Val stood unseen at the sliding window that led to the pool. She watched Sharon make her entrance. Marco was floating on his newest toy, a float that held four people. Usually he had a couple of broads on it with him. That afternoon, he just had an ice bucket, champagne, and a couple of glasses. The rest of his entourage were lazing on the chaises, or sitting at the bar. Most of the regulars were there. Just hanging out, laughing when they were supposed to, and looking the other way when they were supposed to. They were Marco’s dudes.
No one messed with Marco’s dudes. They knew they were feared. If they had a problem, a little rough stuff here and a reminder there usually smoothed things out. Life was good to them. Marco had worked out a network of boats with souped-up engines that were used to transport drugs off of ships from South America. They hid their cargo in the Everglades. So far, it had been clean sailing. The money was fantastic. The broads were babes. Most of their time at the mansion was good. So what could be better?
Marco’s face lit up when he saw Sharon sashaying out of the house. That broad was really stacked, even better than he remembered. He steered the raft over to the edge of the pool.
“All aboard, baby. The champagne is cold and I’m getting hot!”
“That sorta says it all, doesn’t it?”
Sharon stepped onto the raft, and settled back next to him. He popped the champagne and toasted to his best win at the track in a long time!
Val appeared and walked slowly toward the pool. Bev ran over to her. Her boyfriend Dominic had recently told her to be more friendly to Val, admitting he felt sorry for her because she always seemed so lonely. So Bev pulled her over to sit with her at the bar. She carried on nonstop about all the clothes Val had given her the week before and how much she loved them. Val didn’t hear much of what she said, but liked having her company. She told Kent to make her a tequila sunrise and sat sipping her drink, watching everything from behind her dark glasses. It didn’t take long for the show to start.
First she heard Marco toast the “fairy fucker” and raise his glass at her. His goons all laughed obediently. This egged him on and his barrage of insults was nonstop. Things got quiet for a minute. Marco was kissing Sharon. Suddenly it was Val’s turn. She got up, took her glass with her, and stood at the edge of the pool watching the two of them make out.
“Having fun, darling?”
Her voice was loud enough to be heard above the music. Marco looked up in surprise.
“Well look at this folks, she can still walk and talk. Such talent. In case you don’t know her, let me introduce you. She’s the toast of Broadway who hasn’t had a job in months. Miss show biz, who’s a no show!”
He went back to making out.
“Don’t worry, Sharon knows me all right!”
Val was still using her stage voice, which could easily have been heard in the back row of Radio City Music Hall.
“I think you should use Sharon’s title when introducing her. Didn’t she tell you? She’s Miss Holland.”
Marco looked up smiling.
“So what’s the big deal? Nothing wrong with winning a beauty contest.”
“Well darling, that’s not quite the reason for her title. Let me come to the point.”
She paused. When she knew she had everyone’s attention, she continued. “Have you ever heard of the little mermaid who put her finger in the dyke and stopped the flood in Holland? Well, you have been putting more than a finger in this dyke! You could say a very busy dyke. In fact she’s Karen van Dougall’s main squeeze.”
Val was on a roll and loving it.
“So go ahead, darling. Ask her. Or let me. Sharon who’s better in bed, Marco or Karen?”
Marco sat up and looked down at Sharon. She tried to smile and was just about to say something when he slapped her face a couple of times. Really hard. She fell off the raft and it turned over. She sank to the bottom. She managed to come up for air. Marco grabbed her and punched her in the jaw. She started to bleed and sank back to the bottom. This time she didn’t come up. Val tried to laugh, but the violent turn of events shocked her.
Marco climbed out of the pool and told Dominic to get the broad and bring her in the house. As he walked passed Val he slapped her face, then continued on into the house without a word. She stood there in helpless silence as she watched poor Sharon in Dominic’s arms; she looked like a limp rag doll being carried into the house.
Marco was waiting for her. Sharon could hardly stand and Marco took her and held her up by the shoulders. Dominic left the room.
“Who sent you?”
She didn’t answer.
“Was that shit true?”
Again, she didn’t answer. He lost it and shook her violently. Her head jerked back and forth. It looked like it wasn’t connected to her body. He slapped her face again and again, hard. He was frustrated. She still wouldn’t speak. He started to shake her again, violently. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Then he heard a crack, and her head just hung down. She didn’t move. She was dead. He had broken her neck. He let her fall to the floor in a heap, walked out of the room, and found Dominic in the hall.
“Get Sammy take her out on the boat, and go deep sea fishing for the night.”
“Sure, boss.”
Dominic knew the routine. He couldn’t help thinking it was too bad she was already dead. He and Sammy could have had a good time before using her for bait. Marco walked out to the pool.
“Looks like this party’s over. Our special guest had to leave. Who’s hungry? Let’s go eat.”
No questions were ever asked about Sharon. Marco was nicer to Val than he’d ever been. In his mind, she had done the right thing by exposing what could have been a very embarrassing situation for him. He even let Val have more freedom. She was allowed to go shopping with Bev.
A few weeks later, they were at Saks trying on clothes when Val had to go to the ladies’ room. Usually she wasn’t even allowed to go to the bathroom on her own, but Bev was busy trying on dresses. Val saw a pay phone on the wall in the ladies room, and on the spur of the moment, she called Karen collect. Much to her surprise Karen answered, and when she heard who was calling she accepted the charges immediately.
“Oh, Karen I’m so glad you answered. I only have a minute to talk. I have to get away from here.”
“Whoa. Slow down. Take it easy. Where are you?”
“Florida still. I’m a prisoner. I have to get out. I will try to call you in a few days. Don’t try to call me. Karen, it’s dangerous.”
“Okay, okay. Where’s Sharon? Did you see her?”
“I only saw her once. I thought she’d gone back to New York.”
“Listen, Val. I’ll get you a ticket. You just get out of there as soon as you can. I’ll wait for your call.”
“Karen, I love you. Thanks.”
Val went back to the fitting room and when they were paying for their purchases, the saleslady told them they were having a special sale the following week and they should be sure to come back for that. Val said they wouldn’t miss it for the world. At last, she had a plan, at last she finally had something to look forward to.