Saving The Game (4 page)

"Yes, good morning. Um, I was hoping you had something by way of flowers. I need a bouquet put together, a very large bouquet, of mixed flowers--no red ones, though."

"My apologies, Mr. Apler. You've reached the operator. The boutique will not open until 8 a.m. Would you like me to place your order at that time?"

"Yes, please go ahead and do that. How about the kitchen, is that open yet?"

"Food and beverage service is available 24 hours, Mr. Apler. Would you like me to connect you now, sir?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Before I connect you, Mr. Apler, I would like to inform you that a package arrived for you from a Lucille Van Meer. Would you like it sent to your room now, sir?"

"Yes, please."

"Very well, sir. Connecting you to Room Service now. Please hold one moment."

Julian ordered sausages and eggs and had just enough time to put on pants and a shirt when there was a chime at his door. He received the package from Lucille and brought it to the settee by the window. He read the folded card taped to the envelope.

This was not easy to get. You owe me. -- L

Unsealing the envelope he pulled out two plane tickets to Cape Town, another envelope that had Karen's name written on it, and a longer note from Lucille. Reading the second note he gathered that Lucille had convinced James to send Karen with him, "the most capable guide in Africa", on safari while James and Lucille were on their honeymoon. The instructions were to present the letter from her father and the tickets to Karen after the wedding and to lie low until then.

Julian breathed a sigh of mixed anxiety and relief. "Now she really has me by the balls."

He waited for his breakfast, hoping the sausages were as good as the menu claimed them to be. After breakfast he had three days to "lie low". He would stay away from the mansion upstate and he decided to use the time to enjoy the city. He twirled the wad of cash Lucille had given him on his arrival with his fingers.

"What can the Big Apple give me for twenty thousand bucks, hey?" Then, remembering that he was off the hook, he called the operator again and cancelled the flower order.

******

Karen was bored. Her father was on his honeymoon, his fourth honeymoon, and she had the whole estate to herself but for some reason she didn't feel like doing anything. There were two outdoor swimming pools as well as one indoors, the four tennis courts, the stables--all kinds of things to do but none of it interested her.

"Summer depression," she said, sitting on her bed, "and fucking Noel is on leave!"

All of her friends had gone on a trip to South America. They were going to visit Macchu Picchu, feast on the famed Chilean cuisine--and wines--and chew actual coca leaves. She wanted to go but her father forbade it. He was overprotective of Karen at times and Karen expected him to be so. She knew what being an only child, and a daughter at that, was all about.

Suddenly she leaped to her feet. She had an idea. Maybe the guy who was filling in for Noel was even cuter! She headed out to the gardens.

Julian had rented a car and was almost at the Stevens estate. He blew most of his 20K over the last three days, probably because he ended up in Atlantic City with a girl who's name he'd forgotten. When the rental agent showed him their "most affordable" sports car, a black late model Mazda convertible, he didn't think his six foot two would fit. Prodded by the agent he got into the driver's seat and found that the car did seem bigger from the inside. He'd broken the speed limit twice on his way here--apparently the little car was fast as well--but he tossed the tickets away as soon as the cops let him go. Tickets don't follow you to Africa.

Pulling into the long drive that lead to the main entrance of the mansion, he wondered if Karen liked sports cars. If, for some reason, she wasn't keen on a hunting trip to Africa, father's blessing or not, he'd have little more than this car and what he had at the debut to convince her otherwise.

Karen was stepping out of the door and she spotted a cool looking car coming up the drive. Adventure. An unknown visitor. Just what she needed today.

Julian pulled to a stop gently and stepped out. He'd bought a new pair of H.H. Brown's and a long cut leather jacket. He hoped she wasn't one of those animal rights freaks.

Karen saw Julian step out from behind the glaring windshield. Oh, it's him again. What's he doing here? Hmm, he
is
kind of cute. Nice boots. Jacket's a bit retro 90's but it'll pass. Too bad he's a boor.

"I come bearing gifts, and an apology," Julian said as he took the front steps gracefully. He first presented Karen with a single bloom from a Rothschild Lily. "Here's some red that won't stain your dress. Watch out for the yellow pollen though." Without smiling at his own quip he held out a bag. "For someone who likes dresses." He said simply.

"A Vizarra," Karen admired, "Queer eye on a straight guy?"

Julian smiled, "Definitely straight. The lady at the boutique said the young ladies were wearing that brand now. It's a dress after a fashion. I'd enjoy it here. It won't be much use to you where we're going--if you'd like to go, that is." He pulled out the plane tickets and letter from his jacket and handed them to her.

"A letter from Daddy." Karen tore the envelope open. "It's pretty long. Come inside--I didn't catch your name at my debut."

Julian held out his hand, "Julian Apler, a friend of the Van Meers."

Karen took his hand, "Karen Stevens. Come in, please. Would you like a drink?"

"That would hit the spot, thanks. Just not a bloody mary."

Karen turned and looked at Julian. Her eyes pierced but her mouth smiled.

They stepped inside the cool house. Julian noticed the air conditioning.

Karen motioned to the mansion's front sitting area. "There's a bar in there. Fix yourself anything you want. I'll just read Daddy's letter...but first..." She opened the bag from Vizarra. "A mini!" Then, with a suspicious look at Julian, "Did the lady at the boutique tell you I liked minis as well?"

Julian took a sip of bourbon. "No. She said you loved them."

Karen laughed. "If I didn't know better I'd say you were stalking me."

"You like it."

"Are you kidding? I love minis! They're my summer thing."

Julian sat down in a window seat as Karen read the letter. After a few minutes she looked at him.

"So, you're the best safari guide in all of Africa?" Karen squinted.

"Is that what the letter says? Last time I checked I was second best. Yay for me," Julian smiled.

Julian's unplaceable accent was beginning to grow on the debutante. Julian saw his charms working and decided to press home.

"So, walking around in the bush and shooting innocent animals is your thing too?"

"They're not so innocent if they're up in a tree hunting you, ready to pounce, are they?"

"Ah, you
were
listening to my story."

"How could I not? The entire ballroom could hear you. Are we going hunting for leopards? They sound dangerous--but I like that. When do we leave? Oh, I have to go into New York and shop for stuff to wear and--wait, animals can smell blood, right?"

"Most can, yes. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nothing. I mean, there are thorn bushes and all that. I might get a cut, and, well, you know."

Julian smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that. It will be a few days before we're actually in the wilds of Africa." he said, looking at the young girl. He wanted to laugh but his task weighed heavy on his mind. All of eighteen. Already excited about going hunting. Walking straight into his--Van Meer's trap. He felt slightly eased by that mitigating fact. Better to kill a kid than to vex Van Meer. That should be the goddam family motto.

"We can buy most of what you need in Cape Town. Not all of Africa is Jungle, you know." Julian wanted to go and get this over with as soon as possible.

"Do they have stores with mosquito repellant in Cape Town?" Karen asked innocently.

Julian stared into his bourbon and wished he had the heart to laugh at this child.

"I'm sure we will find one," he replied quietly.

Karen may have been groomed since birth as the heiress to a gargantuan company, however she was still an eighteen year old girl going on safari for the first time. Julian, not wanting to play daddy lest she resent him, let her have as much of the free champagne and sushi in first class that she could take. Karen became quite talkative and had a million questions about guns and stalking prey and what to do once the animal was dead, trophies and such. Julian humored her and kept reminding himself that this was not a junket with some girl whose pants he wanted to get into but a job, a mission--one that would end in Karen's death. Julian was not attached and he did all he could to prevent that from happening. Still, Karen would say something once in a while that would make him want to laugh and it was all he could do not to grab her and kiss her on the forehead.

Munching on a piece of raw salmon dressed with caviar, Karen queried, "Wouldn't it be easier to kill a lion, or any other animal, during mating season? I mean, you know, shoot them when they're fucking? Wouldn't that be a sure thing? And two for one, too." She waited for his answer wide-eyed.

One of the passengers behind them cleared his throat.

Julian explained about the regulations on hunting seasons for various game animals to her in his most professorial tone, just to keep from doubling up. After a while the champagne took its toll and Karen drifted off to sleep, her head coming to rest on his shoulder after a minute or two. Not having the heart to wake her and fit her with the complimentary neck pillow, he leaned back in his seat and thought about what Van Meer would do to him if he went soft and began falling for this quirky girl. Van Meer would make sure that he was permanently soft after that. Julian had seen Van Meer slice off a man's balls once, when he was about Karen's age. No one ever really thinks of the Dutch Mafia, but in Julian's experience, no other criminal organization could compare when it came to sheer brutality.

Karen began snoring. She even snored cutely. Dammit! Julian ordered a triple shot of whiskey, downed it, then shut his eyes. He had to get this done quickly.

******

After the bustle at the airport and the shopping that Karen had to do for "Jungle Gear" as she called it, they boarded a twin engine Beechcraft at a local single-runway airport and were on their way north to the hunting grounds.

"Oh, we're not taking a Land Rover or something? I thought safaris were all about Land Rovers." Karen spoke as they boarded the four-seater aircraft."

"Your father insisted we go in style." Julian answered. Actually, James made a point of as little land travel as possible. He didn't want them being attacked by wild animals on the ground as much as possible. Julian was just happy they would get to their camp quickly. The pilot, a good friend of Julian's was hesitant to fly them to an area Julian hadn't hunted in much. Julian jerked a thumb at Karen and said something in one of the local dialects that could be roughly translated as "insistent brat" as he rubbed his fingers together. The pilot smiled and shook his head.

Almost as soon as the wheels were up, Karen's forehead was glued to the window and she asked him about every single thing she saw.

"What are all those?" she tugged at Julian's sleeve.

"Ah, the vast herds of wildebeest. They gather in the hundreds of thousands--safety in numbers and all that. They stretch all the way to the horizon, if you'll notice."