Chapter 62

* Janie *

I get to go home today, and my excitement is off the charts. There was a little bit of panic on my end when I thought that I would have to face the public looking the way I do, but at the last minute, I was informed that Ryder’s new coaches were going to meet me here and take me out the back or something like that.

Apparently, they were the ones who’d found me on the bedroom floor that day and called for help, so I guess they’re not so bad after all. Whatever, my only thoughts now are of Ryder and getting back to him. I’ve been riddled with worry and thoughts of getting back to him, wondering what that was going to be like.

Would he be sympathetic? He’s never been before, but maybe he’d remember that I am his wife and act accordingly. I’m sure my public had to have noticed my absence and were keeping an eye on him for me. They would never let him go anywhere near his ex, I’m sure, as some of them have taken it upon themselves in the last couple of years to hound her every step for me, letting me know where, who, and what she was up to at any given moment.

She doesn’t know this, of course, that I have been keeping tabs on her, but I really had no choice. I didn’t trust Rachel entirely, though she was our inside man, and anything she filtered through Mary was suspect as far as I’m concerned. I’d given it a lot of thought while I was laid up in bed and have decided that from now on, things are going to change.

I will no longer be taking Ryder’s subtle abuse, his ignoring me even when we’re in the same room together unless he’s high off his gourd, or the way he blatantly disregards my feelings as if I’m not there.

With my mind firmly made up, I had everything in order. My first order of business was to call up that friend of Mary’s and see about a consultation. I’d signed off on the hospital sharing my medical condition only with him, of course, and there was no reason why I couldn’t have it fixed in a few days or so. Anything longer, and I just couldn’t live with myself. I can’t even look myself in the mirror these days to put on my makeup as the sight is too distressing.

The guys showed up on time, and in my excitement, I rushed forward to greet them, only to be met with the same blank stare they’d always worn. One of them, I think his name was Zak, passed me my phone. I didn’t find it at all strange that he had it as, obviously, they’d collected my things to make the checkout process easier and quicker to boot. The fewer people who see me like this, the better.

So even though they were both a bit brisk, I decided not to hold it against them. I have to remind myself, though, that they were the help, nothing more, though they certainly didn’t act like it. In fact, they seemed as if they’d rather be anywhere else but here with me.

I did appreciate the way they got me out of there and into the back of the SUV posthaste with no one the wiser that it was me shrouded from head to toe like a mummy. What I did not appreciate was their music of choice.

“Turn that off.” They both ignored me the third and the fourth time I asked until I reached between them to do it myself. Tyler turned his gaze towards me, and I swear something cold and icky ran down my spine.

I sat back carefully, feeling suddenly afraid, until he reached for the radio. I was very pleased that he had remembered who I was and who he was when I thought for sure that he was going to do my bidding, but instead, he turned it all the way up.

If my time in the hospital was excruciating, it didn’t come close to the ten minutes or so I was in that SUV listening to her screeching voice. I know she sang that song for my man; I know she was sending him messages, and he was doing the same. I’m not stupid.

“What the fuck, are they playing her whole damn record?” I think I’d just heard five of her songs in a row.

“That’s not the radio Ms. Andrews.”

“My name is Sumner, Mrs. Sumner. How many times do I have to say that?”

Neither man answered me or even acknowledged that I spoke. I was back to hating him and wishing Ryder had come to collect me himself. “Where’s Ryder? Where’s my husband?”

“He’s at the Saunders estate. He asked us to take you somewhere else since your house is under quarantine.”

“What? Why can’t I go with him?”

“He’s not on vacation, ma’am. He’s working. Mr. Saunders didn’t think it was a good idea for you to join him; he thought you might be too much of a distraction.”

“Well, where are you taking me?” Nothing was turning out the way I’d imagined or hoped.

Even now, after I’d been near death, he still didn’t come to see me. If anyone heard about this, they’d think he didn’t care. Then everyone would know.

Finally, the music turned off, and he turned the radio on. I sat back to relax as we got closer to home, well, the town where we live, at any rate, since I couldn’t even go home to my own bed. There was some cute little jingle playing on the radio before a familiar voice came through the speaker.

I hate this guy; well, sometimes I do. He’s rather hit or miss. I only like him when he’s dragging someone I don’t like, but I hate him because of his obvious bias when it comes to Elena.

I don’t recall when it started, but I don’t think it was always like that. But lately, within the last few weeks before I became ill, he’s been showing his tail where she’s concerned. Always singing her praises and pushing either her businesses or her new shows, whatever she was working on at the time.

Thankfully he was on a different track this evening, and I didn’t have to hear anything more about her or how great she is. ‘Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s been brought to our attention that Janie Andrews, the estranged wife of heartthrob and musical popstar Ryder Sumner, has had a bout with karma, and karma knocked her on her ass.’

‘In a little while, let’s say two minutes. There will be pictures downloaded on our website. Fair warning, you may want to put down whatever food or drink you’re having before taking a look at these. I’ve seen them firsthand, folks, and I’ve got to say, they are not for the faint of heart.’

‘Sources say that this is the result of black magic backfiring. So, to all of you out there who backed that horse five years ago when the ill-fated nuptials took place, give yourselves a hand. It seems there is some truth to the story that Ms. Andrews, her parents, and some other not-so-desirable characters put their little heads together and came between the lovebirds at the time, Elena Gianni and Ryder Sumner.’

‘There’s a lot to read between the lines but guess what, my friends, you won’t have to. Tonight’s exclusive story comes from the woman herself who helped Janie Andrews get her man. Be sure to tune in, and uh, let me know what you think about those images that should be downloaded now on the site.’

‘Don’t crash it, people; let everyone have a look. The images will be up indefinitely as we’ve bought the rights, as well as some very juicy recordings from Ms. Andrews’ stay in the hospital.’

‘I haven’t heard them myself as yet, but my producer informs me that you won’t want to miss it.’ I was dumbfounded for much longer than I should have been, I admit, but when I got my voice back, all I could think to do was scream. I didn’t even know where we were, but I wanted out of the car; I couldn’t breathe.

“Stop the car, stop it; I want to get out.” Surprisingly they came to a stop almost immediately, and I hopped out of the SUV and into a melee of photographers and reporters with microphones.

“How…?” When I turned to climb back into the SUV, it was gone. I saw the back of it disappearing around the corner. Where the hell…? Why did they drop me off at Mary’s place, and what were all these reporters doing here?

“Is it true that you used black magic to win over Ryder Sumner Janie?” I was trapped, my back literally against the wall as they came at me in force. All I heard were those droning sounds from the hospital as my pulse started to race, and I felt as if I were going to black out.

The questions kept coming faster and faster, one after the other, until I wanted to plug my ears or tear them off. “Yes, yes, I did. I’ve been doing it since I was fourteen. I wanted him, and now I’ve got him. Now move out of the way, you old bitch. You’re just jealous that he would never want someone like you.”

“Is it true then that your husband is planning on leaving you and going back to his ex?”

“That will never happen. Ryder can never leave me. Even if the magic fails, there are always new ways. I’ll never let her have him.” What is that droning noise, and why is it following me around?

I realized the noise was coming from the phone in my hand but couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do with it.

I finally put it to my ear on impulse, or maybe some sane part of my mind took over because I was feeling anything but sane. ‘Hello Janie, remember me? Everything you’ve done has already been exposed. Ryder has seen it all, and now the world knows. Mary said you like little girls. She’s got pictures, lots and lots of pictures of you doing unmentionable things.’

‘It’s not true. It’s not true. It’s not me. It’s Mary. She’s the one who likes little girls. It’s her, not me. She sells them. She sells them all over the world to the highest bidder. I’ve got names, I’ve got times, I’ve got places, I’ve got everything. I…’

Wait, wait, what am I saying? All around me seemed suddenly silent and still.

The crowd of paparazzi and reporters were no longer pushing forward but standing in front of me with their mouths agape as if in a movie going in slow motion. ‘Gotcha!’

***

* Lyon *

“There was nothing in her phone that we could use, but the guys are doubling down on the house now. She had to have hidden the information there somewhere. She’s not too bright, so I don’t know why we can’t find it already.”

We were all sitting around after the one-hundredth time watching that girl fuck up her life in a most spectacular way.

My kid, that fuck, she told me I couldn’t kill anybody, but I count at least three bodies on her already. Sure as shit, she just set that girl up to die. We already know that this little crew here in L.A. has been dealing with some heavy hitters. Big names of men and women here and abroad.

People in high places, people who would do anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden. And she’s just proclaimed to the world that she knew their names. The kid wasn’t saying much; he had his head down, looking ashamed and embarrassed. I would, too, if I was married to that fuck nut.

“You picked a real winner there, didn’t you, kid? Damn, how the fuck high were you anyway?” If he didn’t come back at me with a ‘fuck you’ or a pithy retort, then the work I had been putting in on him these last few days was in vain.

“I was high off my nut. I knew she was awful, but damn, I didn’t know she was this far gone.”

“Hitler’s youth would do that to you. She and her uncle Gabriel are cold for that one, though, damn.” I grinned at my boys, who were all looking nervous except for Mancini.

I’d warned, I warned them all that my kid was a whole other breed of fucked up, but they all, to a man, claimed she was just a baby. My phone rang on my hip with the first strains of The Dark Army by Rok Nardin. Mengele’s demented ass was calling.

“It’s in the bunny.” I snapped my fingers at the boys to get their attention.

“How do you know?”

“I know.”

“Ryder, does your ex have a bunny?”

“That old thing? Yeah, she’s had it since she was a kid. Why?”

“Where is it?”

“I’m not sure. She keeps it in a drawer with her lingerie or something if I remember correctly.” I looked at Tyler, who grabbed the phone to call Cord, who was still staked out at Ryder’s place, looking for evidence. Always follow your gut.

I knew as stupid as this girl appeared, there was no way some chick who had the fortitude to hunt down a motherfucker since her early teens and land him was all dumb.

We waited after Tyler made the call while my daughter, who may have just given us what we needed to bring down a trafficking ring, asked me about getting her a new American girl doll. My baby, fuck!

“Okay, baby, I’ll get you your doll. The same as the last one, or do you want something different?”

“The same is fine, Daddy. I didn’t want to get rid of her, but she’s all worn out.”

“I hear you, kid. I hear you.”

“Got it,” Tyler called out from across the room, and everyone looked alive going into action.

“By the way, I went on your little run. The car’s back where it’s supposed to be. Anything else you need from me?”

“No, Daddy, that’s it, thanks.” She sounded tired.

“Fine, now take your little butt to bed. Come at it again in the morning. And tell that old man to put down the pipe and take his butt to bed too.”

“Okay, Daddy, I’m tired. Grandpa Daddy said it’s time to go to bed.”

“Tell that boy I don’t answer to him. Gimme that phone.” Ah, hell, I know exactly what the hell he wants.

“Hey boy, did you meet Snoop yet?”

“Dafuq!”

“Tell him I want to challenge him. I’m no Bob Marley, but I can take that Willie Nelson chump any day.”

“Get off my phone, old man.”

“Fine, fine, but I need you to find me some….”

“I’m not bringing you any weed over International waters; what the hell is wrong with you?”

“But it’s legal, boy. You gotta get over your prejudice, kid. I don’t know where your mother and I went wrong.”

“You’re almost eighty and still getting high, and something is wrong with me?”

“Semantics, boy, semantics.”

“Bye, Pop, get my kid to bed. And what the hell are you two planning to do with that money?”

“I could’ve sworn I heard this conversation take place already between you two, so I’ll just remind you of what she said. She borrowed two hundred million from you, and you have that back. What she does with her profits is none ya.”

He hung up the damn phone. “I’m going to find a home in the coldest place in the world where they’d put you behind bars for life if you get caught smoking weed and ship that old man off to it.”

“And you wonder where your daughter gets her vicious mind from.”

“Mancini, do I look like I have fucks to give? Where’s the damn kid? Let’s go over this shit one more time.”

***

* Mary *

“Scott? What’re you doing here?”

“You had to have known I’d show up after that stunt you pulled. I was on my way here last night, but something held me up.”

“What stunt?”

“Oh, so now you’re going to pretend that you don’t know.”

“Would you stop talking in circles and tell me what the hell is going on?”

“I’m talking about this.”

He held a piece of paper out to me, and I had to hunt down my glasses in the kitchen drawer to see. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. It looked like some sort of contract.

“Is this a contract? Whose contract is this?”

“You really gonna go there, right? Well, pretending isn’t going to save you. You double-crossing bitch.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? Who double-crossed who?” I looked down at the paper again, and even though I didn’t understand what I was looking at, I did recognize the name.

“Wait, isn’t this?” It was a name we always remembered; she was the first one, so it was hard to forget. Like keeping the first dollar you made after opening your business, you won’t so easily forget the name of the first person you trafficked for a hefty sum.

“What the hell is going on?”

“You didn’t do that?”

“Do what? What is this? And why is her name on this piece of paper?”

“Someone bought Ryder’s whole music catalog using this name. She’s been dead for three years; I thought it was you doing it, and so does the public.”

“What? Why would the public think that? I know nothing about music.”

“If you didn’t do this, then someone else we know did.”

“Is it Matt?”

“I doubt it; he’s got his hands full right now.”

“Wait a minute, has someone been threatening you? Trying to blackmail you?”

“Yes, has it happened to you too?”

“Yes, it has.” I got my phone to show him the messages, but they were all gone. “Wait, how can this be? They were right here not too long ago. Check and see if yours are still there.”

He checked, and indeed his were still in his phone. Now he was back to suspecting me. “I promise you; this wasn’t me. Which means someone out there knows about us.” I can’t even tell him about the two hundred million dollars I’d lost, or he’d think I had used it to buy the stupid music catalog. Plus, if he found out that I’d dipped into the church membership funds again, he’d lose his mind.

“What the hell is all that noise at my gate? What did you do?” That idiot Andrews ran into my kitchen after being warned not to be seen here. I started to read him the riot act, but the look on his face stopped me cold.

“We’ve got a problem.”