Parker waited until the Boys were performing their encore before she left her position at the side of the stage. Long strides carried her back to their dressing room, where the cryptic message was still glaring hatefully at her from the mirror. Her intent was simple...she only wanted to get rid of it before the Boys returned. She didn't want them to have to look at it again, nor did she ever want to see that kind of fear on their faces again. The harsh overhead lights had nearly baked the lipstick to the glass, but with a few vigorous strokes, it came away easily enough.
She finished her chore, then slumped heavily onto a metal chair and held her face in her hands. This kind of work had never been easy...but this assignment was getting tougher on her nerves...not to mention her emotions...with each passing day. Her eyes burned...she closed them, seeking relief...but saw only AJ's face behind her lids. Her body tingled at the remembered sensations of his lips against hers...his lips against her...
"Parker?"
Startled, she glanced up, her dark eyes narrowing when she saw Nina standing in the doorway.
"What is it?," she snapped, already annoyed...before the other woman had even opened her mouth.
Surprisingly, the blonde woman smiled and shook her head. "I come in peace," she said, trying to lighten the situation. Parker merely shrugged.
"Listen...Parker," Nina started...then she paused, as if trying to find the right words to say. Parker stared at her evenly, knowing that whatever she had come to say was not easy for her. For precisely that reason, Parker kept her expression neutral, hoping to unnerve Nina just a bit.
"If I came off as...bitchy...earlier, I'm sorry," Nina said. "It's just that...we're all used to a certain pattern around here, and it's certainly been altered."
Parker glared at her.
"Oh...d-don't get me wrong," Nina stammered. "I understand why of course, it's just that...I don't handle change very well. But believe it or not...I do realize that my cooperation is needed in this matter. You have my support Detective," she finished, looking contrite.
Parker raised an eyebrow, assessing the situation. Either this woman was an extremely good actress, or her words were sincere. She certainly wasn't the same woman she'd been previously. Gone was the holier-than-thou attitude, the harsh tone of voice...Nina had done a complete turn around. Parker prided herself on not being stupid. She refused to let herself trust anyone other than those closely involved with the case...which Nina Pearson was definitely not. Nothing this woman said or did could change Parker and Claudia's status with the tour...still, it would probably serve best to keep the peace. Tensions were already near the breaking point.
"I appreciate your cooperation," Parker replied, still keeping her expression impassive, her tone neutral. Nina nodded, then offered a slight smile. Parker did not return the smile. Before Nina could say another word, the Boys burst into the dressing room, a human fireball of eclectic energy...as was the norm. Parker finally turned her gaze away from Nina.
With the Boys and their respective security guards suddenly crowding into the dressing room, Parker found that she was feeling a little suffocated. She frowned, taking an immediate dislike to this new claustrophobic feeling. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before...normally she was able to maintain her composure under the most dire of conditions. But suddenly, there...in a room full of noisy people, her world began to spin, and she was overcome by a sudden wave of nausea...another first for her. Looking at AJ, only one thought ran through her mind. Dear God in Heaven why had she agreed to be his freakin' date? As if she didn't have enough on her mind already. She hadn't been on a date in years...let alone to highly public function like this one...with famous people crawling out of the woodwork. Nor had she ever been out with anyone that enticing to her senses....that incredibly sexy...that...
"Slow down ace," she whispered to herself, her lips barely moving. "You're only doing your job." Then why did she still feel the need to escape?
Only Claudia noticed Parker's hasty retreat rom the room. The little redhead's wide green eyes followed her partner's flight from the room...noticing the unusual pallor of Parker's skin...and the strange look of panic in her eyes. Most people wouldn't have noticed that that the expression didn't reach her face...it remained as unreadable as ever...but Claudia had come to notice certain things about the other woman. The panic she'd seen in Parker's eyes was all too startling...and all too real. The Boys were having an excited, lengthy discussion with Nina...mostly about their performance, so Claudia discreetly left the room, not noticing that only Howie's chocolate brown eyes followed her every step of the way..much as hers had followed Parker just seconds before.
After a few inquiries to some members of the stage crew, Claudia found her partner sitting against a wall in the ladies room, a cup of water in one hand...and a lit cigarette in the other. Her midnight hair hung in waves around her face...her eyes were dull. Claudia frowned...this went beyond extremely unusual behavior...especially for Parker.
"Are you okay?," she asked hesitantly.
"I'm fine," Parker replied, but her throat was hoarse and her voice sounded scratchy.
It wasn't a lie...she was fine now. Emptying her stomach had helped tremendously, and she'd mentally strengthened her resolve to not let AJ distract her. Her hand was steady as she lifted the cigarette to her lips, her interior returning to the calm that matched her exterior. Glancing at Claudia...and taking note of the concern stamped all over the smaller woman's features, Parker reluctantly came away from the wall, standing up in a fluid rush. Claudia was clearly awaiting an explanation, and Parker would have been more than happy to provide one to her...if only she had one. "Just a bad case of nerves," she managed to say, nearly choking on the words. She never had problems with her nerves...most of the people she knew often commented that she had nerves of steel. Cyrus was always saying that...wait a minute...Cyrus...
Claudia watched as Parker's eyes suddenly lit up, then a slow feral smile curved on her lips. "What? What is it?"
The corner of Parker's mouth was still sardonically turned up as she said, "I have an idea."
Claudia's interest perked up immediately. Parker suddenly looked like a dark avenging angel, and Claudia could only assume that whatever she was thinking pertained to their case. Had she finally thought of something more useful than sitting around waiting for whoever it was to call again?
"I'm listening," Claudia said, sudden excitement flooding her mind.
"This could be exactly what we need Claud...the advantage we've been waiting for."
"What?"
"Whoever this is...is working from the inside obviously. So what if we had someone on this inside as well?"
Claudia frowned, scrunching her nose up in utter confusion. "Parker...we ARE on the inside."
Parker shook her head, sending waves of dark hair gliding around her shoulders. "No we aren't...not really. Do we know everyone? Do we even see anyone on the stage crew on a day to day basis? What about the hair and make-up people? Can we keep an eye on everyone who comes and goes from this tour? No...we can't, not with having to stay with the Boys twenty four-seven. But what if we had someone who could?"
Claudia answered with a question of her own. "Who do we know that we could trust that's in that position? You just said yourself that we hardly know anyone other than the people immediately surrounding us."
Parker met Claudia's questioning gaze with her own dark eyes. Then she shrugged and replied, "We don't. That's why we bring someone in."
"Isn't that a little obvious?"
"Not with who I have in mind."
"Who?"
"Cyrus."
"Cyrus? As in Cyrus the black sheep cousin?"
"Think about it Claudia," Parker replied, ignoring the disbelieving look on her partner's face. "Cyrus is a big guy...and on top of that...he's done this kind of work before. He'd blend right in...and he'd be able to see and hear things that we can't."
Claudia gave Parker a wary look, then finally said, "I hope you're right about this."
"I am," Parker replied, with clear finality. "I'll call Cyrus tonight."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Claudia sat back in her chair and rubbed her stinging eyes. Glancing at the alarm clock on the nightstand, she frowned and wished she could go to sleep. It had been a rather trying and long day, and sitting through at least two more hours of surveillance tapes that would more than likely reveal nothing, was not something she was looking forward to. Still, she hoped that viewing the tape from the camera outside of the Boys' dressing room would give them something to work with. In fact, she couldn't believe that she had forgotten about the tapes until now...but with everything else that had gone on today, she wasn't surprised. A person could only remember to do so many things before her tired mind gave out...Claudia allowed herself that. She wasn't sure what she was hoping to find. It was highly unlikely that their mysterious assailant would just magically appear. Still, someone had gone into the Boys' dressing room today, and with any luck...the camera had caught them.
Deserting the uncomfortable chair for the minimal comfort of the bed, she stretched out on the bed on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows. In her hand, she held a long remote control, and sighing heavily, she pressed the fast forward button, sending the image on the television screen into a jumble of accelerated activity. She almost missed it. Most of the tape was just of an empty hallway, with only the people she recognized coming and going. Her eyes had been close to drifting shut when she saw him.
She bolted upright into a sitting position and leaned closer to the screen. With her heart pounding in her chest, she hit rewind on the remote control, stopping when she had gone back far enough to press play. The image was distorted more than she liked, but there was no mistaking that a man had walked into the dressing room, then left exactly 20 seconds later. The time at the bottom of the screen completely coincided with the short amount of time before Brian had discovered the message on the mirror. In fact, a few more seconds into the tape showed Brian walking back into the dressing room.
Claudia sat back, her green eyes wide, her shoulders slumped. It was simply too frightening to see how close Brian had come to walking in on the man. Claudia shuddered to think what might have happened then. She suddenly didn't feel very tired anymore. Shaking her mind clear of her morose thoughts, and offering a little prayer of thanks that Brian was safe...she was about to call for Parker, when the woman herself strolled into the hotel room.
Taking one look at the stricken expression on Claudia's face, Parker immediately frowned, then asked, "What is it? Did you find something?"
Claudia nodded, then motioned towards the television screen. "Look at this," she said, rewinding the tape again. Parker viewed the scene with narrowed eyes, but other than that, her face betrayed nothing. Her dark eyes told a different story...they were black with rage. "Son of a bitch," she whispered.
"Exactly," Claudia whispered back.
"This asshole has some nerve," Parker fumed. But before Claudia could reply, Parker ordered softly, "Rewind it again." After watching it three more times, Parker suddenly snapped, "Wait! Pause it...right there!"
"I know...I see it!," Claudia exclaimed, barely containing her excitement.
The man's back was to the camera for only a brief second, and Claudia had tried to freeze the picture frame by frame but the image was still distorted, and jumping around a bit. It didn't matter...that was more than enough.
"Holy shit Claud," Parker whispered. "Do you see what I see?"
"I see it," Claudia mumbled, distracted by the evidence on the screen, and trying to improve the image.
Four letters were visible on the back of the man's shirt...EV, and ST...but it was more than enough for the two woman to decipher.
"Event," Claudia suddenly said.
"Staff," Parker finished for her.
"Event Staff," Claudia breathed, as if finding it a little hard to believe. Turning to her partner, whose eyes were still glued to the screen, she softly said, "You'd better get Cyrus here...and get him here fast."
Parker only nodded her agreement. Her eyes were blacker than any midnight sky that Claudia had ever seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parker's anger still hadn't fully abated by the time she'd stretched out on her bed that night. Sleep eluded her, and not even the gentle rhythm of Claudia's slumbering breath from across the room could lull her to sleep. Her mind was alive with restless activity, and with one muttered curse, she hauled herself out of bed, ignoring the protest of pain slicing through her shoulder from her injured arm. It was hard to believe that in her exhausted state, she still could find no relief in the enticing arms of sleep. Careful not to wake her sleeping partner, she silently padded out of the room and into the hallway, certain that she would encounter no one on her short trek to the soda machine.
She ran through the list of crew members her head...but it was impossible to keep track of so many people, despite her keen mind. She paused to offer a slight wave to Nathaniel, who sat in his position at the end of the hall, then continued in the opposite direction. Parker hated to admit that it could be anyone...and it sickened her to know that whoever was behind the terror inflicted upon these five people was working from the inside. She had to get ahold of Cyrus...as soon as possible. Earlier she'd tried calling him, at every single phone number she had for him...but she hadn't been able to get ahold of him.
AJ had watched her leave her room, as he had just been leaving Nick's as she began sauntering down the hall...a spot of black against the brightly lit hallway. Stopping only to inform Nathaniel of his whereabouts, he followed her...perfectly content that she was blissfully unaware of his presence. He had never seen her this way before...wearing a pair of loose black shorts and a black tank top, with her ebony hair pulled into a tight ponytail. On her feet were a pair of black socks, and he couldn't help his smile. She looked adorable, and far less imposing than she did during the day. It was pretty obvious that she'd just rolled out of bed and wasn't expecting any company.
She appeared to be in deep thought, her brow furrowed in concentration. He watched with dawning wonder as the smile graced her lips...and immediately felt his heart flutter to life at the sight of such angelic glory...or demonic glory...he couldn't decide which. It was still a magnificent sight, even if he only saw it from the side view as she turned towards the vending machine. This woman devastated his senses.
"I'd sure like to be whatever it is that's put that smile on your face," he said softly.
Parker's index finger stilled in its motion of punching in the round gray button that would send a Dr. Pepper hurtling its way towards her. The smile had simply come from thinking of her wayward cousin,and the decision to try calling him again as soon as she returned to her room.
Straightening her shoulders, despite the warning pang of pain from her right one, she replied, "You should be in bed." But this time, it didn't come out as a reprimand, merely a concern.
"And you should be wearing your sling," he countered, leaning against the wall, pinning her beneath another one of his suggestive stares.
"Touche Mr. McLean," she mumbled, sounding distracted.
Then she seemed to be lost back in her thoughts again, it seemed as though she'd forgotten he was there. She retrieved her soda and opened it, ignoring his questioning stare. Finally, when he could stand no more of her silence, he sighed dramatically.
"What are you thinking about?," he asked.
"Hmm?"
He rolled his eyes, knowing full well that she had heard his question. "I said...what are you thinking about?"
"Oh...nothing. Just a phone call I have to make."
"Can't sleep?"
"No."
"Me either. Wanna go shoot some pool?" It was a long shot, and he knew it...but once again he found himself fascinated at the prospect of spending time with her.
"Not tonight," she replied. "Like I said...I have a phone call to make. Besides, we're getting an early start in the morning. You should get some sleep."
"I already told you...I can't sleep. Come on, just this once?"
She stood with her free hand on her hip, clutching her Dr. Pepper in the other. Looking at his face, and seeing the plea etched clearly across his sweet features...she sighed. "Alright McLean...let me go change. Go back to your room...I'll come get you in a few minutes." Grinning, he gave her a mock salute, then sauntered back the way he had come.
Reluctantly, Parker trudged back to her own room. She dressed as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake Claudia, then armed herself appropriately...and headed back out into the hallway. AJ yanked his door open before she had a chance to knock. She rolled her eyes at him and motioned for him to follow her. They walked next to each other in companionable silence, but Parker frowned when AJ led her away from the elevator that would take them to the game room. Instead he led her to a door in a dark hallway just around the corner from the elevator.
She frowned. "Where are we going?," she whispered.
"Up to the roof," he whispered back, giving her one of his impish grins.
She stopped dead in her tracks and gave him an icy look. "I don't think that's a good idea Mr. McLean. If something were to happen..."
He gently pressed a finger to her lips, then leaned closer to whisper in her ear, "You'll protect me."
She was too startled by the rush of his breath against her ear, the closeness of his body, his spicy scent...to say anything in protest as he began pulling her up the narrow staircase and up to the roof.
Hesitantly, and knowing instantly that this was more than a bad idea, Parker let AJ drag her out onto the roof. It was a glorious night...the sky was alive with a glittering brilliance of twinkling stars...and once beneath that sky...Parker felt herself relaxing. Ignoring AJ's smug grin, she simply stared up into the sky, feeling the cool night air against her face. She had always loved the night, and not just because it was easier to slip into the concealing cloak of darkness, if need be.
There was a certain sense of tranquility she felt in the night, something she hadn't stopped often enough to enjoy as of late.
AJ had perched himself on the ground, his back against the solid concrete ledge rimming the entire perimeter of the roof. When Parker glanced at him, he patted the cold concrete beside him, and despite her reservations, she couldn't resist sitting down next to him...nearly close enough for their thighs to touch. "You do this often?," she managed to ask, suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of calm like nothing she'd felt in weeks.
AJ could hardly believe the silky, relaxed tone of her voice, but he hid it well, shrugging, "I used to. Before a certain overbearing security lady decided to limit my every movement."
Her dark eyes snapped up to his, narrowed and black...but he quickly disarmed her anger by offering a slow, amused wink. Parker only shook her head in exasperation. He was teasing her...actually teasing her. No one ever dared to do that anymore...except for Cyrus, and then only on rare occasions. She'd forgotten how good it felt. The slightest hint of a smile curved on her lips as she replied, "Overbearing huh?"
"Infuriating," AJ agreed, still smiling at her.
"And what does this 'overbearing, infuriating security lady' think of you?," she questioned lightly, strangely going along with the ruse she had surprisingly started.
"She thinks that I'm an absolute joy to be around...the model of perfection. She thinks that I'm adorable, sexy...and overall just plain irresistible," AJ replied, with just enough feigned arrogance in his voice to cause a full, yet brief smile to spread across Parker's face.
"Somehow, Mr. McLean, I have trouble believing that," she replied, sighing...and suddenly very aware that he had shifted, and now his thigh was solidly pressed against hers.
"Okay then...you tell me...what does she think of me?," he said softly, his voice husky, but still amused.
One dark, elegantly sculpted eyebrow lifted as she eyed him speculatively from beneath the dark veil of her eyelashes.
"Well," she finally said, "she probably thinks that you're hopelessly spoiled. Too sure of yourself, stubborn, defiant, a little arrogant, extremely self centered at times, not to mention-"
"Okay...I get the picture," he replied, rolling his eyes in a sulking manner that had a slight smile playing across her mouth.
Trying to hide the tiny smile, she still replied, in the gruffest manner possible, "But she probably also thinks that you've got character, and your heart is in the right place...your head just doesn't always agree."
AJ turned wide, deep brown eyes in her direction, suddenly quite serious. "Really?," he asked incredulously, stunned by the backhanded compliment.
"I said probably," Parker replied sharply, though without much sting behind her words. Sensing that the light, teasing mood had spent itself for the night, AJ fell silent, watching Parker as she turned her endless gaze back to the stars. She truly was a beautiful woman, whether she was aware of it or not. She'd released her thick hair from its confining ponytail, and it fell in straight waves down her back. It shimmered in the moonlight, giving it an almost blue tint. As he stared at her, AJ found himself once again wondering what her laughter would sound like. Judging by the lyrical way she spoke...at least when she wasn't barking out commands...he imagined it would sound like pure sunshine. He wondered if he'd ever hear it.
Parker felt his eyes on her, but she still kept hers evenly trained on the sky. He was flooding her senses...sight, smell, and sound had already been covered. He certainly looked like a fallen angel...gorgeous in his own way. He smelled like heaven...sweet and spicy, like fresh autumn leaves after a fall rain. And as for sound...well, it didn't matter if he was speaking or singing, he had a voice that made her think of things she shouldn't be thinking of. It was naturally seductive, luring her in with each word he spoke.
There were only two senses left for him to conquer...taste and touch. Parker shivered involuntarily at the images conjured up from the darkest recesses of her mind. Thankfully, AJ didn't seem to notice, despite the close proximity of their bodies. Instead, he asked a question that sent her reeling. "Parker...have you ever been in love?"
"No," she snapped quickly, and without hesitation.
"Never?," he questioned, sounding generally curious.
"No."
"Oh come on...everyone at least thinks they're in love at some point and time," he persisted.
Parker's black eyes finally left the sky and locked onto his. "Do I really strike you as the type of person who has time to waste on something as ridiculous as love?," she shot back, frowning.
"No...no you don't," he answered quietly. "That's really sad Parker."
Furious that he would even dare to feel sorry for her, she glared at him. "I'll tell you what's sad McLean...what's sad is the way people claim to 'love' each other so much, then go around stabbing each other in the back. I see it every damned day...husbands cheating on their wives, wives cheating on their husbands...innocent children, who they claim to 'love', suffering in the middle. I worked a case once where a man beat his wife to death with a crowbar because he supposedly 'loved' her. And that, Mr. McLean, is what's sad!"
She shoved herself upright and stalked away from him, fully worked into a furious mixture of anger and sadness. Hot tears blinded her, but she never let them fall. It was a sensitive subject for her, partly because of the pain her own family had left her to wallow in, and partly because of the things she saw as part of her job. She stood with her back to AJ, standing rigid and trying to regain her composure. She felt vulnerable for exposing yet another one of her weaknesses to him...it was a feeling she hated more than anything else. She heard him behind her, and she wasn't surprised when she felt his warm hands settle on her shoulders. Still, she didn't immediately shrug them off, not with him whispering so softly in her ear. "There's a simple explanation for all that," he solemnly said. "That isn't real love."
At that, she did shrug his hands away, and with a less than delicate snort, she replied, "And what the hell is real love then AJ? Especially since you seem to know everything about it all of a sudden."
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I don't know because I've never been there."
There was a heavy pause between them then, the only sound coming from the streets below. Then finally, Parker wearily said, "Everyone is out to get what they can for themselves. That's the way the world works."
"You aren't."
"Excuse me?"
"You aren't out to get what you want. If that were true, then you wouldn't have taken this job."
"I'm getting paid to do this, in case you haven't forgotten," she snapped, annoyed that he was trying to make her sound like some paragon of virtue.
"You jumped in front of bullet for me," he snapped back, grabbing her shoulders and turning her around to face him. "You didn't have to do that, and you sure as hell didn't get paid for it!" Belatedly, he realized that he was putting entirely too much pressure on her wounded shoulder when he noticed the fine trembling of her lip. She was in pain and she hadn't even winced...but it was there, in the tiniest ways on her face. Abruptly he released her shoulders and muttered, "Shit..Parker, I'm sorry."
"That's quite alright Mr. McLean," she replied, rubbing her injured arm. The ice had crept back into her voice, her eyes were colder than steel. "You've made your point. And since I'm not getting paid, you ungrateful son of a bitch, I'll think twice before I jump in front of a bullet for you again!" Her voice had risen again as she spoke, and the fire had crept back into her eyes, and she found herself appalled. What was wrong with her? She never let what others said about her affect her...normally she shrugged it all off with an indifference born of not giving a damn. What was it about this guy that infuriated her beyond all recognition of herself? Why did she continually allow him to get under her skin?
AJ didn't think anymore...he just acted on his pure instinct to make things right again. And since words didn't seem to be doing the trick...he wrapped one hand in her hair and pulled her forward, until their lips collided in a wet kiss that ignited with the intensity of their anger. Unfortunately, before he got the chance to further explore her mouth with his own, and the blinding sensations it caused...Parker raised her hand to slap him. This time she didn't miss. AJ never saw it coming, as he had the last time...and the resounding crack of her palm against his cheek echoed loudly in the calm air.
His head snapped to one side, and he was vaguely aware of the numbing pain on the right side of his face...but he was more stunned by her lightening quick reflexes, and the force behind the slap. Parker, having come out of the haze of fear and shock surrounding her, just stared at him with wide eyes...watched as he lifted a hand to his face. "Oh dear God," she whispered, barely letting air through her lips, finding it hard to breathe. She lifted a hand as if to touch him, her expression apologetic, but he held up a hand to stop her.
"No...don't bother Detective," he said quietly. "You don't stop anymore bullets for me...and I won't stop anymore for you."
She frowned in her confusion, so he continued with his explanation. "I'm probably the only person on this tour who doesn't think that you're a psychotic bitch, the only one who gave a damn about trying to find the human being beneath the super woman exterior. And that has pretty much put me on the receiving end of all the jokes, all the teasing, all because I'm trying to make peace with the demon...as Nick would say."
"AJ..."
"I thought that maybe, just maybe...there was something beneath all that...but quite frankly, I'm tired of catching hell for it...tired of defending you when you don't deserve to be defended."
Parker's hands slowly curled into fists at her sides as she fought to control her conflicting emotions. Finally she managed to whisper, "I don't need you to defend me."
"I know that...I've always known that. But I did it anyway." Then, almost as and after thought, he added, "You ungrateful bitch."
He turned away from her then, and started walking back inside the building. Reluctantly she followed behind him, feeling horrible and arguing with herself. Why should she feel bad? She never asked him to come running to her defense whenever the others complained about her. Quite frankly, she didn't care what they said...let them talk. Her job was to secure their safety...not to make friends with them and form attachments to them. It was probably better this way, she thought to herself. She was getting dangerously close to actually liking AJ...he was intelligent and funny, extremely talented, and the more she talked to him, the more she enjoyed his company. Yes, it was definitely better with him hating her. It would be easier to walk away after this case was closed.
She followed him back to his room, making sure that he was safely inside and that there was no danger to him, before going back to her own. She slipped in as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Claudia. It took her a few minutes to realize that her hands were trembling furiously, and that her heart was beating hard in her chest. She needed a distraction. Grabbing her cell phone from her briefcase, she carried it with her into the bathroom then locked the door. Cyrus answered on the third ring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He couldn’t take his eyes off of her...did she have any idea how adorable she looked, sitting there cross legged on the floor at his feet? Fiery hair all tumbled about her shoulders and expressive green orbs so narrowed, so focused on the project at hand. She was slight in stature and a paradoxal combination of wide eyed innocence and insightful intelligence that left him weak in the knees and thinking that perhaps -just perhaps- he was a little bit crazy. About her. She roused every ounce of his protective instincts and wakened long dormant carnal desires that had been dealt a crippling blow when his last relationship had dissolved. Maybe it was because she was the polar opposite of the many women he’d dated, or maybe it was because she was so completely clue less as to his feelings for her, but Howie could hardly have stopped himself from liking her to the point of distraction.....it was simply too late and he was in far too deep.
Sucking in a deep, fortifying breath, he forcibly returned his attention to the ESPN Sports Center telecast across the TV screen which was mounted on the wall in the green room. Only fifteen minutes remained until the opening act would take the stage, and a mere twenty minutes after that, the Boys themselves would drain their energy reserves yet again, giving another outstanding concert. That was the way it always worked, rain or shine. And somehow, that sense of normalcy was what kept him -all of them- going.
Yesterday’s incident wasn’t talked about and though not wholly forgotten, did nothing to distract the group’s focus or determination, in the end. No, in the end, it was truly all about the forty five thousand fans who’d come to see their money’s worth..... and it was up to each one of the Boys to make certain they went away from the experience happy. Well, happy and loaded down with merchandise.
Claudia paused in a flurry of typing to stretch her fingers, interlocking them then flexing until she felt the tension drain. She had been hard at work for the better part of an hour, having appointed herself at Howie’s feet when he’d first perched on the sofa to take in the scores flashing across the bottom of the TV screen. Chancing a look at the man above her, Claudia smiled for no reason in particular. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he alternately winced and grinned at the action taking place on the set. He was the archetype of the perfect charge, she decided, not taking her eyes from his features and thinking about how understanding and selfless he’d been where her dedication to the mission and her team was concerned. She knew he must have wanted to be doing other things all those times he’d sat idly by while she worked. Granted, there wasn’t much he could have done given the restrictions they had to work with, but still... Nathaniel, Jack, and Michael often found themselves dragged off to various hotel bars, billiard tables, pools, and such following their respective ‘best friends’ on one spree or another. But Howie, ever constant Howie, hadn’t uttered a single word of complaint, even occasionally helping her instead. Whatever else she felt for him, gratitude was certainly at the top of the list.
Claudia’s stomach growled then....loudly. Howie’s attention shifted from ESPN to her and he gave a knowing grin. “Hungry?”
Rather than blush, she laughed, surprising them both and emphasizing her growing comfort with him, “Maybe just a little.”
“When’s the last time you ate, Red?”
Claudia wrinkled her nose, “You’ve been hanging around Nat too much. You’ve never called me Red before.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“It’s not bad...” she replied evasively, barely stopping herself from telling him that she associated the nickname with a brotherly persona, and of all things, that was the very last sort of camaraderie she wanted with him.
“You never answered my first question.”
“When our bus stopped at the gas station en route to the venue, I grabbed a bag a pretzels in the mini mart.”
Howie grimaced and shook his head, saying, “Why don’t you go get something to eat? Real food this time. I’ll be fine here with the other guys.”
“They’re still in the dressing room, though.” At that moment, Brian and Nick bounded into the room, Nathaniel and Michael in tow.
“Okay, no more excuses, you now have no choice.”
“No choice in what?” Nick demanded. “Can I play my sega on this TV, Howie?”
“No way!” Brian shouted, then immediately launched himself onto the sofa next to Howie, “Sports Center’s on!”
“Go, go now. Before this madness increases,” Howie intoned wryly, giving her a wink.
“All right, you win, I’m going,” Claudia smiled up into his kind features before closing her laptop and coming to her feet. “Want anything?,” she asked before heading out the door in the direction of the catering unit.
“No, but thanks.”
As she walked, weaving in and out of the crowd, the cacophony emanating out of the main arena barely registered. The sound of the crew at work, finishing last minute preparations for the evening’s performance and the perpetual buzz of the crowd as they filed into the venue had become familiar...in much the same way the growl of the bus’ engine lulled her to sleep when whisking the production from one city to the next. The noises were almost comforting now, bolstering evidence that come hell or high water, the show must go on. And hell was certainly feeling like more and more of a reality.
Sliding between a rack of costumes and a crew member pushing a hand truck, Claudia darted through the door that led to a sizable multipurpose room stationed in the rear half of the backstage area. A multitude of fragrant flavors wafted to her nose, eliciting several audible complaints from her stomach. Claudia quickly made her way through the line of event personnel who had finished their tasks and were busily tending to their own needs, then staked out a table along one wall. She was content to eat a solitary meal made up of fried chicken, several pasta and bean salads, and fruit. It wasn’t exactly moo shoo pork in a cardboard container, but it was real food and that was good enough for her. Settling down, she was very much lost in her own world......that is, until a vaguely familiar voice managed to interrupt her silent musings.
“Hey. Looks like you’re getting a lot of work done.”
Claudia started violently, the unexpected, yet teasing address jarring her out of her thoughts and, in the process, causing her to tip a half empty bottle of Evian off the edge of the table, sending it’s contents splashing to the floor....and all over -who else?- Nina Pearson’s designer pant legs and shoes.
“Oh! Oh god. I’m so sorry,” Claudia fumbled frantically for the sweater she had tied around her waist earlier in the day, attempting to use the wool in lieu of a towel to wipe up the table . “I really don’t.....I’m usually not....I mean....oh, damn it all to hell,” she finished in a sigh with a look of pure desperation clouding her eyes.
While no longer afraid of the tour manager’s reputed temper -Parker had filled her in on the woman’s seemingly sincere apology- Claudia still struggled with a certain amount of disquietude in Nina’s presence. Her misgiving was due in large part to the inferiority which overtook her at the mere sight of the blonde’s imposingly perfect......everything. From the way her hair remained assiduously coiffed through the rigors of the day, to the manner in which she carried herself, Nina commanded respect not only as a professional, but as a woman...and in some ways, that was even more unsettling than Parker’s excellence. Nina was the embodiment of the female essence, with a figure that could only be described as statuesque and the sort of features one could never find ‘forgettable’.... unlike Claudia herself. Short, mousy, and frumpy were quite a contrast to tall, curvy, and chic. Envy and inadequacy, she decided, were the worst combination in the world.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. Accidents happen.”
Claudia’s mouth opened, shut, then opened again as she said the first thing that came to mind. “You’re all wet now, though.”
“That’s okay, really,” Nina smiled indulgently with an amused, tolerant lilt to her tone.
“Oh.....”
“If you were expecting me to take up impromptu target practice on you for that little number, you can forget it. I’m not generally stuck in bitch mode, you know.” Laughter actually shone in the other woman’s eyes and the petite redhead hardly knew what to make of it; she cursed her tongue which seemed to be in knots along with her stomach. “Truce?”
“Of course,” Claudia assured her, hastily scooting her chair over a bit as Nina asked,
“Mind if I join you?”
“No! Please, go ahead.”
“So, what have you been up to lately? I haven’t seen you around much.”
“I’ve been working on charts and diagrams for the awards show.”
“You do a lot of the behind the scenes work for the team, don’t you?” Nina questioned, taking a dainty bite of potato salad.
“I guess so,” Claudia shrugged noncommittally, “it’s not like I’m built for all of the body work.”
“No kidding...I know a little something of a woman working in a man’s profession, and frankly, the respect you and Parker have earned from your team is incredible....not every man takes well to having a female superior. Although, imposing gender labels on careers isn’t exactly PC nowadays, is it?” Nina finished with a laugh. Her voice had a wonderful quality of tone to it.....perfect for commanding attention or employing feminine wiles.
“How long have you worked with the Boys?” Claudia inquired politely, slowly becoming more at ease in her newly social capacity.
“About four years now. While it’s hard work and often frustrating, I’ll say this for the job - the scenery’s always changing and life is never dull!”
Claudia listened intently to the note of affection which rang true in Nina’s manner. She sincerely cared for her employers, and enjoyed doing her job. In a market where superficial relations were common place, Nina had somehow managed to land on her feet, in a position she clearly adored. How many others, she wondered, could claim the same?
“And how about you? Enjoying the ride?”
“It’s not bad,” Claudia responded truthfully, excluding memories of the more terrifying incidents, “They’re all very considerate men.....nice. Very nice, actually. What my father would call ‘good people’.”
“That’s the understatement of the year - not that they don’t get into their fair share of trouble, mind you. Sweet Jesus, the stories I could tell you about past tour happenings! AJ and Nick seem to be the ones most escapade prone,” Nina confided with a conspirator twinkle in her eye, “Brian’s along for the ride in many cases, while Howie and Kevin try -and fail- to be the voice of reason among an otherwise chaotic bunch. But it’s worth it, you know? Where else could you get all of this?,” she gestured widely with her hands, “And hey! To top it all off, you’ll soon be the envy of teenage girls across the land - you and Parker, both.”
“What do you mean?” Claudia hazarded.
“You’re going to the awards show as Howie’s date, correct?”
“Yes, but that’s just a cover....it’s not a real date or anything.”
“To whom is it not?” Nina questioned without batting an eye. “Reality is highly over rated. And just because the circumstances responsible for your attendance are less than traditional, it doesn’t mean you don’t get to have fun. God, you even get to dress up....it’s been ages since I’ve done that.” Claudia glanced at Nina’s stylish, well pressed business suit and wondered what exactly ‘dressing up’ entailed for the woman......wait a minute, dressing up? “So, what are you planning on wearing?”
“Wearing?” Claudia echoed stupidly, suddenly mortified because she hadn’t spared attire a second thought....or even a first.
“You mean you haven’t decided?”
“I’m a long way off from deciding....more like, I haven’t even given the idea an ounce of consideration,” came the costly admission.
“Claud?”
“Huh?”
“This is a formal affair, you know.”
“I know.”
“And you’ll need a dress.”
“Yeah,” she whispered, terrified.
Nina’s shrewd insight prompted her to push her plate aside and lean forward with an honest, caring expression as she said delicately, “Awards shows are kind of tricky as far as attire goes....it’s hard for someone to have experience in that area without either being a star or a fashion designer themselves,” she smiled kindly, “and the only reason I know the bit that I do is because I’ve spent four years hanging out with the higher-ups on the Boys’ behalf. You think the red carpet’s a trip, wait until you’ve run the press room gauntlet! Anyway, if you’d like a.... a second opinion, I’d be happy to lend mine.”
Claudia’s chin lifted, humiliation momentarily forgotten. “Are you serious?”
“Definitely. We have an in house itinerary tomorrow....perfect opportunity for a getaway. ”
“Really?”
Nina laughed and nodded, “Really.....hey, we should make a day of it. Does Parker have an ensemble yet? We could have a girl’s day out-”
Claudia listened with half an ear, euphoric and excited at the prospect of doing something womanly for a change. Having grown up without a mother and isolated with her father, moving from city from city, she had never had the sort of education only a female role model or gaggle of teenage girl friends would have provided. It seemed as if an entirely different world lay at her fingertips, just barely out of reach, and more than anything Claudia ached to do Howie justice as a date. The thought of being a drab mouse at such a gala event was awful, something she could hardly bear to consider. Unbidden, long suppressed memories came rushing back to her in a tidal wave of emotion. Painful high school years spent as an outcast newcomer, hoping from classroom to classroom more times than she could count.....precious time invested as a lackluster savant, giving her all to a thankless corporate executive.....and finally, nearly losing her female identity amid a faceless world of high tech thieves, where nothing but the money and the challenge mattered.....
“Claudia?” Nina’s voice jarred the redhead from her reverie.
“I’m sorry, I was just...just thinking. What was it you were saying?”
“Don’t worry about it, there’ll be plenty of time for talk later. In fact, tomorrow’s schedule looks quite forgiving as far as our absence is concerned. Sooner or later I’ll catch up to Parker and pitch the idea to her. What do you think?”
“I think you’ve got your work cut out for you. Granted, Parker’s in need of a dress as much as I am, but she’ll be reluctant to have the Boys out from under her watchful eye,” Claudia warned, emerald eyes sad yet accepting of her duty. Nina gave a disarming smile and rose from her seat at the table.
“No problem, you just leave her to me. I may have majored in business management, but I minored in communications and public relations. That equals an A+ in persuasive tactics. I’ve got to get back to work, as I’m sure you do. I’ll see you around, okay?”
“Yeah......hey Nina?”
The blonde halted and turned gracefully on her heel. “Hmm?”
“Thanks.”
Claudia’s impromptu dining companion had no sooner left the catering area than another figure approached her. The young man wore an event staff tee shirt emblazoned with stadium’s logo, and a baseball cap -also bearing the insignia- planted squarely atop a shock of blond hair that peaked from beneath the brim. He looked hesitant to bother her and shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
“Ms. Valentine?” he questioned politely. Claudia nodded her affirmation, at the same time giving him the once over and mentally checking his portrait against the poor image they had of the last culprit. It was a futile habit she couldn’t seem to break, something she automatically did whenever encountering event staffers, even in passing. There hadn’t been much to garner from the still capture taken from the security camera, but Claudia couldn’t help but fancy that the faceless man’s build would stand out, that she’d know him if she ever saw him again, that she’d be able to avenge what had been done. Foolish, maybe even ridiculous....but it kept her from going insane from the fears and second guesses which plagued her mind in idle moments.
“Ms. Valentine, security?” the young man asked again. Upon closer inspection, she realized he couldn’t have been more than nineteen and bore many of the same blemishes Nick dealt with.....and he definitely did not have the muscular build of the enigma.
“That’s me.”
“Oh good, I was beginning to think I’d never find you. Been looking all over. Anyway, there’s a fax -several actually- that came care of the venue’s administrative offices. They sent me down here to find you. The man in the green room told me you’d come here and that I’d know you when I saw you. He was right.”
Claudia wondered just who the young man had spoken to, and better yet, what sort of description he’d been given. Instead of asking though, she simply thanked him and requested directions to the offices he spoke of. Rather than leave her with a vague set of location, he offered to escort her himself, something Claudia could not refuse. Glancing at her watch, she realized that to leave now and head to the offices would make her miss seeing the Boys before they went on stage....despite that, however, the uncommon occurrence of receiving a fax was important enough to convince her that going with the messenger was best.
She pressed the talk button on her radio pack, saying, “Parker?”
“What’s up, Claud?”
“I’m heading the arena’s administrative offices. Apparently, several faxes have come through for us, care of the venue. I probably won’t be back before show time.”
“Oh, hey,” Nathaniel popped in, “that kid found you okay?”
“Just fine,” Claudia assured him, then remembered the boy’s words, “What exactly did you tell him, Nat?” Suspicion was clear in her voice, inciting the large man’s laughter.
“I told him to look for the cute little redheaded knockout with green doe eyes and no smile.....you blushing yet?”
“None of your business,” mumbled a flushed Claudia, “and you really should work on your powers of description. It’s a wonder he found me at all.”
Fifteen minutes later, the Boys were on stage greeting their fans and belting out ‘Larger Than Life’ while Claudia poured over the faxes laid out on the counter in the main office.
“When did these come in?”
“Just a few minutes ago, Ms. Valentine.”
“And this is all of them?”
“Every last one,” the older gentleman assured her with a kindly smile, then excused himself to answer the phone. Claudia gathered up the sheaf of papers and let herself out, flipping to the first diagram as she walked back through the labyrinth of corridors leading back to the green room. Hardly a soul was in sight, the majority of the staff and crew being either in the pit, sequestered beneath the circular stage, or manning the aisles and keeping the screaming fans in line.
Scanning the map of the stage and floor seating in the auditorium for the awards, Claudia quickly located the Boys’ seats and compared their location to important exits outlined on a corresponding chart. The more she familiarized herself with the layout, the better a chance she had of being some assistance to Parker when it came time to outline escape routes.
Halfway through reading a printout of the electronic items banned at the show, Claudia came to a slow stop, overwhelmed with the sudden overwhelming feeling that she was being watched. Turning on her heel, she cast a searching gaze behind herself, halfway expecting to find someone following in her tracks. No one.
With a frown, Claudia resumed her pace, bringing the topmost page in her hands into reading position, but not sparing an ounce of attention for the document as she walked, listening intently. There. And there. Was that what she thought? Someone’s foot steps echoing ever so slightly off pace with her own? Claudia’s heart began to pound, beating fast and close in her ears. She stopped. Turned. Nothing.
Working furiously to control her breathing, she set off again, exercising her senses to the limit. A shadow danced across the wall in front of her, cast by a change in the angle of the fluorescent lights as she rounded a corner. Not daring to glance behind herself again, Claudia picked up her pace -nearly jogging now- and struggled to keep her calm. It was probably nothing, no one.....but nevertheless she listened for the foot steps and watched for tell tale shadows. Rounding a corner, she halted, then peeked carefully around the bend, fully expecting to find someone in her wake. And all she saw was an empty expanse of hallway, not a soul in sight.
Shaking her head, Claudia loosed a shaky laugh and mentally chastised herself. Paranoid, that’s what she was. Stupid and paranoid and utterly flighty. God, what had become of her? Granted, she didn’t possess nerves of steel like Parker’s, but this was just plain absurd....laughable, even. Definitely laughable.
“I can’t believe this....” Claudia muttered to herself, “get a hold of whatever resilience you ever had and be a big girl.” Squaring her shoulders bravely, she managed to walk at a normal pace and concentrate once again on the faxes from the award’s security committee.
That was her mistake.
The attack came from behind, as her instincts had feared, and the force of the arms and hands that grasped her, shoving her up against the cement wall, was brutal. The papers she’d been holding moments before went flying out of her hands, and Claudia’s head exploded with pain and what felt like a knife cutting through her lip as she slammed into the wall. Her neck jerked back, pulling painfully at the tendons, wringing a cry from her.....and still her assailant held her in a vise like grip, mercilessly folding her arms tightly across her back, making her shoulder sockets burn. One palm spread across her mouth to silence her. Hot breath scrolled across her cheek and she struggled against him as a wave of pure terror and panic washed over her. He -she knew it was a ‘he’ now, because his scent filled her nostrils and it was an unquestionably male odor- pulled her back and shoved her against the cement harshly once more. With one hand held over her mouth, forcing her against the length of his body, he used the index finger and thumb of his other hand to pinch her nose shut so she couldn’t breathe. The fight drained out of her as quickly as it had surged. Would he kill her? Rape her? Or just beat her?
“How do you wanna die, bitch?,” came the gravely voice of her attacker; Claudia flinched and whimpered against his palm. Her lungs ached, and searing pain shot through her mouth and head. Blood trickled down her forehead and she could feel the plasma course it’s jagged path. “You wanna suffocate?” he asked torturously, then released his pressure on her nose. “Or do you want something else? What do you want, Cherry?” he taunted, letting one of his hands rove over her body, across her breasts, her belly, and lower still to her thigh. Tears slid down Claudia’s cheeks as fear knotted itself in her stomach and forced her heart into her throat.
Please, she screamed inwardly, Please, no!
His foul breath was closer now, and he nuzzled her neck like she imagined a lover would...only he was no lover. “We’ll make death slow and painful on all of you. You’ll wish you were dead long before you are....remember who’s in control here, Cherry. Remember who’s holding the winning hand.” And with that, he stepped back, then flung her violently against the wall one last time.
Claudia sank to the ground, fingers clutching at the wall as the world turned inside out through her pain blurred vision. One of the last sights she saw was that of a pair of black combat boots...his feet. His hand came out of no where then, and brushed against her cheek, with a sort of grotesque tenderness. A golden, snarling dragon leered menacingly at her from his finger, it’s ruby eyes emanating the fire of true malice. And then there was nothing but blessed blackness, crowding her consciousness into peaceful oblivion.
~~~~
The crowd roared, the collective noise of thousands of voices rising as one sounded like a giant tidal wave, building in intensity and ready to crash over them at any moment. “Thank you, we love you, good night!” Countless pairs of feet stomped forcefully on the floors, seeming to shake the stadium to it’s very foundations as the deafening applause and gusty cheers rose in decibel. Under the cover of darkness, the band held the final notes of the last encore of the evening as the Boys rushed off the stage into the pit and prepared to make a break for it amid the confusion.
Howie stepped of the platform right after AJ, nerves rattled as always when faced with the task of getting to safety and out of harm’s way. He slung a towel around his neck and grabbed one of the bottles of water which always awaited their stage exit. But before he could even open the bottle, he found himself pushed along one side of the barricade surrounding the circular stage. The hands sheparding him were not familiar, and Howie looked up into the face of a burly event staff security guard.
“Who are you? Where’s Nathaniel?,” he glanced around himself, encountering more of the same guards and the bewildered expressions of his band mates, “and Parker and everyone else?”
“Take it easy sir, we’ll see that you get backstage safely,” was the only reply forthcoming. With an indifferent shrug, Howie reached for a corner of the towel hanging around his neck to wipe his brow, only to have the terry cloth ripped from his grip by a nearby over eager fan. The surly man next to him applied pressure to his back, and the group ran through the onslaught of crowding fans who grasped for and tore at the Boys in desperation as they passed en route to the backstage entrance a miserable 30 yards away.....the disadvantages of performing ‘in the round’. Leaping and bounding like jackrabbits, they managed to make it through the security line and to the sanctuary behind the heavy black curtains.
“Hot DAMN, that concert kicked ass!” Nick exclaimed happily.
“Oh, sweet Jesus, did you guys see that fine lookin’ blonde, front row on Kevin’s side?” AJ growled, “Shit, Kev, you’ve got all the luck.”
“I ain’t complainin’,” the dark man drawled contentedly. “That was a good show, wasn’t it?”
“One of the best, I’d say,” Brian piped in, grinning radiantly. “Hey, D, you get a load of the brunette on your side?”
“How could I not?” Howie grinned, shaking his head.
“She flashed you, man! Damn!” Nick snickered, a little jealous. They rounded the corner to the dressing room, and he pranced in front of the group, walking backwards and gesturing largely with his hands. “Did you guys catch the set of -you know- on that chick? Wow!”
They strolled through the door of the changing room, suddenly face to face with Jack.
“Hey man, how’s it going?” Kevin greeted his bodyguard, who shifted uncomfortably.
“Listen, guys....we need you to change as fast as possible and get ready to board the buses so we can get the hell out of here.” Each of the Boys sensed the underlying tension of the man’s words and stopped what they were doing immediately.
“Why? What’s happened?” Brian ventured, breaking the silence which had descended over them.
“Just get changed, she’ll be okay.”
“She who?” AJ asked, his heartbeat speeding up, “Parker? Is she okay?”
“No, it’s not Parker this time-” began Jack reluctantly. Howie’s head snapped up, his attention sharpening.
“Claudia? Is it Claudia?” he demanded. Jack did not reply and Howie spun quickly, darting across the hall to the first place he could think of: the green room.
He stumbled through the door in blind desperation, and found Nathaniel and Michael standing inside. “Hey guys. Where’s Claudia? Jack said something about.....” he trailed off as the two men silently parted, exposing Claudia and Parker who sat side by side on the couch. Parker had draped one arm protectively around the smaller female in a comforting gesture, and his breath caught in his throat when he saw the damage that had been done; the backs of his eyes began to burn.
“Oh God,” he groaned, “Oh God, no.”
Claudia raised her head to look at him and his horror increased when he saw the full extent of her injuries. Her bottom lip was split, blood still seeped from the wound, and more of it dried on her mouth and chin. A large gash slashed across her forehead where a small bruise formed, already several shades of blue.....and another splotchy purple mess was emerging on her delicate cheekbone. Moving in a haze of inward confusion and fear, he came quickly to her side and fell to his knees in front of Claudia, grasping her hands. His own shook as he whispered, “What happened? Oh God, what happened?”
Parker laid one hand on his arm, and said in a tone intended to calm, “That’s what we’re still trying to piece together. Claud’s just a little light-headed at the moment.”
“I’m okay,” she said awkwardly, finding it difficult and a bit painful to talk. “Really, I’m okay.”
Parker continued, “Nina found her stumbling back here to the green room and sent one of the venue staff to get me. We’ve all been back here ever since.”
“How long ago was that?”
“About ten minutes,” Nina replied, coming into view with a wet towel and a bag of ice in hand. She sat on the other side of the redhead and handed her the cloth. Claudia accepted it with soft thanks and pressed the cold comfort to her mouth. Howie winced when he saw her squint in pain.
The entire room, including the rest of the Boys and Jack who had followed Howie, fell silent. Finally, Parker sighed saying, “If you guys could get showered and changed, I think it would be in the best interest of us all to go back to the hotel. We have a packed in house schedule tomorrow, which means we’ll stay here another night.”
Before leaving to do as Parker bid them, Howie gave Claudia’s hands one last, reassuring squeeze, and leaned close to her. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, okay? Don’t go anywhere,” he told her, making a valiant attempt to lighten the situation. Claudia gave a wobbly smile in response and nodded. He brushed a finger against her uninjured cheek and stood, filing out with the rest, leaving the two women alone.
Claudia turned to Parker and regarded her partner with sad eyes. “He said he was going to kill us, Parker.....all of us. And he said we’d wish we were dead long before we are.”
“What else, Claud? Did he say anything else?”
“He said to remember who was playing the winning hand,” her eyes unfocused as she recalled her assailant’s words, “and to remember who’s in control.” Parker placed a hand over Claudia’s, which the smaller woman gripped tightly. “Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m scared.”
“I know, Claud. I know.”
Thanks once again to all of our supportive reader's who've done so much to encourage us along the way. We thank you for your understanding regarding Ivy's accident and the situations which have prevented me from completing my part of this chapter at the time we expected. Please, if you're enjoying "Cat and Mouse", particularly this chapter, email us with your comments. We'd love to hear from you! The first inning back in any game is always a bit rough to handle, so we'd appreciate having you in our cheering section. Special apologies to each one of you who've had to wait so very long for this return to "Cat and Mouse", in particular, the email sent by a group of "avid readers" who shall remain nameless (*cough*Carrie, Whitney, Sara, Tessa, Katie, KT, Curdie, Amber, and Rachel*cough).
Kudos for your support,
~Jessi
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