Fat Tuesday(122)

By the time the office door opened behind him, he was a bundle of jitters. Spinning around, he exclaimed, "Jeer Louise!" The mild profanity caused Sister What's-her-name's lips to pucker up even tighter, but Bardo couldn't help himself. Pinkie had promised that, in addition to being well compensated for this assignment, he was going to enjoy it.

What an understatement! He was f*cking going to love it! In a nanosecond, he thought of a dozen different depravities to ply on baby sister Flarra.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement as she came across the room toward him, her right hand extended."Hello, Mr. Bardo. A pleasure."

"Likewise, Miss Lambeth." It was probably the first time in his life he'd ever shaken hands with a woman, but he welcomed the opportunity to touch this creature who was almost too hot to be believed.

"Is it true what Sister Beatrice told me? Am I really getting to attend the Mardi Gras party tonight?"

"True as can be. Mr. Duvall thinks you've been cooped up in here long enough. No offense, sister," he said, addressing the nun over Flarra's shoulder."Your brother-in-law wants you to live it up tonight. He said he considered this your coming-out party."

"And Remy's okay with it?"

"Yeah. She wants you to be there tonight. In fact, she personally picked out your costume."

Placing a hand on her chest, from which jutted two pert tits, she gasped giddily."They're really letting me go! I can't believe it!"

Bardo picked up her suitcase and offered her his arm."Believe it sweetheart."

Pinkie was waiting for them at the front door. He opened it before Pat rang the bell. Even at this point in time, there was a sliver of a chance that he would reverse the plans he had already in place, and that he and Remy would carry on as though nothing had happened.

But even that slim possibility died the instant he looked into her eyes. Because, although she gave him a weak smile and spoke his name in a tremulous voice as she came into his arms, he knew that Basile had had her.

The son of a bitch might just as well have poisoned his prizewinning orchids, or pissed into a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Remy had been defiled. The glorious girl he'd cultivated into a perfect courtesan was ruined for him now.

Hiding his repugnance, he pulled her against him."My darling, thank God you're back. When I think of what you've been through ..." He stopped, pretending to choke up with emotion."Were you harmed in any way?"

He listened as she described the bird shot she'd taken in the back when they fled the Crossroads."But those wounds have begun to heal. I'm just very tired."

"Basile didn't ..."

Lying, she shook her head."He wanted to make his point with you, Pinkie. That's all. He didn't mistreat me."

Doug Pat, who'd been standing in the background so as not to interfere with their reunion, now stepped forward."Mrs. Duvall was reluctant to discuss her ordeal on the way here. But now I'd like to hear her version of what happened and ask her some pertinent questions, if you don't mind."

"I do mind," Pinkie said curtly."You reminded me earlier today that this is a private matter. I believe you're right." He closed the door in Pat's face.

"Mr. Pat is afraid that you're planning a reprisal against Basile," Remy said as he motioned her upstairs."You're not, are you, Pinkie?"

He merely smiled and patted her arm solicitously. Upstairs in their bedroom, Roman brought her a plate of food, but she left it on the tray, untouched. When they were again alone, Pinkie asked her more specific questions about her abduction.

"I'd like to see this fishing shack where he kept you. Could you lead me to it?"

"I'm afraid not. All parts of the swamp look the same to me."

"Why'd he let you go?"

"I don't know," she said thickly."He got me up very early this morning and announced that he was releasing me. All along, he said he was using me as bait to draw you out, and that he didn't care how long it took.

"He offered no explanation for his sudden change of heart, except it had something to do with a policeman who was killed yesterday.

And Dredd. He didn't want Dredd, or Pat, or any of his former colleagues affected by his criminal actions. He said it was time to call it off, before anyone else got hurt or killed."

"He should have thought of that before he started this. It's too late now."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind. Did you ever try and escape?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed. She told him about her neardrowning experience."After that, he kept me handcuffed." Raising those incredibly expressive eyes to his, she laid her hand on his arm, gripping it hard."But I'm safely back with you and that's all that matters. I look upon it as a bad dream that'll soon be forgotten."

She slipped her arms around his neck."Pinkie, please listen to what Mr. Pat says. Don't perpetuate this feud with Basile. It would be pointless. He only wanted to shake you up, and now that he has that's the last we'll see or hear of him. If Basile can walk away from it, we should be able to. Hmm? Let it go."

He stopped her pleas for her lover's life with a hard kiss, which he ended abruptly. He could tell she was surprised that he ended it.