“Crystal.” Roland clicked off the phone and sat down on the edge of the bathtub. He dropped his head into his hands. He wanted to cry so bad he could taste his tears. He fought them off. More than anything in the world he wanted to call Patsy, to hear her tell him things would be all right and she would stand by him no matter what.
That would only happen the day pigs grew wings and flew. Still, he looked at his cell phone, daring himself to call his wife. It took all his willpower to shove the phone into his pocket.
Arden had a glass of wine ready for him along with some crackers and cheese set out on a tray in the living room. She looked up at him, her eyes questioning.
“Marcus will be at the office in the morning. How about you?”
“I’m waiting for a call back. The office was closed but there was a number to call for an emergency. I called that number and the message said I would be called back within two hours. I left a long message.”
“What time is Sara due?”
Arden looked at her watch. “Soon. We’ll deal with her when she gets here. Let’s look over all this paperwork. We’re going to need to know every single word backward and frontward by tomorrow morning.”
The crackers, cheese and wine were gone when Roland removed his glasses. “If de Silva’s signature is forged, the forger is one hell of an expert. Look, Arden, we were set up and framed. Accept that fact, okay? We fell into it like the greedy fools we are. There’s not another thing we can do until tomorrow. Even then, our lawyers will be taking over and all we can do is stand by and watch our lives crumble about us.”
Arden sucked in her breath. “Unless we can convince Sara to tell us what we want to know. There are two of us, Roland. She’s just one skinny young woman. I could kill her with my bare hands.”
Roland leaped to his feet. “Stop right there, Arden. I won’t be a party to any foul play where Sara is concerned. I’ll turn you in myself if you so much as look at her crossways. Be sure you understand that. Tell me you do?”
How hard could a double murder be to pull off? Arden sighed and curled up on the sofa. She wanted to go to sleep so she could wake up to find this was all a big bad dream. “All right, I understand,” she mumbled.
Alexis stared at the door of Arden Gillespie’s apartment. She was here. She was actually standing outside the woman’s door. This was her moment and she was alone to savor it. She was excited but calm. She wondered how that could be. The only thing she carried with her was a bottle of doctored-up wine, the seal intact. Charles was such a genius when it came to such things. Other than her heart beating a little faster than normal, she felt fine.
Alexis rang the bell, took two steps backward so that she could be seen clearly from the other side of the door. She almost gasped aloud when she saw Arden staring at her with such hatred, she blanched.
“Well, what are you standing there for? Come in. Roland is here. Now, tell us what you want.”
“I don’t want anything, Arden. I just wanted to tell you and Roland I forgive you. I’m leaving for Europe in a few days and I want to leave all my baggage behind. A marvelous opportunity has come my way. If I wasn’t in the place I am right now, this new world wouldn’t have opened up for me. Look, I brought a bottle of very good wine to show there are no hard feelings.”
Arden’s eyes were rife with suspicion. “And just why are you so forgiving, Sara?”
Alexis didn’t miss a beat. She handed the bottle of wine to Roland. “Because hate is a killer. You have to move beyond it to function. Now, the past is just a bad memory that I try not to think about.”
“Did you put poison in the wine? Why did you set us up with the Countess?”
Alexis laughed. “The bottle is sealed, Arden. What Countess are you talking about?”
“Don’t play the innocent with me. How convenient that you should arrive today of all days. Cut the bullshit, Sara. I’ll have more respect for you if you own up to how you managed to pull this off.”
Alexis tried not to watch Roland take the foil off the bottle and uncork it. She could see him walking toward the china cabinet for a third wine flute. “If I knew what you were talking about, I might be able to answer you. Are you blaming me for something? If you are, please don’t. Look, I have a very nice life now. There’s no way I would jeopardize it for you or for Roland. If there’s something wrong in your life, I had nothing to do with it. However, what goes around, comes around. You did frame me, you and Roland were responsible for me going to prison. I said I forgive you. Forgiving you is important to me. It might not be important to you but I can’t help that. So, are we going to make a toast to my good life or not? Otherwise, I have to leave.”
Roland poured wine into three glasses. He looked up at Alexis and said, “I’m sorry, Sara, for everything that happened to you. I wish you a good life. Arden,” he said, his voice cold and demanding, “drink a toast to Sara. She has nothing to do with our current problem.” He hoped what he was saying was true.
Alexis thought she would gag at Roland’s words. “I know you mean that, Roland. Bottoms up,” she said sweetly. Arden and Roland drained their glasses.
“Why aren’t you drinking the wine?” Arden asked suspiciously.
“Because it was drugged. I’m no fool, you bitch!”
“Damn you! Roland…”
Roland toppled over onto the couch. Arden simply crumpled and slid to the floor like a rag doll. Alexis immediately scooted to the front door and opened it. She whistled sharply. A moment later she heard the elevator door slide open.
Alexis clapped her hands in glee.
Nikki turned around when she heard her name called. She let loose a loud sigh of relief. This wasn’t exactly the most desirable neighborhood to be in after dark. “I’m Nicole. And you must be…Snake?”
“Yeah. Let’s get this show on the road, okay, counselor. I got things to do and places to go.”
“Oh, well, yeah, sure. Hop in…Mr. Snake.”
“Nah, Snake is my nickname. My real name is Melvin Goodwin.”
Nikki drove as fast as she could. She was running late and hoped Alexis was on schedule. “It’s not that far, Snake. So, how do you know Alexis?”
“Don’t really know the lady but know someone who knows her. He turned me onto her. Said she was good for the green so I said okay. Plus, the vacation was a bonus. Not often I get to go away for six months. Sounds like I’m going to prison for an extended stay, eh?” he cackled. “Always wanted to go to Miami. Some of my idols live there. I’ll be able to study their techniques. Might even decide to relocate. I’m looking forward to the trip. Ain’t never been on an airplane before.” He cackled again.
Snake was perpetual motion, shaking his legs, waving his arms and shaking his head from side to side as he babbled about his art. Nikki made grunting sounds to indicate she was listening to what he was saying. Later, she couldn’t remember a thing he’d said.
“Okay, ah…Snake. This is our destination. Please wait here until I see if Alexis is ready for us.”
“Sure, no problem. Pretty fancy address. I ain’t sure I’m going to fit in here.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing, Snake. We’ll take the service elevator. Just have all your gear ready when I get back.”
“You betcha. I’m ready now, counselor.”
As Nikki made her way to the building and the lobby she wondered if it had been a mistake for Alexis to tell Snake she was an attorney. She’d said it was the one thing that had closed the deal—free legal representation for the rest of Snake’s life. The good part was not having to actually give her name to Snake. Alexis had told him he would have to go through her to get to Nikki and he’d bought the whole deal. She couldn’t worry about that now.
The plan was she was to wait in the hall by the elevator. Alexis would open the door when it was time for her and Snake to join her. All she could do now was wait.
The moment Nikki heard Alexis’s whistle, she punched the elevator button. Five minutes later she accomp
anied Snake and all his gear into the service elevator to Arden Gillespie’s floor.
Alexis held the door open. Snake scuttled through with all his gear, Nikki following him, rolling her eyes as she did so. Alexis laughed and couldn’t stop. Nikki gave her a playful swat and then laughed herself. This was Alexis’s moment. If she wanted to laugh, she should laugh.
“Okay, Alexis, baby, tell me what you want. You were a little vague at our last meeting. Who do you want me to work on first?”
Alexis pretended to ponder the question. “Do him,” she said pointing to Roland. “I’m going to shave her head and that might take a bit of time. You know what to do, right, Snake?”
Snake looked down at his tools. “I tattoo the name Sara on his left cheek and tattoo the name Whittier on his right cheek. On his forehead I do my trademark snake, a small one, and the word BASTARD in big letters. You said I could pick the colors. Do I have it down right?”
“You got it, Snake. Get going. Be as quick as possible and don’t worry if he twitches. He’ll be out for quite a while.” She turned to Nikki. “Did you bring my shears?”
Nikki tossed a canvas bag at Alexis before she sat down on a deep green chair and swung her legs over the side. This was Alexis’s gig. She was just here as an observer. She watched as Alexis shaved Arden Gil-lespie’s beautiful luxurious blond hair. When she was finished she stood with her hands on her hip to survey her handiwork. “She’s pretty ugly without all that hair. What do you think, Nikki?”
“Not pretty at all. I have to call her back and leave a message. Think about it, Alexis. What are the odds of that woman calling me to represent her and here I am sitting in her living room watching you shave her head?”
Nikki whipped out her cell phone and hit the return call button. When she heard Arden Gillespie’s voice, she went right into her spiel. “This is Nicole Quinn, Miss Gillespie. I received your call earlier but I’m afraid I won’t be able to represent you. My calender is full. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding a capable attorney. Thank you for considering me in your hour of need.”
“Your hour of need!” Alexis doubled over laughing.
“What did you come up with for Arden’s tattoo?”
“Nothing outrageous. My name on her face, too. I thought the word BITCH in big letters across her forehead. Yo, Snake, let’s put the snake on Miss Gillespie’s forehead because she is a snake. What do you think?”
“Works for me,” Nikki said.
“Me, too,” Snake said.
“Yeah, it works for me, too. They’ll go through their stay in prison with those tattoos. That makes me happy. Really, really happy. You don’t think they’ll get out on bail, do you?”
“Not a chance.”
It was eleven o’clock when Alexis packed up her clippers and shaver. She looked over at Nikki. “Our work here is done.”
“Snake, you do good work. Do you need a ride to the airport?” Alexis asked.
Nikki watched as money changed hands.
“Would appreciate it. Anytime you want some work done, call me.”
“I’ll do that, Snake.”
On the ride back to Pinewood, Nikki glanced across at her passenger. “You okay, Alexis?”
“Yeah, I am. Thanks for being there.”
“That guy Snake. He kind of grows on you.”
“Hey, anytime you want a work of art done, I bet he’d do it for free.”
Both women laughed all the way back to Pinewood.
Epilogue
Myra paced and dithered in the kitchen, to Charles’s amusement. He was tempted to say something to his lady love but decided against it. Sometimes Myra had to work things through on her own without any help from him. He busied himself at the stove, stirring things that didn’t need to be stirred as he stared out the kitchen window at the young women on the terrace.
Today they were a lively bunch, giggling and laughing. That had to mean things in their world were right side up. He felt more than pleased with himself for his part in Alexis’s revenge. She was happier than she’d ever been. A burst of raucous laughter invaded the kitchen by way of the open window. Myra stopped pacing to peer over his shoulder. “I hope they’re still in a laughing mood when we adjourn to the war room.”
Charles twinkled. “I think you can count on it, dear. It’s time.” He set about turning his pots and pans to simmer. He took one last look in the oven and decided he could be spared for an hour from his culinary duties.
“Fetch our guest, Myra, and I’ll bring the girls. It’s going to be all right. Trust me.”
“I do, Charles, I do. But…but we did this on our own without consulting the others. That’s not how we do things. What if…if…one of them…pitches a fit. Oh, I do love that saying.”
“Then we’ll deal with it. Run along, dear.”
Myra headed for the living room where Annie de Silva was reading a NASCAR magazine. She looked up at Myra. “This is so interesting,” she said, pointing to the glossy magazine. “I’m going to go to a race one of these days.”
Myra laughed. Not at what Annie had said but at her attire. Today, Annie was dressed in baggy jeans and an oversize tee shirt that said:
CHICK WITH BRAINS. “Kathryn gave it to me. It’s quite comfortable. Kathryn said it is in-house attire which means I can’t wear it to the grocery store or the bank.”
“When was the last time you were in a grocery store, Annie?”
“A hundred years ago. I’m going to do that, too. I’m going to do everything I haven’t done in years and years. Did you tell the others? Are they all right about me…you know, joining up?”
“No, I didn’t tell them. We’re going to surprise them. I don’t anticipate a problem, Annie. They all adore you. You aren’t worrying, are you?” Myra asked as she opened the secret panel that would take them to the war room.
“A little. I so want to be a part of all this. I mean actively. I want to participate, not just use my money. You don’t think I’m too old, do you?”
“Hell no! If you’re old, so am I. We can still contribute. Mightily. I forgot to ask in all the excitement, how did dinner go with Nellie?”
“It was wonderful. We talked for hours. Played catch up. We didn’t talk much about Jenny. That’s for another day with a good supply of wine. I’m glad she’s in the loop.”
Myra whirled around. “Shhh. No one knows that, Annie.”
“Oooh, sorry. Good Lord! This place looks like something you’d see in the White House. However did you do all this?” Annie asked, looking around in awe. “You were right, Myra, this definitely is not a Mickey Mouse operation. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be part of this.”
“Today you observe and listen. When our meeting is over, you can ask all the questions you want. Ah, I hear Charles and the girls. Don’t sit down yet, Annie,” Myra whispered as she eyed Julia’s chair in the corner.
The women filed into the room and stopped short when they saw Annie standing next to Myra. As one, their gaze swivelled to Julia’s chair just as Charles stepped down from his dais with a chair on casters. He placed it next to Myra’s chair. He pretended not to hear their sighs of relief.
Annie looked around at the women. “Is it all right for me to sit down? If you would rather I go upstairs, I can do that, too. I don’t want to be here if you don’t want me. But if that’s the case, I’d like to stay in the background to help in anyway I can.”
“Just what I need, another mother,” Yoko quipped, breaking the ice. The others held out their hands as they made welcoming sounds. No one mentioned Julia’s empty chair that still faced the wall.
Myra called the meeting to order. “Is there any new business?” The women shook their heads. “Then let’s get to the old business.” She beckoned Charles to join them.
“I’m happy to report that Maggie Spritzer and Ted Robinson are enjoying their new life in the Big Apple. They are living together in an apartment on the West Side. They have adapted to their new jobs. I will update yo
u as new reports come in.”
“It’s been ten days! What’s going on with Gillespie and Sullivan?” Nikki asked.
Alexis sat up straighter as she waited for whatever it was Charles was going to say.
Charles placed a stack of newspapers in the center of the table. He smiled. The others laughed out loud.
“I like this one best,” Alexis said, pointing to a picture that was above the fold of the Post that showed Arden Gillespie and Roland Sullivan being led from Arden’s apartment in shackles. Snake’s art work appeared sharp and clear. The caption under the picture read: Who is Sara Whittier?
Charles continued to smile. “The couple is out on bail but hiding out in Miss Gillespie’s apartment. Both have legal representation that is in no way superior. The firm of Gillespie and Sullivan is closed. Mrs. Sullivan has taken her children away on an extended vacation which means she will not be standing by her husband in his hour of need. An investigation into Sara’s old case has been reopened.
“The monies we transferred out of the escrow account will be transferred later this week to Alexis’s old clients along with a handsome return on their previous investments. Anonymously, of course. I took the liberty of transferring monies to Alexis’s new brokerage account that Myra and Nikki have set up for her. Five years’ salary, the cost of a new house, new car, five years of health care premiums, and a rather large sum of money as compensation for the incarceration, pain and suffering she endured. The rest of the monies will be returned to the Virginia State Trust. Does this all meet with your approval?” A robust chorus of ayes boomed in Charles’s ears.
Myra looked over at Alexis who had tears in her eyes. “Have you been avenged, dear?” Alexis nodded as she swiped at her tears.
“Are you going to take back your real name?” Nikki asked. “I can do all the paperwork if you want to do that. It’s your call, Alexis.”
“Not right now. Maybe sometime in the future. Alexis Thorn is who I am these days. I don’t know if Sara Whittier could do what Alexis Thorn does. Thanks for the offer, though.”
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