More Chapter 6

     Slater felt them lifting him up out of the hot, stinking trunk his body was racked with pain. He felt the cold night wrap around his sweaty skin chilling him to the bone. The two strangers stood him up, but his legs had fallen asleep hours ago so Slater dropped like a sack of potatoes to the hard dirty ground. He had no idea where he was but he had an uneasy sinking feeling he would never see home again.
     "Little bastard can't even stand on his own two feet." Mr.Pruce laughed as he kicked the bound helpless man in the stomach.
     Slater felt the short sharp kick and he moaned as the woman with short black hair stood over him a look of sheer disgust and anger on her face. He had never met her, or the two men standing beside her but he knew whoever they were they would not let him get out of, wherever, here was alive.
     "Now what did you have in mind my dear, what would you like us to do to him?" Hays asked as Mr.Pruce glared down at their victim.
     "Well, now boys, I was wanting to hurt him and kill him, but how can we do that without spilling any of his blood?"
     "What does it matter?" Hays asked as Mr.Pruce gave her an odd look.
     "Blood is disgusting! And besides these jeans cost $700.00." she replied.
     "My Christ! Seven Hundred for a pair of blue jeans, I mean these are fabulous, but how does a pair jeans get to cost that much?" Mr.Pruce asked dumbfounded.
     "Well, first they are designed in Italy, then the fabric is cut in Taiwan then shipped to China to be assembled, then sent to India to be embroidered, then sent back to Italy for labels and buttons so there you are, a very expensive pair of well traveled pants."
     "Christ I haven't even been to India." Mr.Pruce commented.
     "Do you want to go India?" Serena asked.
     "Hello, don't mean to interrupt but we have someone to kill." Hays spoke loudly "I'd like to be home before midnight."
     "Yeah, sorry." Mr.Pruce said "Yeah, so we can fuck him up without spilling his blood.., but it won't be as much fun." He answered staring down at Leah's boyfriend.
     "Okay, kick him in the stomach again I want to get a picture." Serena smiled aiming the camera close up to their frightened, doomed victim. Kick. Click. Flash.

Chapter 6 continues

     "Did you bring the Polaroid camera?" Serena asked as Mr.Pruce stepped out of his s.u.v.

     "Here you go,said you can keep it." he said handing it to her along with a fresh pack of film. "You'll have about twenty snapshots. Now where is he?" Mr.Pruce asked peering around in the dark past the headlights in the dark remote wooded area.

     "We have him in the trunk." Serena said pointing over to the long black sedan parked under the pine trees. Hays slid out from the passenger's seat a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.
     "How long has he been in there?" Mr.Pruce asked as went over looking in the trunk Hays opened for him.
     "About twelve hours, but he's been knocked out most of the day." Hays replied.
     "He's probably thirsty. You haven't given him any water? Have you?" Mr.Pruce inquired.
     "Oh, no." Serena informed him.
     "Good, this man needs to suffer for what he's done to our Leah." he said spitting down on the half-naked bound man, duct tape over his mouth, eyes closed, barely alive. Serena pointed the Polaroid camera at their victim and snapped a picture. The flash lit up the darkness and the bound man opened up his terrified eyes.
  

Chapter 6 begins

     "Charles." Leah said pushing the empty bowl away from her.
     "Yes?" Charles said wiping the counter.
     "I don't feel so good." she said rubbing her belly.
     "Do you need to vomit?"
     "No.., can you help me upstairs I feel extremely weak."
     Charles took her by the hand and she leaned up against him feeling light headed and dizzy. It was a struggle to put one foot in front of another and Charles had to scoop her up in his arms and carry her upstairs and he felt the lightness of her frail, weak body in his arms. It was as if he were carrying a bag of pillows in his arms, but her body was a bag of bones and skin. He laid her back down in the comfortable warm bed and pulled the covers up over her. She looked up in his eyes and she looked tense and uncertain.
     "What is it Leah, you can tell me."
     "Well," she paused speaking in a whisper. "When they took me.., I wasn't alone Charles." she said eyes darting back and forth with her nervousness.
     "And?" he asked.
     "There was a man, Slater, my boyfriend/dealer. I am afraid they might have taken him too, but I don't know what happened." she said her voice getting faster her eyes darting back and forth as she grabbed up at his shirt. "Do you think they took him Charles? Why would they do that, he has no idea who I am. He never knew Xation, why would they take him?" she asked frantically clutching at him.
     "Leah, Leah." Charles said taking her hands in his trying to calm her. "Just relax, let's not get worked up about something that we have no information about."
     "You don't know anything about it?" she asked tears welling up in her green eyes.
     "I can honestly tell you, I have no idea what they are up to." and this was the truth, well half of it, he thought.
   

End Chapter 5

     "Charles," Mr.Pruce said feeling rested and relaxed after his deep tissue massage. "Xation is driving me back over there to pick up my car, so he wants to know if you need anything from the store for his wife?"
     "Uh.., " he passed the phone to Leah, who took the receiver from him and spoke softly to Bengiman as she told him a laundry list of items: lady razors, facial cleanser, apricot scrub, toner, moisturizer, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, tampons, bananas, Frosted Flakes, three bottles of Concord grape juice, and two half-gallons of Blue-Bell ice cream, one strawberry, one rocky road. She thanked Bengiman, who was happy to oblige her, and Xation paid for everything, as always.
     About thirty minutes later at 5:35 p.m. Xation pulled up in his expensive black BMW as Mr.Pruce gathered all the bags from out of the back seat. He implored Xation to come inside and speak to Leah, but he declined saying it was much too difficult for him to see Leah in her wretched condition and Mr.Pruce understood.
     "Well that's alright mate. I totally understand, so one good thing about today." he said before he closed the side door.
     "And what might that be?" Xation asked wishing this day had never transpired.
     "It stopped raining." Mr.Pruce said grocery bags in hand as the clouds parted and the sunlight came streaming through far across to the west on the horizon shining on Bengiman's face warming his skin. Xation said nothing only driving away to tend to his business meetings and social functions.
      Charles opened up the door for him and helped him with the bags. As the two were in the kitchen Bengiman asked to see Leah but Charles informed him that she became ill again, freezing cold this time so she was in the steam shower of the master bathroom.
     "Yeah Charlie," Mr.Pruce said opening up the family size box of Frosted Flakes and pouring himself a bowl he spoke "she's gonna get really bad, but.., you used to be doctor so I don't have to tell you. I don't envy you Charlie," he said using a nickname Charles loathed. "but," he said mouth full of cereal "I do admire you." Charles said nothing, thinking his slight concussion made him a bit more kinder and not so loathsome, a nice change. "So listen." Mr.Pruce said a serious tone coming to his voice, a meanness in his eyes.
     "Yes?" Charles asked his pulse quickening.
     "Hays,Serena and myself will be taking care of a problem in few hours, when it's dark. I'm sure you know what I'm talking 'bout." he said looking Charles in the eyes, who shook his head yes. "Well then, Serena wants to know if you have a Polaroid camera? She wants to take pictures for some reason."
     "Yes, I think so." Charles said as he we went to his bedroom closet and retrieved it along with a fresh pack of film. When he returned to the kitchen he found Mr.Pruce slicing a banana into a bowl of cereal for Leah who sat at the table in her bathrobe and her wet hair wrapped in a towel. She was smiling and seemed to be feeling better as she rummaged through her bags of goodies she had asked for. "Feeling better?"
     "A little, not cold anymore, Bengi brought me breakfast for dinner." Leah smiled eating a spoonful of sweet corn flakes. "Thank you Bengi, and you too Charles.., I did miss you and I am glad to see you." she said smiling at her two friends who were happy to have her back.
     "Think nothing of it my love," Mr.Pruce said kissing her on top of her head "you're like the little sister I never had, and I want you to know that I would do anything required to keep you safe, Leah." Bengiman said looking down at her as she stared up intently into his dark small eyes. "from anyone that mean to do you harm.., past, or present."
      "Okay, I appreciate that." she replied a cold chill creeping up her spine.
      "Right then," he said taking the camera and film from Charles "Thanks mate, and you young lady I hope you feel better at noon tomorrow, Serena wants to take you to Nieman Marcus to buy some new clothes and make-up and what ever else you require my dear sweet lady." he said kissing her hand "and do what this man tells you, he may not look like much but he is very helpful." Bengiman laughed "and we will have you back to good as new in no time."
      "Great, I can't wait." Leah beamed standing to hug her huge British buddy.
      "Cheery bye." he said as he exited the kitchen and went out to his Range-Rover where he climbed in took a small bottle of Crown Royal whiskey out of the glove box and took three long sips before he called Serena and informed her he had secured a camera. She gave him instructions to drive east out into the country to a deserted old property deep in the Piny Woods, where she and Hays were waiting with their victim and Bengiman Pruce was about an hour away.

More of Chapter 5

     Leah had felt well enough to join Charles downstairs all wrapped up in a long warm white terry cloth bath robe. The rain had not let up and Charles kept the fire going as Leah sat curled up in a wing chair beside the stone fireplace. She sipped slowly from the cup of warm, delicious soup staring into the flames watching as they danced listening to the hissing and popping from the burning wood. Charles sat in the chair across from her not saying anything, just waiting to listen if she chose to speak, but she did not it was calm and peaceful something she was not accustomed to, it was nice.
     A few minutes later she sipped the last drop of soup it warmed her belly and she wanted more. "This is wonderful Charles, thank you." Leah smiled handing him her empty cup.
     "Let me get you a little more." he said happily going to the kitchen returning with a fresh helping. Charles found Leah pulling a few sheets off the antique furniture he had crammed in the living room.
      "What's all this Charles?"
      "Well that is a Wooten desk it is very rare and worth a small fortune." Charles went on, as she sipped her soup, showing her an eighteenth century games table, a Tiffany lamp, six matching nineteenth century English Hepplewhite side chairs, two eighteenth century Louis XVI arm chairs along with a few large bronze sculptures etc...
      "Why do you have all this?"
      "Well, if anything happens, when something happens I have left instructions with an auction house to sell off everything and give all the proceeds to charity."
      "Are you expecting that to happen anytime soon?" she asked concerned.
      "Well, no." he lied.
      "Then put it in the garage. It looks bad out here covered in sheets."
      "Not with the harsh winters and blistering summers, no, not here in Texas, I'm sorry if it bothers you."
      "It's okay, I don't mind." she smiled sweetly touching his arm lightly.
      "It's just I've been alone here for so long now I guess I didn't notice." he sighed.
      "Charles.., don't you have a girlfriend?"
      Charles shook his head and only laughed.
      "Charles, you are far too handsome and far too intelligent to sit home all alone by yourself." Leah reminded him.
      "Yeah, and when they ask me what I do for a living.., how do I explain that."
      "You don't have to tell them the truth." Leah laughed but Charles did not, he felt very embarrassed and less like a man than ever, so he got up went to the kitchen and rinsed the dirty dishes and put them in dishwasher. Leah stood beside him her head resting on his arm as she put her arm around her lonely friend. Charles felt a warm spot growing in his heart and he was extremely happy to be in his kitchen with his long lost friend. Then the phone rang.

Chapter 5 cont's

     "Waiter!" Mr.Pruce called out taking the piece of now, warm raw meat off his head as the tuxedo clad waiter approached.
     "Yes sir?"
     "Here," Mr.Pruce said slapping the raw steak in the palm of the waiter's hand, who looked mortified "Take this back into the kitchen and cut it into little pieces then put it in a doggy bag."
     "A doggy bag sir?" the waiter sound indignant.
     "Yeah, for my dog.., stupid." Mr. Pruce added as the waiter rolled his eyes slightly as he returned to the kitchen.
     "Brutus will enjoy that." Xation said as he sat there trying not to think of his wretch of a wife, he felt ill to his stomach with a slight headache and he had meetings all the rest of the day. Xation was worried on many fronts, but it was nice to sit here with his best friend and chat and drink and eat and try to be merry.

     "I love that fucking dog, my old bulldog." Bengiman smiled finishing off his second plate of food. As he took his last bite he looked up as two older black gentlemen were seated at a table across from the two. "Oh my Christ!" Bengiman exclaimed his eyes lighting up as he stared at the taller of the two men. "Do you know who that it is?" he gawked and Xation did not he shook his head no.

     "That sir, is Mr.Charley Pride, sir." Bengiman said his eyes glistening as he explained "Me mum loved Country music and he was her favorite.., Oh God I want his autograph, please Xation let me go over, I won't embarrass you, promise."
      "Go on have a laugh." Xation said shaking his head slightly.
      So big, burly, bald Bengiman got up grabbed a cocktail napkin off the table and went over to Mr.Charley Pride and told him profusely how great a singer and song writer he was and what a credit he was to the Great State of Texas and may he please have an autograph for his dear departed mum; which he promised to frame with a picture of her. And Mr.Pride was delighted for the recognition of is work and talent from a fan from so far across the sea and was happy to know he still had fans in England. Bengiman shook his hand a little too long as he told Mr.Pride he was so proud to have met him. He then went back to his table beaming as if he had just met the Queen and Xation was very happy to see his friend enjoy the experience, it helped to cheer him up a bit. Then he paid the three hundred and twenty two dollar bill leaving five one hundred dollar bills in the black book and he and Mr.Pruce went on their way. Xation had problems back at the office and he had business to tend to, but before he dealt with those matters he dropped Bengiman off at the Spa at Crescent Court to get a massage and have steam while he set about tending to his appointments.

More Chapter 5

   "God Charles, I am so sorry!" Leah said wiping the vomit off her face as she looked down at the mess by the bed.
     "That's what tile floors are for, don't worry about it." Charles smiled taking her by the hand "Do you feel well enough to take a bath?"
     "Yeah." she said taking a whiff of her underarms "I seriously need to bathe!" she laughed as Charles helped her to the adjacent bathroom where Charles gave her a bathrobe to put on as he drew a nice hot bath for her; which he added a large amount of watermelon scented bubble bath to. He stepped out of the room as she got in the tub then he came back in and helped wash her hair as he was rinsing out the lather from her hair he looked down at her frail arms covered in sores and scratches he felt so sad to see what was once one of the most ravishing women he had ever known looking so beat down and weak and Charles vowed to not commit suicide until he nursed her back to health.
     "Charles," she sighed "I just want you to know I really appreciate your kindness." Leah looked up at him tears welling up in her eyes as she started to cry.
     "Shh, it's alright Leah, don't cry, I promise I won't let anything happen to you." he tried to reassure her.
     "But what about Xation?"
     "Don't worry about him right now, we need to focus on getting you strong and healthy. So I want you to relax in the tub and I will go downstairs and make you some hot soup, you need to eat something."
     "But I feel sick to my stomach." she moaned.
     "That's because you need nourishment, your vomit was thick, white and foamy."
     "You can tell what's wrong with someone by their vomit?"
     "Well of course, that and urine and feces."
     "Really?"
     "Yes, in fact see these cracks by the corner of your mouth?"
     "Yeah they hurt." she said rubbing them.
     "Well that tells me you are lacking B-12 and B-6 vitamins, and stick out your tongue, yeah you have cracks on the surface of your tongue and that tells me you lack zinc and you liver is polluted." Charles informed her.
"But wait 'til I do a full examination and then I will let you know everything that needs to be corrected. Mainly you need rest and proper nutrition that and..," he paused looking in her mouth "well, you need to see the dentist in a few days. You have some missing teeth and a few that look pretty dead, but as I said you are my patient, my only patient and you will receive the best care Xation's  money can buy. Okay, will you let me help you?"
     Leah looked up at her dear friend and she agreed, but she asked Charles that when she recovered if he would help her get away from Xation  he lied to her and said he would, but he would have said anything to get her to go along with the program. Charles stepped out of the bathroom and went down to his kitchen to prepare some homemade chicken soup for Leah. As he did so, he worried about Serena and Hays and the man they were going to kill. He knew they would wait until dark but he had to take his mind off of the terrible happenings, thanking God he did not have to kill anyone today.

Chapter 5 continues

     "Oh yeah this tastes great." Mr.Pruce said enthusiastically eating his steak as Xation sat across from the table not having much of an appetite. "You see this place is great they have all their meat brought in from Bosque county." he went on talking with his mouth full. "There's a family that came from Scotland back when Texas was it's own country, they have the oldest continuous line back to those original Angus they brought over on the boats. Mmmm fresh meat." Mr.Pruce smiled.
      "Well that explains the prices." Xation commented, not that prices mattered to him, Mr.Pruce laughed as he gulped down a glass of red wine. "So you are feeling better?"
     "Yeah, but the back of my head still hurts but I'll be alright when the swelling goes down."
     "Waiter," Xation beckoned the tuxedo clad young man whom he ordered another steak from.
     "How would you like that prepared?"
     "Raw." Xation said to the startled waiter.
     "Raw?" he asked confused by the request.
     "Yes, that is what I said now go bring me a raw steak from the kitchen." Xation instructed the waiter who did as he was told and returned in a moment with a thick beautiful cut of expensive beef. Xation took it off the plate and stood up walking over to Mr.Pruce and placed the meat on the swollen red bump on the back of his friends bald head. "There you are my friend, that should take the swelling down."
     Mr.Pruce adjusted the steak on his head so it would not slide off and he laughed saying "Look at me sitting in this fine restaurant with of fucking fifty dollar raw piece of meat on my head." he said quite amused.
     "Does your head feel better?" Xation asked
     "Well.., yeah actually it does, thanks mate." he smiled.
     "So what happened at Oliver's this morning?"
     "Oh my Christ, you should've been there." Mr.Pruce smiled recalling the events. "So when I came to the lady was kneeling down over me, her eyes all expressive with concern for my well being and Lord let me tell you this bird was fit! Long, tan ,well toned legs. Flowing strawberry blond hair, big green eyes, and she was wearing a short white skirt so as she knelt there I could just see up her skirt ever so slightly." Mr.Pruce said wide eyed as he told his story.
     "Who was she?" Xation asked intrigued.
     "Oliver's cousin, can't remember her name too busy lookin' at her tits." he laughed "Not to worry we got in and got out with the paintings she was too worried about me. So she hasn't a clue, but.., I think she gave Charles her number, not sure though I was pretty out of it." Mr.Pruce informed Xation as he finished his baked potato. "Xation, you've hardly touched your lunch, I know you are upset but you have to eat, you know keep up your strength."
     "Here." Xation said sliding his plate of fillet Mignon and asparagus over to his overweight friend "you eat this, everything tastes like bitter ashes to me." Xation sighed pouring himself another glass of wine.