Marlie Stevens and Joey Beretta were seated in the second floor ‘library’ of the quirky old Saddle Peak Lodge. A unique setting with outstanding food, the Lodge was a favorite meeting place for both women and, it wasn’t heavily patrolled by the paparazzi.
A waiter served cocktails and tasting plates of foie gras that had been sent by their friend, Dr. Ann Ehringer, the establishment’s stylish owner.
“With Ann’s compliments, ladies. Enjoy.”
“Please thank her for us. These look delicious.”
“Of course.” With that the waiter departed.
Joey picked up her Smirnoff on ice with a large olive. Her friend raised a martini glass saying, “Here’s to you, Jemima.”
Marlie winked, but Joey responded with a hand gesture some would consider rude. Both women laughed loudly enough to be noticed by a young couple at the opposite end of the small room. They were the only other diners seated in the library.
“That’s the most fun I’ve had in a long damn time!”
“Wish I could say the same thing.” Joey was serious, but had to admit to the irony of her arrival at the airport. She’d been traveling first class and carrying a leather bag monogrammed with her initials, ‘JB’. A teenager noticed her and texted her friends, “OMG, Jemima Burck 3 seats in front of me!”
Ms. Burck had been at the top of the paparazzo’s target list since she started dating child actor turned rocker, Brian Stone. The press declared them both "white hot".
“Honey, I wish I had a picture of your face when you hit baggage claim and your adoring fans welcomed you home.”
“Check the grocery stores tomorrow.” Joey grimaced as she took a sip of her drink. “They kept asking me "where's Brian?" I told them he was with Jemima, but they didn’t get it.”
“Or didn’t want to. So, how many autographs did you sign?”
“No idea. I just scribbled away while you stood in the corner laughing your ass off. They totally ignored you, the one with Platinum Albums and Grammy Awards and whatever else you have on your bookshelf. Apparently, I make a pretty good decoy."
Marlie Stevens was one of the more celebrated performers of her age. Now thirty-seven, she’d come out of her native Chattanooga ten years earlier to achieve success as a cross over country artist and TV star who recently began making a name for herself in motion pictures. She was a big bundle of energy in a small package. At five two with dark hair and cool blue eyes she’d been introduced at her first Grammy Awards as “Marlie the Meteor” and the moniker kind of stuck.
“Honey, you and Jemima look as much alike as Ashley and Mary Kate do. I should know, I've seen all four of ‘ya live and in person.”
When the two friends were together, Joey, who hailed from Alabama, found her own southern accent starting to creep back.
The waiter returned and made a couple of recommendations, but both women ordered another drink and Elk tenderloins then resumed their conversation.
“Well, let’s not do that again any time soon.”
“Nooooo. I think I want decoy service as a regular part of my personal security plan.” Marlie gave her friend a sly smile.
“Fine, I’ll start calling around for a Steven Segal double tomorrow.”
“I want Jemima Burck.”
“Sorry, we’re all out of those. You’ll need to settle on someone else,” Joey smiled and batted her eyelashes.
“Hey, the customer is always right and you can’t fire me as a client. I’m on the same contract as my husband and I know Frank won’t let you loose a fish that big.”
Over the past six years the women had become good friends and Barry Stevens’ Nashville based hedge fund was a substantial account. Plus, he was a friend.
“Fair point. OK. I’m stuck with you, but I’m under no obligation to be your decoy. In fact, I may get my hair cut and dyed before I leave tomorrow.”
“Fine. You have to admit, though, it was a hoot.
“Yes it was.” In some part of Joey’s brain she imagined a star’s life might be fun, but only if you could leave it whenever you wanted to.
While the waiter served dinner the young woman from the other table timidly tapped Marlie on the shoulder and spoke quietly and in a sugary Southern accent.
“Excuse me, Miss Stevens. I apologize for interrupting y’all, but I’m Suzzie Trotter and we’re here on vacation and, well, may I get my picture taken with you and Miss Burck.” Her husband smiled sheepishly and waved a small camera in their direction.
“Of course. We'd be delighted.”
Suzzie squealed with excitement and scurried to the other side of the small table while her husband got in position to take the picture. He cranked off three frames quickly and offered a shy and polite “thank you”.
Marlie pulled a crème colored note card out of her purse, signed it with a Sharpie, and passed the card and pen over to Joey.
“Your turn, Jemima.”
“My pleasure, Marlie.” She signed with a big, loopy “JB” the way she initialed invoices at the office, and handed the card to the young woman.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome,” both women said in unison as the cute girl turned and danced back to her table already anxious to text all of her friends back home in Indiana.
“I enjoy being able to do something for the people who pay my salary.”
“They seem like a nice couple, but I’m still just Joey Beretta.”
She sighed and shook her head. Hero worship was alien to her, but then again, she had Frank. How much ‘hero’ does any girl need in her life?
“Didn’t matter to her. Don't forget, illusion is our business.”
“Yours, Marlie, not mine.”
“All evidence to the contrary, my dear. Now, let’s get on to other subjects. Are you going to take Persephone on as a new client?”
"I need to hear her story before I commit."
"Persephone told me that a ‘weird ’guy from San Francisco was ‘sort of stalking her’. I got concerned."
"Has he done anything specific or made any threats?"
"I don't think so, but I want you to make sure he doesn't."
“That’s why I’m here, Marlie. I’m sure we can work something out for her.” Joey took another bite of the delicious Elk.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” The sincerity and concern in Marlie's voice disarmed Joey.
“She’s sweet and not at all like a lot of the girls her age out here. You’ll understand when you meet her. I know you’ll like her.”
Marlie finished off the last of her Elk tenderloin and added, “By the way, there's another reason you came. You got to see me and we’re having this fabulous dinner.”
“There is that, Marlie.” She reached over and squeezed her friend’s arm.
8.
Serge’s Villa
Laglio, Italy