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Chapter 18
Maranda
“… So you see I have quite a dilemma.” I smiled about the thousandth phony smile in the past 2 VERY LONG hours.
“Yes, quite.” He sipped his margarita thoughtfully. “I’ll help you, but it’s going to cost you.”
“Time is money my friend. You’re wasting time to spend it.”
He grinned. “My sentiments exactly. And I know the perfect spot.”
Three hours later
I let out a sigh of relief. Her I am standing in an apartment that looks like I’ve lived here for years. It was perfect. This evening will be perfect.
Arrangements were confirmed and the apartment looked a mess, but showed a girl who desperately tried to clean, and diner simmered in the unbearably small kitchen. Perfect.
I walked out of the small apartment with a smile on my face. After setting my black helmet in my rental car I headed for the bike lot.
The first place I headed on my new fire red, yellow flamed Ninja was to the airport. Brian’s plane was landing. I sat to the side of their terminal and watched them enter the airport. They were all smiles, glad to be off the plane. Nick looked in my direction, but say nothing except the bike. When he gestured for the guys to look I sped off. I swung around the airport once and came back to the front when the limo door closed. I followed far behind.
I looked to my right as I changed lanes on the busy highway. I noticed a suspicious black car, with tinted windows just as black.
They're watching me, I thought to my self.
“Watch this,” I cranked the gas and sped forward. I zipped past the limo, surly turning heads, and when I looked in my mirror I confirmed they were following me. The car was desperately trying to keep up, but that big Lincoln was too large to weave.
I out skirted them in seconds. I pulled off the highway and threw the grass. I made a fast turn behind a large group of bushes and trees and waited.
The Lincoln speeded by, desperately searching for me. The limo soon followed. It would be too difficult to follow them now. They would notice. I turned and drove to a parking garage near ‘my’ apartment. I was inside and changed only minutes before my cell rang.
“Hello?”
“What’s your problem?” My boss’s anger rose threw the phone cords.
“I should be asking you the same question. I didn’t say I was going on personal business for you to snoop. I told you it was personal because it is. I don’t do this often so I suggest you call off the dogs before I disappear all together and you know I can.”
He was silent.
“I have all the papers and that’s why you’re following me. If you want me to be ready to go on air you better let me practice. Get off my case.”
“Get your attitude adjusted. You seem to be forgetting who makes the orders around here.”
“No, I just know how valuable I am. You can’t treat me like trash because I’m the best you’ve got.”
“You’re too cocky for your own good.”
I checked my watch. “We’re heading for a minute, call back in 2.” I hung up.
I picked the phone up after the second ring. “Now where were we?”
“Maranda Hunter.” My boss warned.
“I hear you. Are you going to call them off or do I have to put them in intensive care? And I don’t me say...ya they’re gone and they not be, because if I find one I’ll get him.”
My boss grunted, which was a good sign. “Fine, I’ll call them off. You just better call if you get in too deep.”
“If I get in too deep I’ll be dead.” I hung up and called Brian.
“Hello?” I smiled at the sound of his voice. I shook my head. It was getting too deep to be getting too comfortable with him right now.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Hey, how do I get to your apartment?”
“Where are you?”
“Nick’s house.”
“I’ll come get you.” He gave me directions, but I didn’t need them. “Dress semi-casual.”
“Nick swears there is no place he hasn’t been in this city.”
“We’ll see when I get there.” I hung up the phone and sat back at the small desk set up for me. I sat back and let out a heavy sigh.
They were putting the squeeze on me. I must be making them edgy or maybe I’m just on the look out now because they were never that noticeable before.
I turned a pen over and over in my fingers.
“I can’t do this by my self any more.” A sudden flash of anger had me throwing the pan across the room. It landed like a dart in my corkboard.
I sighed and rested my arms on my desk. I picked up the apartment phone and dialed numbers.
“Hi Jake, it’s me. I need another favor.”
Brian
“How’s this?” I stood in front of the guys wearing a new Polo shirt and Khaki’s.
“You look fine.” Nick shook his head at me.
“What?”
“You, you’re totally hooked.”
“We’ve established this, is that all?”
“Are you seriously hooked on her?” Kevin’s tone was doubtful. We just had a rather large conversation on how bad I had it for Veronica.
“Yes,” I chuckled. Turning to the mirrors on the wall I checked my hair. “Why is that so hard to believe?”
“I don’t know.” Howie shrugged. “It’s just fast for you.”
“Yeah B, we’re happy for you, but we’re just looking out for you,” Aj added.
“I thank you guys, but I think I can handle this.”
“Yes, but the question is can you handle this?” I turned to look at a smirking Veronica. She had a black ¾ length tee, black mini skirt and some black srtrapy type sandals.
She turned to Nick. “Sorry the door was wide open. I called to you guys, but obviously you didn’t hear me.”
“It’s OK, but I’m glad it was you who walked in here and not some fruit cake. Who left the door open?” Nick looked around.
“Sorry Nick, I think that was me,” Howie confessed.
“You look beautiful.” I brought Veronica’s hand to my lips and kissed it.
She flushed crimson red, but quickly recovered.
I ran my fingers threw her hair hand whispered in her hair. “Crimson red is your color.”
She flushed again, but her recovery was just as quick.
“What did you say to her,” Aj inquired.
“Nothing important to you.” I smiled at Veronica.
“Anyway, were are you taking him?” Nick was waiting to say ‘I’ve been there a thousand times.’
“Well if I said it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“So whisper it in my ear.” Nick beconded her with his finger.
She walked over to the couch and bent over to whisper in his ear.
“Where,” Nick had obviously never heard of it.
“Do I need to repeat it?”
“No, I’ve never heard of it before. Where is it?”
Veronica looked over at me.
“Don’t worry I don’t know where anything is.”
She turned back and gave directions on how to get there. Never giving any hint to what type of building it was.
“I know the spot, but I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s underground and that’s all I’m going to say. Good evening you guys and don’t wait up. I plan to keep him out very late.” She turned to me when the guy’s jaws couldn’t have settled further into the ground. She linked her arm with mine and we were off.
“Think that will be enough for them to toy with for the evening?” Veronica smiled at me once we were in the car.
“More
than enough.” I smiled and settled back for what should be an evening to
remember.
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