Chapter 37
Jake looked at the phone as if it were a dead rat. Vivian Thornton was not on his list of have-to-see people; but he did not want to hang up on her. Jake asked her what the problem was; she told him she needed to talk to him urgently and could not say over the phone. She sounded so desperate and panic stricken Jake agreed to meet her at the beach in an hour. Jake ate supper and told the folks he was going for a ride and would be back before eight. His dad smiled indulgently, Charles knew how exciting it was to have your first automobile. Although he thought the gift extravagant beyond words, he had finally agreed to it when Sara explained her reasoning. Charles' smile would have faded quickly had he known who Jake was driving to meet.
Jake pulled up to the parking area above the 26th Street beach approach. He killed the engine then checked the big.38 Colt Cobra he had purchased from Tiny. He would not rule out anything where Vivian was concerned. Jake opened the door then quietly slipped out of the car; he had stopped at the Seven-Eleven earlier and removed the bulb from his dome light as a further precaution. Jake eased the car door closed and disappeared quickly into the picnic area where tables were chained to the posts of the pavilion. He peeked over the sea wall and spotted a solitary car sitting by the lifeguard station. A small, possibly familiar figure was perched on the hood, head swiveling in every direction at every sound. Jake moved the revolver to his back waistband, covered it with his jacket, slipped over the seawall, and walked slowly toward the car with his hands open and slightly out to the side.
Vivian caught his movement from the corner of her eye and turned towards him; he immediately saw the glint off the small handgun she held. He stopped dead in his tracks; reasonably sure he was out of range for an accurate shot.
"It's Jake," he called to her. "Put the gun on the hood and step back a few feet."
She looked at her hand and hastily complied. Jake kept his hands in view and started walking towards her again. As he got closer, he began to wonder if he was meeting the right person. The woman in front of the Chrysler sedan did not look like Vivian; for one thing, she did not have long blonde hair, instead she wore her black hair in a pageboy. For another, she wore glasses and Vivian did not. Finally, this woman wore a nondescript ill-fitting ordinary print dress, something Vivian would not be caught dead in. Jake grabbed the little nickel-plated popgun and pocketed it. When Jake was standing in front of her, the woman spoke.
"Hello, Jake; long time, no see."
Jesus, it was her; the disguise was brilliant. "Hi, Viv. I like your new look."
She favored him with a small smile. "Thanks," she said sarcastically, "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
Jake said, "Sure, but you will have to ride with me. She agreed and they walked toward the picnic area. Jake took a careful look around before leading her to his car. He drove her to Liz's bungalow and showed her in. While she made herself comfortable, he poured her a snifter of brandy. As Jake sat next to her on the couch, she commented that she remembered being there with him before. Jake brushed off her attempt at distraction and brought her back on topic -- asking her why she had pulled the disappearing act and why did she think he could or would help her.
Vivian took off her glasses and studied him for a moment.
"Jake, I'm going to level with you and tell you much more about me. I grew up poor; my mother raised me after my father left when I was a baby. My mother groomed me to marry rich from the age of ten. I was clever, pretty and knew what I had to offer -- so getting men was never a problem. I married a wealthy man when I was nineteen. Contrary to what he said later, he did abuse me. The experience was bad enough that I swore off men for years. I went to work for Russell in 1967; his wife died unexpectedly of natural causes a year later. That did open the door for us. We were married in '69. Our marriage might have seemed strange to some, in truth, it was partly business. I was his beautiful young trophy wife; he was my sugar daddy. But it worked, I finally had the life my mother and I had dreamed about, I only wish mom had lived so she could have shared my good fortune.
"Russell was a vigorous man, active and vital, but he had a few sexual hang ups, primarily, he was a voyeur. It aroused him to see me with another man. My peccadilloes were initially at his instigation. I was hesitant at first but, after the first two episodes, began to get off on it also. Russell loved watching me seduce someone; as soon as we were alone after my 'date', he was insatiable. This activity reached a high intensity when Chip was to be my next target. That liaison drove Russell to sustained priapism. Then when Chip got too possessive, Russell was going to have a serious talk to him and send him to Europe with a pocket full of money until he regained some perspective. You were the next target on our list, by the way.
"Anyway, my point is that I did not want Russell dead. I had everything I ever wanted: a strong man who indulged me, plus lots of money. Randal knew what I was; we had also been intimate at Russell's urging -- and I know the two of them talked about me. When Russell was killed, Randal came down and said he was going to take care of me, protect me not only from Chip's obsession but also from Melissa's hatred. I believed him and went along with his plan to gain control of Thornton Development. I had the idea that things would be the same as before for me, only I'd be with Randal, instead of his brother. That's how things were when Melissa emancipated herself. I still can't believe what a strong person she is; she is a female version of her father.
"After you all left that day, I called Randal; after all, he had said he would protect me from just such an event. When he found out about Chip signing his shares over to Melissa and Melissa's new will, he went ballistic. He made all kind of threats and in an unguarded moment said he should have 'taken care of everything at one time.' Comments like that scared me at first; but then he calmed down and told me to go along with Melissa's demands. Once I was settled in West Palm, he came to see me. He said he was going to mount a legal challenge to Melissa's takeover and needed my shares in Thornton Development to help his standing as a major shareholder. I told him I'd vote his way and back him but I wasn't giving or even selling my shares to him. He wasn't very happy about that but agreed.
"When Melissa had the company buy back five of my shares last week, Randal went crazy. He called me a stupid bitch and said I was a traitor and he would deal with me like he was going to deal with everyone else. That is when I decided I had better drop out of sight. According to some hints dropped earlier by Russell, Randal has some very unsavory friends in Connecticut that he got involved with through some underhanded union dealings."
Jake had sat in silent amazement throughout her long story. It all made sense now. Jake asked her some questions about Randal's 'friends'. She told him that she had never met any of them nor heard Randal speak directly of them. However, from what Russell had said, she gathered they had something to do with the Teamster and Longshoremen unions in Connecticut and Rhode Island. He asked her what her plans were now. She replied that she was going to Europe, as far away from Randal as she could get. After all the evil she had done, Jake still felt sorry for her as she sat there crying. He took her hands in his and held them.
"Jake, why don't you come with me? I have plenty of money and I always feel safe with you," she said.
Jake told her that as good as the offer was he had to decline it. Nevertheless but he promised that he would be there for her if she really needed him. He drove her back to her car and made sure she was safe before he went home. He handed her back her pistol; she tried to entice him to her clandestine motel room for the night saying that she would do or be anything he wanted. Once again, he declined her invitation. He did, however, make her promise to write and call him at least weekly. He needed to keep tabs on her where-abouts.
Jake thought about this new development on his way home. There was no reason to doubt Vivian's story. It jibed too much with what he knew about her. Then again, could it be a very sophisticated plot? If her story held up, the lineup of suspects was down to one. It appeared that Cain slew Abel. Now what? There was still the little detail of proof. In the four months since Russell's murder, not a single useful lead had developed. A contract killing by professionals from up north could explain that fact. At least now Jake had some information to pass on to Barry Miller. The thought struck him that maybe offering a big reward might jog some people's memory. What else could be done? Did Randal have a weak link that could break and spill enough evidence for conviction? He wondered how Muffy was going to take this news.
Not well; nope, she did not take it well at all. To say she was pissed at him would be a gross understatement.
"But Honey, all I did was talk to her," pissed her off even more.
He got the "You would have told me if you really loved me" lecture, then the "You could have been hurt, you idiot" speech.
When she kicked the nightstand, Jake had had enough. He held up his hand, palm toward her, and stopped her mid-tirade. Jake was not about to put up with that big a ration of shit for doing what he had thought was right.
"Before you say something that you can't stuff back in your mouth, I'm going to sleep in the guest room. This is the last time you will ever raise your voice at me. It is also the last time we bring a disagreement into our bedroom. You are free to disagree with me all you want; you just need to find a better way to do it. I don't work for you so you had better save those nasty ass chewings for someone who does. We can continue this conversation in a day or two if you want, or you can just decide that you are not putting up with me, either way it's your call. Goodnight."
Melissa stood there sputtering, the blood drained from her face as he walked out the door. She spent a miserable hour in the huge bed all alone, but she was stubbornly sticking to her guns, she thought. Jake was not trying some ploy to gain some sort of advantage here, but he felt it was her argument and she needed to deal with the issue. If she was waiting for an apology, she had a long wait coming. He felt bad for her because she was hurt but her wounds were self-inflicted. After the same hour had passed and his ire had subsided, Jake went to check on Muffy. They collided in the dark bathroom; both trains of remorse were on the same track going in opposite directions. She was instantly in his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Baby, I'll never do that again, please come back to bed," Melissa said.
"I'm sorry too, I'll never leave like that again," Jake said.
Jake had forgotten about make-up sex in this nearly perfect existence. Melissa brought it all back to him as she straddled his waist and sank down on him. You know how much Melissa likes to talk while having sex. Well make-up sex makes her even more vociferous; she told him of her undying love and devotion when he entered her. As her ardor increased she switched gears and got delightfully nasty, Jake loved it when she was nasty. Her splayed hands were on his chest as she ground herself against him.
"I want your cum in my pussy, in my mouth, in my ass and on my face," she hissed. "I've been so bad, Baby, I need to be spanked and grudge-fucked."
She meant it too; right at the minute, there was probably nothing Jake could do to her that she would not like. She was on fire for her man. Jake rolled her over and pushed her knees to her tits. The harder he fucked, the better she liked it. It was cathartic as all their anger was consumed by the passion of their joined bodies. They fell asleep tangled together like a child's over-knotted shoelaces.
They discussed Jake's meeting with Vivian in a much calmer manner the next morning. Melissa listened to him but did not buy Vivian's story for a second. Even if Vivian was scared and running from her Uncle Randal, she reasoned, it did not automatically absolve her stepmother from any earlier complicity in her father's murder. Melissa thought she had better confer with Maria to see if her aunt knew anything about this. She had already found out that Maria had known about and kept to herself the fact that Vivian was missing in the first place. Maria had fielded the police inquiries before the story broke; Barry Miller had asked her to keep the information to herself. Once the media got onto the story, she handled the questions from them also.
Two evenings later, Jake sat in the hot stuffy cafeteria/auditorium of Our Sister of Hope Catholic School for Girls. The Sorensons sat beside him as Cindy participated in the school's annual charity fashion show. Cindy had a prominent place in the show wearing three different outfits. She looked spectacular and carried herself with an unselfconscious grace that was magical. After the show, she and Jake were chatting when a smartly dressed woman approached Cindy. She introduced herself and gave Cindy her business card. Her name was Mary Williams; her claim to fame was that she worked for the Ford Modeling Agency's Miami office. She asked Cindy if she would be interested in doing a test photo shoot; Miss Williams believed that Cindy's fresh-faced beauty made her a natural for the runway. Cindy eagerly agreed and took Mary to meet her parents. Two weeks later, Cindy Sorenson signed an exclusive contract with Ford.
Within six months, Cindy was the rage on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Teresa, her mother, was with her in New York as Cindy did the summer fashion show circuit. Cindy also posed for the cover of Vogue, Cosmo, and Good Housekeeping. When fall came around, Cindy went back to Palmdale and completed her senior year of high school. After graduation, she went back to New York, this time with Laurie instead of her mother. She loved the bright lights of the big city, and the city loved her. Ford was very protective of their models and took good care of Cindy; the agency housed Cindy and Laurie in an apartment building that housed six other Ford models. Cindy and Laurie did the party scene and dated some but Cindy remained true to her pledge of remaining a virgin until she married. Of course, with her penchant for women, she was far from celibate.
Jake visited her for her eighteenth birthday party on September 20, 1973. Her party was a big bash at a posh New York nightspot well attended by her fellow models and new circle of friends. Cindy hung on Jake's arm as she introduced him around; the mysterious boyfriend finally making an appearance. Her friends were impressed but the Ford execs at the party were thrilled. They ensured plenty of photos of the attractive couple were taken and that Jake was introduced around to the gossip columnists at the party. A boyfriend conveniently away at college was ideal from Ford's standpoint. After the party, Jake spent the night with Cindy and Laurie at their apartment. Laurie had never felt Cindy's compulsion to remain a virgin but Jake was still surprised when Cindy sat on his face and Laurie planted herself on his dick. Surprised and very pleased.
Cindy took acting lessons while in New York; a classmate introduced her to the producer of a daytime soap opera. The producer gave her a small role where her beauty and acting ability got her noticed by a Hollywood agent. Thus a star was born. In three years, the shy young candy striper became the toast of tinsel town. Cindy credited Jake with her success. After all, he was the one who coaxed her out of her shell. Cindy immediately became the media and public's darling. Her beauty and unassuming grace coupled with her decision not to be caught up in her own celebrity was a refreshing change for a movie star. Jake gave her advice on roles to take or turn down. After all, he knew which movies were bombs and which were critical or popular successes. Jake recommended she take the small role offered her in 'Man with the Golden Gun'; being a Bond girl never hurt. He also steered her towards the part she was offered in 'Godfather II' and a larger part in 'Chinatown'.
After two years in Hollywood, her status as a megastar cemented, Cindy moved back to Palmdale. She built a large house on the inland waterway and commuted to movie locations, taking one or two roles a year. Amazingly, she was still a virgin at the age of twenty-two.
The disappearance of Vivian must have goaded Randal Thornton into action. On Tuesday, January 25, Randal started to close up shop in New Haven to move his operations to Orlando. Randal had long ago decided that Thornton Development should be his, yet after four months of maneuvering he was not gaining any ground. It was time to go down there and make things happen. It was not a big deal for him to pick up and move as he had no projects under development and the only construction project he had on the books was nearing completion. Randal figured his new silent partner Vincent Scarpizio, business agent for the International Stevedore and Longshoreman Association, could take care of that little item.
Vinnie 'The Weasel' Scarpizio was good at taking care of a lot of things, Randal had discovered. And their business relationship was mutually rewarding, given the way the gangster types normally operate. Randal was Scarpizio's ticket into New Haven society, something Vincent desperately wanted. It was no skin off Randal's nose to introduce him around and surprisingly, the charming and cultured Mafioso fit right in. Vince, as the gentry knew him, was a scratch golfer and a hell of a raconteur. In addition, Vinnie was cutting a wide swath through the golf widows when he was not on the links. Randal suspected that some of his wealthy associates were also about to gain a new partner, but again it was no skin off his nose, 'cave canem' and all that.
As for employees, Randal only had one: Mitzi Walters, a secretary who conveniently doubled as his cocotte. Mitzi was no brain surgeon but she could type, file, suck, fuck, and answer the phone; besides, that Cuban bitch, Maria, had broken him of the smart woman habit. Mitzi was simply thrilled about moving to Florida; as Randal was breaking out the blow, she was unzipping his pants. That was another benefit of knowing Vinnie; he had an unending supply of cocaine, no doubt smuggled in by his union brothers.
While Jake was attending Cindy's fashion show, Randal was passing the keys to his house to a real estate agent as Mitzi sat impatiently in the front seat of his Lincoln smacking a piece of Juicy Fruit. By eight o'clock, Randal was burning up I-95 headed south.
The defecation was about to hit the rotating cooling device.