Close Encounters

Hard Body Fitness Studio – Downtown Las Vistas

Left, right, left, right, left, right.  Sloane’s feet slammed down on the rubber belt in quick succession as she increased her speed on the treadmill.  Her arms pumped up and down, flicking large beads of sweat as she continued to sprint. Nearly an hour had gone by but she was still too wired up to stop.  She could’ve pulled a freight train she was running so hard.

What the hell am I going to do, she thought to herself; her mind racing just as fast as her legs.  If this was what going crazy felt like she understood why most people who did ended up running to hide somewhere, anywhere.  She didn’t have such a luxury.  Very shortly there would be nowhere in the world she could hide; it would be too late.

She increased her speed another notch and tried to shake the vision of that horrifying scenario out of her head.  Panicking was a waste of time; she needed to do something, now.  The media frenzy and rumors were supposed to have been enough to drive Isabella away and at first she could’ve kissed whoever it was that had leaked the story to the press, especially since that person clearly wasn’t Pierce.  But things had gotten way out of control. 

The drug scandal had gotten the federal government involved, criminal charges were pending, and the Monacco business was in serious question.  All of it should’ve been enough for the woman to get on the first plane out of town; any sane person would’ve been gone a long time ago.  But not Isabella.  She had stayed and there was only one reason that Sloane could think of. He was on his way to straighten things out and no matter what it took she could never, ever let that happen.  Time was running out, she could feel it in her bones.  Isabella had to go...permanently.

She gritted her teeth and began to run even harder, but her right foot slipped out from under her, sending her airborne.  Her hands missed the handle bars as she reached out to grab them but she managed to bang on the stop button as her body fell down hard onto the belt below. The machine finally came to a stop.  Sweat dripped from her hair into her eyes and she pulled herself back up onto the machine and held on tightly to the handle bars to steady her trembling legs.  What the hell is wrong with me?  I could’ve killed myself, she thought as she tried to catch her breath.  Kill myself, she thought again and let the words bounce around in her head over and over. And suddenly it hit her, hard, with a clarity she had never felt before.  As awful as it would be, there was no way around it at this point. She knew exactly what she needed to do.

She hopped off the treadmill and began to move fast, past the sauna, and into the locker room. There wasn’t even time for a shower; she needed to strike now.  She grabbed her bag out of the locker and started running for her car, clumsily dialing a number on her cell phone.

“Pierce, its Sloane.  I need you to stop whatever you’re doing and meet me downtown. NOW!!”

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Phoenix Heights – Downtown Las Vistas

“Did you get it?” Rider pressed as Jessie approached, holding a folded napkin in her hand. He reached out to grab it, but she jerked away before he could.  “Tell me again why you wanted this?” she said, slipping the napkin down the front of her shirt and crossing her arms across her chest.  “Just give me the damn thing Jessie!  I don’t have time for the games.”  Jessie smiled and put her arms down. “Why don’t you just get it yourself?”  “Because I don’t put my hands in toxic waste.  Give it to me, now!” he shouted. 

She turned her back and began to walk away when Wes grabbed her from behind and plunged his hand down into her bra and retrieved the prize.  “Get the hell off of me Wes!” she shrieked.  Rider ducked out of the path of her balled up fist as it whizzed by and made hard contact with Wes’ chin.  He took a few steps away while the two of them tussled, unfolded the napkin and read the scribbled handwriting on it. 

Just what he had been looking for: a name and an address of someone who had allegedly known Bianca’s mother. Maybe it wouldn’t add up to much but it was a step in the right direction.  Rider turned back to his friends and was surprised to see Wes held up in Jessie’s choke hold.  But there was another sight, just down the street, that pulled at his attention.

The shiny jet black body and sparkling chrome wheels could’ve been found on any car, but the steel grey eyes that were peering out of the window at him were distinctive and disturbing.  He had seen them the last time he was here and just like before they were piercing into him like a laser.  He put the napkin in his pocket and began to move toward the car. 

“Where are you going?”  Wes said, as he wriggled free from Jessie’s grip.  “That car…I’ve seen it before,” Rider replied as he inched down the street.  Suddenly the engine started and the car jolted away from the curb and sped past him down the street, leaving him with only a flash of the three occupants; the grey eyed bandit, another man and a woman who looked vaguely familiar as well.

“Who was that?” Wes said.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. Give me your keys.  I’m driving.”

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Palisades Drive – Downtown Las Vistas

Blake made his way down Palisades Ave. dodging the random office workers running into the coffee shops and cafes trying to grab a quick lunch.  He ignored the socialites and house wives with their miniature dogs and baby carriages in toe, who took up the entire sidewalk to talk and gossip, forcing him to nearly walk in the street. He passed by the scantily clad gold diggers searching for their next mark and all the cute college girls cutting class to go shopping.  He kept walking, kept moving forward, only one thing, or rather, one person planted in his focus. 

He only stopped short when he passed by a flower shop and was slapped in the face with the scent of jasmine, an instant reminder of the woman he couldn’t seem to forget.  It had been in her hair and washed down the crease of her neck.  He closed his eyes briefly and inhaled, each subsequent breath taking him back to the few moments he had held her in his arms.

The sharp beep of a car horn jolted him back to reality and realized he had reached the corner.  He looked up and no sooner had the image of her face left his mind did his eyes take in the real thing, looking back at him from across the street. Recognition and a clear yet cautious smile crossed her face when their eyes met; a welcome contrast to the blank stare that she usually greeted him with.  The light changed and to his surprise she began walking towards him.  He wasted no time stepping off the curb to meet her halfway, the anticipation of what might come next propelling him forward.