Chapter 22
“Stop Worrying,” Andre said as they walked into the darkened movie theater. On the screen slides flashed suggesting they visit the concession stand, host a corporate meeting or answer random Hollywood trivia.
“I’m not worrying,” Elena said as she followed Andre up the stairs and into the rows of chairs. The theater was mostly empty and felt a bit hollow. Apparently Death Angel was not a big draw for the Thursday night crowd.
“Then stop plotting and planning. No one expects deep thought in a bad horror flick.” Andre took a seat and Elena sat down beside him with a laugh.
“All right, I’ll shut my brain down for a bit.”
“After all you have done all you could,” he said. Andre tilted the bag of popcorn in her direction. She took a handful. Movie popcorn was best hot. After Alexandro had gone to his hotel Elena had run through every possible scenario she could think of to keep things on an even keel. In the end she had to mostly trust that people would show some common sense.
Marcus had turned up later with two slim volumes that were about the size of her hand from wrist to the tip of her middle finger. The writing had been small and the margins meager. While she was grateful that the size made them easily transportable, which she assumed was the logic behind them, reading the books was bound to give her headaches. She pushed that thought away and settled back into her chair. Beside her Andre propped his feet up on the empty chair in front of him. She did likewise, crossing her legs at the ankles.
“No more worrying for the next two hours,” Elena said.
“Good,” Andre replied. “I hope they have the preview for the Code Red movie coming out next month.”
“Haven’t heard of that one,” Elena commented. “What’s it about?” She ate her handful of popcorn as Andre described the plot as he knew it. As he spoke she again wondered if this was a date. Andre was dressed in a button down shirt, casually untucked, and jeans. She didn’t know if this was standard fare for a night out or what. She had opted for a sweater and jeans rather than anything that looked too date like as well. She commented on his summation and the talk flowed freely between. It felt more comfortable than date-like.
‘Probably for the best,’ she decided. ‘With everything going on, adding dating Peter’s cousin to the mix would not be the brightest of moves.’ She smiled at one of Andre’s comments. ‘Still it was a nice thought while it lasted.’ A few more people filed in and the lights dimmed. There was a shuffling and a series of electronic beeps and blips through the theater as the screen reminded people to turn off their cell phones.
“Not turning yours off?” Andre asked.
“Nope,” Elena said smugly. “I left it at home. Anyone who wants to reach me can leave a message. Two hours won’t break anyone.” Andre laughed and they quieted as the advertisements began to roll.
“I hate commercials in the theater,” Andre grumbled as they watched a car make its way across the screen.
“I know,” Elena said. “Its almost as bad as watching the pitches for television shows.” The car commercial ended and the twenty minutes of television show advertisements began.
“Oh look they put commercials in the commercials,” Andre said as an ad for Coca Cola followed an actor’s interview about their new series.
“I don’t mind the ones for soda and candy so much since they sell them here,” Elena said. “It’s the other stuff I find obnoxious.” The introductory segments finished and the theater went from dim to true movie watching dark as the previews began. Several of them looked promising and Elena made a mental note to try to remember to go see them. The movie began and she decided it definitely fell into the bad horror flick category. It took less than ten minutes for both Elena and Andre to start chuckling at the plot. There were several moments of surprise that made her jump, much to Andre’s amusement. As the hero raced across the screen, Andre leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“If everyone who sees the death angel dies how is he still alive?” Andre’s breath was warm on her ear. She turned to answer and found him startlingly close.
“Because he is the hero,” she answered.
“Oh,” he replied. This time she felt his breath against her lips. Elena felt her pulse quicken and for several heartbeats neither of them moved. Then a scream sounded from the movie and they both instinctively turned towards it. Elena settled back into her seat and tried to calm her pulse. They watched the rest of the movie in silence, their shoulders touching, nothing more. At the end they stumbled back into the night blinking in the bright parking lot lights as they walked back to Andre’s car. Talk resumed as they discussed the movie. Andre drove to her building and pulled to the curb.
“I still think he should have died.” Andre said. He sifted into park and turned the engine off. “I’ll walk you up,” he said.
“Okay,” Elena replied. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” he said. Her pulse sped up a bit.
‘Perhaps,’ she thought, ‘this is a date.’ She wondered if he would kiss her good night.
“And thanks for the movie as well,” She said as they climbed the stairs. “It completely took my mind of things.”
“That is more or less the point of a bad movie.”
“I thought the point was to find a use for gallons of fake blood.”
“Well that too. After all you wouldn’t want the fake blood merchants to go out of business.”
“This is true,” Elena said. She blinked hard when she saw Andre’s face go blank, the smile dropping from his lips in an instant. “What?” she said turning to look. Her own face lost its smile as she caught sight of Smith and Jonathan standing in front of her door. “Oh,” she said. They climbed the last few steps to the landing and walked towards the pair. All of her warm feelings fled. Smith tapped his foot and frowned at her while Jonathan narrowed his eyes and took in Andre’s presence.
“I thought I told you to call the office if you wanted to meet with me.”
“We’ve decided to offer you a deal.” Smith said. “Payment in return for your assistance.” He held out an envelope and Elena took it. The envelope was not sealed and she opened it and slid out the piece of paper it contained. It was a letter detailing the payment of consulting fees. She refolded the letter, slid it back into the envelope and held it out for Smith to take.
“I already told you what the cost of my help would be,” She told them. Smith frowned.
“Ms. Calabrese, your apartment is not bugged. Nor is your vehicle.” Smith said. Elena fought not to roll her eyes.
“What about the one from the kitchen I handed you the night you stole one of my spices?” She asked. The tips of Jonathan’s ears turned pink.
“Ms. Calabrese I do not know what it is that you handed me the other night. And I know nothing of your missing spices.”
“Uh huh,” Elena said. For a second she thought about asking if he received the gift basket but decided not to mention it. “Well if there are no bugs in either my apartment or my car then there would be no problem in sweeping it with your detection devices.”
“Yes but that would hardly be fair to you. After all you would be getting nothing out of the deal.”
“Then you could sweep it and then pay me.” Elena said. She turned to Andre. “Would you like to come in for a drink?”
“Love to,” he said. Jonathan’s eyes once again narrowed. Elena fished her keys out of her purse and moved towards her door. Andre moved in behind her.
“Good night gentlemen,” She said. Elena opened her door and stepped into her apartment. Andre followed and shut the door behind him. After a seconds thought he clicked the deadbolt home.
“I hope you don’t mind me locking the door,” he said.
“Not at all.”
“Good.” Andre turned towards the judas hole and looked out into the hall way. He turned around and looked back at Elena. “They are still out there.” Elena rolled her eyes.
“Would you like a drink?” Elena asked. “I could sure use one.”
“Sure,” Andre replied. Elena went into the kitchen.
“Let’s see, I have white wine, Riesling actually, a beer, and the makings for margaritas. Any preference?”
“Whatever is fine,” Andre said with a laugh. Elena contemplated her options and decided the margaritas sounded like the better option. She poured the ingredients into the blender, added ice and hit the grind button. When nothing but slush remained she poured out two glasses and put the blender carafe in the freezer.
“I hope you are okay with frozen,” Elena said returning to the living room and handing Andre a glass.
“I’m good with frozen,” he said taking the glass.
“Smith and Jonathan always make me think hard liquor is the better option.”
“Understandable.” Andre gestured to the photograph of her and Alexandro on the Wind Dancer. “So you did have the typical Pilot hair once upon a time.”
“Yeah I cut it when I left. Now I’m not sure if I’m going to grow it back out again or not.”
“Huh,” Andre said non-committally. “Is that your ship?”
“No that is Grandfather’s. I was his pilot before I left. I didn’t get the Storm Chaser until the council gave it to me in recompense for shoving me into dealing with Smith.”
“Ah the great payoff.”
“Pretty good as far as payoffs go.” Elena found her eyes sliding towards the door. “Do you think they are still out there?” She crossed the living room and stood on her toes to look into the hallway. Smith had gone but Jonathan was still there. He was sitting on the steps near Kiera’s doors.
“That must be making her paranoid,” Elena mumbled.
“What?”
“Smith is gone but Jonathan is sitting near Kiera’s door. She has a thing about authority figures. It’s probably freaking her out if she saw him.”
“Did you realize you tip toed to the door?” Andre asked.
“No I didn’t.”
“Yes you did.” Elena thought about it.
“Huh maybe I did. Hey would you mind staying until he leaves? I know as soon as you leave he is jut going to press his case again and I really don’t want to hear it.”
“Sure,” Andre slipped off his jacket and lay it over the arm of the couch. He gestured towards her rack of DVDs. “Wanna watch another movie?”
“Why not?” Elena said with a smile. “Although I’m sure you have seen all the ones I have.” Andre walked over and began to read the titles. He grinned.
“Now here is one I have not seen in forever.” Andre held up her copy of Swamp Thing.
“It’s a double feature,” Elena said taking the Dvd from him and loading it into the player. “The Blob is also on here.” Andre turned off the lights and they settled themselves on the couch, preparing to outwait Jonathan.
