and decided that she had never been more pleased to see anyone. Relief made her tingle.
“Hello, Jack,” Charmain sang out, unfazed. “Both of you at once. I must be living right. Sit yourself down.”
“It’s late,” Jack said. “Celina doesn’t need any beauty sleep, but she might prefer to get home before dawn, and we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“Where is that Dom Pérignon I ordered?” Stretching her neck, Charmain peered toward the bar with a crease between her brows. “You need better help here, Jack love.”
Jack looked around, smiled, and said, “You seem to be the only one who thinks so. You wouldn’t believe what a good time people have here. They throw money at me to prove just how much, and all but bury me in the lovely stuff. How are you doing, Celina? Sorry I got held up.”
“It’s okay. Some nice people bought me some orange juice.” She could tell he saw the humor in her eyes. “I’ve been very entertained. I’m a sheltered girl. and a look at the sinful side of life fascinates me.”
“Good, good,” he told her. “I’m glad you find my orange juice sinful. Ι have those figures you need for tomorrow. Why don’t we go to my office.”
“What figures?” Charmain asked baldly. “Jack, do you have any idea what caused the marks on Errol’s penis?”
For once Jack Charbonnet wasn’t quite collected enough not to show surprise.
“They know the ones on his wrists and ankles were probably from fabric bonds. But evidently they’re still working on his genitalia.”
Jack winced a little and said, “Thanks for sharing that with me.”
“You’re welcome. Is that man waiting for you?”
Celina looked at the man Charmain pointed out but didn’t recognize him.
“What man?” Jack said.
“If I remember rightly, his name is Sonny Clete and he’s Win Giavanelli’s underboss.”
“Sonny?” Jack said, sounding amazed, and looking closer at the paunchy red-haired man who leaned on the bar smoking, and staring their way. “Of course it’s Sonny. What would he be doing visitin’ here? He doesn’t even like me. Sonny, over here.”
“You aren’t even going to pretend you’re not on first-name terms with members of the mob?”
“Mob?” Jack snorted. “I don’t think Sonny would appreciate you makin’ that kind of connection. Hey, Sonny, welcome to my humble boat.”
Sonny Clete dragged his feet on the way to the table. He didn’t look particularly pleased to be hailed in a crowded area. He glanced around, his hand spread over his tie. “Thanks,” he said. “Just stoppin’ by to drop some bucks at the tables.”
“That’s great,” Jack said, standing up. He motioned to Celina to join him. “Meet Charmain Bienville. She surely wants to meet you.”
Sonny regarded Charmain with frank interest, and she looked back with her reporter’s alert eyes.
“Sit down, Sonny, sit down. Hey”—Jack snapped his fingers—”get that champagne over here for my friends, Lem.”
The bartender gave him a high sign and picked up the bucket and glasses he’d already placed on the counter for their server.
Sonny sat beside Charmain, who no longer appeared as fascinated. Edgy would be a more accurate description of her body language.
“Where you goin’, Jack,” Sonny said when Jack took Celina’s hand. “I come for that chat we been goin’ to have.”
Jack sighed. “What can I tell you, Sonny? There’s nothing I’d like to do more than speak with you. It’s been too long. Far too long. But I’ve got to get my friend here home. She works for me, and I like my people bright-eyed in the mornin’.”
“But you—”
“Soon. We’ll talk soon. Talk to Charmain. She’s one of the most entertainin’ women I know. Ask her anything—she’ll tell you what you want to know.”
“I talked to Win. He complained about one or two things. That’s what we need to discuss.”
“Win?” Jack laughed loudly. “Oh, Win doesn’t change. He’d complain if they used a new rope to hang him.”
“He wouldn’t consider that humorous,” Sonny said, his doughy face a study in serious disapproval.
“It’s not,” Jack said. “It certainly is not. Charmain, tell Sonny some of the interesting things you know about bondage. Don’t miss out on the penis stuff.”
Celina managed to keep her mouth closed at Jack’s diversionary tactics. She barely managed to keep her feet on the ground when he took off across the deck, gripping her hand so tightly her fingers were pinched together.
He led her from the enclosed area to the deck outside, and hurried her aft. A door with a single curtained porthole led to a small unfurnished room that became utterly silent once the door was closed again. Jack didn’t pause there, but carried on through another door to large quarters that were evidently office and living areas in one combined space. Again he closed the door.
The next instant he dropped her hand and pushed back his dark dinner jacket. With his fists on his slim hips, he regarded her with an expression she couldn’t read.
“I called your home,” she told him. “You gave me your card the other night.”
He waited.
“Tilly said you were out. I had a hunch you might be here, so I came.”
“Sounds plausible.”
“I don’t tell lies. At least, I don’t tell lies that don’t have to be told.”
“I didn’t think any lies had to be told.”
A vestige of the unpleasant exhausted feeling began to seep into Celina’s body. “My brother would agree with you. You’d make him very proud.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“It doesn’t suit anyone.” She considered sitting on his comfortable-looking burgundy-colored couch, but instinctively knew he wouldn’t welcome any move toward relaxing the atmosphere. “You were very kind to me when I got sick. Thank you for that. I know you don’t like me, but you’re a good person—a generous person. I’m still smarting from thinking about embarrassing myself in front of you.”
“Don’t. It was nothing. I’d have done the same for anyone.”
“Thanks.” She had no right to be hurt, nor should she be hurt. “Thanks anyway. You nurse with flair.”
He bowed slightly without taking his eyes from her.
“I understand you were with Cyrus and Dwayne when the doctor left me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Cyrus told me you’re aware that I�
�m pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“That isn’t something I’m ready to have discussed at this point.”
Why?”
“I have my reasons. And I’ve got a right to those reasons. My private business is my own.”
“If that’s the case, I suggest you avoid talking to Charmain Bienville.”
“I didn’t talk to her, I—” He was baiting her. “That would be good advice if 1 had any intention of saying one important word to the woman.”
“When are you having the abortion?”
Celina heard her own small cry of shock. She turned and ran—but didn’t get far. Jack stopped her—carefully but quite effectively, by wrapping an arm around her middle.
She made no attempt to struggle against him. “Let me go.”
“No way. I want you to sit down.”
“You can’t always have what you want. I’m not yours to command.”
“Sit down, please.”
“I came to ask—”
Very neatly he caught hold of her waist, lifted, and deposited her on the couch she’d admired. “I know you like to be in control,” he told her. “You made that clear the other night, but evidently you aren’t always in control. Rather like my not always being able to have what I want. Annoying, but a fact of life. Is it Errol’s child?”
The nightmare went on and on. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. Are you carrying Errol’s baby?”
She should have expected him to think of that, but still the idea caught her by surprise. “What if it is Errol’s baby? What does it matter to you?” She’d just told him how much she disliked lies, but suddenly she knew she was going to tell one, to live one.
“I intend to make sure a good man who happens to be dead doesn’t get maligned any more than I can help. That means I don’t want him accused of fathering a child by a woman he wasn’t prepared to marry.”
“How do you know what he was and wasn’t prepared to do?”
“Don’t play around with me,” he snapped. “Errol would never have married again. He swore to that after the mess at the end of his first marriage.”
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