Chapter Ten

	Jade looked at herself in the mirror. She was depressed, sad, lonely, and
tired. She looked great. She put on her dress from the Homecoming Dance and
pinned her hair atop her head.
	Martin was on his way, he'd be there in ten minutes. She should have been
glowing with anticipation, she ought to have felt as wonderful and she looked, but
Jade couldn't manage even a smile. Maria entered the room, clad in a simple black
skirt and a ruffled white silk blouse.
	"Still can't be happy?"
	"No."
	"I don't know why you and Martin don't just drop the party and take a
night out. There's only a going to be a bunch of stuffy old people there."
	Jade rolled her eyes.
	They heard the doorbell and Maria hurried to answer it. Her brother had
come up to escort her to the party and Cortez was sure to look great. Jade hated
to admit that as a child she had thought that he was about as close to perfection as
a man could get; then she'd found about the implications of incest and forgotten
any sick ideas she may have had. Jade dragged herself downstairs.
	Nina was wearing a white gauze outfit with palazzo pants. Then there was
her date. Not Mark,  but the ugly guy, an acne-stricken teen, whose name she
found to be Carl Wordsworth. He was about seventeen and looked like the poster
boy Geeks of America, minus the pocket protector. He wore a brown tux with a
pink shirt underneath. Nina acted excited to be with him, but it was obvious to
Jade that Nina's attention was on Mark and Carl's attention was elsewhere.
	Mark and his date, Naomi, were dressed in matching tuxedos, hers with a
long skirt, his with trousers. Naomi was nothing like Jade had pictured her. She
was almost as tall as Nina, which was to say that she towered several inches above
Jade, with a body like Gabrielle Reece. Her looks, however, left much to be desire.
She had cropped black hair and a pointed nose. Her beady eyes were far too close
to each other, and her mouth was a perma-frown. That frown was accompanied by
crooked teeth that managed to retain an incredibly bright white color.
	Martin arrived just after Cortez, with Marsha and Mae in tow. He was
wearing a tux exactly like Mark's. They looked more alike then ever as their hair
was slicked back causing it to be nearly black. Mae's dress was a riot. It was a tight
blue prostitute dressed about two sizes too small for her slightly wide body. Of
course, with a body like hers, Jade was surprised to feel how strong she was when
they shook hands.  Marsha had on a hideous sequined dress depicting a rain-forest
with a brightly colored bird in the center of the front. Lola wore a rose colored
pants suit with a gray shell underneath; she looked far younger than her sixty plus
years.	Jade felt self-conscious in her cream colored satin dress. It was short, very
short, and flared, which made it good for dancing, or so Bryan had told her. 
	Within moments the group separated into cars and headed toward the
Weston Civic Center. Jade climbed into Martin's black Mustang Convertible. He
admitted that it belonged to Marsha's husband.
	"You really do look sensational,"he said, resting his hand on her knee.
	"Thanks,"Jade said. She was glad it was dark, as she felt herself blushing as
his hand crept North. Suddenly she sneezed. He removed his hand instantly, staring
straight ahead.	
	"No. I didn't mean...I mean, I honestly had to sneeze,"she apologized,
hoping she hadn't put him off.
	"That's okay,"he pulled into the parking lot.
	The Gala Room had been ornately decorated and there was already over
one hundred of Weston's elite in attendance. Jade was surprised; when she'd heard
that this was a dinner party she envisioned twenty people.
	"Let's find our table." They'd barely gotten twenty paces through the
swarm of overdressed bodies when they were pounced upon by photographers.
Martin brushed them away with the expertise of someone who'd grown up with
mosquitoes for play mates. Only seconds later they were confronted by a young
woman.
	"Martin?"
	"Bets?"
	"Yeah."
	"Jade, this is Betsy, she and I went to school in North River together."
	"Hi,"Jade said.
	"So Mart, what are you doing with this one? Is she the bimbo of the week?
Flavor of the month? Or are you planning to stick with this one until you knock
her up?"
	"Excuse me?"
	"Honey,"she said in a tone that indicated confidentiality,"You watch
yourself with this one. He's a cheater and a no-good, dirty-"
	She stopped abruptly and gave Jade a venomous look filled with utter
shock. It probably had something to do with the punch she'd received courtesy of
Jade's practiced right jab. 
	"You don't need to defend me,"he muttered as they walked away.
	"Sure I did. She was lying through her teeth, you dumped her one, didn't
you?"
	"Very perceptive."
	They arrived at their table and ate dinner while people bustled about
congratulating Marsha. Mae disappeared, possibly at the same time Carl, Nina and
Mark vanished. A rich man from North River had taken Nina's seat next to Lola
and they were deeply in conversation, oblivious to everyone else. Lola wasn't
exactly a gold-digger, but Jade had to admit she wasn't lacking in the avarice
department. Nina sat on Lola's left, with Marsha, Carl, Mark, and Mae on her left.
To Lola's right was Jade, Martin, Maria, and Cortez. The dinner was almost over
and half the guest had discreetly exited when a shot rang out. Jade felt a warm,
sticky fluid spatter her face. Beside her, Lola screeched. The right side was
covered in blood. Jade jumped to her feet and begged someone to call 911.

Chapter Eleven

	Joan Treece stood at the sight of the shooting of Delores Santez; the Gala
Room in the Weston Civic Center. She was getting no where. No one had seen
anything, and no one could verify where the bullet had come from, though most
said above the stage.
	"What do you have?" Dorothy asked coming up behind Joan.
	"One shot, fired around ten thirty. One female victim, critical in the
hospital. The bullet hit the floor behind the woman."
	"Suspects?"
	"None, everyone. There were people moving around, dancing, and hardly
anyone that signed in but not out is completely accounted for."
	Dorothy sighed, staring at the bullet hole in the wall."That's all?" Joan
nodded. "Then what are you planning for this one?"
	"Have them,"she pointed at Judy Fooks and Mike Ward,"Hurry up with
whatever they're doing then you can tell them to get me a list of everyone anyone
saw here tonight. Absolutely anyone. Then we'll just have to talk to Delores Santez
and find out who wanted her dead."
	"You don't think-"
	"No. The gunman was probably aiming for Marsha. Too bad he missed."
	"So, we're screwed if we do, and the same if we don't?"
	"Basically."
	"Great,"Dorothy pulled out a cigarette and lit up. She blew a lungful of
smoke at the wall, thoughtfully. Joan found herself wishing she hadn't spent the
last four years using all the will-power she possessed to stop the habit. "I say we
invent a criminal, tell the press he was seen jumping off the Weston-Riley Bridge.
It's only a few blocks away, he could have made it in plenty of time. Then-"
	"Hey!"Officer Charles Dudley, better known as Chip, jogged over to them.
	"Chip?"
	"We've caught the perp."
	"What?"
	"They've caught the guy. He was unconscious outside, in the back alley.
He's got a gun in his pocket and he confessed."
	"Now maybe I can get some sleep Joanie."
	"No."
	"No what? I can't go to bed?"
	"He didn't do it."
	"C'mon Jo. We've evidently got what we need. I am as sick as you are of
Jade Mackenna and her accident prone family."
	"He's been blackmailed, or bought off. Hell, maybe he just wants a warm
bed and a regular meal, but he did not pull the trigger."
	"I've got a deal for you,"she waved Chip away, but he hovered
nearby,"What if, I...make the records show that he owns a green van fitting the
description of the one that you say plowed in Mackenna's Mercedes? We can make
up a motive, he's a right-wing psycho who thinks money is evil! I can get some
witnesses and we'll just pin it on him. Come on, Jo, let's just make this clean and
easy. All of us will rest easier,  especially you and that Mackenna girl."
	"You can't be serious."
	"Completely. In the past two weeks that girl's mother, father, and brother
have died. Her aunt was shot at a dinner party, the bullet was only inches from
hitting her in the face! I don't care what you or the girl say, we all need to put this
behind us and get on with our lives!"
	"She knows this isn't right. Jade doesn't even think that her mother
committed suicide!"
	"No teenage girl would!"
	"But she's a smart girl, she'll know it wasn't that bum you've arrested! I'll
tell her flat-out!"
	"What do you want me to do Joan? I surely don't care one way or
another!"
	"Let me seal this room."
	"It's already going to be, normal procedure."
	"I mean no one, not even a police officer is to enter without my
permission."
	Dorothy beckoned Chip, told him his orders, and he left to begin clearing
out the room.
	"I'm gonna get fired if you screw up Jo, but I'm also going to trust you,
because I know what you can do. But, we can only hold him so long and if you
cause up to loose this confession and can't come up with a better or more legit
one, you're out on your flabby ass!"
	"My ass isn't flabby, is it?" Dorothy glared, not appreciating Joan's humor.
"Okay, I know. My career is on the line."
	"Yeah, this is your last chance Jo."
	"When have I had any others?"
	"Don't get cute."
	"I'm not stupid. I wouldn't risk my life on this if I didn't seriously think that
I could solve it. I've never blown it before and I don't plan to start now."
	"One never does."
	"Yeah."
	Joan and Dorothy fell silent despite the chaos reigning around them.
	"Joan, just hurry up and solve this thing so we can be friends again."
	"You've got nothing to worry about."
	"You do,"Dorothy stubbed her cigarette in an expensive crystal ashtray.
She shoved her hands deep into her pocket, searching out her keys. She bent her
head, picking out her car key,"Didn't your little sister die a couple days ago? You
ought to be with your family, not here."
	"They don't want me around right now."
	"Gee, I wonder why?" Dorothy snorted. She stalked away and burst
through the doors. Joan caught a glimpse of the popping flashbulb and media
circus performing outside the Gala Room. She sighed, she knew she was screwed.

	Joan Treece awoke and stretched in her lumpy bed. She's slept restlessly,
dreaming about blood bathtubs and fried body parts raining on main street. 
Unfortunately the dreams weren't as accurate as they usually were. She couldn't
tell if the lady was old, fat, young, skinny, or how tall she was. The guys were
large, but that could have made the fat, tall, or just really buff. The same went for
the black hairdo woman in the bathroom with Kate. 
	Joan loved mornings as a rule, but Saturday mornings were her favorites,
mostly because she was rarely up before noon. Other than mornings, Joan loved
Friday because she didn't have to be able to wake up early on Saturday, Friday was
her day to relax. Unfortunately today was Friday, but a dreary, bloodstained
Thursday evening had ruined her Friday.
	She was instantly reminded of all the things that depended on what she did
today: her job, her best-friendship with Dorothy, the lives of anyone involved with
the cursed Jade Mackenna, and maybe most importantly, her own credibility.
	She showered quickly, not giving herself time to ponder anything, and was
out of her apartment in less than twenty minutes. She arrived on the scene before
six a.m. and found four officers patrolling the premises. At least they'd done that
properly. 
	Marsha Dunkirk was a separate case by herself. She strolled into town with
a husband that rarely left their house. As a matter of fact, Joan thought, she'd
moved in recently, within the past six months, but was already favorite in the
upcoming election. Just after her arrival in Weston, Marsha had called upon Joan
specifically to investigate some threatening letters that were arriving in her mail.
Nothing Joan did was right in Marsha's opinion and after a week of being harassed,
Joan had caught the kids behind the scheme only to have Marsha complain. Then
she had the nerve to tell Joan that she would never work in this town again if
Marsha Dunkirk was elected mayor. Joan had since then become an anonymous
donator to all of the campaigns against Marsha.
	Chip had been there all evening. He held the door open for her and
accompanied her inside where Judy Fooks and Mike Ward were playing rummy at
one of the tables. The room seemed much larger without ninety-seven upset people
milling around.
	"Hey Joan,"  
	"Need any help?" Don Henniger asked standing in the doorway leading to
the bathrooms; he struggled with his zipper.
	"Go home Don, take Judy and Mike with you."
	"Right, as if you mean that."
	Judy Fooks sauntered over, far too classy to be a cop.
	"Hey there Joan, Don ordered in doughnuts. Want one? Mike's going to
make a fresh pot of coffee."
	Joan shook her head and glanced at Don,"Man, you ought to cut down on
the doughnuts Don. You're getting horribly fat."
	Don grinned and looked up as his zipper finally closed. He was incredibly
skinny, maybe one hundred and twenty pounds. He looked especially emaciated
when he stood to his full height of six feet seven inches.
	Judy reach up and stroked Don's nose,"Gain some muscle on that body and
maybe I consent to your buying me dinner."
	"You're just desperate and horny."
	"True as that is, I think-"she began, stopping short as she noticed Joan
kneeling by the wall staring at the bullet hole.
	"What?"Chip asked, peering over her shoulder.
	"Nothing." Joan mumbled, getting up. She looked down at the wall for a
few more long seconds, the hastily turned away.
	"Tell that little guy that he cannot use this room for awhile longer."
	"Sure,"Judy said, sitting back down at the table to resume her card game
with Mike.
	"Hey Joan, are you all right? I mean, I heard your sister died and
everything..."Mike trailed off. 
	"Yeah," Joan said. Sweet Mike, asking about her home life. He really must
care, she thought, because normally no one asks about my life. "She did. Thanks
for asking Mike."
	"I've got to go, be sure to talk to the owner, okay?"
	"Right."	
	A short, frail little man burst in and identified himself as the administrator.
	"Which of you are in charge of this investigation."
	Joan stepped forward,"Can I help you?"
	"Yes. When will I have this room back? The repairmen are waiting and the
charge by the hour!"
	"You can't. Send them home because the investigation is on-going."
	"What? Do you mean that I cannot use this room?" Joan nodded. "I must
use this room! There is nothing else to say. I have to have usage of this room
immediately."
	Joan ignored him and strode from the room, putting on the sunglasses Julia
had affectionately christened her Terminator glasses. The little man's legs pumped
hard to keep up with Joan's long stride.
	"Mr. Jones, you can't use the room until I give the order. Deal with it."
	"But I need that room, most of my profit comes from the renting of that
room!"
	"Sorry, but until I am finished investigation, the room doesn't exist!"
	"What about the people who've already paid for the room? I have a huge
Psychiatrist Convention tomorrow! No other room can hold those three hundred
shrinks!"
	"Move one of your break-away walls! Make the Cooper and the Erie
rooms into the one room. Don't argue, I know it can be done, you did if for my
21st birthday."
	"They can't afford two rooms on such short notice!"
	"I'll pay the difference. Now leave me alone because the sooner I get tow
work the sooner you get your room back."

Chapter Twelve

	"Let's go,"Jade said, grabbing her keys and coat from the hall closet. Maria
was waiting in the car and Nina was taking too long to gather her things.
	"Okay,"Nina said, going ahead of Jade out to the car. Jade started the car
and sped to Weston Memorial where Delores Santez was recovering.
	The bullet had gone through, leaving a nice, clean wound. It missed all
bones and would have been fairly routine, except for the fact that Weston's EMT's
were extraordinarily slow and by the time they'd arrived Delores, who had a slow
clotting time, had  lost more blood than Jade had seen in her entire life.
	"I can't believe someone shot her,"Maria said, wiping tears from her eyes.
She blamed herself, reasoning that if she hadn't called Lola over to stay with Jade,
then Lola wouldn't have been shot.
	"The police say the gunman was aiming for Marsha,"Nina commented from
the back seat.
	"She didn't even notice anything was wrong until I called for someone to
get an ambulance. She was more concerned about the two drops of blood that hit
her dress than the fact that those were only two of the millions the should have
spurted all over her. Why would someone shoot at someone if they're bound to
miss?"
	There was silence in the car until they reached the hospital. Jade led the
procession to Lola's room. Jade was surprised they were allowed to see her since
she'd been in ICU since she'd been admitted. 
	Jade and Nina asked if they were allowed in together. The nurse on duty,
Nurse Dallen, said they could go in two at a time. Maria went in by herself.
	When she emerged ten minutes later she was crying even harder and
refused to speak. She sat down on an overstuffed vinyl couch in the hall and
allowed Jade and Nina to go in.
	Jade was shocked to see her aunt in such condition. Even at sixty years,
Delores kept as active as she ever had been, which was to say, always on the go.
She was always perfectly groomed and her naturally dark skin was rosy whether
she was happy or not. Now, though, she lay nearly lifeless in a dull, colorless
room. There were all sorts machines hooked up to, tubes leading from her nose
and an IV in her arm, and patches stuck to various parts of her body. It wasn't her
long black hair, streaked with stately gray, hanging limply on the pillow,
unwashed, that scared Jade the most. Nor was it the dried blood still clinging to
the ends of her hair, or even the bandages around most of the right side of her
body. What scared Jade the most was the color of her skin. Lola was pale, it was
hard to tell that she had ever been anything other than pasty white. The faint blush
she'd always possessed was missing, and the expression on her face was vacant.
Her lips formed a limp line, neither a smile nor a frown. Her eyes hung partly open,
as if she was trying to maintain consciousness.
	"Lola?"Jade smiled, despite her tears,"How are you feeling?"
	"I feel better, much. I tired...though." Lola's eyes fluttered. Jade stared at
the bandages around Delores' shoulder and chest. She looked old and frail laying
there in her thin gray hospital gown.
	"Nina's here. She brought you a gift, but the Nurse wouldn't let her bring it
in, because you only got out of ICU a little while ago."
	"Food?"
	Nina stepped forward, a strange look on her face,"Maria told me how
much you like berries, so I brought blueberry muffins and cranberry juice."
	"Thank you...Nina."
	"I'm going to distract the Nurse because visiting hours technically ended
ten minutes ago,"Nina said, opening the door,"Get well Delores, I mean, Lola."
She closed the door tightly behind herself.
	"She's right Lola, I have to go. Bu we'll be back tomorrow, bright and
early. Be prepared for us, okay?"
	Delores smiled weakly, but didn't respond. Jade kissed her aunt on the
cheek. She shut the door as quietly as she could and turned to glance down the
hall.
	"Jade!" Nina screamed. Jade whirled around to see a door slamming only
feet away. She leapt toward the door and flung it open.  She heard a shot and
instinctively hit the floor. Another bullet hit the floor only inches form her head
sending shards of tile and dust into the air. A piece of jagged tile sliced into the
back of her arm and the dust she inhaled made it impossible to draw a breath.
	The person laughed, kicked rubble at her and ran off, pulling Nina along,
fighting lamely. Jade tried to get to her feet but the world began to spin and she
dropped to her knees, defeated. At first the spinning was lazy, but disorienting,
then it spun faster and faster until it skipped and Jade fell forward, knocking her
head on the floor. Then she passed out.