Violent Daylight

by Caroline Angus Baker

“But you would lie for me?”

  “Whoever hit Yuri, they simply got ahead of the rest of the people who wanted him dead.”

  “Do you suspect me of killing Yuri?”

  “Of course not. Why would I? You were in my line of sight all night, and you have nothing to gain by hurting the man.”

  “I’m cursed; every time you have a show, something goes wrong. Someone dies, or the police come, or someone gets punched in the face, a rapist turns up… endless drama, caused by me.”

  “Blinky, it’s okay. If anything, I’m more confident than ever. The cops can’t push us around. Let’s go and make some music!”

  CHAPTER 28

  LONDON

  So much noise! Canna had forgotten the level of work involved in getting Virtuosi on stage. She almost had to run from room to room backstage of the Royal Albert Hall to get everything sorted. Every time she turned around, someone was asking a question. She even had to make time to call her lawyer about the Interpol business. The staff at the Hall were helpful, but it was obvious that the show was a last-minute booking.

  Canna climbed up onto the stage for a moment and looked around. The orchestra rehearsed nearby while the rest of the round Hall was a buzz of activity. Staff moved around the seats in preparation for the audience to be let inside. She wanted to stand still and block out the world. Deep inside, she could sense a painful reality, one she never admitted to anyone. Canna could deny that she suffered bipolar disorder all she liked, but she knew she suffered depressive episodes. She could understand the darkness inside her, and it was growing. It was a silent evil that would envelope her mind and body. She couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Self-hate had crept out from its hole. The last episode had been after she broke up with Claudio earlier in the year, and now it had returned. No one could know that her mental state had begun to deteriorate. They wouldn’t understand, and they would treat her differently. They would think she was crazy.

  “Canna.”

  Canna spun around to the sound of Dane’s voice. “Yes, Mr. Porter. Can I do anything to help?”

  Dane looked down at himself. “I’m okay, thanks. Rebecca has suitably dressed me up.”

  “You are a thing of beauty.”

  Dane raised his eyebrows. “I’m looking forward to our little red carpet walk. It’s fun to meet the people who come to the shows.”

  “You have 100 guests that you get to meet one-on-one backstage too.”

  “Ugh, I hate those meetings! The women, they can’t keep their hands to themselves. You say hello and shake their hand, and they just start talking, as if they have no control over what they say. I had one woman, she must have been my mother’s age, and she grabbed my butt!”

  Canna laughed. “I remember that! That’s your own fault, for having such a firm butt that fits perfectly in a woman’s palm.”

  “Don’t blame the victim!”

  “I’m not,” Canna laughed. “Don’t worry, Lea and I will keep an eye on those fans. There are security guards to hold the women back outside.”

  “Will do you do the walk with us?”

  “I’m not famous.” Canna’s mind shot to a memory of walking a red carpet with Giuseppe; she couldn’t even remember the occasion now. She wore long sleeves because Giuseppe’s hands had bruised her arms and shoulders.

  “Lea is coming with us. Holly is too busy with the sound engineers. She finds Erik’s fans a little scary.”

  “They all want Mr. Vogler.”

  “Lea is probably going out there to make sure the world knows that Henri is married.”

  “It’s okay for a woman to be protective of the guy she loves. It’s not easy to date someone who is famous.”

  “How do you feel about it?”

  Canna shrugged. “I’ve had a lot of practice. Besides, I’m invisible.”

  Dane shook his head. “Canna, you are anything but invisible.”

  “I sometimes think that if I disappeared, I would save a lot of people a lot of trouble.”

  “Probably, but people seem to be addicted to your trouble.”

  “They shouldn’t be.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Canna nodded. She didn’t like the way Dane looked at her. His eyes kept drifting from her face.

  “You don’t seem your usual ball-busting self.”

  “I had to talk to the police about Yuri this afternoon.”

  “Did they get the guy who killed him?”

  “Not yet. It reminds me of less happy times, like…” she shrugged.

  “Like when Marino died in Rome?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That was pretty awful.” Dane looked around; no one was listening. “What happened, that night in Copenhagen, when I beat the shit out of Marino, it still haunts me.”

  “I’m sorry that I tainted your soul with my troubles.”

  “I'm sorry for a lot of things, Canna.”

  Canna blinked a few times. Her tears would mess up all the heavy black eye makeup.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, Canna.”

  “I need a friend. I don’t have any friends.”

  “We are all your friends.”

  “No, you’re not. I’m on probation with all of you and might be able to be friends with you in the future if you decide to trust me. I’ve been punished for my sins, I can assure you. You all keep me at arms-length because of all the damage I’ve caused. I don’t like it; I’m used to having the upper hand.”

  Dane stepped forward and gave her a hug. “See? You’re not at arms-length. I’ll be your friend.”

  “Why would you be, after all that has gone on between us?”

  Dane let her go. “We can’t forget what we know about each other. I’m no expert, but you need a friend to chat with while you get yourself back on track, I’m here. I have no profound advice, but we can do regular things, like go shopping at the farmers market. You need to settle into normal life.”

  “How scary.”

  “Okay, when you need to escape Claudio and his baby, we can hang out.”

  “I don’t think you realise just how much I love Claudio.”

  “I’m afraid I do understand.”

  Canna cringed. “One day at a time. That’s all I can cope with right now. I should keep going, I’m an assistant with a lot of people to assist.”

  “You’re assisting me!”

  “I’m not sure how.”

  “Well, you have more time now that we’re not having sex in the dressing rooms,” Dane whispered.

  “Shh, that never happened,” Canna sniggered. She paused for a second; she could hear Claudio’s sweeping voice echoing from somewhere backstage. She couldn’t pick the song. “Should we go and throw you lambs to the slaughter outside?”

  “Comforting,” Dane said, and he put his arm around her as they headed off-stage.

  ~~~

  The drama outside seemed even more surreal than expected. The four members of Virtuosi walked outside on the red carpet, and screaming women packed the street outside the Royal Albert Hall. Virtuosi’s popularity had increased over the year, but when presented with their fame in this fashion, it seemed overwhelming. The guys wandered alongside the barriers, shaking hands and giving autographs. Cameras were flashing left, right and centre. There were so many fans eager to get to their favourite group member that Canna had to jump in and hold people back several times when the security guards became inundated. Lea spent most of her time standing back with the official photographer and camera crew, directing them as they captured the experience for the behind-the-scenes footage for the DVD. Canna moved the singers along, so the show schedule wouldn’t be delayed.

  “Canna!”

  There were so many people yelling and she couldn’t hear Claudio’s request. She leaned against his back and rested her hands on his shoulders. “What?” she said in his ear.

  Claudio reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I left this in my pocket. Can you take it for me?”

  �
�Ha! Imagine if it rang halfway through the show,” she joked and took it from him.

  Claudio turned and whispered in her ear. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere… later on.”

  Claudio laughed and turned back to the women who were in search of his autograph.

  Canna glanced at the screen in her hand. Three missed calls from Veena. She knew that Virtuosi was playing tonight. Canna turned her attention back to her four charges, who looked exhausted from the mere 200 metre walk. It was time for them to do what they did best.

  ~~~

  A chance to relax and just watch the Virtuosi show. Canna got a seat, in the far corner a few rows back from the front, where she could sit while the men were on stage. Her nerves needed the rest. She felt overwhelmed. The show had gone well, and Virtuosi had just begun the second half of the performance with a rousing rendition of the operatic classic Caruso. It was a beautiful song that celebrated both Henri and Erik’s sweet gentle voices, and allowed Claudio and Dane to let their prodigious voices echo around the magnificent theatre.

  One of the theatre staff crept over from a backstage door and interrupted her appreciation for Claudio’s solo part of the song. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I just wanted to let you know that there is a phone ringing in the dressing room. It’s been ringing for a while.”

  “Thanks.” Canna turned to see Lea and Rebecca looking worried. “It’s nothing, I’ll sort it out,” Canna whispered, and slipped out of her seat as the crowd cheered.

  She wandered the hallways to the dressing room, and found everyone’s bags sitting on the leather couch on the corner of the well-lit room. Sure enough, it was Claudio’s phone ringing. She scooped it up as it stopped. Veena Valadez Sabela. Eight missed calls. It rang again in her hand; Canna jumped, and her stomach churned in concern.

  “This is Canna Medici on behalf of Claudio Ramos Ibáñez of Virtuosi.”

  “Um…. Canna? This is Mike… Michael Lands… um…”

  “My rehab therapist who is also fucking my lover’s wife.”

  “Um… I’m sorry, Canna, I know this is a little awkward for you and me.”

  “No, not at all. I gave you my trust in regards to my addictions, and you are going to ruin Claudio’s chances at the custody hearing. There is no ‘you and me’ in this.”

  “I can assure you that I won’t break the privilege I have with your details.”

  “Sure.”

  “Canna, I’m calling because Veena is in the hospital.”

  “For fucks sake, Mike, why didn’t you start with that news? Is she all right?”

  “She’s in labour. They are about to take her into surgery. She needs a caesarean, because of the pre-eclampsia.”

  “Shit, Claudio is on stage right now, recording a DVD.”

  “I know, but I had to call him.”

  “He deserves to be there, not you, Mike.”

  “Veena wants me there.”

  “To witness the birth of another man’s baby?”

  “I’m sorry, but Claudio dumped Veena. We’re heading into surgery right now. I have to go.”

  “Can you at least send me the details of the hospital?”

  “Okay, I’ll send it through right now. Goodbye, Canna.”

  Shitballs! Canna ran through the hallways of the theatre and stopped just behind the stage. Technicians held her back, so she didn’t fall into view of the cameras. Claudio’s robust and velvety voice rang out over the audience, to the tune of Rigoletto’s beautiful and complex Ella mi fu rapita. There was no way she could tell him what was happening.

  She turned and headed back to her seat to find Lea. Canna crept in and sat down with her friends. “You won’t believe this,” she whispered, and received an evil glance of the woman in front of them.

  “What?” Lea whispered, and she and Rebecca leaned in to hear.

  “Veena is having the baby – right now!”

  “Oh God,” Rebecca whispered. “Do they think she can hold on for long?”

  “No, she heading for a caesarean at this very moment.”

  Lea looked up at the stage to see Henri singing. Claudio glanced over at them, and he winked at Canna. “We can’t tell him,” Lea whispered.

  “I need to go,” Canna whispered. “If Claudio can’t be there, I need to go in his place.”

  “Good idea,” Rebecca said. “But I can’t see Veena being happy with that.”

  “I stole her husband, so I don’t expect her to like me. I’m not doing this for her; I’m doing it for Claudio.” Canna gestured in the direction of the stage, where Claudio and Dane were singing a long note together. “I can’t believe I’m going to miss the end of the show!”

  “I’ll give you the DVD for Christmas,” Lea joked. “Canna, Claudio will appreciate you being there for the birth of his son.”

  “Tell him to call me,” Canna said. “Enjoy the after-party!”

  Canna ran through the hallways again, and out into the private car-park. As she fumbled through her bag for the keys to the Mercedes, she wondered if she wanted to do this. Canna couldn’t be sure she wanted to be part of the baby’s life.

  CHAPTER 29

  LONDON

  Claudio’s heart swelled with pride. Over the lights, he could just see the crowd clapping and cheering at the end of “A Night of Endless love with Virtuosi”. The final song, their all-new rendition of La vie en rose went off without a hitch. He hoped that Canna loved it; she had asked him to put the song on the new album. From his spot on the stage, surrounded by noise, lights, accolades, and flying bunches of roses, Claudio couldn’t see Canna. The seats reserved for the ladies of the group were all empty. She must have been backstage. La vie en rose was the encore song, and it was time to leave the stage for good.

  The men went backstage to find Lea, Holly and Rebecca waiting for them, all with a stern expression.

  “Whoa, did we sing that bad?” Erik joked.

  “You were phenomenal. The acoustics were flawless. Editing that DVD will be a breeze,” Holly replied.

  “Then why do you look like you’ve been at a funeral?” Dane asked.

  “Where’s Canna?” Claudio asked.

  “Was she arrested again?” Erik joked.

  “She left…” Lea began.

  “She what?” Claudio felt a pain in his chest, a pain that Canna gave him far too often.

  “Canna has gone to be with Veena!” Rebecca said.

  “The baby is on the way!” Lea cried.

  “Knowing Canna, she will get her hands in there and get the job finished herself,” Dane said.

  “Get her hands in where?” Henri asked.

  Claudio snorted. What a thought. “I have to go! I… where… fuck!”

  “Ring Canna and she can tell you where to go,” Lea said. “I’ll go and get you a taxi.”

  Claudio ran into the dressing room, peeling off his stage suit as he went. The whole expensive ensemble ended up in a pile on the concrete floor as he pulled on his street clothes and grabbed his phone. He paused for a second; this was it. His life was about to change forever. Claudio wasn’t ready at all.

  ~~~

  Canna had left Claudio a message with all the details. The taxi seemed to get stuck in traffic on every single street between the Royal Albert Hall and the private hospital. After a show, Claudio’s blood pumped through his veins, filled with testosterone and adrenaline. He had never been so alert.

  The taxi pulled up outside the hospital and Claudio bounded out like a fleeing gazelle. The speed almost frightened the stern receptionist at the front desk.

  “I need to find Veena Valadez Sabela; she is here to have a baby. My baby. She is here to have my baby.”

  The woman watched him for a moment. He realised how odd he would look, with his hair and makeup still done, but dressed in a pair of jeans and a understated black coat. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Claudio Ramos Ibáñez.”

  The woman typed something i
nto her computer. “It says here that Ms. Valadez is here with her partner.”

  “That’s Michael Lands. I know that. Veena is my ex-wife… well, we are still married. I’m the father of the baby.”

  “It says here that the father and the birthing partner is Michael Lands.”

  “The baby is mine. My girlfriend is here, too.”

  “Is she giving birth as well?”

  Claudio eyed her. Judgmental middle-aged bitch. “My girlfriend is here. She came to support my wife until I could arrive.”

  “What’s your girlfriend’s name?”

  “Canna Medici.”

  “Oh, yes. She came here in quite a flurry, dressed like a tattooed and pierced supermodel.”

  “That’s Canna, the world’s most beautiful hurricane.”

  “The maternity ward is on the third floor. There is a waiting room there. But I have to warn you, Mr. Ramos. This is a private hospital. Because Ms. Valadez hasn’t named you as the father, they won’t let you in for the birth.”

  “I will deal with that when I get there,” Claudio said and sprinted off in the direction of the stairs. He couldn’t wait for the elevators.

  Three floors upwards and Claudio burst into the waiting room. The cream and pink space held the most incredible sight – there stood Canna, with a baby in her arms. Michael stood next to her. The pair seemed spellbound by the child. They both looked up when Claudio burst in the door. He stopped for a second and just stared. Canna looked him with a face of pure shock. He crossed the room, his eyes fixed on the bundle in her arms. Claudio just stood and took in the sight of his son’s face for the first time. His eyes were closed, and a little hand rested against his tiny chin. His fingers moved a little as if they were testing out the world for their tiny owner.

  “Casamiro Valadez Ramos,” Canna said. “Eight pounds, 10 ounces, and dark brown eyes like his father.”

  Claudio didn’t notice the sting of tears come to his eyes until the first one ran down his cheek. He didn’t realise he had been holding his breath.

  “Claudio,” Michael said and put out his hand. “Congratulations.”

  “You were there, when he was born?” Claudio asked as he shook the outstretched hand.