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You and I both know that I can make that man wish he'd never been
born. I can point fingers at him from every direction." He looked over
at Tess. "Ms. Kolby, by the time I get through with Wolfe, you may
own that company."
"Reed, I realize this isn't your line anymore," Judas said, "and I
know how busy you are now. Are you going to have time to do all
this?"
"All this? Hell, Judas, setting up a scene, and planting a little
evidence? I could do it in my sleep." His gaze jumped from one to the
other. "Where do you want her to die?"
* * * *
Tess got a chill as she sat and listened to them discuss her death.
She sat there as long as she could, and then rose from her chair and
went over to the bar to mix herself a drink. With the ice tinkling in her
glass, she stood there thinking. God, what had this turned into? Was
she doing the right thing? It's true that she didn't want Wolfe to get
away with this, but this scheme seemed so out there. Taking a stiff
drink, and coughing a little from its burning strength, she turned back
to the two men making the plans and thought of Liz. She had to call
her. She could trust Liz. Liz wouldn't tell a soul. Putting her drink
down, she silently made her way to her own bedroom, and while
looking over her shoulder, she picked up the phone and punched in
Liz's number.
112 Audrey Godwin
"Liz," Tess said as soon as she answered. "Oh, God, Liz, I "
Suddenly she saw a hand punch the disconnect button and looked up
and saw Judas.
"What in hell are you doing? Tess, you know you can't tell anyone
about this. It would ruin everything. If our plan gets out, we might as
well forget it."
"Judas, it's too risky. If we can't talk about it, doesn't that make it
dishonest, or against the law?"
"Do you want to get that son of a bitch or not? Are you going to
lie down and let him roll over you like a steamroller? Hell no! Not as
long as I've got breath in my body."
"But can't we& I mean& all this seems so "
"I know it does, but would you rather& " His words stopped
abruptly and he sat looking at her for a moment. After making up his
mind, he quickly grabbed her by the hand and pulled her with him
toward his bedroom.
When she saw where they were going, she pulled back. "No!" she
screamed, looking at a red door covered in velvet getting closer and
closer. She resisted, her feet pushing against the carpet as he pulled
her along.
"Yes, Tess. You wanted to see it, so I'm going to show it to you."
"Judas, please. No. I can't."
"You're going in there, Tess, and you're going to get a good look
at what your future is unless you let us go on with this plan."
"I can't, Judas, I just can't!" she cried out as she saw the door
looming before her.
"You wanted to see it, Tess, so I'm going to show it to you."
She continued to fight, knowing everything he said was true.
She'd wanted to see Judas's bedroom for a long time. She'd heard
things about it, things she couldn't believe. He'd stopped her from
going in many times, but now he was forcing her to look.
"The doorknob," he shouted. "Turn it."
Velvet Sins 113
"No!" she cried, looking down and staring at the knob as if it were
on fire.
"Do it, Tess. I want you to see what s in your future if you let
Wolfe get away with this."
With tears falling down her cheeks, she hesitantly reached toward
it with a trembling hand, but quickly drew it back, and wailed out, "I
c-can't!"
Her sobs stopped when suddenly the door opened.
Red! The garish color covered the walls, the floor, even the
ceiling. Sins so ghastly she couldn t believe they existed were
committed here here in this cage of red velvet! Mirrors everywhere,
even the ceiling! Boxes of sexual toys she couldn't believe, a
whipping post. Was that a trace of blood? She looked up and saw
something hanging from the ceiling. A swing? Or was it something
you bind someone up with and hang them from the ceiling? Oh, God,
she couldn't stand it and quickly hid her eyes behind her hands as she
turned and ran out.
Judas caught her and held her close. He dried her tears, and said
softly, "Is that what you want, Tess, because that's exactly what you'll
get if Wolfe has his way. I just can't sit by and watch Wolfe turn you
into some filthy prostitute who is worn out and turned hard and old by
the time she's thirty."
She allowed him to lead her to the living room where Reed was
pacing with a drink in his hand. "Is she okay?"
"I think so. It was a shock, but I think she'll be all right."
 Judas, regarding the bad luck you ve had, and this& this& well,
your so-called profession I would never 
 You don t have to say another word, Reed. That s why I went to
you, I knew you could keep your mouth shut.
 Judas, you re a smart guy. Why the hell don t you take all this
money you make and do something for yourself? You don t have to
do this. Go back to school, or take some business courses at the local
college.
114 Audrey Godwin
 Thanks, Reed, I ll think about it.
Reed glanced over at Tess who looked sick."We should have done
this in private, Judas."
"No way, Reed. Tess is the central figure here. She needs to know
what's going on."
"Yeah, but if she freaks out again, it could complicate things."
"She just needs to get used to the idea. I mean, you can understand
why she might do this. Hearing her death being discussed and then
seeing that room. She just panicked, that's all."
 Judas, Tess said, interrupting,  If you don t need me anymore I
think I ll go to my room.
 Can I trust you to stay off the phone?
 Yes. I m sorry. I don t know why I& it s just that I feel so alone
in this.
 You have me, Judas said.
 I know, but Liz& we tell each other everything. She s just
someone I ve always been able to count on.
 I know, and I understand, Tess, but this is different. The slightest
leak could ruin the whole thing.
 I know. What can I say? I m sorry.
 It s okay. You get some rest, and I ll check on you later.
She turned to Reed and put out her hand.  Mr. Reed, it s been a
pleasure& well& 
Reed smiled.  I understand.
 Remember. No phone calls, okay? Judas said.
 No. Again, I m sorry for all this. I m okay now.
When Tess left, Reed walked with Judas to the door."This friend
you mentioned. You know, the one she called? What was her name?"
"Liz. Liz Ellison."
"How close are they?"
"They're best friends. Tess trusts her completely."
"Okay, here's the deal. Tess feels all alone in this. She needs
someone right now, and this Liz might just fill the bill. Invite her for
Velvet Sins 115
dinner, see how they are together, and while we're at it, we can tell if
this Liz can be trusted."
"You mean tell her everything?"
"Sure. We need all the allies we can get, and if she s the kind of
friend I hope she is, when she sees Tess in trouble, I think she'll want
to help."
"I can't say I understand it, but you're the expert. I'll see what I can
do."
Reed took his coat from the coat tree and laid it across his arm.
"Invite her for dinner tomorrow night, but don't tell her anything
except that Tess needs her."
"You're free tomorrow night? Don't you have to look in your day
planner?"
Reed smiled while putting on his coat. "For this kind of action, I'm
free. I can't wait to get started, actually." He put out his hand and
shook Judas's. "Judas, thanks for thinking of me on this."
"Who else would I go to? I sure as hell can t trust anyone else
with this kind of information. Besides, you're the best. I mean, that s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]