I nodded. No drama, no nutso scenes, no problem. "You still want me on stage by myself to start?" I asked Phil.
"Yep, the band and Carlos will join you after you sing the first verse."
"Where are they?" I asked, glancing around.
Andre chuckled and turned me so that I looked out past the audience and up the street. The parade was approaching, and in the distance I spied a skull and crossbones flying from the mast of a ship.
"Are you kidding?"
"Nope. They're in the parade on a float shaped like a pirate ship."
"Impressive." And it was. As the parade inched closer, the ship came into view. I could almost make out Carlos and the band waving to the crowds.
"Show time," called Roger. The curtain closed over the last act, and a drove of roadies set up the stage for our performance.
I moved into position behind the giant curtain. I took a deep breath and plucked a few notes on my guitar. I'd done this song a thousand times. Carlos and his kooks wouldn't trip me up with their entrance, and everything would go smoothly. I was Zen. For about five seconds, then my phone buzzed with a text message. I had a minute so I checked it.
Unknown number: u look good in those pants bitch. 2 bad I got 2 shoot u.
I looked wildly around me. I squinted off stage, but didn't see anyone there.
"Lords and Ladies," the announcer boomed. "Your attention please. May we present local singer/songwriter, Diana Hudson, accompanied by Carlos Rodriguez and The Brethren Band!"
The curtain dropped. I didn't have time to think. I couldn't just walk off the stage, so I launched into the first verse of "The Rum Song." I looked up, surprised to find the pirate ship had made its way up the road and was now "anchored" off the side of the stage. Carlos and The Brethren leapt onto crates and barrels and grabbed ropes attached to the stage. The audience cheered as they recognized the song. Or maybe they were just cheering for the pirates. I couldn't see much past the stage lights. I glanced around nervously trying to find Tyrell in crowd. The first verse was nearing its end, when suddenly The Brethren grabbed the robes and sailed across the stage, landing with a thud to the left of me.
"How's that for an entrance!" the announcer cried as the verse ended. The audience cheered and hooted.
I looked back at the boat. Carlos was poised to swing across. The band was getting in place behind me. I squinted. It couldn't be!
"Mark?" I said into the microphone. Not exactly professional, but how often does your boyfriend show up on a pirate ship?
Mark waved and then lifted his hands up as if to say "how'd I get here."
Then I realized the danger he was in. Mark was Tyrell's real target, and I'd just called him out in front of the crowd. "He's here!" I yelled into the microphone.
Mark jumped in front of Carlos and swung across the stage landing with a thud next to me. A flash of red and black satin off to the side of the stage, caught my eye. "Look out!" a woman called from across the stage. "He's on the other side."
Mark stepped in front of me as Tyrell appeared across the stage holding a gun.
The crowd gasped.
"The first one gonna be for my brother doin' twenty in Miami-Dade," Tyrell said to Mark. And then turned the gun on me. There was a wild look in his eyes. "An' the second gonna be for that piece-of-shit data file that made me look a fool. An' the third one gonna be for that mother-fuckin' singin' pirate dude. Where he at?"
I heard someone shout, "Fire in the hole!" and then Carlos flew across the stage in a perfect arch. He hit Tyrell square in the back, the gun flying from his hand as he fell.
Marsha had gone around the back of the stage to catch Tyrell from behind. She pounced on him in a blur of red satin and had a heel on his chest and a gun in his face in a flash. Definitely wouldn't want to get into a cat fight with her. Geez.
A few seconds later, Andre was by her side with a half dozen police officers in tow. They cuffed a cursing Tyrell.
The audience cheered.
"All part of the act, ladies and gentlemen," the announcer said nervously.
"Make him walk the plank!" someone called from the audience, making everyone laugh.
Tyrell fought against his cuffs. "Man, this pirate shit gettin' old. They all crazy!" he yelled as he was dragged off stage.
"Can't disagree with that," Mark said as he hugged me to him. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, feeling tears starting to well up, but I forced them down. We had a show to finish.
Carlos stepped up to the mike and gave a nod to the band. "Greetings, Lords and Ladies," he said in his best Jack Sparrow voice. The band started to play softly, a steady dun-dun-da-da in the background. "I am Carlos Rodriguez," he said, rolling his r's. "This is the beautiful and talented, Diana Hudson, the songwriter of 'The Rum Song.'"
I could hear my family cheering among those that recognized the local favorite.
"We have come a long way to sing this song for you," he said conversationally to the audience. "But first, we must take care of some business. Long overdue." He glanced at me and then nodded at Mark.
I looked over at Roger and Phil who, at this point, looked like they were going to have simultaneous heart attacks. This was obviously not part of the show. So much for a nutso-free performance.
"I tell you my friends," whispered Carlos seductively, "that love is in the air tonight." He nodded. The crowd was mesmerized. I thought I saw a woman in the first row swoon.
The band notched up the tempo, and Carlos handed Mark the microphone. What the heck?
Mark smiled sheepishly and said, "Diana, you don't make this easy—"
A blur of red and black rushed at us and a shrill voice yelled from off stage. "Oh, no you're not!"
The audience gasped as Marsha ran up to Mark. "I spent the last three days following her around keeping an eye on her for you. And I learned a heck of a lot. Did you know she's still seeing her old boyfriend, Rick?"
The audience gasped again at this revelation.
I jumped up to the mike. "No, I'm not seeing my old boyfriend. I told him repeatedly we are over."
"No?" she said snidely, loud enough for the mike to pick up every word. "How about that hunky bodyguard over there? It's hard to keep track of all your men."
"Don't you talk to my granddaughter that way!" I heard Granddaddy yell. "I'll jerk a knot in yer red head!"
Aunt Pearl hollered her support.
Someone in the audience started to chant: "The plank, the plank." This was rapidly spinning out of control.
"How can you be such an idiot, Mark?" Marsha cried. "With all this evidence? How?" she finished in almost a sob. The fire seemed to leave her, and all that was left was disappointment.
"Because I trust her," Mark said simply.
The audience awwed.
I stared at him feeling those tears well again.
"You know me, Marsha," Mark continued. "Once I trust someone, I'm all in. Not a great trait to have in my former line of work."
Andre was at my side, reaching out to grab Marsha's arm.
"Lay a finger on me, Mr. Bodyguard, and you'll pull back a stub," she hissed at him.
"Charming," he replied.
"Your training is nothing compared to mine." Marsha looked ready to pounce. I worried for a second that she was going to Kung Fu him square in the throat.
Andre didn't miss a beat. Instead of grabbing her by her arm, he dove into her knees and flipped her over his shoulder. The long skirts of her gown hampered her attempts at escape. She shrieked like a scalded cat.
The audience laughed, thinking this was all part of the act.
"I'm guessing you didn't train in a gown. Just calm down, Red, and let the happy couple finally have their moment," Andre added gently.
The fight seemed to leave her, or it could've been all the blood draining to her head. I watched her long red hair trailing almost to the floor as Andre carried her offstage.
Mark ran his hand through his hair.
"Don't say a word.
This was all your drama." I pointed at the retreating figures. "Nice entrance by the way," I added with a grin.
"Nothing like hitchin' a ride on a pirate ship," he said, grinning back at me.
He grabbed the mike again. "As I was saying," he continued. "You don't make it easy, Diana. But despite all this, I do trust you, I do believe in you, and I do—"
My heart beat rapidly. I leaned into him.
"Love you," we said in unison.
"Really?" we both said.
I looked into his eyes and knew it was true.
The audience cheered.
Mark handed the microphone back to Carlos. Carlos made a big flourish with a bow and cued the band to start the song.
I looked up at Mark and raised my lips to his. "Now was that so hard?" I asked.
"Well, it wasn't exactly easy." He kissed me and then let me go reluctantly.
I reached for my guitar. "Whoever said loving a rock star was easy?" I teased.
"Not me," Mark groaned, "but promise me it'll get easier."
I thought about all the things yet to come—the tour, the business, blending our lives. I laughed and shook my head. "Not a chance, but I can promise it'll never be boring."
I turned back towards the audience without waiting for his reply.
My fingers found the strings, and my voice rose to sing my song.
* * * *
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FREE QUEENIE BABY STORY!
I hope you enjoyed following Diana’s adventures as much as I enjoyed writing about them! If you would like to find out more about Diana’s first brush with fame and the kooky characters she met along the way, just click below and I will send you the FREE short story prelude Queenie Baby: On Location.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Burke wrote her first novel more than twenty years ago. Life and career took over until she found her way back to fiction writing through the unlikely avenue of metastatic breast cancer. Among other business and education credentials, she holds a Doctorate in Business Administration. Christina, her husband, Jim, and their two children live in Dover, Delaware with the family sidekick, Max the Wonder Dog. Visit her at caburke.com or email her at [email protected].
BOOKS BY CHRISTINA A. BURKE
Queenie Baby: On Assignment
Queenie Baby: Out of Office
Queenie Baby: Pass the Eggnog (coming Dec. 1, 2013!)
ABOUT THE MUSIC
The original music performed by our heroine, Diana Hudson, is based on the real-life songs of singer/songwriter Tad Jones. You can find Tad and his music at tadjonesmusic.com.
Download my favorite Tad Jones’ song "Do They Have Rum" (a.k.a. "The Rum Song") on iTunes!
If you enjoyed the Queenie Baby books, check out these other funny, romantic mysteries from Gemma Halliday Publishing:
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