Smiley (New Species #13)(21)

“I’m aware.”
“That’s bullshit! She wouldn’t talk to the press. Hell, we’ve been hiding in our apartment to avoid them. They even offered her money to talk and she refused. Nobody believes me when I tell them I think Carl has done something to her.” She sounded as if she were crying. “The police won’t do shit.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“To his father’s vacation house but I called there. The staff said she showed up but left with Carl in a limo. I’ve called but he won’t answer his cell. I even contacted his secretary but she told me she hasn’t heard from him directly but learned that he’d passed his upcoming cases to an associate. He told them it was because he needed to support his fiancé at this time.” She took a gasping breath. “Only she isn’t going to marry him.”
Smiley leaned against the building. “Are you sure? Perhaps he still wanted to marry her.”
“Bullshit! Vanni never loved him. I know my girl. He was nice to her and she’d dated a dickhead before him so boring seemed safe. She was almost relieved it was over. Sure, she felt guilty about what happened with you but not enough to go back to him or talk to reporters about anything. You have to trust me. I know her.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Find her. She’s kind of naïve about men. Carl was just too calm and reserved. That never bodes well to me. Something isn’t right with that jerk. I’d bet my last dollar he made her leave with him and is forcing her to talk to the reporters. She hasn’t called me. That alone is making me freak the hell out. We’re best friends. We tell each other everything.”
Smiley closed his eyes, trying to take in all the information.
“Including that she really likes you,” she added.
That snapped his eyes open. “What?”
“The only reason Carl would want her to talk to the reporters is to say something bad about New Species. I think he’s so far up his father’s ass it isn’t funny, regardless of what he swore to Vanni. He kept assuring her he wasn’t part of that church but he always does what his dad asks. I mean, he stopped sleeping with Vanni because his dad thought it would look bad for his son to have sex before the wedding. He said it was for his career but I call bullshit. He’s a lawyer, not running for mayor. Nobody cares if he’s sleeping with a woman or not. He’s a grown man, for god’s sake. His father says jump and Carl asks him how high. It’s like he’s a ventriloquist doll for his daddy.”“What is that?”
“It’s a creepy doll that someone sets on their lap and they pretend to speak for the doll. Freaky stuff but that’s the kind of the relationship I suspect Carl has with his father. Is that plain enough? Anyone with a brain would put a few barriers between their career and that church if they didn’t want to offend some clients but I think Carl is totally onboard with them.”
He understood. “I’ll do what I can to find her, Elisabeth.”
“Call me Beth and thank you. Your number didn’t show up on the caller ID. How can I get hold of you? I was afraid to call the NSO because Vanni said you guys thought she might have drugged you. That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard, by the way. She woke up in the SUV and heard those guards talking about arresting her. It’s bullshit.” Her anger rose with her voice.
“They were discussing having her arrested?” He felt some anger too. “That’s why she escaped?”
“Yeah! Duh. She was afraid of being arrested for something she didn’t do.”
“I’ll call you.” He hung up and strode to Jericho. “We need to find Vanni. Her friend believes she’s being forced to talk to the reporters.”
“Shit.” Jericho studied him. “Are you sure that’s not what you wanted to hear?”
“Her best friend is certain. You know me. Wouldn’t you be alarmed if I acted contrary to myself all of a sudden?”
Jericho blew out a deep breath. “You have changed, Smiley. It’s just that I know why. It’s the female.”
“She’s in trouble. I told Beth I’d look for Vanni. Are you going to help me or not?”
“We need to go talk to Justice.”
“Let’s do that.”
* * * * *
Vanni clenched her fists and glared at Mable. The older woman returned the hostile look. The acting coach was a woman who should have been a drill sergeant instead. She issued orders with the same ruthless tone she’d seen in movies.
“Shoulders slouched, Travanni. You want to look beaten down and depressed. You were raped.”
“I wasn’t.” She turned her anger on Gilda. “How many times do I have to say it? This isn’t a production of some play. This is bullshit. Did you see the guard you passed at the door? I’m being held against my will. Do you want to do something useful? Help me escape.”
Gilda frowned. “I don’t think we used enough shadowing under her eyes.”
Vanni wanted to scream.
“I’ll get my makeup bag.” Mable marched into the half bath in the corner of the room.
“Don’t you have any morals at all?” 
Gilda shook her head. “This is a war.”
“I’ve heard that before. With who?”
“We’re fighting for our future. Those things are going to take over the world and make us their pets.”
“Did you take your meds today?” Vanni doubted it.
“I don’t take meds.”
“Then go see a doctor. You need them. You’re delusional and paranoid!”
“Shut up,” Mable snapped, returning from the bathroom. “I never liked you.”
“It’s mutual.” Vanni jerked away when the older woman attempted to dot more makeup under her eyes. “Stop that.”
“Do we need to call Bruce in here?” Mable had made that threat a few times. “He said he would hold you down if you gave us any trouble.”
“He’s insane too.”
“Did you ever think the one with mental issues might be you?” Mable tried again to put the makeup on Vanni.
She backed away. “Me? You’re the one who joined a cult.”
“Shame on you,” Mable hissed. “Pastor Woods is a prophet. He knows what the future will bring. Those creatures are going to figure out how to multiply and create more of them. They’ll lure idiots like you into birthing their spawn. Mark Pastor Woods’ words, that day is coming. There will be more of them than us. Let history be a lesson. Look at what the white man did to the Indians. They’ll spread out and we’ll be the ones living on reservations.”
“Wow.” Vanni hadn’t heard that one before. “Just wow.”
Gilda nodded. “We’re saving our race from extinction.”
“Are they going to make us pets or kill us? I’m kind of confused,” Vanni muttered sarcastically. “Which is it?”
“It’s what will happen.” Gilda nodded vigorously. “First we’ll be turned into livestock to breed their evil spawn and then they’ll slaughter us after they’ve built up an army of them.”
“I hate to point this out but um, wouldn’t that make their children more human than New Species? I mean, try to be rational. They look mostly human already.”
“Pastor Woods said otherwise.” Mable glared at Vanni again. “He’s the smartest man I’ve ever met. Mark his words, they are going to be the destruction of mankind if we don’t send them back where they came from.”
“Mercile Industries doesn’t exist anymore. The company was shut down.” Vanni wasn’t sure why she was trying to talk logically with two idiots but it beat crying again.
“Then a new lab can contain them,” Gilda snapped. “Or they could be put down if zoos don’t want them.”
“They aren’t creatures. They are people.”
Mable huffed, shooting a disgusted look at Gilda. “Stop wasting your breath on this one. She’s not listening. I told Carl she wasn’t good enough for him. Miss Slut here had to go and chase after one of those creatures.”
Gilda shuddered. “That’s so sad. I pity her. Don’t you? It must have been horrible.”
Vanni ground her teeth but her anger wouldn’t be contained. “Feel pity for yourselves. You’re the ones with loose morals and you’re stupid. I don’t even want to count the laws you’re breaking by helping Gregory keep me prisoner. I’d stop worrying about what the New Species plan to do and instead start figuring out how much jail time you’re facing.”
Gilda frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re not getting away with this,” Vanni promised.
“Ignore her. Pastor Woods said he’s taken care of it. She won’t dare do anything but exactly what he wants.” Her gaze locked with Vanni’s. “I’m calling Bruce. Do you need a reminder?”“Fuck you, Mable.”
“Bruce!” the bitch yelled.
The door opened and the guard stepped out of the way. Bruce entered the room. He wore a dark suit and a pissed-off look. “Is she giving you trouble?”
“She’s making threats of jail.”
He opened his jacket and showed off his gun. “It would be the last thing she does.”