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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$0;- ¬her stlist remar$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 $new those "eo"le were "robabl afraid of something.
s!all it was Radar. <ho!gh he was not menacing, some "eo"le were tr!l afraid of
dogs, an dogs.
2al$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$s Jerr. Gotta go.- She ended the call before he co!ld re"l. She still was
not s!re what her feelings for him were and !ntil she was, she did not want to
inad)ertentl enco!rage him.
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Chapter 8
hilli" stood in front of the bathroom mirror, with his thic$ 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
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Joe was not at his des$ long before his heard his name o)er the "aging sstem. &
new client had come into
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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
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/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
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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$ed into
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a set and "ro" h!nt for the ne+t great ga "orn film he was abo!t to be directing.
' see:::well, '(m &ngie and '(d lo)e to show o! what we can do,- she said. J!st
as &ngie began her monolog!e abo!t the free design ser)ice, &dam noticed Joe in the
design center. Soon, &ngie(s monolog!e was a faint h!m. Joe was sorting thro!gh
fabrics and dressed in his best b!siness cas!als. &dam co!ld not hel" b!t notice that he
was )er handsome, b!t in more of a little bo all grown !" sort of wa. This was )er
m!ch the "hsical t"e &dam was attracted to. J!st as he had his ees on Joe, Joe loo$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.
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' 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$, witho!t him noticing. Joe tho!ght he was
attracti)e, b!t that he needed a good da(s sho""ing at anana Re"!blic. <ho!gh FI,
&dam was dressed as if he were still in high school. /e ne)er cared m!ch for all the
"om" and ceremon of b!siness attire, and most of the time, his wardrobe consisted of
cle)er T:shirts embossed with some of the latest catch "hrases, or sill "anorama.
&ngie was e+cited to ha)e a new client. She was now beginning to glide as she
escorted &dam thro!gh the rest of the showroom. She "assed b Sa)annah, who ga)e her
an odd loo$, 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$e first.
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1o coffee, doll, b!t instead '(ll ha)e a 5irgin #ar,- he said.
&nd '(ll ha)e an &rnold almer.- S"o$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
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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$(s C< that was "laing Kea!t and the east(. /e had been
s!mmoned b Roger, to come o)er for his latest Kassignment(. #ost of the time he was
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ma$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
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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
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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$.
@ine,- re"lied Gordon.
Chapter 12
't was =A "m at R!b Thomas ?lementar School when the school bell that
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ended the da rang. 2ithin => seconds the "a)ed "lagro!nd was filled with st!dents
being !shered o!t b their teachers. There were lines of st!dents being formed behind
large green n!mbered circles and *!st as the chaos of o!ng bodies filed into order a
o!ng bo ran o)er to a line that was not his own.
/e #addie, ' got the "art;- /e said to his older sister.
&lright;- She said to her brother, #att. 2hat are o! going to tell mom0- She
as$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$ed as if the were the bo and girl )ersion of one
another. The "ast two ears had been hard on them beca!se of the legal battles the had
witnessed between their "arents. Their mom and dad had di)orced while the were still
fairl o!ng, b!t the two ho!seholds had e)ol)ed in a )er non:traditional famil. ?)en
tho!gh di)orced the saw their father and mother get along, and re)ere one another(s
roles. 2hile their dad li)ed in California he wo!ld come to see them almost e)er month
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with his "artner. The wo!ld e)en sta at the ho!se. eing ga didn(t seem to affect the
lo)e their father had for them and their mom seemed to be !ite fond of their ga ste"
father as well. &ll of that ended o)er a s"ring brea$ )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 $now3wo!ld not
h!rt him. /e reall *!st wanted the chance to a!dition. /e landed the lead and now he
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was going to ha)e to e+"lain something to his mom and ste"father to *!stif his rehearsal
sched!le.
#addie was "ro!d of her brother(s s!ccess in his arena, b!t she chose a more
academic one. She was a G&T? st!dent, choosing to get more in)ol)ed in her st!dies
and st!dent co!ncil. There was some "art of her that needed more str!ct!re in the winds
that had been blowing all aro!nd her home life. <ho!gh onl in fifth grade, she loo$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$ing to her,
and altho!gh she co!ld not remember what he said, he grabbed her father b the hair and
c!t his throat in front of her. <ho!gh it was "rett horrific, she somehow did not react
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in horror. She noticed in her dream that there was a g!n hanging in s!s"ended animation
on the bac$ 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$en end of the hairbr!sh that edro had gotten
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tangled in hear head, while blowing her o!t.
&s Sa)annah st!died it, she did not loo$ 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
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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.-
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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$ed down he o"ened and closed themE he co!ld not seem to
re)i)e the circ!lation.
't(s a bitch getting old;- /e said o!t lo!d to himself.
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2hat did o! sa0- Carrie as$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
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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.-
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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$ed.
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'(m on m wa bac$.- &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 $e"t s"inning and mo)ing faster toward
an obli)ion of morals, The @o!ndation was a "hilanthro"ic organiation that f!eled man
need ca!ses. &nthing from )ocational *ob "lacement for the handica""ed to %rgan
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the fast trac$ 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.
¬her 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$ing thro!gh the em"t rooms to find the master bedroom. The wo!ld begin
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the shoot the ne+t afternoon and he was a bit thrown off b the g! that he(d seen at
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/e handsome:::'(ll be o)er aro!nd 7=> "m, so call me if o! need me to bring
anthing:::' lo)e o!.-.bee". That was o!r last sa)ed message,- said a generic )oice
before another bee" was heard. The message was the last one left b ill before he
s!ddenl fell off the earth. edro was still not settled in with how oddl he *!st seemed
to brea$ 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