~Part 9~
It was my second day staying in the Genoard House.
Apparently, Jacuzzi and his gang knew the Genoard's and were hiding out in an apartment that the family owned. They needed to lay low for a while because the police were searching for them.
When the gang heard about my predicament, they were gracious enough to let me stay there, too, even thought they were already pretty crowded and Jacuzzi really needed to heel; he had a broken leg, a broke arm, a head injury, the works. Still, everyone was really sympathetic to my situation.
I was extremely grateful.
But I was also worried.
I could write to my friends, family, and agent, telling them what had happened and where I was staying.
But the Rail Tracer had the wrong address and there was no way for me to reach him.
He would never find me.
Every noticed my worry but no one asked questions. Thank god.
…
After lunch time, I went into Nice's room and found the whole gang there.
"Rita! We got some things for you. Two packages just arrived and they were addressed to you."
"What?"
I walked over the boxes with the pink ribbons, and, sure enough, my name was on both of them… but there was no return address.
"Does anyone know you're here?"
I looked at Nice and shook my head. "I haven't sent out the letters yet."
So who were the packages from?
The 6'5" man, named Donny, held the biggest box for me as I untied the ribbon and pulled the lid off.
In side was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. Night blue in color. Flowing fabric. Beautiful draping. Short, shear sleeves with intricate beading. A dress that I had only dreamed of wearing.
"Wow! It's really nice, isn't it?" Nice took the lid from me. "You should put it on. See what it looks like."
I slipped the dress from the box and held it up. It was long enough to reach past must ankles.
Nice cleared her throat and the boys cleared out so that I could change.
Nice helped me slip it on.
When I looked in the mirror, I didn't even recognize myself. Everyone had said that I was beautiful but, for the first time in my life, I actually felt beautiful.
"Aw. It looks good on you. Whose it from?"
"… I don't know…"
I don't think she believed the bluff but she didn't push it.
It had to be from him. He found me. This had to mean that he was coming to see me soon.
I did my best to hide the nervous smile.
"What's in the other box?"
I had almost forgotten.
I went over to the thinner package and undid the bow.
I lifted the lid.
And found my cane with the sword inside.
"Isn't that yours? Didn't you have it on the train?"
I nodded, slowly. "… I must have left it behind…"
My elated feelings fell hard and fast.
The cane was supposed to ensure that he was would have to face me again.
But he had given it back to me without having to look me in the face.
That's when I though I understood. He didn't mean anything that he had said. He just wanted me for some un-pure reason or another. When he said that he wanted to marry me, I thought he had actually meant it. So, when I left the sword as my answer, he saw that I was serious when he was not. So he found out where I was and sent it to me by mail so he wouldn't have to break my heart in front of my face… and the dress was some kinda extra apology.
I felt like I had been jilted and I hadn't even said whether or not I was going to marry him.
I wanted to die.
"Rita?"
I looked at Nice, doing my best to hold the tears back.
"Everything okay?"
I forced a smile and said, "Yes. I just need some fresh air."
She didn't believe me, but, again, she didn't push it. "Alright. I'll have nick and the kids go with you. Why don't you go out in your dress? Show it off to the rest of the block."
I nodded, grateful for her indirect attempt at trying to make me feel better.
…
I decided to take my cane on my walk, too, just in case.
I walked down the sidewalk with Nick and the kids a couple of feet behind me. While I was crossing the street, I noticed a parked car was moving around a lot. I thought it was some man and woman who were too indecent to take it inside.
I made my way to Central Park.
As I walked, I felt a many eyes on me. Most were male eyes, but I couldn't tell whether they were staring because of the dress or because of who I was.
At that point and time I didn't want to be Rita Scott the actress. I wanted to be a nobody that nobody gave a second look to.
Suddenly, the same car I saw parked in the streets pulled up from behind me and parked in front of me.
Out stepped two men. One man was not too out of the ordinary but the other was a blond man in a blue jump suit and wielding a giant monkey wrench. Not very forgettable.
"A bitter pill. I think it's high time we start ourselves a sad story." The monkey wrench guy stood behind me as he continued. "A story that is heart rending in its misery and despair, but rest assured…" He smirked at me. "…it'll be a happy story for me." He patted the top of his monkey wrench into his open hand.
That's when it became clear. He was threatening me.
Nick ran up behind the guy with the monkey wrench and told him to back off. Monkey wrench whirled around and slammed the wrench right into Nick's gut.
"Nick!"
Monkey wrench grabbed my right arm while his crony grabbed the other arm. Despite my struggle, they forced me into the back seat of their car. Monkey wrench sat back there with me while the other guy sped away, leaving only a note behind.
Monkey wrench gave me a wicked grin.
Another reason why I didn't want to be Rita Scott. People would stop trying/succeeding to kidnap me.
