Falling into the Arms of Morpheus

By Keith Daniels Delaney

Besides hit records and sold-out concerts, some people in the rock music game use a another way to make a killing in the business: murder.

A popular headliner, Violette Trend, is led by a one-time runaway Marie Lindeaux, who delights concert goers with her amazing talents at packed stadiums everywhere. One of the bands silent partners, Kevy Stokes, is a corrupt underground drug operator who sends his big guns after a successful rock journalist, Sagan Hunter, whose claim to fame was writing a spin article that put the band on the map but who is now drinking heavily. Sagan is coerced by a federal agent to be used as bait in a trap set for Kevy Stokes before the evil silent partner uses murder to get ahead of the game.

Next on his hit list is the captivating starlet herself, Marie. Kevy figures if he can get her killed, the flood of headlines will create enough uproar to take the spotlight off of him. Sagan, whos fallen in love with Marie, tries to keep her out of Kevys reach, but she slips away. After learning of Kevys evil plan that is already in place for the girls murder, Sagan runs from both sides of the law to try and save her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514449172

Keith Daniels Delaney

Keith Daniels Delaney is the pen name for Daniel Flakes, who builds and maintains large-scale databases and develops web-based reports for a major firm. He was born in San Diego, California, but since his father was a career officer in the US Navy, he has lived in several places across the United States, including his birthplace, Fort Worth in Texas, Albuquerque in New Mexico, the twin cities Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota, and the New York City area. He has lived across the harbor in Bayonne, New Jersey, but mostly in the Washington Square neighborhood in Manhattan and in the forgotten borough of Staten Island. His mother is a devout playwright and director who directed plays in Stockholm and started the Source Foundation theater group in New York. Like his mother, Keith Daniels Delaney has a deep passion for writing. Currently, he lives with his wife and daughter north of the San Fernando Valley, outside of Los Angeles.

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Copyright © 2016 by Daniel Flakes.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 01/06/2016

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Contents

Prologue—Springtime in the Caves

(narrated by Sagan)

Chapter 1—Stars over Interlaken

(narrated by Margaret)

Chapter 2—The Innocent and the Weak

(narrated by Sagan)

Chapter 3—Eye of the Storm

(narrated by Margaret)

Chapter 4—Waterfall of Indecision

(narrated by Sagan)

Chapter 5—Silence in the Big City

(narrated by Marie)

Chapter 6—The Sun Rises from the West

(narrated by Margaret)

Chapter 7—The Moon on the Tropical Sands

(narrated by Sagan)

Chapter 8—Paris on the Horizon

(narrated by Marie)

Chapter 9—Shadows of the Mind

(narrated by Sagan)

Chapter 10—So Many Roads, So Many Twists

(narrated by Marie)

Chapter 11—When Sparrows Fall

(narrated by Margaret)

Chapter 12—The Last Dance of Death

(narrated by Sagan)

Epilogue—The Tides of Time

(narrated by Sagan

dedicated in loving memory of my father,

Cmdr. Donald Lewis Flakes, US Navy

PROLOGUE

Springtime in the Caves

(narrated by Sagan)

a motel on Sunset Boulevard, late morning

I could swear the Scotch bottle had eyes and it was staring right at me!

Only a few feet away from me was a liquor cabinet made out of old, cracked wood. I sat on the edge of the bed with trembling hands, and I took in an occasional gasp of air to fight my urge to reach over and grab the palm-sized bottle that was wrapped in gold and blood red paper. Many others were all lined up neatly on metal trays and were filled with whiskey, rum or whatever other kind of poisons I could imagine. For a few very long seconds, I kept still with an eye on that one bottle, even as I just couldn’t breathe any longer. After I flinched a little on the edge of the bed, I forced myself to turn my head and look away.

Tons of roaches were scrambling along the cracks of the stale wallpaper. There were no curtains in the window and a simple pull-down shade was the thing that kept most of the light from getting into the dismal motel room. Everything stank like disgusting mildew. I started shaking my head and even my feet started to quiver when I started to think of the better days. I used to get the red carpet services at the finest hotels. I had all the money. I had women falling over me. I once had it all!

After I jumped up from the bed and leaned over to the liquor cabinet, my mind went blank as I clutched the paper-wrapped bottle with my sweaty hand. My fingers started to anxiously loosen the seal from its neck, and I knew I had to let go of any and every thought in my head before I could take the first sip. After I gave up trying to take the seal off slowly, I just ripped off it off completely with a burst of energy but instead of pulling off its cap, I quickly stepped back a little until the back of my calf thumped the bed. With one mighty throw I chucked the bottle into the cabinet and all of the fully loaded trays collapsed as shattered bits of glass flew everywhere. As liquids of all color splashed on the dirty carpet. In no time, the stench of booze saturated the air right when the last echo of crushing metal bounced off the walls.

Then, my ears rang very loud even though silence occupied the room. As I sat back on the bed, I had a few seconds to unwind a little but that was when I burst out into laughter. More than a minute passed by before I had a chance to take a good breath in, and that was when I quickly plugged up my nose with two of my fingers — the smell of alcohol was making me sick to my stomach. During three more minutes or so, I pressed my hand against my nose and my mouth and breathed as little as possible. When I could feel myself starting to choke, I had to take my fingers away from my face and that’s when I started to laugh even harder. But, right at that moment, somebody pounded on the door with three heavy thumps that shook even the floor, like thunder raging from a nearby storm. I leaped up from the edge of the bed and after moving a little to the side, I stumbled backwards towards a corner of the room to get as far away from the door as possible. When I hit the wall with my shoulders and the cheap and all too ordinary icebox with my foot, I fell down and landed on my knees.

As the taste of panic sank into the back of my throat, I reached into the pocket of my jean jacket and squeezed a bottle cap it until its sharp edges cut into my palms. I stared straight at the door as I heard nothing for a less than a second, before somebody actually started calling my name from one of the other corners of the room with an eerie voice that sounded familiar to me. A gentleman’s voice that was howling in slow and absurd syllables, uttering words washed in a firm New York accent. Yo, Sage! What’s the matter with you?! How about answering the friggin’ door and facing the music already?!

I buried my face into the carpet, and screamed at the top of my lungs as I squeezed the bottle cap in my pocket even harder. Go away! Leave me alone!

The gentleman’s voice started yelling at me right as the knocking on the door resumed. Hey, is this any way to talk to one of your buddies?! What, you think I’m some kind of perfect stranger, or something. Jeez, it wasn’t that long ago that we last hung out! Remember? Last Thursday, in Washington Square? In case you’re having trouble figuring out who I am, this is Derek…okay, not the real Derek, but what difference does that make at a time like this?! I think you outta say something more to me, other than go away!

After the knocking stopped again, I lifted my head up and fixed my attention solely on the door again. I groaned while sweat was filling my eyes, Derek…or whoever you are…I should have kept my mouth shut, but now the one behind the door knows I’m here and probably thinks I’m crazy…since I’m really only talking to myself!

You’re about to die, so who cares?!

After I buried my face back on the carpet, I made a silent wish that whoever was pounding at the door would just leave. Not even ten seconds went by before the pounding started again. While holding my breath and arching my head back up very carefully, the voice of the invisible phantom person in the room started speaking. I don’t know what exactly those guys are gonna do once they break into the room, but I’m sure it won’t be long until you meet your maker! This is your doing. You know what?1 You deserve it! Because of you, a certain girl could be dead!

I stood up for a second, only to fall back down to the floor with my back against the wall. After the knocking on the door stopped for a few seconds, I looked up to the ceiling but closed my eyes right away. Several thoughts ran through my mind as I sat very still, and as I could hear my own heat beating.

The gentleman’s very calm voice resounded again after more knocks pounded the door. Okay, what was the reason why you flew all the way here, all the way to LA? Hey, I get it, you must’ve stumbled on something really big when you were digging up dirt for your last article, and you had a mission and you could only get things done here… or, then again, maybe not. The thing is, you really didn’t have to come all the way here from New York after all. There was no reason for this. You got enough dirt already. The truth is…You’re actually running away! You know that it is only a matter of time until the cops in New York go after you! Man, you should’ve thought twice before you took that first step inside that nightclub in Washington Square last week!

I stuck both of my fists over my eyes, as I screamed, Oh, God!! You’re right! It was exactly one week ago that my luck took that wrong turn…!

***

The Caves—a nightclub on Bleecker Street, late evening

I kept moving around in circles to keep away from the hell-raisers who were running about inside the crowded bar. My eyes were still not accustomed to the drab, bluish hues pouring down from various mirrors above me. A waitress in a skimpy leotard appeared right before me, and she spoke with teeth glistening from the tinted light. After she asked if I needed a drink, I shook my head and got away from her as quickly as I could.

Four of my friends were at the bar and because the PA was blasting loud music, they were practically shouting to each other. They wore plain jackets that fit so well with the bland, dark toned style that is common with New Yorkers. Two of them had very long hair. After a cheery, blonde woman behind the counter put down several glasses, my friends all moved back from the bar and each one took a turn to sprinkle salt on one of his hands, before reaching over to the counter and grabbing one of the shot glasses. Once they clicked their shot glasses for a toast, each one licked the salt on his fist and guzzled down tequila.

As they dropped the shot glasses back on the counter and reached over to pick up the half-cut limes from a tray, I turned away and fixed my attention on the air conditioning ducts in the ceiling that looked like part of a cave wall. Beads of sweat were starting to soak my forehead while I shivered. As I rubbed my eyes and slowly huffed for more air, I cringed after a heavy hand slapped my back. I turned around but all I could see was Vince’s long hair covering much of his face and the collar of his studded leather jacket. He started speaking to me, so casual like, while playing with his long bangs. Sage, man, what’s wrong with you?! You look like you’re about to have a heart attack or something!

After clearing my throat, I said to him, Why did you drag into this nightclub?! I feel like I’m beginning to spiral! Seeing everyone slugging down tequila shots over there…I’m going insane! I think I’m almost having a meltdown!

Vince grabbed my denim jacket and after he tugged it up a little, I could feel myself being pulled up in the air a little. He grunted, Relax! I know it’s kinda hard for you to keep a level head but in a few minutes, you’ll see why we talked you into coming to this place tonight. And, come on! It’s not like we’re dragging you over to the bar!

After pushing Vince’s hands off my collar, I said to him, Still, I shouldn’t be anywhere near this joint! I have a bad feeling that I might give in and order a shot for myself! I haven’t had a drink in over four months, and I wanna keep it that way!

Yeah, sure. But, you ain’t even published a thing all that time, either. All right, you did print that one article last month, but it wasn’t exactly your best work!

I took several steps back from Vince as I raised my hands in the air. I could feel my face turning red. That was cold!

Vince approached me with sorrow written all over his face. Hey, I didn’t mean anything bad, all right?! The tequila might be getting to me…and making me a little bent out of shape…but you are really flipping out on me, big time! I am just speaking the truth, you know. You’ve done much better work before your last piece!

I turned completely away from Vince when I said, After I hit rock bottom six months ago, it wasn’t easy for me to stay sober. But, I did it! Okay?!

When I turned back, Vince shook his head with a friendly grin and said, I get it! You were going through withdrawals after being on a long dunk… and that’s why in you last piece you were putting down a few middlemen in the rock music world! Hey, that’s not your style! You used to make rock stars look good with your reviews!

That was something from my past. I moved on since then. It’s just that…well, I have a lot to say about the middlemen now. I know all about their thousand dollar ties and Cuban cigars! I can’t write spin articles like I used to! Yes, there are a lot of middlemen who are on the level, and who look out for the best interests of the bands. They’re out there, like Margaret West… I felt a wave of wooziness hit me and I had to move my feet a little to keep my balance. I said after catching my breath, "Oh, bad example! Okay, I miss the days when I was an inspiration to other rock journalists out there. I made bands look cool, but that was it. Six months ago, my fifteen minutes of fame just ran out!"

Vince came over to my side, and once more patted me on the back before he said, "You can write spin pieces like you used to, and soon you’ll do just that! Tomorrow night, we’re going to see Violette Trend. Christ, this is the band that made you famous in the first place!"

I sighed as I turned away from Vince and said, Oh, yes! That was when I interviewed the one and only Marie Lindeaux. It’ll be great to once again see her perform live on the stage. Ah, I don’t think I have it in me to go up to her and get another interview. I just got very lucky the first time around. Remember, two years ago Violette Trend still weren’t getting noticed on this side of the Atlantic. The girls in the band are all on a much higher level now!

Vince jumped right in front of me, and smacked his fist into his other hand. Come on! When you interviewed the one girl two years ago, you wrote that great article…your first of many, I might add. Now, tomorrow night, after you bring me, Frankie and Bennie backstage, you’re gonna hook up with that very same girl, and you’re gonna interview her. In no time, you’ll get your fifteen minutes back!

A pain shot in my chest, and another surge of lightheadedness nearly made me drop face first on the floor. Once the dizzy feeling away, I leaned a little closer to Vince and said, You’re talking like I have something going with this girl. Please, I haven’t been in touch with her for a long time, and it isn’t like she sent me any postcards or anything. Look, I really don’t wanna get into this right now…I know I went over this with you already. I can’t go backstage! It’s not safe for me to go there. All I’m gonna do is sit up in the grandstands, and write a review of the concert while watching it from there. That’s all.

Vince nodded his head very slowly while puckering up his lips and raising his eyebrows. Yeah, I see! You’re nervous about something, that’s for certain. You really think people are out to get you! Fine. Just give me your backstage pass. I’ll go up to that girl and convince her into meeting you somewhere away from the stadium. Okay?!

Vince, let it go! Sorry, but you’d need more than your smooth talking to get anywhere near her! A lot has changed since I interviewed her two years ago. She is definitely harder to approach than she was back then, with all her hit records…and her picture printed on God knows how many magazines by now! Even if you could arrange a meeting…well, I don’t know if I could approach her and even say hello. Let alone do a whole interview!!

"Something is definitely getting to you, and I don’t think it’s because people may be out to get you. You’re just not happy being in your own skin anymore! That will change, tonight. You need to loosen up, and that’s why Frankie and me told you to come here. We have a surprise waiting for you. Don’t worry! We’re not buying you any drinks. Hell…If you have a shot of tequila or whatever right now, you’d go around telling everybody about all the stuff you got while snooping around lately. That’d be a goddamned shame! I mean…who knows, you may be the one who’s gonna blow the lid off some big scandal!"

I grabbed Vince by his leather jacket with both of my hands, and looked straight into his eyes that were peering at me through his bangs. What’s wrong with you?! This is not the time or place to run your mouth off like that!

Vince pushed me away from him and he said, "Jeez! Don’t be so paranoid! Who right here is really gonna know what I’m talking about? Look, I was just rattling your cage right now. You know, The Caves isn’t exactly a place where people in the music business hang out! Sage, man! Why are you getting all excited, anyhow?! Something tells me that maybe there was a lot more to this so-called scandal than what you’re telling me and the rest of the guys!"

I cupped my hand around my mouth, and leaned in close to Vince to make sure he was the only one who could hear me. "Right. Remember that song publisher I more or less mentioned in my last piece? Kevy Stokes? Violette Trend’s silent partner…? Well, I got more information that could put him in the gas chamber. Even though he blacklisted me last year and I couldn’t publish anything except that one minor piece a few months ago, I did some digging and found out he’s up to very bad business, and needs to be stopped somehow…before more people wind up dead!"

Vince lurched back from me with a look of full disbelief on his face as I continued, "What I’m saying is true. You see, the feds can’t get a hold of the information that I already found, because Kevy’s covered his tracks. Everything I found is now locked up in a safe-deposit box. Nobody can get into it besides me, and Kevy will do whatever it takes to stop me from opening it up and releasing anything I have out to the public, in one way or another. I have to keep a low profile. A very low profile. The fact he blacklisted me last year was only the beginning. If I’m not careful, I may get my fifteen minutes back very soon …but with a full page spread in the obituaries after he has me killed!"

Vince shook his head and growled for a few seconds, before he looked back over at me and said, Oh, you’re talking some crazy shit right now! Take my one and only advice right now. Relax!! That Stokes character you were talking about a minute ago…

Vince stopped talking long enough to look around, before bowing his head and whispering, The guy whose trash you’ve been digging into lately…he’s still hiding in Miami. A long ways from here! And, he knows nothing of any deposit box! I think it’s safe to say we’re good to go right now! With all that said…let me show you about the surprise I was just telling you about.

Vince pointed to a corner of the room where a young lady in red was sitting alone at a table, inside a thick cloud of cigarette smoke. I yowled while after grabbing my throat, Oh, don’t tell me! Is that Katie?!

Vince snickered as he rearranged his bangs on his forehead. "Yeah, the same chick you had a crush on since the seventh grade. Amazing! I happened to run into her earlier today, and we got to talking about things. We even talked about you. Well, pal, it looks like your ship is gonna sail in, once and for all! She wants to hook up with you! But, she said you had to meet her in this nightclub. Don’t ask me why."

I crossed my arms as I looked towards another corner of the room. She and Ronnie are pretty much set for life!

Nope! She dumped that fucking sleaze ball, at last!

I raised one of my hands in the air as I bluntly said, Couldn’t you have just said sleaze ball?! Why do we need to talk like that, right now?

Vince snatched my hand with his fist and said with anger riding high in his voice, Hey! Fuck you and the horse you rode in on! Do me a favor, and shut up! Go over there, and talk to Katie. You two will be rolling around in the sack before the night is through, I guarantee it! Tomorrow you’ll be all relaxed and ready for that interview!

Vince backed away from me, and stood with his arms folded. I didn’t say anything else. I just nodded and moved right passed him and made my way for Katie’s table while taking very slow and determined steps. When I only had a few more feet to go, the young lady in red who was sitting very still at the table slowly turned around and gave me a corner-stare, before she leaned over to scoot a chair out in the open. I slid right over into it and held my breath for a good while. After tapping my knuckles on the table a few times, I gazed up at a blank space on the wall and said, Hey there. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?! Nice to see you again.

Lipstick was smeared all over Katie’s cigarette after she took one last drag. After stubbing it out into the ashtray, the woman who was twenty-four years old but who still had the face of a teenage Sophia Loren turned to look directly at me with suspicious eyes. She said in her rough Brooklyn accent, It’s really good to see you, too. But, you know what?! I almost got up and walked right outta here! What were you and Vince doing?! My God, youse two were talking up a storm over there!

I tapped the table a few more times with my knuckles, before I took in a heavy sigh and said, The truth is… I rolled my eyes up and said after taking in a deep breath, Well, nothing really. Vince and I were talking about a lot of different things.

I waited for a few very long seconds, but finally looked straight at Katie and nervously said, I didn’t expect to see you tonight. And, sorry if I am a little short with my words right now. I used to be great at coming out in the open and speaking whatever was on my mind, all the times we hung out at your place a while back. Why should tonight be any different? I might be coming out of nowhere with this, but…You know that I had a mad crush on you in high school!

Yeah, so what?! I had feelings for you before that, but you way too much into your own things back then. Then, when you even switched schools in the eighth grade, I actually thought at the time you were trying to get away from me! Funny, how we ended up going to the same high school, ain’t it? All right…by then, I lost whatever feelings I had for you, but it was clear as daylight you definitely feelings for me even then, by the way you were always following me around! You know how that just didn’t fly with me?!

Yes, you told me that more than once after high school, when you finally gave in and let me stop by your place…and when your kid was still too young to go to even pre-school.

Katie reached for the pack of cigarettes that was lying on the table, and she took an uncomfortable pause before rifling through it and saying, Right, this was after you dropped out of college and moved back to New York. Wow, amazing how that was a few years after I got knocked up and had to drop out of high school! I still remember the letters you sent to me when you were still in college, halfway ‘cross the country and all!

I scooted around in my chair and said while looking at up the blue lights in the ceiling, That’s a part of my life I’d like to forget! Nothing against you, but…!

Katie snickered as she interrupted, Don’t worry about it! What matters is how I finally wrote back to you, and not long after that you moved back to New York. And, started coming to my place every day. Remember how I let you hang out with me all night, sometimes? You could’ve had me wrapped around your finger so many times, but you always held back!

I bowed my head right after Katie pressed a cigarette between her lips and was picking up a matchbook. After I turned my head a little and could only see the tabletop, I cleared my throat as I again started tapping my fingers on the table. Ronnie was still a part of your life back then! All right, your lover boy was never around whenever I came over, but how could I do anything when you were always busy taking care of your kid like that?! All we ever did was just talk. Hey, I didn’t mind your company, but…I never felt like we could take what we had to the next level.

I could hear Katie say brazenly while a match was being struck, Next level? Nice words there! Okay, you do have a good point. Say, you became a big-shot journalist right after you stopped coming by my place, and I heard stories that you were a big party animal! You drank like a fish, and you were a regular riot at parties! I never saw that side of you.

I looked up and back over at Katie, but right before I could speak even one word, she grabbed a hold of my hand and said, Let me make this clear to you. In high school, a part of me still liked you, but there was too much bullshit going on! Let’s fast-forward to a few months ago…when I split up with Ronnie, I figured I was through with guys for good. But, I finally came to my senses. Sagan… Katie’s glance on me became very heavy as she spoke in a lower toned, seductive voice. I want you!

Katie turned away for a few seconds and puffed at her cigarette lightly, before putting it out in the ashtray. She scooted her chair a few feet closer to me, and said after grabbing a hold of me with her other hand, I need a drink, and I’m not drinking alone. You know what?! When you share some gin with me, maybe that party animal side of you will come back!

The waitress in the skimpy leotard and with the teeth that reflected the blue light showed up over by the side of the table, holding a tray containing two slightly oval shaped glasses that were garnished with olives and were filled almost to the rim. Katie grabbed one of the glasses and slid it on the table right towards me.

***

back in the motel on Sunset Boulevard

The boom of three more heavy knocks exploded as the door shook on its hinges. I couldn’t take my fists off of my forehead as my fingers were stiff with fear. Sweat was dripping from my eyebrows. When I finally moved the fists slightly and I could peak at the wall in front of me, roaches on that wall scurried everywhere very quickly while the paper window shade thrashed around in the windowsill from a sudden draft, and while the indoor lighting shimmered wildly. With my back still against the wall, I was sitting very still but shivered madly and cried out in an alarmed voice, I don’t remember anything that happened after I took my first sip of the martini! I just know that Katie disappeared out of sight that night…completely! But, I know I didn’t do anything to Katie …

When it got very quiet in the room, I leaped forward and landed on my stomach. As I pounded on the carpeted floor with my fist, I spoke slow and distinct syllables. I might have put Marie in danger!

The s voice of my imaginary friend spoke to me in a rather calm and non-caring manner, How? You ain’t seen her in while. You didn’t even see her after the concert last Saturday.

I got back on my knees and stared at the door as I spoke in a low voice, She was supposed to be at the after party, but she wasn’t there! Somebody probably got a hold of her, probably the same guy was pounding on the door.

The still indifferent voice said with a bit of sarcasm, I can understand why whoever is knocking on the door is about to kill you, but why would anyone wanna kill Marie?!

I waited for a few very long seconds to hear more sounds coming from the door, but nothing happened. I looked up to the ceiling with watery eyes and prayed once again that the person behind the door finally gave up. But, it occurred to me that the person was probably still there, and listening to every word I was saying. I spoke aloud in a very low voice, While hoping to dig up dirt on the silent partner of her band…while looking into Kevy Stokes’ trash, I found out somebody is reaching out to the Feds…and I wrote down in my notes that this somebody could be Marie!

Don’t worry, all your notes are in a safe in New York City.

But I brought the key to the safe in my travel case…

You mean the one that was stolen when you were passed out cold on the plane to here, LA?!

I screamed as loud as I could, EXACTLY!! I covered my mouth as a bout of nausea hit me hard. After I took in a deep breath, I said in a low voice again, I thought at first the henchmen would only come after me, not her! She is definitely out of harm’s way, I’m sure, so I thought. I did nothing to put her in any kind of danger, I kept telling myself.

"That evil bastard, Kevy Stokes, decided to send hired guns after you! But, face the facts already. These killers will go ahead and kill the girl once you’re dead. What, you thought they’d go into hiding and leave her alone? Well, maybe…but only if you stayed in New York!"

After three more knocks rattled the door, I buried my face again in the carpet as I rambled, "Derek, or whoever…whatever you were…you are right. It’s my fault that she is in serious trouble! God, if I could only get out of here alive, I’d do whatever I could to make sure that she is safe! No, she does not deserve to die!!"

CHAPTER 1

Stars over Interlaken

(narrated by Margaret)

Margaret’s bedroom in a hilltop mansion, early morning

M y whole body flinched what seemed to be several feet straight up and as I was still in midair, and I didn’t know which way was up or down. I was scared! I forgot where I was! My mind went blank as I started to shake though my whole face was very warm, and bolts of lightning tore right through the canopy over my bed. My ears were filled with a high-pitch, blood-curling scream as the telephone again started ringing.

All at once, right after I somehow pulled back one of the canopy curtains, the harsh sound stopped completely and everything instantly became quiet. I was still a little woozy, and all I could do was watch hazy thoughts dance around my bed. It was only then did I realize I was home, up in the hills just outside of Los Angeles. A window across the bedroom brought in the thin rays of the morning glow, while a feeling of joy came over me. I breathe a lot easier, but not for long…

When that ear-piercing ring blared from over the edge of the bed, I leaned up to hit the nightstand with one good punch. After twice rolling all the way over to the side of the bed, I picked up the cordless receiver from the floor and put it on my cheek. My mind went blank as an impatient hiss whispered in my ear.

Hello, I said in a frazzled way.

Marge, this is Bernadette! How are things? Yes, I know I just woke you up, but I think we need to talk. Now!!

I tried to picture the scornful eyes and rigid chin of the caller, but the face was too vague in my mind. I turned the alarm clock a little closer to me on the nightstand to find out what time it was. Not even six o’clock in the morning. Without much thought to what I said, I spoke while moving to the other side on the bed uneasily, Yes, Bern, I was sleeping. My God!! It’s not like you to call me, or anyone, at this hour!

A few anxious seconds of static buzzed in the earpiece before I heard the voice say, Marie just got back from New York, right? So, how is she doing? My, oh my…! She has got to be worn out from being on the road with the band for all those months!

The weak daylight from the window changed as the room got a little darker, and I sighed while thinking very carefully about what to say next. You’re calling me just to ask about her, at dawn?! Fine. But first…Let me get my head straight, I mean…you know that I’m not a morning person! Okay, yes, ah…yesterday afternoon she arrived on that nonstop flight from New York, and you’re right about her being exhausted. This last tour was a bit much, even for her.

I jerked back and knocked the headboard of the bed with the back of my head. After spending a few long seconds stuffing the pillow behind my head, I said with startled words, Bern! Now, didn’t you talk to her when you stopped by here last night?! You’re acting like you never even showed up! Oh, right! I wasn’t here, and you’re playing it as you never stopped by. Sorry to disappoint you, but…She told me you came here around nine, last night.

For what seemed like a few minutes, nervous breathing wheezed above the static in the earpiece. After some neurotic coughing blocked out some of the static, the voice in the earpiece said, Yes, Marge. I did drop by your place about nine, last night. Marie mentioned you were still somewhere around Big Bear. I was surprised, to say the least. Surprised to hear that you decided to hide in your little getaway in the mountains! It’s just that…well, I really thought you would’ve met her at the airport, like you usually do. Okay, moving on…I’m calling you now because I have a very important question to ask you!

After waiting for a brief moment, I slipped in a sarcastic tone in my voice as I asked, Can’t it wait until you and I meet tonight, at the coffee shop?!

I didn’t hear anything, not even the static. Just absolute silence. Scary silence. About two or three seconds of it, before the caller gingerly said to me, "Something tells me that you’re not making it to the coffee shop tonight!"

I swallowed a huge gulp of air before inquiring, "Why do you think that? I’m taking the whole day off. The recording sessions begin next week. Okay? I will meet you and Sara tonight!"

Marge, I know you too well! I know you like a sister that I never had! Something is troubling you, and I know what it is. You’re having second thoughts about hiring that journalist!

I sank my teeth into the fingers of my free hand after I balled it into a fist. After taking the fingers with the teeth marks away from my mouth, I said very firmly, Bern, it’s a done deal! Sagan accepted the offer right after he met my promoter at the party backstage, Friday night. He was actually walking around all alone, maybe an hour or so, after Violette Trend played the last encore. He’s flying here to Los Angeles. Tonight! The wood-crafted writers’ desk was somewhere in a corner that was still dark. A door in another part of the room swung and creaked in a slow and nerve-racking pace. I sighed for a little bit before I asked, Was that your question? Whether or not I am nervous about hiring him?

The static sizzled in the earpiece, but I heard nothing else for a little while. I covered the mouthpiece with my fingers as I watched more sunlight flow into the room through the window. Before too long, the caller finally spoke. No, that wasn’t my question of the hour. I wish I knew what made you want to hire him in the first place! I mean, after he wrote that article last month! Everyone knows that was a stab against your lover…ah, supposedly your song publisher!

A surge of anger was beginning to burn my face, and I had to take in a deep breath before I could relax. "There you go again! You just love to create drama! You think Sagan has a grudge against Kevy. For what?! Kevy did nothing to hurt anyone! Nothing!!"

I disagree! But, that should be no news to you! Kevy did blacklist Sagan last year. Still not sure exactly why…maybe because Sagan became so famous and that took a lot of attention away from the band, at least for a while until the last album went gold. Kevy is mad as hell at Sagan for something, but…why am I even worried? Kevy’s in Miami. You’re the one who flies there for your…hmm, romantic getaways! Sagan will be safe, here in LA. All righty! Marge, please come to the coffee shop tonight. We have so much more to talk about! The thing is…

Again, I heard nothing but the scary silence, and more than a few seconds of it passed by. The caller said with a clear change in the tone in her voice, I’m worried for you! I don’t want to see you get burned again! Believe me. It can happen to you, even now while your band is doing great. You don’t always make the best decisions, whenever you get all worked up like this. Remember, ten years ago? You took off running and hid up in that stupid cottage…the same one you ran off to last night…at a time when you should’ve stood up to Marie’s mother!!

I fell back on the bed with the cordless receiver stuck to my ear, and sighed a few times while thinking too many thoughts at once. I spent more than a few seconds thinking about how I had no choice but to bring Marie halfway across the world from Paris, though it was tough on the young girl since she was only eight years old. I wanted to tell my friend that I had to do this, to give her a break from the mess she was going through with her mother. I wanted to say so much, but I shook my head and took in one heavy breath. I sat up in the middle of the bed as I went on to say, Bern! You always like to twist the truth, don’t you?! I know where you’re going with this!

"You do! Say, you can read me even though you can’t even see the expressions on my face! All righty. Yes, we’ve had this conversation before. Very true! Oh, so I am twisting the truth? Babe, I’m the one who tries to set the story straight after you sometimes turn it around! Please, already! You always like to ran away from people, and go to places like that damn cottage, when you’re about to face something you can’t handle. You did this, ten years ago, when Marie’s mother came all the way from Paris! You did nothing when her mother wound up putting her away in that foster home, right here in California. Or, rather, that stupid hospital first…Then, a few years later, you had no idea where she was or that she was even alive!"

Again, I fell back against the bed and my arms trembled madly as I inhaled and exhaled very heavily through my mouth, and as I had an out of body experience—I was standing on a stretch of slightly littered pavement that separated messy buildings from nicely shaded palm trees, bicycle paths, and a crowded beach. Rowdy drumbeats filled the air along with discordant harmonies of other instruments. I was a part of the action in Venice Beach, a somewhat run-down community on the outskirts of Los Angeles. A hodgepodge of sorts. So many street performers put on shows all throughout the day, and it was an upbeat place for the tourist by day but no place for a young girl to live on her own! This is where Marie ended up, after she ran away from the shelter only a few years after she was put there by her mother. It was the place where she could play guitar with the other street performers. It may have been a terrible place for her to live, and it was by the grace of God that she found way to escape the dreadful world around her. She strummed the guitar in front of the tourists, each and every day. Though, she could only get spare change, it was better than nothing…

I said, after putting the receiver back on my shoulder, You just had to slip that in! Oh, you got me thinking about too much so early this morning. Why do you bring this up? As I’ve said so many times before, I do take the blame for what happened ten years ago, but I more than made up for it by now. By the way, it was eleven years ago when her mother showed up, and why are we even talking about this, right now?!

Well, you weren’t around when I stopped by last night and well…we couldn’t talk. But remember… I like to tear down the walls that you like to put up at times. See you at seven, at the coffee shop. I’m sure you’ll live up to your promise that you’ll be there, tonight. Bye Dear!

I let the cordless receiver drop on the floor with one sturdy thump, and I stretched out all the way across the mattress that had bedspreads all bundled up on it. At the other side of the room, there wasn’t much to see through the skinny crevice inside the window curtains. Just shapes of huge lazy mountains that rose and stood so immodestly. Marmalade light splashed life into the room, and the ceiling above was on fire with the color of magenta. The sound of a distant church bell banged with an unsteady tempo and though it must have been in the valley far away from where I was, I could hear it clearly. Its rhythm was very stop and go–like that of a queasy heartbeat. It kept its tired rhythm, until it simply died.

I jumped up out of bed with beads of moisture on my face, as blobs of maroon and auburn throbbed all around me. I crossed the room and pressed my nose hard against the window until my heavy breath steamed most of the glass. Soon, the frost on the window was very thick, and I had to rub some of the ice crystals away to get a peek of the outdoor world from the view from my second story bedroom.

Marie was starting her day early as usual, standing in the still fresh rays of the morningtide, only a few feet from the edge of the pool with her knees slightly bent. Even as the wind was shaking the various trees in the backyard, she stood still as the bath robe flapped all along the sides of her long and slightly curvaceous body. Groups of colorful flowers of all kinds were layered in the nicely mowed lawn around her. She bent down on the concrete as the wind started to die down. A good-sized lock of her tawny hair was curled up in one of her hands.

She kept her back towards me, but I could tell that she was splashing her face with pool water. Then, all of a sudden, she zealously sprang up, tiptoed back a little in quick waltz steps, and swooped down onto the grass in one childish bounce. She reached over and grabbed her acoustic guitar from its case. After she swung it over by its neck and placed it on her lap, all I could see of the guitar was the back of its fret board jutting out from her right side, and she was moving her right hand up and down the fret board with a lot of energy. At first, I thought I was seeing everything in reverse but I had to giggle a little. I reminded myself that she always played a left-handed guitar. While her right hand kept moving up and down the fret board, she was bouncing her head a little and I was sure that she was singing while playing chords on the guitar.

I couldn’t hear her play anything, but it was easy for me to notice how she was getting into the spirit of the moment by the way she was moving. After a burst of wind rattled through the shutters even harder, I turned to look at the writer’s desk was by then visible in the morning light. The corner of the room next to the desk was vacant, but I started to imagine a little girl cowering down over there, with her back turned towards me. A girl only eight years old, and putting her effort into playing a right-handed violin that was on her left shoulder, an instrument that was almost as big as she was. The notes she was playing sounded terrible as if she was very tone-deaf. After I closed my eyes, I held back some tears as I said aloud, Oh, Bern, why did you have to bring up what happened eleven years ago?

***

later that afternoon

The shades of sunset were beginning to light up the curtains on the bedroom window, and there was something odd in the way the dust in the air sparked so vividly in the soft rays of the fading daylight. My laptop was placed on the writer’s desk next to a bulky makeup kit, and I sat with my nose very close to its blank LCD screen. As my eyes started to feel sore from staring at nothing, I took in one last breath before I began to type what I could remember from the dream I had earlier in the day, before Bernadette called.

I don’t think I can stand another minute of this dreadful silence! Where am I?! I think the emptiness of this godforsaken place is getting to me. It’s very, very dark around here! Oh, good. I can see now…Wait, I see ice melting!

It must be spring!!

What joy it will be to feel the soft, warm breeze brushing against me. To breathe in the potent, fragrant smell of the blossoms bursting from the verdant wilderness. To feel the rays of the soothing sun…

WAIT!!! WHAT IS THIS?!!!

No matter where I look, I can see reflections of me. So many of them of me are popping up everywhere, and they’re moving around and around. Bending and twisting into bizarre shapes…

I am cold, but I feel neither heat nor any chills. I’m able to see many lights all around me, even though I’m just too blind to make sense of anything. For the longest time, I had no idea where I was and it was dark and eerie. And, very quiet. Then, all of a sudden, all I could hear was the sound of one hundred thousand banshee screams and I wanted to run…but, I don’t know where I can go! I wanted to breathe, but I’m too numb. It was only a few seconds, but it seemed an eternity, before the horrendous noise that filled my ears went away. Right now, I’m able to see reflections of myself. So many of them, twisting into odd shapes and being shattered into countless pieces…

An instant message dialog box popped up in the middle of the laptop screen, and blocked over much of the words I had just written. In the upper left corner, there was a realistic picture of a rose, and the lower column there was an animated picture of a cat. I read the pink sans serif font of the message in the middle of the dialog box, Marge. It’s Maddy. Don’t worry about picking me up tonight. Okay? I’m about to give Mike a call. I have a feeling that he’ll drop everything to drive me to work. The stars are lined up perfectly, according to what I read in my horoscope. But, I hear a storm is rolling in tonight and soon nobody will be able to see them. I had better act fast before it’s too late! LOL

I slammed an open hand on the writer’s desk before my fingers started pressing the keys on the laptop furiously as I typed. No. Don’t call Mike. I’m picking you up tonight! You can’t change our plans at the last minute like this! Don’t call anybody right now. Above all, don’t let Mike think that you want to use him! You know how I’d never let you down.

For a few long seconds, I looked up to the empty ceiling and strained my eyes as I tried to think, before I looked back at the laptop screen and typed, Just think about all the things I’ve done for you. Remember the way I rescued you in Miami!

After ten seconds or so, a new line of Maddy’s pink letters read, Rescued?!! Huh?!! How? I don’t remember this! But, you know what?! I’m lucky to remember what happened yesterday. So, you saved me from something. Kewl! Remind me about this later, after you pick me up. I’ll take your advice. I’m not calling Mike, or anybody else. See you in about ten minutes!

I closed the cover of my laptop, right before a strong feeling came over me and a vision flashed in my mind. There was Sara, my eldest friend who has better than twenty years on me. The sight of her graying hair and wrinkling face, compared to her strong will to live and her young at heart attitude, always helped me to laugh at my own fear of aging. Of course, there was Bernadette, a woman of about my age, in her mid-thirties. A woman who always gave me deep, but plain advice. Sometimes she made my problems seem so over-the-top, yet I always liked the way she kept everything in check. However, I always had the highest respect for Maddy. She was called a twisted sister by all of her other friends more than once. By the time she hit her mid-twenties, she was already a little wrecked emotionally, and maybe she was slightly schizophrenic. Someone similar to me. But she was always still so full of energy and searching for signs of hope in every moment of the day—even if she had to look for it in a star chart printed in a horoscope.

I came back down to earth, and took out a compact from the makeup case that was next to the laptop. After taking a good look into its mirror and seeing how shabby the golden streaks of my hair look, I thought to myself, What?! My eyes are gray!? What happened to the blue?! Am I sick?! Am I seeing things?! Am I just getting too old?!

A large brown bottle was buried under various makeup goodies in the case. I fumbled through the kit and caboodle and after I clutched it with my fist, I uncapped it and tipped my head back with the bottle wide open. I then swallowed two pills that fell on my tongue. The bottle fell out of my sweaty hand as I gagged on the horrible aftertaste, before I banged my forehead with both of my opened palms. I mumbled to myself that I could quit taking the pills anytime I wanted to. After I hit the writer’s desk several more times with one of my angry hands, the compact mirror slipped off the desk and shattered.

***

I scuffed the heels of my stilettos on the cobblestones as I dashed through a maze of hedges that lead from my front door. When I made it to the end of the driveway and made the final lap to my car, I pressed the button on the automatic door of my Jaguar convertible that had its top down. Before slipping inside, I stopped to listen to the constant drone of the freeway cars passing by at the bottom of the hill, and to gaze back at my split-level mansion. Its many Bay windows were partially hidden inside patches of so much spring growth. After I jumped in the convertible and started the engine, I backed the car out through the driveway but hit the brake right as I passed some statues of my Japanese garden. I decided to wait for the top of the convertible to roll up before driving any further…

While I carefully backed the car into the narrow and winding road, I noticed how the hills I saw beyond in the windshield were exceptionally dry. Endless chains of suburban houses covered the bluffs and the lake far below all of them was on fire from the sun. Everything looked calm as I began to coast down the road, and the smoggy sky revealed the very tops of some of the downtown Los Angeles towers that were glancing over the hills. Then, all of a sudden, I could see an angry man’s pale, suspicious-looking eyes also peering right at me through the haze, and I hit the brake again before my head nearly slammed into the oak steering wheel. I slid back on the leather seats and cried out, Why am I getting the feeling Kevy’s watching me?! He’s all the way across the goddamned country!

I revved up the engine until the plume of the white smoke could be seen in the rear-view mirror. I popped the clutch, and zoomed carelessly down the hill on the zigzag roads. Along the way, I passed many splendid homes and pretty landscapes. At the bottom of the hill, I passed by a plain market place. A few minutes later, I drove into a neighborhood of simple houses and parked in the driveway of a yard that needed mowing very badly. Maddy sped on foot toward the car all bundled up in a Scandinavian sweater though it was very warm outside.

I said after she opened the car door, Hey there, kid! How goes it?

Hey, Marge! She happily sat in the passenger seat, and broke out with a hunky-dory cheer while pulling mounds of her wiry hair from under her overstuffed hat. Like I told you on sametime, I think today is gonna be my lucky day!

She peeled off the chubby sweater, and stowed some large shopping bags filled with odd sorts of clothing under the seat. I was sitting still and saying nothing. After slipping out of more clothing, the bony woman sitting next to me was wearing nothing more than a plain, maid-like costume. When the last bag was hidden, she said to me, I know today is gonna be a good one! This morning I read my horoscope…like I really need to tell you that. Right? But, I loved what I read today. It said my near future looks promising.

That sounds good enough to me. I slipped the car into gear and sped down the street.

***

As we through a country-like park, Maddy pulled out a nail file and anxiously scraped it along her fingertips. After I turned up the radio, my hand twitched when I grabbed the stick shift to change gears. Neither one of us said anything as we headed along the road through the grassy, wooded park. Right about the time I could hear the sounds of an outdoor concert coming of the Greek Theatre, Maddy adjusted one of the A/C blowers and said, Why are you taking me through Griffith Park?!

I love the scenery. Hate the traffic! I think we can catch the sunset over the smoggy L.A. Basin from the hills, and we do have extra time. So, you were saying a while ago your future looks promising today?

The universe is setting up the right karma for me right now. All I have to do is surrender to it.

Karma. What would we ever do without our karma?! Okay. I don’t know if I can go along with your charade anymore. Maybe we should take a lesson from Bern’s method of looking at things for what they are! I don’t really want to blame the stars for my problems! It’s more important for me to see the sun in the sky right now, before this day is over. I want to remember how good it feels to be alive!

I shifted the Jaguar into a lower gear as we drove up a steep hill. The driver side mirror showed a twilight sky brushing the tops of the wide Mount Wilson range and the treeless face