Star-crossed double-cross 29

Chapter 29 – No escape

“Good afternoon, Ma’am. I’m agent Morales, and this is my partner, agent Currie. We’re looking for Mr Lucian Styles. Is he here?” The FBI agent said while flashing his badge.

Scanning left to right; Lucian examined the two suited figures in front of him. Both men were larger than him, and both looked rather intimidating in their sunglasses. “Err... I’m Lucian Styles,” he replied, feeling slightly embarrassed to admit who he was while standing there wearing a girly top, leggings, and a pair of tall platform-heeled sandals. But having called the FBI and told them all he knew about the record company and the role they had played in Bianca Cabello’s disappearance; he had been expecting their visit. “Please, come in,” he added, turning his body to the side and gesturing with his hand.

“Thank you. But I think it’s best we talk somewhere more private.” Agent Morales replied. “How about you come with us to the car, Son?”

“Why?” Lucian asked, suddenly feeling nervous as he took a step back on his elevated feet. He couldn’t quite place it, but something felt wrong. Very wrong. “I don’t want to go out right now.”

Pouncing forward with the speed of a wild cat, Agent Currie grabbed Lucian’s arm and twisted it behind his back. “Whether you want to go out or not is none of my concern,” the robotic agent Currie announced. “Now, I suggest you walk your pansy-ass to the car without making a fuss. Nobody need get hurt here.”

“Oww! Let go of me,” Lucian cried as he tried to loosen the agent’s grip, “You’re hurting me!”

“I guess we’re doing this the hard way then,” Agent Currie announced, grabbing Lucian’s free arm with a half chuckle in his voice. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you home.”

“Home?” Lucian screamed as he was dragged out through the front door with his heels barely touching the ground. “You can’t just arrest me like this? What have I done wrong?”

“We’re the FBI, Mr Styles. We can do whatever we like,” Agent Morales announced as he walked calmly beside his partner, who was edging Lucian towards a waiting black Sedan parked by the curb. “And who said anything about arresting you. We’re taking you back where you belong. Mr Powell would like a word with you.”

“No, I won’t go back,” Lucian yelled, wiggling his feminine body before driving the heel of his stiletto shoe down into Agent Currie’s foot.

There was a crunching sound before agent Currie momentarily released his grip as he yelled out in pain. Seeing his opportunity, Lucian swivelled his body before bringing up his knee. He knew instantly that he'd made a sweet connection. Not only did he feel it, but he could see it in the man’s eyes as he cried out in pain before falling to the ground clutching his groin.

“Bravo, Mr Styles,” Agent Morales announced as he proceeded to give him a slow clap. “But what now? Do you really think you can outrun me in those shoes?”

With his body shaking from the Adrenaline coursing through his veins, Lucian glanced around, weighing up his options. Agent Morales was right. He couldn’t outrun the man or outfight him, but perhaps he could make it back to the house. But then what?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the roar of a car engine, followed by the screeching of tires. And before he could even think about reacting, Agent Morales dived onto the grass to narrowly avoid being splattered across the hood of Nancy’s old beat-up Ford pickup truck. “Get in,” Lucian heard her scream as the passenger door flew open.

Not needing a second invitation, Lucian leapt headfirst into the truck as Nancy took off across the lawn, smashing through the neighbour’s fence on her way out.

“Nancy, that was amazing,” Lucian squealed as he looked back to see the agents drifting out of sight. “You saved me. But what happens now?”

“I heard everything, and I couldn’t just let those corrupt bastards take you,” Nancy yelled out over the roar of the engine. “Don’t worry, I have an idea. I’m going to take you somewhere safe until we can come up with a plan.”

Looking over towards the driver’s seat, Lucian smiled, realising just how blessed he was to have a friend like Nancy. “I love you, Nancy," he said, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. “Thank you for doing that, but are you sure about this? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Ha! Too late for that now and besides, what’s the worst they can do to me?” She shot back emphatically. “Reckless driving? Disturbing the peace? Speeding? I’ll be fine. Now buckle up, beautiful. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”

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“Now, there’s a package I wouldn’t mind getting inside,” said a squeaky voice.

Spinning around, Lucian's eyes fell upon Carl from accounting, licking his lips and looking him up and down like a piece of meat.

(See image 29.1)

The playful flirting was something Lucian had become accustomed to, having worked in the office for the last month. A month of making coffee, opening mail, and photocopying. All while pretending to be a new hire called Mary-Lou.

“Let me guess. I’m supposed to pretend to be all embarrassed or angry then, you tell me some line about how you were talking about one of these boxes over there,” Lucian replied while rolling his eyes.

“Oh, you’re no fun, Mary-Lou” Carl answered with a smile. “But how about I take you out this Friday? My treat.”

“Thanks, but I’m busy,” Lucian answered while straightening his pencil skirt. In truth, he felt a little sorry for Carl. He was nice enough, once you got past all the cheesy comments. He was just a lonely guy hitting on a sexily dressed secretary. He wasn’t to know things weren’t as they appeared to be.

“Girls, like you, always are,” Carl answered with a sigh.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lucian shot back, feeling frustrated, having tried his best to dress like any other girl in the office. He wore the same high-necked blouses and modest-length skirts, the only difference was the height of his heels, a consequence of the surgery on his legs.

“Oh, you know,” Carl answered. “Hell, you’re Beautiful Mary-Lou. You look just like Bianca Cabello but even hotter.”

Lucian’s eyes widened at the comment. After being driven a state over by Nancy to stay with her Cousin Beth, who owned a small business. They had determined that the best course of action was to give him a new identity. That's how Mary-Lou had come to be. They had removed his fake lashes, and given him a plain-looking hairstyle, even faked the paperwork. But perhaps it hadn’t been enough. “You’re crazy,” Lucian replied. “I look nothing like her.”

“Crazy!” Carl replied, smirking. “You two could be sisters, especially now her hair is black like yours.”

“Black hair!” Lucian said in a confused tone. “Carl, what are you talking about? Bianca's missing. Most likely dead. Don't you read the news?”

It was now Carl’s turn to look confused. “Dead! Ha,” he replied with a chuckle. Dead sexy perhaps. I saw her today on that early morning show. She was talking about how she had just come out of rehab and was ready to start touring again.”

Looking like he had just seen a ghost, Lucian tottered forward, running past Carl as fast as he could muster on his tall heels.

"Mary-Lou! Mary-Lou! What's wrong?" Carl called out in vain as he was almost bowled over.

Back at his desk, Lucian sat his pantied backside down before opening up his internet browser. Then, as quickly as any secretary with a month's worth of experience, he typed in the name Bianca Cabello and the day’s date and pressed enter. His large dark red lips parted as the pictures popped onto the screen, making his heart skip a beat. There she was, just as Carl had said, Bianca Cabello on the morning show, chatting and singing. Feeling dizzy, Lucian quickly reached for the phone and dialled Nancy. “What the hell is going on here? Surely, it can’t really be her! Can it?" He thought to himself as he breathed heavily down the phone. “Come on, Nancy! Pick up the Goddam phone, will ya."