Both taxies got to the hotel at the same time a few minutes later. Everyone got out of the cars and I saw that Brian looked rather relaxed and it became very clear to me that he had not read the article about Alexander going after Mick Jagger like Richard had. As Richard got out, he grabbed up the newspaper and went over to Brian and The Beatles. Jane, Jake, Maureen, and I didn't go with him, but we saw Richard whispering to Brian and pointing at the paper. All of the color drained from Brian's face and his eyes grew round and wide.
"I wonder what he's gonna do?" whispered Maureen. "It's not like production can get shut down now."
"We can only wait and see," I said. "I just can't believe that Alexander would go that far."
"I can," said Jane. "He seems like a right lunatic."
"I can attest to that," said Jake. "Man, they sure look serious over there, I wonder what exactly they're saying."
"I have a feeling we may find out soon," I said as the rest of the group approached us. "What's going on?"
"I hardly know anymore," said Brian. "Richard let you see the article, right?"
"Yeah," I said. "Does that change anything with what we're doing here?"
"Unfortunately, we have try and continue as if nothing has happened," said Richard. "Jake, keep wearing your disguise, and everyone else, just stay calm; it says in the article the police are very close to figuring out it's Alexander."
"Well, that's one step closer than the Austrians," said Ringo. "They didn't know which way was up."
"Yeah, thank God we're out of there," said George. "But still…do you think Alexander followed us here on purpose?"
"He did know we were coming here on this date," said Brian. "He was involved in the film after all."
"I would ask why, but it just seems useless," I said.
"I agree Sandra," said Brian. "Come on everybody, let's get the bags and get inside. I want to relax a little bit before we start up with the craziness again."
"Fine by me," I said, taking a deep breath. We went into the trunks of each taxi, took out our luggage, and made way into the hotel. For security reasons, the rooms were located on the very top floor. Of course, the security reasons weren't meant for the Alexander issue. They were meant to keep away from the girls.
"Are they really that nuts?" I asked on our way up on the elevator.
"Oh, they're bonkers," said Paul. "Except in Austria…they were right weird in Austria, dunno what happened there…"
"But everywhere else they're crazy," said John. "That's why Cyn and I had to hide our marriage for so long at first."
"Ouch…that bad?" I said.
"They're menacing," said Brian. The elevator doors opened and we got out into the hall. "Okay everybody, we have two suites and one regular room booked. Richard and I will stay in the regular room, the boys will have their own room, and Sandra, Jane, Jake, and Maureen will have the other suite. Sorry to break the Starkeys up, but space is an issue."
"We understand here," said Ringo. "Better to keep us apart for now anyway, what with all of the nasty teenage fan girls running around. Mo got beat to a pulp once."
"Oh, darling, please don't remind me," said Maureen, flinching. "That was horrible…"
"Yes, best not to talk about it," said Brian. "Okay, everybody to their rooms and start unpacking; we've got some big days ahead of us!"
"Oh boy Brian, I'm quite excited for that possibility," said George as the three groups parted ways. "After all of that boredom in boring old Austria with dead bodies and hospitals and whatnot, I'm in need of some big days!"
"Don't be a smart ass, George," said Brian.
"Don't tell me what to do; you're not my real mother," said George.
"What are we going to do with you?" asked Brian.
"Put him in a zoo, he'll fit in there," said John.
"Knock it off boys," said Brian. We all went our separate ways in out groups to our rooms. Jane, Jake, Maureen, and I got to ours, which had four separate rooms and was much larger than the cottage back in The Alps. It was much warmer too, which I was glad for.
"Well this sure is nice," said Jane. "I think I'm gonna like this much better."
"Yeah, no one's gonna have to be pushed over to the couch," said Jake, giving me an accusing eye.
"How was Austria by the way?" asked Maureen. "Ritchie told me…well…a lot of things. You know…about what Sandra found in the woods?"
"Well, I'm glad he told you," I said. "Seriously, it just has to be Alexander, there's no other way! Local rock bands are a little understandable for a murderer—not that killing is understandable—but for him to go after Mick Jagger? I can't believe it."
"I can," said Maureen, putting her purse down. "He's nasty! Good thing Jagger's all right though. It's scaring me—Alexander's not afraid to go that big!"
"I'm sure that Brian and Richard won't let anything happen to the boys," I said. "With them, they're safe."
"Yeah, you should have seen how Alexander bolted when they walked in on him beating up George!" said Jane.
"Yes, Ritchie told me…I'm so glad everything's alright!" said Maureen.
"So am I," I said, sitting down on the couch in the main room. "I just want to relax and forget about the whole thing though…there's actually finally a TV in here, let's see if anything's on."
"Sounds good," said Maureen, sitting down next to me. "I've still been feeling a little bit out of it…I can't wait till this kid's out of me finally." She picked the remote up and began to flip through the channels. It seemed that every station she landed on had something on about the attempted murder of Mick Jagger.
"Is there any way to escape this?" asked Jake as Maureen went around the channels again.
"Doesn't seem like it," said Jane. "Maureen, leave it on one of those channels so we can catch some details we didn't see in the paper."
"Got that," said Maureen. She stopped her flipping through and had it set on one of the many channels that had the news on. We had barely began watching it when there was an urgent, loud knock on the door.
"I've got it," I said, getting up to answer it. I opened the door and saw a nervous, I-think-I'm-going-to-slam-my-head-in-the-door-looking Brian. "Brian…is there something wrong?"
"I really don't know," said Brian, shaking his head. "You four better come down to the boys' room, I wouldn't want to leave you all out of this one."
"This better not be what I think it is," said Jane. The four of us followed Brian into the boys' room. Honestly, I didn't know what Jane was expecting. Hell, I didn't even know what I was expecting! But when we walked into that room where everybody was either sitting on couches or leaning on walls, whatever I may have been expecting, it definitely wasn't it.
"Well hello there," said the tall, very thin man in the middle of the room. Despite constantly being around four Beatles since February, I was very taken by surprise at the lanky, huge-eyed, wide-mouthed man addressing me.
"I'm sure you all know…uh…Mick Jagger," said Brian, playing with his necktie.
"Oh, that we do," growled Jane, her blue eyes flashing. Mick (Oh my God, when was this insanity going to end anyhow…) gave her a raised eyebrow look just the same.
"Yes, we've met, so good to see you again Miss Asher," said Mick with the same venom.
"Uh…what's going on here?" I asked, feeling like a ghost in a crowded room.
"Sandra, I showed you the article, didn't I?" asked Richard. "And I'm sure you know who this is."
"Uh…well…yes, yes I do," I said.
"I think she's starting to piece it together," John muttered, nudging George, who just gave him that trademark stony look, in the ribs.
"Okay, let me rephrase that," I huffed. "I know who he is and I know what just happened to him, but what I wanna know is why he's here!"
"Take it easy sweetheart," said Mick. "Don't you know how to be nice to a guy who's escaped murder?"
"I wish she did," muttered Jake. Jane shot him another one of her burning looks and he shut up.
"I'm sorry Mr.—Mr. Jagger," I said, still trying to wrap my head around the situation. "What I meant to say was…is there a reason why you decided to come here?"
"Oh, I was just gonna stay the night here before I'm ready to get on back to my place," said Mick. "I tell ya, that old man's crazy!"
"Tell me about it!" said Jake. "I'm sure someone told you what happened to me!"
"Bloody hell, yeah, they did!" said Mick.
"Well, glad to see you two have a common ground," snapped Jane. "Now, if we can just get on back to normal, that would be great."
"Oh God…Jane, just…just go to the other room, calm down a bit," said Paul, coming over to Jane, who shot Mick one last nasty look before Paul ushered her out of the room.
"What in the world was that about?" I asked.
"Jane and Mick have always had this…uh…rivalry going on," said Paul. "Ever since they met. Still haven't figured it out yet."
"Oh, I'll tell you what it is," said Mick. "That temper on her—she's a redhead for a reason! I say one little joke, and I'm in for it!"
"Oh, so she's the Sandra to my John then?" asked John.
"Put a sock in it John or else I'll put my fist in it instead," I said to John, very similar to how Jane was speaking to Mick.
"Ah, yes, I see it now," said Mick, grinning at me. Oh no…not another one, God help me.
"Guys leave her alone and let's figure out what to do with Mick," said George.
"Right, good show George," said Brian. "So Mick, what exactly happened earlier?"
"Glad to get on the subject," said Mick. I heard Jane groan from outside; she obviously didn't want to go back to our room. "I as just minding my own business you see, reading a book, when I hear something crash outside. Now I was alone in my house, so naturally I was gonna check what the hell was up! So I got up, walked to the front door, and before I know it this crazy old man jumps like fucking Tarzan through the window with a knife! I don't even remember how I fought him off; I mean, I had to have fought him off, I'm alive and he's gone, obviously, but still. That's all I remember mate."
"Wow mate, are ya sure you only wanna stay one night here?" asked Ringo.
"Very sure," said Mick. "It's not like me to run away dammit, I'm Mick Jagger! I can do whatever I damn well want, and if I wanna go back home tomorrow, then so be it!"
"Seems he's sure then," said George. "Well then, I guess keeping you away from Jane for one day won't be very hard then."
"I heard that!" Jane yelled from outside of the room.
"Jane, what did I tell you?" Paul called. "Go back to your room and stop eavesdropping on us and Mick!"
"You can't tell me what to do," said Jane. "I won't stand for this!"
Paul was about to retort, but Ringo grabbed his shoulder. "Don't worry about it Paul, you'll just make her yell some more," said Ringo. Paul nodded and let his girlfriend be.
"You're sure you wanna stay then?" said Paul.
"Well yeah," said Mick. "You were the first people I thought of, since you know Alexander and the like."
"Well, no sense in waiting any longer to sort things out," said Brian. "Come on Mr. Jagger, let's get you settled with Richard and I; that's the only room with an extra place for you to stay."
"Fine by me," said Mick. "Just as long as it's not with that red-headed bitch…"
"Hey, watch it, I know you two hate each other, but she's still my girlfriend!" snapped Paul.
"Yes, my condolences," said Mick. Before Paul had a chance to retort, Mick had followed Brian and Richard out of the room. Everyone else walked out as well, and Jane was still waiting outside, giving Mick a chilling look as he passed.
"Don't worry Jane, he'll be gone soon enough," said Paul, putting an arm around her. Jane said nothing more, but I could tell that whatever she would chose to say would be worse than what she had said before.
"Well Jane, look at it this way," said Maureen. "I guess you'll know how Sandra feels with John all the time."
Jane huffed and I rolled my eyes as John grinned goofily. "You better behave John, you're wife's coming up here soon you know," said George.
"This place is gonna be a madhouse if it wasn't already," I said. "Too many people…"
"If it makes you feel better Sandra, Cyn and Julian won't be staying at the hotel," said John. "They're still gonna be at the house; they're just dropping by."
"Let's just go back to the room Sandra," said Maureen. "You look like your head is pounding; I'll make you up some tea and you can lie down. That's what I do!"
"Yeah, except you're pregnant," said Ringo, kissing Maureen on the cheek. "While you ladies—and Jake, of course—decompress, I'm gonna have a nice long nap meself…get a chance to take the nerves off."
"I think I've got the travel sickness again, while we're on the subject," I said, sighing. Maureen chuckled and led me back to our room while Jane and Jake followed us. I could hear Jane quietly muttering to Jake about what an asshole and child Mick was, but I tried not to listen. Was that what everybody thought of me when I complained about John? I never thought it was to that degree with us two anyway. Nevertheless, I'd better tone it down anyway, no matter how much John made me want to strangle him.
"Here we go," said Maureen once we were settled in the room. She had already made me a cup of hot tea. I sipped at it and burnt my tongue, but it wasn't like I was going to use it anytime soon. I'd fallen right asleep after finishing the tea, still with a pounding headache. I had gotten much more than I bargained for when I signed onto this damn photography job.