^{a model crime}

 

^{On Monday morning, the plane from Philadelphia to Denver was filled, mostly with young athletes. Listening to the conversations swirling around me, I quickly learned that they were X-gamers and the X games were starting that day in Denver.}

^{I had seen the in-flight movie, so I decided to read some of Andi's journals. I pulled out the pink one, the first stories written. I skimmed through the pages, reading some, here and there, until I saw my name. Then, I slowed down and read; I read slowly. A flood of memories came back…}

^***

^{The first time Cyndie and I met him we were still modeling. At age 25, and after seven years, my career had peaked and was about to begin its equally long downslide. At age 25, Cyndie's career was on the rise, but would soon level off, and end within five years. But, neither of us knew the true status of our working futures that day.}

^{I was called a supermodel and I acted like it sometimes. Okay, I acted like it most of the time, but I wasn't the biggest diva at the shows.}

^{Cyndie was eating humble pie. She struggled at first; learning to walk, to turn and to develop her attitude. But, there was something about her that I loved from the instant we met. We soon became friends and, briefly, lovers.}

^{My first impressions, when I met young Miss Myst a month earlier, were that she was unpredictable and exciting. Cyndie had a good body for modeling. She was five feet seven inches tall, thin, with a pretty face and a big, infectious smile. Her long brown hair was gorgeous, with a fullness to envy.}

^{This story shows both a slice of our modeling lives and the moment when we met the man of our dreams.}

 

^{It was April 1992. I was living in my upper east-side apartment and dating a New York Yankee pitcher. Greg was rich, egotistical and engaged. I knew the first two things about him, but learned the latter fact a few weeks later. Our relationship ended that spring when, lying naked under Greg on his big waterbed, his fiancée walked in on us. His hot-blooded, Latin lady slapped my face, pulled me out of bed by the hair, and kicked my behind as she threw me out of the apartment. The next thing I knew I was standing naked in the hallway outside his apartment with a bruised behind, a very sore scalp and a red mark on my left cheek. But, I was so mad and determined that I knocked on the door until they gave me my clothes. Sheepishly, after five minutes, the pitcher opened the door, just wide enough to pass out my clothes and purse.}

^{As I stood outside getting dressed, inside the apartment I heard the lady screaming non-stop, Greg apologizing, and things breaking. I almost felt sorry for him; almost. I never saw her or him again. Thank God!}

^{On that spring day, Cyndie thought this was her big break. This was her first fashion show. She felt it could make up for the poverty and insults she endured for months as she tried to break into the business. She was living in a ninety square foot efficiency apartment in a border-line hip, border-line seedy section of the Village. Unfortunately, her five-year modeling career was ten weeks of incredible fun and 250 weeks of boredom.}

^{But, on this day, we had a life-changing event. We met Stevie Garrett.}

^{It all started with the “crime.” Two days earlier, a purple bikini bottom was stolen right off my body in the dressing room. Our show director claimed a rival swimsuit designer hired thugs to steal the first Brazilian-styled bikini bottoms - those with only slightly larger than thong backs - that Cyndie, me and the other models would wear in the fashion show.}

^{Stevie was hired to “investigate.” He was working for the designer's property insurance company and arrived at the crime scene on the day of the show.}

^{Ten minutes earlier I arrived by taxi from my apartment. I was about to change into my pink bikini, when a tall, dark, handsome man in his mid-twenties walked by. He looked sharp; with a black, three-buttoned suit, short wavy dark brown hair, a strong face and bright blue eyes. The sight of barely dressed girls caused him to smile. It was a warm, white-teethed smile that made you feel good, deep down inside.}

^{He was escorted into our dressing room by our show's director, Spencer Randolph. Spencer was dressed in his usual loud clothes, a lavender suit and a peach-colored shirt. They walked directly towards me, the “crime victim.”}

^{Cyndie Myst's booth was two down from mine so she easily eavesdropped on the entire scene.}

^{I was introduced to Stevie Garrett and I felt the electricity radiate between us. It continued to flow for the next ten minutes. We were both enchanted with each other from the moment we met. Stevie could barely get out his words of introduction and his purpose for standing in my dressing area.}

^{Even still, his demeanor was a happy one and he was enjoying this moment. It was just the reaction we models love from a heterosexual man; he didn't leer but he did love everything he saw, and complimented us verbally and non-verbally. Stevie made us feel comfortable. I continued to hold Stevie's hand for a very long time after our handshake greeting. I also stood very close to Stevie, which was okay with him; we both enjoyed being in each other's personal space. Looking back now, I realize I completely lost it for the next fifteen minutes. I revealed so much of myself to Stevie, more than I expected.}

^{Mr. Randolph sighed and said, “My little actress, Andi, wants to demonstrate how she was attacked. Please be seated Mr. Garrett and be her captivated audience. Perhaps you can solve this crime against civilization.” With that over-the-top comment, Spencer huffed and walked away.}

^{I told Stevie to sit on the comfy sofa across from my shower stall-sized dressing booth. I went behind a curtain and started changing out of my short, baby-doll dress. The bottom of the curtain ended nearly three feet from the floor providing Stevie with a clear view of my long legs. Over the next minute, I provided him with a covered-up strip tease. First, I kicked off my white, thong sandals. I let my little pink dress fall to the floor, and, then, stepped out of the small garment covering my feet. Seconds later, pink strings and a triangle of satin fell on top of my dress - revealing that my tiny panty was off.}

^{I twisted slightly over the next minute and stepped into four inch heels. Then, I stopped dressing.}

^{All the while, I kept up a happy dialogue describing my attack. “Mr. Garrett?”}

^{He answered, “Yes, I'm here, but please call me, Stevie.”}

^{“Oh, I like that name. Stevie, it all happened so fast. I changed that day, just like now. I kicked off my sandals, unzipped my dress and dropped it on the floor. Then, I pulled down my g-string and wiggled out of it. Thank God, he didn't open the curtain then, because I was completely naked.”}

^{I was quiet for a moment and he asked, “Miss Anderson?”}

^{“Yes, Stevie, but please call me Andi. I'm sorry, I was putting on the bikini, like that day.”}

^{Stevie concluded, “Andi, if the perpetrator wanted the swimsuit, they had to watch you from this side, like I am, or they wouldn't know you were dressed.”}

^{“You know, that's true. I hadn't thought of that.”}

^{Stevie asked, “Do you recall anyone unusual around here while you changed?”}

^{I answered, “No, only models.”}

^{“Did you know all of them?”}

^“Yes.”

^{That was the moment, Cyndie told me later, when Stevie turned his head, made eye contact with her, and winked his left eye.}

^{“Okay. Andi, how did the person attack you?”}

^{With that question, I unopened the curtain. I was facing the back wall. My long hair reached down past my behind, covering the view of my swimsuit.}

^{“Okay, Stevie, I was standing like this. Before I put on my top, I began to twist my hair into a ponytail.”}

^{As I lifted my hair, the Brazilian bikini bottom left mostly bare my behind for Stevie’s viewing pleasure.}

^{I continued, “Then, all of sudden, someone reached in, and untied the side strings of my bottom. Stevie, come over here.”}

^{Stevie did as ordered.}

^{“Here, grab the ends of the strings.”}

^{He put his hands on my hips. I partially turned around and said, “No, up here. Grab an end and pull, but don't let go.”}

^{Stevie did and the sides untied as simply as shoestrings.}

^{“Stevie, see, how easy it was? When a woman plans to wear a string bikini for a long time, she will double-knot it, but, we models don't do that because we need to change quickly.”}

^{He answered, “I see. It makes sense.”}

^{“Okay, now rip off the bottom and pull it through my legs.”}

^{Stevie did and completely revealed my firm tanned behind.}

^{I said, “That's it. He did it hard like that. Okay, now put your other hand against my back and push me against the back wall.”}

^{Stevie pushed me a little harder than he intended, causing my legs to buckle. He said, “I'm sorry, Miss Anderson.”}

^{I answered, “Don't be, that's perfect, that's what they did, but he did it even harder as I slipped down onto my left knee. Now leave the stall and go sit on the couch again.”}

^{He walked back to the couch and sat down.}

^{I stood straight up, turned fully around and came out of my stall. To this day, I believe it was the best sight of Stevie's short life. I stood in front of him displaying all of my naked, trim body. This was before my boob job and I remembered that the nipples on my small chest revealed my excitement. Stevie was mesmerized. I felt myself getting turned on and the feeling had to be mutual with the young Mr. Garrett.}

^{I was completely unconscious about my nudity, being so spellbound in retelling my story, “I regained my balance and ran out of my dressing stall. But, I didn't see or hear anyone. Only Samantha Ayers was here, sitting on the sofa.”}

^{At that moment, a tall redhead model walked up to us and began laughing at me. I was stunned. I turned towards her and said, “Samantha, what's so funny?”}

^{“I can't believe I got you twice. This is priceless.”}

^{Suddenly, more and more models came into view. Photo flashes went off. They were all laughing.}

^{I cried out, “Why are you laughing at me?”}

^{Spencer Randolph walked up and was laughing so uncontrollably that he couldn't speak.}

^{Finally, Cyndie ended this charade. Cyndie came out of her booth, walked up to me, and covered me with a robe.}

^{She said, “Andi, they've had a little joke and you fell for it.” Turning to Stevie, my friend introduced herself, “I'm Cyndie Myst, and I'm sorry that you were caught up in this sting. But, I'm sure it will be unforgettable.”}

^{Spencer Randolph handed Stevie an envelope. “Mr. Garrett, your fee for a day's work is inside. You deserve it for playing along.”}

^{I know Stevie wouldn't call his part in this game working. After Spencer broke up the crowd of girls and sent them back to rehearsal, Cyndie gave Stevie tickets for the show for being a good sport. Thinking about what happened to me, I smiled, then, started laughing, and soon all three of us laughed until our sides hurt.}

^{Stevie asked if he could take us to dinner. We immediately said yes. After the dress rehearsal we ate together at a nearby restaurant. We three all hit it off so well that we promised to keep in touch. Stevie gave both of us his business card.}

^{Cyndie and I had to hurry through dinner to make it in time to the dressing room. The show was anticlimactic for all of us. Afterwards, we went our separate ways. Whatever we did later that night was soon-to-be-forgotten, but Cyndie and I didn’t forget Mr. Stephen Garrett.}

^{Thank God, Cyndie made the effort to stay in touch with Stevie. It paid off for her a few years later. Stevie loves Cyndie and I’ve never fully understood why she didn’t marry him. Stevie wanted to do it.}

^{My path crossed with Stevie's a precious few times over the next twelve years. But, if not for Cyndie, I would never have had my second chance with that incredible man.}