“Oh, shit!” Francis ran to her. “Claudia, what’s wrong?”
“H-he-he-he,” was all she could get out.
“Parker, get a paper bag. She’s hyperventilating.”
Dumbfounded, Parker wandered to the bathroom and looked under the sink. Her eyes spied a sanitary bag the hotel left out for female guests. Parker shrugged and grabbed one.
“Claudia, I need you to settle down.” Francis grabbed the bag from Parker. “Here, breathe into this bag. Slow…slower. That’s good.”
Her breathing started to return to normal. “Now can you tell me what’s wrong?” Francis asked.
“H-he-he-he.” Claudia clutched the bag and brought it back up to her mouth. However, she was able to point to the street below.
Boyd glanced down and knew instantly what was wrong. He tried to stop Otis from looking, but it was too late. All of the color drained from his little brother’s face.
Parker followed their gaze but couldn’t decipher the cause of so much consternation.
“Well, Boyd, what is it?” asked Francis.
“Not what, but who.”
Francis inhaled deeply. “Okay, who, then?”
“Dennis.”
Claudia almost swallowed the paper bag, desperate for air.
“What? Why is he in Cheyenne?” Calmly, Francis turned to Claudia.
“M-m-my-my-m—”
Ignoring the hysterical woman, Francis stared down at Dennis. He wasn’t at all what Francis was expecting. He was a scrawny dude in black slacks, shirt, and tie. Francis guessed the suit was Italian. Of all the idiotic things: wearing an Italian suit in Wyoming. Was the guy trying to get arrested as a thug, or was he that confident that others were scared of him?
Dennis marched across the street and jumped into a BMW convertible, all the while screaming into a cell phone.
“Change of plans, Boyd. This ends here.”
Boyd fiddled with the window to see if he could open it and take care of business right then and there. Alas, the window wouldn’t budge.
Claudia darted to the window, feeling a wave of emotions. She didn’t want to see Dennis killed, and yet she did. What she saw when she reached the window brought even more emotions to the surface.
Banging both of her fists against the window, she shouted, “No!”
Francis turned to Claudia, and then followed her eyes.
The messenger approached Dennis’s car, leading a woman by the elbow. From his vantage point, Francis could tell the woman wasn’t a willing participant. The messenger’s gun was pressed in the small of the woman’s back.
“Your mom.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
Claudia answered by pounding her fists harder against the window. “I’m going to kill you, you fucking bastard!”
Boyd tried shushing her, tugging on her shoulder to get her away from the window. Claudia shrugged him off. Boyd wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground, and carried her to the bathroom, where he set her down on the toilet. Claudia kicked and screamed the entire way.
“Parker, go in there and quiet her down,” directed Francis.
Parker scratched her head furiously. People skills were not her thing.
Francis put his palms up. “I know. Just keep her talking about her anger, but in a more quiet fashion, please. I don’t want everyone in the hotel to hear her and to call the cops.”
Digging her nails into her palms to mask her frustration, Parker stormed to the bathroom. What she saw startled her. Claudia leaned over the toilet, hurling up chunks of McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries.
The odor of vomit made Parker’s nose hairs curl. Once, when a woman had puked on a subway car, Parker had been forced to get off at the next stop. She had run to the nearest trashcan and thrown up in front of everyone on the platform. One whiff of vomit was enough to set off her gag reflexes. The student dug her nails even deeper into her palms to distract her from the stench.
Finished, Claudia leaned against the bathroom wall, staring at nothing in particular. Parker soaked a washcloth in cold water and offered it to Claudia, who took it and immediately wiped her face and the back of her neck.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” said Claudia.
Parker bobbed her head, stalling for time. What should she say?
“I…it sucks.”
Claudia ignored her, or didn’t hear her. “My mom tried to warn me. She told me he was bad news, but I wouldn’t listen. I had life all figured out, and just did what I wanted.
“It was a way out of my shitty life, so I thought. Working at Taco Bell and going to community college. I was embarrassed. I hated myself. Now look at me.” She whacked her leg with the wet washcloth. “I’m a wreck. I got Ida killed. Who knows if the boys’ family is still alive…and now my mother. I just don’t know what to do or what to think anymore.”
Claudia burst into tears.
Parker watched as the woman’s shoulders heaved up and down at such a speed that she resembled a jackhammer. Parker sat down next to her. “I know you don’t want to hear this right now—”
“Please, I can’t hear any accusations from you,” Claudia whispered.
“I wasn’t going to. I was going to talk about fate or the number zero.” Parker remained emotionless.
Claudia laughed, spewing snot and saliva.
“You may think it’s a laughing matter, but I’m deadly serious, especially when it comes to the number zero.” Even Parker couldn’t keep a straight face any longer.
“But how does nothing amount to something?” Claudia couldn’t help herself.
Parker eyed her and nudged her shoulder as if they were old chums. “I’m really sorry about your mom. But I know one thing: Francis will do everything he can to rescue her.”
Claudia bit her lower lip, to the point where she almost drew blood. “I know. I just can’t help but think—”
“Don’t think. Take it from me, I’ve mastered running on autopilot to survive. Go out there and don’t think. Don’t feel. Just do what they tell you. After…well, you can think all you want. For better or worse.”
Parker stood up and held out a hand to help Claudia to her feet.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Claudia, what did I just say? Don’t think. Not now.” Parker waggled her hand and, reluctantly, Claudia accepted the help.
“Thank you, Parker.”
When they entered the room, all the men turned to see if Claudia needed her mouth taped shut. Not out of malice, but the last thing they needed was a hysterical woman on their hands.
Business was at hand.
Claudia saw the sanitary bag she had been breathing into. “Really, Parker. That’s the bag you gave me.”
Parker smiled and the men turned pink.
***
“Where would he take your mom, Claudia?” asked Francis.
She wrinkled her forehead, doing everything she could to control her emotions. Taking Parker’s advice, she didn’t think; instead, Claudia blurted, “His weekend house.”
“Is that in Colorado?” probed Francis.
Claudia nodded. “Yes. It’s in the middle of nowhere, north of Fort Collins, but before you get to Wyoming. Only a dirt road leads to it, and you can’t see it from the highway. It’s like a bunker for when the shit hits the fan.”
This was not the news Francis wanted to hear. Seclusion helped on one hand, but how to approach the home without being spotted?
The Woolf brothers felt differently. They loved hunting. Sneaking up on fearful prey was their specialty, and Otis was relieved the showdown wouldn’t happen with innocent people around. He glanced at Parker and wondered how she kept it together, knowing that he was responsible for shooting Ida. The look in her eyes when she had frantically tried to shoot him at the restaurant still haunted Otis. He sucked in some air and let it out slowly, along with the vision. He had to focus or more people woul
d die.
“Uh, I don’t think he’s going there,” said Parker.
“Why’s that?” Claudia crossed her arms, her voice prickly.
Parker pointed. The five of them watched Dennis, the messenger, and Claudia’s mother get out of the car and walk into the hotel lobby.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” muttered Francis.
“Would this be considered fate or karma?” asked Parker.
“It’s a lucky break. That’s what it is!” The usually reserved Francis couldn’t contain his glee. “Claudia, use your female wiles and see if you can get the front desk clerk to give you your husband’s room number. Tell the clerk you came to town to surprise Dennis for his birthday or something.”
“I’m on it!”
The only two who didn’t look pleased were Boyd and Otis. Francis placed his freckled hand on Boyd’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we won’t stop until we find your family.”
Claudia hung up the hotel phone. “Success!”
Parker pointed to the window again. The messenger ran out to the car and took off.
“You don’t think—?” Francis didn’t want to jinx it, so he shut up.
“Is there a golf course nearby?” asked Claudia.
“Really, now you want to go golfing?” Parker couldn’t hide her shock.
“No, I hate golf.” Claudia turned to Parker. “But do you know who loves it?”
Parker sighed. “Bob Hope.”
“Seriously? Bob Hope. How old are you?” Claudia shook her head. “You need to buy a TV and join the twenty-first century, Parker.”
“All right, you two, stop it. Claudia tell us what you’re hinting at.” Boyd took the lead, impressing Francis.
“Dennis. Doesn’t go a day without golfing, even the day we got married.”
“This place has its own course. I believe you have to make a reservation through the concierge.” Francis motioned with his head for Claudia to get back on the horn and find out.
“You see, this is why you shouldn’t exclude me from all of your planning sessions.” She tsked.
Taco Bell and avid golfer. Parker couldn’t understand what Claudia had seen in Dennis.
Claudia slammed the phone down on the cradle. “Three o’clock!”
Francis lifted his wrist to eye his watch. “It’s noon.”
***
One hour later, the messenger returned, alone. Apparently, his mission was to retrieve golf clubs for Dennis.
“You aren’t kidding. He loves his golf.” Otis gawked down at the messenger. “What are we doing with him?”
Boyd looked to Francis for the answer, and he responded with one curt nod.
“I want to be the one to take Dennis out,” declared Claudia.
“Have you ever fired a gun?” Francis pinned her with a steely look.
“No, but—”
“But nothing. This entire trip has been one fiasco after another. Ask Parker how easy it is to fire a gun. She was just ten yards from Boyd and Otis and didn’t hit them once. No. No more disasters.”
“You drugged her! That’s not fair!”
“And you think you can point a gun at Dennis and squeeze the trigger?” He got in her face.
“I want to rip his dick off and shove it down his throat.”
“You see, that’s why you can’t go. Revenge will cloud your judgment. We need precision, not a crazed woman who won’t be able to think straight. You, Parker, and Otis will get your mom. Boyd and I will take care of Dennis, and hopefully the messenger.”
Claudia started to respond, but Francis silenced her. “I’m really tired of your complaints. Let’s get one thing straight: all of this is because of you. Watch yourself, Claudia, or I’ll sic Parker on you.” Francis grabbed Parker’s copy of In Cold Blood and tossed it at Claudia.
Parker gestured for Claudia to give it back. Parker’s bloodlust had subsided some, but she found she couldn’t put Capote’s book down. Parker settled into a chair and opened the book.
The threat shut Claudia up, although she was still fuming. After excusing herself, she went into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
Francis and Boyd set off for the golf course.
***
Precisely at 2:50 p.m., Dennis headed for the course. Otis had hoped the messenger would be with him, but he knew deep down that it didn’t make sense. Someone had to watch Claudia’s mom.
Otis wished Boyd was with him. Claudia was still pissed that Francis wouldn’t let her shoot Dennis, and Parker didn’t want to set her book down to join them.
The plan was to break into the room via the balcony. Both Parker and Claudia had guns, but they weren’t loaded. Francis envisioned one of them shooting the mother, or Otis. When Dennis was dealt with, Otis and his crew were supposed to rush into the room, take care of the messenger, and grab Claudia’s mom, so all of them could make a quick escape.
Francis reiterated that they were supposed to wait. The three hid on the balcony next door. A small metal fence divided the balconies and all of them could easily hop over when the coast was clear. None of them expected Claudia’s mother to step out onto her balcony. But she did.
Her mom sucked in some fresh air and held onto the front railing. Parker clasped her hand over Claudia’s mouth, but she wasn’t quick enough.
“Mo—” Claudia uttered.
Panic-stricken, the mother flipped around and screamed. The messenger dashed out onto the balcony. Parker released Claudia and leaned over the small barrier to whack the man on the head with the butt of her gun. The messenger fell to his knees, stunned but not unconscious. Otis reacted quickly, pulling his own trigger. His gun had a silencer—fortunately, because several people below, hearing the woman’s scream, looked up. Parker didn’t know what to do, so she waved at them. Claudia snatched the gun out of Parker’s waving hand. Confused, the tourists waved back before meandering toward the golf course.
Otis jumped the railing and dragged the messenger’s body into the room.
Claudia’s mother wrapped her daughter up in her arms. Then she stepped back and slapped Claudia across the face—hard. “I told you that man was trouble.”
Claudia rubbed her cheek. “Nice to see you too, Mom.”
“And who is that?” Her mom pointed to Otis. “Another gangster you’re shacking up with?” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, awaiting an answer.
Otis dropped the body and stared at Claudia.
“You disappear and show up with him! And who’s that?” she pointed to Parker, who was inspecting her wound, fearing that it was bleeding again. “Has she been shot?”
“Mother, keep your voice down, please.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, young lady!” She placed her hands on her hips. “Do you know what it’s like having some maniac break into your home, kidnap you at gunpoint, and force you into a car?”
Parker, Claudia, and Otis all nodded.
The mother harrumphed. “Well you might like this Bonnie and Clyde lifestyle, but count me out.”
Parker realized why Claudia had wanted to take part in the Dennis shooting party. Her mother was a nightmare. Even the fact that they had rescued her from Dennis, and that there was a dead man on the floor, hadn’t stopped the woman from nagging and making wild accusations. No wonder Claudia had married Dennis. Her mother was a nutjob. And Parker knew all about that.
“And look at the mess you made.” She pointed to the bloody trail from the balcony to the body. “Who’s going to clean this up?”
“Mother! Will you just shut up for once!” Claudia turned to Otis. “What’s next?”
Otis couldn’t take his eyes off Claudia’s mother, fearful she might slap him. Claudia snapped her fingers in front of his face.
“They still haven’t called,” whispered Otis.
“They? There are more of you? Are you a harem girl for a group of mobsters, now?”
Claudia whipped around and slappe
d her mother hard across the face. “I should have done that years ago, and then maybe I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Ya! Go ahead and blame the mother. All of you spoiled brats have no idea how good you have it.”
“I’m telling you one last time, Mother. Shut up or I’ll shut you up.”
“What? Are you going to shoot me?” She looked at her daughter with derision.
Claudia raised her gun. Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but then thought better.
“That’s better,” Claudia said. “Parker, can you hand me my purse.” Claudia motioned to the purse, using her gun.
Parker obliged, keeping her distance from Claudia’s mother.
“Keep an eye on her, don’t let her move.” Claudia set her gun on the bed and rifled through her purse. She pulled out some duct tape and tossed it to Otis. “Tape her mouth shut.”
“Claudia, are you sure you want to do this?” asked Parker. The woman was her mother—a mean and annoying mother, but a mother, nonetheless.
“I’ve wanted to do this for years. Years!”
Otis approached the woman carefully and did as instructed.
“Okay, let’s get her down to the car.” Claudia gestured for her mom to follow. Peeking into the hallway, she saw that the coast was clear. They ushered the mother quickly down the emergency staircase and into the parking lot. Otis ran to get the car while Parker and Claudia watched their prisoner, now doing her best to nag them through the duct tape. The woman would not give up.
As soon as Otis pulled up, Parker and Claudia pushed Claudia’s mother into the backseat, sitting on either side of the woman.
The younger brother’s cell phone rang, and he answered. Otis listened for thirty seconds. “Okay,” he said before hanging up. “Boyd and Francis need a ride, real quick,” he told them.
Along the third hole was a dirt road. Otis spotted his brother flagging him down.
“Why is he still standing?” muttered Claudia, noting that Dennis was still alive. “We took care of ours.”
Francis was not in a good mood. “Parker, sit on Claudia’s lap. You”—he pointed to the mother—“sit on Boyd’s lap.” The woman shook her head fervently and wiggled as much as possible, considering Boyd was already lifting her up and Francis was shoving Dennis in next to them. Francis took the front seat. “Drive, Otis, drive.”
Claudia Must Die Page 12