Jenny was a sucker for any good party except for the black-tie ones. They bored the hell out of her. She couldn’t stand the fake laughter and the fake politeness and the fake everything.
Granted, she was a master at playing their game, but there was something about the unfiltered nature of informal parties that did it for her. To add to the madness of the night, a number of the men present had each come to her, seeking “a night of nastiness,” if the exact phrase used by one of them was anything to go by. Too bad Winifred wasn’t here to be her company; this party really blew.
“Hello, Miss. I must say that you look absolutely radiant in your fancy get up.” An old man had made his way to her blindside and began talking. She’d contemplated being rude and ignoring him, but then she figured why the hell not. “Thank you, sir. You wear that tux really well.”
“Thank you. I’ve seen you have to fight off a lot of unsavory gentlemen this evening. I assure you I have no intention of repeating whatever propositions they made to you.”
“That’s comforting to know.”
The man leaned in a little closer, which seemed completely opposite of his word and had Jenny ready to crack his ribs. “There will be a call for a toast in two minutes. Go behind the curtain then. Follow your nose until you see a bookshelf, then knock twice on the right side. No more than twice, and no other side but the right.”
He leaned back, then nodded his goodbye.
*****
Glazer had spent most of the day going back to his old businesses to announce his return from hiding. He had loved the shock on everyone’s face when he returned, but he’d been completely surprised by each one of them’s refusal to go through the accounts with him. Apparently, his will could not be un-executed even though he was ‘back from the dead.’ Even worse, the sole beneficiary of all his assets was a key suspect in his murder, and he still couldn’t get his control back. To say he was annoyed would be a terrible understatement.
He was back at Lucy House, the first estate he’d built before Marvel Mansion. He still had access to that house because no one ever knew of it, and it was so well hidden that it never needed to be put in his will. This was before he got into the drug business, way before Stella, and way way before Tembo.
“You mean to tell me that you know how to bring me back from the dead, but not how to give me my shit back? I went to Blair’s and was told I’m not the boss anymore. Same with the agency, same with Cosmos Oil. What the heaven’s is going on, Wini … I am laying low. This is me laying low. I’ve not called on any of my old friends or any of my old girls. I just want my money back. … I know that was not part of the deal, but I’m making it part of the deal now. I want my – … – Wini, I used to be a powerful man, you know. I’m just trying to – … – I understand. The boss has her ways. Just make sure those ways don’t take so long that I resort to taking matters into my own hands. I’m shackled here! – … – Fair enough. I will give you guys the time you need. Bye.”
This organization who had facilitated his return was way too well-run. He’d never met their leader, but then again as far as he knew, no one had. He had never had to lift a finger or use his brain; they had everything laid out to perfection. It was too precise, too tightly wound. No room for playing around. He couldn’t even do things his way because they would be more than happy to send him back the way he came. From what he had seen, that could be much worse than it was for him before. Winifred had basically told him to sit down and shut up until mommy’s done cooking, but in the most professionally polite way.
He went to his wine cupboard and found fresh juice instead. He opened another cupboard, and another, and another, and it was all fresh juice. “These women really want me sober through all this. Don’t they know that the alcohol’s how depraved men deal?”
He walked into his hall and turned on the TV hoping to find a sports channel, but was greeted with a message instead. ‘Do not grow weary in your labour, for in due season, you will reap.’
He’d barely finished reading that when another one showed up below it, ‘Due season is in days. Sit tight. The Glazer Empire beckons.’
“The Glazer Empire. I like the sound of that.”
The message suddenly disappeared, leaving the local channels in its place.
*****
Jenny walked down the staircase which the bookshelf had revealed once it slid away. She didn’t have to go too far before she found another door. She opened it, and it led into what looked like a small prayer room with candles on the right side, about four pews on either side of an aisle that led to a pulpit up front, and a big cross behind the pulpit. She slowly walked up to the pulpit, keeping her guard up, and saw a tablet on it once she got there.
She tapped on the screen and slid the unlock icon, which revealed a map. There was a pinned location on there which did not correspond to any known location. She clicked on the pin, and it opened up a gallery of pictures.
The last one was a picture of Karla and Stella deeply kissing in their backyard in their current location, and it had a big red X across it. She went back to the map and there was a message.
“Prepare for next phase.”
There was a countdown clock with that, and it was for three days.
She received a call.
“I’m here. I’ve received the instructions. … What about Bonnie and Clyde? … I understand. I’ll be ready on your go. … Winifred’s handling him. I do believe she’s kept him in the dark. … Yes, she’s confirmed readiness on her end. … The world will see His glory in the sky, in all of its splendor. Their monuments of depravity which were built with debauchery will be scorched to the ground, and only His glory will remain. … To the Mercenaries of Heaven, your Ladyship. … In His Service.”
Jenny picked up the tablet and scrolled through the pictures again. “Time to say goodbye, Hell’s Angels.”
This. Is. Wildddddddddd! Did anyone see Katherine having such a major impact at this stage? Not me, that’s for sure!
