Smiley

  Both Mable and Gilda stood there staring at her.

  “False alarm. Gas.”

  “Disgusting,” Mable hissed.

  “I haven’t eaten. No one bothered to feed me last night or this morning. That’s probably a good thing or I would be throwing up my guts. You people make me sick.” She moved away from the door and crossed the room, hugging her waist, hoping it would help keep the eyeliner in place. She pressed her fingertips against it.

  The door opened. Bruce and the other guard entered. “Let’s move. We don’t want to be late.”

  Vanni meekly walked forward. She didn’t want to give either man a reason to touch her. They might feel her two stolen items. Bruce took the lead with the guard close on her heels as they went down two flights of stairs and out the front door to a waiting limousine. Bruce opened the passenger door.

  “Get in.”

  Vanni didn’t have a plan but she hoped she could get her hands on Bruce’s gun and maybe hold Gregory hostage. All she’d need to do then was take his phone and call Beth. Her next call would be to 9-1-1. The cops could take the gun away after they arrived and she’d explained why she had pointed it at the jerk’s head.

  Gregory wasn’t inside the limousine. It was empty and her desperate escape plan was destroyed. She climbed in and moved toward the bar, wanting to be far away from the big man who climbed in after her. Bruce sat in the center of the bench seat between the two doors. She looked out the window, watching the other guard enter the driver’s side. Privacy glass blocked the front compartment from the back. It was possible Gregory was in the passenger seat.

  “We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “Great.” She hoped Bruce recognized sarcasm.

  “Do you want to go over the cards one more time? I have a copy of them in my pocket.”

  “No. Gilda covered it fine. I can read them.”

  He grunted but didn’t reach for his seatbelt when the engine started. She didn’t either. She had twenty minutes to escape the limousine and find a phone. Vanni tried to appear relaxed as she sat back, casting sidelong glances at anything she could use for a weapon. The small plastic bottle wedged between her breasts seemed her best option. She could blind him if she flung the contents in his eyes but he was a big man. He sat between the only two exits. She’d have to get past him to get out one of those doors.

  “Nervous? Just read the damn cards and act the way you were told.”

  She held his stare.

  “We’ll enter from the side of the church and go directly to the front where the press will be set up. Gregory and Carl are already there. Carl is going to take your arm and hold your hand. Allow it or so help me, I’ll break your damn fingers one at a time. You’re still a couple and you will pretend to be grateful that he’s standing by your side during this difficult time.”

  Vanni clenched her teeth.

  “Get that damn look off your face.”

  She lowered her gaze and turned her head away. The small bar contained a few glass bottles, drinking glasses and bottled water. Her attention lingered on the dark bottle of alcohol. “May I have a drink?”

  “Fuck no. The last thing we need is for you to be drunk.”

  “I meant the water.” She pointed.

  “No.”

  “Fine. My throat is dry. I’m sure that will sound great when I’m trying to read those cards and clearing my throat two dozen times.”

  “Drink the damn water. Just don’t spill it on your outfit.”

  She glanced down at the button-up white top. The neckline rose to her throat and it had long sleeves to her wrists. The black shapeless skirt fell almost to her ankles. It reminded her of something a schoolteacher from the early nineteen hundreds would have worn. “God forbid. Does your grandma want it returned to her?”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  She faked a cough, turned in the seat and stealthily removed the hairspray. She twisted the cap to loosen it and wedged the small bottle between the seats to make sure it was hidden. The belt buckle for the seatbelt stuck out and she hoped it blocked his view when she leaned forward toward the bar.

  “Water,” he reminded her.

  “I heard,” she muttered.

  She took a bottled water and twisted the lid. It wasn’t a lie that her throat was dry. She took a couple of sips, glancing out the windows. They’d left Gregory’s property and were driving through a neighborhood of upscale homes. In less than a block they’d hit a bunch of shops and restaurants. The freeway would be after that. It was soon or never. She took another sip, sat back and dug down the side of her skirt since her hip faced away from him. She removed the eyeliner and used her thumb to flip off the plastic cap.

  The limousine made a turn and she spotted the first shops. They lined the streets close together and would continue for two blocks to the onramp to the freeway. Traffic slowed the car to a crawl. She watched Bruce from the corner of her eye. He appeared relaxed. She glanced at her water and just let it go. The plastic bottle hit the floor and water poured out.

  “Whoops.”

  “Son of a bitch!” he yelled. “Grab it.”

  She refused. “You.”

  He lurched forward and almost fell out of the seat. She twisted the lid off the hairspray. The back of his neck was exposed as he picked up the plastic bottle, cursing about the water all over the carpet in the expensive limousine. She fisted the eyeliner pencil with her right hand and grabbed the hairspray in her left.

  Fear and anger drove her to stab him with the pencil. Part of it dug into his skin before it broke. He roared out in pain and grabbed at his injured neck, falling all the way out of his seat. He turned his head, pure rage twisting his features. She shoved the hairspray at him and frantically dumped all of it. The liquid poured over his eyes and he tried to jerk away, squeezing them shut.

  “You fucking bitch! I’m going to kill you.” He blindly fumbled at his suit with one hand, while wiping his eyes with the other.

  Vanni stood, bent and grabbed one of the almost-full glass bottles of booze. The fact that Bruce had nearly tugged his gun out of the holster motivated her to swing the glass as hard as she could. It smashed over his head. He grunted and the loud sound of the gun going off at close range almost deafened her.

  He slumped and the driver applied the brakes. She stared down at the motionless man, shocked. Blood spread along his thigh where the bullet had embedded. He’d shot himself. Horns honked and she looked out the windows. They were holding up traffic. The limo driver suddenly punched the gas, almost knocking Vanni on top of Bruce, who was sprawled at her feet.

  She managed to use the bar in front of her and the ceiling to keep upright. The driver seemed to be looking for a place to park as the limo slowed. Vanni dropped to her knees, landing on Bruce’s hand. She dug into his jacket, avoiding the gun. She found the cell phone he’d used to torment her about Beth. As an afterthought, she bent a little over him and dug his wallet out of his pocket. She crawled to the door.

  The second the limousine stopped, she shoved the door open, happy it wasn’t locked. She stumbled out and was almost hit by a car. The driver honked his horn as he slammed on the brakes, screaming obscenities.

  She ran toward the sidewalk in the opposite direction of the limo so the driver couldn’t rush after her. He might throw it in reverse to give chase but he’d hit the man she’d just pissed since his car was in the way.

  People stared as she ran. She turned her head when more horns blared. The limo driver was out of the car and she heard yelling. She faced forward, barely managed to avoid slamming into a pedestrian, and turned into one of the alleys between the buildings. She kept going until she glimpsed a dumpster.

  It was a good place to hide so she got behind it. She was out of breath from her mad dash and leaned against the brick wall as she studied the cell phone. Please don’t be password protected! She tapped the button and the screen lit up. She hit the phone icon and the Woods Church number displayed. She tapped again for the
keypad and it opened. Her finger trembled while she dialed home.

  It rang four times until the machine picked up. God, please be home! It played the automated message and beeped.

  “Beth! Pick up the phone. Now, damn it.”

  “Vanni?”

  She’d never been so relieved to hear her friend’s voice. “Listen to me. You’re in danger. Gregory has a man on his way to our apartment. He’s going to kill you. Dial 9-1-1 and wait for the police. Get out when they get there!”

  “What?”

  “We don’t have time for this shit. Grab your cell and dial 9-1-1. Do it!”

  “Okay. What is going on?”

  “They kept me locked up. They are going to kill you. I escaped so that man is going to go after you. When the cops get there, you go stay with that guy who loves Elvis. Don’t say his name. You know who I mean.”

  “Are you okay? Hang on while I call.” As she waited she heard Beth’s call to 9-1-1. “Yes. I have an emergency. I think someone is breaking into my apartment.” Beth rattled off the address. “I’m here alone. Send someone fast. He might have a gun.”

  Vanni pulled her ear away from the phone, listening for any sound of the driver or Bruce. The alley was quiet, the only noise coming from the traffic down the street.

  “Vanni? Vanni?”

  “I’m here. Are the police on their way?”

  “Yeah. What happened? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

  “We don’t have time to talk. I have to go. They are probably looking for me. I’m okay so far though. Dump your phone and go to Elvis. I remember his address. Don’t trust anyone and tell my parents to get in the RV. They need to get out of town. I never took Carl to the cabin. He hates the outdoors. I don’t know if Gregory plans to go after them next.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “They are nuts. You have no idea.”

  “I can guess. I told you something was seriously wrong with that family. I’ll meet you at Elvis’ place. How long until you can get there?”

  “I can’t. I’m too far away.” Vanni peeked out from behind the dumpster. She didn’t see anyone coming down the alley. Yet.

  “Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.”

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Bullshit,” Beth spat. “Where are you?”

  “I’ve got a killer hunting for me if that bullet to his thigh didn’t cripple him.”

  “You shot someone?”

  “I don’t have time to explain. Grab your shit and don’t open that door until the cops arrive. Get out of there and leave your phone so they can’t find you. Ditch your car after you get a few blocks away and have Elvis pick you up. I’m probably being paranoid but they have money. Don’t use your cards. No trace, okay?”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I can call the police and tell them everything.”

  “Go to Smiley. The police wouldn’t even take a report when I told them something was wrong. You need protection and Homeland is somewhere no one can get to you.”

  “He thinks I drugged him.”

  “He doesn’t. We talked.”

  “What?”

  “You didn’t tell me he’s got such a sexy voice. He—”

  “Fucking bitch!” Bruce yelled. “Do you see her?”

  “No!” another man shouted. “I think she disappeared somewhere in this area though.”

  “I gotta go. I’ll call you when it’s safe.” Vanni hung up and made sure the ringer was off on the phone while she crouched behind the dumpster. It would be her luck that Beth called her back if Bruce’s number showed on the caller ID. She shoved it between her thighs and stomach to muffle it if it vibrated.

  Heavy breathing grew louder. “I’m going to kill that bitch.” Bruce was close.

  “You’re bleeding.”

  “My tie slowed it down.”

  “She’ll go to the police if we don’t find that cunt.”

  “Gregory has that covered. Dr. Barns is going to say she suffered an emotional break after her rape. He’ll go in after her and take charge. She won’t be going to a hospital though. I’ll drop her off at the morgue myself. Do you know what it’s going to cost us if we have to get her that way?” He seemed to be breathing hard and sounded as if he were right on the other side of the dumpster.

  Vanni closed her eyes, slowed her breathing and hoped he didn’t find her.

  “Maybe she ran down that other alley. I’d keep booking it if I were her.”

  “Go left. I’ll go right. The bitch stole my phone and wallet.”

  “Can you track it?”

  “Yeah. I just need a laptop to log in to my phone account.”

  “There’s a laptop in the limo under the passenger seat. I play online games while I’m waiting to drive Gregory.”

  “I’ll go use it. You check the alley. Give it four minutes and then get your ass back to the limo. We’ll track her that way.”

  They separated because she heard the driver run farther down the alley and Bruce’s footsteps faded as he headed back toward the limo. Vanni opened her eyes and looked down at the phone. She needed to ditch it. She figured she had about three minutes before Bruce reached that laptop. It would take time for the computer to load and for him to log into the tracking system. She had maybe five minutes tops.

  She peeked out and moved once she was sure they weren’t within sight. She went to the street, peered around the corner and saw Bruce about sixty feet away. A group of tourists passed and she moved ahead of them so they’d hide her if he looked back. She ducked into a coffee shop two stores down.

  The waiting customer line was long so she entered their unisex bathroom and locked the door. Her hands shook as she stared at the phone. Gregory had a doctor on his payroll. Could they really just send him into a police station to say she was nuts and take her way? It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.

  She dialed and got information. “New Species Homeland.” She pushed the button to connect the number directly. It rang twice and a pleasant male voice answered.

  “Homeland. How may I help you?”

  “I don’t have a lot of time. I’m being tracked. My name is Travanni Abris. I’m the one in the video on TV. I’m in trouble. I need to talk to Smiley. Gregory Woods is trying to make me give an interview to the press to tell lies about him and New Species.”

  “Right. Sure you are. Look, you can’t talk to him and you’re the fiftieth Travanni that has called in the past half an hour alone.”

  She leaned against the locked door. “Brass was with Smiley. Brass is a big guy, scary, and wears his hair in a ponytail. The medics were Shane and Ned. I escaped from them at a truck stop. I’m really Travanni Abris and I’m in trouble. Gregory Woods kept me prisoner at his vacation home. I just escaped from two of his guards and they are searching for me. I stole a cell phone they are tracing right now. I have to dump it or they’re going to find me.”

  The man’s voice deepened. “Where are you?”

  She rattled off the address and the name of the coffee shop. “I’m hiding in the bathroom. I can’t stay here.” She bit her lip. “Can you help me?”

  “We’ll send a team. Stay in the bathroom.”

  “They could come in here and take me.”

  “Do you know a nearby safe location?”

  She didn’t know the town well but she’d seen a park on the other side of the shopping center when she’d driven through it. It had been memorable because of the large statues. “There’s a park. I can hide there, maybe.”

  “We’ll send a team. They can be to you within twenty-five minutes.”

  “Okay. I have to ditch this phone.”

  She hung up and flipped it over but she couldn’t find a place to remove the battery. She entered the stall and dropped it in the toilet. It sank into the water.

  Bruce had fifty-seven dollars in his wallet. She memorized his full name and where he lived. The cash went in
to her pocket and she dropped the wallet into the trashcan. She took a moment to dump paper towels over the top to hide it from sight.

  It was terrifying to unlock the door and step out of the bathroom but she was more afraid to stay put in case the signal from the phone was still active. It would lead them right to her. The customer line was still long as she eased out of the room and glanced through the big windows at the street. Bruce and the driver weren’t within sight so she approached the door, looking for them. Only strangers passed as she exited.

  She turned and walked quickly, trying to stay with groups. She wished she could change her clothes but all the clothing shops looked expensive. Fifty-seven dollars wasn’t going to get her an outfit.

  She passed a T-shirt shop, paused, glanced at a sale sticker and entered. The friendly teen grinned. “Hi! Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Just browsing.”

  She quickly assessed the racks and grabbed a baggy black T-shirt. It was on sale and she didn’t even take the time to look at what was printed on the front. She moved to the back of the store where they had men’s cotton shorts. She grabbed a medium that was marked down to ten bucks and strode to the counter. They had cheap flip-flops and caps. She snagged black ones, dropping everything on the counter.

  The girl rang her up. Vanni winced, handing over most of the cash. “Do you mind if I change here? I’m running late for a workout session with my personal trainer. I can’t exercise in this.”

  “Did you go to a funeral?” The girl gave her a sympathetic look.

  Vanni looked down at the horrible shirt and skirt. “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry. I lost my uncle last year. Who did you lose?”

  She picked up her purchases. “Someone I barely knew.” That was partially true. She’d been wrong about Carl and he might as well be dead to her.

  “There’s a bathroom right there.”

  The skirt and shirt went into the trashcan and she put on the loose, ill-fitting clothes. Her hair was already up so she just pulled the cap over it, hoping it would help her blend. The heels followed the discarded outfit into the trash. She stepped into the flip-flops and exited the bathroom.