Lady Boss (70 page)

Venus began to back up. ‘Martin, I don't care
what
you've got planned. I'm with Panther, period. OK?'

He didn't pursue the subject. Once he got Venus Maria alone he would educate her on the facts of life. If they were to be married, she would be an Orpheus star. No argument.

A waiter tapped Lucky on the shoulder. ‘Ms. Santangelo?'

‘Yes?'

‘I have a message from your father.'

She accepted a scrawled note from Gino.

You're on your own, kid. Paige and I have gone off to the Beverly Wilshire. Don't hold your breath. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow! P.S. You were right. I'm not as old as I thought!

Lucky grinned. Gino was back in action. Just where he belonged.

* * *

The cake was tremendous – so big it had to be wheeled in on its own special trolley.

As Venus blew out the candles, a naked boy burst through the top.

‘Oh my God!' she exclaimed. ‘Just what I always wanted!'

Hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling as twenty Brazilian dancers formed a conga line through the room.

Venus turned to Ron. ‘This is really amazing,' she said, hugging him.

‘A party to remember,' he replied. ‘From one old friend to another.'

They looked at each other, remembering the early days.

‘Thanks, Ron,' she said warmly. ‘I love you so much.'

And nobody noticed the man called Link slip in amongst the guests.

For all our sakes, we should hope that day never comes
. Deena thought about her words to Steven Berkeley and Jerry Myerson. How many months ago had she said them? And deep down had she ever imagined that the day would come?

Probably not. But it was here, and Deena wouldn't shirk the task that lay ahead of her.

She sat in the Ford outside Venus Maria's house, parked a few yards away. She knew the house was empty except for the housekeeper, who slept in the back. And she also knew what kind of alarm system there was, where the beams were located, and exactly what it took to trigger it off. The information she'd paid for had been very thorough.

Venus Maria… The girl's image danced in front of her eyes. A tramp. A little tramp. A bitch.
The
Bitch.

What did Martin see in her? He didn't love her, she merely represented sex. And Deena knew she had to save him from Venus Maria's venal clutches. When The Bitch arrived home she was going to take care of the problem forever. And nobody would ever suspect her. Deena was far too smart for that. Besides, as far as everyone was concerned she was asleep in her room at the health spa in Palm Springs. How could they possibly track her to Los Angeles?

Deena allowed her mind to drift back in time.

Fourteen… she'd been fourteen when she'd caught her father in bed with another woman…

* * *

Deena Akveld was a coltish-looking girl. She had a serious, pale face, long red hair, and lived for the weekends with her father. The two of them always went off together. Her father liked to hunt and fish, and since Deena was an only child and he'd never had a son, Rione Akveld took her everywhere with him. She could run like a boy. She could fish like a boy. She could shoot like a boy. Her father was proud of her.

Deena had even managed to remain flat-chested. Quite a feat when all the girls around her were sprouting breasts. She was proud of the fact that she was as strong and surefooted as any boy.

Rione Akveld ran a small inn outside of Amsterdam. It was a kick-off point for people who desired to go hunting and fishing. He gave his guests room and board, and supplied them with camping facilities.

When she wasn't in school, Deena helped around the inn. She made beds, did washing up, generally cleaned. It was not hard work. And as long as she had the weekends with her father to look forward to she was perfectly content.

On this particular weekend she'd been fourteen for just a month.

Her mother, who worked during the week as a translator at the American Embassy, arrived home tired. ‘You can't go with your father today,' she said. ‘You're to stay here and help me.'

Deena was crushed. It was a Sunday, their best day together. ‘But Daddy expects me to join him,' she cried.

‘Not today,' her mother repeated. ‘You will help me. There is plenty to do here.'

Deena was furious, but as the day progressed her mother began to feel a little better, and seeing that her daughter was so upset she finally gave permission for Deena to join her father in their one-room hunting lodge an hour away.

Deena thanked her mother, kissed her, hopped on her bicycle, and set off. She had several new jokes to tell her father. She'd heard them at school the previous week and remembered them for him. It was so nice when they were out in his boat – the sun shining and the breeze blowing – just the two of them alone together.

Deena was happy. Whistling to herself she rode her bicycle as fast as she could.

When she arrived at the lodge she was delighted to see her father's small black car parked outside. Good, he wasn't down at the lake without her.

She entered happily, ready to surprise him.

He was surprised, all right. He was naked in the centre of the bed, crouched over, his bare behind rutting up and down like a wild pig, and he was making horrible groaning noises.

For a moment Deena didn't understand. What was the matter with him ? Was he sick ?

And then she saw the woman spread out under him. A naked woman with huge breasts and a massive amount of pubic hair, her mouth wide open, making little sighing noises. ‘Oh, I love it. Give me more – more – more!'

Deena was perfectly calm. She picked up her father's hunting rifle which was propped next to the door.

Her father seemed to sense her presence, and moved off the woman just in time.

Deena fired the gun.

A bullet smashed into the woman's chest, killing her instantly. Deena scored a direct hit just as her father had taught her.

‘Oh, Jesus!' her father screamed, rushing towards her and knocking the rifle out of her grip. ‘What have you done? What in God's name have you done?'

Deena stared at him blankly. It had all happened so fast she wasn't sure what she'd done.

‘You killed her! You killed her!' her father yelled.

‘Can we go fishing?' she asked very quietly, very calm.

A while later when he got over his shock, her father sat her down and talked to her in a low, quiet voice. ‘You will tell nobody what happened here today, do you understand me? You will tell nobody, because if you do, they will put you in prison and throw away the key and you will never be free again.' He took her by the shoulders and shook her vigorously. ‘Deena, are you listening to me? Do you understand what I'm saying?'

Blankly she nodded. ‘Yes, Father. Can we go fishing?'

He shook his head in despair.

The woman in his bed was a hitchhiker he'd picked up earlier that day. Nobody had seen him with her. There was nothing to connect the two of them. He made Deena help him wrap her in the sheets until she was nothing more than a bundle of blood-soaked linen, then they wrapped the sheets in plastic, and placed the body in the trunk of his car.

When it was dark they took her down to the river. Her father weighted the body down with bricks, and finally they threw it in the cold, dark water.

‘This never happened,' her father said fiercely. ‘Do you understand me, Deena ? This never happened.'

‘Very well, Father,' she replied. ‘Can we go fishing tomorrow?'

‘Yes,' he said.

Neither of them had ever mentioned the incident again.

* * *

Deena could afford to be patient. She knew Venus Maria had to come home eventually.

And when she did, it would all be over.

Nobody crossed Deena Akveld.

Lennie prowled around the house a few times. He had no idea where Lucky was, nor where anybody else was for that matter. Even Miko had failed to appear. Some reunion!

He raided the fridge, discovering cold roast beef and potato salad which he wolfed down.

Now that he was back he couldn't wait to talk to Lucky. But it seemed he was going to have to.

He should have called and warned her he was on his way.

By eleven o'clock he was tired. He decided he'd do what she had done to him when she'd surprised him in New York. He entered their bedroom, stripped off his clothes, and got into bed. Before doing so, he removed the light bulb so she wouldn't be able to spot him when she came home. This way he'd certainly surprise her. She'd get into bed, and there he'd be!

He figured he'd lie down and close his eyes for a few moments, but before long he fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

Eventually it had to happen – Venus Maria spotted Emilio before Ron had been able to have him and his loud girlfriend removed. She stared at the offending couple across the room and really began to steam. ‘Ron. What the hell is
he
doing here? Get him out. And fast. He's a snivelling sneak. I never want to set eyes on his fat face again!'

Ron summoned two security guards, and pointed out Emilio and Rita.

‘Get rid of them discreetly,' he instructed the guards, which would have been OK if Emilio had any intention of going discreetly.

But no – this was not to be. ‘Get your hands off me!' Emilio yelled when, after trying to persuade him to leave politely, the two guards shifted into action.

People turned to observe.

‘Excuse me for a moment.' Suddenly Venus Maria jumped up from her table and marched over. She glared at her brother.

Rita gave her a futile little wave. ‘Hi, my name's Rita. Emilio said it was OK for us to come here tonight. I'm a big fan. I'm—'

Venus silenced her with a steely glare. ‘Emilio,' she said in a hard, cold voice. ‘Get the fuck out of my party. And do it now.'

‘Hey – little sis – what've I done?' he whined plaintively. ‘Nothin' so terrible, huh?' He added a hurt expression. ‘I'm your brother. We're family. It's like we should be close. In fact I think we—'

She hauled back and slapped him across the face. ‘That's for selling me out,' she said fiercely. ‘Goodbye, Emilio. Don't come back.'

Emilio snapped. Public humiliation was not for him. ‘Who the fuck do you think you're talkin' to?' he yelled, red in the face. ‘You ain't no big star to me. I know all about you – an' I'm gonna spit it out to the highest fuckin' bidder. So watch out, little sis – I'll get your high an' mighty ass. An' I'll get it good!'

Venus Maria turned her back on him. ‘Take him away,' she ordered the guards.

They attempted to grab Emilio, but he shook them off. ‘I can
walk
outta here,' he said harshly. ‘But that don't mean I won't be back.'

‘Well,' commented Ron, watching Emilio depart, a pathetic Rita trailing behind. ‘I guess that takes care of
him.
' He gestured to the watching guests. ‘Let the party continue.' Then he turned to Venus Maria. ‘Are you all right?'

She nodded. ‘Hey – one less brother to worry about. He's history.'

* * *

Lucky, Cooper, Venus, and Martin all left the party at the same time. Ron escorted them to the door.

‘You really pulled this off,' Venus Maria said affectionately, throwing her arms around his neck. ‘And my presents – what an amazing haul. I can't wait to rip 'em open!'

‘Come by in the morning and we'll do it together,' Ron suggested, dying to take a look at her gifts.

‘Don't you
dare
touch anything. I know you!'

‘As if I would!'

‘Honestly! It was the best night of my life, Ron. I had the greatest time!'

Lucky agreed. ‘Fantastic party.'

‘Apart from Emilio,' Ron said with a grimace.

‘Forget it,' Venus Maria shook her head. ‘He's nothing.'

‘I notice it didn't take your father long to get connected,' Cooper said dryly, looking at Lucky.

She smiled. ‘Ah… the great Gino. In the good old days his nickname was Gino the Ram! He's probably been connected more times than you, Cooper!'

Everyone laughed.

‘I do believe he was coming on to me earlier,' Venus Maria said. ‘He's got those sexy dark eyes. Wow! He sure must've been something when he was young.'

‘Oh yes,' Lucky agreed, nodding.

‘So, how are we doing this?' Cooper asked. ‘Maybe I'll take Martin. Lucky, you go with Venus. And Ron, you can end up with whomever you want.'

They all laughed again.

‘Seriously, though.' Cooper put his arm around Lucky's shoulders. ‘You're not driving back to the beach by yourself. I'll take you.'

‘I'm perfectly all right. I've got a car and driver somewhere.'

‘I
said
I'll take you,' Cooper repeated.

She felt particularly vulnerable. And there was something about Cooper…

‘Well… as long as you don't expect me to ask you in for coffee.'

‘What is it with all you women lately? I take Venus home, she tells me nothing's going to happen. Now I escort you, and before we're even in the car you're giving me the same speech! Have I lost my touch or what?'

‘I'm a married woman.'

‘Yeah, I can really see your husband around all the time.'

‘That's not the way it is.'

‘So I'll drive you home. Nothing's going to happen.'

Once upon a time plenty would have happened. Cooper was an incredibly attractive man. But Lennie was still on her mind.