Chapter 59

* Janie *

“Can I please go home now? I don’t like it here.”

“Soon, dear, you’re coming along rather nicely.” What does that even mean? I’ve given up on trying to understand her and the way she speaks. The other one had disappeared somewhere, and I hadn’t seen her in days, leaving me to deal with nurse goober and her robotic self. At least I felt much calmer these last couple of days than when I first came here.

They hadn’t eased up on the restraints, but I’ve come to accept that it was for my own good and stopped fighting. Not that it did me any good to argue; no one ever seems to listen. “I can’t wait to get out of here and take care of the little bitch who did this to me.” Wait a minute; I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. That’s been happening a lot lately. I keep saying things as soon as they pop into my head, as if I have no control over my tongue.

I watched for her reaction out the side of my eye, but all she did was smile. “You think a child did this to you? But why would someone do such a thing to you, do you know?”

“Because of that bitch, she likes her obviously. And because I stole Ryder away from her. It doesn’t matter anyway because I have a secret that no one knows, and no one can take Ryder from me, even if my face is messed up. I plan to see a plastic surgeon anyway as soon as I get out of here. I have the best one in the business, you know; Mary introduced me to him.”

I snorted as a memory flashed through my mind. “What’s so funny dear?”

“Oh, nothing; I was just thinking of the uproar I’d caused in the media when I threatened to sue them for claiming that I’d had work done. His work was so well done that it was hard to tell. Besides, I figure, if Noel Hudson can get away with claiming that her lips were hers and start a whole cosmetic line around that lie, I sure the hell can get away with hiding the little bit of work I’ve had done, don’t you think?”

What the hell is wrong with me? I think being shut away in here for so long is getting to me. How could I have said all that to this complete stranger? Then again, she seems too old to even know who I’m talking about. “Your friend sounds very enterprising. She started a whole company based on that one lie?”

“She did, and so much more. That whole family does nothing but lie. You know people call them plastic Barbies?” I snorted again and felt better than I had in days. Nothing gives me more pleasure than tearing down others.

“You don’t sound very fond of your friend and her family.”

“I’m not, but I have to pretend to be so I can stay on their good side. But the truth is, I hate them all. Especially the mother, that evil bitch. She destroyed my life.”

I was close to tears but had no idea why. I guess mentioning Mary and the mess she’d made of my life was making me feel a bit melancholic. Oh, look, a new word. I don’t think I’ve ever used that word before. I feel so smart here, maybe because all they do is talk and ask questions.

“Oh? And how did she do that, dear?” She’s not so bad after all, more like someone’s doting grandma. It was nice talking to her, even though I was divulging more than I should have. Look, another big word. Ryder is going to be so pleased with my new vocabulary. He’s always saying that I’m not too bright. At least he used to before I worked my magic and got him to marry me. Who’s the idiot now?

I snorted again and clamped my hand over my mouth to keep the old habit hidden. I hate that sound, it’s so uncool, but I’ve been doing that a lot lately as well after years of learning how not to do it.

“How did she destroy my life? Well, she was supposed to help me get close to Ryder, which she did, but I think she had ulterior motives; she really wanted him for one of her slutty daughters, I think. I only went along with it because she made so many promises, and Matt, that’s my spiritual leader, said it was a good idea, that she and her family were the best people to know in this town. Fake bitches.”

“But then she started making me do stuff because I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own, and since I wanted to be married to him so badly, I went along with it. But now Ryder’s not the same; he doesn’t take the drugs any longer, and he refuses to eat or drink anything I make, so I can’t give them to him that way, and the bitch who did this to me might tell him the truth, and everything will be lost if he finds out. That’s why I have to get out of here soon, so Mom and the aunts can rework the spell, but I have to be there, with Ryder, for it to work this time.”

“I see.” She wrote something down on her little chart, then gave me my daily dose of pills. Thank heaven, the needles were a thing of the past. I swallowed my medicine like a good girl without complaint, and then the doctor came in, another robot this one. I maybe shouldn’t have called him that out loud, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Well, nurse, how is our patient?”

“She’s ready; we can release her in another day or two.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, we just had a lovely little chat, and everything seems to be in order.”

I listened to the two of them going back and forth, my only interest in her saying that I could leave.

“You should listen to her, doc; I feel really ready to go home.”

“I’ll have to watch the recording to see for myself just how ready you are.”

“Recording? What recording? No one said anything about being recorded.”

“Didn’t you know? Everything that goes on in this room is recorded, for your safety, of course. None of it will be released without your consent, so nothing to fear, dear.”

I almost panicked when I recalled some of the things I’d said in the last few days until he said that. “Oh, good.”

“By the way, if you’re planning to have any work done on your face, it won’t be that easy. The toxin hasn’t been quite cleared out of your system, and we can’t seem to find the makeup of the chemicals that were used. I’m afraid any major surgery in the area may lead to disaster. We’d have to confer with your doctor on that score, but we can only do that if you sign the release for us to do so.”

“Of course, give me whatever it is that you need me to sign. I can’t walk around with those things on my face.”

“It isn’t as bad as it was when you arrived; you might decide to leave it alone.”

“Let me see.” I held out my hand for a mirror and waited for the nurse to retrieve one. My heart thundered with trepidation as I lifted it to my face, the memory of what I looked like the last time I checked still fresh in my mind.

My gorge rose when I saw the destruction on my face. Sure, the wounds had scabbed over, and the swelling had gone down considerably, but my face was still an ugly mess. I wasn’t too worried, though, because I could have the work done to fix it. Maybe I’ll even look better than before. I had a wild thought that made me feel ten times better. Maybe I can have my face done to look like Elena’s. Maybe then Ryder would fall in love with me. I’ve learned everything else about her already to the point that I could be her, except for our difference in appearance and the fact that she’s a goody two shoes, but even that I can learn to be.

Yeah, that’s a perfect idea… “Who is Elena, dear?”

“What?”

“You said you wanted to look like Elena.” What? This time I wasn’t even aware that I had spoken out loud.

***

* Mary *

Time was running out. I had only one day left before the call came, but I’ve been waffling back and forth. I’d already liquidated some of my assets, and there was still a lot more to come, but now I’ve been thinking that maybe I could call their bluff, whoever this person was. Nothing else had happened since their last phone call; my girls were all still safe, so I was beginning to think that things were not what they seemed. Maybe someone was playing a joke.

But I can’t forget the things they know. That’s still a bother, and my people are still on the hunt for them. I was still a bit out of sorts, though; that visit from Rachel out of the blue yesterday had thrown me off. I’d been so preoccupied that I hadn’t given much thought to Elena and her whereabouts. It seemed like everyone had left town for one reason or another since I couldn’t get ahold of Scott either these days.

I wasn’t too worried about him since he’s always busy with some scheme or another, but I like having my fingers on the pulse of things, and the last few weeks, I’ve done anything but. At least Rachel had come by to reassure me that Elena was still none the wiser to what we’d done, and though her visit was a bit unwarranted and out of the ordinary, it was good that at least something was going the way I wanted it to.

My girls absolutely hate Elena and keeping her in her place is my job otherwise Noel especially would go off the rails again. No one knows about her little spells thank heaven and she’s been having a rough time here lately since her long-term lover flew the coop.

It’s no one else’s fault but her own that that happened. She was supposed to be careful at all times, but one little slip up and he’d seen behind the mask and fled. That was something else I had to take care of as well, but he was small potatoes compared to everything else that was going on right now.

If Elena and Ryder were to find each other in the middle of all this poor Noel might not be able to handle it. She’d lost her mind when she found out that I wanted to give him to her sister and the only thing that had calmed her down was that foursome I’d arranged. How long ago was that now?

No point in dredging up the past, I had more than enough on my plate as it is. So, even though I didn’t need or want Rachel around, her showing up to keep me informed could be seen as a step in the right direction. At least it means that someone still understood and feared the power I wield in this town.

Ryder had obviously forgotten everything since there’d been no word from the Saunders camp, and I’m sure if he’d said anything, Heather Saunders at least would’ve aired it all. That woman seems to think she corners the market on ethics or some shit.

She wouldn’t be too bothered that Ryder had been married off so young since her own son had tied the knot straight out of high school, if I remember correctly. But she’d kick up a fuss if she knew for one that I’d slept with him when he was still a bit young, not to mention the other things we’d done to him.

I mention Heather because although everyone in this town fears her husband, I know for a fact that she’s the cause of many women like myself not being invited into certain circles. A group of women I would’ve once given my eyeteeth to be a part of, but now hate for being so standoffish and holier than thou. She seems to have taken a serious dislike to my girls and me, finding us beneath her and holding us in contempt for whatever reason.

One of my only goals for the past twenty years has been to topple her from her perch, that pedestal her husband and everyone else with blinders on has placed her on. Of course, no one knows my true feelings. As with everything and everyone else in this town, my true thoughts are always hidden behind a smile, so I doubt she remembers that I even exist.

She’s one of the reasons I can’t celebrate Ryder’s newfound fame, the fear that he would one day slip up and say something because I just know she’s just waiting to come after my girls and me since we’ve become more popular than she is.

Why am I thinking about this nonsense right now? My mind has been wandering like this for days now; ever since that phone call, I’ve been obsessed with my life being paraded on social media for my enemies to pick apart. The thought of people I hate gossiping about me is one of my worst nightmares, and that’s the only reason I’d given any thought to even considering giving anyone that kind of money.

But it’s not only the fear of being laughed to scorn that had jump-started me into action; no, it’s the fear of what this unknown person may know that could land me behind bars. How can I take the chance that they’re bluffing? And yet, how can I give away so much of my net worth?

Not only mine but my daughters. Thankfully there’s the church that I can take from. No one will look there, no one has in forever, not since the girls and I grew our image from the dust into the conglomeration my family has become.

But now, it all stands to fall apart in the blink of an eye. “I won’t do it. I won’t give anyone that kind of money.” I know what to do; I’ll just run; there are about a hundred countries I can disappear into until things blow over. Maybe they don’t know the worst of what I’ve done. I picked up the phone and called my mom, who was the only person I could talk to about this. As old as she is, she barely remembers what was said in our conversations anyway, but as a sounding board, she’s perfect.

The girls know that something is going on, but so far, I’ve been able to keep them off the scent, but for how long? There’re also the people in my little black book, but then again, blackmailing them may not be for the best in the long run. Most of my money comes from that quarter, and I always need something to fall back on. Not to mention with the kind of money and power these people have, I’d be taking my life into my hands if I tried that.

No, better not even think about going that route. All the same, it was one of the things I mentioned to my mother during our little chat, even throwing around a few names that I was sure would be able to come through with large amounts of money at such short notice. Maybe if I explained…. No, that, too, would be like certain death to the business I do with these people. Any hint of scandal might send them running scared, or worst; they may decide that I was better off dead so that nothing could lead back to them.

My superficial fame may go over well here among the dull-witted ones who never saw through us, but these men and women are way smarter than that. And besides, I’m sure they know me inside and out and wouldn’t trust a word I say. At the end of the day, they’ve only ever wanted one thing from me, and I always knew that they, too, saw me as beneath them. No one would ever understand how hard it is, what you have to do to stand out in this town.

No one appreciates the fact that I made a name from nothing, that lies and a glib tongue was all I had, that and my beautiful daughters, who I admit was made more beautiful under the knife of a very good friend. But what more are daughters good for than supporting their parents? I did the best I could with what I had, and no matter what anyone says or thinks, and I did a damn good job.

My girls rule the world through the television screen. Millions of women all over the world look up to them; little girls emulate them and want to be just like them one day. And now I have my granddaughters to look forward to. A new breed of Hudsons, no matter their last names, who will one day do what their mothers have done. So no, I can’t go down without a fight; one way or the other, I must get through this little hiccup.

I hung up the phone with Mom and was feeling a little better. Even she thought this person was trying to run a scam on me. Who in their right mind would expect anyone to come up with that kind of money on such short notice? Obviously, they’d just thrown out a number waiting for me to bite. I almost laughed at the absurdity now that I was seeing things better, and then the phone chimed with an incoming text.

‘Time is running out.’

‘I need more time, I can’t get my hands on that kind of money right now.’

‘We know how much you’re worth and how soon you can liquidate your assets because of your close association with your brokers. Unless you’d like us to tell them that you’ve shared some not so nice information about them with us.’ What?

‘If you think we’re bluffing, see what we do to those who don’t do as they’re told. In one, two, three….’

“One two three what? One two three what?” I yelled and turned around in my kitchen, expecting, I don’t know what. My nerves have been shot to hell for days. I see the boogeyman around every corner, and I can barely leave the house because I have no idea who or where the enemy is.

The phone rang in my hand and scared me so bad I tossed it in the air, barely catching it before it hit the ground. It was Scott calling me back finally, and I answered before the phone could ring twice. He was screaming before I could say hello, “Have you seen this?”

“Seen what?”

“Turn on the TV, or better yet, go online; it’s Matt; his whole life is imploding. What the hell is going on?”

He hung up the phone, leaving me stressed and confused. Matt? What the hell could be going on with Matt? Sure, he did business with us, but out of all of us, he kept his public image squeaky clean. I turned on the TV and went online at the same time to see what all the fuss was about and almost wished I didn’t.

‘It would appear that the outspoken spiritual leader has been doing more than spirit cleansing at the long suspected cultish church he runs. Sources say that the youth master turned church guru has been dipping in the kiddie pool and not in the way you think.

“Oh fuck!” There were pictures; how the fuck stupid could he be? Cheating on your wife is one thing, but cheating on her with an underage girl and getting caught is another.

My phone chimed once again, and I read the new message with dread. ‘Do you believe me now? Oh, and by the way, that king in the desert won’t be of any use to you. You shouldn’t ask him for money; he’d kill you faster than I would. Then again, maybe not.’ King… What the hell? How do they know what I said to Mom? I typed out that question as fast as my fingers could move, and the answer came back just as swiftly.

‘You should be careful who you let into your home.’ Who I let…. It couldn’t be Andrews; he’s up to his ass in filth, same as I. No one has been here…. “Rachel!”