by P J Gilbers
“You’re scared, I can feel it.”
“Yeah.”
She played with my breasts. I kissed her lips and face.
“Smile. You look like you have gas. This is supposed to feel good.”
We kissed again. I was surprised at how aroused I was getting.
“Let’s head for the door, Jack’s coming.”
Jack limped onto the dance floor and we all inched our way to the doors. As soon as the paparazzi saw us the cameras were flashing.
“Sam! I told you to stay away from that bitch!”
“Jack, leave her alone!” raged Lisa. “She’s going home with me. I love her.”
“Sam,” Jack screamed, “let go of her and come with me, we’re leaving!”
Lisa dragged me out the door. There was a hush in the crowd. “Jack, you have to face the fact…she’s mine, my sweet little pussy…”
Jack lunged at Lisa, his toe catching on the sidewalk, crashing to the ground. He screamed in pain and pulled his knee up to his chest.
Fritz was right there, signaling me and Lisa to leave.
“He’s hurt,” I whispered to Lisa. “I’ve got to go.”
“They’ll take care of him, sweetie, come on. If you go back to him this whole act is ruined. You’ll be on your way to protective custody.”
“I know, can’t help it. Damn. The cast is cracked in two. He could have really done some damage. I can’t, I just can’t. I’m not leaving him.”
Lisa came back and kissed me on top of the head.
“I’m sorry, honey,” she whispered. “Don’t you worry. He’ll be okay.”
“I’ll see you soon, love,” she shouted for the press’s ears and swaggered to the car waiting for her.
Fritz drove behind the ambulance. I rode inside with Jack.
“Dammit, Sam, why didn’t you go with Lisa?”
“Because I’m honorary and stubborn and hard to get along with.”
He smiled at me as the pain medicine kicked in.
It was a busy Saturday night in the emergency room but Fritz had been on the phone with Dr. Taylor right away. As soon as we got in the hospital we were whisked into a room in the back.
They x-rayed his ankle and a doctor came in.
“Good news. All of the hardware is as it should be and there are no new fractures. And, everything is healing very well. I was on the phone to Dr Taylor. We’ll just put a new cast on and you’ll be on your way.”
Jack slept on the way back and it took Luis and Fritz to get him into the den. They wrestled his shirt off him and he never woke up.
Fritz and I wandered to the kitchen. He made tea.
“Let’s go back to my place and watch some telly. It’s been a wild, fucking night.”
I followed him out a side door and we walked to the east of the compound. The house was a white cube flanked in the back by a huge round building.
“Your house is amazing.”
“Thanks. Did it myself. The design that is.”
The foyer interior resembled, surprisingly, the foyer of a hobbit hole, with extraordinary arched beams and natural stone on the walls and floor. To the right was an open kitchen, brick hearth, and modern appliances. And straight ahead was the round room, with two-story glass on the left and right, an antique fireplace, and two-story bookshelves, complete with a rolling ladder. To the left was a grand piano with scattered groupings of comfortable sofas and oversized chairs.
We sat down on a red sofa and stared out at the lights of the city.
“You came back for Jack. You should have gone with Lisa.”
“I’ve been thinking all night…”
“I know. You didn’t speak a word.”
“When my parents died, after the funeral, I ran away. I just got in my car and drove. For three days. I just drove and once in a while I slept. I ended up in south Texas somewhere and then I had a shiver. This really weird shiver. And it kind of brought me back to reality. I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do. So I went home, broke off my engagement with my boyfriend, and worked two jobs to get me through college.
“When I was raped I wanted to run. Every night I would think about it, but I had friends and my work, and Welsh was in prison. But when he escaped that was it. I had to run.
“Tonight I realized that I was just running again. Hiding. And I’m not doing that anymore. For all we know Welsh doesn’t read the tabloids. For all we know I’ll be just as safe here as anywhere else. Maybe safer. And, if it gets dicey then I’ll do something.”
He stared at me for a long time.
“There is something to be said for being brave, little one, another for being a fool. If Welsh catches you he will not kill you quickly.”
“You don’t think I should stay?”
He took my hand and stared at it for a long time.
“I wish I had a crystal ball, my love, but I don’t. I just want you to be safe.”
We watched The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and cuddled on the couch.
“Stay,” he whispered.
“If I stay…it won’t be ‘no sex,’ and we both know it.”
“Sam, will you ever be mine? Just tell me now.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“It’s a distinct possibility.”
“But not an automatic ‘yes.’”
“I have to work through things with David. I have to see how Jack and I are going to do. I have to.”
I stood up. He hugged me around the waist, kissing my stomach, pulling my dress up, my panties down.
“Fritz! No…can’t…gotta go.”
I ran out and back to the house. I was panting and not from the run.
Jack was still asleep and the house was deadly quiet.
The dress was becoming uncomfortable so I took it off and picked up the shirt Jack had been wearing. It had his scent on it; I hugged it before I slipped it on and climbed into the other side of the bed. I had no idea what I was going to do next.
Oscar yelled.
“You are not going to believe this shit. I picked up the Morning Sun and look who’s on the front page!”
Robert took it from him.
“Jack Nolan. Wow. Find his house, Oscar. And find out how we can get to somebody on the inside there. A cook, a maid, somebody. You get another steak dinner. Look out Sam ‘cause here I come and come and come…”
Traffic was loud outside Robert’s cracked bedroom window.
Gabrielle leaned over him, placing her hands over his mouth and nose, just as he had done to Sam.
He woke up gasping. She smiled at him, pushing harder, then, just before he was about to die she dissolved into a rain of ash.
Saturday
I woke knowing I was not alone.
The sunbeam played across Tonto’s face. I thought I saw him grin.
The sheet was being pulled off me. I pulled back.
I rolled over and looked at Jack’s smiling face.
“Did you take advantage of me while I was doped up? I want details.”
“No. I just…I didn’t want to be alone upstairs."
He cocooned me in his arms, pressing hard against me.
“I want to wake up like this every morning.” He kissed me. “But I want you naked.”
He unbuttoned my shirt, caressing the skin he uncovered, button by button.
Perhaps I was ready for Jack…perhaps David was wrong.
He bent down to kiss my nipples and slid my underwear off along the way. His hand moved gently, expertly between my legs. It was the sharp edge of ecstasy.
“I love you with …” he whispered. “But I’m wondering why you have grass on your feet.”
He dove under the sheet and looked at them.
“I was at Fritz’.”
He came back up and faced me.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why did you leave his bed?”
“Wasn’t in his bed.”
“Technicality. Why did you leave hi
m?”
“David was right. I wasn’t ready.”
I was naked in his arms now. I was ready. He was so hot and I wanted him…his touch was like magma…
Someone pounded on the front door.
“No!” Jack bellowed.
I jumped up and pulled on my kimono from last night.
“Son of a bitch,” Jack mumbled. He struggled, pulling his suit pants over his cast.
“Should I answer that?”
“Let’s see, if it’s the psychopathic killer do you think we should just invite him in for coffee? No. That’s what I pay security to do. How the hell did they let anyone get up to the door?”
Then Silverman walked in.
“Oh, it’s you. Come on back in the kitchen. I need coffee. Don’t you ever sleep?” Jack was grumbling.
Silverman didn’t smile which made me uneasy.
“Morning tabloids have someone’s face all over them. And her name.”
He threw them on the counter.
“That was the plan,” said Fritz, suddenly appearing.
“Until she ‘rejected her lesbian lover and returned to Jack Nolan.’ Now they know exactly where you are.”
“He fell,” I explained.
“I would have been fine,” Jack said. “You should have gone with Lisa…”
“Okay. It’s over now. But I’ve talked it over with my people and we’ve decided to keep you running loose.”
“No protective custody?” I asked.
“Not right now. We feel we’ve got a better advantage of trying to lure him out if we place you in strategic places. Away from people.”
“Away from people?”
“Right. Crowds.”
“Where?”
“We thought you and Fritz could go back to the beach where you were first spotted. We’ll leak something to the press. If Fritz is willing, of course.”
Fritz nodded. “I’ll try to suffer through.”
“What about me?” Jack asked.
“You’ve got to be at the studio.” Fritz smirked. “The show must go on, old man.”
Jack glared at him.
“It would be ideal if Sam and Fritz could add to the scandal, if you know what I mean. Stir the pot. Get more press. I know it’s asking a lot.”
“Not at all,” Fritz put his arm around me, re-buttoning my mismatched line of buttons, grinning at Jack. “Anything for the cause.”
“Leave at one. I’ll make sure cameras are around. And here’s your tracking device. Place it somewhere very hidden. After you bathe. Dry skin of course.”
He handed me a tiny square.
“This little thing?”
“We’ll activate it at one. Call me if anything changes.”
“Alright, but I want my people following her,” Jack said.
Silverman sighed.
“If they blend in and they stay out of sight. If we spook Welsh he’ll bolt for sure.”
At one o’clock I was dressed in my swimsuit and a wrap. Luis, dressed as a homeless man, brought around the Porsche for us. It was quite a juxtaposition. The car was black and looked every inch like sex on wheels. Roger was back but walking with a cane so he could only coordinate. As promised the paparazzi were lined up at the end of the driveway.
“Where are you headed today?” one of them screamed at me.
“The beach. Malibu. Ta!” I told them and waved. “This is so…not real.”
“What?”
“This car, going to Malibu. The whole thing.”
“I assure you it’s real. Would you like a car? I’ll get you one tomorrow.”
Fritz drove to the spot he had been before, and just as hoped, the paparazzi were in full force.
“Must be a slow news day,” I said.
“No, anything with Jack’s name on it is gold. Now give me a kiss, this is a great angle for them.”
We kissed.
“We have to get out and walk now,” I said.
“Right, easy for you to say.”
We climbed down to the sand and walked to the water, arm in arm.
“Good angle again. Kiss me.”
He pulled me up, my feet barely touching the warm sand.
“Turn so they can get your face. I’m very pleased you didn’t have sex with Jack.”
“But…it was close. It would have happened if Silverman…”
“Would it? Weren’t you starting to feel your usual panic?”
“No. Not at all.”
He turned and rested his arms on my shoulders.
“Look me in the eye and tell me that.”
“Oooooh! Damn you. How can you tell I’m lying? How do you know me so well?”
“I know it still bugs the crap out of you that he’s your boss. Big kiss for the cameras.”
He hugged me so tight I could barely breathe.
“I love you, I will always love you,” he whispered. “Let me take you away from this monster, take you somewhere safe. Today. Now.”
“I don’t want to feel this way. When I’m with you I’m in love with you, and when I’m with Jack…” I turned and walked away from him.
“Did you notice we’re the only ones on the beach?” I asked.
“Don’t look around. Luis is on the pier sorting through trash, there are two undercover officers at the restaurant having lunch, and Gloria is collecting sea shells under the pier.”
“How did you know that? You’re brilliant.”
“I know,” he smiled.
A waiter came down from Sunnie’s carrying a tray of food. He sat the tray on the sand and nodded to us. Fritz handed him a tip.
“I guess Silverman sent it,” Fritz said.
“Looks yummy. Their guacamole is fantastic.”
I picked up my drink and there was a white envelope stuck to the bottom. It had ‘Sam’ on it.
Fritz held it by the sides and turned it over. A large thumbprint was on the back like a seal. It looked like blood.
Fritz pulled out his phone but Silverman was there before he could punch the button.
Silverman picked up the envelope, and slit the top open with his knife. A small note was enclosed.
Lilith, did you think I would try something stupid with so many of your friends around? Looking forward to tasting you again. I know you have missed me, too. R.
Silverman put the note and envelope in a large plastic bag.
I watched the reporters shoving and pushing to get down the pier. Uniformed police officers stopped them.
“He was here, wasn’t he?” I asked.
Silverman nodded.
“In that sense today was a success. We’ll get him, Princess. You just have to keep working with us. You did a great job out there. Very believable. Maybe you should go into acting.”
We both nodded sheepishly and then he looked at us again.
“Oh, I see. My, my, my. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Does Mr. Hollywood know?”
“Sort of…” I said.
“It’s a friendly rivalry.” Fritz put his arm around me.
“I hope it stays friendly,” he smiled and walked away. “People get shot over such friendly rivalries.” He grinned, his dimples showing.
The next day Robert took pictures of the kids in the pool, marking the one he’d seen Sam with. The kid with the frog. The littlest one.
Oscar was walking behind, wanting to get away.
“He looks sweet, juicy, don’t he? I wonder how four year old blood tastes.”
Oscar ran to the car, stopping to vomit along the way.
Friday
I had survived a week of shooting and I felt like an old pro. When I awoke Friday morning instead of my usual wakeup call from Fritz I woke to find him sitting beside me grinning.
“I brought you coffee. And I put your paycheck in your account, as requested. Here’s your pay slip.”
“You’re sitting on the blankets and I can’t get up.” I was snippy.
“Sorry.” He put his coffee down and leapt over me, curling up next to me.
<
br /> “Pay day. Wow. Awesome.”
I opened the envelope and gasped.
“No way. This is wrong.”
“Nope. Jack thinks very highly of you.” He rested his chin on my shoulder.
I sat on the side of the bed staring at the piece of paper.
“Now don’t get morose. Get dressed. We’re going to the studio. Jack wants us traveling as a pack. Unfortunately, I will have to be gone part of the day but Roger will be limping along. He has a doctor’s appointment and then he’ll join you at the studio. I have to go sign some papers for a real estate deal.”
“What’s on today?”
“The love scene.”
“Good. Should be good for his foot.” For some reason I was mad at the world.
“Are you alright, dearie?”
“Yes. Now let me get my shower and I’ll be down in a minute. Thanks for the coffee.”
Jack slept on the way to the studio, as usual. The set was quiet.
“Going to be a closed set, right?”
“Right. They’ll probably let you stay if you go off in a corner and don’t say a peep.”
“I promise. No peeps.”
“ Jack is off to make-up and costume and hopefully a mood booster. I’m off to the real estate lawyer. Call me if you need anything. Or call Roger. He’s due in here in a few hours.”
I sat in a small chair in a far corner. I hoped they didn’t kick me out. I wasn’t sure where I would go and after yesterday I had to assume Welsh could be anywhere.
Suddenly John pulled up a chair next to me.
“How are you? ‘Been seein’ you in the papers. ‘You and Jack on the outs?”
I tried to laugh.
“Jack and I were never on the in’s. I’m his therapist. I’m taking care of his poor foot.” I didn’t trust John with any information. It was going to be hard hats and safety vests with this joker.
“I see, I see. But you and Fritz…”
I shook my head.
“So you are, as they say, a free agent.”
“As they say.”
His mouth was dangerously close to my ear, his breath warm.
“And you’re from Kansas City.”
“Yes.”
“I’m from Chicago.”
We seemed to suddenly be intimate.
“Mmm. I love Chicago. Only went once. Family vacation. I loved the aquarium. Great memories. The mind...is truly where we live. The mind is everything.”