by Seven Steps
“Dad. Dad, look at me.”
Walter’s eyes lazily wondered to hers.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I can’t,” he said. His voice turned less robotic. It began to sound more like the father she had grown to cherish over these last few months instead of a cold, heartless killer. “I was supposed to have it all under control. Old Papa Bear was supposed to have it all figured out. But now it’s all spinning out of control. I can’t hold my arms around it anymore.”
“Around what? What are you talking about?”
“Noah. His career. The label. They are all going down the tubes, and what can I do? Nothing! After twenty years of bleeding my life into this business, there is nothing I can do. What clout do I have? I manage a washed up artist who can’t even put out a gold record anymore. My contacts don’t answer my calls. We’re poison now, classic relics.”
“Dad, it will be okay. Noah will be on top again.”
Walter shook his head. “No. No, he won’t.”
“He will. He’ll put out another album. He’ll make it work.”
“There will be no other albums. There is nothing. We have nothing. All those years of spending and sucking and taking and for what? He’s practically broke, and so am I. We’re done. I’ve lost. Game over. But they won’t get me. No, no, Papa Bear still has one last play.” His grin turned menacing. “Do you know what happened to The Beatles when John Lennon died?”
Cassie shook her head.
“Their sales went through the roof. Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse. Death equals money, book deals, fame, fortune, one last hurrah.”
“Daddy, you wouldn’t.”
“Papa Bear is going to be back on top, baby. And you’re going to be the girl to get me there.”
Cassie’s heart froze. He couldn’t be suggesting what she thought he was suggesting. It was one thing to kill women he didn’t know, but Noah? Had her father really turned that desperate?
Fear for her own life came sharply into view.
If he could kill Noah, then what about me? Oh my God, he might kill me too!
Panic rose within her and her breath turned heavy as the cab pulled into the airport.
“Don’t make any sudden moves,” Walter growled. “Just follow my lead.”
Cassie climbed out of the car first, her father followed, his gun hidden in his coat pocket.
No, not my father, she thought. This man is not my father. He’s a murderer.
Walter didn’t bother to tip the cabbie. He grabbed Cassie’s elbow as they made their way through security.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You? You’re going home. It’s all worked out. Rock legend falls in love with manager’s daughter. Then you break his heart, and he kills himself. It’s so simple.”
She gasped. “Noah would never do that.”
“I know. Looks like old Papa Bear is going to have to help him to it.”
Chapter 48
Noah
Noah jumped from the cab and sprinted into the airport. His eyes searched the building crowds, looking for any signs of Walter or Cassie.
Neither his manager nor his goddess were anywhere around.
Where could they be? he thought frantically. Traffic was heavy. They couldn’t have gotten far.
Worry and anger mixed in his gut, churning panic through him.
What if they didn’t come to the airport after all? What if they turned down a side street somewhere and are on their way to the country? What if he’s already killed her and is stuffing her into a bag right now?
He ground his teeth, took a breath.
One thing at a time, Noah. Check one thing at a time. The cops are looking for her, the embassy is involved. One thing at a time.
His phone beeped in his pocket. He snatched it out, hoping against hope that maybe it was Cassie trying to contact him. He was slightly disappointed that it was Dondo, telling him that he’d been released from prison and was on his way back to the hotel.
At least one thing is going right today, he thought.
He shoved his phone back into his pocket and ran to the check-in desk.
A dark-haired woman smiled up at him.
“Do you speak English?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I need to speak to airport security right now.”
“What seems to be the problem, sir?”
“My manager, Walter Washington, kidnapped my girlfriend. I think they came through here, but I can’t be sure. Have you seen an older man, black, grey hair, with a younger woman, fair skinned, freckles, brownish, reddish curly hair? They must’ve passed through here a few minutes ago.”
The woman frowned, looked around before looking at Noah again.
“I’m sorry, I’m not supposed to release that information.”
“They would have used his name to board a private flight to, well, I don’t know where. But his name is Walter Washington. Can you at least tell me if there is a private plane with a passenger on board named Walter Washington?”
“I’m sorry, sir, I cannot release passenger information.”
“Then get me someone who can!” he roared.
The woman jumped, her eyes darting around.
“I’m sorry.” Noah ran his hands over his face. “I’m sorry, it’s just that he is a murderer and I’m afraid that she’s…”
He didn’t want to say it out loud, to think the words into existence.
“Look, please, I need to speak with airport security. Please.”
The woman nodded, picked up a white phone, and began to speak French into it.
I’m coming, Cassie. He sent the thought to her, hoping that she would get it, hold on to it.
I’m coming.
Chapter 49
Cassie
Cassie stumbled over the tarmac as Walter half drug her in the direction of the small plane. The pilots and stewardess stood outside of the white aircraft, waiting.
“Stop stumbling. Act natural,” Walter growled.
Before her eyes, Walter morphed back into the man she’d known before, the no nonsense, smart, loveable businessman who Noah had affectionately called Papa Bear. How could these two people exist inside of one man? How could she be fond of one and despise the other? Who was real and who wore the mask?
“Hello, I’m Walter Washington,” he said.
He exchanged pleasantries with the pilots and stewardess.
“Sir,” the stewardess said, “Mr. LaRock has not yet arrived.”
“He’ll be along shortly.”
“Very well. And did you want us to setup for a third passenger?” Her eyes slid to Cassie, then back to Walter. The stewardess’ smile was like a picture, painted and perfectly placed on her face. It was warm without being inviting.
“Oh, my daughter’s not staying,” Walter said. “She’s just coming to say goodbye to Mr. LaRock.”
“Very well, sir.”
“And please don’t disturb Mr. LaRock when he arrives. He’s very upset that she’s leaving to go back to school. If you could just wait in the cockpit until I tell you we’re ready to go, that would be great.”
They nodded. Apparently no one thought it an odd request. After all, he was a rock star, wasn’t he? Weren’t they all prone to eccentricities?
With no further comments, Cassie, Walter, and the flight crew climbed up the stairs to the plane. The pilots and stewardess settled into the cockpit, waiting for their cue to take off, while Walter and Cassie walked down the aisle.
“It’s done,” Walter said, prodding Cassie into the back bedroom. “Now, we wait.”
“How could you do this to Noah? He loves you like you were his own father. Don’t you have any feelings for him?”
“I do. Don’t you see? I don’t want him to fade away. The best rock stars go out in a blaze of glory, and now, it’s Noah’s turn. Today, he will become immortal.”
Chapter 50
Noah
Noah, flan
ked by two security guards, saw his private plane sitting on the tarmac. The engine wasn’t on, and no one appeared outside. It was as if they were waiting for him.
Hold on, Cassie, he thought. I’m coming. Just hold on.
He jogged to the plane and ran up the stairs.
“Cassie?” he called.
“She’s back here, Noah.”
Walter’s voice sliced through him.
“Is Cassie okay?” Noah asked.
“She’s fine. She just wants to talk to you privately. Come to the bedroom. She’s waiting for you.”
Noah gestured for the security officers to stay back. He advanced toward the bedroom door, slowly pushing it open.
He stepped inside.
Cassie sat on the edge of the bed, Walter behind her, gun pointed at her head.
“Close the door, Noah,” he said.
Noah complied, closing the door with an audible click.
“What are you doing, Walter?”
“I’m fixing it, son. I’m fixing everything.”
“This doesn’t fix anything. It just makes it worse.”
“It can’t get worse,” Walter mumbled.
“Did you kill those girls?”
Walter nodded his head. “I had to. You don’t know the stress I’ve been under, trying to protect you, to save your career. Those girls were the only way I could control it, that I could control me.”
“This has gone far enough. Let Cassie go, and we’ll walk out of here. We’ll get you the help that you need.”
“I don’t need any help.”
“Where will you go, huh?”
“That doesn’t matter now. I have a plan, and you’re going to help me.”
“What plan?”
“I’m going to fix all of this. Your career, those girls, everything. I just need you to do one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Pick up that gun.” He gestured to a shiny black gun that sat on the table next to the television.
“And do what with it?”
“Point it at your head and pull the trigger.”
“Noah, don’t!” Cassie cried.
Walter swung the gun at the back of her head. “Quiet.”
Cassie slumped onto her side, out cold.
Walter’s eyes went wide for a moment before aiming the gun at his daughter and turning his eyes back to Noah.
“Do it.”
Noah froze.
“Do it or I’ll blow her head off!”
“You wouldn’t hurt her,” Noah said. “She’s your daughter. She had nothing to do with this.” Noah shifted. “If you want me dead, you’ll have to do it yourself.”
Walter eyed the gun on the table, his eyes sliding back to Noah.
“No. No, it has to be a suicide. That’s the way it goes. That’s the only way. Poor sad rock star shoots himself over his lover. They’ll be studying your music for years, trying to find hidden clues, messages. It has to be suicide. It has to be.”
“I’m not going to pick up that gun, and I’m not going to pull the trigger. You’ll have to shoot me.”
“No.”
“Do it.”
Walter clicked off the safety to his gun, grabbed a hand full of Cassie’s hair, and dug the barrel into her scalp.
“Do it or I’ll kill her!” he cried.
The door clicked.
The handle turned.
“Now, Noah,” Walter hissed. “Now.”
Noah didn’t move.
“Very well.”
Walter’s eyes dropped to Cassie. He cried out, teeth gleaming white.
Security burst in.
A shot.
Blood splashed onto the white carpet.
Walter fell.
Cassie slouched back onto the bed.
Noah felt himself scream.
Walter’s lifeless body slid down the wall, a hole in his forehead.
Noah held the gun.
Chapter 51
Cassie
A soaked bandage dripped blood down Cassie’s neck as she was loaded into an ambulance.
How did I get here?
The last thing she remembered was being on a plane. Walter had a gun to her head, and Noah was there.
But where were they now? Where was Noah? Where was her father?
She looked to her left. Her father’s face peeked out from beneath a white blood soaked sheet. An EMT dressed in a blue jacket and hat pulled the sheet higher, covering her father’s remains.
It struck her.
He’s dead.
Her eyes went to her right.
Noah was staring at her. His body was tight, his mouth in a firm line as he was handcuffed and led back to a police vehicle.
“What happened here?” she asked.
No one answered.
She screamed the question as she was loaded into the ambulance.
It couldn’t be. Her father was dead. Noah was in handcuffs.
It couldn’t be.
***
Her answer arrived hours later in the form of Dondo, hat low over his eyes.
He stepped into her hospital room looking considerably thinner. His face was ashen, his eyes downcast. This was not the party animal who lit up the green room after one of Noah’s concerts. This man was changed.
Dondo’s face was heavy with a frown.
“Who killed my father?” she asked. “Was it Noah?”
Dondo stood at her bedside, took her hand.
“He was going to kill you,” Dondo said, a single tear slid down his cheek. “He was going to kill you.”
Cassie’s world fell apart.
The love of her life had murdered her father. The same father who kidnapped her and used her as bait in an elaborate plan to murder the love of her life.
She felt her breath leave her lungs. She buried her face in her hands, gasping for air.
Dondo’s hand covered her back, whispering something in Spanish she didn’t understand.
She wept for her father, whose mind had failed him.
She wept for her love, who had paid the ultimate price.
Chapter 52
Her father’s funeral was held in LA, his last place of residence. One of Walter’s close friends, a high profile preacher, offered to say the eulogy.
He mentioned nothing about the murders.
Cassie sat in the pews of the large church, her breath echoing amidst the stones. Only her mother, her soon-to-be step-father, Ben, and Cassie had come. Though all charges against Noah had been dropped, he did not join them.
It’s better this way, Cassie thought.
The preacher gave a long winded prayer, ending it with a high-pitched amen.
“Amen,” Cassie repeated.
She turned to the door, ready to leave this church, and her father, behind.
In the doorway, below the arch, she spotted Noah.
They locked eyes, familiar heat burning in her.
And then he was gone, leaving behind the memory of his cologne, and her broken heart.
Chapter 53
The school year arrived, but Cassie felt none of the excitement that she’d expected. She was numb. Everything was numb.
With no emotions to hold her back, she threw herself into her studies, not allowing her mind to dwell on what she’d lost this summer. Her father was gone, and so was Noah.
She walked down the hallways of Yale amidst whispers, stares. She was the girlfriend of Noah LaRock. She’d walked amongst gods. People wanted to see her, touch her. Paparazzi waited for her after school, between classes.
Cassie wanted to tell them that it was over, that Noah and she were no longer together, but something told her that they wouldn’t believe her anyway. So, she wore a hat and sun glasses and waited for the buzz about her to calm down. When Noah never showed up, the paparazzi went away, the students lost interest, and life went on.
Her mother had showed her an article that was written about her in one of the tabloids. It contained all of the details about her
life that she’d shared with Nicole, the girl from the Grammys. Their picture together appeared in the middle of the page. Cassie shook her head, remembering how quickly she’d opened up to the girl.
Stupid, she thought. I was such a fool.
She wondered if this was what happened to celebrities on a daily basis. Were they constantly surrounded by false friends who only wanted a cover story? If so, it was a very sad life indeed.
Her mother was married a week after school started. The flower filled wedding was beautiful. Although she said congratulations and gave them her best smiles, to Cassie, the day was grey and joyless.
She’d lost so much.
Sometimes, deep in the night, her mind and heart battled. Her heart telling her to call Noah, to let him know that she didn’t hold him responsible for any of this. Her father was a murderer. He pistol whipped her, he tried to kill the both of them. She should be grateful to Noah. Her mind prevented her from picking up the phone. He needs time, it said. So do you.
In her darkest, loneliest moments, when her head was so full of thoughts and her heart was so full of pain that she thought she’d go mad, she picked up her notebook and pen and wrote him letters, draining herself into the pages until there was nothing left but her hollow soul and airless lungs. She’d stuff each letter into an envelope, address it, and leave it in her night stand.
It was a Thursday during her college’s winter break when her mother sat at the foot of her bed, wrapping small white flowers in white lace for an upcoming wedding. Ben had setup the spare bedroom in his house for Cassie. Janice and Cassie’s old house had been put on the market the day after Ben proposed.
“So, when’s the book coming out?” Janice asked.
“What book?” Cassie’s pen flew across the pages of her notebook. She’d met a girl in school who was Noah’s biggest fan. She even tattooed his flames across her lower back. She wanted to let him know.
“The book you’re always writing,” Janice said.
“It’s not a book.”