Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (36 page)

David looked down at the front page of the Weekly World Gossip. A photo of him in his uniform appeared beside Sylvie’s. Where would they get a photo of him in uniform? His gut twisted as he read the headline. What would this do to Debbie? How much more of this shit could he put her through? How could she still love him?

“And also, David –” Pearson paused to make sure he heard him. “Darla Wilde is gone. Disappeared.” He shook his head. “Agent Washington is on the way with Debbie and her friends. He told me Glori showed up with the paper before he could stop her. He said Debbie got a glimpse of it. I’m sorry. I know it would be best if she found out from you.”

Eduardo

Eduardo, Alain, and Jimmy sat in the conference room perusing the Weekly World Gossip.

“Wow. Look at those boobs.” Jimmy closely examined the photo of Sylvie Mason apparently at work at a gentleman’s club. He glanced up at his friends. “Kind of like the anti-Debbie, huh?”

Eduardo bit his lip so as not to laugh, watching Alain covering his smirk and the General standing in the door with the paper. Jimmy caught on and hesitantly looked around as Pearson spoke.

“Yeah – the anti-Debbie – that’s about it.”

Pearson lowered himself into his chair and thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “Lambrecht will be here in a minute. He’s pretty upset. I guess he’s embarrassed for his wife and family more than anything else. Of course, he’s been worried about Debbie’s weak heart anyway. This won’t help matters.” Pearson let out a groan. “I told him to go throw some cold water on his face.”

As Pearson updated the men on Sylvie Mason’s suicide and resulting media storm, David took his seat beside Eduardo.

Pearson leaned back in his seat. “A quick perusal of the internet tells us we’re in for a bumpy ride. I knew once this music thing started with your families, there’d be trouble. I thought we might bypass it by getting you four started with the new training program before their music really took off. But it doesn’t look promising. We’ve got pictures of the four of you with them, and now that you’re doing security for that big concert – well there’s loads of opportunity for the paparazzi. Then we have all the video and newspaper photos taken that night you got Santoro and his gang.

I suspect it won’t be long before they’ve got you all tied up in some crazy media frenzy. Washington is already taking notice – they’re on my case to nip this thing in the bud. I doubt we can avoid a scandal, but I’ve decided to call Joe Harris. He has all kinds of experience with the media, and since he’s handling your families’ newfound music careers, he’s a logical choice to help.”

Eduardo rolled his eyes. Joe Harris would be on the side of the dollar sign. And that would be with his little brother’s band.

Pearson’s secretary appeared in the doorway and announced Joe Harris. The General got up and went to usher him in personally. Joe waved a half-chewed cigar at the men and threw a battered briefcase on an empty chair. He took a seat at the far end of the table across from the General and leaned back in the chair as Pearson briefed him on the events of the past hours.

He pondered a few moments and burst into cackling laughter. The men looked at him with confusion.

Joe chomped on his unlit cigar. “Sounds like you were the envy of every guy in the world.”

Pearson led a chuckle at David’s expense.

“Just got a few questions, David.” David turned his blank stare to Joe. “Did you ever love Sylvie Mason?”

“No.”

“You just used her for sex?”

“Yes. And at first, to help establish connections.”

“And this person, Darla Wilde – love the name, by the way. You used her for sex? And for connections?”

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t love her either?”

“No.”

“And when was the last time you had sex with either one of them?”

David thought for a moment. “It was December 28
th
.”

“And which one was it?”

“Both.”

Joe choked on a piece of his cigar. Alain slapped him on the back.

“Yeah. I guess you did live every guy’s dream.” Joe shook his head. “Well from listening to you and reading this prestigious paper – it looks like her story was pretty factual.”

“According to her perception,” David said.

David wasn’t going to take bullshit from anyone.

Joe sniffed. “Well you supported these two strippers in an expensive house and you had sex with them – usually both of them at once. That true?”

“Yes.” David was deadpan.

Pearson interceded. “Joe, you need to understand this was an undercover operation. Lambrecht had to assume the guise of a notorious drug dealer. These are not nice people.”

“Yeah. It sure was an undercover operation.” Joe’s cackling was infectious. “Look, I’m just lookin’ at this story like Joe and Jane Average. Talk about their perceptions. Did you notice here on page two – here – where they’re reading about Sylvie lusting after him – and his – attributes –” Joe threw the paper onto the desk. “Sorry, even I have trouble reading that stuff.” He reached for the pitcher of water, poured a glass, and sipped it as though he were in slow motion. The men sat silently watching him.

Joe spoke at last. “Amanda James. I think we should call Amanda James.”

Pearson’s mouth dropped open.

“Hear me out, General. I have an excellent relationship with her, and she’s one of, if not the, top journalist in the country. She’s articulate. She’s fair and balanced. And her show is the most popular news magazine show in the country. If I offer her an exclusive, which is what we want anyway, she’ll drop everything for this story. And I can sweeten the deal with some incentives for her, like some exclusives with Paulo and the band. These kids are so talented, they’re already news. Let’s face it, their album sales are gonna go through the roof with just this Weekly World Gossip story. Even if we didn’t do another thing. And I think it’s important to get on this immediately, before any more stories come out in the papers tomorrow or speculation begins on the nightly news on TV.”

Joe grabbed for the phone in his briefcase. “The critical thing, General, is to get our story out there right away – deal with the facts in a truthful, straightforward way. No cover-ups. And we have the advantage of having the story told by Amanda James, not some creepy tabloid. She brings legitimacy to our story. And if we play our cards right, everyone will get what they want. You will have the admiration of every kid out there that wants to fight crime with such a glamorous career in the elite Special Forces. Amanda gets the story of a lifetime. Paulo and the band get filthy rich. And of course, their manager does alright, too.” Joe victoriously inhaled the scent of one of Cuba’s finest cigars.

The others looked at each other in stunned silence.

The Redemption Series:

Book One:
Killer Cupid

Book Two:
Fame, Fortune & Secrets

Book Three:
In the Name of Glori

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