Chapter 26
The show at Vibe went off without a hitch. Of course, the charity event drew media attention, and Paris was there to interview Jack and the band. That wasn’t the intention, but it did generate good publicity.
I had talked Emily into attending the show and told her to invite her boyfriend. I figured all that guy needed was enough rope to hang himself. She’d catch on, eventually.
Not surprisingly, Ashton didn’t show. He had some lame excuse. I was sure he had other plans.
The band brought the house down with two encores. Afterward, Pinky and Floyd broke down the gear and returned it to the practice studio. The guys didn't have any trouble rounding up a group of eager young ladies who were interested in a private party back on the boat.
Who was I to say no to that?
I asked Emily if she would like to join, merely out of courtesy. I had no alternative motives and was not about to cross a line. I had no doubt she'd find out soon enough what a tool Ashton was.
"Thank you, but no. It's getting late, and I've got a lot of work to do. Especially if you want some kind of detection device.”
"The sooner the better," I said.
I escorted Emily and Henrik outside. The avenue bristled with activity as drunk revelers strolled up and down the sidewalks, listing like ships in the wind. Undeterred by the bombing, nothing was going to get in the way of their fun.
I held on to Henrik’s arm in case a weaving reveler knocked him off balance. He kept jerking away, not wanting to be coddled. "I can put one foot in front of the other, you know," he barked.
I smiled. "Just erring on the side of caution.”
We made it back to Emily’s SUV and loaded inside.
She drove us to the marina and dropped us off at the dock.
I thanked her, and we said our goodbyes again.
I helped Henrik out of the vehicle and down the dock.
He really didn't need my help. He got along pretty well, albeit unsteady at times. We crossed the passerelle and boarded the Avventura. We’d beaten the crowd back to the boat.
"It might get a little rowdy around here in a minute," I said.
"I can handle rowdy.”
"Well, you’ve got your earplugs if the noise keeps you awake."
"How do you know I'm not going to stay up and enjoy the festivities?"
I smiled. "Be my guest.”
It wasn't long before revelers trickled aboard the boat.
That trickle soon became a flood. The salon was filled with gorgeous beauties in tight miniskirts and skimpy tops. There were plenty of pert assets on full display. Henrik got an eyeful, and it looked like he enjoyed it. He didn't see a lot of that kind of thing around the old folks’ home.
Jack manned the bar and doled out drinks to pretty ladies.
I can't say I was really in the mood to celebrate, given the events of the day, but there was no sense in looking back. There was only one direction. Forward.
On the sky deck, luscious lovelies peeled out of cocktail dresses and slipped into the Jacuzzi. They bounced around the bubbles, looking inviting. It didn’t take long for company to join them. Perks of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
Some of the neighbors had returned to the marina after the evacuation and joined the party. It was an open invitation—a way to keep the complaints to a minimum.
The usual debauchery ensued, and a good time was had by all.
That was until about 2:00 AM when two girls approached me with terrified faces.
"Don't be mad," the brunette said.
Her blonde girlfriend cringed.
Both gorgeous, it was hard to imagine a reason why I would be mad at them, short of them setting the place on fire. They were smoking hot. One touch would be incendiary.
I gave them a confused look.
"I think we killed him.” The brunette cringed.
Her blonde friend nodded.