Chapter 4: Things Aren't What They Seem
He pulled up in front of the Triax mansion fashionably late that evening. Roger Smith, dressed to kill in his tuxedo, flashed his invitation at the door and walked in. The doors to the ballroom were held open by a large pair of marble statues depicting a Greek woman and her handsome lover. The glow of chandeliers spilled ou past the opening, drenching the hall with a golden hue.
Roger walked in, instantly lost in a sea of tuxedoes and ball gowns. He searched for the focal point of attention, the recently rescued Darnell Triax. Roger spotted him in a seclded corner, surrounded by several other middle-aged graying business men. Roger approached and waited patiently for a break in the conversation.
"Mr. Triax, you're looking well."
Darnell smiled and held out a hand, "Mr. Smith, I'm glad you could join us."
Roger took it and smiled back, "How could I resist such an invitiation?"
He stood to the side of the group and waited for the introductions to start, but Darnell cut right his point.
"Quite right. I believe Charisse stepped into the garden if you wish to say hello."
There was something in the old man's pleased smile that made Roger wonder how far his relationship with Charisse should go.
Roger nodded and politely excused himself, moving towards the large glass doors that allowed direct access to the estate's gardens. They were slightly open and Roger pushed through them, letting in the evening air.
He walked down the polished stone steps, brushing past couples of lovers, looking around for the tell-tale red locks. This evening they were half pulled up, the rest of her russet mane hanging down her back and shoulders in waves of loose curls. Her dress was her usual pure white, hanging on the egdes of her shoulders.
Her slim arms were bare and the silk bodice was tailor perfect. Charisse was sitting on a large swing, suspended from the branch of a mighty flowering tree, her long skirt brushing the perfectly trimmed grass. She looked like a painting done in rich oil colors.
Roger came up silently behind her and gave the swing a gentle push. Charisse turned her head and smiled brightly at him.
"Roger, I'm glad you came."
"Spending some time alone? I can leave if you want."
She smiled and scooted over on the swing, "I was just wishing for some company. Sit down."
Roger sat down next to her, facing the opposite direction, relishing the feeling of her arm pressed against his.
"It's just so peaceful out here. Inside I feel like I can't escape, like a trapped animal."
Roger nodded and pushed his legs, the swing moving back and forth slowly. The wind rustled the leaves of the tree above them and several green leaves dropped on top of them. Charisse laughed and picked one out of Roger's perfectly groomed hair.
"You know, it's my father's birthday. I asked him what he wanted and what he wants more than anything else in this world, for some reason, is to see me happy." She said absently, her eyes boring into his again.
"Then let me grant his wish."
Roger started the kiss gently, placing his fingertips on the side of her face, caressing the soft cheek. Charisse deepened it, pressing her lips firmly against his, her tongue finding it's way into his mouth.
She placed a hand on the back of his neck, and let the wind push them both on the swing. The kiss lasted another moment before she pulled away from him.
"You shouldn't get in the habit of becoming involved with your clients."
"You're father was rescued, you paid me. You are no longer a client."
She began to protest again when Roger pushed his lips against hers, this time, passionatly.
The swing stopped as Charisse pushed her feet against the ground, propping her body up so she could kiss the taller man. Roger put his other arm around her waist and held her close, ignoring the people that were probably staring at them.
Behind his closed eyes he could care less whether he ever stopped, whether the world came to an end or not at the moment. He could feel the curve of her hips fill his hand and he moved his other arm to encircle her. She eagerly responded, leaning into them, and he squeezed gently.
Charisse could feel the heat of his body on hers as she pressed against Roger. She returned his kiss, the power and passion taking her breath away. When it was over she was sure she would be gasping for breath. She knew this wasn't a very secluded spot, but she really didn't care whether her father's group of power brokers caught his only daughter making out with the negotiator.
They continued a few more minutes, sharing the moment as long as they could, ignoring the people that passed, staring at them. The swing moved again, and Roger pulled away first when the right wing of the mansion exploded in a blaze of charred brick and ruined marbel.
"Holy shit!" Charisse exclaimed, taking a hold of the swing chains as the backdraft blew it out of control. Roger held the other chain, keeping a stable arm around her waist.
Roger slowed the swing with his feet and it came to a gradual halt. He got off and held out a hand to Charisse. She took it and stood up.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, as they watched people stream from the ballroom out into the garden, dodging the flaming pieces of rubble still landing on the manicured lawns.
"Oh no, Dad!"
Charisse let go of his hand and ran up the steps to the glass doors that were now full of cracks. She lifted her skirt and jumped over the overturned table and chairs blocking the way in.
"Dad!"
She coughed, smoke from the right wing filling her lungs, choking her while she searched the ballroom. It had cleared out, tables overturned and chairs pushed askew blocked her path and made her search slow. The right wall of the ballroom had been blown away by the explosion, and she could see something coming through the new opening.
"Charisse?"
She spun around at the sound of her name, and almost cried to see her father coming towards her, Seth's arm around his shoulders.
"Dad. Oh thank goodness. Are you okay?"
She hugged him, almost causing Seth to go toppling over.
"I'm fine, dearest. But Seth took a little spill when the wall collapsed. We need to get him outside so he can get some medical attention."
Charisse took a good look at Seth and noticed that he was barely conscious. She nodded and slipped his other arm over her shoulders and started moving towards the garden doors.
"Stop right there."
Charisse almost stumbled as Darnell stopped. She looked over and noticed that she was staring down the barrel of a gun. She stopped and saw there was another gun sticking in her father's back.
"Put him down and back away from him."
Charisse could only assume they ment the doctor she was supporting, so she started to place him gently on the ground.
"Then move away from him."
Her eyes narrowed and after she had gently rested his bleeding head on the floor, she backed away slowly, watching them all.
The one that seemed to be the leader aimed his gun at the helpless man who was almost comatose.
"Now it ends. I knew even cancellation of funds to the project wouldn't stop you. But this will."
He put four pounds of pressure on a five pound trigger when Charisse stepped into his line of fire.
"Get out of the way!" He yelled at her.
"No, I won't let you kill him."
The man with the gun shrugged and aimed the gun at her, taking careful aim. Again he put several pounds of pressure on the trigger when the doors to the garden flew off their hinges.
The man with the gun faltered, and Chairsse slammed her foot on his instep, hoping to get him to fall.
"Roger!"
Charisse finally notice who stepped through the ruined doors just as the man with the gun put an arm around her throat. He shoved the cold gun under her chin and forced her head back.
"Back off, Smith, or I'll splatter her brains all over this ruined party."
Roger, who had followed shortly after Charisse had taken off, stopped in his tracks. He opened his mouth to speak, but the wails of sirens could be heard in the distance.
"It's over. The police are almost here, so just put down the gun and make it easy on yourself and your friends."
The leader shoved the barrel into Charisse's neck, "Not a chance. I won't let that evil bastard get away with what he did."
Roger was about to keep talking when the roar of a helicopter permeated the air. The leader signaled to his friends and they all backed towards the copter landing in the garden. He was pulling Charisse with him, and she looked at Roger with eyes wide with fear.
"Let her go!" Roger yelled over the constant roar, "It will only make things worse!"
The leader pulled her into the helicopter, "Things are already past worse. This will set things right!"
Roger could only shield his eyes from the strong wind of the blades as they took off into the air. He watched their accent until something pulled on his arm. He turned and saw Darnell Triax, flustered, worried and frantic.
"Please, you must get her back! Charisse is everything to me!"
"I will. Just go back inside and wait for the police."
Darnell nodded and walked quickly back inside muttering "thank you"'s in his wake.
Roger grimaced in the direction that the helicopter had disappeared in. He brushed off his tuxedo and straightened the cuffs before pulling the one on the left back.
"BIG-O, IT'S SHOWTIME!"
He pulled up in front of the Triax mansion fashionably late that evening. Roger Smith, dressed to kill in his tuxedo, flashed his invitation at the door and walked in. The doors to the ballroom were held open by a large pair of marble statues depicting a Greek woman and her handsome lover. The glow of chandeliers spilled ou past the opening, drenching the hall with a golden hue.
Roger walked in, instantly lost in a sea of tuxedoes and ball gowns. He searched for the focal point of attention, the recently rescued Darnell Triax. Roger spotted him in a seclded corner, surrounded by several other middle-aged graying business men. Roger approached and waited patiently for a break in the conversation.
"Mr. Triax, you're looking well."
Darnell smiled and held out a hand, "Mr. Smith, I'm glad you could join us."
Roger took it and smiled back, "How could I resist such an invitiation?"
He stood to the side of the group and waited for the introductions to start, but Darnell cut right his point.
"Quite right. I believe Charisse stepped into the garden if you wish to say hello."
There was something in the old man's pleased smile that made Roger wonder how far his relationship with Charisse should go.
Roger nodded and politely excused himself, moving towards the large glass doors that allowed direct access to the estate's gardens. They were slightly open and Roger pushed through them, letting in the evening air.
He walked down the polished stone steps, brushing past couples of lovers, looking around for the tell-tale red locks. This evening they were half pulled up, the rest of her russet mane hanging down her back and shoulders in waves of loose curls. Her dress was her usual pure white, hanging on the egdes of her shoulders.
Her slim arms were bare and the silk bodice was tailor perfect. Charisse was sitting on a large swing, suspended from the branch of a mighty flowering tree, her long skirt brushing the perfectly trimmed grass. She looked like a painting done in rich oil colors.
Roger came up silently behind her and gave the swing a gentle push. Charisse turned her head and smiled brightly at him.
"Roger, I'm glad you came."
"Spending some time alone? I can leave if you want."
She smiled and scooted over on the swing, "I was just wishing for some company. Sit down."
Roger sat down next to her, facing the opposite direction, relishing the feeling of her arm pressed against his.
"It's just so peaceful out here. Inside I feel like I can't escape, like a trapped animal."
Roger nodded and pushed his legs, the swing moving back and forth slowly. The wind rustled the leaves of the tree above them and several green leaves dropped on top of them. Charisse laughed and picked one out of Roger's perfectly groomed hair.
"You know, it's my father's birthday. I asked him what he wanted and what he wants more than anything else in this world, for some reason, is to see me happy." She said absently, her eyes boring into his again.
"Then let me grant his wish."
Roger started the kiss gently, placing his fingertips on the side of her face, caressing the soft cheek. Charisse deepened it, pressing her lips firmly against his, her tongue finding it's way into his mouth.
She placed a hand on the back of his neck, and let the wind push them both on the swing. The kiss lasted another moment before she pulled away from him.
"You shouldn't get in the habit of becoming involved with your clients."
"You're father was rescued, you paid me. You are no longer a client."
She began to protest again when Roger pushed his lips against hers, this time, passionatly.
The swing stopped as Charisse pushed her feet against the ground, propping her body up so she could kiss the taller man. Roger put his other arm around her waist and held her close, ignoring the people that were probably staring at them.
Behind his closed eyes he could care less whether he ever stopped, whether the world came to an end or not at the moment. He could feel the curve of her hips fill his hand and he moved his other arm to encircle her. She eagerly responded, leaning into them, and he squeezed gently.
Charisse could feel the heat of his body on hers as she pressed against Roger. She returned his kiss, the power and passion taking her breath away. When it was over she was sure she would be gasping for breath. She knew this wasn't a very secluded spot, but she really didn't care whether her father's group of power brokers caught his only daughter making out with the negotiator.
They continued a few more minutes, sharing the moment as long as they could, ignoring the people that passed, staring at them. The swing moved again, and Roger pulled away first when the right wing of the mansion exploded in a blaze of charred brick and ruined marbel.
"Holy shit!" Charisse exclaimed, taking a hold of the swing chains as the backdraft blew it out of control. Roger held the other chain, keeping a stable arm around her waist.
Roger slowed the swing with his feet and it came to a gradual halt. He got off and held out a hand to Charisse. She took it and stood up.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, as they watched people stream from the ballroom out into the garden, dodging the flaming pieces of rubble still landing on the manicured lawns.
"Oh no, Dad!"
Charisse let go of his hand and ran up the steps to the glass doors that were now full of cracks. She lifted her skirt and jumped over the overturned table and chairs blocking the way in.
"Dad!"
She coughed, smoke from the right wing filling her lungs, choking her while she searched the ballroom. It had cleared out, tables overturned and chairs pushed askew blocked her path and made her search slow. The right wall of the ballroom had been blown away by the explosion, and she could see something coming through the new opening.
"Charisse?"
She spun around at the sound of her name, and almost cried to see her father coming towards her, Seth's arm around his shoulders.
"Dad. Oh thank goodness. Are you okay?"
She hugged him, almost causing Seth to go toppling over.
"I'm fine, dearest. But Seth took a little spill when the wall collapsed. We need to get him outside so he can get some medical attention."
Charisse took a good look at Seth and noticed that he was barely conscious. She nodded and slipped his other arm over her shoulders and started moving towards the garden doors.
"Stop right there."
Charisse almost stumbled as Darnell stopped. She looked over and noticed that she was staring down the barrel of a gun. She stopped and saw there was another gun sticking in her father's back.
"Put him down and back away from him."
Charisse could only assume they ment the doctor she was supporting, so she started to place him gently on the ground.
"Then move away from him."
Her eyes narrowed and after she had gently rested his bleeding head on the floor, she backed away slowly, watching them all.
The one that seemed to be the leader aimed his gun at the helpless man who was almost comatose.
"Now it ends. I knew even cancellation of funds to the project wouldn't stop you. But this will."
He put four pounds of pressure on a five pound trigger when Charisse stepped into his line of fire.
"Get out of the way!" He yelled at her.
"No, I won't let you kill him."
The man with the gun shrugged and aimed the gun at her, taking careful aim. Again he put several pounds of pressure on the trigger when the doors to the garden flew off their hinges.
The man with the gun faltered, and Chairsse slammed her foot on his instep, hoping to get him to fall.
"Roger!"
Charisse finally notice who stepped through the ruined doors just as the man with the gun put an arm around her throat. He shoved the cold gun under her chin and forced her head back.
"Back off, Smith, or I'll splatter her brains all over this ruined party."
Roger, who had followed shortly after Charisse had taken off, stopped in his tracks. He opened his mouth to speak, but the wails of sirens could be heard in the distance.
"It's over. The police are almost here, so just put down the gun and make it easy on yourself and your friends."
The leader shoved the barrel into Charisse's neck, "Not a chance. I won't let that evil bastard get away with what he did."
Roger was about to keep talking when the roar of a helicopter permeated the air. The leader signaled to his friends and they all backed towards the copter landing in the garden. He was pulling Charisse with him, and she looked at Roger with eyes wide with fear.
"Let her go!" Roger yelled over the constant roar, "It will only make things worse!"
The leader pulled her into the helicopter, "Things are already past worse. This will set things right!"
Roger could only shield his eyes from the strong wind of the blades as they took off into the air. He watched their accent until something pulled on his arm. He turned and saw Darnell Triax, flustered, worried and frantic.
"Please, you must get her back! Charisse is everything to me!"
"I will. Just go back inside and wait for the police."
Darnell nodded and walked quickly back inside muttering "thank you"'s in his wake.
Roger grimaced in the direction that the helicopter had disappeared in. He brushed off his tuxedo and straightened the cuffs before pulling the one on the left back.
"BIG-O, IT'S SHOWTIME!"
