Luck Ch. 08

Merritt Jacobi looked down at the latest edition of 'Celebrity skinz' with a heavy heart. The article had quoted parts of the autopsy report and went into great detail describing the murder of Brad Lowell. He was overwhelmed with worry and wondered how this had happened. His normal day to day life and everything he had done up until this point had been so far from the scandal that he may be facing.

He had worked very hard to build a good life for his family, and had raised his children with pride for themselves and their station in life. He adored his children; his two amazing daughters were the most beautiful and precious things in his life. He owned a gorgeous home, paid all of his bills on time, he had excellent credit and a new car—the only thing that ruined his perfect family was his wife. He had loved her so deeply for so long, but now that love was ruining him.

Candace Jacobi had never been satisfied with their upper middle class life. She hated their house because it was not a mansion. She hated their car because it was affordable. She even hated their children because they were not exactly like her, and had not been accepted into the elite private school that the richer mothers in their neighborhood sent their children to. But Candace had gone too far this time; she had cheated on him, and decided to run away with her rich new boy toy. So, Merritt sat back and watched her pack her bags, take all of her jewelry, and listen to their daughters crying their hearts out before leaving their lives like a stranger would.

He refused to let it crush him; he had two precious daughters to take care of. So the day that a tall, thin, strikingly beautiful woman walked into his veterinary office, with her little tea cup poodle, he was smitten to say the least. Since that first erotically electric and spontaneously sexual meeting, it had been one year of full service sex and free vet care for the miserable little mutt.

The new relationship had been going smoothly for the hard working veterinarian—until the night she had asked him for the animal euthanasia. He became immediately suspicious, asking her what she needed it for. Her answer to his question was to immediately drop to her knees, release his thick hungry cock, and suck him so deep into her throat he was sure the head of his dick was hitting her stomach. She sucked him off until his eyes did flips in his head, and his jellied knees dissolved. Needless to say his better judgment, which had been screaming for him to deny her, was silenced by his erotically induced oblivion. Before he knew it, he had given her a significant amount of the drug; more than enough to kill a man.

So months later when Merritt had first heard about the murder of Lana's fiancée, he was more shocked and hurt to find that she was engaged and had lied to him. It wasn't until later that he realized her fiancée had not just died, he had actually been murdered and even then the only thing that came to Merritt's mind was her betrayal and her lies.

Merritt realized as he read the magazine that there was no more over looking this case, there was no more trying to block Lana and her treachery out of his mind. This article explained the Murder of Brad Lowell with hard core facts. He had been given a lethal dose of the same medicine that Merritt used to euthanize the animals at his veterinary office. He knew in the pit of his soul that Lana was more involved than she claimed to be and it broke his heart. Than to make the whole situation even worse, Lana had gone and disappeared with out a trace, leaving only an apartment full of blood and a million questions. He knew he ha to go to the police, he had to tell them the truth and help in anyway he could. He was riddled with guilt as he realized he may have unknowingly participated in a mans death and he also knew it was just a matter of time before they traced it back to him.

He could not afford that right now, he had too much at stake. He had his children to think of, who would take care of them if something happened to him? His wife had candidly informed him that she wanted nothing to do with her former life and that included the children. He had to do something; he was too honest to sit back with this information and not do anything.

"Why Lana?" he softly cried dropping the magazine to the floor and dropping his head into his hands. He had such high hopes for the two of them, she had been so perfect for him and he knew in his heart she would have been a wonderful mother to his daughters. What a fool he had been! Well that foolishness had put his beloved family in jeopardy.

***

It was strangely surreal to be living in Aries Stark's beach house. She felt slightly out of sorts and fully out of her element. Even though Aries had sent specific instructions for her to make her self completely at home, she could not help but feel awkward and uncomfortable. She was at some remote location far from any form of civilization, in a mansion that everyone kept calling a beach house.

She felt isolated and out of touch with the world after only just a few days. She knew it had a lot to do with the fact that she was far from home and away from anyone she knew. She was thankful that she was able to talk to her friends though, at this time when she was so worried and so alone it was good to hear there voices. She just wished that Aries was here and safe right now, she was so worried about him.

The house itself also played a factor, making her realize juts how little she knew about Aries Stark. The man she knew didn't seem to fit in this house; Jack Smith never struck her as luxurious or posh. The place was like some swanky museum that dripped with expensive dark, eerie art in various strange shades. The house itself, although electrifyingly intimidating, was structurally absolutely breathtaking. Very close attention had been paid in the design and structure of the house, and she recognized Aries style immediately. The main things she found herself doing over the last few days included exploring every inch of the gorgeous home, and being very careful not to touch anything. Every piece of furniture, from the huge master bed that was covered in grey and white linens to the crystal drinking glasses, looked fragile and irreplaceable not to mention worth more than anything she had ever owned in her entire life. She realized quickly that she may very well be intimidated by this much wealth and she questioned the insecurities in herself.

To make matters worse, the entire place was washed in grey, leaving no room for any other color in the whole apartment. She stood in the enormous living room looking out of the wall-sized window at the beautiful scenery out back. The beach was magnificent, all the flowers, the colors, the smells. The smells alone could intoxicate her like nothing else, except maybe Aries. The air smelled like fresh spring water with a blend of lilacs and roses, and other assorted flowers infused. The smell of the foliage as it warmed under the sun melted through her senses leaving her to coo and sigh. The pale turquoise water was clear and inviting, the ivory sand warm below her feet and between her toes. If only the rest of the cool, creepy mansion made her feel like this.

Then as the final stunner, to her extreme torture and absolute displeasure, she was not allowed to go outside for very long and under no circumstances should she swim in the water. Rip had explained that even though they were over an hour away from civilization, she could still be spotted. At this point the paparazzi had no idea who she was, but a stranger making a ruckus in a secluded section would draw the attention of the media; and even though they could not recognize her yet, they would recognize Rip immediately. So instead she stood in the living room looking out of the huge window at the exotic and partially untouchable beach. The room she stood in such a vivid contrast to the colorful oasis outside. It was cold and expensive and dripping with luxury, from the monstrously oversized charcoal grey Italian leather furniture set to the huge deep grey and silvery shaded rug that covered over half of the deep granite shaded stone floor.

Above all, it was the kitchen that gave her the oddest impression; there was something distant and vacant, but undeniably electric about the oversized room that looked like it belonged in a 5 star restaurant. All at once this kitchen gave her a feeling of a long lost home she never knew and a sickening feeling of dread and gloom. The actual kitchen was a modern marvel of the newest technology, every thing was state of the art, the silver double sided refrigerator was stocked full of all different types of food, the black and charcoal floor, the small silver circular table with two matching chairs, the black onyx inlayed marble coffee tables. The walls were the palest of grays meshed together to create a pattern she had never really seen before. She had never seen so many different spices in one place at the same time! Despite all of the expensive equipment and high priced decor, the kitchen screamed for some life. She fought herself to not go outside and pick some flowers and throw them all over the room.

This mansion was amazing despite the depressing decor, Aries had everything a person could ever want at his immediate disposal, he was a lucky man, why had he just left it all?

***

Rip smiled at the little old woman with the booming voice. She was a tiny little thing who stood sort of crooked; her frail body in complete opposition with her powerful, slightly accented, voice. The jet black hair that looked odd against the semi-translucent skin of the senior citizen, the fire red lipstick, and the retro fitted gown gave her the appearance of an old 1950's pin up girl, who had not been treated well by father time. She was direct and abrasive, but she was also informative, and Rip could not help but smile as he followed up the stairs behind her maintaining her ever so slow pace.

"Julio never paid his rent on time," She grumbled as she led Rip to apartment number three, "But he was quiet." She pursed her red painted lips.

"When did he leave?" He stood back as the sweet little old woman opened the apartment door.

"He left very early yesterday morning; he still owes me two hundred dollars. That's why he snuck away." She stood back allowing him to enter, "I already checked, he left nothing of value." She shook her head and snarled, her lips curling up enough for Rip to see the lipstick on her teeth. "Lock up when you're done." She turned her rickety little body around and slowly descended back down the stairs, her bones crackling with each step.

Rip walked into the small apartment, the door closing behind him and casting more dark shadows in the gloomy and dim room. He looked around the mess as he took out his hand held cassette recorder and his cell phone.

"Small studio apartment, the whole room is ransacked, papers and clothing strung all across the floor." He used the camera on his cell phone to take a picture of the room. Rip was careful when it came to evidence and investigation; he liked to document everything, just in case he was over loaded with information and possibly forget or over look something. He walked over to the little kitchen to the upper right corner of the room. "He hasn't been gone long." he said looking down at the plate of eggs, bacon and toast. "His breakfast is still slightly fresh." he walked over to the left corner of the room seeing the mattress on the floor. Rip looked down at clock laying face up on the floor than smiled to himself. In his haste Julio had unplugged the clock and the hands had stopped moving. "The unplugged alarm clock on the floor stopped at 1:30 in the morning." he took a picture of the clock.

One would think that one would stick around when one was possibly involved in two separate, albeit somehow connected murders, but this particular pool boy had vanished with out a trace

Was he surprised? No, not really, he had almost expected as much. With all the press exposure Julio had to know that something was going to come back to him. Besides, Julio was no longer a legal citizen of America, so the option of leaving the country was the safest bet for a criminal looking to escape. Seems his green card had expired last year. Rip had come over with all intentions of exploiting this fact and using this information as leverage to get him to spill his guts about everything he knew about the case and little Miss missing Lana Lutz. Rip had been ready for a shake down and was disappointed that the man had just silently disappeared.

Rip sorted through various boxes of papers that Julio had left behind, intent on finding something. His diligence paid off when he found the pool boy's recent cell phone receipts. Rip carefully checked the receipts with the biggest smile, he knew that number. Lana had NEVER changed her cell phone number for fear she would miss that one call that would set her career back on track. So, by the list of in-coming calls, it seemed either the zombified ex-child star had become a member of the cell phone talking undead nation, or someone was using her phone. Either way, it was a lead; one Rip would investigate fully.

***

Mimi was worried about Lyndsy, so she was being careful not to tell her how depressed she was really getting or that overwhelming dread she was paralyzed with when ever she thought of Aries in prison for murder. Mimi spent most of her sleepless nights awake and talking to Lyndsy, who within the last weekend ended a relationship and was already talking about another man, who she swore was just a new friend.

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how one looked at it, Lyndsy had finally severed the last tie with Trey—her on again and off again ex-fiancée. Their entire relation ship had been based on a pissing contest, since Trey was very old fashioned and hated Lyndsy's lucrative career. She was convinced his male chauvinist pride could not handle the fact that she was more successful in her career than him, and that she made a hell of a lot more money. So, when she walked in to find him fucking little Miss Susie Raye, she was more pissed that he would fuck that skanky slut on her expensive Egyptian cotton sheets than she was for him actually fucking her.

"He's your now, sweetie." Lyndsy had smiled smugly as she kicked them out of her posh apartment. She knew Susie well; she had a severe addiction to other women's men and little to no feeling for anyone that she could actually call her own. She liked the thrill of the chase, she liked being able to look at an unsuspecting woman whose man she was currently fucking with a big smug smile and a little fuck you wink. Now that Lyndsy had broken it off without the least bit of concern or hurt, Susie would quickly move on to the next unavailable man, leaving Trey to crawl back to Lyndsy.

Well, Trey of all people should know that would never happen! Lyndsy, the polar opposite of Susie, liked men that could be only hers, men that showed loyalty and honesty. And there was no way in hell she would take back a man who she had caught cheating on her. NO, sinking below the level she wanted to be at was not in Lyndsy's genetic make-up; she was too smart to be stupid and way too fly to ever be depressed.

***

Hector Landon sat at his massive desk, puffing on a fat cigar. He had offered one to Rip, who declined. Strange, even when Rip was his top reporter before, Hector had never once offered him a cigar. Now that Hector had word that Rip was working with Aries Stark exclusively, Hector had all intentions of making Rip his new best friend. He had even offered him his own job back at 'Celebrity Skinz'. When Rip again declined the offer, Hector dangled a better position with a healthy pay raise before him.

Rip was done with that type of reporting. Somewhere along the line, he had forgotten his love of journalism, and had begun to appreciate the monetary value much more. In the beginning of his career, when he had been fresh from college, looking to change the world one investigative report at a time, he could have cared less about what he was getting paid; all he cared about was the cause he had been investigating. Then the money had overtaken his morals, his ethics, and even his responsibilities. He had become the reported he had always hated. Well, that was then, and today was a new day for Rip, who intended to use his superior investigative skills for good.

"I've gathered all the pictures my photographers took of Lana Lutz while Aries was considered dead." He tossed the thick envelope to Rip, "Mind telling me what this is about?"

"Possibly," Rip answered while looking through the pictures. "As soon as I find facts," he continued. Rip stood up, and readied himself to leave Hectors office, "thanks."

"Rip?" Hector stopped him.

"Yea?"

"Is Lana Lutz really dead?" he asked.

"I guess," Rip shrugged, "why do you ask?"

"I've had a lot of phone calls of people claiming they've seen her. "Hector said, he had been skeptical at first, but now there was just no denying it, either she was there or she had a twin.

"So? That happens with all celebrity cases." Rip shrugged.

"True, but never when all the calls are coming form the same state." Hector took a deep pull from his cigar.

"Give me the address."

"Give me something to print," Hector negotiated. Rip needed that address, but he had to be careful with what he said to Hector; he knew his ex-boss well, anything you told him went in one ear than straight back out and into the next issue of 'Celebrity Skinz'.

"What if I told you that I am going to question Aries chauffer in possible connection to the murder of Brad Lowell?"

"Then I would tell you that Lana Lutz has been spotted in Mexico by several sources." Hector pulled out a sheet with a list of names and addresses from the callers and handed it to Rip, "I expect to be notified first if Lana turns up." He puffed his cigar again; "Alive or dead!" he barked with a grin before Rip left his office.

***

She still had no idea what was going on with Aries, Rip kept her informed of his every movement, and every new development in the case no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. She was very appreciative of Rip, especially after a long, dark lonely night in this stunningly beautiful yet eerily disturbing, beach house; it was good to wake up to Rip confidently informing her that he would get Aries out of jail soon.

Sleep was becoming as much of an anomaly as her life, she just could not stop her over-active, slightly paranoid, and definitely superstitious mind to slow down enough for her to relax, let alone sleep. Rip had managed to somehow notice her lack of sleep, and had brought her a special chamomile and lavender tea to help her relax. Sure, it relaxed her body and definitely made her sleepy, but she still could not slow the thought of Aries spending the rest of his life in prison for a murder she knew for fact he did not commit. Thank god for Rip's daily updates or she would be a complete wreck; emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Rip really was a nice guy, and his concern for her and Aries was as obvious as his guilt. She had tried, on more than one occasion, to let him know that he had not caused the rift between her and Aries, but he was convinced he had. Mimi decided not to push him about the subject simply for the fact that his guilt was driving him to find the truth underneath the murders, and assist in helping Aries be cleared of these crimes. He came to see her everyday, regardless of the fact that he had to travel by Aries personal plane. He even started bringing her food, since he had noticed she wasn't eating very much.

What she didn't know was that Rip was keeping in touch daily with Lyndsy, and after he had informed her that Mimi still wasn't eating well, Lyndsy advised him as to her favorite foods and what to bring her to try to spark her appetite. Rip had developed a rather intimate phone relationship with Lyndsy. Lyndsy herself had made the initial contact with Rip, knowing that he was the only one who visited her at the beach house. She was overly worried, since she was not there with Mimi and unable to look after her. So, she made Rip her new personal friend, getting all the information that she knew Mimi was withholding or just flat out would not tell her. That way, Lyndsy could instruct Rip as to what to do in situations like this.