Authors Note
I got my laptop back! All is good now and expect more frequent updates. Well I should keep working on something else but I have decided to take pity on the three people who I've sent a teaser for this chapter. By the way, if anyone wants teasers for upcoming chapters of TP or CIC give me your email address and I will send something to you. Most likely, it will just be a rough outline for a part that will be in the next chapter. If you're reading CIC, go and read Beau, for Short! It's only a two part story and who doesn't want to know more about Liz? Everyone is always saying (in reviews) that she's a bitch but how did she used to be? I'm a review Nazi so go and review! Enjoy the chapter; I've been waiting since I started this story to get to write this story! And if you don't know cars than just ignore the car ramblings that are bound to show up in this chapter but, if you are a car person, like I am, than I'm sure you will appreciate it and pardon anything that may be not quite right, I'm using the internet to insure that things are more accurate! Review! –Steph
Disclaimer: Based loosely off of the Heartland series created and owned by Lauren Brooke.
The Peak
Chapter 10
"Your father wants the keys to the Enzo," Jane repeated.
"Wha… why?" Ty stuttered.
"I'm assuming because he wants to drive it," Jane replied slowly, carefully watching her sons face for a hint of emotion.
"But… I was going to take the Enzo out tonight," Ty said. "I just got it for my birthday last month and haven't had the chance to take it out for a proper drive yet," he added quickly.
Jane starred at Ty in shock and displeasure. "Ty, no. You're not thinking about street racing are you?" she accused him.
Ty managed to keep his cool and composed composure. "No, mom, of course not. I was…"
"Ty, we talked about this!" Jane exclaimed. "I thought we had an understanding on this. Two years ago when you totaled your fathers Porsche Boxster you promised that you wouldn't get involved with those people again!" Jane was clearly upset.
Ty almost grinned at the memory but managed to refrain. Two years ago, when Ty had been fifteen, he'd met some people and had been convinced to take his fathers Porsche out one night and race them. Ty had been planning on going out and having some fun for a few hours and then returning the Boxster to the garage before dawn. No one would ever know that it had been missing. But, when things need to work out they never seem to do. The car had been totaled and somehow the police had been tipped off and caught them. Ty had had no choice but to call his parents. Fuming mad, his parents had picked their fifteen year old son up from the police station. The drive home had been consumed in a tense silence but once inside the safety of their own home Ty had received the yelling of his life. Not only had he destroyed a perfectly good and priceless vehicle and driven without a license but he had betrayed his parents trust. Ty had been grounded and had been forced to swear that he would never engage in street racing ever again.
"Calm down, mom! I wasn't going to do anything like that, I swear," Ty told her calmly.
"What's all the noise in here?" Brad asked as he walked into the room. He crossed the length of the room in his long stride and stood next to his wife.
"I was just…" Ty began.
"Ty's making a deal about us taking the Enzo and I'm try to figure out why," Jane cut in.
Brad's eyes narrowed as he drew the same conclusion as his wife had. "Alright," Brad began, "Who is it this time and how much is at stake?" Brad pulled his expensive leather wallet out of the back pocket of his neatly pressed suit pants and flipped it open. He withdrew several creaseless bills and sifted through them.
"Dad, really I'm not…"
"Ty, just tell me how much you need to get out of your race before I loose my temper," Brad warned. "Will 1000 dollars cover it?" he held ten hundreds out to Ty.
"I'm not street racing!" Ty burst out suddenly.
Brad withdrew his hand but didn't put the money away. He still wasn't sure if he believed Ty or not.
"I told you I wouldn't do it anymore, didn't I?" Ty said calmly.
"Then what's then deal here?" Brad asked as he put the money carefully back into is wallet and slipped the wallet into his back pocket.
"I was just going to take the Enzo out tonight," Ty told Brad easily.
"I would like to take the Enzo out to night if you don't mind," Brad countered.
"But it's my car," Ty argued.
"Your mother and I have tickets to see Cirque Du Soleil with the Laurence's and then we are going to that new Italian restaurant. We would like to take the Enzo," Brad repeated.
"Can't you take your Vanquish?" Ty almost, almost, resorted to begging.
Brad shrugged. "I've driven the Vanquish around before. I'm in the mood for something new, something exotic. Something that most people wouldn't have," Brad said.
"Yeah, and you just see people driving around Aston Martin's everyday," Ty said sarcastically.
"Yes," Brad agreed. "But a Ferrari Enzo is much rarer. I haven't seen anyone driving an Enzo around here. I'd like to be the first." Brad was car obsessed. Many women put painstaking hours into figuring out what they were going to where when they went, God forbid someone have the same dress, shoes or handbag as them. Brad was that way with cars.
"What am I supposed to take then?" Ty asked.
Brad looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Well," he began. "You always have the Ferrari you drive everyday…"
"No," Ty said quickly. "That's not good enough," he muttered carefully under his breath. If his parents had heard that then…
"There's the Escalade," Brad continued.
Ty could see it in his head now. Tony would have to be rushed to the hospital with a burst lung if Ty showed up with an SUV.
Brad went on to list the other cars that were currently sitting in the Baldwin's large garage. With the look of distaste that lighted Ty's face with every car he named Brad finally gave up. "You can take the Vanquish," he finally said.
Ty sat up a little straighter. The Vanquish sure as hell wasn't his Enzo but it would have to work. "Fine," he agreed.
Brad pulled a glimmering key out of his pocket. He held it up in front of Ty and Ty reached for it. Before Ty could grasp the single key that was hanging off of the key ring, Brad pulled it back. "On one condition," Brad bargained. "I get it back in tact and running…"
"Deal," Ty quickly said.
"And…" Brad continued.
"I thought you said there was one condition," Ty said.
Brad glared at him and Ty shut up. "Second," Brad continued. "You swear to me right now that you're not doing any street racing," he said firmly.
The room was completely silent for a few seconds. "I swear," Ty stated.
Brad tossed the key to Ty and Ty caught it easily. Ty looked at the key reflecting the light and suddenly felt uneasy. He looked up and caught his parents still watching him closely. "What?"
"What are you doing tonight?" Jane asked eventually.
Ty shrugged noncommittally. "I was just going to hand out with Mick and some of the guys and maybe go to a party." Typical Ty answer.
"Fine," Brad said. "But if I hear one word that something other than partying was going on tonight you will have hell to pay for it, Ty," he warned Ty. "If it is street racing so help me I will…"
"That's enough, Brad," Jane quickly quieted her husband. "Ty," she began, "We're just concerned for your safety. Street racing is dangerous and after watching the news reports on the young kids who were killed doing just that at Dead Mans Curve a few months ago, I…" Jane trailed off in sadness. "I just don't want that to be you," she completed emotionally.
"I'm not doing anything like that, mom," Ty softly assured her. He wasn't able to meet his mother's eyes.
"Swear to it right now, Ty," Brad requested again. "Swear that you're not street racing."
"I swear I'm not street racing," Ty did what his father asked.
"I'll trust your word this time, Ty, and I'll hope that it's the truth," Brad said. "Don't ruin my faith in you a second time, Ty," Brad came close to pleading with his son.
"You can trust me, dad," Ty told his father.
"I really hope so, Ty," Brad said. Then he held out his hand. "Keys," he said simply.
Ty sighed in defeat and pulled the keys to his new Ferrari Enzo out of a drawer on his desk. He handed them to his father and his father accepted them gratefully.
Jane and Brad gave their farewells to Ty and headed over to the door. Jane headed off down the hallway back to her and Brad's room to finish getting ready. Brad lingered behind a moment. He turned back to Ty. "I know that there's a lot of pressure on you kids to do things these days," Brad began. "But I sincerely hope you, my son, are strong enough to go your own way, to not follow the crowd."
"I am, dad. I'm my own person and I know that you know I don't let myself get bossed around," Ty said with a grin.
Brad laughed. "Yes, I do know that." Then the smile was gone and Brad's face was again serious. "Remember," Brad warned ominously. "You gave me your word, Ty."
Ty spun around lazily in his chair once his father was gone. After several rotations Ty planted his feet on the floor and stopped the chairs movement. He glanced down at the key that he still held in his hand. The Austin Martin key ring seemed to be laughing at him, taunting him. Ty quickly closed his fist around the key again. He pushed a hand through his hair. "Shit," he cursed under his breath.
The Peak
Amy was relieved that the computer room at The Scottsdale Princess was remarkably empty. Only a few of the black Dell computers were being used. There was one teenage girl who was busily IMing with friends, a young boy who was doing research for a school project and several others researching things to do in Arizona. One middle aged woman was printing boarding passes for her flight home the next day.
Amy walked through the quiet room that's only sound was the taping of fingers on the keyboard, the noise the printer made as it printed pages and the occasional sharp cackle from the IMing girl.
Amy selected a computer in the corners that had no one near her. She didn't know why she was so nervous.
Amy double clicked on the Internet Explorer icon and Google came up as the homepage. She quickly typed in her search and hit enter.
Dead Mans Curve, Arizona
Results 1-10 of about 150,000,000 for Dead Mans Curve, Arizona. (0.17 seconds)
Amy looked at all of the entries that appeared before her. What was she looking for? Was Dead Mans Curve? Or maybe a band she didn't know about? Considering Ty it could very well be a club. She finally settled on the first entry. First was always safe, sometimes.
www (dot) AZattractions (dot) com
Amy's finger hesitated above the link. Should she really be doing this? Yes, she finally concluded. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She had promised Ty that wouldn't come to Dead Mans Curve that night but he never said anything about looking up what it was. Looking wouldn't hurt anything and besides, she was curious. Ty had made such a big deal about it and now she wanted to know what was really going on. Apparently, Amy had never heard the saying "Curiosity killed the cat."
The page opened quickly and Amy scanned it quickly, trying to figure out if it was viable. There were several photographs of mountains. What's the big deal about mountains? Amy wondered in confusion. There were some more pictures on the sight as well. These focused more on a road. There was an aerial shot that depicted a long, narrow, winding road. There was another that showed a shard turn in the road that was flanked by the biggest boulders Amy had ever seen on either side.
Another picture was just of a sign. It read:
Dead Mans Curve
No motorized vehicles permitted
Authorized tours/hikes ONLY
Violators will be fined $1000
Amy decided that she would just have to read the webpage to understand. What could be so important about this place that you'd be fined $1000 for 'trespassing'?
AZ Attractions: Dead Mans Curve
Dean Mans Curve is a quarter mile of treacherous road. Due to a number of deaths in recent years, the State of Arizona passed a law in 2001 that limited the use of Dead Mans curve to guided hikes and tours. Motorized vehicles of any kind are no longer permitted on Dead Mans Curve. Dead Mans Curve is only accessible from 10 am–6 pm Monday–Saturday and from 1 pm–5 pm on Sunday's.
Dead Mans Curve's first known usage was in the 1800's when the 2.57 mile long road was used as a trade route. The road leads to and through the Blue Horse Mountains. The road became popular due to its easy accessibility to popular trade markets on either side of the Blue Horse Mountains.
Use of the popular trade route diminished greatly when many deaths and robberies were reported along the road. It is believed, that bandits and thieves would station themselves along the road and ambush unsuspecting travelers taking their goods and horses and then killing the tradesmen. The place where the most deaths were reported was at a curve that is approximately a quarter (.25) mile away from the pass in the Blue Horse Mountains. The curve is sharp and is bordered on either side by large boulders. The curve presented the unsuspecting tradesmen with a "blind spot" and they were unable to see what was waiting for them on the other side. On the rare occasion that a merchant made his way unscathed he would likely meet his fate in the pass.
Thus, the road was then on called 'Dead Mans Curve' and the pass 'Dead Mans Pass'.
In the 1900's when Dead Mans Curve was no longer needed as a trade route it became popular for other reasons. "Street racing." Ranging from the earliest days of horseracing, bicycling and the earliest automobiles. Dead Mans Curve maintained the meaning behind its name, though this time it was not bandits and thieves who did the trick.
Dead Mans Curve varies throughout on its width. Some places are wide enough to fit ten cars and others only just barely wide enough to allow one car. The elevation is another element that is subject to sudden rise or decline. Areas of Dead Mans Curve are sometimes flooded or blown over with rocks and sand.
Despite the law that prohibits motorized vehicles on Dead Mans Curve; Dead Mans Curve has continued to be a popular location for street races. The many deaths have only succeeded in "upping" the popularity and thrill. These days, Dead Mans Curve is known as a notorious location where the best of the street racers meet to see who the best is. Dead Mans Curve is also ridden by novices.
The State of Arizona does all in its power to prevent any motorized vehicles from entering. When the Curve is not open for hikes and guided tours the gates are locked shut. Video cameras monitor the road when it is closed to the public.
"Amy?" a voice cut through Amy's concentration and focus.
Amy quickly looked up and saw Joni watching her. "Yeah?" Amy asked as she hurriedly exited off of the page she had been reading.
"We were about to go to dinner. Lou told me to come get you," Joni told her.
"Oh, right," Amy said instantly remembering that her sister had told her they had reservations at a new Italian restaurant nearby that was supposed to be very good, and expensive. Scott's parents, Meg and Greg, had insisted they treat everyone to the five star dinner as an early wedding gift to Scott and Lou.
After making sure that everything was turned off Amy stood up and followed Joni out to the elevator.
"So, what were you doing on the computer?" Joni asked once they were away from the eerie quiet of the computer room.
Amy thought for a moment. She wasn't sure if she should say. She trusted Joni but she also hadn't approved of her spending time with Ty earlier that day and wasn't sure if she would approve of it. And besides, Amy wasn't yet sure herself what Ty was doing at Dead Mans Curve later that night. He wasn't so stupid that he would engage in street racing, was he?
"Oh, you know," Amy responded breezily, "Just checking my email and everything."
The Peak
7:20
Dead Mans Curve
"Do you think he's coming?" Mick asked Ty.
"Yes," Ty responded stonily. "This is Tony we're talking about here, he wouldn't miss it."
"Yeah," Mick agreed. "I guess you're right." After a moment of silence Mick asked, "Are you nervous?"
"About the race? No," Ty said simply. "I'm more nervous about this car," Ty said and patted the silver hood of his fathers Aston Martin Vanquish. "My father will kill me if anything happens to it."
"Did they suspect?"
"Yes," Ty said threw gritted teeth. "What about your?"
"No," Mick said with a short laugh.
An engine sounded in the distance. The bright headlights swept over Ty and Mick. Ty pushed himself forwards so that he was no longer leaning against the hood of his car. Mick took a step forwards too, away from his Daytona Sunset Orange Corvette Z06.
The yellow Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster skidded to halt just several feet in front of Ty and Mick.
A gleaming yellow door swung open and a tall man who was probably in his early twenties stepped out. He was tall and lean, the ridges and contours of his muscular chest just slightly accentuated as the light, dry wind blew his thin black t-shirt against his chest. His dark jeans traveled down his long, steel legs until they met with his black shoes. The black leather jacket was left open, save for where it was buttoned together at the neck. His dark brown eyes blended in with the shadows of the night and his short, dark brown hair swept across his forehead giving him the look of an angel or perhaps he was closer to a demon. He took a step forwards with the lithe step of a seasoned dancer. This was Tony.
A second car pulled up, it was a dark blue Ford GT that had white racing stripes running over the hood, roof and the rear hatch and running horizontally along the sides. The man that stepped out of the Ford GT was remarkably less spectacular then Tony but he was beautiful in his own way, it was just diminished as he stood in Tony's shadows. He stood several inches shorter then Tony but he was just as well muscled. His hair was messily wavy and a brilliant copper color. Eyes the color of light caramel stared up from under the edges of the copper waves. He was dressed similarly to Tony, wearing a black polo, dark jeans and black leather jacket. When this man stepped forwards to stand just slightly behind Tony he didn't move with the same gracefully lithe movements that Tony had recently exhibited. His walk was more forceful and dominant. This was Brian, Tony's "second".
"So, you girls decided to join us, I see," Tony drawled out in his deep, strangely angelic voice as he rocked back on the heels of his designer shoes and slid his long, thin hands into his pockets.
"We've been waiting here for fifteen minutes, Tony," Ty responded in the same bored voice as he used with people that annoyed him immensely.
"Well than," Tony said, flashing one of his dazzling lopsided grins, his teeth shiny bright white in the headlights shinning brightly from the four sports cars. "Shall we get started? Unless of course," he began with a smirk, "You girls are too chicken..." he trailed off but the meaning was clear in his voice.
"I didn't come here to listen to you talk," Ty responded coolly.
Tony's grin somewhat faded away, he did NOT take fondly to insults that were directed at him, but there was still a faint trace of it as the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. "Well then, let's go." He turned around but only a moment later he stopped and turned half-way back around. He faced Ty and a smirk drew across his perfect features, as if he was laughing at some inside joke that only he knew. "You first, Baldwin."
Ty stood up straighter and stared at Tony and for an instant something flashed in Ty's eyes. He watched Tony suspiciously for a few seconds. Ty studied Tony's face as if he was trying to find something that wasn't there. Then, letting everything go, a smirk that was almost identical to Tony's drew across Ty's perfectly shadowed face. "You're on."
Tony stepped back over to his Lamborghini. But, before he got into the low seat he turned back to Ty who was just opening the Aston Martin's door.
"What happened to the Ferrari, Baldwin?" Tony called over.
"What?" Ty called back, grinning insanely. "You scared?"
"You wish," Tony answered menacingly. "Listen up; this is how we're going to do this. Baldwin, you and me are going first. Laurence and Adam will wait here. We take it once to the mountains and, assuming you make it that far, back to this spot. Winner takes all." With a smirk Tony added, "That Vanquish and Z06 will look nice in my garage, I've already cleared space for them."
"Well it's going to remain empty," Mick said calmly.
Tony glared at Mick and Mick glared back.
With another sickening grin, Tony stepped over to the drivers' door of his Lamborghini Murcielago Roaster and pulled the door open upwards. He slid stealthily into the low, leather seat. He reached up and pulled the door closed. Tony started up the Lamborghini and quickly spun it around so that he was facing the direction they were going.
Ty pulled his Aston Martin Vanquish up next to the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster. Tony gunned his engine menacingly. Ty returned it so that the Vanquish's engine let up a loud rumble. Ty grinned at the power of the 520 horsepower he could feel rumbling beneath him. The engines itself was one of the finest engines in the world, enormously powerful, smooth and beautiful. 6.0 liter V12. At 7000 rpm its top speed was over 200 mph.
The Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster was in no way less exquisite then the Aston Martin Vanquish. With 580 horsepower and 7500 rpm it perhaps dominated the Vanquish by a very slim margin. Like the Vanquish, the Murcielago's top speed was over 200 mph and the V12 engine made the two vehicles fair. Neither had a huge advantage over the other.
Adam appeared between the two powerful sports cars and held up a 9mm shotgun. "Drivers set…" Ty pulled the gear shift back to 'D' for drive. "On your marks…" Adam yelled to be heard over the engines. "GO!" he finally said and a single gunshot ripped through the still night air.
Ty's whole body had been tensed, waiting for the signal, and as soon as he heard it his foot slammed on the gas. The Vanquish shot forwards, easily reaching 62 mph in just 4.8 seconds flat and 100 mph in 9.8 seconds.
The starting portion of Dead Mans Curve was wide and both cars were able to travel abreast. Ty hugged the inside of the road as they swept around the first turn. Tony went wide and the slight distance that was added to his turned let Ty take the lead, but only by a foot or two.
Ty let the Vanquish reach 135 mph on a straight portion of the road. When they came to another turn Ty eased on the break right before the sharp turn and stepped on the gas again midway through the turn. Ty easily soared through the turn.
Now, there were slight rises and declines in the elevation of the road. Ty hurtled over the bumps like an Olympic track star. At one point all four wheels of the cars became airborne.
Ty was forced to slow down as they came upon a particularly difficult portion. The road zigzagged back and forth and the elevation rapidly rose and decreased. Ty expertly maneuvered the Vanquish through the obstacle course and once they were on the straightaway he floored it and they picked up speed.
Ty risked a glance in the rearview mirror and was surprised to see Tony hanging back, slightly behind him. He didn't seem to be in a rush which struck Ty as odd. Tony wasn't driving with his usual dominant, in-your-face style.
"What the hell is he doing?" Ty mumbled as he looked back to the road.
Tony drew up besides Ty. Sensing the competition and thriving in it, Ty was tempted to pull ahead but the road was thinning in width and Tony was leading. Ty slowed a little and let Tony whip in front of him. Nothing annoyed Ty more than the yellow rear of the Lamborghini.
When the road widened back up Ty stepped on it and easily overtook Tony. He was leading again. He was home.
They were side by side again as they flew around the next turn.
Tony was being more aggressive now and seemed determined to match Ty's pace the entire time.
Shadows danced in the beams the headlights were admitting. The light was the only thing they had to see by in the pitch black night, the moon covered by clouds. But the bright beams were all Ty needed to know, they were approaching The Curve. The one that Dead Mans Curve was named for.
Tony was becoming more aggressive and was almost pressed up against Ty.
The boulders towered overhead ominously. The shadows cast an eerie look to the curve. The two cars sped into the curve, disrupting the previous tranquility of the desert night life.
"What the hell are you doing!" Ty yelled as loud as he could, even though he knew that there was no way Tony could hear him.
Tony was still right on Ty and was forcing Ty right up against the boulders. Ty could hear the chilling screech of stone on metal.
They were in the trickiest part of the turn when Tony drifted the outside a bit. Ty gratefully got a few feet in between him and the boulders before, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tony give his steering a sharp jerk.
The Peak
'Ding Dong'
The two officers stood side by side on the stoop of a house. The doorbell echoed through the inside of the house but no one opened the door. The officers knew someone was there, there were lights on. The first officer was about to press the doorbell again when the door cracked opened and a young boy's face peered through to them. The brilliant green eyes widened in surprise when they caught sight of the policemen. He opened the door a bit further. He was dressed like a normal teenager in a pair of dark jeans, black converses and an Element sweatshirt.
"Can I help you?" he asked hesitantly.
"Is this the Baldwin residence?" the first officer inquired.
"Yeah," the boy responded.
"Are Bradley and Jane Baldwin available?" the second officer asked.
"What? No, that's my parents. They went out," the boy told them. He opened the door farther.
"Lee?" a girlish voice called from down the hall. "Who was at the door?" the light, melodic voice wafted over to them as Alicia Laurence stepped into the entry way. Alicia was hardly dressed for the Arizona spring weather in her low waisted army green cargo pants, big brown wraparound leather belt, fuzzy, tight, v-neck beige sweater and brown moccasin boots and tangles necklaces around her neck. Her long dark brown hair fell in its natural light waves down her back.
Like Lee, Alicia's dark blue eyes widened when she saw the officers standing there. "What's going on?" she asked as she stood by Lee's side.
"You are?" the second policeman asked, his voice bordering on rudeness.
Alicia's eyes narrowed. "I'm Alicia Laurence. My parents are out with Lee's."
The two policemen exchanged a quick glance.
"Can you tell us where they are?" the first policeman requested.
"Why?" Lee asked before Alicia had the chance. Alicia shut her mouth quickly. "Did something happen?"
"Your parents will be the first to know anything," the second officer jumped in. "If you could please tell us where we could find them at this time."
"Well, right now, I think, they're at that new Italian Restaurant, I can't remember the name. They're going to Cirque Du Soleil show at like nine," Lee told them.
The first officer scribbled the information into a small notebook. When he done he looked back up at the two teenagers standing before him. "You two had better come with us," he said.
"Why?" Alicia asked again. Her eyes widened in horror as the truth seemed to dawn on her. "Did something happen to Mick?" she asked fearfully.
"Yeah," Lee seconded. "What about Ty? Did something happen to them?"
"We need to find your parents," the officer repeated.
Lee and Alicia stepped through the doorway and Lee closed the door behind them. Alicia gripped his arm tightly as they followed the policemen and got into the back of the squad car.
The Peak
Italiano Romanzo, the new Italian restaurant. It was small and dimly lit; the main source of light came from the candles on the tables and from the stained glass lamps hanging overhead. Soft classical music played lightly in the background. The tables were covered with light white satin tablecloths, the glasses were crystal and the finest china money could buy. A basket of fresh, handmade breed adjourned the center of every table and was accompanied with fresh butter and a dish of vinaigrette for dipping.
Wealthy, elegant, aristocratic couples were seated around the circular table. The smallest number of people was two and the largest was a party that occupied the whole far wall, an early wedding present the manger had been told. The wealth and power exuberated off of every individual in the restaurant. Except for the wedding party of course, they remarkably underdressed compared to say, the party of four a table or two away.
There were two women and two men. Two sets of couples, best friends.
The two women sat side by side. The first woman was dresses in a floral, silk halter dress, the bodice was white and skirt sported an elegant floral design in pinks, purples and oranges. The silk charmeuse was styled with a shirred waist and full, pleated skirt. Beads and sequins added a subtle, yet noticeable, sparkle to the dress. The front v-neck met to tie together in the back. A white silk shawl with small pearls bordering the edges was draped over her tan shoulders casually but elegantly at the same time. The soft, vibrant colors magnificently displayed the tan Isabella Laurence had acquired the other week in the Bahamas. Her dark brown hair curled naturally down her straight back. A pair of 700 dollar Emilio Pucci, three inch heels in white and light pink print with a pyramid of purple and deep yellow jewels running up to where a thin strap buckled around her ankle. A pair of white-gold small hoops with twenty-four invisible-set diamonds on each twinkled in her ears and matching circle necklace with diamonds hung around her neck. A gold bracelet hung daintily on her small wrist with diamonds in between the bars of gold. Her jewelry alone cost well over 5000 dollars. No one would guess that she was in her forties and Isabella liked it that way.
Jane Baldwin was just as lavishly dressed as her friend, Isabella Laurence. She wore a midnight blue, satiny Vera Wang halter dress. The dark blue complimented Jane's now creamy white skin fabulously. The neck came up just past her shoulders and the satin ties draped down her back. The waist was intricately designed in beads and it fluttered to an end just below her knees. The dress was exactly the same, besides the color, as the one Isabella had worn to SASSI a few weeks ago. However, the dresses had been custom fit to their bodies. Both women loved to brag that they were close, personal friends of the famous designer herself. Vera Wang was only one of the many.
While Isabella's jewelry obsession lay in diamonds, Jane no doubt favored pearls. Chandelier earrings of pearls and diamonds hung from her earlobes, accentuating her long neck. Pearls hung around her neck and her wrist. A pearl clip held half of her light brown hair behind her head.
And of course, men will be men. But Brad and Harold still managed to look perfect in their suits and silk ties. Brad sported a Breitling, mother of pearl faced watch on one wrist. He was proud to say that it was one of the few in North America. He had received it as a gift from Jane for his birthday. With Jane's connection she could get anything she wanted.
Appearance was important to these people and they would go to all means necessary to ensure that they looked fabulous. They clearly belonged in this expensive restaurant where, if they stayed for a full eight course meal, would cost over 400 dollars a person, not including the wine.
The Baldwin's and the Laurence's ignored the wedding party and paid them no heed but the wedding party was aware of every word that was uttered.
"They're over there," a young male voice cut through the light chatter of the restaurant.
Jane's face flashed a look of confusion, she knew that voice. With the conversation interrupted she looked up, along with Isabella. They wouldn't have been more surprised with what they were seeing if their wine glasses started tangoing with the bread. There were their youngest children, walking towards them, two policemen right on their tails.
"Momma," Alicia cried and hugged her mother tightly.
Isabella stood up and hugged her daughter back. "What's going on?" she asked.
Alicia looked up from her mother's chest and her eyes were wet with tears. "I don't know," she whimpered. "They wouldn't tell us, said they had to tell you first. Oh, momma," she moaned, "I think something happened to Mick and Ty."
"Excuse us for interrupting you dinner," the first policeman interrupted the confused families. "I am Officer Riviera and this is my partner, Officer Block," he gestured to the second policeman who was standing by his side. "I'm afraid we have some troubling news…"
"Oh no," Jane gasped and a hand flew to her mouth.
"I'm going to kill that boy," Brad growled, tossing his napkin down and standing up too. They were completely oblivious to the fact that every eye in the restaurant was turned on them, eagerly watching the drama that was unfolding before their very eyes.
"Brad, calm down," Jane pleaded with her husband.
"No, I will not "calm down"," Brad said defiantly. "That boy gave me his word he wasn't going to do anything and I swear if he's done what I think he's done…" he trailed off, glowering. "But I can tell you one thing for sure," he continued. "If he's gotten himself arrested again I'm not bailing him out. A few days there ought to toughen him up and knock some sense into his head," he said gruffly.
"Sir," Officer Riviera cut into Brad's ranting. "Your sons are not in jail…"
"Well then what's happened?" Isabella asked anxiously, an arm still wrapped around Alicia's shoulders. "Does it concern Mick and Ty at all?"
"It does…" Officer Riviera trailed off uncomfortably. He never liked these kinds of jobs. Not when he was faced with the parents.
Jane noticed his hesitation. "Oh God. Please tell me that they're not hurt," she pleaded helplessly.
"I'm sorry," Officer Riviera began softly. "But I'm afraid that there's been an accident…"
an: so there you have it, out of all the chapters I've ever written for any story this is my favorite! I had to stop myself from playing around with it too much. HEHEHEHE! So… you must hate me for that cliffy, eh? Well if you want a sneak peak for the next chapter remember to give me your email and I'll send teasers! This would have been up sooner today, like at noon, but I went flying with my step-dad (who had to renew his pilots license) and his friend in this fucking awesome little airplane and then I needed a new pair of Etnies, mine are messed up just a tad (winkwink). I guess my mom finally got tired of my Converses that I have made a tribute to my FAVORITE My Chemical Romance song, It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Death Wish. What? Does she not appreciate my Converses displaying the lyrics to a song that primarily talks about death? Sheesh, what's her problem? So, you get it late, oh well. lol. Well I'm off to see if I have any homework I should do before school tomorrow! To hell with editing! I'm posting it how it is. Review! –Steph