I woke up to the smell of eggs, sausage, and coffee. Carla poked her head in as I was stretching.
"Get up sleepyhead."
"I'm up. What time is it?" I looked at the clock.
"A little after seven."
"Oh. It feels later than that." Damn, I can sleep good next to her. I might just need to sleep with her every night... Naaaaaaa!
"Breakfast is on, your coffee is poured, and the news is blasting Armacost."
"I knew the wolves would be all over this fresh kill."
"Oh yeah. They are really nailing him. One thing. They've staked out the house trying to get to Teresa or one of the kids."
"Those paparazzi sons-of-bitches. I hope Holly knows how to take care of them."
"One of the lawyers was at the house talking to the press. They said they'd be going back there in a few minutes. If you hurry you can see it."
I slid out of bed and into the pair of pink gym shorts. I followed Carla back to the kitchen. She had the TV on in there. I really have to reconsider what I'm paying her. She has a TV in the living room, one in the bedroom, and one in the kitchen. They are all relatively new, flatscreens, and each one has a DVD slash VCR either built-in or attached to. I must be paying her too much.
"And now back to our reporter with the exclusive story in front of Benjamin Armacost's residence where there is going to be a statement from Mr. Armacost's attorney."
I laughed, "Exclusive? I count 2, 3, 4 different news stations there. And you nitwits, it's Mrs. Armacost's attorney."
"I'm Jonathan Schaffer, Mrs. Armacost's attorney. The Armacost family is requesting you honor their right to privacy. Mr. Armacost no longer lives at this location. Through the separation agreement he signed this past Monday, he has moved to an apartment downtown and has agreed not to come to this location. Mrs. Armacost is not here, she is on a vacation to recuperate from the ordeal of last weekend. I'm not even sure if she is aware of the events of last evening. If she decides to make a statement, it will be through me. Until then, I have advised her and the children not to make any public comments, I hope you will honor that advice. I only represent Mrs. Armacost and the children, if you want to interview Mr. Armacost I suggest you talk to him or his attorneys. Thank you."
It was a well done, down and dirty, "leave the family alone or else" speech. But since when does the press ever do what they're requested. Don't get me wrong, some reporters are professionals and do what they should. But, then there are the ones who will harass, stalk, and follow their prey until they can report or create a story.
"Do you think they'll go after Holly?", Carla asked with a concerned tone to her voice.
"They might." I picked up the phone and called Holly. She answered on the first ring.
"Hi, Mick. Well, he's done it now."
Assuming she meant her father, "What's that?"
"The press are all over the place."
"Yeah, I just saw your mother's attorney. He did a good job."
"What should I do if they try to corner me?"
"Well, first, don't panic. You're not a princess. Second, you call me and tell me where you are and what they are doing. Don't run, don't get physical, but don't let them get physical either. I guess your attorney told you just to say "no comment" and keep moving, right?"
"Yes. That's what he said, and then to call him. He said he'll sue them if they try, now that he has gone public requesting them to stay away from us."
"He's right. But I still don't want them trying to get at you. They'll try to make something you say or do into a story to drag this out."
"Okay, Mick. I have to get to class. I'll talk to you later."
"You be careful."
Carla was sitting, listening to every word. "Is she okay?"
"Yeah. She's just a little scared. Let's eat."
We ate the breakfast Carla had fixed and then I took my shower and shaved. And of course there was the other "S" in there too. I got dressed and Carla was already to go. I don't know how she does it, but in the time it took me to do the three S's, and get dressed, Carla was waiting for me. Being she showered before I got up, she still had to dry her hair, put on her make-up, and get dressed.
I finished a little coffee in my cup and we left. As we got to our cars, I told her, "Call the chief of police at the university. Tell him who you are, he'll talk to you if he knows who you work for. He better. Fill him in on Holly and the paparazzi following her around. Just in case."
"Okay boss. I'll see you at the office."
We had barely gotten out of the garage when my cell phone rang. It was Holly.
"Mick, they're following me."
"Who's they?"
"It's one of the camera crews. It's a white van with all of the camera junk and antennas and a dish on top. They were sitting up the street from the house and started following me as soon as I left."
"Are you sure they are following you, and didn't just leave the same time as you?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I even went around a couple of the blocks and through a shopping center, getting to the freeway. They're still behind me."
"Okay. Listen. Is your top up or down?"
"Up."
"Good. You know where the commuter parking lot / rest stop is at the city county line, right?"
"Yes."
Take your time, slow down if you have to. It will take me about 15 minutes to get there. You are probably only about 10 minutes away. Get off at one of the exits before you get there and get a coffee or something. Chances are they won't follow you into a crowded place." I finished telling her what to do.
Luckily, I remember some of the old back ways to get to the freeway from when I was a cop. It really helps to be able to avoid some of the traffic this time of the morning. Of course, some of the newer roads have taken a lot of the traffic off some of these streets too.
My timing was impeccable as usual. I got to the commuter lot before Holly and pulled down the far end of the second row. As usual, don't ask me to explain it because I can't, there are always a few open spaces at the far end of the second row. I guess people see so many other cars at the beginning, they want to make sure they get a space so the skip a couple rows.
I saw the big white van pull in from the highway before I saw Holly. Then I saw her accelerate down the third row. I was waiting. She pulled the car to a stop, opened the door, got out, ran to my truck and got in the drivers side, just in time to see me take off in her Vette.
The occupants of the white van bought it. They didn't even notice the switch. I slowed down getting back into traffic on the freeway so they could stay with me. No point in losing them now. "Alright boys, how about a magical mystery tour of our fine city?" I called Carla just to let her know what was up.
About two hours into our little tour, the white van was still tailing me. Every once in a while, they would try to get up next to me, maybe to see Holly or maybe they were getting suspicious. I had driven past the university 2 or 3 times, just to let them think it was time to park. Then I headed towards the south side of town to a little neighborhood that is notorious for being a little rough. There is a biker bar there that has been the scene of several shootings and stabbings. "This time of day, why would a nice socialite like Holly Armacost be going to a known biker bar?" I knew it would be too much for my tail to refuse.
The bar is on a main road. In order to get to it, you have to go past it, make a u-turn, and come back about a half a block. I knew I could out maneuver the van easily. The road is two lanes in each direction. I stayed in the right lane until the last possible second. The van was two cars behind me. As I got to the crossover, I made a sudden left turn. The van couldn't follow because of a car in the left lane next to them. "Ha haa!"
I pulled the Vette up right in front. Typical, there were already a half dozen or so bikes on the lot. I hurried up and ran inside. My rush obviously caught everybody's attention.
