Part 32 (1/2)
I sat a few moments, gathering myself. Swaying, I stood up. ”I'm going for popcorn. Want some?” I quickly squeezed past Bruno. Just as I reached the aisle he stuck out his foot, tripping me. I went down on the carpet.
Gerald snickered. I got to my hands and knees then sat back on my haunches, waiting for the nightmare room to stop tilting. ”I thought you and Gerald weren't allowed in The Rock. At least that's what Mrs. Parson told me.”
Bruno shot up out of his seat and leaned down, putting his face in mine. ”You keep your mouth shut.” He jerked me up to my feet.
”Ms. Poole,” Parson greeted me as he came down the stage steps and walked up the aisle to us. ”I'm glad you're alive. Rubio had such a need for drama, the need to create his own special effects. Not a good combination for a hit man. I won't miss him.”
”How did he know Celia was at the motel?” I asked, as the room finally righted itself.
”I had Bruno, Gerald, and Rubio following you. Bruno and Gerald tailed who they thought was you to the hospital. So I ordered Rubio to wait at Bella Casa in case someone else went in or out. And you did. In a bright red convertible. Rubio followed you to the motel and of course informed Bruno where he was.”
”I didn't see his bike.”
”He wasn't on it, just in a regular plain sedan. I didn't order him to rent the room next to Celia's or fire stupidly through the wall. But that was Rubio's way. He too loved the movies. Did you tell them where the memory card is?”
”No.”
”We searched Celia, the room, and Ms. Poole,” Bruno explained. ”Nothing. It was a quick search. We had to get out before the cops arrived.”
”Where's Heath?” I asked Parson.
Parson a.s.sessed me. ”You said you didn't tell Bruno and Gerald where the card is. Does that mean you know?”
”Yes.”
”We're making headway.”
”I want to see Heath first.”
”Bring her upstairs,” he told the two men.
Parson led us backstage. Bruno's hand gripped my arm as we made our way up the circular stairs. I didn't have a plan. But I had one goal, the card in Bruno's pocket. Other than that, I was improvising, and like all good actresses I knew I had to follow my instincts. Wait for the moment.
Parson opened the door to his bedroom. I braced myself for what b.l.o.o.d.y condition Heath might be in.
”Sit, Miss Poole.”
Bruno shoved me onto the bed. Then he and Gerald leaned against the wall opposite me. Now Parson opened the door to the cement-lined room. Heath was tied to the wooden chair. His s.h.i.+rt hung open and his head lolled down, chin resting on his bare chest.
Luis stood next to him, his black hair glistening like a gigolo's.
”As you can see, we've kept Heath under control,” Parson said. ”I could play the torture game to make you tell me where the card is, but that's tedious, don't you think?”
”Let him go. I'll tell you where it is.”
Luis grabbed Heath's hair and yanked back his head. Heath's face stretched in a grimace of pain.
”You know I can't do that,” Parson said in his most reasonable tone. ”You tell me its location, and I'll send Bruno and Gerald to get it.”
”Let Heath go first.”
”Luis.” Parson spoke his name but it was really a command.
In one balletic movement Luis pulled a knife from his pants pocket, flipped the blade from its sheath, and pressed it to Heath's throat.
”Stop it!” All eyes were on me. I had my moment. I had my audience. ”I don't want to watch any more people die. I saw Celia die. I saw your wife die. I can't take it ...”
”My wife?” Parson looked as if he'd been shot. ”What are you talking about?”
I glanced at Heath, still with the knife at this throat. He was watching me closely. And I realized he was more alert than he'd first appeared.
”What about my wife?” Parson demanded.
”I was there in the penthouse when she jumped. I tried to prevent her. We all did. Ask Bruno. Ask Gerald.”
”She's lying!” Gerald said. ”We checked on your wife every hour, like you said. The last time we did, she was gone.”
Bruno stared silently at me, his eyes filled with pure hatred.
”Go on, Ms. Poole,” Parson said.
”She was on the balcony when Bruno and Gerald broke in.”
”Broke in?”
”Yes. She'd stolen the key from Bruno and had locked the door from the inside.”
”I don't know what she's talking about.” The blood had drained from Bruno's face.
With a small, hard smile, Luis moved to the doorway, the knife in his hand, his back to Heath.
”I was with her,” I said to Parson. ”You have pre-Columbian art in your penthouse. The gla.s.s wall automatically folds back into panels. You have a private elevator with a door that looks like all the other office doors. Your wife had auburn hair, she was wearing jeans.” Parson's eyes were beginning to glaze over with rage. I glanced at Heath. He was working his hands trying to loosen the ropes on his wrists.
”She said you took Jenny to the Rock, and Jenny came home wanting to be an actress. She said you used the theater for solace. Or to kill.”
Parson's stone-like eyes narrowed, his cadaverous body went rigid, and he jabbed a finger at me. ”Enough of this bulls.h.i.+t. I want the card now.”
”I saw Bruno take it.”
Parson turned slowly toward the big man.
Bruno pulled himself up. ”I don't have it, sir. She's s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with us.”
”He put it in his handkerchief pocket. Look for yourself.”
Bruno's left hand flattened against his chest. His eyes widened as he felt the card. Instantly his other hand jammed inside his jacket and pulled out his gun. But Bruno wasn't fast enough.