Round N Around We Go (Has Cupid Gone Mad?) (9 page)

“Well, as a consolation for you
Taylor, my man disappeared and
died on me. I will never forget
how cruel the entire ordeal was.
Mind you, he truly loves me but
shutting me out from his painful
fight against leukemia was the
only way he knew how to deal
with it. So, as unfair as things
may seem, people love in
different ways. Just because
Ivan sent you on a ninety days
hiatus does not mean that he
doesn’t love you, maybe it’s the
only way he knows how! Think
about it.”

Taylor refocuses on the crisis
on hand and changes the subject
of the conversation. She looks
at her watch in fear and
announces that ten minutes have
already passed.

Almost fifteen minutes have
passed and Conrad is still
nowhere in sight. “Karina, we
should call 911 now. I’m very
serious. Something is terribly
wrong, we need to call now.”

Just as Conrad has instructed,
Karina dials 911 and tells the
operator
that
they
have
overheard
multiple
gunshots
firing inside the location and
that people are screaming inside
the condo. She exaggerates the
hysteria and urges them to hurry
then hastily hangs up.

“Great.” Karina ignites the
engine of her car and moves to
the opposite side of the road,
“I just lied to the authorities.
I’ll be in so much trouble. This
is serious!”
Taylor puts her hand on Karina’s
arm and squeezes it firmly,
“Trouble? Let’s hope that Amber
and
Conrad
are
safe
and
unharmed!”

Within minutes, they see two
police cars with silent sirens
pulling
up
outside
Neyo’s
building. Two cops storm into
the building and the other two
remain outside to stand guard.

“Shouldn’t everyone be coming
out already? What’s taking so
long?” Overwhelmed with anxiety,
Karina begins to chew on her
fingernails.

Feeling distressed and lost
within the chaos, Taylor shares
Karina’s panic and begins to
babble, “Oh my God, is that an
ambulance pulling up?” Turning
pale as paper, Taylor watches
the ambulance park behind the
second police car. Karina gasps
loudly as she watches the
paramedics climb out from the
back of the ambulance and rush
into the building carrying two
folded stretchers.
“Oh no!” Karina mumbles and gets
out of the car.

Taylor watches her walk over to
the police and follows her,
“Wait for me!”

One of the cops sees them and
attempts to
stop them from
entering the scene. “Ma’am, you
can’t go in there right now. Do
you live here?” He questions
them.

“No,” Karina looks at the
entrance of the building and
wonders where everyone is, “but
our
friends
are
in
the
building.”

As the cop tries to make them
back away, they see Neyo cuffed
and taken into custody. There is
blood on his face and he appears
beaten
up,
infuriated
and
uncooperative. They watch the
policeman shoves him onto the
back seat of the second police
car.

Taylor gasps and holds on firmly
to Karina’s hand. “Where are
Amber and Conrad?” She questions
the cop. “Where are they?”

More onlookers
gather behind
them and curiously stare at the
building, gossiping and assuming
stories from their imagination.
Preoccupied with the commotion,
the cop busies himself and tries
to clear the parameter.

Karina is the first to see a
stretcher coming out of the
building. “Conrad!” she screams,
rushes past the cop and runs
over to her injured friend. His
white shirt is covered with
blood and Karina can see
multiple
stab wounds on his
chest. “Oh my God!” She exclaims
as the cops pull her back. She
watches the paramedics move his
stretcher into the ambulance and
turns around to see the second
stretcher coming out of the
building.

Taylor
breaks
through
the
blockade and rushes over to find
Amber lying motionlessly yet
awake on the stretcher. “Amber?”
Taylor grabs onto Amber’s arm
and
squeezes
it
firmly.
Ridiculously still, Amber is not
reacting at all.

She
walks
alongside
the
paramedic and demands for an
answer.
“Why
is
she
not
responding?” She nudges him for
answers. Disregarding the tears
rolling down her cheeks, the
paramedic pushes his way through
and ignores her. “But what’s
wrong with her? Her eyes are
wide open but she’s not moving,
she’s not talking, please tell
me what’s wrong!”

“Miss, I really don’t know and I
can’t tell you. Our job is to
take these two people to the
hospital as quickly as possible
and you are in our way!”

Having spent nearly six hours at
the police station answering
redundant questions regarding
the Amber case, Taylor and
Karina are eager to head home.
Having truthfully answered all
the questions, they impatiently
await the officer to type up the
report.

Exhausted and in need of
caffeine, Karina scouts for a
soda machine in the unending
maze of the police station.
Walking past rows and rows of
little cubicles, she realizes
that everyone is preoccupied
with their tasks and nobody
seems to care that she is
wandering around and getting
lost within their facility.

Taylor continues staring blankly
into the empty space in front of
her. She misses Ivan but
refrains from calling him back.
It’s a silly game, a lover’s
quarrel, and it’s about who
gives in to call first. She is
determined not to be the one who
bends. After all, he is the one
who has sent her away; calling
him would imply submission to
his over controlling ways. She
can’t help comparing notes on
how differently Conrad loves
Amber and is saddened.

Karina miraculously finds her
way back to the desk and puts
down two cans of Coke Zero and
an assortment
of unhealthy
snacks. Opening and devouring a
bag of Cheetos, she watches the
police officer walk back to his
desk.

“I think you girls will be happy
to know this,” The officer
begins unemotionally. “We just
heard from the hospital, Conrad
Fallen is out of surgery and is
monitored in the ICU. Amber
Winters was injected with high
dosages
of Katamine, which
explains why she was conscious
but temporarily paralyzed. The
drug has worn off and she is
fine now. They say she will be
discharged after a twenty fours
observation, you can visit her
later if you’d like.” Seeing no
interruption from the girls, he
continues.
“And, your story
checks out. Neyo
St Pierre
probably stole the Ketamine from
his doctor who was treating him
for his bipolar depression. He’s
being charged for kidnapping and
three counts of assault.”
He
closes the folder and finally
shows a faint smile. “Well, I
guess we’ll take it from here.
Thank
you
both
for
the
cooperation.”

He hands them each a business
card and reserves the right for
further questioning.

Karina looks at Taylor on the
steps
outside
the
police
station. “Taylor, I think I aged
ten years since this morning.
I’m exhausted and am dying for a
shower but I think we should pay
Amber a visit first. She needs
us there.”

Wholeheartedly
agreeing
with
Karina’s suggestion, they head
over to the hospital to visit
Amber and Conrad.
Still in shock and far too weak
to do anything, Amber appears
distressed and prefers not to
speak. Barely audible, she holds
their hands feebly and thanks
them for coming to her rescue.

Seeing Amber lying helplessly on
the hospital bed, Taylor tries
to soothe her by stroking her
hair and comforting her. “You’re
welcome.” She smiles warmly,
“But it weren’t just us, if it
wasn’t for Conrad, things would
have turned out miserably. He’s
a hero and definitely a keeper.”

Amber tries to speak a little
louder, “I know.” She smiles
weakly and begins to drift off.

Karina sighs, “Poor thing. God
knows what Neyo did to her. I’m
just thankful that we got to her
on time.”

Sympathizing with the ordeal
that Amber has been through,
Taylor
suggests
brilliantly,
“You know what, I think I’ll
stay the night at Taylor’s condo
and tidy things up. I’ll pick
her up tomorrow and bring her
home to a nice home cooked meal.
Why don’t you meet us at Amber’s
place for dinner tomorrow night
at eight o’clock, it will be a
nice chance for us to get
together. I will stay and take
care of her until Conrad comes
out of the ICU and fully
recovers.”

Karina supports her idea and
drops her off at Taylor’s condo
before heading home.

Energy depleted, Karina is glad
to be home. She fills her
bathtub with warm water and
sprinkles in some therapeutic
salt. Eagerly she steps out of
her dress and slips into the
inviting waters to enjoy a long
rejuvenating soak.

Soothed by the serenity of the
moment, she closes her eyes and
begins to drift. Falling into a
deep sleep in the tub, she
dreams that Alex is waving at
her. “Karina.” She hears him
mumble. “I’m here!” He calls out
to her softly. In her sleep,
slowly and gradually she sinks
lower and lower into the waters
of the tub until submerged.
Taking in a breath of water
through her nostrils, she wakes
abruptly and springs up to gasp
for air.

Choking and stunned by the loud
buzz of the intercom, she grabs
onto the sides of the tub and
quivers.

The buzz of the intercom
continues to annoy
her. She
steps out of the tub, wraps an
oversized towel around her and
rushes to the intercom. Not
expecting visitors, she answers
impolitely, “Who’s this?”

“It’s Anthony Risso, Theo’s
son.” He answers through the
intercom.

Karina is not looking forward
for company but reluctantly lets
him in. Expediently she steps
into a casual knit dress in
floral print and answers him at
the door.

“Hi Tony, I wasn’t expecting
anyone, sorry about the wet hair
and messy look.” Karina laughs
and shows him in.

Tony makes himself comfortable
and sits on the sofa. Watching
her dry her hair with a towel,
he apologizes for the intrusion.
“Sorry
to
disturb
you
unannounced but I couldn’t wait
until the morning.”

Karina freezes and fixates a
stare into his eyes. She begins
to look worried again and speaks
weakly. “I’m sorry, it has been
a long trying day. Is everything
ok?” She sits on the couch next
to time and looks at him with
exhausted eyes.

The exhausting day seems to be
unending and she is not ready
for more bad news. She slouches
into the couch and leans back,
staring into the ceiling above
her, she begins slowly, “Please
do not tell me that something
has happened to Theodore.” She
pauses and bites her lower lips.
“Please don’t tell me that.” All
of a sudden her world seems to
implode. She feels desiccated,
utterly dry and unable to shed
another tear.

Silence fills the loft and for
minutes that feel like eternity,
nobody is able to mutter a word
as both sit inertly still.

“I don’t believe a word they
say.” Tony breaks the silence.
“Papa is one of the strongest
man I know, he is healthier than
everyone add together. He has
never had a heart problem and I
refuse to believe that it is
possible for him to pass away
with a heart attack in the
middle of nowhere.”

Karina feels helpless and cannot
answer. She waits for Tony to
speak again.

“And what was he doing in
Brescia?” He uncovers his face
and stares at her. “We don’t
have any family or friends
there; he has never been there
either. Heck, there aren’t even
art galleries there. It’s unlike
him to be unreachable for weeks
just to take a vacation in a
small town in Italy, far away
from everything and then just
die of a heart attack in the
middle of nowhere with nobody
around?” Tony looks at Karina
and
studies
her
lack
of
reaction. “I’m not buying it.”

Karina’s thoughts ponder and she
recalls Keith’s last words at
the gallery. Finding the story
suspicious, she renders
it
difficult
to
believe
the
scenario either.

She sits up slowly and turns her
head towards him. Weakly she
asks, “How did you find out?”

Tony bends his head and stares
onto the floor. “The Polizia
found his hotel room and
passport, traced down our family
in Florence and my uncle called
me this afternoon.”

Assuming that Keith is not lying
about his theory of the ‘trail’
then perhaps Theo’s death is
unnatural
and
manipulated.
However without evidence, she
does not want to burden Tony
with any careless assumptions.
Nothing seems to make sense to
her anymore and she feels
exceedingly overwhelmed to think
rationally. There is only so
much sadness that she can handle
in this lifetime.

“I’m sorry Tony. My condolences.
Where will you bury your father,
here or in Italy?”

“In Florence.” Tony sits up and
is prepared to leave. “I’ll let
you know about the arrangements.
I do know that his assets here
in the U.S will be liquidated
here of course, and I already
know that he has instructed his
attorney to include you in his
will. He told me that before.
Everything within the walls of
the gallery now belongs to you.
You’ll hear it from his attorney
in a few days.” Tony stands up
and looks at Karina with the
saddest expression on his face.

Karina pulls
herself
up and
steps forward to give Tony a
heartfelt embrace. She has all
the respect for Theodore, his
mentor, his extended family. She
loves him more than she loves
her real father and the pain of
losing is just too much for her
to endure.

She walks him to the door and
before he leaves, he turns
around and embraces her tightly.
“Karina, we need to stay in
touch. Just because my father’s
body no longer exists in this
world does not mean that our
connection has to cease. I would
like to become closer friends
with you than we have before, if
that is alright with you.” He
looks into her saddened eyes.

“Of course Tony. I know that
Theodore would like that very
much.” She smiles and chokes
beneath her words. “I’m not sure
on how I can possibly get used
to living without him. This is
going to be difficult.” Reality
finally sinks in and she tries
to accept the truth, “Both men I
love have died. I feel so alone
Tony.” Tears finally flood her
eyes as emotions surge.

“We’ll help
each other go
through this together.” Tony
kisses her on both cheeks. “It’s
the sad reality that we must
face. It will be difficult, but
we’ll have to learn to cope with
it. Besides, papa believes in
reincarnation. He will come back
to this world in another form.”
He begins to tear as well and
slowly manages to stop crying.
“Goodnight Karina, I’ll call you
tomorrow.”

She closes the door behind him
and sits on the floor. Leaning
against the door, she begins to
sob uncontrollably. There has
been so much sadness in her life
and she wonders if happiness
will ever return to her.

Memories of Theodore flood into
her mind. She recollects how
they have met and how he has
helped her become who she is
today. Without him, she may not
have
survived
the
darkest
moments
when she lost her
deceased boyfriend Alex. Now
both of them have passed away.

She recalls how he has taught
her to paint and showed her
everything that she needs to
learn. She remembers the jokes
that he cracks and small things
he does to cheer her up on a
gloomy day.

She thinks of how he has left
hastily and the unsolved mystery
of the anciently old canvas. She
remembers the envelope that he
has left her with.

The envelope! She stares into
nothingness and remembers his
words, “When time comes you’ll
know to open this envelope.”
Perhaps Theodore anticipates his
own death? Karina stands up and
walks to her closest. Standing
on tip toes, she pulls out a
shoebox on the top of the shelf
and opens the lid. Picking up
the envelope she puts back the
box and sits on the bed.

Cautiously and nervously she
opens the envelope to find a
single sheet of paper. On the
paper is his hand writing:

“Way above my head.
Everyone is dead.
Inside 585-393-585
Are Treasures We Must Hide.”
Astounded, she stares at the
ceiling blankly and tries to
comprehend why he would leave

Wary of the bizarreness of the
situation, she now knows that
Theodore has anticipated his own
death and is being cautious. He
wants her to find something but
is reluctant to be specific. The
answer is only for her to know.

She understands that she must
solve the riddle on her own and
must not disclose the findings
to anyone, not even to Tony.

Utterly distracted and unable to
focus on work, Karina elects to
stay at home and tries to solve
the riddle. She simply cannot
comprehend
the
underlying
meaning behind it all
and
wonders what he means by ‘way
over his head.’
The hours slip unnoticeably and
feeling famished, she remembers
that Taylor has asked her to
join them for dinner and drives
over to Amber’s place.