Present Day
*dot*
Jess let out a gasp and blinked several times, extending a hand to whoever was beside her to steady herself. Her eyes blinked several more times as she tightened her grip on Stu's arm.
"Jess!" urged Stu trying to pry the viper grip off. She looked around carefully and stood much too quick, then running off toward the exit. The men followed her carefully and before she got to the door, Phil grabbed for her hand.
"Let me go!" she screamed loudly. Pushing his hand away, tears rolled down her face. "Just don't Phil." Concern covered everyone's face as Jess shook before Phil.
"Jess what happened?" asked Phil again. This time Jess looked up shaking her head.
"That day…. That day that Doug nearly died!"
"Look Vegas happened, and we were stupid," replied Phil smartly reaching for her arms.
"No Phil, not Vegas. New York," she said pushing him away again. "That day. Stu knows. You know better than anyone what I went through." She eyes begged him to remember that day too. The day when they thought that Doug would never come home and how they came to mutual decision to move closer to Phil, away from New York and the terrorist attacks. Even that November there was another plane that went down, but that had been ruled out as being a terrorist attack. Still, the memories of fear had lingered all these years, something she never realized still had impact on her.
"What the fuck are you talking about? New York?" asked Phil turning to look at Stu. "What is she talking about?"
"Jess we're here now," offered Stu. "We moved away from New York to protect you."
"But you understand better than anyone!" Jess insisted trying to grasp for Stu's hands.
"Jess let's talk about it later okay?" he offered again. He remembered too well the fear they went through when Doug was missing during the attacks. The fear he felt in those eight days as Phil and Stu discussed extensively what a world without Doug would have looked like. But as he looked at Jess, her trance hadn't been of last night but of the absolute worse days of her life. The girl had only been ten and to have the fear Doug had died meant that despite everything she had experienced, her brother still meant the entire world to her. Stu remembered it took months for him to fully recover and the long cross country train ride had taken its toll on them all.
"We know where to go, we can talk on the way," offered Phil reaching for her hand. Jess stood slowly and reached for his hands to steady herself. Following a bit to hail another cab, they reached a secluded street and Alan lead them down it. Jess broke out into a run as Alan hurried away. Finally, they reached somewhere that Jess didn't remember but Phil's ragged breath brought them back to reality.
"What do you think Alan?" he asked looking at Jess unsure. His eyes darted at the sign and his worried expression of the youngest guest in the group became apparent.
"This is the place. Come on. Let's go," Alan said
Alan led the way into the building with its pounding music. Jess gripped Phil's hand harder as did Mali held hers tighter. While they weaved their way through the crowd of people, they barely heard each other speaking.
"I don't remember any of this!" shouted Stu to Jess' right.
"Yeah Alan, you sure this is the place?" questioned Phil holding Jess harder against his body.
"Yeah, pretty sure," answered Alan looking around like he honestly remembered everything. Nothing made sense about this place. There was nothing but dancing women in hot pink skirts and white tops on table and for a moment Jess thought that she saw a penis on one of them. Banishing these thoughts, she was pulled right up against Phil's chest as they reached a shouting man.
"Rose! Harmony! Is he coming or what? I've been waiting all day for him," he demanded very fast. His accent was understood by the men, but Mali looked up in fear at this man. Her face turned into Jess' stomach.
"I'm sorry. Waiting for who?" asked Phil waving his hand around.
"Chow, that dick ass fuck!" replied the yelling man with curly hair. As Phil looked at Jess and then Stu briefly, the man blurted out more. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong," stammered Stu quickly. Jess noticed the man was staring at her oddly.
"Ok, good. Look at this. Look what I bring for him," he smiled giving more grins aimed at Jess. On the counter the curly hair man withdrew a white cloth that held a small hand gun in it. "Check it out, huh."
Confusion rang throughout them all minus Alan who was staring at the gun. "$6,000 American," spoke the man rapidly, his eyes still lingering on Jess.
"Wow looks so real!" and then Alan picked up the gun admiring it greatly.
"ALAN!" screamed Jess shielding Mali from the falling glass. Phil wrapped his arms around the girls and covered them too. The others in the room all ducked down as the gun was firing, including the man with the curly hair.
"Sorry!" Alan loudly said after throwing the thing back down on the counter, his eyes scanning the room.
"Alan, what the fuck!" roared Phil a moment after untangling himself from Jess and Mali.
"It's ok. The gun, it's very sensitive." The man turned and called to everyone else. "Everybody ok? Ok, then get the fuck back to work! Come on. Music, please!" The music started again and it was like nothing had happened. "Where is my 6,000 dollars?" he snapped.
"We got nothing to do with that," protested Phil loudly over the renewed loudness.
"Un-fucking believable. This guy, if he backs out again, the shits gonna catch up with him. He's made a lot of enemies in this town, and now they're gonna be your enemies," he stated pointing a finger at each of them.
"That's not fair!" shouted Stu.
"Except her; anyone would be a lucky bastard to have her on their lap," his eyes dangerously lingering on Jess again. "How much for the woman?" His eyes danced more at Jess as Phil got right into his face.
"She's not fucking sale!" snapped Phil, grabbing and holding the man's neck in a death grip. "Ok listen… We're just looking for a little kid," he spoke clearly and loudly. His hand remained ever tight.
"2,000 dollars." The curly hair looked genuinely afraid of Phil's next actions. "I don't know, maybe more. How young you want this kid to be?"
Stu waved his hands around and then firmly stepped up." No, no! Sorry, you misunderstood. We're looking for our friend... 16 years old. Teddy."
"Teddy?" questioned the curly haired man. "Yeah he was here with you guys last night."
"He was? Do you know if he left with us?" asked Jess pulling Phil's hand away from the man's neck and hoping probably he would reply to her better than the men.
"I don't know," he answered giving Phil a look over once more before answering more. "You were in the corner all night with Kimmy. I didn't see you leave."
"Kimmy? Is she here?" asked Jess feeling hopeful about that news.
"Yes, she's in the back. She just came for her shift. Go and talk to her."
"Alright, listen. I'm sorry about everything that happened," offered Phil, reaching down to hold Mali and cover her eyes.
Just as Jess began to walk away, the curly haired man stopped once more. He was talking to Alan, but after a few moments, his attention turned to her.
"You better be careful around Bangkok. Too many men who want an ass like yours."
He winked and let her go, resuming his duties. Jess made her way back to the area where the guys were at. She saw a beautiful woman sitting talking with the others. This back room seemed very familiar but parts of it seemed too real. Glancing down the hall a small item on the floor caught her attention. Walking over to it there was the other half of her pink feathered earring. The other was currently in Phil's pocket. Picking it up, she saw a used condom by it.
"Oh my god!" she whispered loudly to herself.
"Hey if it's the sexy American woman. Used her body just right for that guy last night!" a voice spoke out as she walked to Phil.
"Tight little ass. Would fuck that shit up real quick!" another said in a more taunting voice. Just as Jess got closer, she showed Phil her earring. He nodded and smiled before turning his attention back to the woman speaking.
"Of course, I remember him," said Kimmy seating in a chair, her robe on. "He was buying shots for everyone. Nice kid! His parents must be so proud."
"You have no idea," smiled Stu. Jess smiled at Kimmy but something about her was familiar too. From the way she was looking at Stu, it was like she was reliving whatever happened.
"Ok, so do you remember if he left with us?" asked Phil after pocketing the earring and letting Jess sat down on his lap. Mali was standing beside him, her mouth closed and clearly uncomfortable with the whole area.
"Yeah, you were all leaving together, but you almost forgot this one right here. Right, super star?" Kimmy looked at Stu like he would remember. She reached over to rub Stu's knee and she continued talking. "This one was following me around like a little puppy dog. All night. Saying he'd fallen in love with me. Asked me to marry him."
"Classic Stu!" laughed Alan. Inside Jess did too, but she kept her smirk placed on her face.
"We didn't get married, did we?"
"Course not!" confirmed Kimmy. "We just had some fun in the Chardonnay room."
This seemed to pipe up Phil's interest. "What happens in the Chardonnay room?"
"Let's just stay on task," urged Stu. Finally Kimmy became clear to Jess. She covered her mouth as she realized what had gone down between Stu and this Kimmy.
"I danced for him. He tickled me. We had sex," she smiled at Stu. Phil and Alan seemed too sympatric to let this go off easy for Stu, so Phil just had to make his smartass remark.
"It's ok. You're not married yet. No big deal."
"It's cheating!" snapped Stu quickly. "No offense to you. You're a lovely woman. It's a violation of my moral code."
"Stu come on. It was only one night. No one will judge. I promise to not tell HR about this," smiled Jess standing up and laying a hand over Stu's shaking shoulder.
"Don't be sad. Stu, you loved it. You were crying, saying how special it was," continued Kimmy.
"Mali cover ears, now," warned Jess. She knew where this was heading. Reaching over she covered Mali's eyes over and prayed the child wouldn't be scared for this.
"You have moves yourself. I've never seen a woman do things you did," stated Kimmy quickly at Jess.
"What do you mean?" asked Jess almost afraid. Phil's eyes lit up as Kimmy spoke up. It showed every bit amount of love he could muster given their place. Something inside made Jess think, he knew what she had done too.
"The way you move. The way you kept from falling apart. Truly memorizing for someone like me," she smiled. "But you should have seen him. He was so sexy." Kimmy made a sorta of hip trust toward Stu, which he rebuked. Jess allowed herself to inwardly smile.
"The way he moved around. I had to ask him to slow down so I didn't drop my load too quick," she finished as she walked over to her locket.
"Load? What load?" questioned Stu.
"Oh, you know... My sperms." Kimmy was turned away and reaching into her locket for her outfit. Jess just knew Kimmy would reveal the truth in just a moment.
"I think your English is off. You're talking about my sperm! Where would your sperm come from?"
"From my balls!"
"Hold on! Back up!" began Phil, beginning to understand now too.
"Phil!" warned Jess but it was too late.
"Wait... Are you..." began Stu.
Kimmy half turned and smiled. "Hey. You're in Bangkok, sweetie. There's a reason they don't call it Bang-cunt."
There before everyone was Kimmy, with her lower half showing clear as day the truth of the situation. Phil nearly fell out of his seat, whereas Stu had indeed fallen out of his onto the floor. Another transsexual walked by as Phil got eye level himself. His eyes were covered as the person's penis waved with the walk. Jess had her right hand on Mali's eyes but the left was covering her mouth as shock fully came on.
"I don't get it. Is this a magic show?" asked Alan completely confused. As the guys were trying to breathe, Jess begged Kimmy to cover up.
"Come on, Stu, it was beautiful. We climaxed at the same time," she offered for consolation.
"How's that work?" begged Stu trying not to vomit.
"Shoot my load into you. Shoot your load on the floor," Kimmy answered blankly.
"Ok! Girls up now. Let's go!" rushed Phil taking both Jess and Mali outside as quick as possible.
*dot*
After a moment to collect themselves, Jess let go of Phil's hand and watched Stu's face twist in disgust.
"Stu! It's not the end of the world," urged Phil as they walked out into the sunlight and Stu was still coughing. Jess crossed her arms as Alan walked around her.
"Sorry, but I'm so confused," he asked looking at the others to reassure himself about the situation.
"I made love to a man..." began Stu trying to keep his voice level. "With boobies."
Phil stepped up to Stu and grabbed his shoulder. "Listen. I promise you no one's ever gunna find out about this!"
"But we found out about it," cried Stu holding back his tears.
"And then we forget. That's what we do!" Phil looked at Jess and smiled before turning back to Stu.
"I do so much fucked up shit. And I just forget about it! I've done lots of fucked up shit!"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah! Just forget! It goes away!" said Phil, hoping it helped his friend.
"Phil, you had sex with Jess," interrupted Alan looking between Phil and Jess.
"Alan that's not helping," snapped Jess holding Mali's hand tightly. The images, she was sure, was confusing to the child.
"I've done worse with Jess. Believe me! I forget about it to not tell Doug!" he said toward the other as Jess threw her arm down in disbelief. "Believe me it's amazing, but okay this might be harder to go away. In time it'll happen." He said patting Stu's shoulders again. "Just gunna forget about it."
"Never happened," agreed Stu shaking his head. Jess stared at Phil again before trying to walk off.
"Great!" smiled Phil as he walked Jess and Mali closely. Suddenly a loud noise came from Stu's pocket. "Phone! Phone! Who is it? Answer!"
Stu grabbed for it before throwing his hand down in dismay." Lauren's dad. He just reminded me..."
"Answer it!" demanded Phil trying to get the phone from his hands. When Stu ignored his request to answer he sighed loudly. "What! He might know something about Teddy."
After much pressuring, Stu shakenly answered. Jess, who was several steps away watching around them and noticed a man approach the building they had exited. Slowly making her way back to the group, Stu finally answered.
"Hello?"
"Who takes an all-day fishing trip the day before a wedding?" demanded Lauren's father from the phone. Put Teddy on the phone!"
"Teddy's seasick actually," Stu quickly answered without thinking and staring at the group for help,
"Seasick?" repeated the father. "Teddy's been a Maritime cadet since he was nine!"
Softly laughing and trying again to hold his voice level, Stu spoke up. "That's weird, cause he's puking everywhere."
As Stu argued on the phone, Jess felt unusually scared. The men around the building had returned outside and they were eyeing them closely. As if she had been watching too, Mali gripped Jess' hand and tried to inch herself away with Jess in tow. Her eyes stayed focused on the men and without notice, she took off letting go of Jess.
"Wait!" she screamed but followed without realizing the actions behind them. Mali stopped a moment before turning to point at the group.
"PHIL!" screamed Stu as the men demanded for the monkey back. Alan argued for the monkey back but gave it up. Mali ran up to Jess and pulled her arm again, begging for them to leave.
"Mali, we need the guys!"
"Please I know where to go but please those men are evil! We need to go!"
Just as suddenly in Stu's questions, the men took off and shot the gun they were aiming at the group, hitting Phil in the shoulder.
"JESS!" screamed Mali as she took off again around the corner.
Cursing her luck, Jess turned sharply and ran after Mali. She followed the girl several streets away before she stopped to catch her breath. Calling for her name she worried where the girl was, or even more so where she was. She didn't have a phone and didn't know anything about Bangkok.
"Mali!" she called again trying to locate the small girl, she'd spent the better part of the morning protecting. Hurrying down a narrow street, she saw what looked like a glimpse of Mali running around a corner. Running after, she seemed to lead Jess down several streets further from the guys. Finally, she found Mali sitting outside of a gated building.
"You can't do that! I have to get you to safety-" said Jess placing her hands on her hips in protest.
"I already did. This is the Embassy. Look see!"
Jess turned to see where she pointed, and it appeared the girl was right. Walking up to the gate, unsure of what to do, Mali smiled and took them up. The guard eyed the two as they walked up with caution.
"State your name," he asked.
"Mali Hayes, my father was Pierre Hayes. I need to see Mr. Thomas."
At the sound of her father's name, the guard stood up suddenly and began whispering into the phone urgency. Jess eyed Mali, watching the young girl speak so well and being so brave to speak up. Who was this Mr. Thomas?
"Mali are you sure about this? I'm not looking to getting arrested again," she said nervously.
"I will try not to get you into trouble. But I had to run away. Bad people hurt my father and I couldn't stay where I was. Father told me to see Mr. Thomas if anything happened at the Embassy. But I don't know who he is." Mali tightened her grip on Jess's hand before
"Did your father ever mention him," asked Jess as it appeared someone was coming closer to them at the gate.
"No, just that he would be the person to speak to. My father was trying to get me to France before my mother died." Jess rubbed her hand as she looked down. "My father had enemies and protected me. He promised me a life from Bangkok."
Jess knelt to her and smiled rubbing her cheek. Mali had tears in her eyes as the door opened behind them. Standing up and shielding Mali behind her back, Jess stared the man standing before her. He was an older man dressed in a charcoal grey pinstripe suit, a loose bowtie around his neck, and black polished shoes.
"Oui, come in mademoiselle. We 'ave been search'ing for you."
Jess was frozen in place as was Mali. "Who are you?" she asked the tall man. His white graying hair was combed perfectly well and a smiled broke out over his aging face as thin lines appeared.
"Ah, oui, je m'appelle Thoma'. I am a a'gent of Interpol and close friend to Monsieur 'ayes. And you?" he stated holding his hands together and speaking in a clear French accent.
"Jess. Jessica Billings, but how did you know about Mali?" she asked
"Pleaze Miss Billings. I will tell you everything inside. Ve must get Miss Mali to safety. She isn't safe outside."
Mr. Thomas held out his hand motioned for them to enter. Following behind, Jess was handed a visitor pass and they followed some ways into the building before stopping at a door. Entering the room, Jess found herself faced with several people inside. There were five people, speaking in different languages who were arguing about something related to gangs, from what Jess could make out.
"Excusez-moi!" shouted Mr. Thomas to the others. "Mali is 'ere."
The others stopped and looked at the three of them. One by one, they stared at Jess and Mali with interest. There were two women dressed in high waisted skirts, while the men wore suits like Mr. Thomas. The tall, blond man walked over and began speaking feverishly at Mr. Thomas in rapid French that Jess barely keep up with. The other four began walking closer and spoke quickly with points at Jess.
"How did she get here?"
"Does she know?"
"Who is that woman with her?"
"What do we do?"
Each person seemed to be asking these questions as Mr. Thomas simply smiled. "We need to talk of this with 'er. Madame Billings brought her 'ere. I don't know 'ow, jest she appears as confused as we."
"Ich denke kaum, wir müssen sie befragen!" shouted the man pointing at Jess firmly. "Ve do not need to speak his affairs about his daughter. Bringe das Mädchen von dort zurück, wo sie hergekommen ist!"
"Jürgen, Je pense qu'elle a besoin de savoir où aller. Elle n'appartient clairement pas ici!"
Finally, Jess threw her hands down on the table and shouted at the people around her. "Would you shut up!" Each person stopped and eyed her. "I haven't a clue what any of you are speaking about! WHO ARE YOU AND WHY AM I HERE!"
"Oui, we do apologize. We are Interpol agents," began Mr. Thomas waving around the room. The two women, who said they were from Japan, and the men, from Germany, France, and Thailand, nodded firmly to Mr. Thomas' introductions. "And we have been looking for her. Her papa was also an agent but we hav'n't been able to find 'im. Her arrival is certain in determining 'is whereabouts. We were 'oping 'ou might help us. If willing of course."
Jess stood up and stared at them. "You are kidding right? There is no way in hell I'm that level of clearance. How do I know anything you speak is right?"
"Ich sagte dir, der Amerikaner würde nicht helfen," muttered the German man.
"Jürgen …" warned Mr. Thomas. "Madame Billings, please we only know that Monsieur Hayes was following Leslie Chow. He 'as gone missing. We feared when we 'ould not find Mali. But 'ou brought 'er to us safety. Merci, merci beaucoup!"
Jess let out a laugh and frowned at them. "Leslie Chow? Mr. Chow… Are you fucking me?" she mumbled under her breath.
"Do you know Chow?" asked the German man firmly.
"It sounds very familiar. But I haven't spoken to him in over two years," admitted Jess sitting back in her seat.
"Vhere did 'ou meet Chow?" asked Jürgen standing up and pressing his hands behind his back with intimidation.
"In Las Vegas, Nevada. He thought we stole his money. Which we didn't. Leslie Chow is vermin and a waste of my time."
"Vhy are you in Bangkok?" Jürgen demanded.
"Well I woke up on the roof of some building and my friends and I found Mali on the streets while we searching for some covering to protect us from hot ass sun."
"—Vho are these friends of yours?"
"I was with three guys," started Jess feeling very annoyed at the German's demanding questions. It felt like she was being interrogated instead of merrily having a conversation. "Phil, Stu, and Alan. Stu's wedding is tomorrow and all of us need to get back before the ceremony, or Stu dies at the hands of his future father-in-law. And I'm a bridesmaid. So, yah, I need to leave as soon as possible… WITH the guys… wherever the hell they are at right now. But Mali here had to run off and get us separated. So, yah, I have no idea where the hell I am, or where the fuck to go from here."
"You said Stu?" asked Mr. Thomas in his seat looking around the room.
"Yes, Stu as in Stuart Price. My boss. Dentist." Everyone but Jürgen and Mr. Thomas left.
"Excuse me, where the hell is everyone going?" she snapped as the door closed firmly.
"Ve think we know vere your friends are," stated Jürgen at the window. Mr. Thomas nodded as they waited quietly for someone to return.
Jess stood up and crossed her arms promptly walking over to Jürgen. "Well, I demand to know what about I suppose to do with Mali? And you all need to give some answers, other than hold me hostage in this damn room. I want some answers!"
Jürgen smirked and turned slowly to her. Muttering something, she turned around with rage in her eyes.
"What the fuck did he say Thomas?!" yelled Jess pointing a finger at him in anger. "I don't know German!"
"'e said to be quiet, but not so nicely," answered Mr. Thomas. The door opened suddenly as one the women came back in. She was staring at Jess with a paper in her hand. Mr. Thomas jumped up and sighed loudly with happiness. "Ah, Oui! Merci! Merci! Madame Billings, please we can take you to 'hem!"
Jess stared down the German man again before she left with Mr. Thomas.
"Who was that again?" she asked as she got into the car with Mr. Thomas and his driver.
"Zat is Jürgen Winter. A bit of zee person he is." Jess remained quiet as she could before they arrived at a ritzy restaurant. "It zeems that Kingsley 'as your friends," he said.
"Who the fuck is Kingsley?" mumbled Jess as she was taken from the room.