Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (6 page)

“Well, it looks like she is doing much better. She has a little color in her cheeks.” Marion was whispering excitedly.

I snorted. “Yeah, she’s got color in her cheeks…”

“We’ve really got to get going Mrs. Aldridge.” It was Cindy’s turn to pull me out of the room.

“Very well, dear, thank you for taking such good care of her.”

“Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!” was Cindy’s mantra as we walked down the corridor.

I taunted her, mimicking ol’ Marion. “Thank you dear, for taking such good care of her.”

***

We had the TV on in the background, as we chatted about the events of the day. A photo of Senator Joe Everett caught our attention, and we listened to the news in shocked silence.

I felt sick. “That’s so gross, Cin! Not that I really cared for the guy. But his daughter Tamara is pretty cool.”

Cindy wiped her eyes. “It’s a horrible thing. I mean politically, I didn’t really care for him either. He was a little too slick for my taste. But he didn’t deserve to be murdered. Poor Tamara!”

Cindy’s mom, Dottie, came through the door with some delicious looking pastries. “You girls didn’t eat much dinner, but I thought you’d be ready for dessert by now.” She saw our faces. “What’s wrong?”

Cin waved away the tray. “Ugh! They just said on the news they found a piece of one of Joe Everett’s bodyguards washed up on Manhattan Beach. They definitely were all murdered, and thrown into the ocean.”

Dottie turned her back on the TV. “Oh! That’s disgusting.”

“What do ya think they’re gonna do for a funeral, Cin? You think they’ll just bury the Senator’s hand that washed up on the beach?” I had to ask.

“Glori!” Cin and her mom gave me “the look.”

The doorbell rang in the distance, and a moment later, Cindy’s dad, Bud Bainbridge, led George and Marion into the room. George’s face was on fire. His wife looked hysterical – she was wringing her hands.

“Who is David Henning?” he roared.

Now Cin was scared – she backed into a chair. “He, he’s Dr. Payne’s friend.”

“Dr. Payne? Who is Dr. Payne? And who is this friend? Dr. Payne’s friend that came to my daughter’s room the past three days, without my knowledge or permission?  Dr. Payne’s friend that wants to take her out on a date, after he gets back from his business trip. Do we even know what business he is in?” George was turning redder as he screamed louder with each phrase.

Pacing wildly, he suddenly stopped in front of Cindy. “Dr. Payne’s friend that gave my daughter a massive diamond ring that looks like it was stolen from a museum somewhere! Just so she would wait for him to come back from his business trip?”

“Diamond ring?” Cindy and I locked eyes.

“Debbie has no idea who this guy is! But, she’s wearing his ring! Her best friends, who were supposedly taking care of her, have no idea who this guy is! Her doctor, who is nowhere to be found, allowed all this to happen without saying a word to this child’s parents!”

Bud grabbed George’s arm as he began circling again. “George, you’ve got to calm down. You look like you’re having a stroke.”

He helped him to a chair. George collapsed, and put his head in his hands. Dottie assisted Marion to a seat beside him.

“George, it sounds like you need to get hold of Dr. Gallagher. He must have a personal cell phone,” Bud said calmly. He seemed truly concerned for old George.

“Well, he doesn’t answer it.” George sounded defeated. At least he had lowered his voice.

“Let’s try it again, then.”

Just as George located his phone, it rang. “Yes? Gallagher! Problems with your beeper? I’ll give you problems with your beeper!” George hollered into the phone at him.

“I need to know, who is David Henning? Why was he allowed to visit my daughter over the past three days? Without my knowledge or consent! Why is my daughter wearing his diamond ring, waiting for him to get back from his business trip? I’m told you know this man, Gallagher, so maybe you can explain all this to me! Just what business is he in?”

Cindy and I gaped at him, like we’d hear Gallagher’s response.

“Get to the point, Gallagher!” George looked like he’d reach through the phone to kill him. “Nice, intelligent young man? ... Hospital benefactor? ... And frankly, you don’t know him well? But you do know he’s a friend of Dr. Payne’s? ... Perhaps Bill knows more about him and his business?” George’s gruff monotone of repetitions was the calm before the storm. “You SOB! You mean to tell me, you let that man in to see my daughter, and you don’t know anything about him? And this ring?”

I braced myself for the finale. George was pacing like a caged lion again.

“Upset? Of course I’m upset! My child’s doctor is introducing her to strange men, because she’s impressed with him? This is positively frightening! This is positively outrageous! What in hell does my daughter know, to be impressed with someone? She’s so sick she can barely lift her head off the pillow. She’s nineteen years old! She’s a mere child! What in hell does she know?”

“George!” Marion hated profanity, especially in front of people like the Bainbridges.

“I’m not done with you, Gallagher!” George clicked the phone. “Useless, positively useless, this guy is! Now I need to track down a Dr. Bill Payne. Apparently this Henning character is some great friend of his. Let’s go, Marion. Sorry Bud, Dottie. Sorry we’ve made such a scene. But this is unbelievable. I thought my child was getting the best care.”

“It’s okay, George. We understand. I’m sure everything will turn out fine.”

“I don’t see how it can, Bud.” George took Marion by the arm and marched her out.

I heard Bud and Dottie close the door behind the Aldridges. “Oh crap, Cin! He said Dr. Bill Payne.”

“Pain-away Payne? Ohhhhhhh.” Cindy clutched her chest

“Shit, Cindy, the guy’s a drug dealer.”

***

George had a private investigator on the case that night. When Cindy’s dad called to check and see if George had a stroke, he got another earful on the phone. Cin and I heard half of that conversation too. It confirmed what I already knew. The guy had plenty of money, and the only explanation for it was that it was drug money.

I had a few auditions for bit parts and some modeling jobs, but it was a slow time for me. So I ended up going with Cindy to the hospital most days. It was a way to keep busy and keep my mind off my own problems. Plus, the whole show with the Aldridges drew me in like a soap opera.

In spite of her parents’ horror over the incident, Debbie’s health was improving. Because of David, she focused all her efforts on getting well, and fantasized with us about that wonderful “date” they’d have. We heard the “sweetheart” story about a thousand times.

“Oh Cindy, isn’t it beautiful!” Debbie would stare for hours at the huge diamond loosely encircling her left ring finger. None of us had ever seen anything like it.

“Yes, honey, it’s an amazing ring. It must be an heirloom or something. The setting is so unusual. I wish I could make out the inscription on the inside.” Cindy was fascinated.

“Yeah, that looks like it was worn off centuries ago. Looks like a royal logo or something.”

“Logo? Glori, where do you come up with these things?” Cindy laughed.

“Well, George was right. It does look like it was stolen from a museum.”

“David would never steal anything!” Debbie felt it was important to defend her newfound boyfriend.

I lost patience and scorned her. “How would you know? You don’t know a thing about him, do you?”

“Glori!” Cindy would never let anyone hurt Debbie, and she was afraid of this line of conversation.

I dug my heels in and defended my mean streak. “Well, she doesn’t. I guess no one really does.”

Two weeks later, Debbie was well enough to go home. Thrilled as her parents were with her incredible recovery, the issue of David Henning hung over them like a dark cloud. George hired more private investigators. They all came back with the same information
—
he was somehow deeply involved in the drug world. That was all anyone could find out about this mystery man. The best news was that no one knew where he was, and maybe, hopefully, he wouldn’t be coming back.

Oblivious to all the turmoil, Debbie settled in her fantasy world waiting for David’s return. She began painting.

David

There was an uneasy truce between Juan Rodriguez and Alfonso Pizarro. Business was excellent for both men. Their legions of workers and their armies were roughly equivalent. Although they each coveted the other’s wealth and power, the time was not right to begin a war.

Both men profited from their association with United States Senator Joe Everett. Both men had political aspirations of their own. Senator Everett was concerned with politics and power – but most of all – money. The almighty dollar was his god. He really didn’t care who was in power in South America – or anywhere for that matter – as long as he could make money somehow. Until the Senator’s untimely death, Rodriguez was his man.

General Pearson’s superiors wanted to retain President Hernandez, as he was a stabilizing force in South America and had worked with the allies to diminish the drug trade.

Now that David had removed Senator Everett from the picture, there was a disruption in business and an opportunity for the Organization. Sixteen men were sent to South America to eliminate Rodriguez and Pizarro and their operations.

And so Alfonso Pizarro was stunned and enraged when his efficient and most lucrative cocaine operation was blown high into the air, rocking and leveling much of the surrounding jungle. He did not have long to ponder his revenge. Pearson’s men had followed the lone survivor of the blast, an unfortunate man who delivered the bad news to his boss. They heard gunfire emanate from the extravagant villa. Pizarro had executed the messenger in one of his legendary fits of temper.

There was only a slight sliver of a moon to light the way, as the men stole into the compound. Silently, surreptitiously, skillfully, they positioned themselves to remove all resistance, and protect their own.

David was the one to confront Alfonso Pizarro. He was pleased Pizarro decided to resist. He really did not want to have to take him prisoner. As Pizarro reached for his gun, he shot once, and Pizarro fell to the floor.

The men left only Pizarro’s wife, his four young children, and three of the maids alive.

***

Their next target was one of Juan Rodriguez’s most profitable cocaine processing centers. They were dismayed to find the guards were well prepared for them. It was a difficult and lengthy battle. At last they destroyed the building, all its occupants, and guards. They cheered as the explosion finished the once valuable contents of the factory, and unused ammunition became fireworks that lit up the sky.

Only two of Pearson’s men were slightly injured in the skirmish. They dressed their wounds and marched on. The following day Juan Rodriguez was assassinated as he left his mistress’s apartment.

***

“Ya know this is a fuckin’ Godforsaken place!” Eduardo Clemente dumped his heavy backpack on the riverbank, and wiped his hands over a sweaty brow and on through thick black hair.

David took a seat beside him. “You ought to host a travel show, Clemente.”

Their colleagues laughed, and volunteered titles for this offbeat, and most certainly off-color, travelogue.

“You’re in a good mood. What’s got in to you?”

David wasn’t quite sure why he was in such a good mood for one with so many professional and personal challenges at the moment. He watched Gilbert quietly sit a few feet away. With any luck they’d be in the air and out of South America in a matter of hours.

Although they’d accomplished their mission in South America, David knew Senator Everett had also been selling Israeli government secrets he’d had access to. Gilbert was involved too, and he’d been keeping a close eye on David this trip. There was nothing he could do until their return to the United States. David knew this treason went beyond Gilbert, but until he could meet with Pearson, there wasn’t much to do but stay alive.

He noticed Gilbert’s face change and looked up to see a stunning rainbow – and an approaching helicopter that was not theirs. The others realized it too. As he stood up, he knew it was too late. There was a blast, and he tried to stop from falling into the muddy river. But he was powerless as hell rushed up to meet him.

Chapter Four

Nita

Salzburg, Austria was blanketed with endless snow, and I was tired of it. There was a medical conference on hemophilia in Boston, and since my fiancé Eduardo’s younger brother suffered from that genetic disease, it was a good excuse to go. Then I’d head south to Florida to meet some friends from medical school and relax on the beach for a few days.

The first of February was unseasonably warm in
Boston
, and I was delighted by the sun on my face as I took an extended lunch and a stroll down
Newbury Street
. I stepped into a few of the shops to take a look around.