Doc's Place

Chapter 8 | Part 3

Wednesday, October 3, 1984

Carlos leans his ass against my drafting table when I walk into my office. "You okay, Jill?" he asks.

"The feds will want to keep this quiet, Carlos. Don't make it a big deal," I say, sitting in my chair and pulling the phone to me.

"How do you feel?"

"Feel? What do you mean, feel?"

"You've just experienced a terrible trauma. You must feel something," says Carlos.

Blink at him, pick up the receiver and glance at a number I jotted yesterday. "Get out, Carlos," I tell him. "I have work to do."

He lifts his palms slightly and leaves.

The national historical foundation is an extremely conservative outfit. That said, the people they have answering their phones are seasoned researchers who know their subject matter.

The researcher who answers my call is not helpful at first. She says that usually, they reject unsolicited offers, especially time-sensitive ones like this one. However, she agrees that Nevada-style casino gaming is reaching a historical milestone with the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of Doc's Place.

Remind her that I am a historical researcher with material published in the foundation magazine in 1978. She is surprised so I also tell her that my research in communication was published in an academic journal last year and provide the reference. This seems to make a difference so I add that I will be running this project personally.

She agrees to place the publication plan in her immediate review folder. She also asks that I provide curricula vitae, as well as personal references. Finally, she requires approval from the highest executive level of Doc's Place.

Tell her that, since Ferro owns Doc's Place, the approval will come from a Ferro executive, and provide Peter's name and number. She says she will contact Mr. Marriott herself. Tell her that the proposal, addressed to her attention, will arrive via mail within a few days. She agrees to watch for it.

Make similar calls to industry publication review groups, some private and some associated with universities in Chicago, New York and Florida. All anticipate the series, especially since the prestigious foundation is interested. Wonder if I have to tell Peter that the foundation may call when the phone rings.

"Jill baby," says Stephanie.

"Stephanie, nice of you to call."

"Reminding you about the conference call in Louise' office in ten minutes."

"Thanks," I tell her. "While I have you, Stephanie, does Peter realize that the foundation and publication review groups may call for approval?"

"Oh, the peer review and national historical foundation?"

"Yes."

"None have called yet, Jill, but I'll remind him when they do call," she says. "Peter hasn't discussed it in any of the regular calls that I've listened in on with Dick Scope or Carlos either.

"Hmm. Why does he talk with Carlos on a regular basis, Stephanie?"

"Oh, Carlos works directly for Peter, just as you do. Didn't Peter tell you?"

"No, he didn't."

"These boys and their games," she says. After a pause, she adds, "Peter has moved his game-playing to a different level since he met you, Jill."

"Someone told me that just yesterday, Stephanie," I tell her.

"You stay ahead of `em, girl. Remember that meeting in a few minutes."

"Roger that." Hang up and visit the bathroom. By the time I walk into Louise's office, the phone is ringing so I sit down without a word as Louise pushes the button for the speaker.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

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Doc's Place Chat
© 2008, Michel Grover.
Chapter 8 | Part 3
Summer 2008

Lucia :

Mic has posted in the left frame paragraphs from Doc's Place, one of his copyrighted stories. I'm moderating chat here in the right frame. I post every day, but I don't post everything. I will form a secondary group from which I may post comments.

Benny :

Couple questions if you don't mind, Carlos. How did you hear about the attack on Jill and what did you think after this little encounter with her?

Carlos :

Are you sure you want to read this, Benny? It's pretty ugly.

Maria :

We all do. Please, Carlos.

Carlos :

Okay. Don Locaccio called me before I left the house to inform me of the incident, just in case someone tried to finish the job at her work. Don read Jill's written statement to me over the phone wherein she described the attack and how she killed each of the 5 men. After Jill dismissed me, I had a busy morning handling several unrelated incidents out on the casino floor so frankly, I forgot about it. However, that evening after my wife and kids were asleep, I was watching late-night TV when I remembered it.

There I was, relaxed and warm on my couch, a drink in my hand and suddenly, I feel an icy trickle up my spine, my hair is standing on end and I'm so cold I'm shivering. My god, I thought, if 4 armed guys surprised me in the woods, I'd be sick for days from the trauma, even if I hadn't been wounded. 4 professional hit men! Each had an automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun with extra clips full of ammo. My hands began shaking so bad, I had to set down my drink and pull on a blanket.

Then I realized the full impact of what Don had told me. Crime scene had found all 5 guys—experienced, armed hitters—dead. The 3 in the woods were the worst: sliced up like so much meat, fresh kills so the critters and flies hadn't begun to gather yet, blood splatter everywhere, intestines and other guts still warm and oozing. Suddenly, I stood, walked to the kitchen sink and puked up dinner. My head felt light so I sat and hung my head between my knees, trying to breathe, trying to calm myself down. All of a sudden, I realize that I'm sobbing silently, my face in the kitchen towel. Felt exactly like Hué, that January morning in `68.

As I sat there, sick and blubbering like a baby from just imagining such an ordeal, I remembered Jill, strolling in, sitting in her chair and reaching for the phone like no big deal. At that moment, Benny, alone and in the dark, I realized what Jill Price was—a cold-blooded and efficient killer like no other I'd ever seen or heard of in my life. I started really sobbing then. Thought I was being silent until I felt my daughter wrapped her arm around my neck and my son crawled on to my lap. My wife and kids had seen me break down and sob like this several times. As I gathered my children into my arms, sobbing like a child myself, I wondered why I was reacting like this. Took me a couple days to figure it out.

I love Jill the way you love a comrade in arms, someone who is so competent, aware and powerful that you feel safe with her, as Stephanie put it. When I realize the person that I love is also a monster of proportions that I cannot even imagine, I feel weak and lost and sad.

Benny :

Thank you. I had an almost identical experience just a few nights ago, Carlos.

Maria :

Me too

Lucia :

I did too, especially the vomiting part.

Steph :

Years ago, right after I met Jill, it happened to me.

Lizzie :

Me too, years ago.

Carlos :

One weird feeling I have, though, is that I feel as though I ought to protect her against something. I don't know what. Ironic, since Jill is one of the most dangerous beings on the planet.

Lucia :

In a way, she's vulnerable.

Carlos :

You're right, Lucia. She's vulnerable in ways she cannot see or understand. I'm sorry, but can we change the subject?

Amalie :

Please forgive me, Carlos, but I too have vomited and wept as you described. I think I know what you and Lucia mean about Jill's vulnerability, but would you please explain it to me?

Carlos :

Don't know if I can, Amalie. I'm sure that people at Pere are concerned with Jill's security but I just want to tell them to watch out for her, please. Lucia, can you expand on this?

Lucia :

No, it's a vague dread that Jill won't be able to sense some threats. I don't know what. It's not evil or violence but a blind, stupid fear. I'm sorry, Amalie. That's the best I can do.

Amalie :

I understand, friends, because I feel the same way. It's foolish because as you said, Carlos, she is one of the most dangerous beings on the planet but I want to know that someone is watching over her. We can change the subject now.

Ian :

Let's discuss something superficial. You're shameless, Stephanie, the way you throw yourself at Jill.

Steph :

I know. I'm so hot for her that I can think of little else, and she just ignores hints. Had I realized that sooner, I just would have set something up but I was young and inexperienced with women.

Jules :

Anticipating that. When is it coming up in the story frame?

Steph :

A little over 3wks

Alice :

Honestly fellows, we just discussed this 2 days ago in story time.

Maria :

The guys aren't the only ones anticipating that rendezvous. I am too.

Alan :

What are you looking for, Maria? Tips on what to do in the sack?

Maria :

That's titillating, but no, I'm interested in how women relate to one another in sexually charged situations like this one coming up between Stephanie and Jill.

Cyril :

Applying the word titillating to sexually charged situations seems redundant.

Amalie :

I would think that sexually charged situations and their associated discussions occur frequently in any free society. After all, almost all of us are interested in sex for one reason or another, right?

Raj :

Amalie being profoundly right, as often.

Jules :

I for one enjoy listening in on any discussion among women about sexually charged situations. Hell, I bet even Marcus enjoys discussing sex.

Marcus :

I'm more interested in maintaining my comfortable routines than I am in discussing sex, which is less consistent and reliable at my age than when I was younger to be quite frank.

Carlo :

Carlos, do you know Peter and Jill are talking regularly at this point?

Carlos :

Nope. Jill tells me later.

Raj :

What being wrong with you're guys changing subjective when disgusting sex?

Carlo :

Palace intrigue, Raj. Like money and sports, politics are full of energy and so are almost as interesting as sex.

Carlos :

Speaking of intrigue, is there anything you care to share about Peter and his game playing, Stephanie?

Steph :

Jill is right about his changing. At this point instead of parrying or blunting assertive behavior in those who report to him, Peter is beginning to encourage such behavior. Before meeting Jill, it would anger him. After, he not only delights in it but encourages it.