Eduardo
Eduardo was grateful to his friends for their help. He’d reacted with panic and rage at the disappearance of his baby brother, and that wasn’t good. Once David told him Debbie had painted the beach in Carmel, he knew it made sense. Where else would Paulo go? It was the gun on the beach that scared the crap out of him.
Jimmy pinpointed the runaways’ location via social media. A woman at an upscale inn had posted the celebrity sighting. The rest was easy.
Eduardo and David leapt from the helicopter and headed toward the manager, as he ran out to meet them. David grabbed Eduardo by the arm. “I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But screaming at him isn’t going to do any good, Eduardo. Let me talk to him.”
“Yeah, well he needs more than screaming. He needs to be taken over my damn knee.” Eduardo was in a fury, and David held him there until he calmed down enough to agree to let him enter the room first.
The manager led them to the door, then left to observe the scene from around a corner. David knocked several times and called to Paulo.
At last Paulo opened the door, half dressed. David pushed through and greeted him with a hug and a kiss, shielding him from his irate brother.
Eduardo couldn’t contain himself. “What in hell were you thinkin’? Where’s your brain? You think this is some game or something? You got a bodyguard and a phone for a reason!”
“Eduardo.” David surely noticed his friend’s watery eyes.
Paulo pouted at him from his position safely behind David. The sudden silence must have woken him up. His lip trembled.
Eduardo could see the regret welling up. Of course he didn’t mean to hurt his family. Wracked with exhaustion and relief, he embraced his little brother.
David took the opportunity to knock on the bathroom door. “Ellen?”
A wet blue eye appeared through a small crack. She was fully dressed in her tee shirt and jeans.
“It’s okay, Ellen. Come out. We need to talk,” David said.
Paulo took her in his arms as she walked into the room, and led her to the sitting area. They faced Eduardo and David from the comfort of the loveseat. David pulled up two chairs, and there was silence as everyone collected their thoughts.
Paulo began. “I want to know why no one told me Ellen wasn’t going to be staying with us. I told you that’s what I expected.”
Ellen looked up at him with apprehension.
Eduardo consciously tried to calm himself. “Paulo, you’re sixteen years old.”
“I’m going to be seventeen next month. My birthday is almost here.”
Eduardo watched David smirk. He needed to focus his breath. How frustrating could a little brother be?
“Okay Paulo. So you’re seventeen years old. So?”
“So—so—I can be married in one year.”
Eduardo couldn’t believe his ears. “What?” He and David exchanged shocked glances. Ellen’s eyes were wide.
Paulo continued, “I have the money to do as I please now. And I want to be with Ellen. Forever. So if you want me to come home and be with you, you need to listen to me.”
Eduardo’s fury was building again. “What is this? What? Is it the water here? The air? What? Has everyone gone nuts? Is this some cosmic game? Come to California and find true love? In five minutes or less? The angels up there must be havin’ one heck of a good time.” He shot up from his seat and stalked the room, his hand on his aching head.
David chuckled.
Eduardo reeled around. “You! You’re the one that started it all! Everyone was normal until—” He stopped before he said something he’d regret.
David just grinned. Ellen kept her eyes on Paulo.
Yeah. The little gold digger. He’d be her ticket.
“Ed-Eduardo?” Ellen was almost breathless.
He and David turned to face her.
“I—I think we need to get that medicine for Paulo. I think his stomach might be having a problem.”
Paulo looked at her with a curious expression. “How could you know that?”
David was out the door instantly to retrieve the medical kit from the helicopter. As soon as he left the room, Paulo agreed it would be a good idea to leave for home. He stood up, and Eduardo guided him by the shoulder as they descended the staircase to the lobby.
Eduardo remembered the gun Debbie had painted on the beach, as he saw a fan waving an autograph book in the doorway.
“No! Paulo!” Ellen threw herself in front of Paulo as the blast rang out.
Eduardo shot when he saw the glint of the gun, but it was too late. Paulo was on his knees covered in blood. He screamed for Ellen, her body clasped to his.
Chapter Twelve
David
He ascertained the gunman was dead, grabbed the weapon, and ran to Eduardo, now trying to deal with his hysterical brother and the limp body he refused to release.
David yelled into Paulo’s face. “Paulo, you need to let go of Ellen so I can help her. Let Eduardo start your infusion. That’s the best thing you can do for Ellen.”
Paulo obediently let go, and Eduardo got to work on administering the factor.
David’s heart sank when he saw the extent of Ellen’s wound. She was barely breathing.
The helicopter’s co-pilot helped administer first aide. “Cookie can get them right to the hospital. It’s close by.”
Eduardo carried Paulo, and the pilot rushed Ellen to the helicopter. David stayed on the scene as local and state police arrived. He took fingerprints and photos in an effort to identify the shooter. Fortunately, the police were effective in controlling the growing crowd.
Debbie
Cisco could hardly keep his eyes open. He was so stressed with Cat in one of her sleeping spells and the disappearance of Paulo and Ellen. Everything started around the same time.
I don’t know how that all worked with Cat, but it was very strange, and I thought she’d know something important when she woke up. She always did. I knew she talked to God when that happened. I suppose Eduardo wouldn’t think so, though.
I watched Cisco’s computer screen flash the latest currency quotes. That finally put him to sleep I guess. But he woke with a start as Cat began writhing in her bed. Nita was there to try to nudge her awake, but there was no response.
Cisco pushed himself up and went to the bedside. Then I saw her blue eyes open, and it looked like she was staring into his soul.
Cat’s voice was barely audible. “We don’t have much time, Cisco. We have so much to do. And we don’t have time for pettiness and pride. People have suffered needlessly.”
He looked confused. “Honey? What are you talking about? Who suffered needlessly?”
She tried to sit up in the bed, and he held her to steady her. She looked up at him strangely, like she was about to pass out again. Then she looked at Nita. “Paulo and Ellen belong together. Why did she have to be shot to prove her love? To prove her worthiness to us?”
“Shot?” The three of us said at once. But Cat had slumped back on the pillow in a deep sleep again.
Sure enough the phone rang. David told us everything. General Pearson would provide a helicopter for us to get to the hospital quickly.
David was on the beach in Carmel looking for a gun. Just in case there was another one. I could hear crashing waves and all kinds of commotion in the background.
***
It was over an hour before the doctor came out of the emergency room to address the family. “Mr. Clemente?” Eduardo’s father came forward, his wife Camellia beside him.
“Your son is going to be fine. The bullet passed through his girlfriend’s body, which slowed it down. And then it hit his belt buckle. I guess she was a step below him on the stairway. Anyway, the bullet just barely penetrated his body. There was internal bleeding into his stomach, which I believe had begun before he decided to leave the hotel. The bullet wound required attention, but he won’t even need blood. All in all, he was extremely lucky.”
&n
bsp; “May we see him?” Camellia asked.
The doctor surveyed the waiting room. “Yes, Mrs. Clemente, just you and your husband. He’s heavily sedated right now. He was so distraught over his girlfriend, we had to give him medication to calm him down. His brother Eduardo is with him.”
“And when will we know Ellen’s condition, doctor?” Francisco asked.
“I don’t know, Mr. Clemente, she’s still in surgery, and it could be a while yet. The bullet did a fair amount of damage. She’s a brave girl though. She must love your son very much. And we do appreciate your donations of blood. If there is anyone else who can donate, and who hasn’t had a chance yet, please see the nurse.”
Francisco and Camellia followed the doctor to Paulo’s room.
Glori
I was in my bedroom at the Bainbridge mansion, trying to figure out what to pack for the trip to Salzburg, when Cindy and Raphael showed up at my door. Cin took me by the arm, and we both settled on the bed. Raphael stood in the doorway, a serious expression on his face.
“Glori, we just got a call from Alain,” Cin said.
“Is he okay?” Panic started. “What—”
Cindy tightened her grip on my arm. “He’s fine, but Ellen’s been shot, and Paulo is having some bleeding problems. They found them in Carmel.”
“Oh wow!” I felt like I was punched in the stomach.
“Alain’s on his way over—with a helicopter. Mom and Dad and Raphael and I are going with him to the hospital there. Ellen’s still in surgery, and they don’t know much yet, but it’s serious. I imagine you want to go with us?”
“Yeah.” I’d never been in a helicopter, and wondered if I’d make it all the way to Carmel without throwing up. I went to the closet to pull out something appropriate to wear for a helicopter ride with a secret agent I’d want to impress, all the while appropriately worried for a friend in big trouble. Something washable, I figured.
***
The helicopter hovered over the back lawn, and we all gathered on the patio to watch it land. Alain looked all business in his fatigues as he jumped out, and gave us a brief wave as he headed in the opposite direction over to Agent Washington, the head of security at the Bainbridge mansion. The two of them stood deep in conversation. It looked like Alain had a lot to say. Considering he was normally a man of few words, I figured that couldn’t be good news.
As Alain turned and approached us, Agent Washington gathered his entire crew. Something was really going on now.
I walked down the patio stairs and landed in his arms for a quick kiss. “What’s going on, Alain?”
He swept me up and positioned me on the patio, addressing Cindy’s dad, more than anyone else. “We’ve got a potentially serious problem. Obviously, it’s a tragedy that Ellen has been shot. The bullet was meant for Paulo, and General Pearson is concerned your entire family is more at risk again. He has reason to believe there are other gunmen out there, looking to take out anyone associated with us.
“We’ll all be safe enough at the hospital in Carmel. The place is swarming with police and state troopers.
“General Pearson thinks it best if we all return to the base once Ellen is stable. Otherwise, you may want to add to Agent Washington’s force.”
Bud Bainbridge looked Alain in the eye. “We’ll do whatever you think is best, Alain. I don’t want to take any risk with my family.”
“Good.” Alain nodded.
“So where is Doug?” Bud asked.
“He and Joe are at the hospital. Agent Washington is contacting your other family members. George and Marion Aldridge are on their way to the base.”
“Sounds like you’ve got everyone accounted for,” Bud said.
“Yes, sir.” Alain turned to Raphael. “Your parents, Nita’s parents, and David’s—as well as your business associates—all have security measures in place.”
“Thanks.” Raphael nodded and turned to Cindy. “Honey, it’s probably best at this point if we put our travel plans for Madrid and Paris on the back burner. Once we get settled in Salzburg, and this blows over, we can discuss it then.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Cindy said. “No need to put ourselves in jeopardy over a vacation.”
Alain loaded us all into the helicopter, and the pilot nicely explained everything about the trip including the weather in Carmel—sunshine and 70 degrees. Alain used his secret agent phone to keep in touch with his cohorts—a big old machine gun looking thing by his side.
David
He hated when this happened. Another sprint down the beach after some idiot that thought he could get away. David decided to end it. “Stop! Federal agent!” His warning went unheeded. “Stop now or I’ll shoot.”
He shot the suspect in the leg, and he went down. The gun went flying, and the man started to crawl for it.
“The next one goes through your brain.” David stood over him, and the suspect collapsed into the sand.
A state trooper ran over to cuff the man. “How’d you know there were two?”
Glori
As we approached the hospital in Carmel, I could see a wall of press and paparazzi circling the place—kept at a distance by a wall of police cars. Our pilot effortlessly landed by another helicopter—likely the one Paulo’s parents used. Alain took his gun and led us into the hospital. Jimmy Hollinger stood in the hallway, talking to Paulo’s grandfather.
We joined the conversation and learned Paulo was heavily medicated and sound asleep. Ellen was still in surgery. Papa Roberto said Eduardo was covered in blood, so he was worried for Ellen.
Raphael was getting text messages from Cisco. Cat was still sound asleep, and she was unconscious during the whole trip from the Ross Hotel to the base. That was weird, and Raphael looked worried.
We joined Nita, Debbie, Doug and Joe in the waiting room. Raphael guided Cindy to a seat beside Nita. He checked his phone again.
“Cat’s still asleep. Cisco said she told you Paulo and Ellen belong together. Why did she have to be shot to prove her love?” Raphael grimaced.
Nita groaned and stared at the ceiling. “That night we were celebrating Paulo’s audition—Cat said something strange—I’d forgotten it. Ellen was upset because Eduardo had discovered them kissing. He was in a rage, screaming at Paulo. Ellen was in tears, and Cat and I were trying to comfort her. I suppose Cat fell into prayer. She was quiet for a while. Then she suddenly said, ‘There’s no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.’ I asked her later what she meant, and she changed the subject. Then I forgot about it. But she was seeing today.” Nita’s eyes were red.
That whole thing freaked me out. Cat was amazing.
And Ellen was amazing. She’d used her body as a shield to protect Paulo from getting shot. Wow.
My moment of wonder at Cat’s visions and Ellen’s bravery was disturbed with the sounds of yelling hospital workers and a man screaming. From the waiting area, I could see them wheeling the guy into the emergency room, accompanied by an angry-looking state trooper. Another gurney followed with a body bag on it.
A perpetually cheerful nurse pointed to the elevators and respective gurneys. “Morgue—one floor down. Him—room six.”
The injured guy yelled at the nurse. “That bastard shot me! He shot me!”
“Oh my.” The nurse was deadpan. “Room six.”
“You bastard!” The guy tried to get up, as he yelled at the doorway. “You shot me!”
Surprise, surprise. David strode in covered in blood, sweat, and who knows what else. He put a finger to his lips, like my first grade teacher always did. “Shut up. Settle down. Or I’ll finish you.”
The guy shut up. I guess he wasn’t totally crazy. Someone arrived to take him to room six. The trooper gave David a thumbs-up, and then headed off to room six.
Of course Debbie ran for David, and he put his hand up to stop her. “I’ve got to get cleaned up, Sweetheart. I’ll be back soon.”
We all had a chuckle over that one. And I wondered how I go
t to this point.
***
I thought it couldn’t get any crazier, but then everyone’s favorite helicopter pilot arrived—Anthony “Tony” Cooke—aka “Mr. Cookie.”
He headed straight for Debbie, and Jimmy Hollinger suggested that might not be a good idea.
Nevertheless, Mr. Cookie took a seat. “So lovely to see you again!” He smiled that bucktooth smile that made everyone else smile. “You know, I just don’t know how to address you now. Shall I call you—Mrs. Cupid?”
“Shall you get your head blown off?” Jimmy imitated Mr. Cookie’s proper British accent, picked him up by his jacket, and tossed him into a chair across from us. “You know Pearson wants you working with us, and you’re on thin ice with Lambrecht as it is. Don’t give him another excuse. Cuz he’ll win, Cookie.”
Mr. Cookie gave it right back to Jimmy. “Sounds like Miss Aubrey Rose has left town, Agent Jimmy.”
Then Alain had to pull Jimmy off Mr. Cookie.
David
He was tired and angry. Ellen would be in surgery for some time yet. Fortunately Paulo was going to be okay, but he could easily have been killed. There was one person who’d be able to tell him who was behind this. He headed to room six.
The State Trooper stood in front of the door, and nodded to him, a knowing glint in his eye.
“How is our patient?” David asked.
“He’s going to be fine. They’ve got everything pretty much taken care of—just evaluating the need for surgery. Would you like to speak with him?”
“Speak—yes. That’s a good word. We’ll go with that. I’ll speak with him,” David said.
The trooper chuckled and waved him into the room.
Fame, Fortune & Secrets (The Redemption Series: Book 2) Page 12