Unforgettable

by P J Gilbers

  “I’m sorry. I just imploded. I had to get out of here.”

  “What’s going on?”

  I shook my head.

  “Get me some lunch. How did the scene go?”

  “Okay. I guess you didn’t watch it…that’s what’s wrong. You saw the scene.”

  “Yes. And I’m terribly jealous. Now …lunch before I fall over. I forgot I hadn’t eaten before I had those boiler makers.”

  “You’re still lying but I’ll get you some lunch anyway.”

  We wandered to the food table.

  “You and Fritz have a fight?”

  “No. Fritz has been gone all morning. Now stop with the twenty questions.”

  He stared at me with that grizzly bear scowl.

  “Staring will do you no good.”

  “I can’t stand not knowing a secret. I’ve always been like that. Always have to know what’s going on.”

  John walked by and pulled me aside.

  “I’m thinking two weeks from tomorrow.”

  “Oh, Jack won’t be walking by then. He’ll need to be in a boot before I can leave him alone.”

  “Right. Maybe three weeks…”

  “Think you can put me in as an extra? That would kind of explain what I’m talking about to you.”

  He smiled.

  “Nude?”

  “Maybe.”

  He smiled again.

  “Sure. We might have to rehearse. Tonight.” He winked and walked away.

  I turned around. Jack was pissed.

  “I’m going to be an extra.” I took a big bite of my sandwich feeling much better.

  “Now tell me what the hell is going on!”

  “Can’t. Employees have a right to their own lives. Do you ask Sarah or Roger or Gloria what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with?”

  “Who are you doing it with, Sam?” He was building up steam. “Do not step foot into any room, any car, any dwelling with John. Do you hear me? He...he is not like anyone you've known. Trust me.”

  “I can handle John, believe me.”

  He reached over and grabbed my shoulders.

  “This employee thing again. Is that what the tears are about? You got your paycheck today. Is that what’s wrong?”

  I didn’t want to answer him.

  “What happens when that ankle is healed and you don’t need me anymore?”

  People were staring.

  “Let’s walk. You know one of the things I hate most about the cast and the crutches?”

  “You can’t dance the hoochie koochie?” I wriggled around.

  “Boy, you are in a mood.”

  “Sorry. The booze is still swirling around in there. By the way, I just love Doug and Larry the bartender. They were so nice and Doug spoke so highly of you. Of course being seven feet tall he speaks highly of everyone!” I doubled over in laughter. “God, I’m so funny.”

  “And you’re still drunk,” he laughed. “Maybe I should take you to one of the dressing rooms…no…better not.”

  “What do you hate most about the cast?”

  “I can’t walk with you, put my arms around you.”

  The grizzly was gone. He was using his “come-to-bed-with-me” voice now.

  “I do not want to lose you. And I feel you slipping away. You’re going to leave aren’t you?”

  We sat on a bench. I looked down, running my finger over his sapphire ring.

  “I won’t let you go. I’ll find you. I can’t bear to live without you. There’s got to be another way.”

  “I don’t know, Jack. I’m broken now.”

  “You can get a job here…”

  “Doubt it.”

  “You could talk to some of the big wigs tonight. They’ll have jobs for you in a New York minute.”

  “Because I’m with you. And they’ll compensate me…just like Jack does.”

  He sat back and stared at me. He’d finally hit the nerve. It didn’t take long before he put it together.

  His face was dark. He lifted my chin.

  “A high priced hooker,” I said. “I’ve already been offered a side job. A little weekend work. Don’t worry, I scheduled it so that you’ll have your boot on by then.”

  “Who? It’s not too hard to guess.”

  “I will not tell you, Jack. No matter how much you scowl at me. And don’t go sticking up for me. I’m taking care of it myself—quite well, actually. I have something planned for tonight so promise me you won’t go getting macho…”

  Silence.

  “I promise you I have it taken care of. And you damn well better decrease my salary to something reasonable.”

  He nodded.

  I went to look for Roger.

  Eddie and Robert climbed the steps to the abandoned building. It overlooked Nolan’s compound.

  Eddie was eating again. “I bet Nolan’s fucking her.”

  Robert turned and punched him.

  Oscar was waiting in the car. His phone rang.

  “Hey, Arnie! How’s St Louis?”

  “Ripe for the pickin’. Bobby still after that piece of ass out there?”

  “Yeah. He’s talkin’ about snatchin’ her now ‘cause she’s living with Jack Nolan, the big ass movie star. Can you believe that shit? I hate that Bobby. He’s lookin’ at kids now, too, man. If I had any money I’d leave his sorry ass. I hate him…”

  “Well, maybe I can help you out. I’m in a sweet situation right now but I need my computer expert cousin to tell me how to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “I’ve been hired as a sales rep for this company, right? So I figured out a way to set up a fake company and I’m going to get invoices and PO’s in here but I need higher security access to fuck with the processing. What should I do? I’ll send ya’ a cut…”

  “Just find out what kind of systems they have, find out who in the company is responsible for entering vendor information, who enters what’s received…if you can get access to their logins…like… all you gotta do is just get at their desks when no one else is around and they’re still logged in and enter your shit…take a blue tooth with you, let me know when, and you can call me…I’ll walk you through it…just don’t tell Bobby, man.”

  “No way is she fucking that bastard!” Robert pointed his camera, trying to pick up any movement around the estate.

  “Hot damn! Look Eddie. Pregnant black woman, nice looking too, by the pool. I’ve never tasted pregnant blood or the blood of an unborn. Pure. Sweet. Man, what a find. We could get her and Sam.”

  With much pleading Roger had finally taken me to the store. I bought a large purse and put several items in it that I wouldn’t let anyone see. I also bought a white backless sundress. It tied at the neck, fit tight on my stomach. Just what I needed.

  Jack was finishing a scene wearing his gladiator outfit. He was smeared in mud and ash.

  I went to the medic area and loaded up on ice and wraps.

  “You look incredible,” Fritz said from behind, whispering in my ear. “Rumor has it that you were a bit upset today.”

  “I was. But, I’m in a party mood so I’m feeling much better.”

  “A bar before eleven. Odd. Not like you. So, my old friend took care of you…while you passed out.” He put his arms around me. “Jack’s been upset, too. Want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

  “It’s too much, Fritz. I’ll think about it tomorrow, fiddle dee dee. But tonight I am going to have a very good time.”

  “Damn this is a fine day. First a little photography and now Oscar sets up this nice little meeting…,” Robert told Eddie as they walked into the bar. They slid into the back booth, just as they had been told.

  “How’d you find out I did time?”

  Robert smiled. “My brother’s a hacker. Not Eddie, here. He’s too stupid. My brother Oscar is a fucking genius. He followed you home from work. We stole your mail. Just started putting the pieces together.”

  “So this is some sweet set up here with Nol
an,” Eddie grinned.

  “Right.”

  “Stealin a little here, a little there. Nobody notices. Two beers,” Robert told the waiter.

  “I don’t steal. He’s good to me.”

  “Right. And my mom’s pretty. Fuck. Whatever. Okay, here’s the deal. You put this in Sam’s room sometime today. It’s on a timer. Make sure you hide it real good. But…the sounds gotta get out. I want her to move out of that fucking fortress. Somewhere I can get at her.

  “Early in the morning you sneak back in and remove it. If you screw up I tell your boss, and your pretty new pussy, who you are.”

  By six the scenes were finally finished. I helped Jack into a deck chair and wrapped his knee.

  “You’re in a lot of pain.”

  “And you’re absolutely gorgeous. And you’re smiling.”

  “I have that business to take care of I told you about and I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to get us some food and some wine and we’re going to relax for a while.”

  I came back with mounds of food and wine.

  “Where’s Fritz? He was just here.”

  “Don’t know.”

  John slithered next to me, smiling.

  “Want to go over that part?” I nodded, picked up my bag and slipped my arm through his.

  He took me back to one of the dressing rooms and locked the door. I didn’t like the sound of that lock turning.

  “You look lovely tonight.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So, how long have you been doing this kind of work?”

  “Ten years.”

  “You must be very good at it.”

  “You can judge that.”

  He put his arms around me and untied my sundress. He kissed my nipples and began to suck on them. He was rough and it hurt. And he knew it. He undid his pants. They fell to the floor.

  “Isn’t there something you’d like to suck on?”

  “God, yes. But…this is going to sound silly…a bit kinky.”

  “Mmmm. Kinky is my middle name.”

  His hands were wandering up my skirt.

  “Over the years I’ve developed this little chart…a sort of little black book.”

  “Okay.”

  “Before I fuck my men I get them very hard and then…”

  “Yes?”

  “I measure them.” I pulled a book out of my bag that I had weathered and written in that afternoon.

  “Yours would be one of the most famous I have.”

  I stroked his dick and pulled him closer to me.

  “I see you’re already hard as a rock.”

  “Oh, yeah.” He was panting.

  I eased him back in a chair.

  “Mmmhmm. You certainly are going to be within my top ten percent…maybe five.”

  I went back to my bag and pulled out an eighteen inch ruler.

  “Let’s see now. Oh, yes…six inches and one eighth. Very impressive. Can’t wait to feel you, deep, so deep…”

  “Wow. That’s cold. Seems to be stuck.”

  “Probably the instant glue I put on it.” I held the ruler like a handle on his quickly shrinking penis.

  “You what? You bitch. Get this off!”

  “I want you to listen to me very closely, John, and if I like how you respond I will give you the acetone to take this off. I am Jack’s therapist. I am here to help his foot heal and to get him up and moving again. That’s what I’m paid for. Understand? Not sex.”

  “Oh yes. Very sorry. Sorry about the Chicago thing…can I have the acetone now?”

  I took my phone out and took a picture of him.

  “This stays between us. You cause any trouble and this picture will fall into the wrong hands. Agree?”

  “Yes, yes. Just give me the damn stuff. It’s really pulling now.”

  I smiled and gave him two large bottles of fingernail polish remover and a bag of cotton balls, tying my dress back again. I left leaving the door open.

  Kelly walked in and burst into fits of laughter. I smiled and walked back to Jack.

  Laughter was now spreading like wildfire.

  I showed Jack my picture and I thought he was going to fall on the floor laughing. He had changed into Chinos and a black tee shirt and he looked good enough to eat. Which I was contemplating.

  “I think it would be wise if we got the hell out of here,” I whispered.

  In the car Jack took my hand.

  “A good friend of mine told me I was being too hard on you.”

  “Wise friend.”

  “I was hoping you would do me the honor of going on a date with me.”

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.” He told Roger, “Tony’s.”

  We drove to Tony’s, Jack and I snuggled in the backseat. Jack stretched out as much as he could, propping his leg on my lap.

  I clucked at him.

  “I know, I know. Bad foot. Bad Jack.”

  “Tomorrow you need some rest.”

  “I agree with that.” Smiling he lit a cigar. I threw it out the window.

  “Bad cigar. Bad Jack.”

  He laughed.

  “That cigar did absolutely nothing to you.”

  Sting was on the radio…

  ….you’ll remember me when the west wind moves upon the fields of

  barley….

  “Will you always remember me?” I whispered.

  “I won’t have to. You’ll always be with me.”

  He pulled me up on top of him and held me.

  “I’m never going to let you go.”

  …feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth…

  “This is such a beautiful, romantic song. ‘Feels so good to just lay here with you.”

  Unbuttoning his shirt I kissed his chest playing with his silk tangle of hair. My eyes drifted closed and I fell into a warm, contented slumber.

  Silverman was sitting alone, staring at the reports on his desk.

  The Chief had piled on twice as much work as the other detectives. Old cold cases. Cases that would take legwork. Cases he would never solve. And then get dismissed.

  He was surprised when his phone range and it was Hilton.

  "Got a minute?"

  "Sure."

  "The Governor and the Mayor are having a friendly drink. Thought you might be thirsty."

  "Where?"

  "We're sitting outside."

  Silverman sighed. This was not going to be good. Why didn't he go into the shoe business.

  He was bone tired as he walked out into the warm night air to waiting limousine.

  Forty-five minutes later we arrived at Tony’s. Surrounding the main floor was a New Orleans style balcony with wrought iron railings and Spanish moss.

  “This is so beautiful,” I whispered.

  “You don’t have to whisper.”

  People stared and pointed as we walked through and took a service elevator to the balcony. A woman played the piano in the corner. Lights were dim.

  “I want to dance with you,” he held my hand. “You are so amazingly beautiful.”

  “Where do you think Fritz is?”

  He put his drink down, folding his hands. He stared.

  “You know, if you want to make a go of it with Fritz, I’ll understand. He’s a good man. ‘Been my best friend for fifteen years. And I am an excellent judge of character.”

  “You’re serious.”

  “Not a bit, but I thought it would sound noble of me to say it. If you end up with Fritz…I’ll have to deal with it.”

  “I know it seems like I’m just a tease, that I should just go to bed with you and we can become lovers, and this tug and pull would end. I don’t mean to do that…to be a tease. I’ve never had trouble with men…like this. In fact…that’s why Welsh attacked me.”

  “You’re going to have to explain that one.”

  “He had been watching me for a long time…months. When I would have men over, a
nd we’d end up in bed, he’d watch. He told me all about it. Told me all the things I had done, how I did it. He said I was evil, vile, sinful. That’s why Satan wanted me so much.”

  He stared at me.

  Finally he said, “Now it makes sense. You were bad and that’s why this horrible thing happened.

  “You know that none of that is true. Human beings have sex. All the time. All over the place. Do you know how many people are having sex right now, in this block?”

  “Not really.”

  “Forty eight. Oh, no, forty-nine.”

  “Odd man out?”

  “Or three men in.”

  “Or two men, one woman, or three women, or two women, one man.”

  He swirled his scotch, clinking the ice against the glass.

  “Doesn’t make them bad. Doesn’t make you bad. We’re all like little rabbits, humping constantly. Only I doubt rabbits have such conflicts about it. I’ve never met a rabbit psychiatrist.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, hugging myself.

  “Damn, Jack, I wish it would all go away.”

  He rubbed my bare back.

  “It will. In time. It will.”

  We went home.

  “I’m exhausted, I’m going to bed,” I said.

  “Come on,” he threw down one crutch and held onto my arm.

  I was laughing.

  “What are we doing? I feel like we’re in a three-legged race.”

  “Come on.”

  He dragged me into the den. There were flowers everywhere, and candles flickering around the room. A small red box was sitting on the bed.

  “Wow. This is…., what is this?”

  He sat on the bed and handed me the box.

  I looked at it skeptically.

  “Open it.”

  I untied the bow and lifted the lid.

  “It’s a key with a gold heart. ‘Sam’s house.’ You gave me a key.”

  I sat down next to him.

  “I know you’ve been feeling lost. I just wanted you to know this is your home. No matter who you choose or what happens.”

  “Sam’s house,” I repeated. “So how many women…”

  “None. Just Sam.”

  “This means a lot.”

  “I know, love.”

  I kissed him and he lay me down.

  “I’ve got to have you, Sam.”

  “I know. But not tonight.”

  I kissed him rolling on top of him, then slipped away upstairs.