Chapter 3
Starr never made it to the 1st of the year because the girls called her from Prague several days after Christmas. She was packing up her room so as to have boxes shipped when she got the call.
“Misaki?”
“Hi Starr. Thanks for breakfast the other day. Why didn’t you stay?”
“I wanted to but something came up. Anyway, I can sense something is really wrong. I’ve had that feeling since last night. Just tell me, don’t keep me waiting because it’s driving me crazy.”
“Becky ran off with a guy from France, but I think he’s Serbian or something. He seemed like a nice guy, at first, but then he keeps talking her into doing things.”
“Like what?”
“She gave him 300 euro last week, and then they got caught in a stolen car, together. She went to his house a couple nights ago, and we haven’t seen her since. She’s mad at us because we don’t like him. But now, we’re worried.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.”
“Will you please come? Don’t send someone else. I think an authority type might do her good.”
“Alright, I’ll be there.”
She grabbed her black cashmere cloak and gloves and leapt out into the snowy dark sky.
She made it to Prague by 1 am that morning. She sniffed the air and used her inner demon to find Becky.
What was it with girls, when it came to boys? Sure, boys could pick manipulative women, but when girls picked bad, it was disgusting and pathetic.
The sounds of her heels echoed off the buildings. In an apartment across town, she caught the sound of someone snoring. It sounded just like Becky’s, but she couldn’t tell by scent from that far.
Starr flew there immediately.
Before her was a one room flat. There she was, just pathetic, lying in the arms of a bastard. The only question was how to handle the situation? It must be done in a way where she’ll go back to the girls, willingly.
She could threaten to cut off her allowance? She could drag her out, kicking and screaming? She could just talk to her?
But the girls had already tried talking to her.
“Or I could just kill him. It would make everything easier for me.”
She couldn’t decide, so she left.
The girls had left the living room window unlocked for her.
She flew in and sat on the couch.
“Hi, Starr,” said Misaki, who was sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. “I was waiting for you.”
She set the book down and went to close the window.
“Remember, we get cold, here.”
“Sorry.”
“Did you find Becky, yet?”
“Yes, but I’m trying to decide the best way to handle this.”
“Can’t you just drop him off in another country or something?” she said and smiled.
“Yeah, I could, but I’d rather just kill him. Still, she might not like that. If I could kill him and then make it look like he ran off, then that could work.”
Misaki’s eyebrows rose up into her forehead.
“What?”
“You can’t kill him, Starr.”
“Why not? It’ll make things easier.”
“It’s so funny because, years ago, when we first met, this would have been a no brainer for you. You would have understood why you can’t just kill someone, even if the person is bad. What has happened to you? Have you really lost that much humanity in only ten years?”
She sighed and thought a moment before responding.
“Things have changed. I’ve changed. I deal with criminals every day, and there’s nothing to do but get rid of them. You’d understand if you’d seen what I’ve seen.”
“I hope that I never do, then.”
“Ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.”
“Well, I’m tired. Let’s talk in the morning. There are blankets in the hallway closet, if you need them.”
Then she went to bed.
More and more, those closest to her became disappointed. Part of her wanted to reconcile those relationships that had been hurt, but the right side of her brain told her it was only natural that they grow apart.
Still, who would be her allies, in the future? When all her friends left her, even the kids from the clinic, who would replace them?
At the moment, it felt like no one would replace them. People move from one place to another, in a transition. But Starr hadn’t transitioned; she was merely leaving everything behind. For someone who liked routine and familiarity, it was jarring as much as it was freeing.
Starr sat on the couch and stared at the wall.
At 6 am, she looked in on Becky and her boyfriend remotely. He got up and left the apartment. On the street corner, he stopped for a biscuit and coffee before going on his way.
Starr swooped down and picked him up by the collar. He screamed and kicked his legs. Starr choke held him until he passed out; then, she dropped him off on a bench in Paris, put a couple hundred euros in his pocket and left him there.
By the time she got back to Prague, the girls were up and about, eating breakfast.
“Hey,” they all said.
“What are you gonna do about her boyfriend?” asked Misty.
“It’s already taken care of.”
Misaki looked kind of funny, but said nothing and acted as if everything was normal.
“I dropped him off in Paris, silly. By the time he gets back, she’ll think he ditched her.”
“Starr, you do realize he’ll be back tonight or tomorrow?” Kay asked.
“What?”
Starr had never used rail travel in Europe.
“Oh, now I feel silly.”
They laughed at her.
For some reason, hearing them laugh lifted her spirits.
“I got the company credit card. You guys want to go shopping and buy all kinds of ridiculous stuff?”
“Heck yeah,” said Misty.
After breakfast, they started the day by wandering in and out of the many tourist districts. They started in old town, which had many renaissance-looking castles and palaces. Then they wandered through all the second hand shops, which Prague seemed to be filled with interesting antiques from who knows where and who knows who. One could make a fortune there, if they were well educated in historical items.
After, they wandered into new town where they did even more damage to the company card. Starr couldn’t keep up with the pace of purchasing, but she was sure they’d depleted her yearly clothing allowance that day, and then some.
She was surprised because given the old world look, she assumed that it would be more historical and cultural shopping, but somehow the city patrons had managed to bring much of the 21st century into their city.
The girls had fun, though, buying dresses for every occasion, but also cheesy trinkets as well as antique items, from places like Bric a Brac.
Later, they got lunch at the Minstrel Side – a warm little bistro next to a designer clothing store. There the sun shined bright against the glassy sky. The scent of coffee and pastry soaked up the moist air; her skin shivered appreciatively with each sip of hot cocoa. It was days like these that she loved the most.
By the time they got back to the apartment, it was to find Becky dragging a suitcase across the living room.
“I knew it! I knew you were here; I sensed it!” Becky said. “Nichol called me from Paris this morning.”
“I did it because we need to talk without his interference.”
But Becky made to walk past.
Starr stepped in front of her and asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving. I don’t want you guys butting into my life.”
They watched her leave in silence.
“Starr, why don’t you do something?” asked Misaki.
“What can she do?” asked Kay. “Becky is an adult. She’s made her choice, now let her to it.”
“I don’t want to see her ever a
gain,” said Misty, “especially if it means seeing her with that guy.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” said Starr. “If things get out of hand, I’ll cut her off. I’ll be damned if I’ll let her run off with some guy on my dime.”
“If you do, it won’t bring her back.”
“I’m alright with that,” said Starr. “I just don’t want to pay for it, is all.”
“Maybe you were right. You should just kill him,” said Misaki.
Kay yelled, “Are you crazy? Just let them go. She’ll be back, if she wants to.”
“Yeah but we’re leaving at the end of the month.”
“We’ll leave her behind. We have no choice.”
Starr’s cell phone rang.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“The minister rejected the settlement offer,” said Marla.
Right before Starr left, she gave her the stones which turned out to be a few dozen carats of Blue Garnet, a very rare stone worth millions.
“What now?”
“You have a few days to sign over the castle and still get your credit. However, they’ve already taken possession.”
“What?” she yelled. “We’ll see about that!”
Repossession