Deadly Donations VII
My name is Henry James and I’m a writer for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Conclusion
I’ve never been one of those people who’s great at planning surprises. I’m just not smart enough to deal with all those intricate twists and turns designed to throw the unsuspecting recipient off track.
I’m more of a happy birthday, here’s your gift certificate, order what you want to eat, see ya around, kind of guy.
But if you’d seen the look on Sunny’s face when I showed up at that elevator folks you would have given me an award for best surprise of the year.
Cash is preferable.
The penthouse was about four times the size of my one bed room apartment.
“Wow.”
“Henry, you can’t be here.”
I walked over to a set of double French doors and pulled them open. The balcony patio was bigger than my apartment kitchen and living room put together. I would have stepped out but at some point during our elevator ride Mother Nature decided it was time for a bunch of rain. I closed the doors and turned to face Sunny.
“Wow.”
“Will you stop it with the wow James. Again, you can’t be here.”
“Well I am and I’m not leaving till you level with me and tell me what in the hell is going on. Although after speaking with Rick I’m pretty much up to speed.”
Sunny pulled her sun bonnet off and Frisbee tossed it on one of the three couches in the living area then stepped into the kitchen.
“What do you want to drink?”
“Water’s fine. I think I’ve had my allotment of soda for the rest of the week.”
I chose a rather comfy looking overstuffed chair next to a coffee table, pulled my pistol from the small of my back and placed it on the table.
When she stepped into the living area she stopped. In her hands she was holding two bottles of water, but the only thing she was looking at was the pistol.
“A gun James? You brought a pistol? Are you freaking crazy? Do you want to get us both killed?”
“The way I hear it, you’re messing with some serious shit here Sunny. From what Rick tells me these mercenaries wouldn’t think twice about putting a bullet in your brain.”
“Right, and the minute they do the money vanishes and they know it.”
“Sonny, what the hell are you doing? What are you trying to prove? Doing a story like this on your own can get you killed. You’re smarter than that.”
“You don’t know a damned thing about me James.”
I slowly shook my head. From this point on I had no choice but to pull the rug out from under her. I knew damned well she wasn’t going to like it one bit.
“Sunny, I know more than you think. I know your father built a pharmaceutical empire before he passed away. I know about the fifty million dollars your family transferred to the bank here in Pierceton. And I know you talked Damen into backing your play on this sting you’re running. Your mother even told me about the time you wrote an expose when you were in ninth grade.”
For several seconds Sunny simply stared at me. I watched the muscles in her jaws clench and knew she was gritting her teeth. Was it Shakespeare who wrote Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?
Didn’t really matter who wrote it. I was about to be on the receiving end of that fury.
“You talked to my mother James? And Damen? How fucking dare you. You had no right stepping your white ass into my family’s personal business.”
“Sunny…”
“My personal life is none of your business. None of your goddamned business.”
“Sunny…”
“What James?”
“Sit down and shut the fuck up for a minute.”
“What did you just say to me?”
“You want me to repeat it I will. And I’ll keep saying it until you sit down and listen to what I have to say.”
“You can be such a stubborn asshole at times old man.”
I thought back to a conversation I’d had with Rick recently.
“Yeah, so I’ve been told. Now come on Shaundrika, sit down and let’s get this out in the open.”
She perched on the edge of the couch near her sun bonnet then stretched across the coffee table and handed me a bottle. As I opened my water I studied her. The way she was sitting on the edge, her legs crossed at the ankles and tucked back against the couch reminded me of my conversation with her mother. It was amazing how much they resembled each other.
“Okay listen. The only reason I’m here is because you went off the reservation and did something Rick asked you not to do…”
“Henry it’s a damn good story. Rick didn’t…”
I raised my hand to cut her off.
“Hang on let me finish.”
I watched her take a sip and waited a full three count to ensure she wasn’t going to chime in again.
“He shut you down because he was trying to look out for your ass.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but that’s not the point Sunny. The point is this was your story until you put yourself in the middle of it. Just like what happened to me on the Baxter Huntley story now it’s your turn.”
“Another by line?”
“Not this time dear. This time you’re the player.”
“That’s a crock of shit Henry. This is my story.”
“Not anymore and don’t be thinking the fact Alexander Investments owns Dark Sides you’re going to get any leverage there. The way I hear it the minute your family starts trying to throw their weight around Rick walks. I suspect if he does I will too.”
I was expecting this last bit of info to send her blowing through the roof of the penthouse. Instead she shifted her water to her left hand and with a dainty swipe of an index finger began to stroke the bottom of her eyes.
“I didn’t want you to think…to think…”
“What, that your family bought the magazine so you’d have someplace to publish your shit?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I did at first, but your mother set me straight. You’re a writer Sunny and a damned good one. Although if it ever gets out I said this I’ll deny it emphatically.”
I watched her chuckle and continue to dab at her eyes.
“So what’s the play here Alexander?”
“Okay listen…”
The sound of someone knocking on the penthouse doors cut Sunny short.
“Shit! What time is it?”
I looked at my wristwatch.
“Seven thirty why?”
“Henry you’ve got to hide. That’s doctor Kim Lee Chung. He’s the broker I met today. I’ll tell you later but you’ve got to disappear now!”
“Where? Bathroom? A closet maybe?”
“No, his bodyguards will look there. Just a minute!”
I grabbed my pistol and stuck it in the waistband of my jeans. I watched Sunny frantically scan her surroundings. Then she stopped and focused on the French doors.
“Oh hell no. It’s raining cats and fucking dogs out there.”
“Henry just do it. A little water’s not going to hurt. Besides you probably take a bath once a week anyway. My guess is you’re past due.”
Sunny grabbed the tail of my shirt and dragged me toward the balcony doors.
“Coming!”
She pushed me onto the balcony, then closed the doors. I heard the lock click into place. Yeah, it was definitely raining. In less than two minutes I was completely soaked.
I stepped to the parapet farthest from the door and pressed myself against the wall hoping to ward off sheets of rain coating me from head to toe. Then I just sat in the corner, wrapped my arms around my knees and put my head down.
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.
READ ON DEADLY DONATIONS CONCLUSION
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