“I know, can you believe that crap? It’s that Valerie Lipson. I mean, who cares?” Sandy was saying as Jill opened the door to the apartment. “Hi, honey. How’s our Katy?”
“Asleep,” Jill said. Hoping to silence her friend, Jill held her arms out for a hug. Sandy hugged her.
“Oh, I know! She’s a total D-lister,” Heather said. “Hey, Jill, did you see the paparazzi around that mansion? The radio says it’s that soap slut Valerie Lipson. You know, ‘Denver’s own star.’”
“What’s she doing?” Tanesha asked. “Taking her clothes off again?”
The girlfriends laughed.
“Hi, you guys,” Jill said. “Why don’t you come in and meet my brother’s wife?”
Stepping out of the doorway, she raised her eyebrows in a “shut up” look. Her friends were so caught up in their world that they missed her signal.
“You know what Perez says . . .” Heather started. Her mouth fell open when she saw Valerie standing in the living room. “What? What?”
Heather stopped walking so suddenly that Sandy and Tanesha bumped into her.
“You’re right. I’m a total D-lister.” Valerie shrugged. “I don’t have any idea why anyone would give a shit what I do.”
The women gawked at Valerie.
“I’m Val,” Valerie said.
“Here’s my question,” Tanesha said. “Why would you work porn? I mean your daddy’s rich. Was it like a phase or some rebellion?”
“I never worked porn,” Valerie said. “Listen, you came to see Jill and Katy. I can just . . .”
“No,” Jill said. “I’m not going to kick Valerie out because you guys are being rude. Knock it off.”
“Well, I want to know,” Tanesha said. She put her hands on her hips as if she wouldn’t give it up until her question was answered. “I mean, every girl has a chance to do porn. I have. Jill has. And we needed the money. Why did you?”
“I never worked in the adult entertainment industry.” Val’s hands bounced her ‘A’ cup breasts. “Don’t really have the parts, now do I?”
“I saw those pictures,” Sandy said. “You’re bigger in the pictures.”
“I was pregnant in the pictures,” Valerie said. She shook her head slightly. “My husband was deployed to the Middle East. I took those pictures for him. The pictures were forcibly removed from him. They were sold to the press by my stepsister.”
“Trevor’s whore?” Heather asked.
Valerie nodded.
“She sucks.” Sandy had a sheepish expression on her face. “Why does Perez hate you so much?”
“He has a crush on a friend of mine . . . You know, my first ex-fiancé? Sean?” Valerie shrugged. “He thinks I’m keeping him from his true love.”
“Oh,” Heather said. “Sorry. We didn’t mean to . . .”
“It’s all right.” Valerie shook her head. “If people believe this stuff, I need to get used to explaining my life. It’s just complicated, you know?”
The women nodded their heads in unison.
“Well, that Wes?” Tanesha said. “You know, I never liked that man. I always thought he was . . . slimy. And too old. I bet he has to take those blue pills.”
“TANESHA!” Jill’s horrified voice echoed in the small apartment.
“Uh-huh,” Sandy and Heather said in unison. “We thought that too.”
Valerie laughed at the truth reflected to her in these strangers’ faces.
“I especially don’t like him now,” Heather said. “I mean, you seem so nice. And he’s just . . . blech.”
“Why?”
“He is not saying nice things about you,” Tanesha said.
Val’s took a quick breath. “How bad?”
“Bad,” Tanesha said.
Sandy and Heather’s heads bobbed up and down.
Valerie closed her eyes. She crossed her arms so her hands held her in a tight hug. The world seemed to wobble on its axis. She felt like she might throw up or faint.
Feeling movement in the room, she opened her eyes. Mike. Mike wrapped her in his arms. Holding him to her, she knew she was right where she was supposed to be, exactly where she belonged.
Home.
~~~~~~~~
Jill tiptoed across her living room. When Mike and Jacob arrived with food, Katy was ready to entertain. Even lagging a little, she kept the adults laughing with her endless stories of her hospital adventure.
After everyone left, Jacob insisted on caring for Katy to give Jill time to deal with her life. Jacob and Katy played with Barbies for a while. He taught Katy how to play tic-tac-toe. When Katy’s eyes drooped, they watched her favorite cartoons on videotape.
Jill peeked in a couple times to see how they were doing. Katy and Jacob went from playing on the couch to lying on the floor. Jacob made a bed for Katy out of the couch cushions. The last time Jill checked, they were sound asleep. He woke when she touched him.
“Oh sorry,” Jacob said. “I haven’t slept much in the last couple days.”
“I don’t know why.” Jill smiled.
His chuckle woke Katy. Katy opened her eyes to watch them whisper back and forth.
“My boss called. He can’t find something he needs. Would you mind watching Katy for an hour or so? I should be right back.”
“I’m happy to hang out with Katy. Is that all right with you, Katy?”
Katy nodded her head up and down.
“Would you mind if Katy and I went to the Castle?” Jacob asked. “I’m sure Mike and Val could use some help getting ready for dinner.”
“I want to go to his house, Mommy,” Katy said.
“Okay, Katy-baby, let’s get you dressed for dinner. I’m going to get your stay-the-night stuff together so you can sleep if you need to.”
Katy nodded.
“When does she take her medication again?”
“In an hour,” Jill said. “Do you mind just hanging here while I take care of this?”
“Not at all.”
Jill gave Katy a quick bath and dressed her in her hand me down “fancy dress.” Katy was beginning to sag again by the time Jill finished packing Katy’s pony bags. She carried Katy into the living room but stopped, stunned, at the door. Jacob had cleaned up the toys and couch cushions. He even replaced the rug where it belonged. She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what she saw.
“Mommy, I think I need to sleep,” Katy said.
“Should we stay here?” Jacob asked.
“No, she sleeps like a rock. If you don’t mind keeping her with you, she’ll sleep almost anywhere.”
Jacob took Katy’s worn leather saddlebags. He arched his eyebrows in question to Jill. She smiled and nodded toward the door. He opened the door so she could carry Katy from the apartment.
Walking down the hall, she said, “The bags are another long story. For now, you should know that these are Katy’s pony bags. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about them when she’s feeling better.”
He followed Jill out of the apartment. Jill set Katy in her car seat and was surprised when Jacob took the passenger’s seat.
“You can drop us off at the workshop,” he said. “We can take the tunnel into the Castle.”
“I usually take the bus.”
“You may as well take the car. Do you have money for parking?”
Jill looked in her purse. She had a dollar in quarters and a prescription for Katy. She would use the dollar for the meter but the prescription . . . As if he had read her mind, Jacob set a hundred dollar bill in her purse.
“For the meds,” he said.
She blushed. “I . . .”
“Don’t worry. I’ll put it on your tab.” He winked.
“Thanks. I didn’t know . . .”
“How to get the prescription filled? I figured as much,” he said. Jacob took her cell phone and dialed his number. “Now you have my number. Just call me when you’re done and I’ll meet you at the workshop.”
She nodded and drove
to his Detroit Street workshop. Jill waved at Jacob and Katy when she pulled out. Driving down Detroit Street, she watched them waving in the rearview mirror.
Her baby girl in the arms of her . . .
Boyfriend?
Ah shit.
~~~~~~~~
“What’s next?” Mike asked.
They were sitting in the Jeep. They had spent the last hour in Store of Lingerie in North Cherry Creek. The owner, Cindy Johnson, had escorted them into a private fitting room, where Valerie teased Mike with lingerie. Mostly, she looked at underwear and bras for her new Denver life. Jacob had planned for everything except decent underwear.
“Want to do something really fun?” Valerie asked.
“More fun than watching you try on lingerie for an hour? No, darling, there’s nothing better than that.”
In a swift motion, Valerie slipped her knee over Mike’s lap. Sitting facing him, she kissed with long, pulling motions. As fast as she was there, she moved back to the passenger seat. Mike was so dazed it took him a few moments to speak.
“Yes, dear,” Mike said.
“So you want to do something fun?”
“Whatever you say.”
Valerie laughed. His arms moved around her to kiss her. She turned her head away. He laughed and kissed her cheek.
“What did you have in mind?” Mike asked.
“Safety deposit box.”
“Your wish is my command.”
~~~~~~~~
“But . . . but . . .” Jill couldn’t breathe.
“Get the fuck out of my office!” The rolls of fat under her boss’s chin vibrated with his scream.
“I have sick time. I have vacation time. I . . .”
“I don’t give a shit what you have or don’t have. If you don’t get the fuck out of my office, I will have you arrested!”
“My daughter . . .”
“You are such a whining little bitch,” he said. Imitating her voice, he whined, “My daughter.”
“Listen, you have no right . . .”
Jill started and jumped back when he let out a rage filled scream: “AGHHHH! I don’t give a fuck about your daughter or you!”
He jumped from his seat so fast that Jill cowered as if he was going to hit her. He pushed his bulk past her to the door.
“Please, sir,” Jill whimpered. “I’m very sorry you couldn’t find the email. You’re absolutely right. It’s entirely my fault.”
“Damn right, it’s your fault.”
“I really need this job.” Jill couldn’t keep herself from begging.
“That’s not my problem anymore.”
He wrenched the door open and pointed.
“Please, Mr. Ashforth.”
“Get the fuck out of my office and my company. If I even THINK you’re near the building, I will call the cops.”
He grabbed Jill by the elbow and dragged her through the office. While horrified employees watched, he shoved her out the door. Jill landed in a heap on the sidewalk. He threw her purse at her. Her purse opened in mid-air spilling its contents all over the sidewalk.
Her nylons ruined, Jill scrambled to pick up her purse as a woman ran across the street to see if she could help. They picked up her belongings together. When Jill looked back at her office, she gasped, bit her fist, and then went blank.
Unsure of what to do, the woman found Jill’s phone on the sidewalk. The stranger pressed send to dial the last number Jill had dialed.
“Hello? I’m sorry. I am in . . . uh . . . Denver. I saw this woman thrown out of an office. I think she was assaulted but I can’t tell. She’s very upset.”
“Where is she?” Jacob asked.
“Brighton Boulevard and East 36th Street,” the woman said.
“I hate to ask you this, but will you stay with her? I certainly will compensate you for your time. She gets overwhelmed and . . .”
“You don’t have to compensate me. I’ll stay with her. I have time,” the woman said. “Just come and help your friend. I’ve never seen anything so awful.”
“I will be there as fast as I can get there,” Jacob said.
Clicking off his cell phone, he looked at Delphie. They were standing in the middle of his apartment while Katy slept on his bed.
“You were right,” Delphie said.
“Just tell me. She’ll be all right?” Jacob asked.
He slipped his arms into the jacket of his black Brioni “power” suit. Delphie straightened his tie.
“She will be fine,” Delphie said. “I’ll stay here with Katherine. Just . . .”
“I know. Be myself,” Jacob said. “Can I kill him?”
Delphie smiled. “You know what to do.”
“You’ll talk to Dad?” Jacob asked.
“I already have,” Delphie said.
“Thanks,” Jacob said.
“Jake?” Delphie hugged him. “I love you.”
“Love you.”
He was halfway down the long stairs from his apartment when Delphie called his name. He turned, and she threw him a box of Kleenex. Catching the tissue box, he stopped short for Valerie. Valerie came out of the house and waited for him on the landing. She nodded.
When Valerie walked across the grass, the crowd and photographers began screaming her name. Jacob ran toward the garage. Using his remote, he started the Aston Martin DBS while the garage door opened. Valerie moved toward the opposite edge of the property. The photographers and crowd followed Valerie, and the driveway cleared of people. Jacob drove the silver, two-seat sports car to the fence. With the Denver Police holding the stragglers back, Jacob hit the street.
Gratefully, Monday afternoon traffic was almost nonexistent. He took Colfax to Park Avenue West. Even with a few red lights, he managed to make good time. Turning on Broadway, he made the easy transition to Denver’s oldest warehouse district on Brighton Boulevard.
Nearing 36th, he noticed a Denver Police cruiser and a policeman talking to Jill. She was sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. Jumping from the car, he jogged to her. He dropped to his knees to scoop her up.
Jill felt his safety first. Then she could smell him. Jacob. In a snap, she returned to the present. Seeing Jacob, she hugged him to her. He helped her to her feet and tucked her into his shoulder. Jill buried her face into his neck.
Jacob spoke with the police officer and took the business card of the woman who had stayed with Jill. Wanting to get her somewhere safe before the inevitable storm of emotion, he led Jill to the Aston Martin. He was halfway around the car when Jill started to sob. Slipping into the driver’s seat, he leaned over to pull Jill onto his lap. While the Aston Martin pumped out soft music and air conditioning, Jill cried her eyes out.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Just lots of blood
“Homeland Security is saying we need to get the photographers off Race Street,” the Denver Police chief said. “That entire neighborhood is on top of the coal tunnels. No one can get in, so I don’t see why this is suddenly a problem.”
“What did you come up with?” the Denver mayor asked the city attorney.
“A constitutional amendment. Freedom of the press.”
“God damn it! This isn’t news. It’s harassment . . . stalking at best! We’re talking about Celia Marlowe’s daughter and her husband. You remember Val? She waited tables at the Wynkoop.”
“I know Val. She interned with us in high school,” the editor of the Rocky Mountain News replied. “What did the other mayors say?”
“They feel powerless against the hoard of press. I’ll tell you this, though. At least one mayor said it’s good for business.”
“Of course. That’s what the Los Angeles Police chief said. He said every time they get rid of the paparazzi, the business owners complain.”
“Anyone complaining?” the mayor asked.
“Dean, Pete’s son, called a couple times. He’s had their vehicles towed from his lot. He would be very happy if they left and never came back.” Th
e police chief paced the office. “The LA chief said the best we could hope for was that Miss Lipson would leave town.”
“I’m not going to kick my dear friend’s child out of town,” the mayor said. “God damn it. Valerie grew up here. She’s one of us. That’s not to mention what her parents have done for the city of Denver! Why don’t we let Homeland clear them out?”
“That’s like telling the world: ‘NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT RIGHT HERE!’ They come in with Black Hawks and soldiers. No fucking around,” the police chief said. “With the Democratic convention in a month, we don’t want Homeland involved.”
“There is one thing we could do. When is the city council meeting on this issue?”
“Tomorrow morning,” the mayor said.
“Let’s call immigration. That’ll fuck with them for a while,” the city attorney said.
“Curfew’s at 11 p.m.,” the police chief volunteered.
“Do it,” the mayor said.
~~~~~~~~
“He . . . he fired me,” Jill said. “He just called me in to f-f-fire m-m-me. He said I . . . I . . .”
Her words were lost in her sobs. Jacob stroked her hair until she was breathing again.
“I thought you worked for Mabel,” Jacob said.
“He . . . he . . . t-t-tricked her out of t-t-the company. T-they have a c-court date this w-w-week. I was just holding on until . . . until . . . Oh God, Jacob, I lost my job!”
Jill buried her head in his shoulder. He returned to stroking her hair.
“She got the company in the divorce, but he . . . he . . .” She wept into his shoulder.
“You work for Ashforth Pipe Supply?” Jacob asked.
“Your mom got me the job right out of high school,” Jill said. “N-n-now I . . . I . . . I’ll never be able to pay you back . . . Katy will starve . . . I’ll lose her for sure. Oh my God, where’s Katy?”
Her tears evaporated the moment she realized she didn’t know where her daughter was.
“She’s with Delphie. Don’t worry. Delphie’s really good with kids. Val and I spent a lot of time with her when our parents were working.”
Jill nodded.
“I left Katy’s meds in the refrigerator at the office,” Jill said. “I can’t go back in there.”
“Let me. Did you get the stuff from your desk?”
Jill shook her head.
“He’s s-so awful. He used to j-just work the w-warehouse. The last three months have been h-hell. I just . . . He lost an email. He deleted it from his personal inbox and then couldn’t find it. He does that all the time. If I tell him, he deleted it? He gets furious. So I found the email, and then he fired me. He . . . he threw me out.”