The Last Lie She Told

by K. J. McGillick

  David turned to Lee and asked, “Can you give us a moment?”

  “Sorry, man, we’re in the middle of something and need to go. I suggest you do as Belle asked and talk in the morning.”

  David looked between Lee and me and back to me again. “Belle?”

  “Look, David, I need to go; people are waiting.” I closed the door and wedged my way past him and walked away. “Meet me at nine a.m. in the dining room.”

  He didn’t reply. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching us until we got into the elevator.

  The elevator ride was silent until Mary spoke. “He seems kind of bossy.”

  Lee gave her the side-eye and mumbled, “You’re one to talk.”

  “OK, everyone, put David out of your thoughts, and let’s get our heads in the game,” I said as the elevator doors opened.

  When we reached the lobby and entered the dining room, we waited to be escorted to the table where Benjamin Hightower appeared to be engaged in a serious conversation with a woman who left no doubt she was an escort. Her dress covered only enough to keep her from being arrested for indecent exposure. Hope he gets his money’s worth.

  Introductions were made between Ingrid, Benjamin’s date, and the rest of us. Once seated, we ordered and got down to business. I had just taken a sip of wine when I sensed something was wrong. The tension coiled Lee’s body, and Mary’s mouth formed an O. I turned to see what they were looking at. My brain disengaged as I watched David walk up to the table and take a moment to assess the situation. What in the hell is wrong with this man? Oh my God, is he going to pick a fight? Is he going to embarrass me? Could he be drunk?

  “Evening, folks; I’m Belle’s partner, and I thought I’d drop by and introduce myself. David Rizolli. And you are?” he said as he looked at Benjamin and Ingrid.

  Benjamin had the good sense to remain quiet and say nothing, giving Lee the opportunity to stop this tsunami of a disaster heading our way.

  Lee stood and whispered something in David’s ear that moved them away from the table.

  “Your partner seems the controlling, jealous type, Belle. I’m surprised to see that,” Benjamin said, breaking the awkward silence.

  “I apologize for David’s behavior. To be honest, I have no idea what he’s doing here. He showed up uninvited,” I said, placing my napkin on my lap.

  “I see. Well, would you care to ask David to join us?” Benjamin asked.

  “No, but thank you,” I said.

  Lee rejoined the table, and I watched David stalk from the lobby. Oh man, what the hell is going on here?

  “Excuse the interruption; he’s a bit of a hothead,” Lee said. “Let’s get this show on the road so we can make sure you’re prepared.”

  “Ingrid,” Benjamin said, turning to his date. “Would you share your wealth of information about how these parties are conducted with these fine people, and I’ll follow up with questions.”

  After Ingrid “educated” us about the philosophy and rules of conduct, she explained the equipment. She was clearly an expert. She would play the dominatrix to Benjamin’s submissive, which was a role Ingrid said she preferred.

  “I assure you no one gets hurt unless they want to, and most of these parties are well regulated,” she said.

  “We have a reason to be cautious,” Lee said.

  “I can assure you I’ve been to enough of these types of parties to know the signals to watch for if things are about to turn ugly,” Ingrid said.

  As I monitored the conversation, my eyes swept the room before focusing on the lobby just outside the restaurant area. I couldn’t believe it. David was sitting in the lobby.

  “Will you excuse me for one minute,” I said. I tried my best to make it appear as if I was heading to the bathroom, but I was sure Lee picked up something was going on.

  As I approached, David stood, and I motioned him to sit. Before I said anything, he started.

  “Are you fucking him?”

  It startled me, and I refused to play this game.

  “David, these past few months your behavior has become increasingly erratic. Have I done anything to indicate to you that I’m interested in you romantically?”

  He remained silent.

  “You coming out here is way over the top. If you’d answered your phone when Boston called you’d know my being here is part of the case. They matched a strand of the wig to another murder in Seattle, and I’ve got the lieutenant’s approval to head up there tomorrow. Now, we have to have a serious talk and decide how we will ask to be reassigned. Because I can’t get past this type of behavior.”

  “Are you fucking him?” he asked again, only with a little more force.

  “I’m in the middle of a dinner, which has one hundred percent to do with this case. You need to go back to your hotel and leave tomorrow,” I said.

  “I’ve got a room here, which I’d hoped we’d be using later,” he said.

  Shock must have registered on my face because I actually felt my jaw drop. I felt a tap on my arm.

  “Belle, dear, I’m feeling off-balance. Do you think you could help me to the restroom?” Mary asked.

  “Certainly, Mary. David and I are finished here,” I said and stood to take her arm.

  “You clean up good,” he said under his breath.

  “Come on, Mary. Let’s go before they wonder where we are,” I said.

  When we were out of hearing range, I said, “Not a word to Lee about this; I’ve got it under control.”

  She looked at me and nodded her cautious acceptance.

  By the time we returned, the entrees had been served. Lee glanced my way with a raised eyebrow, and I smiled.

  When dinner was finished, we let Benjamin and Ingrid believe they were on their own while we proceeded to our rooms and changed. We were at our positions to stake out the party within a half hour, and the place was active but quiet.

  “Did you put the tracker on her dress?” I asked.

  “Of course,” he replied.

  All we could do was wait.

  Fiona

  I can’t trust Claire. I have to find a place to lie low until it’s time to leave. Looking around the dressing area in the house they were using for tonight’s festivities, I realized Fire and Ice has plenty of living quarters, and they owe me.

  As I placed my leather handbag on the table, I noticed a thin plastic strip attached itself to the side. God, how could I be so careless as to let some piece of trash anchor itself to my bag? I hope it didn’t damage the leather. I examined the strip, threw it away, and retrieved my phone.

  Who should I call, Steven or Ray to ask about staying at one of the houses Fire and Ice used, and what should I give as a reason? Steve was my drug contact, and I was sure he wouldn’t turn me down. But I needed more than an overnight stay. Ray picked up on the first ring.

  “Ray, it’s Fiona,” I said in my most sultry voice.

  “Fi, what can I do for you?” he said; I could hear a smile in his voice.

  “It’s what I can do for you,” I said with an air of mystery.

  “And that is?” he asked; I knew I had his full attention.

  “Questionable people are nosing around your place,” I replied.

  There was a brief silence, and I heard him close the door to his office.

  “Go on,” he said.

  “My former boss and I had a thing for a while,” I said without any guilt. Ray wasn’t one to judge. “And when I decided to split, he wasn’t happy. He sent some people after me to find me and convince me to come back. I spoke to them today. They mentioned they’d been to Fire looking for me, and I’m concerned they may have tricked someone into offering them an invite.”

  He was silent for a moment, and then I heard the clicking of his computer keys.

  “A man and a woman with an older woman?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “I see in the notes they showed up today. The guy’s info checked out, so we gave them a code for to
night,” he said. “They going to be trouble, Fi?”

  “I think they might be, Ray. My ex-boss is relentless,” I said.

  Based on my relationship with Ray, I knew he was a man who protected his business first and foremost.

  “Consider them taken care of,” he said. “Are you coming tonight?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” I smiled. “And, Ray? One more thing. I need a place to hang for a few days. This whole thing has me on edge and not feeling safe. Can you put me up while things die down?”

  “I’m leaving town tomorrow for two weeks. You can crash at my place if you need to,” he said. “The code is 0980. Fi, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a situation.” And he hung up.

  I sighed with relief. Good, I thought. Hopefully, this will kill two birds with one stone. If I know Ray, those two will get a beatdown, and that will get their attention and get them to leave me alone. Let that snotty detective try to explain to her boss what she was doing at a sex club under an alias. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on them when they arrive. In fact, I have a plan. I texted Ray a brief message with my plan: Give them some rope.

  He texted back: OK.

  Fire and Ice is billed as a club designed to meet the social and entertainment needs of the elite. Tonight’s entertainment would be a live threesome providing a tasteful performance to get the party started followed by a sexy fire-eating show. The fact women weren’t required to pay for membership or pay to attend the parties always worked in my favor. I’d met many generous members willing to indulge my many needs. The parties were not only entertaining but an excellent networking opportunity for me.

  Ray took his business seriously. There had never been a problem with law enforcement. Maybe it was because he kept changing locations, but I like to think it was because he was well organized. The etiquette was clearly spelled out; touching before asking gets you banned. That was strictly enforced, and it had earned Jeremy a ban for life.

  Public sex was encouraged. Those who preferred to do more than just watch could spend $75.00 for tokens for an interactive experience with the performers who roamed the party. The more adventurous members moved to open bedrooms, stairwells, and padded surfaces to engage in sex in front of eagerly prying eyes. Fire and Ice catered to a particular class of members, kinky, not tawdry or posers. It didn’t cater to people looking for hardcore dungeon play, nor those interested in a traditional swingers’ party. But, if you had the interest and the money, it was the place to be.

  I arrived early to speak to Lawler, who’d be at the door tonight.

  “Good evening, Fiona,” Lawler said, as he opened the back door for me. Law, a handsome man about thirty, was perfect for the part of greeter. A man who clearly knew his way around a gym, his shirt barely contained his chest, and his muscular legs hardly fit in his custom-made pants. He put everyone on notice the club had muscle when needed. Women wanted him, and men were subtly alerted not to even think about breaking the rules of etiquette.

  “Law.” I nodded at him in greeting. “Did Ray speak with you about the problem we’re working out?”

  “He did. How about we step in here, and you can give me some specifics about how you want this to go,” he said, opening a heavy wood door that led to a well-appointed room.

  Once seated, he offered me a drink, and I declined. At these affairs I, unlike other guests, wanted to keep a clear head. Especially tonight with so much at stake. The fact cell phones would be collected, powered down, and placed in a container gave me peace of mind that Lee wouldn’t be in contact with anyone outside.

  “The man I’m having a problem with has now become a problem for Ray too. The man was hired by my former boss to stalk me. Ben, my boss, and I, had a brief fling, and he wouldn’t let it end gracefully, so I had to leave. I’ve accepted a new job overseas, and left without notice. Apparently, he didn’t like that. Now, he’s hired this man and woman team to find me and bring me back. Ben is relentless. This team has a newcomers’ invitation for tonight. I’d like you and Jordy to help me persuade these people to stop stalking me.”

  “You have a plan?” Law asked, raising a cut-glass tumbler to his lips.

  “I do,” I said. I explained my plan that would end up with Lee and the detective in a room in the basement. They’d be threatened, beaten enough to get their attention, and then put out with the garbage.

  Should I tell Ray and Law the woman is an NYPD detective? Probably. But if I do, I don’t think Ray and Law would help me. Well, they probably would, but not without some type of remuneration. So, the detective part would be my secret. By the time Lee and Detective Hughes woke up after being drugged, they’d be gagged, and the fun would begin.

  “You want a ringside seat? Or do you want to participate?” Law asked.

  “I could go for a few whacks with a cane, just to express my displeasure for the inconvenience they’ve caused, but I think I’ll just be a voyeur.”

  Lee was more than an annoyance, and he needed a lesson. “No broken bones but some split flesh is fine,” I said.

  “Got it,” he said. “I’ve got to be on the door in ten minutes. I’ll find you when we have them restrained and ready to start. I figure we’ll give them about a half hour to roam around. Just long enough to start being curious but not long enough to start participating.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Law,” I said, giving him a mischievous smile.

  If Ray liked you, the world opened up to so many possibilities. I was wearing a beautiful white gown adorned with hundreds of pearls, courtesy of Ray. It fit every curve and dip as if the dress had been tailored exclusively for me. And staying at his house was like staying on an island where no one could find you. The 10,000-square-foot home sat on acres of land that provided privacy and protection. Let Lee and Detective Hughes try to find me, much less get past the security. That is if they could even walk tomorrow.

  Since Lee and the detective knew I’d be at the party tonight, there was no need to hide from them. So I chose a tasteful white mask that covered my eyes and a bit of my cheek, nothing more. I had no reason to cover my face. Identifying the new members wasn’t usually tricky. Their masks were generally what I call Casanova masks, elaborate Venetian-style masks that covered their faces from the top of the head to the chin. And that’s what I expected Lee and the detective to wear tonight, elaborate full-face masks to hide behind.

  I’ve had this strange sense ever since I left New York that someone is following me, not Lee and his group, but someone else. Someone in the shadows. I was probably just twitchy, but I’ve learned, over the years, to trust my intuition. I had that feeling again tonight, even though I knew getting into the building uninvited was nearly impossible. I felt like someone was so close that if I turned around suddenly I’d see someone right there, waiting to pounce. I had to shake this feeling, or I’d be off my game tonight.

  One last check in the mirror, and I was ready to leave for the main event. I felt the best place to position myself to watch for Lee and the detective was in the greeting area on the large red sofa diagonal to the door. When they arrived as newcomers, Lawler would point them toward the first room containing refreshments, and I’d pick them up and follow them from there.

  Ah, and there they are.

  Lee looked handsome in a tux, and for a man who wasn’t part of the affluent world; tonight he presented himself with ease as he blended in with the crowd. Had he behaved like this when we’d first met I might not have been so suspicious of him. Though his mask covered most of his face, I thought I detected an easy smile right below the ridge of the mask. His posture was relaxed; the opposite of what I’d expected. And the detective, she seemed a bit of a wild card as well. Her form-fitting fire-engine-red dress barely covered her generous breasts. And when she walked, the slit up the side went up her leg to her hip; it was clear she wasn’t wearing panties. Quite a conundrum. Both of them appeared as if they’d been part of this scene forever and blended smoothly. I had to give it to them, they took their undercover roles ser
iously.

  As I watched Lee, I could see him subtly sweep the room looking for me, while the detective was more focused on the performers. The party had yet to start, but the people hired for entertainment had already begun their performances. I’ll give them an opportunity to explore before I execute my plan and use my limited time for my own fun. I’d had my eye on a guy who just reeked of money. I could tell by the way he watched the performers in the drawing room he was into the same kink as me. I think we could spend some time together while I waited for Lawler to let me know he’d restrained my serial stalkers.

  About to approach my catch of the evening, I saw Lee turn in an almost slow-motion manner and stare straight into my soul. Was this man taunting me? I disengaged and walked toward the man who would keep me occupied for the next hour or until Law came to get me.

  Although this was one of Ray’s best parties between the performers and the attendees, I was ready for the finale. I hadn’t meant to spend so much time indulging my erotic fantasies; I’d just gotten carried away. Three hours into the party, I got the nod from Jordy, Law’s assistant, that they were ready for me to instill my own mark of justice. Jordy escorted me to an elevator two floors down to a soundproof room.

  “Fi, something went wrong,” he said as we walked closer to the door. “We just got here ourselves a few minutes ago, and we need to do some damage control. Brace yourself; it’s a disaster.”

  He opened the door, and the carnage that flashed in front of my eyes nearly had me bolting for the toilet. How could something like this happen? The guests at the party were highly vetted. Anyone with even a small criminal infraction was turned away. Who could have done this? Neither Ray nor anyone associated with him would ever take things this far. The vision in front of me was nothing short of a massacre.

  The woman lay crumpled on the floor, naked in a pool of sticky red-brown blood. Small slash marks marred her body; she’d been tortured with a knife. Some punctures were still bleeding, and others were crusted with drying blood. The way her shoulder protruded, I was sure it was dislocated. But it was what was left of her face that drew my attention. Her face had been so severely beaten it was impossible to identify her. Bruises had started to cover her body, and her breathing was irregular. When she breathed through her nose, small red blood bubbles rose and fell.