by Sandra Brown
with a stick. So your sister asked me to bring you here, where you can
get dressed in peace and quiet."
"That seems an odd thing for Remy to do, especially when it's been more
than a week since I've seen her. Maybe I should call her."
Bardo sensed her wariness as he led her down the breezeway of the motel
toward the room in which he was already registered. He'd thought about
reserving a room in a swank hotel but changed his mind. Why waste the
money on amenities like room service and scented soap when the outcome
of this afternoon was a foregone conclusion?
Besides, if Flarra created a ruckus, it was more likely to be ignored in
a place where, with no questions asked, you could sign in as Mickey
Mouse so long as you paid cash in advance.
Hoping to allay her apprehension at least until he got her inside the
room, he sighed."I wasn't supposed to tell you, but you leave me no
choice."
"Tell me what?"
"They're planning a big surprise for you. Something real special.
"That's why they told me to keep you away from the house till
they're ready."
"Really?" she squealed, flashing him a thousand-watt smile
"What could
it be, I wonder."
"I know, but I'm sworn to secrecy."
"Give me a hint. Please, Mr. Bardo?"
"Nothing doing. Both the boss and Mrs. Duvall would skin me alive if I
gave away their surprise. I've told you too much already. You've got to
promise to act surprised."
"I promise."
He unlocked the door of the room and ushered her inside. The box
containing her costume was tucked under his arm. Leave it to Pinkie not
to overlook a single detail. As soon as they got to the car, Flarra had
lifted the top of the box and taken a peek inside, but had refrained
from tearing off the lid and plowing through the tissue paper. When he
asked what she was waiting for, she had told him she wanted to savor the
anticipation.
But as soon as they were inside the room, she grabbed the box and set it
on the bed."I can't wait any longer!" She tossed the lid aside and
separated the folds of pastel tissue, then a long, rapturous "ahhhh"
escaped her as she gazed down at the shimmery, sheer fabric studded with
sparkling stones and colored crystals. She even folded her hands beneath
her chin like a little girl saying grace at suppertime.
"It's almost too beautiful to touch. What is it?"
"Take it out and see."
She lifted the two garments from the box as though handling holy relics,
although there was certainly nothing sacred about the costume.
The brassiere was two stone-studded, glittering cones held together by
flesh-colored strings. The bottom half was a pair of harem pants with a
similarly jeweled bikini. The legs were sheer and banded at the ankles
with rows of stones. Also in the box were a pillbox hat with veil
attached, and a pair of gold leather slippers with bells on the toes.
Her reaction was a wide-eyed mix of delight and dubiety."Are you sure
this is for me? Maybe you picked up the wrong box."
"Don't you like it?"
"Oh, yes. Very much. It's gorgeous," she said in a gush of breath.
"It's just sort of skimpy."
"You think so? Why don't you try it on? Then if you don't like it,
you'll have time to exchange it for something else." He looked her up
and down critically, drawing his brows into a steep frown.
"You know, you may be right. It does seem a little too risque for a girl
your age."
The reverse psychology worked like bra-ca-fucking-dabra. Nose in the
air, she snatched up the costume and headed for the bathroom, closing
the door firmly behind her and locking it. Bardo chuckled. Women were so
damned predictable, was it any wonder men had to invent new ways to
amuse themselves with them. Old, young, beautiful, ugly, skinny, fat,
white, black, or any other color, what woman, having been insulted, even
mildly, wouldn't want to prove him wrong? Now Flarra couldn't wait to
show him how mature and sophisticated and daring she was.
He drew the drapes on the window and checked to see that the door was
latched and the chain lock secure. Then he sat down on the edge of the
bed to wait and to savor his own anticipation.
But when she didn't reappear after a full ten minutes, his patience
began to wear thin."Flarra? Need any help? Is everything all right?"
"No. I mean, no I don't need any help. And, yes, everything's all right.
I guess."
"Doesn't it fit?"
"Hmm."
"Well, let's see it."
After a few moments' hesitation, the bathroom door opened. Bardo's gut
clenched with expectancy, but even a connoisseur of women like him
wasn't prepared for the living fantasy that stepped across the threshold
in slippers that jingled when she moved. The veil covering her nose and
mouth only emphasized the charming modesty with which she gazed back at
him. Her breasts were barely contained within the small cups of the bra.
"I don't think my sister realized how brief it is," she said,
selfconsciously moving her hand down her exposed belly. One less sequin
and he could have seen pubic hair." Do you think it's okay?"
"Oh, yeah." It seemed his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth.
"I think you look great."
"Honest?"
He stood and walked toward her."Honest. In fact, you look good enough to
eat."
His smile must not have been very trustworthy because she laughed
nervously and took a step backward."Thanks." She turned away."I think
I'll change back into my clothes until it's time to dress for the
party."
He caught her hand and brought her back around."It's time, sweetheart.
This is the party."
He ripped off the hat and veil, then stamped his mouth over her lips,
which had parted with alarm. Pushing his tongue into her mouth, he
curved his arm around her bare waist and pulled her against him,
grinding his pelvis into hers. She struggled, which only tantalized him.
She even struck his face, which provided him an excuse to hold her
tighter and to wrestle with her until he had her arm behind her and
pressed up between her shoulder blades.
"What are you doing? Stop!" she cried."That hurts."
Lowering his head, he bit her breast where it swelled out of the bra
cup. She screamed.
"Shut up." He squeezed her jaw painfully between his fingers and thumb.
"You do that again, and I really will hurt you, understand?" She began
to cry, and her tears only intensified his lust. He loved it when they
cried either out of fear or pain.
"If you hurt me, Pinkie will kill you."
He laughed."Yeah, sure he will, sweetheart."
"What are you going to do?"
"Now what do you think?" he purred, sliding his hand between her thighs
and squeezing.
She shuddered in what he knew to be revulsion. To him, it was as good as
a shiver of ecstasy.
"Th-they know you have me," she stammered."They'll come looking for me."
"Haven't you caught on yet, honey? Your brother-in-law ar
ranged this
little party."
"You're lying. Pinkie would never "
"But he has. You'll have him to thank for all the fun we're going to
have together."
"My sister "
"Has problems of her own. She won't be worrying about you."
The reality of her situation finally seemed to sink in. She cried even
harder. Bardo licked the tears off her face."Relax, sweetheart. Do
everything I tell you, and, who knows, you might become as good a whore
as your mama. Yeah, I know all about Angel. You were born to it.
You've got the potential to become a terrific whore."
"Please don't," she sobbed, trying to wriggle free.
He took a switchblade from his pants pocket. It sprang open with a
Vicious click, which caused her to scream again. He placed the tip of
the blade against her lower lip.
"You use it, you lose it. Got that? One more scream and off it comes.
And that would be a damn shame because I got ideas about what you're
going to do with that sweet mouth of yours."
He slid the blade beneath the shoulder strap of the bra and cut it.
With the tension released, the cup fell forward, revealing her breast.
She whimpered and her lower lip quivered uncontrollably, but she didn't
scream again. He cut the second strap in the same brutal manner.
"Look at what we have here," he cooed. This time he pressed the tip of
the blade against her nipple. He tapped it lightly and it tightened.
"Shame, shame," he taunted."A nice Catholic schoolgirl like you.
What would Sister What's-her-name say?"
Behind Bardo the door crashed open."Drop the knife and get away from
her!"
Burke Basile was in a crouched stance, both hands wrapped around a
Beretta. The next millisecond passed in a blur. His ears rang with the
girl's scream. He fired at Bardo, but the lucky bastard ducked the shot.
The bullet missed his head and decimated a patch of ugly floral
wallpaper behind him. Burke didn't fire again out of fear of hitting the
girl. He shouted, "You're under arrest, Bardo."
"And you're real funny, Basile," Bardo yelled back as he threw his
knife.
"Hr-dee-liar-liar, asshole," said the sharpshooter who materialized
behind Basile.
Bardo had an instant to look stupefied before a bullet cut a neat trench
between his eyes. He dropped without a whimper. The handle of his
switchblade was still vibrating in the doorjamb, having missed Basile by
a hair.
Tactical officers eddied around Basile as they rushed into the room.
Basile rushed over to the girl, who was staring in horror at the bloody
mush that had been Bardo's head only a few seconds before. Basile
removed his coat and placed it around her shoulders."Are you all right?"
She regarded him with the same stupefaction as she did the corpse. He
had to repeat the question before she nodded with uncertainty.
One of the men detached himself from the others."We'll handle it from
here, Basile."
Basile shook hands with him."Thanks. Your men did good, from the
surveillance to that," he said, indicating Bardo's body.
The officer saluted him.
Basile grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her through the doorway and
along the breezeway. When they reached the parking lot, which was
filling up with official vehicles, Basile pushed her into the passenger
seat of an unmarked car, then jogged around the hood and got behind the
wheel. Tires squealed as he sped past an arriving ambulance.
They'd only covered half a block when the girl swore."Jesus H!
What took you so fucking long? That son of a bitch was creepy as hell.
And how dare he tell me I had the potential of being a terrific whore!
" Vexed, Ruby Bouchereaux's most talented girl, Isobel, reached up and
pulled off the curly black wig.
looking younger than her years, Isobel was also smart, and she 2
possessed a spirit of adventure. Her specialty at Ruby's house was
acting out fantasies for the clients who could afford it. The
combination of those qualities had made her a perfect choice to portray
Flarra Lambeth in Burke Basile's setup.
Of course, she'd also been paid very well for her time and trouble.
After presenting her with a sizable check, Basile and the prostitute
parted company at the door of Ruby's office. He was in a hurry, but it
would have been rude to decline the madam's offer of a drink after she
had been instrumental in trapping Bardo.
"So, everything went according to plan?" Ruby asked, extending Burke a
glass of whiskey.
"Perfect." He slammed back the drink."I listened from Sister Beatrice's
outer office. Even I was convinced that Isobel was an innocent
schoolgirl."
"And so she was, way back when," Ruby said, laughing softly."But I'm
pleased that the ruse worked. You know your enemies well, Mr. Basile."
He watched the whiskey tumbling from decanter to waiting glass as Ruby
poured him a refill."Remy was positive that Pinkie would try and get to
her through her sister, and she was right, although we weren't relying
entirely on her gut instinct. Bardo had been under surveillance.
His conversation with Duvall was intercepted this morning, so we knew he
was picking up Flarra and for what purpose."
"The man needed to die."
"I couldn't agree with you more," Burke said grimly."Isobel and I
arrived at Blessed Heart no more than half an hour ahead of him When she
and Bardo left the academy, the van followed them to the motel.
It went off without a hitch, although Isobel blistered my ears for
letting it go so long before stopping it."
"Where is Flarra now?"
"Under police protection. Incorruptible police protection."
"And Bardo is dead?"
"Definitely," Burke said quietly, then downed his second drink.
"Too bad you didn't bring me his ear, or some other appendage. I would
have liked a souvenir." The madam raised her glass to Basile, then drank
her shot.
"Thank you for lending us Isobel," he told her."Once again, I'm indebted
to you."
"Nonsense. Bardo's death evened our score. Besides, I owe you for
another favor. You sent me Dixie, who I think will be a profitable
addition to the house."
He smiled."I figured the two of you would hit it off, but I hate that
she waited until Bardo beat her up before coming here."
"She's making a nice recovery." She offered him another round but he
shook his head."You've earned my gratitude, Mr. Basile, as well as the
hospitality of the house whenever you wish to use it."
"Thank you, but I doubt I'll ever cash in that marker."
The madam practically purred."You and Mrs. Duvall?"
"Remy," he corrected.
The hardest thing he'd ever had to do was leave her that morning.
They had talked long into the night, holding each other, making love,
and assessing what had seemed a hopeless situation.
With morning came the ugly realization that, for a time, she must be
returned to Duvall. She was easier with the plan than Burke, who had
vowed that she would never darken the doorway of Duvall's house
again.
"I won't let you go back. Not for an afternoon. Not for an hour." But
even as he said that, he knew it was their only viable option.
"I don't look forward to it, but I'll handle it," she had told him.
"Maybe I couldn't have or wouldn't have a week ago. But now I can and
will. Just see to Flarra, and please, please, take care of yourself."
They had continued to cling to one another until Dredd intervened,
warning them that timing was critical to Basile's plan, and that they
were liable to blow it if they didn't get a move on. So Burke had placed
her in Dredd's safekeeping until Pat arrived.
Burke had figured District Attorney Littrell for a basically honest man
who was up against overwhelming odds to keep the N.O.P.D from living up
to its national reputation as one of the most corrupt law enforcement
agencies in the country.
Littrell held a lower opinion of Lieutenant Burke Basile because it had