Body Bags & Blarney (21 page)

Vivienne
reached deep within herself and performed the healing ritual. Her magic slowly
pulled the poison gases from her blood and released them harmlessly into the
air.

Alexis
suddenly chocked and gasped for air as she came around. “Johnny?” She croaked
hoarsely. “Where’s Johnny?”

“He’s here.”
Vivienne replied, not wanting to upset her as the sound of sirens drew closer
to where they were sitting on the cold snow-covered ground. “Just breathe
normally.”

Alexis opened
her eyes weakly. “Who are you?”

“Vivienne
Finch.” She took hold of her hand and concentrated with all her might to jump
into her memory and discover the truth. “Tell me what happened.”

The woodlands
around them swirled away as the light faded to black. Vivienne felt her stomach
knot up as she jumped into the young girl’s memory. Suddenly, she found herself
riding in the luxuriously-appointed black Escalade with Johnny Guido at the
wheel.

“Hey babe, why
are you acting so nervous?” He asked.

Vivienne found
it best to remain passive in this instance, letting the exact course of events
unravel just as Alexis had experienced them. In such a state, she could observe
the event from a detached viewpoint, not locked into one body. But, she would
be unable to control the memory or gleam further information as needed. It was
a drawback at times, but she found this version of her power the easiest to
control.

“I’m fine.”
Alexis answered.

“No you’re
not.” Johnny put his right hand on her upper thigh and massaged it roughly.
“You’re all tense. I can feel it.”

Alexis pushed
his hand away from her leg. “You don’t know anything about me, Johnny.”

Johnny glared
at her, his red-tinted sunglasses reflecting her image in the lenses. “Oh
really?” He took a sharp turn and accelerated down a country road.

“I’ve been
waiting a week for you to introduce me to some of the fashion designers you
said you knew.” Alexis whined. “I’m starting to think that you just said that
to get me into bed with you.”

“But we
haven’t been in bed together, babe.” Johnny replied in a calm voice. “So you
can’t really argue that point.”

“I’m tired of
this crappy little town and all the ignorant people that live here.” Alexis
yelled at him. “I want to live somewhere with an actual nightlife. Where people
wear Versace and Prada, not whatever the Old Navy Outlet has on a buy one, get
one free special for the week.”

“I can’t move
you into my parent’s home because they’re very cautious about outsiders.” He
tried to reason. “I told you that.”

“Then get your
own place so we can live together.” She argued back. “For God’s sake, Johnny,
you’re twenty-two years old now.”

“I won’t get
the trust fund money until I’m thirty.” He replied and turned a sharp corner.
“That’s why I’m helping those guys with the jewelry thing.” He looked into the
rearview mirror and admired his reflection. “With the money I’m going to make
with my cut, I’ll have my own place by the end of the month.”

Alexis took a
deep breath. “Your stunt with that cost me my job with Kathy, and if you don’t
follow through with your promise I’m going to end up with nothing.”

“You went into
this with me as a partner.” Johnny reminded her. “You’re the one who gave me
the key to get into her store.”

“I still don’t
understand the deal with that.” Alexis replied. “Why are these guys stealing
fake jewelry?”

“Because it’s
not fake.”

Alexis gasped.
“What do you mean?”

Johnny
accelerated down a long stretch of road, passing a slow-moving farm vehicle
that was making its way along the shoulder. “It was real gems put into cheap
settings.”

“I still don’t
get why.”

“Because, all
the gems are stolen goods from their ring of thieves around the country. They
can’t sell them right away because of the police reports and descriptions
floating around. But, if they put them in costume jewelry settings and send
them out in display cases they can wait things out without anyone being the
wiser.” Johnny explained.

“Oh my God.”
Alexis smiled. “That’s genius.”

“So the real
jewels sit in store display cases, the customers place orders and get the
actual cheap stuff they ordered.” Johnny finished. “When they are ready for the
real jewels, they just call up the stores and request the display cases
returned so they can replace them with an exciting new lineup for their loyal
customers.”

“Then they get
the actual jewels back safe and sound and sell them?”

“Now you’re
getting it.” Johnny smiled.

“So, how do
you fit into this picture?” Alexis asked.

“I met them at
a club in South Beach about a year ago. Over drinks, we discovered we each had
a plan for the future but neither had the ability to make it happen. They had
the muscle and the connections to make the plan happen, I had the money to get
them started.”

“I thought you
didn’t get your trust fund until you turned thirty?” Alexis interrupted.

“I don’t, but
these guys only needed a hundred thousand to get their plan going. I had that
sitting in my fun money savings account.”

“A hundred
thousand dollars for fun money?” Alexis smiled. “I can’t imagine what that
would be like.”

“Stick with
me, babe. Tonight, I’m going to get triple my investment back from this little
adventure.”

“Oh, wow.”
Alexis wrapped her left arm around Johnny’s shoulders. “That changes everything
then.” She giggled. “So when exactly do you get your money?”

“That’s where
we’re going now.” He replied back. “There was a slight problem when we went to
swap out a display case of fakes for the real thing inside her store. Kathy had
taken one of the necklaces for herself to wear and hadn’t returned it. My
friend said it was a rather expensive jewel, worth over a million dollars.”

Alexis
whistled in admiration. “So can I ask you a question?”

“What’s that?”
Johnny asked.

“Why did you
guys smash the place up and make it look like a robbery?”

“Because they
needed her to report the robbery to the home office. They would ask her if
everything was stolen and when she reported she still had the one necklace,
they would instruct her to send it back as soon as possible so that a
replacement display case could be sent out at once.”

“Did she do
it?” Alexis asked.

“Sure did.”
Johnny slowed down as they neared the community park at the edge of the lake.
“It didn’t go as smooth as I hoped, but the guys were happy with my performance
and I’m getting my share of the deal today.”

He pulled into
the lot where a solitary black van was waiting at the edge of the parking area
by the woods. “There they are.”

“Have you met
them before?” Alexis asked. “That van looks kind of creepy.”

“Sure, back in
South Beach. They’re cool.”

“Let’s just
get this over with as quick as possible.” Alexis said cryptically as they
pulled up next to the van and parked. “Where’s your security guard?”

“I only hired
him for the party that night.” Johnny confessed. “I can’t bankroll a salary for
a full-time guy just yet.”

“Oh, that’s
just great.” Alexis rolled her eyes.

“Relax, babe.”
Johnny turned off the vehicle and slipped the keys into his pocket. “This isn’t
like some low life drug deal.”

“I hope not.”
Alexis replied. “Can I wait in here?”

“Are you
scared?” He mocked her.

“Just go and get
it over with.” She ordered.

Johnny stepped
out of the Escalade as the van doors opened. Two figures, both dressed in dark
blue hoodies flanked him. “Hey guys, I’m glad we can finish this deal and start
planning the new one.”

Alexis watched
from the passenger seat as the deal began. She tried to remain calm, but she
kept bumping her right knee against the glove compartment nervously.

“You were
supposed to come alone.” One of the men said.

“That’s
Alexis, she was the one who helped with the party at the store.” Johnny turned
back and waved to her. “Don’t worry. She’s cool.”

“You were
supposed to be alone.” The other hooded figure replied.

Johnny raised
his hands up in the air. “I didn’t think bringing her along was such a big
deal. I’m sorry, man.”

“What do we do
now?” One of the hooded figures asked.

“Get her out
of there.” The other figure spoke with no emotion.

Alexis lowered
the passenger window just enough to speak through. “Johnny? What’s going on?”

“Come on out,
babe. They want to make sure you don’t have any weapons or are wearing a wire
or something.” He looked nervously at the pair. “Isn’t that right?”

Alexis
activated the power door locks. “I’m not coming out.”

The hooded
figure nearest the car grabbed the handle and yanked it roughly. “Open the
door.” He demanded.

“No.” Alexis
refused and closed the window in his face.

“Babe, don’t
act like a child. Just open the door so they can make sure everything is cool
and we can leave with the money.”

“Open the
door, Alexis.” The hooded figure tugged at the handle again.

“I’m not
coming out.” She yelled back. “Tell them to give you the money and go.”

“That’s not
the deal.” The hooded figure nearest Johnny spoke up.

Johnny began
to step away from the hooded figure. “Look man, we don’t want any trouble. Honest.
I don’t know why she’s acting like this.”

“Stay where
you are.” The hooded figure ordered. “Give me your keys.”

“No problem,
man.” Johnny nervously replied and reached into his pocket.

“Johnny.”
Alexis screamed in frustration. She began to frantically search inside her
purse. “I’m calling the police.”

“Babe, don’t
do that.” Johnny pleaded as he handed the keys to the hooded figure. “Here are
the keys.”

The figure
pressed the key fob and popped the door locks. Alexis screamed again and
manually forced the lock closed, using her palm to keep it down.

Johnny shook
his head. “You guys are scaring the crap out of her.”

The figure
pressed the key fob once more and popped the locks, but Alexis was too quick
with her response. “No.” She screamed back. “I’m definitely calling the police
now.”

“I’ve had
enough of this.” The hooded figure near Johnny reached out with his left hand
and wiggled his fingers.

Johnny cried
out in terror as his limbs went stiff and he began to float upwards above the pavement.
“What the hell are you doing to me?” He choked out, coughing and sputtering.

“Get her out
of there however you have to.” The hooded figure who had now raised Johnny
helplessly about two feet off the ground spoke sharply to his partner. “We’re
running out of time to cast the next part of the ritual.”

The other
figure threw back his hood to reveal a bald headed man that Vivienne recognized
immediately as the one who had helped Harriet with the microphone trouble
during the meeting and also ended up injured with Pastor Kilpatrick. He
clenched his hands into fists and raised them slowly, revealing a chain
bracelet on his arm that sported a multi-headed serpent design.

The black SUV
began to rise up off the ground, which caused Alexis to panic and scream like a
mad woman. She held tight to the lock as the vehicle floated a few feet off the
ground and then hovered.

The bald
headed man smiled at her. “Open the locks, Alexis. So we can be friends.”

She shook her
head and screamed again in terror.

“Don’t toy
with her.” The hooded figure warned. “Just get her out of there.”

“As you
command.” The bald man replied and quickly turned his wrists around.

The vehicle
spun wildly, like some kind of crazy carnival ride, throwing Alexis off her
balance. With her hands removed from the lock control, the passenger door flew
open and she dropped to the pavement with a thud.

“Alexis.”
Johnny tried to scream, but his voice was weakened, as if something were
clasping his throat.

The bald man
grabbed Alexis by the ankles and pulled her into his grip. She opened her mouth
to scream, but he covered her mouth with a free hand.

The hooded
figure pointed at her. “Enough of this. Be still.”

Alexis’ body
went rigid.

“A paralysis
spell.” The bald man commented. “Nicely cast.”

The Escalade
dropped to the ground suddenly as Johnny was spun around to face the hooded
figure who kept him suspended in mid-air. “Please don’t kill me. My parents
have money. They’ll pay you whatever you want.” He began to cry, tears
streaming down his face.

“We don’t care
about the money.” The hooded figure replied with no emotion what-so-ever. “We
only care about the ritual.”