"On my way."
***
"She swallowed the hook,"said Desmona, hanging up the phone that was attached to the voicemodulator.
"How did she sound?" askedNicole.
"Scared. Getting rid ofthe protestors was a nice touch."
"We can put them rightback if we need to, Des."
***
The elevator stopped, thedoors opened and Roxanne walked out onto the fourteenth floor ofthe Hotel. It was nearly three in the morning and dead quiet. Theonly sound was that of her shoes across the plush carpet. Freshflowers lined the hallway, sending a wonderful aroma that filledher lungs.
May as well grab some ofthose for your funeral.
She reached the room, slidthe key into the door, and opened it.
It was dark. She turned onthe lights and moved inside. It was a spectacular two room suitewith a four poster bed and antique furniture that probably costmore than her new house.
But it wasempty.
She put her purse downbeside the couch.
Then the connecting doorto the next room opened.
A tall, lanky middle-agedman entered the room and smiled at her. He wore sunglasses andcarried a long metal wand.
"Hello, Roxanne," he said,his voice softly floating through the air withoutmalice.
"Do I knowyou?"
"No. Please hold your armsout at your sides. Just pretend you're at LAX. C'mon, Simon Saysarms up!"
"What for?"
"To see if you're wearinga wire, dear. Can’t be too careful these days."
"I'm not wearing awire."
"Then you won't mindputting up your arms."
"Fine. Whatever." TheVulture displayed her wingspan. The man moved closer to her andswept the wand up one side of her body and under her arm, then didthe same on the other side.
Until itbeeped.
"Aha," said the man. "Andwhat do we have here?" He politely pulled her riding jacket awayfrom her body and removed the tiny microphone and recording devicethat were hidden in her inside pocket. "Thought you weren't wearinga wire."
"It came with theoutfit."
"Wait here."
The man turned and walkedback through the connecting door. "She's clean….now," she heard himsay.
Then Desmona Jackson andNicole Wine walked into the room.
Roxanne stood up straightand tall but the actress towered over her. She was dressed insweatpants, a running jacket and had her hair put up under abaseball hat, but the face was unmistakable. The agent was alsoincognito, opting for a hoodie sweatshirt and jeans.
"Well," said Desmona. "Wefinally meet. Face to face, not two hundred feet apart."
Roxanne just stood there,not knowing what to say.
"Please sit," saidDesmona, pointing to the couch.
Roxanne sat down whileDesmona and Nicole remained standing.
"I trust you have notenjoyed having the shoe on the other foot," said Nicole.
"I'm sure you get used toit," said Roxanne.
"That's the whole point,"said Desmona, turning angry. Roxanne thought it was weird to see anactress from children's movies looking like she was ready tostrangle someone. "You neverget used to it. Day after day, a prisoner of yourown fame."
"You all want to befamous," said Roxanne. "You want the fame and then you go around insunglasses. Make up your mind."
"Ever hear of a thingcalled privacy?" said Desmona.
"Ever hear of a thingcalled the first amendment?" said Roxanne.
"I'm not going to arguewith you," said Desmona, who began pacing back and forth. "You'renot worth it. However, at this point in time, you are worthsomething."
"Actually," said Nicole,"You're only worth something for the next few minutes."
"Yes, here's what's goingto happen," said Desmona. "Tomorrow there will be a newsconference. At that time you will admit to concocting a hoaxdesigned to destroy my reputation and state that the photos yousold to the Hollywood Grapevine were very elaborate digital fakes.You will apologize to me, Nicole, and my fans. You will agree toreturn the money you received to the Grapevine, which I believewas... Nicole?"
"One point two million,"said the agent.
"I've already spent partof it on a house," said Roxanne. "And anyway, why would I dothis?"
"I'm not done, younglady," said Desmona. While I despise you for both your professionand what you have done to us, I am not so heartless as to make youhomeless. In return for these admissions and your reimbursement ofthe Grapevine, I will deposit in your account an equal amount. Yourhouse will be bought by a dummy corporation, thought I will bewriting the check. Then you and your little collection ofspyglasses will leave the state of California forever."
Roxanne thought it over.The deal wasn't bad, but the career she loved, the rush she gotfrom getting the money shot, the better-than-sex high would beover. "So let me get this straight… I tell the world that thephotos were fakes, give back the money to the tabloid, and you giveme the same amount to leave the state and never bother youagain?"
"You're not as dumb as youlook," said Nicole.
Roxanne shook her head."Why not just admit you two are lovers?"
"The world can't see itsfairytale princess wearing comfortable shoes," saidNicole.
"My image and reputationare worth millions," said Desmona. She finally stopped pacing andlooked directly at Roxanne. "Lesbian role models aren't terriblypopular with parents."
"So, do we have a deal?"asked Nicole.
Roxanne stood up, lookingresigned to her fate. "Okay," she said, thrusting her handforward.
Desmona looked down hernose at Roxanne's hand and left it there, hanging in space. She andNicole both turned and started to leave the room.
"My estate, eight a-mtomorrow," said Desmona. She moved through the door, then stuck herhead back into the room. "Oh, and you can use the room. It's paidfor. I'm told all the high priced whores sleep here."
***
Roxanne Rizzo stood to theleft of Desmona Jackson as the actress addressed the media. Shenoted how the low angle of the morning sun was sending perfect raysthrough the woman's hair, making her look like an angel descendedfrom heaven.
Of course, that was noaccident.
Because image iseverything.
"And so," said theactress, "despite all the pain this woman has caused myself,Nicole, and my fans, I am going to do the good Christian thing andforgive her. It has taken a lot of courage for her to come forwardthis morning, and I know that she will certainly be absolved of hersins. I ask that my fans pray for her, that she may receive thedivine guidance she needs."
Desmona extended her armstoward Roxanne and gave her a quick hug.
Then Roxanne moved to thepodium and looked into the other end of the lens. "Thank you, MissJackson and Miss Wine, for both accepting my apology. I am heretoday to
