Cindy laughed. “Usually the guy talks about his work first. We talked about everything but. And after all the family stuff, I asked about his business.”
“Alain says the guy’s got real money.”
“Yes, his grandfather started the business – construction – and his dad took it over, and expanded in Europe. He works for his dad, but since he started he’s more than doubled their business and taken it global. He’s a hard worker. And smart.”
“Wow. So that’s where the Malaysia—Madrid connection comes in.” I winked.
Cindy giggled. “That’s it. Their office is in Madrid. And when David was hurt, he was traveling on business in Malaysia. General Pearson was freaked, I guess, because something really bad happened, and he had the whole family brought here.”
I had sudden pangs over my friend, Kendra. “I bet there’s some real big mess goin’ on Cin. We’ve got no idea. And Kendra somehow got in the middle of it.”
“Yeah.” She moaned. “I don’t think Raphael knows any more about it than we do, even though he’s living right there with them on that base. But what in heck could Kendra have been involved with?”
“She must’ve heard something she wasn’t supposed to, Cin. That Dr. Payne was up to his eyeballs in drug money. And she knew about him.”
“Do you think he murdered her? His boat was at that marina where she was found,” Cin said.
“Didn’t seem like a killer to me, but what do I know? Maybe he hired a hit man. And maybe he hired the guys that tried to kill us. Maybe he figured Kendra told us what she knew.” My mind was spinning.
“I guess. But the guys that came after us apparently weren’t too bright.”
“Yeah. But Payne probably wasn’t the brightest bulb of the criminal world either.” I shook my head. “Poor Kendra. What an awful way to go.”
I tossed my magazine aside and got up to throw some water on my face. When I got back, Cin was staring out the window at the guards in the driveway, lit up as bright as day.
I needed to change the subject. “Anyway Cin – you can’t let this one get away. He’s smart and funny and – a hunk! I think he’s even better looking than Eduardo. I mean, they both are handsome, but there’s something special about Raphael.”
Cindy sighed. “I know, I think it’s his manners. I mean he’s outgoing and funny like Eduardo, but he’s not as rough around the edges. You know, he’s more genteel and polite, more like Cisco that way. Too good to be true.”
“Well, I know a lot about ‘too good to be true’ these days. Anyway, I hope you have better luck. At least this guy has more of a regular job.”
“Yeah, a regular job in Madrid, Spain.” Cindy laughed.
***
Doug Bainbridge dropped Beachcomber Magazine on the dinner table in front of me. “One of the guards lent it to me,” he said smirking. Cin faked a swipe at him and Dottie gave him a look as the family sat down to dinner.
“Cool.” It was the best thing that happened to me in a while. Cin smiled at me. I knew she was glad I wasn’t going to let the turkeys get me down.
I used my dramatic voice. “Yeah, I’m okay, Douggy. Thanks for caring. I haven’t killed myself yet.”
“Oh Glori. You know you have everything to live for. Your Beachcomber top ten is on all the newsstands, and I can tell it’s flying off the shelves. So they’ll be calling you for more covers, more travel to all these exotic places,” Dottie said.
“Yeah. Eat your heart out, Secret Agent Man.”
Cindy chuckled. “Well, wherever he is, I bet he sees it.”
“Yeah.” I let out a long sigh.
Cindy passed the salad. “You know, honey, everything may have turned out for the best.”
“Huh?”
“Well, it could really be trouble to get too involved with those guys. I mean, look at Debbie. She’s with him in the hospital because he got shot almost dead, and then she gets poisoned! Then Nita almost gets shot in a hail of gunfire, the first time she leaves the base with Eduardo. It’s a dangerous business, and it puts you in danger too.”
“Yeah, I guess. I just got a broken heart. And Alain, who knows what’s gonna happen to him. I’ll never know if he’s dead or alive. But you’re right Cin, I gotta move on.”
Bud took notice of our conversation all of a sudden. “Wait a minute. Aren’t you girls and Doug meeting up with them tomorrow?”
“Yeah, Dad. Paulo Clemente and his family. Remember the demo?” Doug filled half his plate with potato and gravy.
“I hope that studio has enough security.”
“Sure, Dad.”
I wasn’t so confident in Doug’s answer. And Bud didn’t look like it either.
Eduardo
As Eduardo walked through the door, Paulo was nervously shuffling through his closet for a shirt. Although he still sported a ragged scar, he was feeling back to his normal self, and excited his little brother was getting his big chance in life.
“Hey Paulo! Today’s the day.” He stopped short as he noticed the remains of a large black and blue area on his brother’s right shoulder blade. “Whoa! What happened here?” He put his hand to the spot, as Paulo quickly turned away to put on his shirt.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.” Paulo turned red. “I – I just hit up against something. The door, I guess.”
Eduardo followed as his brother fled into the small closet. “Did someone push you?”
“No. It’s nothing.” Paulo grabbed for a tie. “Mama wants me to wear a suit and tie. I don’t think they get all dressed up here. I don’t want to look like a foreigner. They’ll think I’m stupid if I show up with the wrong clothes.”
Paulo was obviously trying to distract him with his tirade. Considering the stress he was under, Eduardo decided to back off.
***
His tie already undone, Paulo shook Doug Bainbridge’s hand. Practically the entire family proudly looked on as Doug said how impressed he and his colleagues were with Paulo’s CD. Heading toward the studio, Doug discussed the plan for the morning.
Paulo explained that Cat had written most of the lyrics for his songs, and she, Nita and Paulo were the voices on the CD. He handed Doug a portfolio of songs he had composed, and another CD that included solo performances by Cat and Nita. Doug was impressed before they reached the studio. Paulo looked increasingly nervous.
“So you guys have played together for a while?” Doug looked up at the three, after listening to the new CD. He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head.
“Yes.” Paulo nodded. “When Cat and Nita are home, and sometimes we’ve played together in Salzburg.” He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.
“Who’s your drummer?”
“Oh I – I always play the drums, most every instrument, unless Cat is around to help with keyboards.” Paulo was beginning to stammer. Cat sat beside him, and took his hand to calm him.
Doug nodded, “Excellent!” Then he fell quiet.
Paulo turned whiter the longer Doug remained silent.
Doug finally spoke. “Okay. I’m going to have you take a seat at the piano, and do a song for me. Don’t worry about the other instruments, just a simple song. Warm up the voice a bit.” He pointed him to the piano.
Paulo took an obvious breath as he rose from his seat, and let go of Cat’s comforting hand.
Doug began flipping through pages of songs in the portfolio. “These are fantastic! You sure have written a ton of music. How long have you been composing?”
Paulo looked up from the piano. “Oh, I’ve been writing songs since I was about three years old. But I – I didn’t think you’d want them all today. I just brought a few.”
His eyes opened wide. “A few? There must be a hundred songs here.”
Paulo began to play, and the stress on his face disappeared as he involved himself in the music. He sang in a tenor voice that captivated – gentle and bold, plaintive and almost comedic, when required. His music displayed a wide range
of emotion, and his instrument and his voice conveyed it.
After Paulo had been performing for an hour, Doug walked over to him and slapped him on the back. “Awesome! Let’s hear what your friends can do.”
Cat and Nita exchanged nervous glances.
Doug said, “Nita, why don’t you sing a song, and Cat can take over at the piano. Paulo, take the drums or guitar, whatever you want.”
Some musicians entered the studio, and Doug invited them to take a seat as one of them began to approach Nita. Eduardo warded him off with a threatening glare. The musician backed away into a chair.
The women joined Paulo, and after some discussion they began their performance. Doug was impressed. Nita sang with a powerful and sultry voice that complemented her sensual manner. Eduardo surveyed the faces of the musicians, and confirmed his opinion. The men were awestruck.
Then it was Cat’s turn to do a song. “Almost an operatic quality,” Doug said. Finally, the three sang together. Doug was enthused.
He approached Francisco and Camellia, “Why don’t we all go have a seat in the conference room?”
He escorted everyone to a spacious room, and offered a variety of drinks. Paulo nervously sipped water and gripped Cat’s hand. Cisco stood behind them, his hands on their shoulders, giving words of encouragement.
Eduardo squeezed Nita, barely able to contain himself. “You were fantastic! Fantastic!” Exhilarated by her performance, she glowed.
Doug took a seat at the table, placing the portfolio in front of him. He paused before speaking. “Well, it’s obvious you guys are talented, and I think you have a nice stage presence. And this music you’ve written, well these songs themselves are worth a lot of money. You’ll have a lot of artists after you for permission to do your songs. Just flipping through these pages, I can match a bunch of these with some top, top artists.”
He turned to Francisco. “My first suggestion to you is to get an agent. The best, because Paulo is really something special. You want someone that knows the ins and outs of the business, someone with connections, you know. You may end up spending some bucks, but a top agent is well worth the money. Especially, like I said, with this pile of music. If the other stuff he has at home is half as good as these – you’re really looking at a chunk of change. That said, well, when an artist can write their own music, it makes a huge difference. Those people are often the biggest stars. And I think if we add a couple of musicians to your band, with your talent, and frankly, your sex appeal, you could well be superstars. The right presentation, the right videos, marketing, you know it could really happen for you guys.”
Paulo looked like he was breathing again.
Francisco smiled. “I appreciate your advice, Doug – and taking the time with us to review all of this. We have always believed Paulo is special, and I’m glad we have had this opportunity to present him and his work to you. And, of course, Nita and Cat—well, we have always known they are very talented. However, my wife and I do have some concerns.”
Paulo put his head in his hands.
Surprised by this reaction, Doug rolled his chair around to look at him directly. “Sure. What are your questions?”
“As you know, Paulo is only sixteen years old. He’s still not finished his schooling. And, although music is a big part of his life, he still must devote time to his other studies. Our other concern, of course, is his health.”
Doug interrupted. “I understand, Francisco. We do have a number of kids about his age who are stars. These days it’s more common. And we do make special arrangements for them, you know, to complete their schoolwork, and so forth. And as far as his health, well a lot of parents do take an active role in their kid’s career. It does help keep them off drugs and alcohol, keeps them from partying too much. Not a problem.”
Doug was obviously not aware of Paulo’s medical condition.
Francisco nodded. “Ah I understand, Doug. But what I meant about his health – Paulo has a disease called hemophilia. It’s a genetic disease that affects his blood clotting.”
“He’s a bleeder?” Doug asked bluntly. “I – I mean…”
“Yes.” Francisco answered simply.
“Oh.” Doug recovered his composure. “I’m sorry, Francisco, I didn’t know. Well, it sure didn’t seem to affect him today in the studio.”
“It doesn’t affect me or my music,” Paulo told his parents.
Francisco gave him a sympathetic look and turned back to Doug. “It’s just that his mother and I would be concerned I suppose, that he might have some problem during a performance, or from banging those drums for hours on end. He has avoided problems with bleeding into the joints so far, but it is a common complication of the disease.”
“Well, does he have any complications?” Doug asked. He watched Paulo shaking his head.
“He does bleed into his stomach, if he’s under stress. And certainly there must be stress in a music career.”
Paulo appeared to be losing hope of having his heart’s desire. Francisco cast another sympathetic glance at him.
He turned to face Doug. “But I know that Paulo was born to give his gift of music to the world. And it would kill him not to play. So, I guess what I am saying, in this roundabout way is – is there any way to allow him to have this career without ruining his health?”
“Well.” Doug thought for a moment. “The biggest stressor on a musician is the touring. It’s a lot of travel, and night after night of playing. It is tough on anyone, never mind somebody with this problem. So my thought would be to minimize the live concerts, maximize the work in the studio, the videos, TV and radio exposure, probably some guest appearances. And pick and choose the concert opportunities. Also, I’d say, consider having some other artists do some of the songs. It’ll put money in your pocket without having to go out and perform. And I’ll go back to my advice about the agent – you’ll really need a good strategy and someone capable of carrying it off. I don’t want to sound like a used car salesman, but I do know the best man for the job, if you’re interested.”
“Of course, we are interested.” Francisco smiled.
“His name’s Joe Harris. He’s the best. He can be tough when he needs to be. He gets things done. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. But he doesn’t mess around. If he’s interested in representing an artist, he pretty much gives them the deal, and that’s it. And he’s that good. He’s worth it. If you want, I’ll call him. See if we can get him over here.”
“You’ve worked together quite a bit, I take it?” Francisco asked.
“Yes, all the time. You’ve probably heard of Aubrey Rose?”
Francisco and Camellia had no idea who Doug was talking about. The younger generation all nodded in the affirmative.
“He represents her, and she’s a mega star, even though your parents haven’t heard of her.” Doug laughed. “But seriously, he’s the one that got her to where she is. Nice girl and everything, I mean I’ve produced her records. But she hasn’t got as much of a voice as Nita or Cat. And she doesn’t write her own material either. Beautiful body, great smile, good voice, personality, incredible marketing. That’s about it.”
Francisco considered and winked at Paulo. “I suppose there would be no harm in speaking with Mr. Harris. But I wouldn’t want to waste his time.”
Doug said, “Francisco, I wouldn’t have offered to call him if I thought it would waste anybody’s time. Even if Paulo decides not to pursue a recording deal, I think it would be worthwhile for you both to talk about all this music he’s written. And Cat too, of course.”
“Very well, we’ll be happy to meet him.” Francisco nodded.
“Great!”
Doug left the conference room to make the phone call from his office. Everyone looked to Paulo as they heard him heave a loud sigh, and bury his head in his arms on the table. Laughter broke out. There were hugs all around. Looked like things would be changing.
Glori
Paulo, Nita and Cat blew me away. And I knew
Doug couldn’t sign them fast enough. He was right. Joe Harris would be the perfect agent for them. With Cin and Raphael snuggling in the corner of the conference room, I felt like kind of a third wheel, so I followed Douggy to his office.
“Hey Joe!” Doug pressed the speaker phone button and danced around. I joined him, and he twirled me around till I was dizzy and laughing. “Where are you?”
“Stuck in traffic, where else?” We heard a voice muffled by the sound of chewing. “I’m on my way over to see you. Gotta talk to you about Aubrey, need to get her back in the studio. I’m only two blocks away, should make it there within the hour! Hey, you seen Robby around? I need to talk to him.”
“Yeah. Yeah Joe, I need you to meet some people. They’re here now in the conference room.”
“Yeah, sure, Doug, but I’m kinda busy today.”
“This is important. I promise you it’ll be worth your while.”
I yelled at the phone. “Yeah, Joe! This is way worth your while!”
“Glori? That you? Well don’t you sound all excited. What’s goin’ on now?”
Doug leaned over the phone. “I got a kid here that writes music like you wouldn’t believe. He’s got two friends with him—well, all three of them—great, great voices. And they are hot! This girl, Nita, every guy that walks by does a double take – triple take. She’s gorgeous! I mean, she’s stacked, and this shiny black hair all the way to her waist. It’s so shiny, it sparkles. I mean she should be a model. She’s tall, probably five nine or five ten. Dazzling smile. Except she’s got this jealous military commando boyfriend that kinda puts the damper on things.”
I recovered from my twirling and watched Doug go on with gusto. Joe’s cackling laughter cracked me up.
“Well, the voice that comes outta’ her! I mean it Joe, she’s hot. They already have CD’s the kid did himself. I’m tellin’ you they’re golden, and I don’t think they should leave here without a contract.”
There was silence on the phone for a minute before Joe spoke. We could hear him puffing on his cigar. “So why don’t you ask her for a date?”
Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) Page 15