blue dress

8/12/2019 Blue Dress

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Preface

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard flight 8769 to San Jose,

Costa Rica. This is o!r ca"tain Richard #artin s"ea$ing. %n behalf of #ari"osa

&irlines, '(d li$e to gi)e o! o!r than$s toda for fling with !s. %!r flight attendants

are here for o!r ser)ice, so "lease feel free to en*o o!r e+tended hos"italit as the "ass

o!t o!r brea$fast. %!r a""ro+imate fling time is- said the "ilot as hilli" made

himself comfortable in first class. /e had *!st finished s$imming thro!gh the in flight

safet card in the seat "oc$et. &s he ad*!sted himself into a comfortable "osition in his

seat he began to st!d all of the electronic feat!res in his ca"tain(s chair. /e had ne)er

flown first class before.

hilli" was listening to the anno!ncement as a stri$ing flight attendant with dee"

red hair and alabaster s$in as$ed him what he wo!ld li$e to drin$. /is res"onse was

immediate. Coffee with cream, and water with lemon.- To which she nodded her

ac$nowledgement and was bac$ to his seat with both within min!tes.

So is this o!r first tri" to Costa Rica0- The o!ng red headed flight attendant

as$ed.

&ct!all, es,- he re"lied. 1e)er been there in m life.-

So this sho!ld be some e+citing )acation for o! then,- she said.

2ell, '(m not going there for a )acation.- /e re"lied which ga)e her a loo$ of

bewilderment.

'(m mo)ing there,- he said.

2ow,- she answered enth!siasticall. That(s a "rett bold mo)e. ' mean3

li)ing somewhere that o!()e ne)er e)en been to before.-


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were disc!ssing and as she $nelt down the two men bro$e their con)ersation com"letel.

o!(re bac$.- /e said in a "leasant tone.

eah:::o! ha)e me c!rio!s,- she e+"lained. '()e read the "a"ers with

e)erthing that has ha""ened o)er the "ast si+ months with those g!s, so ' was

interested in how o! ended !" on a "lane to Costa Rica, with them to blame.-

' said the were res"onsible for me being here:::b!t not to blame,- he re"lied.

%h3' *!st tho!ght that with all the "ress the ha)e had that o! might be

somehow-

# dear, the "ress onl tells "art of the stor. The real stor lies with what o!

don(t get to read,- he added.

/er c!riosit t!rned to f!ll blown intrig!e and she tho!ght for a moment abo!t

how she co!ld as$ for more information abo!t some of what she $new thro!gh the media.

S!ddenl she was obli)io!s to the other "assengers and the fact that she was e)en on an

air"lane. She was gi)ing hil her f!ll attention.

So:::are o! read for the tr!th0- hilli" as$ed, realiing that he had ca"t!red

her com"lete attention.

&re o! $idding me0- she ste""ed bac$. ' want to hear the whole stor,- she

answered !ic$l.

2ell it all started abo!t fi)e months ago,- he began. Right aro!nd the time m

godson mo)ed in with me-


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Chapter 1

2e(ll be in 1ew or$ for three wee$s so ' need to o! reall ma$e s!re the color

will last,- said a woman in a thic$ Jewish roo$ln accent. She was seated in a bea!t

sho" with her head leaned bac$ in the wash basin. The hairdresser rolled his ees at her

last comment.

She(s bac$0;- &nother stlist remar$ed to the rece"tion des$ wor$er toward the

front of the salon.

She said she wanted edro,- the girl shr!gged her sho!lders.

She alwas wants edro:::then she s"ends two ho!rs tort!ring him thro!gh her

stle,- remar$ed the stlist.

eah:::' $now. 't(s li$e she gets off on it,- said the girl.


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rinsing the color o!t of her hair. She grabbed her cell "hone o!t of a large orange

metallic "!rse.

&n &sian manic!rist that was wor$ing on a client near where Rita was being

rinsed and watching her with edro, m!ttered !nder her breath, She itch;-

2hat0- She as$ed in a h!ff.

/one we ha)e to sto" at the store for the manager(s meeting before we lea)e

tonight,- her h!sband !rt said.

' $now that hone,- she said in a fli""ant tone. '(m at the salon now, '(ll be

home in a bit,- she added.

%$a:::' *!st tho!ght...- he started before she c!t him off.

' $now, o$a. '(ll see o! in a bit.- She said before hitting the cancel call b!tton

and throwing the "hone bac$ into her bag.

Jee!s:::that g! can(t s!r)i)e one ho!r witho!t me.- Rita said o!t lo!d for the

salon "atrons to hear.

/mm:::' can imagine,- said the stlist.

edro was blowing Rita(s hair straight when her cell "hone went off again. She

began to *er$ aro!nd in the chair reaching for her "!rse once more. edro rolled his ees

and tried not to brea$ from the rhthm he had wor$ing between the blow drer and his

large roll br!sh.

2hat0- Rita elled as she answered the cell "hone call.

/one, where are the $ids toothbr!shes0- !rt as$ed in a h!mbling tone.

Jee!s; '(ll be home in li$e => min!tes if o! co!ld *!st gi)e me a goddamn

brea$;- She sna""ed bac$ at him.


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'(m sorr:::4o!isa is *!st cring and sas she tho!ght we(d forget it,- e+"lained

!rt.

o! $now:::o! "eo"le are ma$ing me n!ts:::o! $now that0- Rita said as if her

famil were her em"loees. To that last remar$ she h!ng !" on him and threw her "hone

on the station co!nter in front of the mirror.

' swear, if ' don(t strangle them b the end of the da it(ll be a miracle,- she

addressed edro.

edro smir$ed a re"l b!t said nothing as he franticall tried to finish her stle.

/e was annoed with her b!t for some reason his mind seemed elsewhere. /e co!ld not

hel" mentall wandering to his latest lo)e affair gone wrong. 't had not gone wrong

act!all. 't had *!st gone awa. /e(d been seeing ill for abo!t si+ wee$s and he

tho!ght that this was finall the start of something real. The(d s"end most of their das

off together and in their fre!ent "illow tal$, the(d e)en tal$ed of mo)ing in together.

%n a da li$e an other, ill !it calling. ill !it ret!rning edro(s calls. 't was o)er

witho!t so m!ch of the dramatic end. edro co!ld not hel" feeling h!rt, b!t there was

something that was not !ite right. /e(d gone to the a"artment manager the second wee$

*!st to as$ if he(d seen or heard from ill. The manager was the innocent bstander that

informed him that ill had bro$en his lease and mo)ed o!t in the middle of the night

witho!t so m!ch as a forwarding address or "hone n!mber to be reached. edro chal$ed

it !" to et another fla$ ga man with commitment iss!es at first. !t with each da

that "assed, he had a bad feeling in the "it of his stomach and most of his mind seemed

"reocc!"ied with sol)ing this "!le. 2hat had he done to warrant s!ch a !ic$

de"art!re from his bofriend0 /is clo!ded dadreaming was interr!"ted when Rita(s cell


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"hone went off once more. She sat in the chair with her arms crossed "o!ting to herself.

'(m not answering that;- She anno!nced o!t lo!d to the salon. ?)erone began

to stare at her with each ring. &t first she seemed headstrong not to gi)e in and answer,

she was beginning to brood some embarrassment b the contin!al ringing. @inall, she

loo$ed to the left and to the right, as if she were crossing a b!s intersection then grabbed

the "hone from the co!nter !ic$l.

2hat now0- She as$ed, recogniing it was once again !rt.

5ic$ie called from the store and wanted to $now what time we(d be starting the

meeting,- he as$ed.

Shit, damn those, son of a.- 2ere some of the e+"leti)es that seemed to

emanate thro!gh the rest of her dialog!e as she fired awa li$e a )erbal machine g!n.

1ot onl was she )erball all o)er the "lace b!t she was flailing her arms and hands all

o)er and *er$ing her head all o)er as she got lo!der with each sllable. edro was now

wor$ing his hairbr!sh li$e some *oc$e(s whi" tring to regain control of her fl awa

hair. The more he tried to, the more hair that became entangled in the br!sh and seemed

to tighten in his reigns. J!st as Rita h!ng the "hone !" she noticed in the mirror that

edro had a loo$ of horror on his face and was tring to !ndo the tangled hair thro!gh the

br!sh with his hands.

2hat the f!c$ ha""ened0- She shrie$ed.

2ell o! $e"t mo)ing aro!nd and ' was tring to $ee" wor$ing.- /e offered in a

half hearted e+"lanation realiing that the br!sh was *!st not coming o!t of her hair.

Goddamn it; ' reall don(t need this right now ..what can we do0- She

as$ed as her tem"er went to a simmer.


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2ell we co!ld *!st c!t it b!t it(s almost all the wa down to o!r scal",- he

e+"lained.

' can(t c!t::::'()e been growing this o!t for almost A ears now and it(s almost

where ' want it,- she sna""ed bac$.

The two of them sat in silence at a standoff, loo$ing at each other thro!gh Rita(s

reflection in the mirror. J!st then edro $new what had to be done.

Bell, co!ld o! grab me the hac$saw o!t of the tool chest in bac$0- /e hollered

o!t. Rita loo$ed ahead at her own reflection in shoc$ and *!st o)er her sho!lder was

edro(s slight smile.

Chapter 2

/i #arie3't(s &ngie..from


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of his son and da!ghter, #att and #addie, and the other two were of o!ng ladies aro!nd

the same ages. The had been his ste"da!ghters o)er the "ast se)en ears. /e had not

seen them in abo!t nine months b!t as he "laced each frame on his des$ he held each one

and loo$ed at them for a moment with tears welling !" in his ees.

2ell after the f!neral, do o! thin$ o!(d want to sto" b0 2e(re ha)ing a white

sale this wee$end and ' tho!ght we co!ld come !" with some great ideas for o!r

bedroom. &t least now we can !se floral "rints,- she said. /ello0 :::::/ello0- &ngie

h!ng !" the "hone and said o!t lo!d, /ow do o! li$e that:::' thin$ she *!st h!ng !" on

me;-

&s &ngie, aside to herself, too$ a com"act and li"stic$ o!t of her "oc$etboo$ and

began to retrace the color in her li"s in bright red, she noticed Joe "!tting o!t "ict!res in

the reflection of her com"act mirror.

/e are those o!r $ids0- She as$ed Joe, ta$ing notice of the "ict!res he has *!st

"laced on dis"la.

eah::::well, two are mine:::two were m ste" da!ghters.- /e said in a tone that

was "rett !nemotional, mas$ing the sadness that he felt inside.

The are gorgeo!s children Joe,- she said. o! don(t e)en loo$ old eno!gh to

be a father.-

2ell, it(s not the age, it(s the mileage.- /e said half la!ghing to which &ngie

*oined in.

Bid, when o! get to be m age, it(s all mileage and no warrant.- She *o$ed

bac$.

&ngie had been wor$ing for


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brea$ gro!nd as an interior designer. /er dar$ hair had strea$s of caramel mi+ed with

some blonde. She wore dee" red li"stic$ that almost made her mo!th loo$ li$e a large

roseb!d. She and her h!sband had mo)ed to 5egas to retire from their famil(s b!siness

and &ngie had alwas dreamt of one da being a designer. She and her h!sband had b!ilt

man homes. 2ith each one, she wo!ld relish in the "rocess of coming !" with *!st the

right e)erthing- for it. /er famil and friends wo!ld ha)e her hel" them with their

own homes beca!se she was $nown to ha)e !ite the ee for taste. 't too$ her the

co!rage of retirement to finall tr and "!rs!e the o"tion of being "aid to do what she

lo)ed so m!ch, b!t as of et, she reall had not had m!ch l!c$.


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Gee, Stan, what do o! thin$0- The wife as$ed her h!sband.

That(s haarible;- &ngie "i"ed in, $nowing that o! co!ld not combine so man

floraled fabrics together witho!t ta$ing


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e+:h!sband, 2ade #ichaels had $illed them, another m!t!al friend and attac$ed her best

friend Carrie Betting, lea)ing her to die. The 4ost and @o!nd case came !" so fast she

didn(t e)en ha)e time to grie)e for her dead friends.

rad and 5ance were a ga co!"le worth millions. The li)ed in &las$a so

Bassid did not get to see them )er often. &fter their deaths she fo!nd o!t from the

lawers handling their wills that the had left her a sieable inheritance. 2ith the Terri

@itchell case in f!ll swing, she as$ed the attorne if he co!ld handle things !ntil she

fo!nd the time to get herself to &las$a and tie !" all the loose ends.

Can o! belie)e another child is missing0- hil said to her as he br!shed his

thic$ gre hair bac$ from his face.

' $nowE this time in &riona. 't seems li$e it is ha""ening all o)er the co!ntr

and a lot.- She said as she stro$ed Radar(s head. The all had *!st finished dinner and

Radar was )er content to ha)e his head in his owner(s la" being "et to slee". 't seems

li$e there is a common lin$ with the $idna""ings,- she began, '()e heard that the

children that are being ta$en are !s!all ret!rned if the ransom mone is "aid. The are

almost alwas children of wealth "eo"le. ' ha)e e)en heard of some "ets being snatched

from these rich fol$s and held for ransom too. The families seem to "a the ransom and

do e)erthing the can to $ee" the "olice o!t of it.-

@!nn,- hil said, wo!ldn(t o! want the $idna""ers ca!ght and bro!ght to

*!stice0-

o!(d thin$,- she said.

So, Bassid,- hil started, when am ' going to meet Jerr0- Jerr was the

owner of the B:9 cam" where she trained with Radar.


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showed signs of being interested in her, b!t she was )er foc!sed on her training and now

on her career. Getting in)ol)ed with a man, an man, at this "oint in her life was too

m!ch of a distraction.

hilli", there is nothing going on with !s.-

/e s!re calls o! a lot,- hil "ointed o!t.

/e calls abo!t once a wee$, !s!all to chec$ !" on Radar.- &t the mention of

his name, the dog lifted his head to loo$ at her.


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Ser)es o! right. o! $now how m!ch he lo)es o! and how "laing with his

tail ma$es him cra.- Bassid la!ghed.

%B, friends. ' need to get going.- /e headed for the door. Radar and Bassid

were right behind him.

e safe.- She said as she h!gged him. /e reached down to scratch Radar(s ears.

' alwas am.- hil t!rned for the door and went home.

%$a bo,- Bassid said to Radar, let(s go o!t bac$ and get cra for a while.-

Radar $new what that meant and he shot threw the ho!se to the bac$ door where he

sto""ed to wait for her.

&t night, before the went to bed, if Bassid wasn(t too e+ha!sted, the went to

her large bac$ard to "la catch and ro!gh ho!se !ntil the both were too tired to mo)e.

&fter F min!tes of this, e)en Radar was tired. The headed bac$ inside to get read for

bed.

2ith her g!n in the nightstand ne+t to the bed and Radar at the foot of the bed,

she drifted off into a )er contented slee".

HHHHH

hil dro)e home with the windows down. /e did not relish going home. /is life

had consisted of wor$, which he tr!l en*oed and home, alone, which he did not. That

was !ntil he met Bassid. She tr!l comforted him when Terri was $illed. &maingl

she wanted to contin!e their friendshi" once the fo!nd Terri(s $iller. hilli" was a little

hesitant at first. /e was easil twice her age and he felt a relationshi" was not in his best

interest. 2hen it was clear that Bassid onl wanted a friend, he embraced it. /e tried

not to be too m!ch of a "est. & o!ng girl li$e her sho!ld be o!t there with "eo"le her


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own age. The had dinner together once or twice a month and she called him e)er few

das to chec$ on him.

/e en*oed his *ob the most. 'nteracting with "eo"le all da was the highlight for

him. Going home de"ressed him b!t there was a new light shining there now that his

godson Joe had mo)ed in.

Joe had a !ni!e life and had li)ed thro!gh some strange things b!t it was nice to

ha)e another "erson in the ho!se.

hil "!lled into the garage, "ar$ed and headed for the $itchen. Sto""ing to ta$e

his "ills, then heading for the bedroom, he !ndressed and crawled into bed.

Chapter 4

&s &dam sco!red the classified ads in the latest 5ariet, he got !" to grab some

hot tea. 2hen he finished adding hone to his c!", he hit the "la on his answering

machine to listen to his )oice messages from the da before. The s"oon he !sed was in

the sha"e of an air"lane. 't had been his fa)orite s"oon as a bab, and his mother had

sent it to him as a gag, for his FIstbirthda, which had *!st "assed. /e was wearing his


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each "age, while "etting the cat in between. J!st as he was loo$ing at one "age for abo!t

a min!te he heard the s!aw$ing meow of Simon.

' $now bab. 't will be o$a.- /e said as if he and the cat !nderstood what he

had said. 4et(s get o! some dinner.- /e got !" from his chair with the cat "rancing

behind him toward the $itchen.

Gordon(s a"artment was small and s"arse, b!t clean. The sheers o)er the

windows $e"t m!ch of the s!nlight from getting in, and in it the small rooms seemed to

connect at different le)els of shadowed light. Gordon remo)ed a bag of cat food from an

!n"ac$ed grocer sac$ on the co!nter and Simon began to meow in s!ccession as if to

s"eed !" the "rocess.

&s soon as Gordon "o!red some food into a bowl, he sat down on the $itchen

floor to "et Simon as he ate. Soon he b!rst into tears and !ic$l began to co)er his face

with his hands as if he tho!ght he co!ld sto" the sobbing. The "hone began to ring, b!t

Gordon ignored it letting the machine "ic$ it !".

/i Go:Go:::it(s Rog. ' *!st wanted to chec$ on o! and Simon and see what o!

were !" to tonight. Gi)e !s a call when o! get this.- ee".

Gordon(s stomach san$. /e $new his cell "hone wo!ld be ringing ne+t, with the

same message from Roger. /e let it ring twice and "ic$ed !".

/e Roger.- /e said in a tone that was !"beat, mas$ing the grief and tears.

Chapter 6

&nd these are the fabrics '()e selected for the &)ignon chairs. ' tho!ght the

wo!ld be "erfect with o!r dra"er fabric.- Sa)annah said in a cool and com"osed tone.

%h the are *!st delightf!l,- said her client who was seated at a large


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Chi""endale dining table. 2hat do o! thin$, sweetheart0- She as$ed as she t!rned to

her h!sband, an aging man with balding gre hair and glasses.

2ell, ' thin$ Sa)annah has a handle on things.- /e said in a confident tone.

2ell than$ o! Sherman,- said Sa)annah.

Sa)annah started to collect the remnant fabrics !" from her "resentation as she

finished with, 1ow ' can ma$e some time for o! later in the wee$ if o! thin$ o! can

"o" b to sign off on the order.-

That so!nds good, hon, right Sherman0- as$ed the wife.

/ow(s @rida loo$ for o!0- Sherman as$ed .

&ct!all @rida is ideal.- She re"lied.

&s Sa)annah got her "resentation board and $it into her car she wai)ed goodbe

to the older co!"le as the stood at the front door of their large home. Sa)annah was a

stat!es!e blonde woman of middle age, b!t had a o!th in her face that seemed to glow.

2hen she got into her I978 #ercedes Con)ertible she ad*!sted her rear )iew mirror to

!se in br!shing her bangs bac$ into sha"e. She then started to dri)e awa, ta$ing a

cigarette case o!t of her "!rse, o"ening it, grabbing a clo)e and lighting it. She crac$ed

the car window and t!rned on her car stereo which was "laing a @leetwood #ac C


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the co!ld not acce"t her s!ccess. She was )er dedicated to her career and did not let

their childish antics bother her. She was gratef!l she wo!nd !" with Radar as a "artner

instead of one of them.

Bassid and Radar were sent all o)er the cit on )ario!s "atrols. This wee$ the

were sent to #cCarran &ir"ort. %ther than a o!ng child sli""ing awa from her mother

esterda, onl to be fo!nd in the ice cream line, e)erthing had been !iet.

eo"le were alwas "leasant to her when the saw her and Radar coming. Some

ga)e them a wide berth too. She $new those "eo"le were "robabl afraid of something.

s!all it was Radar. &ltho!gh he was not menacing, some "eo"le were tr!l afraid of

dogs, an dogs.

2al$ing down the conco!rse toward the gate, Bassid noticed a s!btle change

in Radar(s demeanor. 't was so slight that onl she wo!ld notice it b!t she was instantl

on g!ard. ?es scanning e)erwhere, she did not notice anthing !n!s!al. &s the got

closer to the "a "hones the change in Radar was becoming more ob)io!s. Bassid saw

what a""eared to be a teenage bo ma$ing a call. %n the floor ne+t to him was a

bac$"ac$ that was f!ll to the brim.

Bnowing Radar was not trained for e+"losi)es she realied there m!st be dr!gs

close b. &s the a""roached, the bo did not see them. /e had his bac$ to them as

Radar wal$ed right !" to the bac$"ac$. &s he sniffed it his tail c!rled !" o)er his bac$.

/e then loo$ed at Bassid then sat ne+t to it.

Bassid let Radar sta there as she ste""ed aro!nd the bo to face him and "lace

her arm across the booth. & flic$er of fear, then, o!t and o!t defiance crossed the bo(s

face.


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2hat do o! ha)e in the bag, sir0- Bassid as$ed the bo. /e still had not

t!rned aro!nd so he had no idea that Radar was behind him.

2hat(s it to o!0- /is snide re"l came.

Bassid was not sha$en and $e"t her calm demeanor. ' thin$ o! ha)e

something o! sho!ldn(t in there.- She smiled at him. /e was not im"ressed. Bassid

ste""ed aro!nd the bo to stand ne+t to Radar.

1ow, sir, wo!ld o! "lease o"en the bag0- She held firm on Radar(s collar.

@orget it, "ig.- /e started to t!rn as if he were going to grab the bac$"ac$ and

r!n when Bassid t!gged on Radar(s collar. Radar l!nged at the bo, bar$ing and

snarling.

S!re o! want to tr that0 '(m s!re he can o!t r!n o!.- She smiled again as

she watched the fear ret!rn to his face.

Bassid held firm on Radar(s collar b!t did not call him off. now a crowd was

gathering and someone had called air"ort sec!rit. The bo still faced Bassid and Radar

b!t was being s!rro!nded behind him b sec!rit.

The bo finall s"o$e, %B, call that monster off.- Bassid did *!st that and

Radar sat ne+t to where she stood.

#onster0- She leaned down to r!b his head.


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items, his e+"ression ne)er changed, !ntil she got to the carton of cigarettes.

nder the age limit to be smo$ing, aren(t o!, Jimm0- 2hen she smiled,

Jimm went "ale. Seems li$e an ordinar carton of cigarettes.- She t!rned the bo+ o)er

in her hands. The bac$ end of the bo+ ga)e wa and se)eral bo+es of 2inston cigarettes

t!mbled to the tableto". The air"ort officers remained !iet thro!gho!t the "rocess b!t

the were a little s$e"tical.

Jimm, none of these bo+es are wra""ed in cello"hane. 2h is that0- The bo

"!t his head in his hands, b!t did not answer. Bassid o"ened the first bo+ and d!m"ed

its contents on the table. Twent "erfectl rolled mari*!ana cigarettes landed there.

Jimm, are all the bo+es f!ll0- She now saw a scared o!ng man instead of an arrogant

one.

es.- Came the whis"er.

Two h!ndred of these babies. 2ow, Jimm.


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2hen she was bac$ o!t on "atrol she called Jerr on her cell "hone. Jerr, can

o! !se some hel" at the $ennels0- She as$ed him.

&re o! )ol!nteering0- Jerr said ho"ef!ll.

1o. o!ng se)enteen ear old bo, Jimm adl. ' *!st arrested him with two

h!ndred *oints.-

ser0-

1o, dealer. Tring to hel" mom o!t. Co!ld o! be at his co!rt date and offer

comm!nit ser)ice at the $ennel0 &fter he does his time, see if he wants a *ob. 't(s

honest wor$ and ' $now o! are alwas loo$ing for hel".-

Bass, sometimes o! amae me.- She co!ld hear the smile in his )oice.

2ill o! do it0-

%nl for o!.- /e said.

Than$s Jerr. Gotta go.- She ended the call before he co!ld re"l. She still was

not s!re what her feelings for him were and !ntil she was, she did not want to

inad)ertentl enco!rage him.


25/189

Chapter 8

hilli" stood in front of the bathroom mirror, with his thic$ sil)er hair m!ssed in

e)er direction. /e(d sle"t a few ho!rs since he got home from the gra)e shift as a "it

boss at the &ria Casino on the 4as 5egas Stri". /e o"ened his mo!th and began to tr

and loo$ down his throat in the mirror before ma$ing a gr!nting noise to clear it. 't had

been almost I> ears since he(d been li)ing on his own. /is wife had left after == ears

of marriage. Their fo!r grown children had mo)ed to other "arts of the co!ntr, with the

e+ce"tion of his da!ghter, 4ana. 4ana and her two children had mo)ed into a new ho!se

and was renting the one he staed at to him and his godson, who was also now a grown

man.

hil sh!ffled to the $itchen and "o!red himself something to drin$ before he

loo$ed o)er the mail and headed bac$ off to bed. /e needed to get a few more ho!rs

slee" before he wo!ld be bac$ at wor$ on the casino floor. 2or$ was the light switch that

t!rned him on mainl beca!se he got to hear the so!nd of his own )oice in real

con)ersations. /e(d managed to get o)er some of the heartbrea$ of his di)orce and e)en

some of the loneliness. 2hat was still hard for him to ad*!st to was the booming silence

of his life now. /e t!rned the Tele)ision on and drifted bac$ to slee" within min!tes.

HHHHH


26/189

Joe was not at his des$ long before his heard his name o)er the "aging sstem. &

new client had come into


27/189

came into the room.

1ow T/'S is what '(m tal$ing abo!t;- /e said referring to the fabrics as he

"ic$ed !" one. These are fab!lo!s, and ' don(t !se the f- wor$ d!ring dalight ho!rs

m!ch.- /e chimed in la!ghing at himself.

eah, ' thin$ the(d reall "!nch !" the loo$ of abo!t an !"holstered "iece.-

Joe said.

4isten:::'(m in s!ch a r!sh, b!t '(d lo)e to see what o! co!ld come !" with for

m clients,- said &!bre.

2ell, '(d lo)e to.- Joe said.

Great3here(s the address3o! can meet me there at 6=> "m.- /e said handing

Joe a b!siness card.

Joe noticed that there was no name b!t rather the initials C2


28/189

/i Terr:::what(s !"0- /e as$ed, alread $nowing that it wo!ld "robabl be a

re"eat of his earlier message.

&dam:::we ha)e to get a bed and something for the windows before the shoot on

@rida, so ' wanted to ma$e s!re..-

eah, '()e got it co)ered Terr:::' *!st got o!r message awhile ago, so let me

get cleaned !" and '(ll head o!t.-

%h, o$a.- said Terr. ' *!st wanted to ma$e s!re o! $new. Than$s again

&dam.-

o! bet.- /e re"lied in a tone that was not !ite as enth!siastic.

&dam had grad!ated film school with honors bac$ in 1ew or$. /e(d e)en

"rod!ced one inde"endent film for the S!ndance @ilm @esti)al *!st two ears "rior.

/owe)er, regardless of the critic accolades, he fo!nd himself down a m!ch different "ath

than he(d en)isioned. /e was now directing ga "ornogra"h. 't was a "rett

ha""enstance b "rod!ct of one of his first failed ga relationshi"s. /e(d met Tomm

while )isiting 4os &ngeles b!t their co!rtshi" was c!t short when he fo!nd o!t that

Tomm was a K( rated "orn star. Bnowing that &dam was tring to get some brea$, an

brea$ in show b!siness, he recommended that he tr directing in the ad!lt film arena.

&dam was almost bro$e and his self esteem was r!nning abo!t as red as his ban$

acco!nt, so he obliged. 4ittle did he $now that it wo!ld become his own trade branding,

and now he was loc$ed into this medi!m.

&s he h!ng the "hone !", he "ic$ed !" a "hoto alb!m that was at the end of his

bed. 't was a scra"boo$ of some of the "las that he had been in d!ring high school and

thro!gh college. /e got to the third "age before he sh!t it !ic$l and went bac$ to the


29/189


30/189

star hotel.

Than$s. 't(s nice to meet o!.- /e said in a tone that followed hers.

&s the two s"o$e, &ngie st!died e)erthing abo!t Sa)annah, from her s"eech to

her ensemble. She was not !ite discreet abo!t the obser)ation as Sa)annah wo!ld feel

the glare and occasionall loo$ o)er at &ngie as she and Joe made their con)ersation.

The tr!th was that &ngie was in some biarre awe of this woman. /er own dream to

become an interior designer later in life seemed to be thwarted b her own K4!c

Ricardo( was. She had a secret admiration with how smoothl Sa)annah seemed to wor$

the "rocess, while getting the t"e of clients that seemed to eat from the "alm of her

hands. 'f Sa)annah wore a scarf aro!nd her nec$, &ngie wo!ld wear one the ne+t da. 't

was li$e some strange form of hero worshi", b!t !nfort!natel, Sa)annah *!st felt as if

&ngie had some disli$e for her with all the glaring and ea)esdro""ing.

's something wrong0- Sa)annah as$ed.

%h:::1o:::%h.'(m sorr.- &ngie said in a fl!stered dis"osition.

The door chimed as &dam wal$ed into


31/189

a set and "ro" h!nt for the ne+t great ga "orn film he was abo!t to be directing.

' see:::well, '(m &ngie and '(d lo)e to show o! what we can do,- she said. J!st

as &ngie began her monolog!e abo!t the free design ser)ice, &dam noticed Joe in the

design center. Soon, &ngie(s monolog!e was a faint h!m. Joe was sorting thro!gh

fabrics and dressed in his best b!siness cas!als. &dam co!ld not hel" b!t notice that he

was )er handsome, b!t in more of a little bo all grown !" sort of wa. This was )er

m!ch the "hsical t"e &dam was attracted to. J!st as he had his ees on Joe, Joe loo$ed

!" and the made ee contact. &dam was abo!t the same height, b!t more stoc$.

&dam was handsome, b!t loo$ed )er straight to the !ntrained ee. &s he noticed Joe(s

bl!e ees, he tho!ght to himself Wow.

The two began to brea$ into a bl!sh and "ic$ed bac$ !" with what the were each

doing. &ngie had beg!n to s!mmon &dam bac$ to her monolog!e and he followed her

into the clearance wareho!se.

&s &ngie !shered &dam aro!nd the clearance wareho!se of the f!rnit!re store, he

was half listening to her go on abo!t the design ser)ice the offered, while in his mind he

began to wander with his tho!ghts of seeing the other designer he wished he had been

wor$ing with Joe. &dam was cl!ms in dating and relationshi"s in general. /e had a

trac$ record for choosing other g!s that were emotionall cri""led, in some IA ste"

"rogram or needed to be, or *!st to+ic. !t there was something different abo!t this g!.

/e co!ld sense confidence.

So whatcha thin$ doll0- &ngie as$ed, referring to the bed that the were standing

in front of.

/ow m!ch0- /e as$ed, coming bac$ to b!siness at hand.


32/189

' can do L8>. on this one,- she said.

'(ll ta$e it:::when can o! g!s deli)er it0- /e as$ed.

/ow(s tomorrow0- She said in a confident tone.

Great:::'(ll need some other f!rnit!re too, so let(s see what else o! ha)e.- J!st

then, Joe wal$ed bac$ into the wareho!se with a client. /e too$ notice of &dam again

and this time he was able to get a better loo$, witho!t him noticing. Joe tho!ght he was

attracti)e, b!t that he needed a good da(s sho""ing at anana Re"!blic. &ltho!gh FI,

&dam was dressed as if he were still in high school. /e ne)er cared m!ch for all the

"om" and ceremon of b!siness attire, and most of the time, his wardrobe consisted of

cle)er T:shirts embossed with some of the latest catch "hrases, or sill "anorama.

&ngie was e+cited to ha)e a new client. She was now beginning to glide as she

escorted &dam thro!gh the rest of the showroom. She "assed b Sa)annah, who ga)e her

an odd loo$, realiing that &ngie loo$ed almost as if she were a!ditioning for a "art in the

school "la. &s the two made ee contact, &ngie smiled as if she were being crowned

#iss &merica

Chapter 10

Two light sil)er #ercedes "!lled !" to Ti$i(s- a fa)orite bar and grill in the alm

S"rings area. oth dri)er side doors o"ened sim!ltaneo!sl, and that was where the

smmetr ended. %ne shorter sil)er haired man with a large bloated stomach and a

o!nger man with badl ded blac$ hair followed one another inside. The wal$ed "ast

the lease 2ait to e Seated- sign, and sat down at a booth toward the bac$, on se"arate

sides. &s their waitress a""roached the table with coffee "ot in hand, the sil)er haired

one s"o$e first.


33/189

1o coffee, doll, b!t instead '(ll ha)e a 5irgin #ar,- he said.

&nd '(ll ha)e an &rnold almer.- S"o$e the dar$er haired man in a faint almost

feminine )oice.

&s the waitress too$ their drin$ order and t!rned to wal$ awa another older man

with tortoise shell glasses wal$ed in to the resta!rant and sat down at the booth with the

them. /e "ar$ed his sedan with California "lates that read I


34/189

2ell, we(re not s!re where he is et and it(s eas to hide in 5egas.- Re"lied

2alt, to which Clem "!t his men! down and too$ a moment to stare 2alter in the ees.

'(m not interested in obstacles,- added Clem. 'f o! had done this # 2& in

the first "lace, then it wo!ld not ha)e gotten this far.- &t that remar$ both Roger and

2alt, loo$ed down at the table as if the were two children being scolded for a bad re"ort

card. So, where(s the other one0- as$ed Clem, as he "ic$ed his men! bac$ !" to re)iew

it.

2ell, he(s still here,- said Roger. Joe made two calls as he was lea)ing, b!t it

was to come get their cat.-

Good, so it(s not a total b!st,- added Clem. 4et(s eat.- /e said as the waitress

wandered bac$ to their table to ta$e their orders.

&s she "a!sed at the table front, Clem addressed her. '(ll tr the eggs benedict

with a side a hash browns and so!rdo!gh toast,- he said. &nd that blo!se is not !ite

o!r color.-

The waitress loo$ed !" from her order "ad, a bit ins!lted b his remar$, b!t once she saw

his coc$ smir$, decided against reb!$ing it.

Chapter 11

&s Gordon dro)e into the large circ!lar dri)ewa of a 5ictorian #ansion, he too$

one long last drag from his cigarette before tossing it o!t the car window. /e was

listening to a Ste)ie 1ic$(s C< that was "laing Kea!t and the east(. /e had been

s!mmoned b Roger, to come o)er for his latest Kassignment(. #ost of the time he was


35/189

ma$ing his wa thro!gh each da, somewhat n!mb. The onl thing that had been

$ee"ing him l!cid and aware eno!gh to wor$ was the crstal methane that 4!anne had

been s!""ling him. 't wo!ld $ee" him !" for das at a time, which was a relief from

some of the nightmares he(d been ha)ing while he sle"t. /e was barel able to recognie

himself within his lifestle now. /e(d bleached his hair o!t to a ellow blonde. /is s$in

had ta$en on a dar$er gra tone. /is hael ees had become lac$l!ster blac$Dbrown. &s

he wal$ed !" to the front door and rang the doorbell, 2alt answered in a robe.

/e:::we are going to go to the bedroom first,- said 2alt.

@ine.- &nswered Gordon in a melanchol tone.

&s Gordon followed 2alt !" the dramatic staircase, the ho!se was scented with a

"ale fragrance of something he fo!nd to be oddl familiar. The both entered an !"stairs

"arlor where there were fo!r men incl!ding Roger and Clem sitting in large cl!b chairs in

nothing b!t robes. The chairs were arranged in a semi circle toward the center of the

large room. Gordon had been in the room man times o)er the ears b!t !nder m!ch

different circ!mstances. /e and Joe wo!ld go o)er to 2alt and Roger(s to watch T5 and

*!st hang o!t on wee$ends. 1ow those das were o)er. Gordon was now the

entertainment. ?)er since his brea$!" with Joe, and his o!ngest da!ghter(s br!sh with

death, he had become the "arlor game. ?ach wee$ different men wo!ld be hosted to !se

Gordon at their own se+!al dis"osal while the other men watched and mast!rbated !ntil

the *oined in. The se+ was beond role "laing and sadism. There were times when he

was forced to "artici"ate in acts with cor"ses and animals. /e ne)er $new what the men!

was !ntil he arri)ed each wee$. 2hen he reached "oints of "!re terror, he was fed crstal

meth or other t"es of hall!cinogenics to co"e. 2hen nothing seemed to d!ll the


36/189

sensation of what he was doing, he esca"ed to a "lace he had $nown as a child. This t"e

of )ictimiation was all too familiar. /is own father had gi)en him o)er to this same

$ind of ab!se, and he had e)en been hos"italied once from a gang ra"e that got o!t of

hand from his father and some of his friends. Gordon was gifted intellect!all and

mathematics became a form of self h"nosis. /e co!ld literall find was of ind!cing

o!t of bod e+"eriences d!ring these br!tal se+!al assa!lts. /e fo!nd himself going to

the same methods of s!r)i)al.

2hat Gordon co!ld not master was how his own o!t of bod e+"erience wo!ld

attach or draw those that were connected to him in his "ersonal life. @or months d!ring

these sessions, Joe wo!ld be drawn into the scene and !s!all get his own )er l!cid

tele"athic )isions of what was ha""ening. %ne of the first incidents that tr!l bac$fired

badl bac$ at Gordon in)ol)ed #atthew. Gordon had been e+torted b his former

bofriend 4!$e, in the second ear of his relationshi" with Joe. 4!$e had come o!t of

the trench he fled to after their brea$!", to threaten Gordon for mone. /e was the

"erson that d!"ed Gordon into the dar$ beginnings of his own in)ol)ement with the

occ!lt. the time Gordon realied what he(d been conned into it was too late.

&s his K"erformance( came to a concl!sion some of the men in the room got !" to

ta$e a shower and get dressed. Clem handed Gordon a towel and "!t his arm aro!nd him.

' need to tal$ with o! for a moment.- /e said in a tone that ga)e Gordon a chill.

&s he !shered Gordon into the ne+t room, he sat him down and began.

'(m lea)ing for 5egas tonight and o!(ll be going with me,- he said. ac$

eno!gh for a co!"le of das-.

&s Gordon listened to his instr!ctions he felt his stomach dro", realiing that Joe


37/189

was "robabl the reason for the s!dden tri" o!t of town.

' thin$ it(s more discreet if we dri)e !",- said Clem with all the air"ort

sec!rit and all-.

2hat time sho!ld ' come o)er0- Gordon as$ed.

2e will "ic$ o! !".- Clem said. ' tho!ght Johnnie sho!ld come along too.-

Gordon(s s!s"icions were being confirmed. Johnnie was a o!ng bo in his earl

twenties that Clem !sed as his "ersonal henchman. 2hen someone wo!ld die or

disa""ear into thin air msterio!sl, Johnnie was !s!all the tool the gro!" !sed to do the

dirt wor$.

@ine,- re"lied Gordon.

Chapter 12

't was =A "m at R!b Thomas ?lementar School when the school bell that


38/189

ended the da rang. 2ithin => seconds the "a)ed "lagro!nd was filled with st!dents

being !shered o!t b their teachers. There were lines of st!dents being formed behind

large green n!mbered circles and *!st as the chaos of o!ng bodies filed into order a

o!ng bo ran o)er to a line that was not his own.

/e #addie, ' got the "art;- /e said to his older sister.

&lright;- She said to her brother, #att. 2hat are o! going to tell mom0- She

as$ed changing her e+citement to concern.

' d!nno,- he said. '(ll thin$ of something,- he added.

%nl fags are in the school "la.- 'nterr!"ted a blonde bo that was standing

behind #addie.

?at shit and die Jordan.- #addie said. 5er m!ch o!t of character in lang!age,

b!t tr!e to character in defense of this remar$ toward her o!nger brother. o! co!ld tell

this comment st!nned Jordan, as #addie was the straight & st!dent Kgood girl( of her

class.

#att and #addie were *!st one ear a"art in age, and altho!gh )er m!ch the

sibling ri)als when it came to their home life, their lo)e for each other and closeness

"re)ailed. The had no choice. ?ach being light brown haired and bl!e eed with

similar feat!res, the almost loo$ed as if the were the bo and girl )ersion of one

another. The "ast two ears had been hard on them beca!se of the legal battles the had

witnessed between their "arents. Their mom and dad had di)orced while the were still

fairl o!ng, b!t the two ho!seholds had e)ol)ed in a )er non:traditional famil. ?)en

tho!gh di)orced the saw their father and mother get along, and re)ere one another(s

roles. 2hile their dad li)ed in California he wo!ld come to see them almost e)er month


39/189

with his "artner. The wo!ld e)en sta at the ho!se. eing ga didn(t seem to affect the

lo)e their father had for them and their mom seemed to be !ite fond of their ga ste"

father as well. &ll of that ended o)er a s"ring brea$ )acation that the both s"ent with

the co!"le in California. Something ha""ened that blew the famil a"art and waged a

war between the children(s "arents that had *!st now seemed to be cooling. 'n the end,

their father s"lit with his "artner and a ear later mo)ed to 4as 5egas to be closer to them.

2hile their "arents seemed to tal$ of nothing b!t co!rt dates and lawers, both

children loo$ed to each other and themsel)es to ma$e some sense of normalit. 't was

d!ring this time #att fo!nd a b!nch of )ideo ta"es in a bo+ in their garage. The ta"es

were all of different local theatrical "rod!ctions his dad had been in before he was born.

/e was amaed that there was this whole other side of his father that he had no idea

abo!t. ?ach da he wo!ld watch another )ideo. efore long he was longing to

e+"erience first hand, what it wo!ld be li$e to be all these different characters and ha)e

his own da on a stage with an a!dience. 2hen he told his mom that he wanted to

a!dition for his first "la she rolled her ees and grimaced. She(d been down this road

with her e+:h!sband and it ca!sed a h!ge strain on their relationshi". 1ow she was once

again being faced with the ghost of the "ast. 2ith m!ch hesitation she obliged him, and

of co!rse he got the lead. &nd then there was the ne+t show..and the ne+t. #atthew

was ma$ing himself into a fine little actor, b!t when his grades began to sli"E his mother

!ic$l stifled an more of his own theatrics. /e wor$ed to bring his grades bac$ !", b!t

as each new "la began a!ditions his mom wo!ld come !" with some reason or another

that he co!ld not "artici"ate. @inall, he *!st decided what she did not $now3wo!ld not

h!rt him. /e reall *!st wanted the chance to a!dition. /e landed the lead and now he


40/189

was going to ha)e to e+"lain something to his mom and ste"father to *!stif his rehearsal

sched!le.

#addie was "ro!d of her brother(s s!ccess in his arena, b!t she chose a more

academic one. She was a G&T? st!dent, choosing to get more in)ol)ed in her st!dies

and st!dent co!ncil. There was some "art of her that needed more str!ct!re in the winds

that had been blowing all aro!nd her home life. &ltho!gh onl in fifth grade, she loo$ed

older for her age. o! co!ld alread see the bea!tif!l o!ng woman she was going to

e)ol)e into. os in her class wo!ld stammer aro!nd her for attention, b!t she a""eared

aloof to an of their "los for her grammar school affections. She felt older than her age.

/er abilities to read others and sit!ations made her more of an ad!lt than the little

girl she was. She co!ld not !ite e+"lain how or wh she *!st $new- things, b!t it made

it somewhat harder for her to e)en relate to the other $ids her own age. These abilities

made the horror of what her father had been thro!gh o)er the "ast ear, li$e a scar

mo)ie she co!ld not t!rn off. She was relie)ed to ha)e her dad li)ing in 5egas now

beca!se for her it meant that the were closer and he wo!ld be safer. 'n all the dreams

and )isions she had enco!ntered, there was one that she onl felt comfortable disc!ssing

with her father. 't was one in which she saw him being m!rdered.

'n her dream she was led from room to room in a large ho!se being shown the

dead bodies of all of her famil members. eo"le in dar$ hooded robes were holding her

hands and leading her to these rooms, then finall o!t to a bac$ "atio where she saw her

father sitting inside a large Jac!i hot t!b. & dar$ c!rl haired man was tal$ing to her,

and altho!gh she co!ld not remember what he said, he grabbed her father b the hair and

c!t his throat in front of her. &ltho!gh it was "rett horrific, she somehow did not react


41/189

in horror. She noticed in her dream that there was a g!n hanging in s!s"ended animation

on the bac$ wall. She grabbed the g!n and shot the man with dar$ hair in the head. Then

she began shooting all the "eo"le that were encircling her. 't was a nightmare that she

too$ control o)er, et one which still ha!nted her.

#abe o! sho!ld *!st tell mom o! are going o!t for the intram!ral bas$etball

team.- She said to her brother, offering that as the alibi he wo!ld need to be able to

rehearse for the "la.

/e:::that(s a great idea.- #att said. o o! reall amae me.-

2ell, it(s the onl wa mom won(t find o!t. esides with her wor$ sched!le,

she won(t $now the difference,- added #addie.

HHHHH

&s Joe, &ngie, Sa)annah and the other designers got themsel)es sit!ated aro!nd

the conference table in the design center, Rita b!lldoed thro!gh the front door with her

"!rse in one hand and a cell "hone in the other.

'(m here alread;- She sna""ed at !rt o)er the "hone. 2here the hell are

o!0-

The designers began to loo$ at each other and she contin!ed her con)ersation

o)er the "hone while she a""roached the table. &s she blasted awa some more at !rt,

&ngie leaned o)er to Sa)annah and in a low tone said, /e3what the hell ha""ened to

her hair0-

Rita had a h!ge mass teased o!t on one side of her head and it a""eared as if she

were wearing some odd hat off to the side of her head. The hat- was the mass of hair

that had been stled o)er to hide the bro$en end of the hairbr!sh that edro had gotten


42/189

tangled in hear head, while blowing her o!t.

&s Sa)annah st!died it, she did not loo$ at &ngie b!t re"lied o!t of the corner of

her mo!th, ' ha)e nooo idea.-

Joe sat in his seat with a note boo$ thin$ing abo!t his ho!se call that e)ening with

the msterio!s clients of &lden. &s the other designers "ointed o!t Rita(s ridic!lo!s hair

and la!ghed li$ed grammar school children his mind was other "laces. /e was not s!re

what e+actl his g!t was abo!t meeting with these clients for his first ho!se call. So

m!ch of the "ast ear had been li$e something o!t of a horror no)el. /e(d barel

esca"ed the wrath of it when he fo!nd o!t the tr!th behind his former "artner(s "ast.

@i)e Star Ser)ice:::that(s what ' wanted to lea)e o! all with toda.- Rita said

as most of the designers nodded in a form of "atroniing agreement. 2hen ' go to m

hairdresser and he begins to massage m scal" and m sho!lders:::' $now wh '(m

"aing him so m!ch,- she added.

' wonder if she "aid e+tra for that camel h!m" hairdo.- &ngie said to Sa)annah.

J!st as Sa)annah began to giggle to herself, Rita loo$ed !" and noticed that she

had lost most of her a!dience. %ne designer was o!tright drawing a "ict!re of all the

4oone T!ne characters.

'(m not f!c$ing aro!nd here "eo"le;- She elled. o!r sales fig!res for this

!arter are S/'T.-

&t that o!tb!rst, all the designers began to bl!sh and sit !" in their chairs. Joe,

realied that his new boss might be somewhat of a "iece of wor$. /e managed to ma$e

ee contact for a moment with Rita, and a chill went !" his s"ine as he saw the same d!ll

lac$l!ster glare, as he had come to recognie in so man of his old friends incl!ding


43/189

Gordon toward the end. /e $new that he was going o)erboard with "aranoia. &fter all,

not e)erone that was a bitch was in the c!lt. 'n fact, what seemed to be more "re)alent,

was the thic$ charm that most im"osed !"on others. 'f there was one thing he was able to

"ic$ !" on from Rita, was that she was far from ?mil ost.

Joe, how did o! all increase o!r n!mbers in California0- She as$ed him to

the gro!".

2ell- began Joe, 2e had good foot traffic so it was a matter of ta$ing the

time to !antif the client(s needs from the )er beginning and reall listening to them.-

That(s @'5? ST&R S?R5'C? and that(s what '(m tal$ing abo!t;- Rita

inter*ected.


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Chapter 13

&s #att and #addie finished setting the table for dinner, Sallie was ta$ing

meatloaf o!t of the o)en. She had been home from wor$ abo!t an ho!r and neither of

the $ids had fo!nd an wa to bridge into what the had both had de)ised as #att(s alibi

e+c!se for his lead "art in the school "la. The $new that the both were going to ha)e

to stic$ with the "lotline in order for their mom not to see thro!gh to the tr!th. She was

$een when it came to her children. She had to be after the "ast two ears. She no longer

harbored ill will toward her e+:h!sband, Joe, b!t she realied more than he had, abo!t the

danger their famil was "!t in with the connection to Gordon. Joe had ne)er come o!t

and told Sallie e)erthing he had fo!nd o!t abo!t the @o!ndation or some of their friends

that had affiliations with it. 'nstead he wrote a long letter accom"anied with his

screen"la. /e $new that while his screen"la had changed some of the names and

sit!ations, she still wo!ld be able to fill in the blan$s. She read abo!t half before she

realied that her own instincts were tr!e, and that her e+:h!sband had awa$ened to the

tr!th. 1ow she tr!sted his *!dgment eno!gh to $now better for the f!t!re.

#om:::we(re done setting,- elled #addie.

#att too$ a seat at the table, !nfolded his na"$in li$e a little gentleman to wait for

his mother and sister. /e realied that while he had landed a "art in the school "la, his

real "erformance was abo!t to begin. &s the two women of the ho!se sat down, Sallie


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started to ser)e deliberate "ortions for each child as she began con)ersation.

So, how was the blac$board *!ngle, o! two0- She as$ed.

%h fine,- said #addie. ' got an & on m science "ro*ect, b!t ' can(t bring it

home !ntil @rida.-

%h good. 2ell let o!r dad $now when he "ic$s o! !" so he can come into

o!r classroom to hel" o! get it all o!t to the car.- Sallie said.

' still thin$ it was st!"id that Jenna won the Science @air this ear,- added #att.

2hat was her "ro*ect on again0- as$ed Sallie.

She t!rned bo flowers into girl ones !sing birth control "ills,- answered

#addie. Sallie began to cho$e on her drin$ with a mi+ of shoc$ and am!sement.

So when does "ractice start,- #addie as$ed #atthew, c!eing him in to their "lan.

%h, ne+t T!esda,- he answered loo$ing down at his "late to a)oid initial ee

contact with his mother.

ractice0- as$ed Sallie in a s!s"icio!s tone.

eah:::' tried o!t for the baseball team,- he said in a flat tone.

%h that(s great;- Sallie re"lied. J!st $ee" !" o!r schoolwor$,- she added.

' will.- /e said. '()e been on the &: /onor roll this whole ear.-

J!st as he said that he realied that the had "rett m!ch sli""ed right thro!gh the

gate with their mother. Bnowing it was almost too eas, he decided to "!t the feelers

o!t. /e mom:::the school "la is coming !".-

#atthew we tal$ed abo!t that. o! don(t seem to sta foc!sed when o! get

in)ol)ed with the drama cl!b, so !ntil '(m s!re o! can manage both, ' thin$ o! need a


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brea$ from that.- She said.

J!st as #att tho!ght he wo!ld co!nter her remar$, #addie *!m"ed in as if to

deflect the con)ersation com"letel. #om, how do birth control "ills wor$0- She as$ed.

Chapter 14

Joe was dri)ing slowl loo$ing at all the addresses on the ho!ses to see which one

was his "otential new client(s. These homes were located in Se)en /ills, a "rominent

area of Green 5alle. J!st as he loo$ed down at the ma" !est directions one last time, he

too$ notice of a large modern white ho!se adorned in some stac$ed stone and large glass

walls of windows on the front. ?tched in the glass of the large do!ble doors at the

entrance were the initials C2


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o(cloc$,- said the man.

4isten:::'(m a ho!se $ee"er not a god damned alarm cloc$ o! di)a:licio!s gone

wrong,- sna""ed the woman.

2ell co!ld o! get the girls together. '(ll go down and see if he wants anthing

to drin$.- /e said.

&s the )oice grew lo!der and closer, Joe realied it was &!bre. Soon he was

fling down the stairs in a ras"berr "a*ama set with an embarrassed smile on his face.

/i darling:::'(m so sorr abo!t that. ' sho!ld ha)e been read for o!, b!t ' was

in the steam room tring to ma$e mself a sie twel)e b tonight.- &!bre said.

%h that(s alright,- said Joe, holding his hand o!t to greet him. /e noticed a gro!"

of "eo"le starting to file in where the were standing.

Joe $new them, or better et, $new of them. This was the same gro!" of drag

!eens that had been "erforming at the #enagerie in Ri)erside the night of his ill fated

s!icide attem"t. The had !ite a local following and had "erformed in 4os &ngeles and

alm S"rings. 't was clear to him now, that *!st as life had tossed some b!m"s along the

wa, it was also handing him some well "laced coincidences too.

This is great,- said Joe. '()e act!all seen o! "erform in California.-

& fan;- g!shed Rosalind, a stoc$ b!ilt bl!e eed man, wearing a scarf aro!nd

his head as if he had his hair wra""ed inside of it.

2ell the "leas!re is all o!rs,- said Tori, a taller thinner she:male, with a )er

long blonde wig, false eelashes and a short sil$ "in$ robe with a dragon embroidered on

the bac$ of it.

&s introd!ctions contin!ed, Joe was ac!ainted with


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also adorned in their lo!nging cost!mes. &!bre too$ the lead and e+"lained that while

the gro!" had signed a three ear contract at the &ria /otel, this ho!se was owned b the

cor"oration and their boarding was a "art of the contract with the gro!". 't was a h!ge

lea" into another world for all of them and while the did not own it, the reall wanted

to ma$e it their own ha)en for the r!n of their contract. Their signing bon!s was going to

be the seed mone to transform the alread bea!tif!l ho!se into a show"lace for 4as

5egas( newest Ksoon to be( celebrities.

&s &!bre and the girls wal$ed Joe thro!gh the to!r of their "lace he too$ notes,

meas!rements and "hotos, so he co!ld get a good sense of what the wanted for each

room. /e was thrilled at this great new "ros"ect of a design *ob. These were *!st the

$ind of clients he needed to get bac$ on his feet financiallE at least !ntil he co!ld sell his

screen"la.

o! $now, when o! came in to the store earlier and referred to o!r clients, '

*!st ass!med o! were another interior designer,- said Joe.

%h hone:::'(m sorr. ' realied o! might thin$ that, b!t in show bi o!

sometimes ass!me. '()e been their agent since the get go, b!t we finall hit it last ear

and bo what a ride it(s been. esides, ' didn(t want to tell o! e)erthing !ntil o!

came o!t and met the girls. The last thing we needed was some Kobb Trend( coming

in and tring to Ko!t fab!lo!s( themsel)es beca!se of their own desire for I min!tes of

fame,- e+"lained &!bre.

Joe res"ected that "oint of )iew. /e had some bad e+"eriences in tring to sell

his screen"la in California and he had learned first hand how the Kwhat and who you

know( effect can bac$fire on o!. &s the two sat down at the $itchen table ?lsie bro!ght


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them both some coffee and a slice of "ie to go with it. &s the ironed o!t some of the

details of the "ro*ect and set an a""ointment to see the "resentation at

Thang0- Rosalind as$ed.

o! *!st don(t get it and '(m tired of e+"laining it to o! tired old bags,- said

2ell can(t we find something in bl!e, that doesn(t ma$e o! loo$ li$e o! got

shot o!t of a cannon0- as$ed Rosalind, redirecting herself to Roberta.

o! $now:::when o! wanted to do that &!dre /e"b!rn, Krea$fast at

Tiffan(s( hat thing, we all went along with it, e)en after Tori almost set hers on fire with

the goddamn cigarette..-

1ow wait a min!te, that wasn(t m fa!lt,- said Tori, *!m"ing into the arg!ment.

%h "lease hone,- said Rosalind o!(re *!st l!c$ o! didn(t ta$e o!t the

theatre with that flaming cat in the hat n!mber.-

That wasn(t as bad, as when she set the massage thera"ist on fire with her

aromathera" tea tree lantern,- b!rst

/e:::he was twirling on Tina.- Tori said.


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o! don(t Ktwirl( on Tina,- said

added.

' tho!ght o! roll on ecstas0- as$ed Rosalind.

J!st as all fo!r girls and ?lsie began elling, la!ghing and all contin!ing on in

different fragments of the "ast fi)e tangent con)ersations, &!bre stood !" and in a

booming )oice elled.

?1%G/; 2e are tring to ha)e a con)ersation here faggots;- %ne b one he

began addressing each "oint. o! twirl on g:::o! roll on +::::o! twee$ on meth.

1ow, Shirle #aclaine, go meditate and call the mothershi";- he said to

cost!mes ha)e been a""ro)ed and the o"ening n!mber is in the bl!e dresses,- he said to

the other three di)as. &nd hone,- he loo$ed at Tori. 'f o! set one more "erson, "lace

or thing on fire, the(ll ha)e to sew a fire e+ting!isher in o!r cod"iece, so !it acting

li$e o! are one of the e+tras from the KTowering Inferno( and get a gri";-

J!st as the room became flooded with silence from the scolding of their manager,

the girls too$ a !ic$ e+it and ?lsie wal$ed bac$ o)er to the sin$ to start rinsing o!t some

of the dishes. There:::all better,- &!bre said, ret!rning to his calmer and more

"rofessional tone.

So how does 2ednesda loo$ for o!0- as$ed Joe, tring to redirect to their

design "resentation a""ointment.

2ednesda(s great,- said &!bre. The sooner we can get these bitches into

their res"ecti)e cages, the better,- he said la!ghing, to which ?lsie *oined in the

bac$gro!nd as she wai)ed her hands high abo)e her head as if she were recei)ing

testimon in some so!thern entecostal ch!rch.


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Joe, gathered his notes into his ho!se call bag and made his wa to the front door

as &!bre escorted him. 't was clear that his first big design *ob wo!ld offer m!ch of the

color that had been ta$en awa from his life o)er the "ast two ears.

Chapter 15

&s the large entle e+ited the AI 'nterstate in arstow, it "!lled into an all night

gas station.

'(m going to !se the little girl(s room,- said Clem in reference to the restroom.

Johnnie, wh don(t o! get !s something to drin$0- Johnnie, who had been dri)ing,

went to as$ Gordon what he wo!ld li$e, b!t then noticed that he had fallen aslee" in the

bac$ seat.

o, he(s s!re o!t,- said Johnnie to Clem.

es:::well he(ll need his rest for this, so *!st get him a e"si for when he wa$es

!".- Clem $e"t ambling toward the restroom.

&s the two wal$ed together toward the mini mart, Gordon(s ees "o""ed o"en.

/e watched both men disa""ear into the station and realied that he was all clear for his

own "lan. /e o"ened the car door and rather than r!n, he wal$ed nonchalantl awa,


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down the road and into the dar$ desert night. &bo!t fi)e min!te later both men ret!rned

to the car, in mid con)ersation.

So if ' do good this time, '(ll get m ho!se0- Johnnie as$ed, as if he were a ten

ear old bo as$ing for a "!"".

es m o!ng man::::and mabe e)en a few trin$ets to "!t in it,- Clem was still

ad*!sting himself. &s he finished that remar$, both noticed that Gordon was gone.

2hat the hell0


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Chapter 16

Bassid had *!st t!rned the lights o!t and was heading to bed when her cell "hone

rang.

/ello0-

%fficer Clellan0- The dis"atcher as$ed.

es.-

This is #etro dis"atch. ' ha)e a message for o!.- This is unusual, Bassid

tho!ght.

Go ahead.-

#r. and #rs. Ti""er from the &ria Casino are tring to reach o!.- How

strange.


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1o, b!t the were )er insistent that the needed to s"ea$ with o!.


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The hair on the bac$ of her nec$ stood !". She too$ down the address in Green

5alle and ass!red him the wo!ld be there soon. Radar sat watching her tie her shoes.

She reached !" for her g!n and $es. Radar stood !"E he $new what that meant.

4et(s go bo.- She called to him. /e went o!t the door she held o"en for him

then loc$ed it.

Thirt min!tes later the "!lled !" to a nice two stor home in Green 5alle. &s

the wal$ed to the front door, she made s!re the safet on her g!n was released. She had

no idea what she was wal$ing into b!t she wo!ld not be ca!ght off g!ard. efore the

got to the front door it o"ened.

Bassid, "lease h!rr.-


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2e co!ldn(t.-


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"etted him at the scr!ff of his nec$.

2e needed someone we co!ld tr!stE who co!ld "rotect themsel)es and Tana if

needed and not as$ an !estions.- Cherl said.

/ow can o! as$ me to do this and not as$ an !estions0- She contin!ed to "et

Radar.

eca!se- Cherl hesitated.


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2e ho"ed.- The said in !nison.

"ercent right on this. &fter all, it is o!r

da!ghter(s life we are gambling with.- She headed for the door with Radar right ne+t to

her. 4oo$ing o)er her sho!lder she said, 2hich loc$er0-

I967C-


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terminal. Radar was not ha"" abo!t being left behind b!t she wanted to get in and get

o!t witho!t anone noticing her. & woman with a dog in the b!s terminal wo!ld s!rel

get noticed.

%nce inside she fo!nd the loc$er with the n!mber I967C and "laced the bag in it.

T!rning on her heel, she headed bac$ the same wa she had come in, tring to ta$e in as

m!ch of the s!rro!ndings as she co!ld witho!t being too ob)io!s.

ac$ in the car, she dro)e o!t of downtown heading bac$ toward Green 5alle.

/er cell rang.

Bassid, o! did it.- cried Cherl, the called and said Tana wo!ld be dro""ed

at @reedom ar$.-


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Radar;- Tana cried when she saw the dog. She *!m"ed off the swing and

h!gged the dog. Radar lic$ed her face.

Tee, are o! %B0- Bassid as$ed as she wal$ed !" on the re!nion.

Bassid;- The child ran to her and h!gged her too.

&re o! h!rt0- Bassid as$ed.

1o. '(m fine. ncle Clem too$ good care of me.- The child headed bac$ to

Radar. The dog wagged his tail and $issed her some more.

ncle Clem0- She !estioned.

e". /e said ' was staing with him for a few das while mom and dad did

some b!siness.-


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entered the ho!se,


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em"hasied.

This goes against m entire being. ?)en if ' wasn(t a co", it wo!ld be )er hard

for me to wal$ awa from this.- Bassid e+"lained.

o! m!st, for now. !t, remember what we told o! abo!t o!r tra)els0-

Cherl as$ed.

' still don(t !nderstand that. 2hat do o! mean0- She as$ed.

e )er obser)ant anwhere and e)erwhere o! go.-


63/189

Chapter 17

&s the alarm cloc$ radio grew lo!der b the second and the "hone began to ring,

hilli" o"ened his ees to find himself slee"ing in a "ec!liar "osition. /e had one arm

co)ering his ees and a "illow between his legs. &t first he *er$ed as if he were being

awo$en s!ddenl. The "hone was still ringing to which hil "ic$ed it !" b!t the "art on

the other end had alread h!ng !". /e "!t the "hone down, grabbed his glasses and "!t

them on after r!bbing the slee" from his ees. 't was time for him to begin the sh!ffle of

getting read for another night on the casino floor. /e cre"t into the $itchen to the coffee

"ot Joe had set !". /e "o!red a c!" and went o!t to the bac$ "atio to ha)e a cigarette

with it. The slee" state he had *!st come o!t of ga)e him the a""earance of a stat!e in the

garden. &s he slowl too$ a drag from his cigarette he began to realie that his hands

were still aslee". &s he loo$ed down he o"ened and closed themE he co!ld not seem to

re)i)e the circ!lation.

't(s a bitch getting old;- /e said o!t lo!d to himself.


64/189


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2hat did o! sa0- Carrie as$ed.

2hat co!ld ' sa0 & ten ear old girl was at sta$e. The whole thing was )er

biarre.- Bassid filled Carrie in on the details of what she had done the night before.

Bass, what is this Ktra)els( thing the $e"t referring to0-

' don(t $now b!t that does bring !" a good "oint. 2e need to get to &las$a to

settle rad and 5ance(s estate. /ow m!ch more medical lea)e do o! ha)e0- Bassid

as$ed.

&s m!ch as ' need. ' almost died for ete(s sa$e. The com"an is being )er

genero!s.- Carrie had been beaten within an inch of her life b Bassid(s e+:h!sband

2ade #ichaels. /e tho!ght he had $illed her and left her for dead. She wo!nd !" in a

coma for !ite a while. 2hen she wo$e and e)ent!all was released from the hos"ital,

her em"loer told her to ta$e as m!ch time off as she needed to reco)er. She was a

res"ected re"orter for a news"a"er in %$lahoma and the wanted her to come bac$ I>>M

health.

2hat do o! thin$ abo!t ne+t wee$0 Can o! get time off0- Carrie as$ed her.

' "robabl can. '(ll ha)e to ma$e some arrangements tho!gh.


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So what has got o! so "ea$ed0- Bassid as$ed.

/a)e o! been "aing attention to the news latel0 &ll o)er the co!ntr children

are disa""earing. & lot being ret!rned witho!t !estion.


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2hat0-

2e are tra)eling to &las$a soon. Co!ld there be something in that0


68/189

Chapter 19

Bassid loo$ed at her watch, I>F am. She $new Jerr was teaching a class !ntil

II>> am so she o"ted to call hil first.

hil, ' $now o! are slee"ing, b!t when o! get !" co!ld o! gi)e me a call0

'(m finall going to &las$a to tie !" the loose ends and was wondering if o! co!ld chec$

on m mail and the ho!se0 Call me later.- She left the message and disconnected the

call. hil sle"t so well he ne)er heard the "hone ringing so she felt confident lea)ing the

message.

Sims.- Ca"tain @ran$ Sims answered on the first ring.

/i Ca"tain. 't(s B.C.- She said.

B.C. what can ' do for o!0- /e as$ed.

' was wondering if ' co!ld get a co!"le of wee$s off to ta$e are of some b!siness

in &las$a.-

@inall going to clean !" the estate0- @ran$ as$ed. @ran$ had been with her

thro!gh the ordeal of her e+:h!sband m!rdering her two best friends in &las$a. /e also

$new that the wealth co!"le had left a siable inheritance to Bassid, b!t beca!se of the

4ost and @o!nd case she had not finished all the details that needed to be done.

es. Carrie is feeling m!ch better and is going to meet me there. 2e fig!re that

the two of !s can get e)erthing ta$en care of in a wee$ or so.-


69/189

2hen did o! want to lea)e0- @ran$ as$ed.

robabl in the ne+t da or so. Carrie is ma$ing the arrangements now.- She

said.

2hat abo!t Radar0-

Jerr will be the ne+t call when ' hang !" with o!. /e(s the onl one ' tr!st to

ta$e care of him. esides, Radar is coming d!e for some refresher co!rses. /e can br!sh

!" at the cam" !ntil ' get bac$. Jerr $nows all the 'talian commands.- B:9 dogs are

!s!all ta!ght most of their commands in German. Bassid wanted to be different so

most of Radar(s commands were ta!ght in 'talian.

Go ta$e care of things. &fter 2ade and then Terri @itchell right behind that

mess, o! co!ld !se a brea$. Gi)e m best to Carrie.-

Than$s Ca"tain.- The h!ng !". 't was now after II>> am so she tried Jerr

ne+t.

/e Bassid,- he said as he answered, to what do ' owe this "leasant s!r"rise0-

1eed a fa)or.- She held her breath.

1ame it.- Jerr said.

'(m going to &las$a to finalie the "a"erwor$ on rad and 5ance(s estate. Co!ld

' lea)e Radar with o! for a wee$ or so0- She as$ed.


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72/189

'(m on m wa bac$.- &s she got bac$ into the ?+"lorer, Jerr commanded Radar to

sta. Bassid bac$ed down the dri)ewa. &s she "!lled onto the street, she wa)ed. Jerr

wa)ed bac$ while Radar wagged his tail.

Chapter 20

The Foundation

'n a time when it seemed as if the world $e"t s"inning and mo)ing faster toward

an obli)ion of morals, The @o!ndation was a "hilanthro"ic organiation that f!eled man

need ca!ses. &nthing from )ocational *ob "lacement for the handica""ed to %rgan


73/189

the fast trac$ that the @o!ndation rolled on.

2hile there were a few consistent leaders in the infrastr!ct!re, the members and

affiliates seemed more on the down low of "!blic ee. 't was m!ch li$e the #asons, in

the "rinci"les that in)ol)ed secrec and in)ited membershi". %ne wo!ld ha)e to be

in)ited to *oin and s"onsored, rather than sign !" on their own initiati)e.

Chapter 21

Carrie arri)ed at #cCarran air"ort with *!st a carr:on. She had gotten !sed to

tra)eling light as a re"orter. &s soon as she ste""ed into the terminal she called Bassid.

'(m here.- She said with a bright smile in her )oice.

KGreat. Ta$e o!r time b!t get to the arri)al "latform and go to the farthest end.

'(ll "ic$ o! !" there. ' am abo!t ten min!tes awa.- Bassid said into the headset she

wore when she dro)e and was on her own time. Too man times she had seen accidents

or near accidents beca!se "eo"le were too in)ol)ed with holding their cell "hone and

dri)ing. wearing a headset, her attention was ne)er distracted and she co!ld ha)e

both hands on the wheel.


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See o! in ten.- Carrie h!ng !".

The air"ort was not )er crowded so s"otting Carrie was eas. She "!lled !" at

the c!rb where Carrie was standing and sto""ed. Bassid got o!t to h!g her dear friend

and get her bag.

Still tra)eling light, ' see.- Bassid said.

/abit.- Carrie re"lied.

o! loo$ so m!ch betterE well rested. ' bet o! can(t wait to go bac$ to wor$.-

etter belie)e it. Sitting aro!nd idle is not for me.-

Care, ' $now o!. 'dle is not e)en in o!r )ocab!lar.- Bassid had "!t her

headset bac$ on and started the dri)e bac$ to her home when the cell rang.

/ello.- Bassid smiled o)er at Carrie.

/e, $id.- hil said.

hil, what a s!r"rise.-

Bassid, when ' tho!ght abo!t it, ' co!ld ha)e offered o! girls a ride to the

air"ort tonight.-

/ow sweet. &ct!all, ' thin$ we will acce"t. &re o! wor$ing tonight0- She

as$ed.

es, b!t late. Recentl m sched!le is getting changed a lot. ' co!ld "ic$ o!

girls !"E mabe we co!ld e)en ha)e dinner and then head to the air"ort.- /e said.

4et me r!n it "ast Care. She(s right here.-

Carrie agreed. She co!ldn(t wait to meet hil, since she had heard so m!ch abo!t

him. Bassid too$ the m!te off the headset.

hil, o! are on. S!re o! can handle two bea!tif!l women b o!rself0- She


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smiled.

/one, '(m old, not dead. 't wo!ld be m "leas!re. o!r flight is at 8>> "m,

right0-

Right.-

That(s "erfect. ' ha)e to be at wor$ b then. '(ll "ic$ o! girls !" at F=> "m.

That sho!ld gi)e !s "lent of time for dinner and to get o! to #cCarran.-

Than$s hil. See o! then.-

/ow nice of him to offer.- Carrie said.

/e(s li$e that. ' $now o! two are going to hit it off.-

' feel li$e ' alread $now him. 2ith o! calling me e)er chance o! had while

wor$ing on the 4ost and @o!nd case and filling me in on e)erthing, ' feel li$e '

"ersonall $now strangers.- Carrie la!ghed.

' was worried abo!t o! and since ' co!ldn(t sta with o! as long as ' wo!ld

ha)e li$ed to, calling was the best ' co!ld do.- Bassid said.

&nd ' lo)e o! for it. ' also !nderstand abo!t careers.-

Bassid "!lled into her dri)ewa and felt a little sad. 2hat(s wrong0-

This is m first real se"aration from Radar. ' $now he(s in good hands with Jerr

b!t ' still miss him.-

2ell, mabe it won(t ta$e !s too long in &las$a and we can get bac$ here "rett

!ic$. '(d li$e to s"end some time with o! and Radar witho!t ha)ing to thin$ abo!t

anthing serio!s.- Carrie said.

The girls got o!t of the ?+"lorer and bro!ght Carrie(s bag in the ho!se. 2e()e

got a few ho!rs before hil "ic$s !s !". 2hat do o! want to do0- Bassid as$ed.


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&ct!all, the flight was a little long.


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@air eno!gh.- She fig!red b the time she got bac$ she co!ld ha)e a stor to

co)er her actions.

Carrie "added into the li)ing room *!st as Bassid was hanging !" the "hone.

Sorr, did the "hone wa$e o! !"0-

es, b!t it(s fine. 't(s almost =>> "m anwa. '(m going to ta$e a !ic$ shower

before we lea)e.- Carrie headed toward the bathroom.

' thin$ '(ll clean !" too. There are clean towels in the linen closet. #a$e

o!rself at home. '(ll grab a !ic$ shower when o! are finished.- Bassid said.

&t e+actl F=> "m hil $noc$ed on the door. oth women were dressed in bl!e

*eans, t:shirts and snea$ers. 1either resembled the "rofessional career women the reall

were.

hil, come in and meet Carrie.- Bassid o"ened the door and ste""ed aside so

he co!ld enter.

&nother bea!t.- hil said as he reached o!t to $iss Carrie(s e+tended hand.

'(m going to get s"oiled with all the lo)el women ' am $ee"ing com"an with.-

hil, so good to meet o!. '()e heard so m!ch abo!t o!.- Carrie said.


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dinner. hil then dro)e the girls to the de"art!re area of the air"ort.

e safe.- /e said as he h!gged them both.

2e will.- 2ith that, the girls headed into the terminal and hil dro)e to the &ria

Casino to wor$ his shift.

Chapter 22

&s &dam o"ened !" the front door to the mid cent!r home, he began to wal$

aro!nd loo$ing thro!gh the em"t rooms to find the master bedroom. The wo!ld begin


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the shoot the ne+t afternoon and he was a bit thrown off b the g! that he(d seen at


81/189

/e handsome:::'(ll be o)er aro!nd 7=> "m, so call me if o! need me to bring

anthing:::' lo)e o!.-.bee". That was o!r last sa)ed message,- said a generic )oice

before another bee" was heard. The message was the last one left b ill before he

s!ddenl fell off the earth. edro was still not settled in with how oddl he *!st seemed

to brea$ things off and disa""ear. Something inside of him wanted to go to the "olice,

b!t ha)ing e+"erienced the ga singles scene, he felt as if he wo!ld so!nd li$e some

"athetic *ilted lo)er. ill had onl li)ed in 5egas a few months when the both met. 't

was literall lo)e at first sight and their connection seemed stronger than an edro had

e)er $nown. 't was not !ntil the blow off that he realied how little he act!all $new

abo!t ill. /e wor$ed as a "rod!ction assistant in some low b!dget film com"an that

had relocated to 5egas and was originall from &las$a. The onl famil ill tal$ed of

was a deceased brother who had also been ga. %ther than that, edro felt as if he had

not as$ed eno!gh !estions. /e *!st went with his feelings abo!t ill. 1ow there were

!estion mar$s e)erwhere. edro sat down on the small lo)eseat in his li)ing room and

loo$ed !" at a framed "ict!re of himself with a married co!"le. 't was


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"on landing in &las$a, #ichael Stewart, the attorne for rad and 5ance(s estate

met them with his car to ta$e the girls to his office first and then to the ho!se.

Bassid Clellan0- #ichael as$ed when the women came o!t of the terminal.

es. o! m!st be #r. Stewart.- She reached o!t to sha$e his hand.

That is correct. ' !nderstand the last time o! were here was )er brief and

another attorne hel"ed o!.- /e said.

es, he was )er hel"f!l. 2ill o! be ta$ing o)er now0- She as$ed.

'()e been "!t in charge and told to do whate)er o! need to get the estate ta$en

care of.- /e then loo$ed o)er at Carrie. o! m!st be Carrie Betting.- The shoo$

hands.

That(s me.- She smiled when she s"o$e.

4oo$ing o)er both women he as$ed, 2here is o!r l!ggage0-

This is it.- The indicated b "ointing to their carr:ons.

1ot "lanning on staing )er long0- /e !estioned.

2e are ho"ing not to,- Bassid said, we want to "!t this b!siness to rest. The

loss for !s has been terrible and !ntil we finalie all that needs to be done here we won(t

be able to get an clos!re.- #ichael nodded his head and steered them to his car.

%nce in #ichael(s office he said to Bassid,


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show for it.- /e handed her a sli" of "a"er with a name and "hone n!mber on it.

edro0- Bassid !estioned.

@rom what ' was able to get, the a"artment manager where ill li)ed said ill

disa""eared in the middle of the night recentl. /e bro$e his lease and left no forwarding

information. This edro came loo$ing for himE said he was ill(s bofriend. The

manager said edro seemed !ite saddened b ill(s de"art!re.-

So wh didn(t o! call edro0- She as$ed.

1ot to be disres"ectf!l, b!t ' don(t deal well with "eo"le who are homose+!als.

' tho!ght that since o!r friends that died were ga, o! co!ld handle the sit!ation better

than ' co!ld.- #r. Stewart loo$ed at the floor.

&t least o!(re honest.- Bassid co!ld not hide the disg!st in her )oice. She

was tr!l a""alled and wondered how a "rofessional li$e him co!ld be so narrow:

minded. '(ll ta$e care of it, #r. Stewart.- &fter com"leting the "a"erwor$ in his office,

#ichael dro)e the girls to the onl car rental "lace in the area. Bassid had called ahead

to reser)e an S5. To get to rad and 5ance(s "lace a mere car wo!ld not ma$e the tri"

easil.

%nce the were in the Jee" Chero$ee she "!lled o!t a hand:written ma" from her

"oc$et. She had been to the "ro"ert before, b!t after getting lost on the wa, she had

5ance draw a ma" from the town. Thirt min!tes later the were !nloading their bags.

The both sto""ed for a min!te to admire the bea!tif!l home.

't(s sad that the won(t e)er be here again.- Carrie said.

Care, ' *!st decided. 2e are not going to sell this "lace. 2e(ll clean o!t

e)erthing and then $ee" it for a )acation "ro"ert for o!rsel)es. 4oo$ aro!nd at how


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bea!tif!l and !iet it is.- She swe"t her o!tstretched hand to encom"ass the entire

"ro"ert.

Carrie smiled. Good. 2e(ll alwas ha)e this bea!tif!l "lace to remember them

b.- The women headed inside to !n"ac$ their bags.

2hat sho!ld we do first0( Carrie as$ed.

'(m going to contact this edro to see if he $nows where ill is.


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# dear friend rad Threet was his brother. rad "assed awa a while ago and

he has left some things to ill. ' am *!st tring to ma$e s!re he gets them.- Bassid

said.

#iss Bassid, ' am sorr for o!r loss b!t ' can not hel" o! right now.- /e

said.

't(s %B edro. 'f o! tal$ to ill will o! ha)e him contact me0- She ga)e him

her cell "hone n!mber.

es ' will. 'f o! find him first will o! as$ him to call me0- /e as$ed.

%f co!rse. Goodbe edro.-

Goodbe #s. Bassid.-

Bassid wal$ed to the den where Carrie was b!s wor$ing. Bass, o! ha)e got

that loo$ on o!r face.- Carrie was sitting in front of a com"!ter.

edro does not $now where ill is. 't seems as if he(s *!st )anished, b!t edro

thin$s the *!st bro$e !" and ill left.-

Strange.- Carrie m!rm!red as she contin!ed to loo$ at the com"!ter monitor.

2hat are o! doing there0- Bassid as$ed.

2ell, ' tho!ght we wo!ld $ee" the com"!ter here too b!t ' wanted to ma$e s!re

that all of 5ance and rad(s doc!ments were cleaned !". Strange, ' wo!ld ha)e tho!ght

the "olice wo!ld ha)e swe"t the hard dri)e.- Carrie now loo$ed !" at Bassid.

&fter their in)estigation the "robabl felt there was nothing im"ortant there.

2h0


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'n rad(s e:mail bo+ there is a note sent to ill *!st before rad died. 't sas

Bill,

I am sending a letter to you at Pedros house. It outlines everything wehave talked about. If something should happen to me please take it to thepolice.


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$new who it was.

She won(t find anthing.- Jerr said.

/andle it;-

' !nderstand.- Jerr said as he h!ng !" the "hone and loo$ed down at Radar.

Chapter 24

2hen Joe came o!t of his bedroom, he !ic$l strolled o)er to the $itchen

grabbing the coffee "ot to fill his tra)el m!g before he left for wor$. hil was sitting at

the dining table drin$ing his coffee and going thro!gh the mail. ?ach ga)e the other a

warmhearted good morning. 2hile Joe got his briefcase hil sto""ed him.

o! gotta min!te Joe0- he as$ed.

S!re ncle hil:::what(s !"0-

2ell o!r co!sin 4ana called last night and with the re:fi on this ho!se and the

!tilities, we are going to ha)e to $ic$ in a bit more to co)er the costs.- /e began to

e+"lain in a )er sad and disa""ro)ing tone.

Joe had fig!red this might be the case b!t had ho"ed not so soon. /e had been

li)ing on a shoestring m!ch of the ear, and while he was than$f!l to his co!sin for

gi)ing him a brea$, he *!st was not on his feet et. #ore so, neither was his !ncle. hil

had been s!""lementing some of the assisted li)ing care that his mother needed, as well

as sending mone to his other son who had o"en heart s!rger the ear before.

/ow m!ch0- Joe as$ed )er matter of factl.

2ell once she went thro!gh e)erthing, we need abo!t A grand a month to co)er

this ho!se,- he said.


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2hat0- Shoc$ rang in Joe(s )oice, not being "re"ared for s!ch a hi$e. That(s

more than '(m ma$ing right now, hil.-

2ell, ' can(t swing it either, b!t o! $now, we ha)e o"tions,- he began. 2e

ma ha)e to consider mo)ing in a roommate to lighten the load.


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in California. 't was not that he was being "aranoid. /e(d *!st been thro!gh too m!ch,

for e)en him to belie)e. The last thing he wanted to do was to o"en the door !" to an

o""ort!nit for another "erson to h!rt him or his famil. /e also did not want to "!t

anone else in harm(s wa. /e had fo!nd s!r)i)al within himself, b!t when it came to

others, he still had a sense of reser)ation. /e tried hard to be fle+ible and go with the

flow.

Chapter 25

Tori, the lead li" sncer of the gro!" had *!st finished br!shing o!t her last wig as

&!bre came into her master bathroom.


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grief abo!t alwas being the last one read. &s &!bre got behind the wheel, he "!t in a

C< that was "laing K

#e too,- said Roberta, it(s a far stretch from the trolls that we !sed to "la to in

Ri)erside.- She added.

5i)a::::::::4as 5egas as the $ing !sed to sa.- &!bre said.

#a he rest in "eace a thinner being,- the girls all said in !nison.

J!st as the gang !ttered this remar$, the framed "ict!re of ?l)is with &nn

#argaret that was in Tori(s bedroom was melting in flames. 2ith all the "olester, nlon

wigs and

blue dress

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