by Carsen Taite
“Please. A superstar like you would be able to get in to Charlie Trotter’s on a moment’s notice.” Ethan ripped open a bag and thrust it toward her. “Pretzels?”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Doll, what do you want me to say? Beloved Macy Rivers died an infamous death in your hotel suite.” He read from the Star:
“Rock ’n’ roll’s bad girl has exceeded all expectations. At least the negative ones. Again. Greer Davis, 32, whom many have compared musically to Joan Jett, served up more of a good time than at least one person could take at her latest wild-girl party. Macy Rivers, the doll of Nashville, fell prey to the lure of Davis’s wild side and suffered the ultimate consequence for submitting to Davis’s dubious charms.
“You had to expect some fallout.” Ethan tossed the copy of the tabloid to Greer, who gasped when she saw the grainy photo on the cover. Poor quality aside, it clearly showed Macy kissing her as the pair stood in the doorway of Greer’s bedroom at the Tinsley. The caption read: DEADLY LOVE AFFAIR?
Greer flung the paper to the ground. “She kissed me on the cheek. She wanted to try some coke. I didn’t want her using in front of everyone at the party, including those insidious hounds from the press.” Greer met Ethan’s gaze. “You don’t believe we were fucking, do you?”
“No, honey, I don’t. But it’s a hot story, and it’s going to be a while before the heat dies down.” He pulled her close. “Is this really the first time you’ve seen this photo? It’s all over the news.”
Greer shook her head. Doubtless, Rick had shielded her from the unintended result of his desire to bolster her reputation. Now she was forced to deal with the consequences. “I don’t know how I can recover from this.” Greer tried to keep the tremor out of her voice, but she couldn’t completely hide her fear. She was used to adoring fans, but the angry mob of unfans and hungry press waiting for her outside the Tinsley shook her to the core.
“Here’s the plan. You’ll hole up here for a couple of days. The press and related kooks will soon find another story to occupy their obsessive tendencies. After forty-eight hours with no new news, they will all have wandered off in search of another victim for their attentions, and you can return to your life.” Ethan shook the empty jar of nuts. “I have only one condition to allowing you to share my room.” Greer raised her eyebrows. “We must have room service. Now.”
Greer laughed and picked up the phone. “It’s a deal.” She placed a quick call to Rick to let him know she was safe and staying with Ethan for a couple of days, then she ordered half the room service menu to appease Ethan. She was supposed to leave for New York on Sunday for a Monday morning appearance on The View. She had no idea if Rick would let her appear or if the ladies on the show would even want her. Maybe Ethan was right; things would surely have settled down by then.
Chapter Three
Ainsley closed her laptop and sighed. Frank was sending her to Nowhereville. She knew Santa Fe was a popular vacation destination, but for crying out loud, the city had a population of only 70,000. Boonies. To top it off, the city was an hour away from the nearest airport of any size. Her morning’s worth of Internet research did little to allay her distaste for her new assignment, but she knew Frank expected her to prove herself with the task. If she could turn a small hotel in the sticks into a star of the Hotel Steel line, then she could do anything. Ainsley was up for the challenge. Looking at the wide mountain vistas pictured on the city’s Web site, she doubted there would be anything to distract her from the task. Ainsley sighed. No doubt all the women were clad in flannel and heavy boots. She was scheduled on a flight out of O’Hare the next morning, so she had the rest of the day to wrap things up at the hotel and pack. Her assistant manager would be in charge while she was away and, if she did her job right, she might never return. The corner office in New York was becoming more of a reality every day.
She was jerked from thought by the buzzing of the interoffice phone. Punching a button, she answered with a sharp “Yes?”
“Melanie Faraday on two for you, Ms. Faraday.”
Ainsley cracked a smile at the formality of the hotel operator and replied, “Thank you. Put her through.”
“Hello, little sister, how are you this fine day?”
“Hi, Mel, I’m peachy. What’s the occasion?” Ainsley spoke to her sister on birthdays, holidays, and other obligatory occasions. Her busy parents might rate a few additional calls throughout the year, but only if there were important news to relay. If Melanie initiated a call on an average day, odds were she wanted something and she wanted it bad.
“Don’t be so tiresome, dear. It’s boring.” Melanie sighed dramatically. “I’m in town on business. Let’s have dinner.”
Melanie’s career as an account executive at Goldman Sachs was her first love. Ainsley didn’t believe her sister would want to take a few hours away from her business to have dinner with a family member. Ainsley sought Melanie’s ulterior motive.
“Business, on a Saturday?”
“Look who’s talking. Didn’t you answer from your office phone?”
“Touché. Will dinner be the two of us?”
“Well, certainly us.” A few beats of silence and then, “And one of my clients.”
Ainsley could smell a rat even if it was on the other end of a phone line. “Ah, I see. You have someone you’d like me to meet.”
“Don’t act like you’re being tortured. She’s smart, beautiful, and witty. I’m certain she’ll make a fabulous dinner companion.”
Ainsley was used to being used by her family. She had no doubt Melanie had already told her client all about her younger sister and what a good time Ainsley could show said client. While her family didn’t pretend to understand what they called her “homosexual lifestyle,” they tolerated her. She was, after all, wildly successful, and to her corporate raider parents and highly successful older sister, prosperity was everything. Melanie might not have a relationship in her sights for her, but she wasn’t above using Ainsley to help her win an account. Ainsley could hear her now: “You should meet my sister, she’s a fox. Quite the catch. She manages a successful hotel. Oh, and she’s single.” Wink. Wink. Ainsley had been caught unawares on numerous occasions while Melanie was casting her like bait on the end of her line to a business deal. Not anymore. She was done luring clients for her sister.
“Well, I don’t want to.” Ainsley waited for the simple answer to sink in.
“Well, I want you to,” Melanie pouted.
“Seal the deal on your own, big sister. I’m done being your whore.”
“Language!”
Ainsley laughed out loud. “Language, my ass. You can call it whatever you want, but the truth is I’m tired of you acting like you accept who I am only when it serves your purposes. This isn’t the first account I’ve helped you land. I’ve had my fun, but it’s over. Why don’t you sleep with your smart, beautiful, witty client?” Ainsley drew a mock gasp. “Oh wait, I forgot, you don’t really approve of same-sex ‘relations.’” Ainsley spat out the last phrase as if it were a piece of rotted fruit.
“Oh my. I had no idea you were so bitter.”
“Bitter?” Ainsley considered. Was she bitter? No, she was tired of only receiving pseudo acceptance from her family when they wanted something. She got like this every so often. It would pass. It always did. She would slip back into the easy pattern of dysfunctional relations with her family, and Melanie would conveniently forget this momentary zap in the scheme of things. But right now Ainsley felt good about telling her off. For a flicker of a moment, she considered telling Melanie she couldn’t have dinner because she had to get ready for her trip. The thought flickered and burned out. Ainsley decided not to dilute her strong stand.
“No, Melanie. I’m not bitter. I am, however, busy, and I need to let you go. Have a wonderful time in Chicago and give my regards to our parents.” She clicked off the line, cutting short any argument. Moments after she hung up, she wondered why she hadn’t told
Melanie she was going out of town rather than burn bridges with her. Melanie did the best she could, considering she was an uptight bitch, and most of the “dates” she hooked Ainsley up with were well worth enduring a business dinner. Ainsley had been so busy over the last few months, she had barely had time for relaxation of any kind. As she thought about her slumbering libido, she told herself it was probably a good thing. She certainly wasn’t going to be getting any action in the desert mountains of Santa Fe.
*
Greer woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day. She had spent all day Saturday watching pay-per-view movies and eating the contents of Ethan’s minibar. After sharing coffee with Ethan, she kissed him good-bye and made her way to the lobby to catch a cab back to the Tinsley. Ethan was pouting as she left. He had another day off from the stage production and had tried to talk her into staying with him for a day of Michigan Avenue shopping. Greer was glad for the excuse to leave. She enjoyed Ethan’s company, but couldn’t handle a day of power shopping with a professional. She also couldn’t imagine how they would get any shopping done with a mob on their heels.
A bellman in the lobby greeted her by name. “Ms. Davis, I have your car. Right this way.” She was dressed in a pair of Ethan’s faded jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap from the Phantom souvenir booth, and was a bit disconcerted to be recognized. She knew Rick had made arrangements for her transportation back to the Tinsley, but it still felt odd to be approached after a full day away from the clamoring crowds.
The uniformed boy led her to a waiting sedan and she tipped him generously for his assistance. The sun was shining, but it was still early enough that the day’s humidity hadn’t choked off the draw of being outdoors. She doubted anyone on the street would guess her identity and for a moment, she contemplated walking across town, but she realized she wouldn’t make her flight if she indulged the whim. Besides, Rick would have a hissy if he found out she was on the street by herself. She slid into the waiting vehicle and told the driver to take her to the Tinsley. Greer found a copy of the Sunday paper on the seat beside her and gasped at the article on the front page, complete with the quarter-page photo. There she was, coming out the doors of Harpo Studios, oblivious to the protestors surrounding her. GREER CONFESSED TO OPRAH? the headline screamed. She wanted to scream too. Greer was so engrossed in the story, she didn’t notice the driver’s intense stare into the rearview mirror until he cleared his throat with a loud “ahem.”
“Good morning, Ms. Davis.”
“Good morning,” Greer answered, distracted by the story in her lap.
“I can help you.”
Greer responded without looking up. “Excuse me?”
“I can help you with your situation.” His voice was quiet but commanding.
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” Greer locked eyes with the man and was a bit unnerved by his impenetrable stare.
“No, but I know you. I can help you repent.” The solid clicks of the automatic door lock punctuated his remark.
Greer shook her head. Surely this wasn’t happening. The driver was a kook and she was stuck in the car with him. She decided to ignore him, hoping he would lose interest if she did. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
“No, you’re not. But you can be. All you have to do is abandon your perverted lifestyle, repent for the death of Macy Rivers, and follow The Way. I can show you how. I will take you to a safe place now.”
Holy shit. Greer realized turning the other cheek wasn’t going to buy her anything in this situation. She was trapped in a moving car with an extremist kook who thought he was transporting her to salvation. She reached into her bag, opened her cell phone, and started to dial the numbers to reach Rick. As she waited for the line to connect, she almost jumped out of her skin at the booming voice from the front seat.
“This car is plated with armor. Don’t expect to get a signal. Trust me, the only signal you need is one from Above.”
Greer bit back a comment about how cell towers were above too and at least they could be seen. Now was not the time for humor. Mr. Salvation in the front seat was hell-bent on taking her somewhere. She had to find a way out now. Greer glanced around. She knew Chicago well enough to know they were reaching the outskirts of downtown. Within moments, they would leave the more populated areas and be headed out into the suburbs. She had to act and act now. The light at the intersection ahead was green, but the two cars ahead of them were moving slowly because of tourists lingering their way through the crosswalk. The car she was in was moving, but it was only inching forward. She figured this would be her only opportunity to make a break for it. She lunged over the divider and used one hand to press the button to unlock the doors, then used the other to wrench open the door, and she launched herself from the vehicle. Momentum caused her to lose her footing, and she tumbled out of the car. Fear spurred by the driver’s shouts urged her on. She scrambled to her feet and ran the opposite way down the street. The driver, faced with a now-clear intersection, gave in to the honks of the traffic behind him and sped through. Suspicious now, Greer decided Mr. S might very well come back for her, so she zigzagged through the neighborhood, looking for shelter.
She fished her cell out of her pocket and started to dial, but a gut feeling spurred her to snap it shut and go in search of a landline. She had no idea how the crazy car driver had learned where she was staying, but until she figured it out, she was determined to cover her tracks. Greer spotted a diner on the corner and ducked in. The large Mediterranean man at the counter seemed to ignore her request to use the phone and instead spent several long moments surveying her disheveled appearance. After what seemed like forever, he thrust a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast her way and grunted, “Eat first. Phone after.” Greer resigned herself to the continuing nightmare and ate a few bites. She contemplated her next move, all the while watching the street for signs of the car she had escaped from. Finally, when she had cleared enough of her plate to satisfy the proprietor, she was allowed use of the phone.
“Ethan, I need help.”
Big yawn. “You realize it’s still very, very early, right?”
“Ethan!”
“Sorry.” Smaller yawn. “What’s up, babe?”
“I barely escaped from a Jesus freak kidnapper who thinks I perverted and then killed Macy. I’m somewhere in Greek Town. I’m scared to go back to my hotel because if he could find me at a place I wasn’t even supposed to be, then surely he can find me where I’m listed as a guest. I have a flight in two hours. I don’t know what to do.” Greer realized as the words came tumbling out she wasn’t making much sense.
“Stop talking.” No more trace of tired in his tone, Ethan seemed razor sharp. “Where are you now?”
Greer looked around, finally spotting a corner of a menu with the address. Halsted and Adams. She gave Ethan the address of the diner.
“Don’t move. I’ll be right there.”
“Hurry,” Greer said, but Ethan had already clicked off the line. She spent the next few minutes fiddling with the remainder of her breakfast while casting furtive glances at the door. After what seemed like a century, Ethan glided into the joint like he was taking the stage.
“Hi, doll. We’re going to get you fixed right up. Where’s the restroom?”
Greer was instantly annoyed. “Didn’t your mother always tell you to go before you leave the house?”
Ethan grabbed her arm and steered her toward the back of the diner. “You’re hilarious.” He waved a travel case at her. “You are about to become someone else, and I need some room to make it happen. Let’s go.” He pushed her forward.
“Wait, I need to pay.”
“You’re this stressed and you ate breakfast?”
Greer jerked her head toward the large man who had force fed-her. “He made me. Wouldn’t let me use the phone until I ate.” She looked frantically away when the man smiled in her direction.
Ethan crinkled his brow. “Interesting.” Waving the man over, he called o
ut, “Yoo-hoo, Mr. Diner Man. Do you have a private space we could use for a moment?”
Greer blushed, sure the man would misunderstand Ethan’s request. Seconds later she was surprised to find him leading them down the hall to a door marked Office. “Here is good,” he said as he left them alone. The room was small and messy. Two desks lined each wall and a tiny TV, mounted on the wall, blared the local early, early morning news show.
“He’s a man of few words. Exactly how I like them.” Ethan pushed her into a chair and dug a bright red wig, a contact lens case, and a bunch of jars and brushes from his travel case. “You, my friend, are about to become someone else altogether. You’ll board your flight and no one will be the wiser.”
Greer resigned herself to being made up again. She knew Ethan well enough to know once he made up his mind about something, no one could stop him. As she watched herself transform from a blue-eyed blonde to a brown-eyed fiery redhead, she was once again amazed at his talents. She almost laughed as she watched the transformation. If she stayed in costume, the studio folks at The View wouldn’t know where to begin when she showed up for the taping, if they even recognized her in the first place.
Greer realized they probably would recognize her, because they would be expecting her. She would be pulling up in the limo the network would send to the airport. Remembering the crowd outside the Tinsley, she wondered what else might be waiting for her in New York. Surely the devastated fans of Macy Rivers wouldn’t traverse the continent to fan the flames of tragedy? Even as she had the thought, Greer knew she was being naïve. New York would have its very own throngs ready to display their anger. She shook at the thought.
“Stay still. I’m not used to working in these conditions.” Ethan grabbed her chin and peered intently into her now-brown eyes. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, Ethan, I appreciate what you’re doing, but it isn’t going to work.” Greer took a deep breath. “First of all, how am I supposed to get on a plane when I look nothing like my ID? Nine eleven? Hello? Second, I think I may be going from the frying pan to the fire. Who’s to say what’s waiting in New York?” Even as she spoke these last words, the television echoed her concern.