Doc's Place

Chapter 18 | Part 4

Monday, October 15, 1984

"Are we in danger?" asks Lloyd, looking about as I drive swiftly through the streets, watching the mirrors as I make turns.

"Doesn't look like it."

"That guy jumped you? What did you do?"

"What do you think?"

"Well, you didn't call security, which is what I would have done."

"Security has him on tape following me into the women's room. By now, they've turned the guy over to the police, who will have me identified in about ten minutes."

"What are we going to do now?"

"Go to the airport. I'll call the police from there. Put that license away, Lloyd." Watch her do it.

We pull into short-term parking and walk inside the airport. While Lloyd checks the gate number, I use the pay phone to call the Reno PD front desk, give her my name and ask for the detective on duty. She takes the number of the pay phone and tells me to stand by.

"Did you call the police?" asks Lloyd.

"Yes. What's the gate number?"

"B4. Well?"

The phone rings and I pick it up. "Yeah."

"Thought you were recuperating. Why are you at an airport pay phone?"

"Hi Don. Lloyd and I are picking up a friend and then we'll head home."

"Fuck did you do this time?"

"Guy jumped me in the john at the Flamingo a few minutes ago."

"Dead?"

"Nah but he needs medical attention. Let Tony know how it goes, okay?"

"Tony George? Salt Lake federal field office? Why would I do that?"

"Hired `im to run security for me. He'll check in with you soon."

"No shit. You hired away an active federal agent. Son of a bitch."

"Anyway, I don't want a patrol picking me up for questioning, okay?"

"I'm on it. You need protection right now?"

"Not sure. You know any plainclothes at the airport?"

"Indeed I do. Guy used to be on the job—sharp. I'll call `im. Do you want him to introduce himself or just hang back and watch?"

"Stay close but don't draw attention. Flight arrives at nine, B4."

The line goes dead so I hang up and begin walking toward the concourses. "Stay close, Lloyd. Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? Not really. I don't know what's going on, Jill."

"I'll explain at the gate." Hand the Buick keys to her as we approach the security check. Scoot right through since I have no metal and watch as Lloyd moves through with a few others. No one seems interested in us, other than the usual booty check.

When we arrive, we find a dozen or so people doing what we are doing, awaiting arrivals. Across the concourse from B4 is a wall near a banister leading downstairs for ground crew access. We lean against the wall where we have a clear view of the gate without standing in the crowd.

"So, Lloyd, would you rather ask questions or listen to an explanation?"

"Both. Start with the guy who jumped you in the Flamingo restroom."

"You saw him get up and follow me, right?"

"Yes. What happened in there?"

"He rushed me from behind, so I disabled him."

She looks at me. "Disabled him?"

"Yes."

"Like you know kung fu or something like that?"

"Like that, yes."

"You went through his wallet?"

"Tony will use the driver's license to ID the guy."

"Why did he jump you?"

Glance at her, frown and then go back to watching the area.

"Okay, I know you don't know why. Why do you think he jumped you?"

Hope he's working for the fat man in the green-and-white Hawaiian shirt, trying to intimidate me into giving the man's money back. To which I say, don't play poker with money you can't afford to lose. It's a big ocean and you never know when a killer may join the fray. If he's more than that, then I want Tony to trace him back to whoever sent him so I can run him down and rip out his jugular with my teeth.

"I don't have enough information, Lloyd."

"I know that tone, Jill. You're being patient with me because you want me to learn. Why didn't you call security at the Flamingo? Why did we leave so quickly? Why are you constantly looking around?"

"Associate the following facts, Lloyd. A, I was shot ten days ago. B, I'm creating an entire company to provide, among other things, security for me, my home and my businesses. C, a few minutes ago, I was jumped by a semi-pro. D, I just requested protection until we can pick up Sara and get to a more secure location. No more questions for now, okay?"

"Okay." She turns and looks at the gate.

A slightly overweight guy who looks like a retired surfer approaches. He's dressed in black shoes, grey slacks, white shirt, tie and a blue blazer with a radio on his belt. He's packing a handgun concealed in a shoulder holster. "Jill Price?"

"And my associate, Lloyd Dominguez."

He opens his wallet to show me his airport security identification. "Jeff Stiles." He offers his hand and I shake it firmly. "Your party arrives at nine, this gate?"

"Yes, a woman."

"My partner and I will hang back and escort you to your vehicle once your party arrives, Jill." He glances over his shoulder at a similarly dressed but older black man looking around. "When it's convenient, hand me her baggage claim ticket. Just pull to the curb and we'll toss the bags in the trunk."

"Will do. Thanks, Jeff."

He gives me a reassuring smile and returns to his partner for a moment. Taking a position on the other side of the concourse, he speaks briefly into his radio unit and then watches. Minutes later, Don Locaccio and a stocky blonde woman stroll by, chatting merrily, ignoring us. They are dressed in street clothes but are packing under their jackets. They sit across the concourse from B4 and continue their conversation. Occasionally, one of them laughs.

The flight is announced. An airline rep opens the door and stands aside. A few minutes later, a Douglas-Convair pulls to the gate, its engines winding down.

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 18 | Part 4
Late Winter 2010

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 have formed a secondary group from which I may also post comments.

Doug :

At least we know Mic is somewhat capable of developing action, but I have to question why in the hell all these details are necessary.

Lucia :

Now I remember why we tossed you out. Alice, kick his ass.

Alice :

Where does one begin?

Doug :

Ha-ha, tres subtil. Face it, Alice. You and I pulled off the ploy of the year on these yokels and you will be forever in my debt.

Suze :

Gawd, how long do we have to put up with Doug preening himself? Lucia, can't you exert some control over this braying ass?

Lucia :

Talk about something of interest to the group, Doug.

Doug :

Okay. Lupita asked Ume, her parents, Marcus and Lenora to arrange a marriage for her before she turns 25.

Lupita :

You asshole! I told you that in confidence and you swore never to tell.

Doug :

30 or so of your closest friends, Lupita. Oh, I forgot about those hundred supplicants in Bengaluru and about this being on the Internet.

Lupita :

I'll never trust you with anything again, you jerk.

Doug :

Oh, get over yourself. No one thinks less of you for it. Besides, it's retro and cool, don't you think, everybody?

Maria :

Why did you do that, Lupita?

Lupita :

It's because I don't care whom I marry, I have to marry someone and those people have my best interest at heart. Ooh, I"ll never forgive you, Doug.

Annie :

Out of curiosity, why would you tell a superficial party boy like Doug about such a personal matter?

Lupita :

Doug graciously consents to serve as my escort at formal social functions now and then. I need someone handsome, graceful, witty, charming, harmless, shallow and stupid. Doug is perfect, but I should have accepted Ume's offer to arrange an escort for me.

Doug :

Sam and your parents love me. You and I are like brother and sister, Lupita.

Lupita :

You would bring Sam into this, you bastardrat. Sam calls Doug his adopted brother. I know. You continue as my escort, but I forbid anyone in my family to tell you anything in confidence.

Doug :

Last time I stopped by to pick you up, you were talking with friends in China over Skype. Sam took me into your bedroom and showed me your diary. It's sweet how much you value our friendship, Lupita. I know I do.

Lupita :

That is enough. You're no longer funny.

Maria :

I'm still fuzzy on why you would choose an arranged marriage, Lupita. You say you don't care, but you will sleep with this man you marry every night for the rest of your life. You will bear his children.

Lupita :

It's not that I do not care whether my future husband comes home to our bed every night or whether he will make a wonderful father, because I do, Maria. I do not care to sift through the candidates, suffer through the selection process and then order the background checks and so on. The people I have asked to serve on my selection committee love me, care about me and want the best for me. I have every confidence that they will do a perfect job of finding me a wonderful man.

Annie :

You act as if you're screening candidates for a job, Lupita. What about love?

Lupita :

I am filling a job—a critically important one—my husband and the father of my children. If these people nominate him, I will probably approve of him. I will also love him.

Lucia :

So, you're saying you're too busy, too focused on your career, to fall in love with a man and marry him? Forgive me for saying so, Lupita, but even though these people certainly love you, they do not know your heart.

Lupita :

They know my mind because I have told them what I want, what I love, what I hate and what I need. I left nothing out, nothing to chance. Furthermore, they have 10yrs, although I believe they will have him ready by the time I turn 18 because the process is going smoothly and quickly. They have arranged for us to meet `by accident' this year or next so that we can begin our courtship. 2.5yrs is an adequate time for a courtship, don't you think? Meanwhile, I'm dating boys my age and slightly older whom I meet socially. I'm enjoying the experience of being a teenager.

Lucia :

Yes, I do think 2 or 3yrs is adequate. Knowing the selection committee, I believe they will choose wisely and well. You may even find that this is the man of your dreams, Lupita. What if you come to regret it?

Lupita :

Divorce rates in this country hover around 50%, Lucia. You know this. I hardly think I could do worse using a selection committee of people who love me and have my best interests at heart. Besides, all of the people on my selection committee have remained married to the partner they love all their lives. Do you think you can do better?

Lucia :

Probably not. You may be right, Lupita. However, I could never concede such an important decision to anyone.

Lupita :

Good luck, girl. By your own admission, you plan to use appearance as a primary criterion. You're taking a terrible risk at 50% odds. You could end up with someone like Doug, for instance.

Doug :

Hey now, that's hitting below the belt. I may be supremely attractive but that doesn't make me a bad candidate as a husband and father. Wait, what am I saying? I retract that.

Benny :

Perhaps we do not understand because we don't know your objective, which you said you know. What is your objective, Lupita?

Lupita :

I knew you were brilliant, Benny. I must be ready to rule the world any day now.

Benny :

That explains it. Drop it, Lucia. She knows what she's doing. You were right, Alice. I am outclassed—by light years.

Annie :

Wait. I thought Amalie would be ruling the world. Amalie is the next Sara. Oh, of course, I get it now.

Lucia :

Get what? I don't understand.

Benny :

Amalie is the next Sara. Meet the next Ume.

Lucia :

Lupita, you're replacing Ume?

Lupita :

You don't think a 3rd-generation Mexican-American chica can do the job?

Lucia :

Omygod, yes, I do. You can and will do it. In fact, you are the perfect woman for the job.

Raj :

Is our signed poster on the way, Your Highness?

Lupita :

Cut that shit out, Raj, and don't worry. I sent the poster.

Raj :

Thank you, Lupita. All of us in the Bengaluru group, myself included, consider you perfect for this position and responsibility.

Lucia :

So, who is the lucky guy? When do we get to meet him?

Lupita :

I have to meet him, Lucia. I'll let you know.

Jules :

What's the China connection, Your Majesty? Why has a Mexican American chica like you been so interested in China from such a young age?

Lupita :

Julesie, do not tempt my displeasure. Nothing lasts forever. Once the USA has eroded its own foundations beyond recovery, which population mass is the next up for superpower status, Jules?

Jules :

Makes sense. I feel a lot better knowing you'll be running things, Lupita.

Carlo :

We know the next Sara and the next Ume. We also know the next Donna Esteban, and a bloodthirsty vampire he is. Hey, Amalie, what's the name of the woman currently running Midori?

Amalie :

Keiko

Carlo :

Lucia, let's get some more women in the group, as soon as possible.

Lucia :

Working on it. Don't you want to keep the group's number of men and women equal?

Carlo :

Screw that. We're looking for the next Keiko, the next Lizzie and so on. This group needs more women—the younger, the better.