White Offerings (26 page)

“Oh, God,” she whispered to Molly.

“Get ready for anything,” Molly replied.

“Here is your present!” A drum roll echoed throughout the room and Jane yanked the cord. When the curtain fell to the ground, Ari couldn’t believe what she saw—a motorcycle.

The crowd laughed and cheered while she stood frozen, too stunned to say or do anything. It was obviously very expensive, that much she could guess. The beautiful chrome glistened against the harsh spotlight, and she admired the sleek black paint. She felt Molly’s arms wrap around her middle.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded slightly, her eyes still focused on the machine and Jane, who had mounted the motorcycle and was playing to the crowd. “What am I going to do with that?”

“I don’t care if it ever leaves your house, so long as you let me buy you a leather biker’s outfit.”

“Very funny.”

Jane ran back across the room and thrust the microphone in Ari’s direction. “Okay, Ari. It’s time for you to say a few words. What would you like to say to your adoring public?”

The crowd chanted her name and she cleared her throat. “I just want to thank Jane for this amazing party, and I thank all of you for coming. Please have a wonderful time.” She quickly handed the microphone back to Jane. “I hate talking in public,” she murmured into Molly’s ear.

“Trust me, baby. No one will remember a word you said. They were all too busy staring at your costume.”

Ari turned to escape the dais, but Jane grabbed her arm. “Not so fast, my fabulous best friend.” She waved at the crowd again and pointed to the bar area. “Okay, now before we all get too sloshed to appreciate a true work of art, I would like everyone to turn their attention to the magnificent cake coming toward us!”

Ari’s heart skipped a beat as she watched a chef push a cart across the room, dreading to see what pornographic image Jane had captured in sugar and frosting. Ari was instantly relieved to see that the cake appeared to be flat and rectangular and didn’t resemble any part of the female anatomy. When the cake pulled up in front of her, she saw it was covered in computerized images of her—fishing with her father, drinking with Jane and kissing Molly. She choked up when she studied the picture in the middle: her mother, standing outside the Orpheum Theater on the day they saw
Annie.

“Do you like it?” Jane asked tentatively.

Ari threw her arms around her best friend and kissed her. “I love you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, honey. I know.”

“Where did you get some of these pictures?”

Jane smiled, tears in her eyes. “Your dad sent them to me.” Ari couldn’t speak, suddenly overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. “Just go have a good time, okay?”

She nodded. Molly guided her to a group that included Lorraine, Lupe, Andre and Teri. They all said hello, and Andre tapped Molly on the shoulder.

“Mol, do you know Lupe, Lorraine’s daughter?”

Ari noticed Andre wore a huge grin on his face, and Molly chuckled in response. There was clearly an inside joke that she didn’t understand, and judging from everyone else’s reactions, they didn’t either. Even Lorraine smiled pleasantly as Andre wrapped his arm around Lupe’s waist. They were definitely becoming friendly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lupe,” Molly said.

“C’mon, sugar, let’s dance.” Andre and Lupe headed toward the dance floor, but Andre turned around and shouted to Molly, “I’m a big fan of McGurkee’s hoagies!” He joined Lupe in a bump-and-grind dance that Ari doubted Lorraine would enjoy watching.

“What was that about?” Ari asked.

Molly sighed. “Nothing. Why don’t I grab us some drinks?” She pecked Ari on the cheek and disappeared toward the bar, leaving her with the group.

“You look amazing,
chica
,” Lorraine said, kissing her on the cheek. She was dressed as Mae West, complete with a huge blond wig and push-up bra. Her chest was practically falling out of her skintight evening gown. She twirled around for Ari to see. “What do you think? I’ll bet we’d get more clients in these outfits.”

Everyone laughed and Ari blushed. She turned to Teri, who greeted her with a pleasant smile. She wore a pair of mechanic’s overalls and a baseball cap. “Hi, Teri. I’m glad you could make it.”

Teri leaned toward her and whispered in her ear under the music. “Thanks for letting me come. I know we just met, but after everything Jane’s said about you, I feel like we know each other really well.”

Ari nodded and stepped away, unsure of Teri’s meaning. She wandered to another table, talking to the guests. She was amazed at the turnout and didn’t realize how many friends she really had. Of course some clients had come, but many of the guests were women she’d known for years throughout the community. They offered their hugs and some commented on her costume, but a few made bold come-ons that she was glad Molly did not hear. She glanced around and found Jane dancing on one of the tables with a tall Latina. Her anxiety lowered at the sight. As long as Jane was up there, Biz could keep an eye on both of them—wherever she was.

Molly returned with their drinks and they visited with their friends, moving from table to table, accepting hugs and birthday kisses. Molly stayed close, her hand often at Ari’s waist. Everyone could tell they were a couple, and Ari liked the fact that Molly let everyone know it once in a while. She would whisper in her ear or caress her cheek. They were gestures of intimacy, gestures of unspoken love. After they both had downed a few drinks, they braved the dance floor and spent several songs looking into each other’s eyes.

Ari finally remembered to check on Jane, who was sitting at the bar doing tequila shots with three women dressed as Xena. She laughed and pointed for Molly’s benefit.

“I guess she found the warrior princess group,” Molly said. “I know what I’ve got.” Molly gazed into her eyes, and she thought her lover might utter the words, but instead Molly just smiled and pulled her tighter.

She closed her eyes. She thought she might cry, but she willed away the tears. Molly would never understand. “I need a restroom break,” she said and quickly excused herself before Molly could notice her expression or follow her. What she needed was to be alone.

She skirted along the edges of the crowd, determined not to be stopped for conversation. Fortunately she knew she could avoid a long line by using the manager’s private bathroom. She cut through the infamous back room and headed into an adjoining passageway. She stepped inside the manager’s spacious office, letting the door shut behind her, and sat down on the couch. Her feelings for Molly were overwhelming and it was becoming unbearable. She knew now that she couldn’t remain in this holding pattern. Things had to change, and she was determined to say something that night. If it meant that the relationship exploded, then that’s what would happen. She decided action trumped inaction.

Just as she made her decision, a gloved hand covered her mouth. “Don’t say a word,” the stalker whispered.

Molly watched Ari’s backside head for the manager’s office. She knew Ari was upset, and she guessed that it had something to do with their relationship. She started to worry, feeling as though Ari was slipping away with every step she took down the hallway. She knew she had missed a perfect opportunity. She could have said the words, but every time the right moment came, her tongue folded into a pretzel and she couldn’t speak. She needed a drink, and Vicky was ready with a Scotch.

“Your girlfriend looks totally hot,” Vicky said.

She shot her an icy stare and Vicky held up her hands. “Hey, I’m just observing and admiring, Molly. I’m not touching.”

She gulped the Scotch and scanned the bar for Brian. With Ari out of the room, she needed an anchor. Spotting him at a corner table with Lynne, she pulled herself off the stool and waved the glass at Vicky.

“You know, Vicky’s right.”

She turned to Biz Stone. The PI was all in black, slouched over the bar a few stools away. “Shouldn’t you be watching Jane?”

Biz pointed at the DJ booth, where Jane and the DJ were fastened in a liplock. “I know exactly where Jane is. Where did Ari go? I figured you’d be upset if I kept an eye on her.”

Molly narrowed her eyes and leaned over the bar, feeling the effects of the five Scotches she’d consumed. “Damn straight. But even before Ari got that orchid, you’ve been coming on to my girlfriend.”

Biz shrugged and swirled the straw in what looked to be sparkling water. She stared at Molly, who suddenly felt very vulnerable and inept. She didn’t want to get into a competition with Biz. She knew she would lose. Biz crossed the distance between them and took the stool next to her.

“Nelson, look. You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not after Ari. She’s made it clear to me that she’s in love with you.”

Molly faced her. “Why would you say that?”

“Because she told me.”

She made no attempt to hide her shock. “What?”

“I take it she hasn’t told
you
yet, huh?” She looked down. “Look, Nelson, I’m easy to confide in, so Ari took advantage of me.”

She snorted. “Stone, Ari didn’t take advantage of you at all.” She pointed a finger at her. “I know you a hell of a lot better than Ari, don’t forget that. I know who you are. I know
what
you are, and don’t think for a second that you have any chance with her. God, if Jane knew you came on to her, she’d have a fit.”

Biz playfully grabbed her extended finger and brought it to her lips. “Yeah, Nelson. You’re right. You know me. You’ve got my number. But here’s what you need to understand. Your hot girlfriend? She told me that she loved you before she even bothered to tell
you.
You need to think about that. Ari’s not going to wait around for eternity.”

Biz scanned the dance floor and Molly followed her gaze—Jane was starting a conga line. Biz sauntered away, leaving Molly with a huge emptiness in her heart that was rapidly filling with anxiety. Biz was right. Ari wouldn’t wait forever. She finished another Scotch for courage and went in search of Ari. It probably wasn’t the ideal moment to pour her heart out, but timing no longer mattered.

“I want you to know that I have a gun at your side, and if you scream, I’ll shoot you,” the stalker whispered gruffly.

Ari gave a slight nod and remained still. She could feel the woman’s breath against her ear, ragged and heavy, as if she were afraid. Ari’s eyes shifted to the left toward a dressing mirror. In the reflection she saw Aspen Harper behind her, and she did in fact have a small-caliber gun pressed against her ribs.

“You’re the reason for all of my problems,” she continued. “Jane will never want anyone else as long as you’re around.”

Ari didn’t understand. “What are you talking about? Jane is my friend. We’re not romantically involved.”

Fingers pried into her elbow and her body whirled around. Her gaze immediately fell to the gun now pressed into her chest, but when she looked up, she realized she was not looking at Aspen Harper—but rather Courtney Belmont in a wig.

Courtney smiled knowingly. “You just don’t see it, and neither does she. But if you were gone, she would. She’d be lost without you, and she’d finally reveal her true self to someone else. She’d stop being the slutty tramp that sleeps with everyone.”

“You do know I have a girlfriend.”

Courtney shook her head. “It’ll never last, Ari. I’ve watched you with Molly. That woman is so uptight. She’ll never love you the way Jane does.”

She stared at her but said nothing, knowing she could never change Courtney’s mind.

“Now, this is what we’re gonna do,” Courtney said, pulling her toward the exit. “I know there’s a back door out of here. We’re leaving together, but unfortunately you’ll disappear—forever.”

Ari quickly assessed the situation. If she angered Courtney, she could be shot, but she didn’t have any other options. No one knew she was here, and the party was in full swing. It could be a long while before anyone noticed she was missing. “Why are you so sure killing me will change things with Jane?” she asked meekly.

The gun poked her roughly in the gut and she winced in pain. “Shut up!” Courtney barked. “Now walk, and don’t say another word.”

Ari took a few steps slowly toward a door behind the manager’s chair. It was the private exit, and she knew that it led out to the back alley. No doubt the Dodge Viper was already parked nearby. Ari knew if she got in that car, Molly or Biz would probably never find her. A few more steps and she passed the open door of the manager’s restroom, her intended destination. Again the bizarre picture of Courtney holding her hostage appeared momentarily in the bathroom mirror—as well as Molly’s face. She automatically stopped, and Courtney was caught off-balance. In that instant, Molly lunged and Ari pulled away from Courtney’s grasp. A gunshot rang out as Molly and Courtney crashed into the coffee table. The gun skittered across the floor, and to her horror, Molly’s face smashed against the hearth of the nearby fireplace, knocking her unconscious. Ari screamed and ran toward the gun, but Courtney was closer. Her fingers wrapped around the grip, and she fired. Ari jumped out of the bullet’s path and scrambled for the door that led back to the party. The discharge of another bullet told her that the deranged woman was following her. She sailed through the back room as another bullet ripped past her and shattered the glass dividing the back room from the main dance floor.