Pierre thought to himself, “I will really have to concentrate and stay focused hard if I am going to come on to that fat pig Garcia when there is so much good looking trim here. I really must get back to the US as a psychiatrist. Fucking loose ends. I should have taken care of that long ago. What the shit am I doing? I have a ton of money from the money I ripped off from David.
“What an idiot he was. I killed his wife and took almost two million in cash and he never had a clue. I guess once I am in the US again as Dr. Pierre I will be able to settle down and then finish those loose ends; Evon, Michelle and Sherine. To get ahead in this world you have to be able to adapt. That is what I was told and it is so true.”
A few minutes later Pierre saw Garcia walk into the bar. He saw the waitress walk up to him and say something to him. Then she pointed to where Pierre was sitting in the back of the bar.
Garcia saw Pierre and waved. As he walked toward him, he smiled. “Hello Pierre, I mean, the renowned Dr. Pierre! How are you?” He was certainly in a jolly mood. “I’m all cleaned up now and I feel so much better. It is so hot and sticky here.” As he pulled out a chair, he questioned with his eyes if he was invited to sit. “I have been thinking about you and I am so glad to see you again.”
Pierre had watched Garcia sashay over. He thought, “Man, this guy is as gay as Truman Capote at a gay pride parade or I am not a psychopathic killer.” Pierre stood up and shook Garcia’s hand. He pulled him toward him and gave him a hug, making sure it was a full body hug. He subtly ground his genitals in Garcia’s willing pelvis.
Garcia was a little surprised but definitely did not attempt to back off. Pierre thought, “He just passed the first test.” As they separated, Pierre said, “I am so glad to see you. I don’t know anyone here and I was really hoping to have a drink or two with you, … or three or four,” he winked. “Please sit.”
Garcia smiled broadly and said, “Well good, that sounds fine!”
Pierre captivated Garcia with his eyes. It worked on his women, so why not this asshole? “Dr. Garcia, I, uh, have been … , well, I mean, you are intriguing to me and I don’t want to sound forward but do you think we could … Ah, forget it. Let’s have a few drinks now and learn some new medical techniques tomorrow.”
Garcia read between the lines, but not without some confusion. He did not overestimate his appeal so having a good looking guy like Dr. Pierre come on to him was new. He felt a familiar tingle of excitement course through his groin though, so he managed to calmly say, “Dr. Pierre, I enjoyed your company very much today. With a big grin he continued, “and, I especially enjoyed the greeting you just gave me.”
Pierre leaned over the table and whispered in Garcia’s ear. “Dr. Garcia, you are like a winning lottery ticket to me. I came here to learn new techniques and I was fortunate enough to meet you. It is such a momentous moment in my life. You are the champion in your area and I have the privilege of sitting here at the same table with you. I am in awe.” He rested a hand on Garcia’s knee.
Garcia smiled and ate it up like a red-headed stepchild. He told Pierre, “you are too kind, but I am just a director at a hospital and nothing more.”
Pierre shook his head at Garcia. He kicked off a shoe and gently rubbed his foot on Garcia’s lower leg. “I think you are more than a director, I think you are my mentor.”
Garcia shivered at the sensation. He smiled, completely taken in, “Dr. Pierre, I think you and I need to have all those drinks you were talking about and that we may be a little late for class tomorrow. He turned and waved at the waitress.
42
Later that evening, after a ton of drinks, Garcia told Pierre that he needed to retire to his room. Pierre acted a little disappointed but acknowledged that it is probably best because tomorrow would be a busy day.
As Garcia walked off Pierre decided he would go to the midnight banquet he was invited to. He walked a little tipsily over to the banquet hall. He’d been very conscious of his drinking and had allowed Garcia to out-pace him at least two to one, but he still felt a little befuddled and he didn’t like it. Some food would help and he chastised himself for not eating beforehand.
It was a small banquet. There were two long tables of food though. About twenty or so doctors were sitting around at tables set up on the lawn. Snatches of English, French, Spanish and a couple other languages colored the air. They were enjoying the cooling breeze and chatting amiable. Pierre nodded at them as he passed and quickly filled a plate with rice and beans. He scooped a small piece of something in a brownish sauce that he hoped was beef, and then nibbled a piece. “Ugh, think that’s got enough fucking salt in it?” he thought disgustedly. He looked around and then threw the rest of the meat back into the serving dish. Scooping up a couple of chunks of fresh pineapple mixed with papaya and mango, he added some sliced cheeses and then turned and left.
He carried his plate around a huge hibiscus bush figuring he would see if he could hustle the Brugal girl he’d met when he first arrived, but the booth was closed. She was nowhere to be seen. He shook his head but turned on his heel and walked back across the little muddy street to his hotel, the Casa Del Mar Mundo. He entered the hotel grounds under a small wisteria arch and his feet crunched lightly on the course white gravel of the foot path. He was thinking he might see the receptionist he had seen there when he first came to the hotel.
As he walked up to the little office, he heard a small voice on his left whispering and giggling “oh doctor, oh doctor”. The voice was coming from near the entrance to the little restaurant.
Pierre stopped for a split second and smiled. “Ha, she wants me; I knew it! I‘m going to get this bitch,” he thought. He did his best matador pirouette and made a deep bow, only to see her talking to another doctor. They hadn’t even seen him. He took a step towards them; pissed off and embarrassed. Then he stopped. He took a deep breath and slowly shook his head, hands on his hips. He turned and stomped back across the street toward the bar in the convention hotel, not even thinking about all the puddles.
In the bar he sat in his back corner table again so he could see the doctors coming and going. He was mumbling to himself, “that bitch … no one humiliates me … I swear I will slap her face off.”
As Pierre mumbled he heard a voice from the dark table just to his right say, “They all need to be bitch-slapped sometimes.” Pierre sat up with a bolt and whipped his head around. The guy was sitting back from the table, but he leaned forward into the light of the candle and Pierre saw a tall slim guy smiling back at him. The guy winked at him, then turned and waved, trying to get the attention of the bartender who expertly ignored him. “Damn,” he chuckled. “For a friendly country, these people sure don’t know anything about good service!”
Pierre said, “What the hell did you just say to me?”
Frank turned and looked directly into Pierre’s eyes and said, “Hey, I was agreeing with you, that’s all. They all need to be bitched slapped at times. I am sure she needed it. Relax, buddy, I’m on your side.” He held up both hands and made a calm-down motion.
Frank looked at Pierre and said again, “Look buddy, they all need it, right? That’s what you said just a minute ago. It is just something they all need. They like it too, you know? They like a big strong guy and when you beat them you get their respect.”
“Holy shit,” Pierre grinned, “You get it, don’t you? You know what I am saying.”
“Sure do.” Frank leaned over and said conspiratorially, “I like it when they scream and give you more reason to beat them. I love the feeling of the power over them. You know? Like, I love what they have … like in Iraq or in one of those sand nigger countries. Fucking cunts know their place over there.”
Pierre’s eyes lit up. He cracked a big smile and said, “Man, let me buy you a drink, buddy. Finally a smart person. Women are here for one reason and only one reason … to satisfy us and … well maybe there are two reasons; to satisfy us and then to satisfy us again. And if you get to punch them aro
und some, well, that is a bonus. Know what I mean buddy.”
Frank smiled hugely and said, “I told you, man, I definitely dig it.” He paused and leaned in closer, “I hear ya man. That is the problem with this world, fuck’n bitches! They want to run everything now and think they can do as they want. Well, when I get a mouthy bitch with me, I can tell you that she learns real quickly.”
Pierre said, “So tell me buddy, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, I’m here to sell drugs,” he smiled and sat back for a second, looking at Pierre with hooded eyes. He waited a beat to see the reaction and then continued with a chuckle. “I’m a drug rep.”
Pierre laughed and said, “oh, … got ya. Ya had me going there. I was thinking, you know, ‘drugs’...”
“I know,” Frank grinned, “I like to see the reactions I get when I tell people that.”
Pierre looked Frank over and said, “I’m here with the convention. I am a psychiatrist … you know I treat people that are nuts.” This time it was his turn to grin.
Frank smiled and said, “I heard you have to be nuts to be a psychiatrist.”
“I guess that would help,” Dr. Pierre chuckled.
Pierre’s phone vibrated and he stood up. He gave Frank a ‘just-one-moment’ finger and walked out toward the hall.
Frank waited a moment and pulled out his cell and hit a speed dial number. He watched the door as David answered. “David? … yes it is him. … yes I am sure, it’s definitely him. I am in a bar having drinks with him right now. Can you believe it?” Frank was excited to be so close finally to his prey.”I know it is him. … Yes, Okay. I understand. … Ok, forget the Dominican contacts. When? … Tonight? How?”
He paused for twenty seconds or so as he listened to David’s instructions, “OK, good idea. … No, David, no way! I won’t underestimate him. But he ain’t that fucking smart … look how easily I found him! … Ok, I’ll be careful! I’ll have his balls by morning. Thanks David. Thank you so much. And about that bonus. … Ok! I know! Get the job done first. Ok, he is as good as dead. ... Ok, I will call.” Frank clicked to end the call. He smiled and thought, “Wow, my first kill. This will be a night I will never forget.”
Frank stood and walked over to the bar to ask the bartender where the bathrooms were. The bartender pointed in the direction that Pierre had gone. Frank saw Pierre pacing the hallway in an obviously agitated state; turning every few feet. Frank caught up with him. He smiled and nodded as he continued toward the baths. He heard a little of Pierre’s conversation but couldn’t make too much of it. He slowed and bent down nearby pretending to adjust his shoes.
“Oh yes,” Frank heard, “Yes, I do, Yes I want to very much … Ok I will call you tomorrow … I know … It won’t be long. Tell me again how long does it take before I can work? … Yes, I know … Great, got it … Merritt Island Hospital …Yes, that will be fun!”
At that moment Pierre turned quickly and almost tripped over Frank. Pierre’s face flushed and he said, “What the hell are you doing there?”
Frank said, “The bathrooms; … any idea where?”
Pierre pointed down the hallway and continued to talk on the phone. He watched Frank open the door to the bathroom. The light coming from inside silhouetted him in the door frame. There was something about him he didn’t like, but he turned back to the phone at his ear and said quickly, “Yes I can hear you Doctor … the Hospital in Orlando. Ok, fine … call me tomorrow.”
Frank came back out of the bathroom. He saw Pierre still talking on his phone and he stopped. He posed a polite stance as if waiting patiently to apologize to Pierre for almost tripping him. Pierre hung up and slid his phone in his pocket. He looked at Frank and said, “What the hell do you want?”
Frank leaned back and said, “Oh, chill buddy, I felt I needed to apologize for almost tripping you.”
“Oh; … ok”.
“Hey, how about a drink? The night is still young!”
Pierre held out his arm and with a small bow said, “After you my friend.”
Frank hesitated for just a second, “Hey, I’ll join you in just a second; I want to get some cigarettes.”
Pierre sat back down. Immediately the waitress that he’d given the ten dollars to stopped in front of him. She asked, “How well do you know that man you were talking with?”
“Not well at all, I just met him, why?” He swallowed a burp of acidy trepidation and had the eerie feeling of a black shadow passing over him.
“I overheard him talking on his cell when you left and it sounded to me like he wanted to hurt you.”
“Hurt me? I just met him,” but his survival instinct was immediately on red alert.
“I’m sorry, I am probably crazy and I am not sure, but you seem nice. You need to be careful here. Life is cheap here.”
Pierre pulled out his money clip and handed her a hundred dollar bill. He didn’t have to insist too hard. “Thank you baby. Do me a favor; keep your ears open for me will ya?”
Pierre was a little surprised but not shocked. “Hurt me? Why that dirty cock sucker! H-m-m, maybe I have more loose ends than I thought.”
Frank returned and sat next to Pierre. They ordered another drink from the waitress. Pierre looked at Frank and asked him where exactly he is from. “I’m from Miami.” He answered readily.
“Really? Where in Miami?”
Pierre asked him a few more questions about the Miami area.
Frank evaded some answers by saying he had not lived there very long. Pierre decided that the waitress was correct. Frank didn’t know anything about Miami.
He asked if he ever traveled to Central Florida and Frank said that he had. Pierre was sure then that he was sent there by David. But how did David know about him and how did he know he was in Las Terrenas? “I’ve got to be more careful in the future,” he said to himself. “
Wow! They tracked me down though, I gotta give them that,” he thought almost admirably, “And it’s got to be about Marilyn … Marilyn and two million bucks that is. Fuck, I should have known they wouldn’t let that drop too easily!” He stirred the dark liquid in his glass and made a decision.
43
Joe was seated in the conference room at his law office. He shared the long mahogany table with his head partner and long time friend Dan.
Dan greeted him warmly. “Joe, we’re lucky that you are in the office at all these days; let alone on time. What’s going on, what’s on your mind?” He hesitated a second as Joe took his seat. “You definitely seem to have something going on. I’ve never seen you like this.” The senior partner said this as he reached for the bottle of Tums that were never too far from his grasp. His short dark hair was hardly flecked with any trace of white, but his neatly trimmed Van Dyke beard added a silvery patch on his chin. This gave a somewhat angular look to jowls that were just beginning to sag.
Joe settled in and with a surprised look said, “What? Oh, yes, I have been occupied some I guess. You know; new life, new marriage; and lots of stuff going on. But it is basically Sherine … she seems so different and I cannot decide if I like it or not.”
“What do you mean?” Dan asked. He burped softly and got a sour look on his face.
“Well I mean, she is not at all like I thought. It’s not a big deal, but it is confusing.”
Dan looked at Joe as he poured two fat Tums in his hand and said, “What do you mean she is not like you thought?” He quickly tossed the pastel colored tablets in his mouth and started chewing gratefully.
“Jesus Dan, I, uh, I don’t really know. I should not be saying anything, but … can I tell you something without you telling anyone else?”
“Come on Joe, how long have you and I been partners? … Friends?”
“Oh I know Dan … over fifteen years, or more?”
“Come on then Joe, talk to me. I see you are preoccupied and it’s not good. It’s not good for you and it is not good for our firm. Talk to me Joe.” He pushed back some papers and leaned forward on the polis
hed table. He nodded his head indicating Joe had his full attention.
“Ok, Dan, are you sitting down?” He gave Dan a sheepish look. “The other night when I got home, I walked in and Sherine was blasted. I mean messed up beyond what I have ever seen her and beyond what I have seen anyone in years, like… since I was in school. I tried to talk to her and it was a waste of time. And then,” he looked around nervously, “you won’t believe it, but she led me upstairs and there in bed was her sister and I don’t remember if you have ever seen her sister, but she is as beautiful as Sherine. She was as naked as the day she was born Dan!”
Dan looked at Joe, his eyes wide as dinner plates. Joe really had his attention now. He shook his head and said, “Wow! You’re kidding, really?!”
“Yeah!” Joe nodded unequivocally, “She had her sister upstairs in bed!”…
“Christ, was she wasted too?” His mind was running with it, envisioning the heady potential of it as he shakily poured water from a silver pitcher.
“Yea and nude; … and staring at me with these come fuck me eyes; … and smiling and pulling me toward her.” As he thought back over it, he squirmed in his big leather chair, swiveling it back and forth and tapping his toe.
My My Little Prince Page 33