Sunday, March 1, 2015
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Chapter Ten
CHAPTER 10
Havana walked up the steps, forcing a confidence into her posture that she wished would seep into her spirit. Inside the building, she pushed the button for Dave Sharlet’s floor. Even from inside the elevator, the differences between her home and Dr. Sharlet’s were apparent. His elevator served sleek city apartments housing successful professionals. The wood was burnished, the handrails polished. Nothing like the rickety elevator that served her building. She thought back. It was just a few days ago that she and Karen were trapped in there together.
Karen had asked, “How’s the new route?” standing there in her new
uniform, as flawless as her sleek up-do and porcelain skin.
Still, she had brushed imaginary lint from the hem of her jacket. It was as if she was trying to get Havana to notice the uniform she was issued when she got the promotion to the international route.
“It’s great. I’m loving it. If I had known how much I’d like it, I would have requested it a long time ago. Seattle’s much more cosmopolitan than I remembered. And Tampa gives me a nice chance to soak up some sun.” Havana hated Seattle, with its airport filled with
pasty tech industry middle managers making their pilgrimage to Microsoft. And she couldn’t bear the stifling humidity of Tampa in the seconds from the airport to the cab and the cab to her hotel.
“You’re lucky. I barely get six hours to myself in Paris before I have to head back to the States. A city the size of Paris, that’s barely enough time to decide what to do.”
Havana had seethed. She should have that route. She was the senior flight attendant.
The elevator lurched, then stopped. The floor skewed almost imperceptibly to the rear. Havana felt unsteady. Karen punched the button for their floor. Nothing happened. She
punched the door-open button, then the door-close. Still nothing.
“Well, that’s rich. We’re stuck,” she said. Havana reached in front of Karen and pushed every button on the panel. They all lit up, but the elevator didn’t move. She hit the emergency alarm button. Maybe somewhere in the airport an alarm was sounding, but she didn’t hear anything. Both women pulled out their cell phones, but there was no
signal in the bowels of the airport.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way out of here.” Karen said.
She’s not going to boss me around. She might have stolen that promotion, but I’m still senior here. Havana looked at Karen’s shoes. She wore four-inch stiletto heels that didn’t meet regulations.
“Give me one of your shoes. I’ll try to pry the door open with the heel.”
“Like hell you will. Use your own shoe. These are $400 shoes.”
Havana looked down at her own pumps, with their broad, sensible inch-and-a-half heels.
“You know these won’t work. Give it up, Karen.”
“There must be something else we can use.” Karen’s eyes traveled around the small, sparse cab. “How about the handrail supports? Do you have a screwdriver?”
Havana’s heart was starting to race. She imagined that the cab was sealed tight, and that she and Karen would be gasping for air before long.
“Just give me the shoe. You didn’t have any trouble taking them off to fuck Tom for the job. What’s your problem now?”
Havana walked up the steps, forcing a confidence into her posture that she wished would seep into her spirit. Inside the building, she pushed the button for Dave Sharlet’s floor. Even from inside the elevator, the differences between her home and Dr. Sharlet’s were apparent. His elevator served sleek city apartments housing successful professionals. The wood was burnished, the handrails polished. Nothing like the rickety elevator that served her building. She thought back. It was just a few days ago that she and Karen were trapped in there together.
Karen had asked, “How’s the new route?” standing there in her new
uniform, as flawless as her sleek up-do and porcelain skin.
Still, she had brushed imaginary lint from the hem of her jacket. It was as if she was trying to get Havana to notice the uniform she was issued when she got the promotion to the international route.
“It’s great. I’m loving it. If I had known how much I’d like it, I would have requested it a long time ago. Seattle’s much more cosmopolitan than I remembered. And Tampa gives me a nice chance to soak up some sun.” Havana hated Seattle, with its airport filled with
pasty tech industry middle managers making their pilgrimage to Microsoft. And she couldn’t bear the stifling humidity of Tampa in the seconds from the airport to the cab and the cab to her hotel.
“You’re lucky. I barely get six hours to myself in Paris before I have to head back to the States. A city the size of Paris, that’s barely enough time to decide what to do.”
Havana had seethed. She should have that route. She was the senior flight attendant.
The elevator lurched, then stopped. The floor skewed almost imperceptibly to the rear. Havana felt unsteady. Karen punched the button for their floor. Nothing happened. She
punched the door-open button, then the door-close. Still nothing.
“Well, that’s rich. We’re stuck,” she said. Havana reached in front of Karen and pushed every button on the panel. They all lit up, but the elevator didn’t move. She hit the emergency alarm button. Maybe somewhere in the airport an alarm was sounding, but she didn’t hear anything. Both women pulled out their cell phones, but there was no
signal in the bowels of the airport.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way out of here.” Karen said.
She’s not going to boss me around. She might have stolen that promotion, but I’m still senior here. Havana looked at Karen’s shoes. She wore four-inch stiletto heels that didn’t meet regulations.
“Give me one of your shoes. I’ll try to pry the door open with the heel.”
“Like hell you will. Use your own shoe. These are $400 shoes.”
Havana looked down at her own pumps, with their broad, sensible inch-and-a-half heels.
“You know these won’t work. Give it up, Karen.”
“There must be something else we can use.” Karen’s eyes traveled around the small, sparse cab. “How about the handrail supports? Do you have a screwdriver?”
Havana’s heart was starting to race. She imagined that the cab was sealed tight, and that she and Karen would be gasping for air before long.
“Just give me the shoe. You didn’t have any trouble taking them off to fuck Tom for the job. What’s your problem now?”
Monday, June 21, 2010
Chapter Nine
He wanted to see her. He was so happy she had called. He said he had feared that she would not. His voice was breathy and deep. Each time he spoke her name she closed her eyes and held her breath. She knew It was right that she had called. She had made the right choice.
But then he said it was a bad time. He had a case, he said. As soon as the patient was stable, he would be called to operate. It could be minutes. It could be two days.
A voice in Havana's head told her she should end the call there, wrap it up, say goodbye. No daughter of Emilio Victoria could fall for such an unlikely story. But Havana stayed on the line.
He said he was in his apartment half a block from the hospital. He couldn't ask her to come and wait with him. “It's too much to ask,” he said, “but....”
And she said she would. She hung up. She made a point of not thinking while she changed her clothes, grabbed her bag, and went down to hail a cab.
She told the driver where to take her. The address was reassuring to her. It was a good neighborhood. It was half a block from the hospital, just as he'd said. She sat back in her seat. She inhaled and exhaled. Inhaled and exhaled. But gradually a new worry came over her. She began to feel that the cab was being followed.
Her father had taught her how to spot a tail. "It's never the car directly behind," he'd said. That and, "Look for the lane changer." There were certain kinds of cars, too. Cars that were unobtrusive, like the gray sedan that made the same left the cab made at the corner of Wilson and Lawrence. Then a Cadillac made the turn, too.
I must be nervous, Havana thought. I think every car in Chicago is following me.
Even so, she changed her destination with the driver. She told him to pull up to one of the side entrances at Water Tower Place. When she left the cab, she raced through the mall to the taxi stand on the opposite side. She gave her new driver Dave Sharlet's address.
As the cab pulled up in front of his building, she had already tallied the fare plus the tip in her mind. She handed the driver the exact amount she owed. Thank you. No change. Putting her wallet back in her purse, she double checked that she had everything she might need. Yes. She had condoms. And she had a gun.
But then he said it was a bad time. He had a case, he said. As soon as the patient was stable, he would be called to operate. It could be minutes. It could be two days.
A voice in Havana's head told her she should end the call there, wrap it up, say goodbye. No daughter of Emilio Victoria could fall for such an unlikely story. But Havana stayed on the line.
He said he was in his apartment half a block from the hospital. He couldn't ask her to come and wait with him. “It's too much to ask,” he said, “but....”
And she said she would. She hung up. She made a point of not thinking while she changed her clothes, grabbed her bag, and went down to hail a cab.
She told the driver where to take her. The address was reassuring to her. It was a good neighborhood. It was half a block from the hospital, just as he'd said. She sat back in her seat. She inhaled and exhaled. Inhaled and exhaled. But gradually a new worry came over her. She began to feel that the cab was being followed.
Her father had taught her how to spot a tail. "It's never the car directly behind," he'd said. That and, "Look for the lane changer." There were certain kinds of cars, too. Cars that were unobtrusive, like the gray sedan that made the same left the cab made at the corner of Wilson and Lawrence. Then a Cadillac made the turn, too.
I must be nervous, Havana thought. I think every car in Chicago is following me.
Even so, she changed her destination with the driver. She told him to pull up to one of the side entrances at Water Tower Place. When she left the cab, she raced through the mall to the taxi stand on the opposite side. She gave her new driver Dave Sharlet's address.
As the cab pulled up in front of his building, she had already tallied the fare plus the tip in her mind. She handed the driver the exact amount she owed. Thank you. No change. Putting her wallet back in her purse, she double checked that she had everything she might need. Yes. She had condoms. And she had a gun.
Chapter Eight
Hey Havana! Psss psss . Havana is scared that she can’t hear Dr, Sharlet´s voice. Right now, both are in a small dark room. The guards are just outside the doors, and hear a little noise. They shout at them to be quiet.
Havana shhhh come close to me. Dr. Scarlet is almost whispering to Havana.
Havana’s body is shivering; she can’t control this action because she doesn’t know what is happening. She is so scared that she doesn’t know if she can trust this handsome Doctor with blue eyes. However, she cautiously gets close to him.
Havana, please trust me and don’t worry. I know where we are. You have to do exactly what I’m going to tell you, but first, try to relax; you can’t help being in this state. Dr. Sharlet takes Havana’s hands and he looks into her eyes. Havana starts feeling some amazing release in her body. The warm touch in her hand transfers her to an amazing love state that for a moment she forgot herself. Both are looking into each other´s eyes in the darkness. They just can see the light coming from their eyes.
Havana, ¨ listen to me, we have to get to the other corner of the room. In that corner, there is a little door which can help us get out from here. Try to be quiet as much as you can. If you see they´ve caught us, just run. When you open the door, you are going to see a long corridor. You have to run as fast as you can. At the end of the corridor, you’ll find another door. This door is an elevator which is going to take us to another place. Never look back. Just go forward. Don’t worry. I’ll be behind of you all the time. Trust me.
Havana listens to him carefully. She is afraid to mess up everything but at the same time she feels full of confidence because Dr. Sharlet is with her.
Everything seems perfect but when she is on the other side opening the door, one of the guards reacts and shouts at her. STOP there!!! Havana remembers all the instructions: open the door and run as fast as she can. She feels that she can’t get to the other side. She feels her legs heavy and weak. She tries but something is wrong. She wants to look back but her doctor told her not to. Finally, she gets the elevator’s door, opens it, gets in and when she looks for her Doctor, she also can see that one guard is running behind him with a gun in her hand pointing at him.
Run faster, run! He is behind of you, he wants to KiLL … at that moment a big noise stops her.
Havana wakes up sweating with her heart pumping. She was having a terrible nightmare. She is confused. It is the third dream that she’s had with her doctor. She thinks she is going crazy. Her dreams are continuous and she doesn’t know the meaning.
Havana has decided to make a choice. She can’t live with these crazy emotions. She needs to do something. She makes herself strong; she looks for the Doctor’s card. This is the moment, to either have him forever or forget him forever. I’m going to call him. If he wants to see me he will do whatever he can in order to see me, if he hesitates or his voice is cold this means it is the end. I’m tired and don’t want to get crazy for someone who is indifferent to me and makes me to wait.
Havana shhhh come close to me. Dr. Scarlet is almost whispering to Havana.
Havana’s body is shivering; she can’t control this action because she doesn’t know what is happening. She is so scared that she doesn’t know if she can trust this handsome Doctor with blue eyes. However, she cautiously gets close to him.
Havana, please trust me and don’t worry. I know where we are. You have to do exactly what I’m going to tell you, but first, try to relax; you can’t help being in this state. Dr. Sharlet takes Havana’s hands and he looks into her eyes. Havana starts feeling some amazing release in her body. The warm touch in her hand transfers her to an amazing love state that for a moment she forgot herself. Both are looking into each other´s eyes in the darkness. They just can see the light coming from their eyes.
Havana, ¨ listen to me, we have to get to the other corner of the room. In that corner, there is a little door which can help us get out from here. Try to be quiet as much as you can. If you see they´ve caught us, just run. When you open the door, you are going to see a long corridor. You have to run as fast as you can. At the end of the corridor, you’ll find another door. This door is an elevator which is going to take us to another place. Never look back. Just go forward. Don’t worry. I’ll be behind of you all the time. Trust me.
Havana listens to him carefully. She is afraid to mess up everything but at the same time she feels full of confidence because Dr. Sharlet is with her.
Everything seems perfect but when she is on the other side opening the door, one of the guards reacts and shouts at her. STOP there!!! Havana remembers all the instructions: open the door and run as fast as she can. She feels that she can’t get to the other side. She feels her legs heavy and weak. She tries but something is wrong. She wants to look back but her doctor told her not to. Finally, she gets the elevator’s door, opens it, gets in and when she looks for her Doctor, she also can see that one guard is running behind him with a gun in her hand pointing at him.
Run faster, run! He is behind of you, he wants to KiLL … at that moment a big noise stops her.
Havana wakes up sweating with her heart pumping. She was having a terrible nightmare. She is confused. It is the third dream that she’s had with her doctor. She thinks she is going crazy. Her dreams are continuous and she doesn’t know the meaning.
Havana has decided to make a choice. She can’t live with these crazy emotions. She needs to do something. She makes herself strong; she looks for the Doctor’s card. This is the moment, to either have him forever or forget him forever. I’m going to call him. If he wants to see me he will do whatever he can in order to see me, if he hesitates or his voice is cold this means it is the end. I’m tired and don’t want to get crazy for someone who is indifferent to me and makes me to wait.
Chapter Seven
Leonardo gestured for two men standing in the shadows to move forward. One grabbed Havana and the other grabbed Dr. Sharlet and began to shove them up a dark driveway lined with tall evergreen trees.
“Put the blindfolds on them before you go any further!” shouted Leonardo. “We don’t want them to identify the house.”
At least, they’re not going to kill us thought Havana. She heard Dave ask, “Why are we here?”
“We’re the ones who will ask the questions, Dr. Sharlet. Better keep your big mouth shut,” Leonardo snarled.
Havana heard the clanking of the garage door as it opened and she and Dave stumbled through on to the cement floor.
“Over here,” Leonardo shouted to the men who pushed them through another door and then down a flight of stairs to the basement.
Havana stumbled on the stairs and almost fell down, but her guard grabbed her in time. “”Steady, Miss,” he said with a slight drawl. Startled, Havana realized that she knew that voice, but who was it?
Leonardo interrupted her thoughts when he said, “Make no mistakes, doctor, or Havana here and you will both pay the price.”
“Put the blindfolds on them before you go any further!” shouted Leonardo. “We don’t want them to identify the house.”
At least, they’re not going to kill us thought Havana. She heard Dave ask, “Why are we here?”
“We’re the ones who will ask the questions, Dr. Sharlet. Better keep your big mouth shut,” Leonardo snarled.
Havana heard the clanking of the garage door as it opened and she and Dave stumbled through on to the cement floor.
“Over here,” Leonardo shouted to the men who pushed them through another door and then down a flight of stairs to the basement.
Havana stumbled on the stairs and almost fell down, but her guard grabbed her in time. “”Steady, Miss,” he said with a slight drawl. Startled, Havana realized that she knew that voice, but who was it?
Leonardo interrupted her thoughts when he said, “Make no mistakes, doctor, or Havana here and you will both pay the price.”
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Chapter Six
After receiving her “instructions” Havana quickly wiggled out of her flight uniform, tossed her holey nylons into the trash, and found a pair of jeans and her least-dirty t-shirt from the laundry pile. Now in her sensible running shoes which she hoped she wouldn’t have to use for their intended purpose, she was treading carefully and quietly down the sidewalk, becoming more and more dimly lit as she approached the next intersection.
When Havana reached West Harrison Street, she turned right and continued walking toward her destination. The address couldn’t be found on Mapquest, so she had to settle for the next nearest business: Monty’s Quik Stop and Checkcashers. Once the bright yellow sign came into view she stashed the printout in her purse. She was a little relieved to tell Frank that she had an emergency and couldn’t go out, but a lot more hesitant about instructing him to contact her sister if he didn’t hear back from Havana in over two hours. She knew she was letting herself into a trap, and of course contacting the police would put her father in jeopardy, but Frank was a friend of her father’s and would probably know what to do. And whoever possessed the voice on the other end of the phone would surely kill her father if she didn’t comply with his wishes.
She rang the bell but never crossed the threshold of number 1504, for a bag fell around her and plunged her into complete darkness, and the itchy canvas rubbed at her bare arms like sandpaper as she was scooped up and thrust into the back of a vehicle, a van from the sound of the slamming double doors. She wanted to break out of the cocoon but the bag had been tied to her and only her feet were exposed. If only they had eyes; she could note where she was being taken, though she guessed that the back of the van was windowless. To make matters worse, her sneakers were being pulled off.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, miss. Gotta do it.”
“Can you let me out of this bag? I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry, miss,” she heard a gruff but familiar voice say.
“Leonardo?” she said.
“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong guy.”
You’re full of shit, she wanted to tell him. She recognized one of her
father’s henchmen. But what was he doing on the other side? Her skin crawled from the itchiness of the bag, the bare feet that anyone could tickle, and she couldn’t do a thing about it. Why didn’t she bring Frank with her? Or send someone else. She should have thought this through, come up with a strategy. But now it was like she was in a plane with total hydraulic failure, in free fall.
The van swerved sharply and crossed over a bump as if it were entering a driveway, and the ignition was cut.
“Okay, get out, both of you.”
The rope was loosened and the bag lifted. So it was Leonardo, the traitor, suit too tight, sauce stains on his collar as usual. But there was also another man, ordinary in his thinning brown hair and medium build, but why did he look familiar?
It was the real Dr. Dave Sharlet, in blue scrubs, wet from the perspiration of captivity. He looked as if he had been plucked from the operating room.
“Dr. Sharlet?” Havana whispered.
“Yes indeed,” said Leonardo. “And he’ll be helping us in more ways than one.”
When Havana reached West Harrison Street, she turned right and continued walking toward her destination. The address couldn’t be found on Mapquest, so she had to settle for the next nearest business: Monty’s Quik Stop and Checkcashers. Once the bright yellow sign came into view she stashed the printout in her purse. She was a little relieved to tell Frank that she had an emergency and couldn’t go out, but a lot more hesitant about instructing him to contact her sister if he didn’t hear back from Havana in over two hours. She knew she was letting herself into a trap, and of course contacting the police would put her father in jeopardy, but Frank was a friend of her father’s and would probably know what to do. And whoever possessed the voice on the other end of the phone would surely kill her father if she didn’t comply with his wishes.
She rang the bell but never crossed the threshold of number 1504, for a bag fell around her and plunged her into complete darkness, and the itchy canvas rubbed at her bare arms like sandpaper as she was scooped up and thrust into the back of a vehicle, a van from the sound of the slamming double doors. She wanted to break out of the cocoon but the bag had been tied to her and only her feet were exposed. If only they had eyes; she could note where she was being taken, though she guessed that the back of the van was windowless. To make matters worse, her sneakers were being pulled off.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, miss. Gotta do it.”
“Can you let me out of this bag? I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry, miss,” she heard a gruff but familiar voice say.
“Leonardo?” she said.
“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong guy.”
You’re full of shit, she wanted to tell him. She recognized one of her
father’s henchmen. But what was he doing on the other side? Her skin crawled from the itchiness of the bag, the bare feet that anyone could tickle, and she couldn’t do a thing about it. Why didn’t she bring Frank with her? Or send someone else. She should have thought this through, come up with a strategy. But now it was like she was in a plane with total hydraulic failure, in free fall.
The van swerved sharply and crossed over a bump as if it were entering a driveway, and the ignition was cut.
“Okay, get out, both of you.”
The rope was loosened and the bag lifted. So it was Leonardo, the traitor, suit too tight, sauce stains on his collar as usual. But there was also another man, ordinary in his thinning brown hair and medium build, but why did he look familiar?
It was the real Dr. Dave Sharlet, in blue scrubs, wet from the perspiration of captivity. He looked as if he had been plucked from the operating room.
“Dr. Sharlet?” Havana whispered.
“Yes indeed,” said Leonardo. “And he’ll be helping us in more ways than one.”
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Chapter Five (Alternate)
Special agents Wright and Johnson thanked Tom and walked out of the room. They kept silent until they were inside their car leaving the airport. Wright steered the Buick down the parking garage’s spiraling exit ramp.
“Why would she cover for him?” Johnson asked his partner.
“I’m not sure it’s him she’s covering for. I think she’s covering for her old man.” Wright looked over to see a glimmer of understanding flash across the younger man’s face. Finally. “He’s the second in command in the mob here, and he’s linked to families in New York and New Jersey.”
“What’s the connection between her old man and the doctor?”
“I’m not sure he even is a doctor. My gut tells me his trip was all an act designed so he could meet Havana. She’s not safe, and if she’s not going to be truthful with us it’s going to be hard to protect her.”
***
Havana tossed her pumps in the El station trash bin and walked the three blocks to her condo in her stocking feet. Inside, she locked the door behind her, wheeled her suitcase up against the wall, and opened a bottle of red wine. With the first sip she started to relax, and once half the glass was empty she felt the day’s stress dissipate. She took the glass with her to her bedroom, where she called her father. There, she had an old-school corded phone installed in the bedroom. She used it to call him when she was afraid it wasn’t safe to use the cell phone.
“Hi honey. I’m glad you called back. I could tell something was clicking between you and Frank.”
Havana shuddered. She had forgotten about her father’s message. Now she could feel Frank’s creepy eyes crawling along her skin.
“This isn’t about Frank, Dad. I met a guy on a flight today.”
“You must really like him if you’re calling me already.”
“Dad, stop. Afterwards, there were FBI agents at the airport. They showed me a bunch of photos, and one was him. They asked if I knew him.”
He paused. “What did you say?”
“I said I didn’t know any of them.” She knew better than to ask her father who the doctor was, or what was going on.
“Good girl. Stay right where you are. Don’t go anywhere until you hear back from me.”
Havana heard a click, and the line went dead. “Dad? Dad, are you there?” Land lines didn’t drop calls.
“Daddy can’t help you now,” a male voice said.
“Why would she cover for him?” Johnson asked his partner.
“I’m not sure it’s him she’s covering for. I think she’s covering for her old man.” Wright looked over to see a glimmer of understanding flash across the younger man’s face. Finally. “He’s the second in command in the mob here, and he’s linked to families in New York and New Jersey.”
“What’s the connection between her old man and the doctor?”
“I’m not sure he even is a doctor. My gut tells me his trip was all an act designed so he could meet Havana. She’s not safe, and if she’s not going to be truthful with us it’s going to be hard to protect her.”
***
Havana tossed her pumps in the El station trash bin and walked the three blocks to her condo in her stocking feet. Inside, she locked the door behind her, wheeled her suitcase up against the wall, and opened a bottle of red wine. With the first sip she started to relax, and once half the glass was empty she felt the day’s stress dissipate. She took the glass with her to her bedroom, where she called her father. There, she had an old-school corded phone installed in the bedroom. She used it to call him when she was afraid it wasn’t safe to use the cell phone.
“Hi honey. I’m glad you called back. I could tell something was clicking between you and Frank.”
Havana shuddered. She had forgotten about her father’s message. Now she could feel Frank’s creepy eyes crawling along her skin.
“This isn’t about Frank, Dad. I met a guy on a flight today.”
“You must really like him if you’re calling me already.”
“Dad, stop. Afterwards, there were FBI agents at the airport. They showed me a bunch of photos, and one was him. They asked if I knew him.”
He paused. “What did you say?”
“I said I didn’t know any of them.” She knew better than to ask her father who the doctor was, or what was going on.
“Good girl. Stay right where you are. Don’t go anywhere until you hear back from me.”
Havana heard a click, and the line went dead. “Dad? Dad, are you there?” Land lines didn’t drop calls.
“Daddy can’t help you now,” a male voice said.
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