| Subject: À la Vie! – Chapter 13 |
Author:
Diane
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Date Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 09:25:11pm
In reply to:
Diane
's message, "À la Vie!" on Tuesday, October 19, 01:16:54am
The private detective Michael had hired, Marco O’Brien, had turned up scant information on Roberta Wirth before she came to the United States. She had immigrated roughly 15 years ago to Los Angeles before settling in San Francisco ten years ago. She had been in and out of jail on several misdemeanor charges, then sobered up five years ago and had been working in housekeeping at Howard Johnson’s ever since. The file O’Brien sent contained several photos of a dark-haired woman, none of which bore any resemblance to Nikita. Michael would have to meet with this Roberta in person.
* * *
“You’re going to California now?” said Elena in stunned disbelief. “You were just there six weeks ago, and the baby could come at any time.”
“It can’t be helped,” Michael said evasively, avoiding her eyes. She sensed there was something different about him since he had returned from Los Angeles, and it frightened her. Hell. It frightened him. “There’s a situation in San Francisco that requires my immediate attention. You know I wouldn’t leave you now if it weren’t so important.”
Elena pressed her lips together and said nothing as Michael continued to pack. She knew arguing with him wouldn’t do either of them any good, and it seemed to be upsetting the baby.
* * *
Roberta’s neighbor, Simone, was a petite Asian beauty and a former model for l'Éclat. Unfortunately, her fondness for cocaine had interfered with both her flawless skin and her work ethic, and she had been discharged two years prior. However, she still had friends in the office, and she was schmoozing one of them now.
“God, Gail, how long has it been?” she gushed. “I’ve really missed you guys.”
“I missed you too, Simone,” the receptionist answered sincerely. She and Simone had gone out to lunch together a few times, and Gail was shocked when she found out why Simone had been let go.
“Hey, I’m trying to find a buddy—someone who transferred to this office not too long ago. The new eye girl, Nikita?”
“Oh, yeah,” said Gail, smiling broadly. “I love her. She is just the nicest woman. And so beautiful. But she never talks down to me, you know, the way *some* of them do,” indicating the wall of the office which was plastered with magazine covers of agency models.
“Yeah, she’s great,” enthused Simone. “We were supposed to get together for dinner, but I lost her phone number. Do you think you could get it for me?”
“You know I can’t do that, but I can give her a message,” Gail said helpfully, picking up her pad and pencil.
“No, I don’t want to leave a message. I don’t want her to know I lost her number,” Simone rolled her eyes and grinned. “She already thinks I’m a big enough doofus as it is.”
“Well, you know I can’t give out any personal information about the models—“
“To the general public, I know, but this is me, Gail. You know me.”
Gail wavered for a moment, then said, “I guess it would be all right if you have her phone number, seeing as you’re friends and all.”
“Thanks, babe,” said Simone, winking, as Gail pulled up Nikita’s file.
* * *
Michael was on his way to the airport when his cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, so he let his voice mail pick it up. His number rang twice more in rapid succession. Finally, he answered the fourth call. It’s was the hospital. Elena was in labor. Merde he swore under his breath.
He leaned forward to speak to the driver. “Luc, prenez-moi au Sainte l'hôpital de Mary. Vite.” The driver obediently turned the car around and quickly headed toward the hospital. Michael barely arrived in time to see Elena push. Everything happened so fast. One minute he was putting on his mask and gown, the next, they were thrusting a small, wailing infant into his arms. He was fascinated. They had already decided to name him Adam Salla Jacques. Michael didn’t know anything about Jamie, but he thought that the baby looked exactly like Elena. He placed the infant in the crook of her arm and took a seat at the head of the bed. “He’s beautiful, Elena,” he told her sincerely. “Just like his mother.” Elena smiled weakly at this, and dropped off into an exhausted sleep.
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