Aphrodisiac (29 page)

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TWENTY-SEVEN

I put down the phone, cursing myself for failing to push the record button. Not that he confessed to anything. Should I call the police? Or would sending them in be a death sentence for Benita? If I called that detective and accused Curtis of murdering Mr. Fellows would they take the Monster in for questioning? Then let him go? And whether they held him or not, would his posse reward me with Benita’s dead body?

The thought popped in my head that she might not be the only person Curtis had moved in on. I frantically punched in my mother’s number. To my relief, Mom sounded fine, but she started right in questioning me about my date with the rich and famous Alan Grossman. Every mother’s dream. My latest fears around Alan’s possible connection to Gwen’s murder made it hard for me to enthuse about him convincingly. Not to mention Benita being in Curtis’s hands and my three a.m. deadline that could end both our lives.

I pretended to have a crisis call from a client, signed off and phoned my brother. Steven answered his cell backstage. He worked as a costume designer for an all-male theater company. There was plenty of ambient chatter. I even heard an actor complain that his dress cut in too much around his waist. Couldn’t get much safer than that.

At Lana’s house I got only voice mail. Same with her cell. I didn’t like that. I tried to keep myself level, reminding myself Lana had loads of friends and several boyfriends and was from a generation that didn’t believe people should go through life with cell phones growing out of their ears. I’d try her again later.

I went into Benita’s room where Uncle Pete rested in his cage. Stroking a finger along his black feathers, I said, “Don’t you worry, Petey. I’m going to bring Binnie back home. I promise.”

“I like doggy style!”

“Yes, Uncle Pete. We all do.” After giving him some food pellets, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything since the hors d’oeuvres at the art gallery. I had no appetite, but decided some coffee might be a good idea. Especially since the wall clock read 10:05.

Five hours to figure a way out of this mess. I had to think of
something
.

I went to the kitchen, filled the coffee maker and chose an old mug that said “Can Do.” To stave off my hysteria, I rushed around the loft, closing the blinds and checking locks. Finally I flopped down in a club chair with my coffee and put my head in my hands. Too bad I wasted my time calling the Monster an asshole instead of getting him to spill out some clues about where they were holding Binnie.

My cell rang. I jumped, nearly toppling my coffee. I grabbed the phone off the end table, hoping it was Lana returning my call. Caller ID told me it was Eldridge.

He sounded so solid and comforting. I couldn’t resist telling him about Fellows, Benita and my impending deadline, although I made a point of holding back on the details. No way I’d give him the time and place of the final meeting, or else he’d show up there. Perhaps it was wrong of me to have aroused his protective warrior spirit while holding back on the particulars. But how else could I stop this wild man from getting himself killed?

“I agree with not going to the cops,” he said. “But I can handle Bardarson. Which is why you’re gonna tell me where and when this shit’s going down. ”

“Forget it, Eldridge. Curtis warned me if anyone—hear me,
anyone
—comes with me, he’ll shoot Benita. And this is a guy who obviously enjoys killing as if it were a game of pool.”

“There won’t be anybody with you. Because you’re not going. I am.”

“Look, Eldridge, you’ve been a lifesaver so far, and I thank you. But I’m the one Gwen chose to see this through. And with two people dead, another severely beaten, Benita captured and my family threatened, I refuse to add you to that list. It’s better if I handle this alone.”

“How’s one tiny female going to turn the tide on Curtis and company?”

“Let’s leave my being tiny out of this.”

“We both know what you’re capable of getting into when you’re on the loose,” he said, a sassy smile in his tone. “You need me.”

“Believe me, Eldridge, you have no idea what I’m capable of.” I thought about Gwen’s perfume and what I did to the men at Capricia’s gathering.

“I’m taking over from here, Saylor, and you can’t stop me. End of story. Now as to the main event. Where and when?” Typical male. He wasn’t listening.

But I wasn’t listening to him either. I was thinking of Gwen and why she used her genius to recreate Inanna’s special perfume—a perfume that exponentially amplified the most powerful weapon women have always had over men. Would it work tonight?

“I have to go.” I closed my cell. Seconds later as if on cue, came my ring tone and Eldridge’s number in the tiny window. The Mace-Man wouldn’t give up that easily. It made no difference. I wasn’t answering this time.

I went to my bedroom, changed into shorts and tee and dug around in my dresser drawer for the Tinkerbell jewelry box. Sitting on my bed, I examined Gwen’s perfume bottles and asked myself, should I, or shouldn’t I? Was the delicate mixture sealed within their intricate glass casings to be my saving grace?

I had experienced the amazing capabilities of Heaven’s Daughter, and there was no doubt as to the possibilities. However, what about the variables? As in all chemical trials, conditions meant everything and tonight’s were hardly conducive for flicking the “on” switch to Innana’s elixir. Anxiety inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system that controls our initial sexual responses. And Tim said the perfume required stimulated female pheromones in order to work.

I was in no mood for seduction. My three o’clock confrontation with Curtis and his boys had my knees shaking. Maybe I could just think about having sex last night with Eldridge to get my pheromones going. Or find something appealing about Curtis. Urgh. Pukey. But if I could get the Monster to act like Alan and Chip did two days ago at Capricia’s house, it would be worth it.

The sound of my front door’s tumbler lock jolted me. I sprang from the bed and grabbed a pair of scissors. From the living room I heard, “Saylor? Is that you?”

Aunt Lana. I ran to the living room and hugged her. “I’m so glad your safe. You didn’t answer your phone when I called you in East Hampton.”

“Never mind me,” she said, squeezing me tight. “You’re the one I’m worried about.” She released me with a meaningful look. I checked my watch. 11:37. Three and a half hours before my appointment under the bridge.

After listening to my news about Benita and the three a.m. deadline, my aunt heaved a long sigh and sank onto the loveseat. “It’s time to give the name of that horrible Curtis to the police. Let them track him down.”

I paced back and forth in front of her. “And find what? An address in Hoboken that’s six years out of date? The guy wheels around with dummy plates. There’s not a thing about him that’s legitimate. Maybe he doesn’t even use the name of Bardarson anymore. Everything he does is calculated. Face it. By the time the cops locate Curtis, it’ll be way too late.”

I could see Lana fighting to conceal the anguish in her face as I continued. “The other thing is, Curtis is not acting alone. I didn’t want to tell you this, but two men tried to kill me out on Long Island. Whoever’s running this operation will continue as planned with or without him. This fiend called Chub Dubs wants Gwen’s tablet at all costs.”

“What about that sexy boxer who’s been trying to play bodyguard. Can he help?”

“He wants to. But Eldridge can be a little over the top when it comes to confrontation. And one boxer is no match for this hit man and his team. Sure Eldridge is tough. And smart. He could probably take out three of Curtis’s guys and not give a damn if he got himself knocked off in the process. He has a kamikaze streak a mile wide. But this is something I have to do alone. No way can I allow Eldridge to put his life on the line for me. There’s already been…” My voice cracked. I told her about Mr. Fellows.

My aunt patted the spot next to her on the loveseat. I curled beside her, grateful to accept the nurturing she always gave me when I was upset. She reached her arm around me and began stroking my back. “You’re a gutsy little lady with a big heart, and I respect your courageous attitude. But why not simply get the police to follow you?”

“If these murdering bastards suspect anything or see a patrol car, they’ll kill Binnie.”

“Actually, I picture more of a plain clothes operation. Undercover. You saw
The Departed.
”

“Right now that title is not extremely comforting. Not to mention images of Leonardo getting blown away.” I tugged at my hair in frustration. “I also find it hard to believe the police would bring out their undercover crew based on one woman’s telephone report. Later is when I’ll need the cops. At first I have to play along until I can make sure Binnie is all right. Then, once the creepos see we’ve complied, that would be a good time to put the bust on them. Except no one will know where we are, dammit.” I tossed a throw pillow across the room.

“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” rang out. Lana saw the trepidation in my eyes and quickly snatched up my cell phone. “Lana Klein here. Who’s calling, please?” Pause. “Are you in trouble? Has anyone threatened you? Hold on.” She covered the receiver with her palm and whispered, “It’s Benita’s mother. She’s all right, but sounds very agitated. Says she has an urgent message for you. From Oshun?”

I shook my head vehemently. Inez would hear in my unsteady voice that I was concealing something, and I couldn’t bear telling her about Benita. “You take it,” I mouthed silently.

“Saylor’s in the shower,” Lana said into the phone. “I can give her your message. Do you remember me? Yes, Saylor’s aunt.” Pause. “I’ll make sure she gets it. Yes, I promise.” After hanging up, my aunt turned to me. “Oshun?”

“My Santeria guardian saint.”

“I see. Well, Inez said Oshun sends a warning of extreme danger for you and your ‘sister’ and advises you to cling to the daughter.”

The daughter. Heaven’s Daughter? Hearing this confirmed my decision to wear it tonight. I said to Lana, “I know this might sound ridiculous, but I’m going to wear Gwen’s perfume when I meet up with Curtis and his posse. I think it’s my best—and only—shot.”

Her lips made an O. “Interesting concept, but you’ll be taking a big chance.”

Rising out of my seat, I leaned over my aunt and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. “Aunt Lanny,” I said, resorting to my old childhood name for her, “of all the people I ever knew, you more than anyone believes in the power of woman.”

“Without question.”

“Then we should trust in Heaven’s Daughter.”

Lana shifted into mother mode, found out I hadn’t eaten dinner and insisted I at least down some scrambled eggs and toast.

I sat at the kitchen island forcing myself to eat. “Just makes me so mad. After all we went through we still don’t have anything solid linking this mysterious boss to Gwen’s murder.”

“I almost forgot.” Lana pulled something out of her overnight bag and placed it in my hand. “You do have a tablet now.”

In my palm sat a little brown wafer of baked clay etched with markings. I looked at her and smiled. “You cooked this up for me in your pottery kiln, didn’t you?”

She nodded. “I think it’s pretty close to the ancient tablets I saw on the Internet.”

“As long as the person examining it can’t tell that these chicken scratches aren’t real cuneiform. Maybe it’ll buy me some time. Thanks.”

Lana tried to keep me busy cleaning up the kitchen with her. She talked about a new client, pretending to need my advice. But I couldn’t keep up the facade. “Lana, just tell me I…”

She grasped my hands. “Those macho jerks aren’t as clever as you, Saylor. You’ll find a way to beat them. I’m certain of it.”

I went to my room and studied Gwen’s poem for any clue I might have missed. No revelations. Searched the net on Capricia, Schumacher, Lady Viv, Darryl, Bardarson, Alan, stolen artifacts, aphrodisiac perfumes, etc. until I was seeing cross-eyed.

Next I examined anything I had of Gwen’s. Things Darryl sent or stuff she’d given me. Nada. I bent over my dresser staring at an old photo of Gwen and me at age fourteen. We’d gone to Macy’s for free makeovers that day, tried every perfume sampler in the joint, and revealed our secret crushes while sharing a booth in the ladies’ fitting room. Could she really be gone forever?

Were Benita and I next? Would our lives be over by morning?

The clock read 1:20. Confused and frightened, I rushed out to the living room where Aunt Lana was resting in a club chair. I sat on a hassock facing her. “Am I a fool not to call in the police right now? Except, if Curtis kills Binnie because of it, I’d just as soon be dead.”

“What about tracking Benita’s cell phone?” Lana said. “And yours?”

“The GPS coordinates. Great idea. I’m so stressed over all this crap I completely forgot about that. Except, if the cops mess up or give themselves away, Curtis will kill both of us.”

Lana rested her hand on mine. “We won’t let that happen. We’ll make it clear to the police that we have a touchy hostage situation.”

“Of course, great minds think alike, and that includes vicious scumbags. They’ve probably already ditched Binnie’s phone. In which case, you make the call after I leave. Give me enough time to infiltrate with my phone before they frisk me down.”

“Maybe you could hide it in your panties.”

“Are you serious? That’s the first place they’ll look.”

I took a long hot shower, which made me sleepy, so I tossed on my bathrobe and downed one more cup of java.

At 2:15 Lana joined me in my bedroom where we examined each bottle from the Tinkerbell box to choose the one I’d use tonight.

“I think maybe this 1923 glass flacon of Femme Divine,” I said.

Lana agreed. “How apt.”

Of course it wasn’t Femme Divine in the bottle, but Heaven’s Daughter. I could picture Gwen filling each of these lovely bottles with her perfume and imagined her excitement knowing she’d actually deciphered Inanna’s secret formula. I doubt my cherished friend expected to lose her life for it.

“Guess it’s time,” I said, slipping out of my robe.