Elinor - Chapter 5

 

Elinor

By Karen Singer

 

Chapter 5

 

At least they were pants.  The only problem was that they were women’s pants, not to mention stretchy, skintight, and too short on me.  But the old Elinor had been smaller than I was.  Which also left me with no choice but to wear my old shoes again.  I preferred my old shoes.  I didn’t want to wear any of the women’s clothes.  Unfortunately, they weren’t giving me a choice in the matter.  I continued to stand in front of one of the three full-length mirrors in my new bedroom and look at my final image.  Stupid!  But what choice did I have?  None!

Since the last occupant of this suite had been a woman, the only toiletries I found in the bathroom had all been women’s things.  I had been forced to shave my face with a razor that I was sure the previous Elinor had used for her legs.  Then while in the shower, I remembered what Stan had said about the hair on my legs, so I shaved the bottom half of my legs from the knees down.  It had been a far more difficult operation than I expected, but my only goal was to do everything possible to stay alive, no matter what they might throw at me.

Getting dressed, I had chosen a stretchy and somewhat casual shirt to go with the black stretchy pants.  All the old Elinor’s non-stretch pants wouldn’t fit my waist at all.  Fortunately, like the stretchy shirt I was wearing, this pair was at least manageable.  I also wore the same bra I had worn to dinner last night, the same necklace, and the same bracelet.  On my feet though were my old male shoes, only because none of the old Elinor’s shoes would come close to fitting my larger feet.

Dressed that far, I forced myself to sit down at the vanity and do the best I could with a very tiny bit of eyeshadow, and the thing I despised the most, a bit of lipstick that wasn’t as bright as the lipstick I had worn to dinner last night, and that I was hoping wouldn’t be noticed at all.

I checked the clock.  It was time to leave.  I had already been through a quick breakfast downstairs with just Stan.  The only other people who had been there were a few of the servants who had served us.  For breakfast I had worn my old clothes that I had worn yesterday.  Stan had allowed it but told me to never wear them again.  After breakfast, Stan told me I was lucky that Germo or his bodyguard, Mateo, hadn’t shown up.

But now I was going to have to leave this place and travel back to Albuquerque, which is where I wanted to be, except I wanted to go back to my old life there.  I had no illusions though that I would ever be allowed to go anywhere near my old life.  Both Stan and Germo had told me that as far as my old life was concerned, I was dead.  I had to wonder exactly what that meant.  But the one thing that had been drilled into me a number of times already was that if I didn’t do what they wanted, then my body would be just as dead as they told me my old life now was.  Probably deader!

Going through the living room in my suite, I grabbed the date planner and cellphone and headed out the door.  Stan was across the hall in his room, his door already open.  Stan saw me and joined me in the hallway.  “You’re not carrying your purse?”

“My purse?”

“One of them at least.  You usually do.”

“I do?”

“Usually,” Stan confirmed.  “I put the one you had yesterday on the table in your living room.  That is, if you’re interested in taking that one.”

I turned around and went back into my suite.  I had seen the large colorful purse there.  I grabbed it and realized it was heavy.  I had no idea what was in it, but I also realized that it was plenty big enough to hold Germo’s date planner.  I shoved the planner and my cellphone inside, draped the long strap over my shoulder and went back out to the hallway, purposely leaving the door open like Nichole had requested so that she knew she could go in and clean.  Together, Stan and I made our way downstairs where we waited near the front door for Germo and Mateo to arrive.  Five minutes later, the two bodyguards were in the front seat of the car with Stan driving while Germo and I were in the back seat together.

As soon as the car was moving, I pulled out the date planner, but I didn’t bother opening it.  “We’ve got Thomas the accountant at ten thirty followed by your appointment with your tailor, Gerard.”

“Yes, I remember,” Germo replied.  “An easy day.  And my son John will be joining us later, followed by our little funeral for…the previous you.”

“Right,” I replied.  “Is there anything you need from me right now?”

“Just to be here with me,” he told me.  “Did you call Hector yet about riding lessons?”

“Right after breakfast.  He said to just stop by later today whenever I had time.”

“Good.  How about the fashion consultant?”

“I only found one listed in the Albuquerque area.  In fact, she was the only one in this part of New Mexico.  I haven’t called her yet.”

“Maybe you should do it now while you’ve got time.  Try to set up an appointment for me to meet with her as soon as possible.  You have my schedule.”

“You said yesterday that you wanted to speak with her first,” I asked more than stated.

“Yes.  Rosita suggested it, and I think it will be a good idea.”

“Okay,” I replied as I found my cellphone in the large purse and pulled it out.  Something told me that trying to work with a purse was going to be a major pain in the neck, and judging by the weight of the thing, literally.  I found the notes I had made for the name and number of the consultant and called her.  When she answered I said, “Hello?  Allison Simpson?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Elinor, and I work for…”

“Elinor!”

“Um…so it seems,” I replied.

“I’m sorry I don’t work with people like you!”

“Wait please!” I said quickly.  “My boss, Mr. Germo, asked me to set up an appointment for him to meet with you concerning some fashion advice.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  Yes, I do a lot of male fashion buying as well.  I’ll be happy to meet with him.  When did he want to come?”

I looked over at Germo.  “When did you want to meet?” I asked.

Germo grunted unhappily.  “Hand me the phone.”  He reached over and took the cellphone from me and put it on speaker.  Then he said, “Hello?  Who am I speaking with?”

“This is Allison Simpson.  You need a fashion consultant?”

“Yes.  Very much.  More than you can imagine.”

“No problem,” Allison replied.  “That’s what I do.”

“Good.  I have a meeting with my tailor later this morning just before lunch…”

“You’re seeing your tailor before consulting with me?”

“Yes!  I expect my meeting with him to take an hour or so.  Are you available right after lunch?”

“I’m available anytime today.  Let me give you my address.”

“Wait!” Germo told her.  “Let me pass the phone back to Elinor.  Tell her.  We’ll see you after lunch today.”  Germo punched the button to take it off speaker than said, “Here.  Get her address.  We’ll see her right after lunch.”

I took the phone and wrote down where we needed to go.  Now our schedule had gotten a bit longer.

The building in Albuquerque that Stan drove us to wasn’t anything big or fancy.  It looked rather plain but serviceable with a small parking lot in front.  We all got out of the car and went inside.  There were two desks there with women behind them.

“Mr. Germo.  Hello,” one of the women greeted us as she stood up.  “I’ll tell Tom that you’re here.”  Her eyes fell on me and seemed to stay there for a moment before she moved.  She quickly disappeared though a door, then popped right back out again, followed by an older but good-looking man.

“Mr. Germo,” Thomas said as he came out and shook Germo’s hand.  He greeted Mateo and Stan too, then his eyes fell on me.  “I was expecting to see Elinor with you.”

Germo shook his head.  “Let’s go to your office.  I’m afraid I have some rather bad news for you.”  He turned briefly to the rest of us.  “Wait here.”

I waited with Stan and Mateo.  The wait was long.  Very long.  Finally, the door opened and Germo came out alone.  He stopped at one of the desks and whispered to the woman, then pointed at me.  I heard the woman’s surprised gasp of, “Elinor?”  Then we all left.  Stan headed the car toward Germo’s meeting with his tailor.

“Good meeting?” I asked once we were in the car.

“Just pesky paperwork to sign.  Usually, he brings it to the house, but I needed to come here to meet with Gerard anyway.  Now it’s done.  Poor Thomas.  He was practically in tears when I told him about Elinor.  As I told you, he loved her.”

“I’m sorry,” I replied.

“Yes.  It’s a tragedy in more ways than you can yet imagine.”

Somehow, I could believe that.

“Stan,” Germo called from the backseat.  “While I’m meeting with Gerard, can you please take Elinor to a shoe store somewhere and make sure she gets a decent pair of shoes.  I don’t want to see the ones she’s currently wearing anymore at all.  Oh, and if they have riding boots, or at least any kind of boots that will work with a horse, then get a pair of them too.”

“Will do,” Stan replied.

Now I had to buy women’s shoes plus a pair of women’s boots.  But I had a feeling that the start of this humiliation was just beginning.  I wondered if Germo was getting a kick out of my discomfort.  He didn’t act like it, but I still wouldn’t be surprised.  A thought struck me.  “Does Stan usually pay for everything that…I…buy?”

“Why?” Germo replied.  “You’ve got your own credit card.  Check your wallet.”

I searched through the monstrous purse in my lap.  Yeah, a major pain.  I found a woman’s wallet there.  Inside was nearly a thousand dollars in cash and several credit cards.  Which brought another question to my mind.  “Do I get paid for working for you?” I asked Germo.

“You get a place to live.  You get all the food you can eat.  You get all your needs taken care of, and…”  He turned and faced me.  “You get to keep living.”

I figured that was all the answer I needed.  I also remembered the last time I had travelled on this road, it had been in the trunk of a car as I was on my way to be murdered.

 

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

 

Shoes, shoes, shoes.  Colorful shoes.  Strange shoes.  And all of them looked rather uncomfortable.  But like it or not, I knew I would soon be walking out of the store wearing a pair.  “What the heck am I supposed to get?” I asked more to myself than anyone else.

“Shoes,” Stan replied.  “And riding boots.”

“The riding boots don’t sound nearly as bad as regular shoes,” I told him.  “I mean, look at them all.  How would anyone know what to wear?”

“Maybe take a cue from what you’ve got on,” Stan suggested.  “You’re wearing black pants.”

“Right!  Good one Stan.  Thanks,” I said as I turned my attention to the black shoes.  Five minutes later I found a pair of plain black pumps with almost no heel at all.  The only problem now was that I was going to have to try them on.  Try them on?  Heck, I was going to have to wear them out of the store.

“Um…” Stan said.  “Perhaps something with a bit of a heel might be more appropriate for your meetings with Mr. Germo.”

“A higher heel?” I replied.  “And be tripping and falling all over the place at the worst possible times?  That may not be the best idea.”

“I take your meaning and fully agree,” Stan told me.  “Sorry I mentioned it.”

“Don’t be!  Keep the suggestions coming.  I need all the help I can get.”

My eyes fell on another pair of shoes nearby.  I picked them up.  “Perhaps a compromise?” I said as I showed Stan the display shoe.  It was still a plain black pump, but it had a small chunky heel that hopefully I wouldn’t have too much trouble with.

“Compromises can be a good thing,” Stan agreed.  “But you’re the one who has to wear them.”

“Yeah.  Unfortunately.”

I found a box in hopefully my size and carried it over to a bench.  I was aware of a few of the store employees watching me carefully, but none of them approached or said anything.  I removed my old male shoes and tried on one of the new black pumps.  It was very tight.  Too small.  I put it back in the box and found a box in a larger size.  Once again I tried to put one on my foot.  The shoe at first seemed to be somewhat tight, but once it was fully on, I realized that it probably fit.  I just wasn’t used to the feel of women’s shoes.  I stuck the other shoe on my other foot and stood up.  I took a few steps then looked at Stan.  “Manageable,” I declared.

“Good,” Stan replied.  “Are you going to look for anymore?”

“You mean besides the boots?”

“Besides the boots,” Stan confirmed.

I considered it.  “Maybe not.  Not yet.  Not until I have a better handle on what I think I’m going to need.”

“Okay.  Whatever you decide.  Now we have to find you some riding boots.”  He turned and noticed two of the employees still watching us carefully.  “Do you have riding boots?” he asked loudly.

The two employees were surprised.  “Sure,” one of them replied.  “Right over here.”

“Show us,” Stan told them.

A few minutes later, I had to find the wallet in my large purse, find my credit card in the wallet, and pay for the shoes.  Before signing though, I had to look on the card to see the full name listed there, Elinor Martinez.  I was surprised to note there actually was a last name.  I signed the full name and the new shoes and boots were mine.  Stan grabbed the box with the boots but told them to get rid of my old shoes.

First I had lost my business along with the life I was trying to live in Albuquerque, then I had nearly lost my entire life a number of times to gunshots, now I had lost the last remaining link to my old life.  A link that was nothing more than a pair of shoes.

Still, as far as I could see, the name of the game hadn’t changed at all.  All that mattered was that I could keep breathing.  Keep living.  Somehow, stay alive!  As to getting out of this weird life, I still didn’t have a clue as to how.  I had to keep playing this weird game of life.

 

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

 

After a leisurely lunch in one of Mr. Germo’s favorite restaurants, Stan drove us to the address for the fashion consultant.  I wasn’t sure if I should be surprised or not that she worked out of the apartment she lived in.  All four of us approached the door and Mateo knocked.  The door was soon opened by a middle-aged woman.  She seemed surprised to see so many people at her door.

“Mr. Germo?” she asked.

“Me,” Germo told her.

“Come in, please,” Allison Simpson told us as her eyes fell on me and seemed to stay there.

We all started to enter, but Germo suddenly stopped us.  “Perhaps it would be better if Miss Simpson and I met alone for a few minutes.”

“Boss?” Mateo asked.

Germo shook his head.  “It’s fine,” Germo told him.  A moment later, he was inside and alone with the fashion consultant while the rest of us waited outside.  It was obvious to me that Mateo wasn’t happy to be separated from him, but he had still done as the boss asked.

We waited a seemingly long time.  The door finally opened and Germo came out.  He immediately turned to me.  “Elinor, I’ve offered Miss Simpson an all expenses paid vacation at our hacienda where she can enjoy horseback riding and our swimming pool to her heart’s content, while she’s advising you on a new wardrobe.  She’ll be arriving tomorrow morning and staying with us until Sunday.  I suggest you call the staff and warn them that we’ll have a guest in the house.”

I turned and saw Allison still standing in the doorway watching us, and in particular, watching me.  I nodded to her.  “No problem,” I replied to Germo’s suggestion.

“Good!” Germo said as he began walking.  “Now let’s go home.  I’m looking forward to seeing my son, and then I have a rather sad funeral to attend.  And you Elinor, have riding lessons to begin and…”  He looked toward Stan.  “Does she know about payday yet?”

“I’m sure she doesn’t have a clue,” Stan replied.

“Better fill her in.  Someone has to handle it.  Why not her.”

I looked up at my tall bodyguard.  “Payday?”

“Every Thursday,” Stan replied.  “We’ll discuss it later in your office, or your room.  Whichever you prefer.”

Payday.  Everyone needed to get paid.  But evidently, my paycheck was in the form of permission to continue breathing.

Elinor - Chapter 4

 

Elinor

By Karen Singer

 

 

Chapter 4

 

Stan pointed toward the open doorway.  “Your room.”  He pointed at the open doorway directly across from it.  “My room, so I can be close and keep an eye on you all the time.”

“What?” I mockingly joked.  “You don’t sleep with me too?”

“Not with you I don’t!  At least, not if I don’t have to.  Don’t make me have to.”

I said nothing and walked into my room…rooms, because I soon realized there were a few of them.  I looked around my entire living room full of comfortable furniture, including two couches across from each other.  A bit of walking soon led me to a small office off the living room.  I was surprised to see a desk with no computer there.  Not even an ancient one.  I found a small kitchenette tucked away in another area, and then my bedroom.  I went inside.  The entire bedroom appeared to be larger than my upstairs apartment over top of my store.  Like the rest of the suite, it was decorated with a definite feminine flair.  I found the bathroom and marveled at how huge the thing was.

There was an entire wall of the bedroom that consisted of alternating doors and mirrors with the two side mirrors angled inwards.  I was shocked to discover that all three full-length mirrors were mounted on still more doors.  I opened one and found a walk-in closet filled with clothes.  A few doors later, I realized that every door led to a separate walk-in closet.  The old Elinor had a lot of clothes!

I was surprised when someone knocked on my outer door.  I hurried to open it and found a woman standing there in a maid’s uniform.

“Elinor?” the woman asked hesitantly.

“So they tell me,” I replied.

“I’m Nichole, one of the maids here in the house.  I usually take care of your room and…well, all the rooms upstairs here.”

“Oh.  Okay,” I replied.

“Mr. Stan called me and asked me to help you…um…find something you can wear to dinner tonight.  But…look.  I like my job and I’ll do almost anything for you, but something like this isn’t really my place.”

I shook my head.  “Nothing I’ve done all day is my place,” I told her.  “But somehow, I seem to be stuck with it all, and most of it is weirder than anything I’ve ever imagined.  So, if you can help me with anything at all, I’d really appreciate it.”

Nichole nodded.  I stepped back and she followed me into the suite.  “Just so you know,” she said, “when you leave your room every day, just leave your door open.  That tells me I can get in here and clean.  If you have any clothes you need cleaned, just leave them in a pile next to your door.  I’ll have them taken care of and brought back to you later.  Everything else, towels, sheets and stuff, just leave them wherever they are.  That’s my job to handle.  Okay?”

“Sure,” I told her.  “But just so you know, I don’t know how long I’m going to last here.  Probably not long.  Stan across the hall there can’t wait to shoot me, and he hasn’t figured out yet why Mr. Germo hasn’t done it himself already.  But, here I am, and it’s the weirdest place on earth.”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Nichole told me.  “Mr. Stan just asked me to try and help you tonight.”

“Yeah, I get it.  Thanks.  And trust me, I’ll thank Stan myself later.”

In the bedroom, Nichole opened several closet doors, obviously being familiar with what was in them.  Then she turned to look at me.  “Where do we start?” she said as she shook her head.  “What was Mr. Germo thinking?”

“Don’t ask me,” I replied.  “I just want to stay alive.”  The look Nichole gave me told me that she thought I was joking.

 

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

 

I sat in my personal living room and gripped the arms of the padded chair tightly.  I couldn’t seem to let go.  Not that I even realized I was gripping so tightly.  The knot in my stomach was simply that bad.  The dress that covered my body was long and surprisingly comfortable…for it being a dress.  It was all red background with large white flowers.  The sleeves were short and the neckline was some kind of wide elastic thing that just barely covered the bra straps that Nichole had insisted I should wear and stuff with panties from my new drawers.  The white belt around my waist was pulled so tight I could barely breathe, but between me and Nichole, we had managed to actually buckle the thing.  I was also wearing a necklace and a bracelet, and makeup that Nichole had helped me with, although she had flat out told me that if I ever needed any again, she wouldn’t help at all.  It wasn’t her job.  On my feet, I wore…nothing.  My feet were bare since none of the old Elinor’s shoes would fit.  With Nichole’s help, it was the best we could manage.

When my new cellphone suddenly rang, I grabbed it from the nearby end table.  “Hello?” I said tentatively.

“Elinor,” the voice came back.  “The Bolton’s just arrived.  They’ll be there shortly.”

The knot in my stomach grew worse.  “Okay,” I replied.  “Thanks.  Um…do I…I mean did the previous me call you every night with what’s going on tomorrow?”

“Sometimes us here at the gate, but usually you work with Gonzalez,” the voice replied.  “But you usually call later than this.”

“Good,” I told him.  Then I’ll call…someone…later.”  I wanted to add that I would call if I was still alive, which I wasn’t expecting to be.  Especially not with the way I was currently dressed.  I ended the call.

Now what?  I was guessing that I should let Germo know that his friends had arrived.  I found Germo’s number in the cellphone and my call was soon answered.  “Mr. Germo,” I said.  “The Bolten family just arrived.  They should be here shortly.”

“Excellent!” Germo replied.  “Thank you Elinor.  See you soon.”  With that, he ended the call.

I kept the phone in my lap for a moment.  It sounded like calling Germo as I had just done had been the right thing to do.  Now I just needed to find the courage to go down to dinner…or go across the hall and simply ask Stan to finally shoot me, which I was starting to think would be the better option.

I took a big breath, then forced myself to my feet.  I grabbed the date planner and my cellphone and forced my feet to take me to the door.  I opened it and went a few feet further to the door directly across the hall.  I knocked.  The door was opened quickly, and I was surprised to see that Stan was now wearing a very nice suit.  Much nicer than the suit he had worn all day.  “Nice suit,” I told him.

“Thanks,” Stan replied with a smile.  “Mr. Germo has them custom made for us once in a while.”

“I’m just glad you’ll be joining us for dinner,” I told him.

Stan shook his head.  “Not the way you expect.  Mateo and I will be around, but not at dinner.  That’s not our job.”

“No.  Your job is to shoot me if I step out of line.”

“Exactly.  Among other things.”

“By the way.  Thanks for sending Nichole.”

“I thought you might need her.  It seems she was of some help.”

“More than you know, even though…”  I stuck out my bare foot from under the long dress.  “No shoes.  Nichole finally suggested I go barefoot.”

“You’ll do,” Stan said.  “But next time, you might want to shave your legs first.  The hair on them looks strange.”

“Stranger than me?”

“It doesn’t help,” Stan replied as he turned and headed further into his suite.  “I take it Bolten is here?”

“Yeah.  They should be arriving at the house soon, or they’re already here.  Which I guess means we, or at least I need to get down there.”

“No rush,” Stan told him.  “The Boltens are very close friends.  Actually family.  Rosita, that’s Mrs. Bolten, was Mrs. Germo’s sister.

“I haven’t met Mrs. Germo yet,” I told him.

“And you won’t.  She died a few years ago.  A riding accident.”

“Any other family I should know about?” I asked.

“Just Michael and John.  Mr. Germo’s two sons.  But they’re not around.  “Michael lives in Mexico with his family and John handles business further down in New Mexico, near the border.  If you’re still around, you’ll meet them eventually.”  He grabbed a bottle and poured himself a drink, then held the bottle out toward me.  “Drink?  Mr. Germo asked me to delay you a minute or two so he could warn our guests about you.”

“Sure,” I replied.  “At this point, I need all the courage I can get.”

 

--- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

 

With bare feet, I held the stairway railing firmly as I managed to make my way downstairs with Stan at my side.  I looked down at the steps so I wouldn’t fall, but I was having trouble seeing those steps because my long skirt was in the way.  Halfway down the stairs I saw Mr. Germo seated with what must have been the Bolten family, a man, a woman, and a teenage girl.  I wanted to turn and go back up to my room, but with Stan still at my side I forced myself to continue on.

“Oooohhhh…” I heard the girl suddenly say as she caught sight of me and stood up.

At the bottom of the stairs, Stan suddenly left me and I was forced to walk alone towards the people who were all staring at me, including the girl who I could see was laughing.

As I approached, I saw the woman stand up to face me.  As I got closer, the woman moved away from the seats and straight to me.  I was shocked when she gave me a hug.  “I guess it’s Elinor?” she asked.

“Evidently,” I replied.

“Well, I’m Rosita.  Enrique’s sister-in-law.  She pointed at her husband.  “That’s Ricardo, my husband, and this is Pamela, our daughter.”

“Um…hi,” I said to them all.  The girl had finally stopped laughing, but there was no doubt about the amused look on her face.

“Come, sit dear,” Rosita said as she pulled me toward the seats.

I noticed Germo motioning toward the place on the couch right next to him.  I sat nervously.

“Tell us a bit about you,” Rosita said.

“Well, my name is actually…”

“Pfft!” Germo suddenly spat, cutting me off.

I got the point and started again.  “Well, I guess, or rather I hope it’s okay to tell you that I’m a computer guy…or person.  I have…or I guess now I had a computer store in Albuquerque that I just opened last week.  Before that, I was a systems specialist in Chicago.”

“Chicago!” Rodrigo exclaimed.

Pamela’s head perked up.  “I’d love to see Chicago!  What’s it like?”

“Miserable,” I told her.  I didn’t add that if I were back there right now, I’d stay and never leave, despite my other reasons for wanting to be away from there.  “It’s cold and wet and windy.  All the time!  Worst weather on the planet.”

“Who cares?” Pamela replied.  “I just want to go.  It’s a big city.  Huge!  I can only imagine the shopping there.”

“Yeah well,” I said.  “There’s plenty of that.  And people, and cars, and…the whole place is a big, dirty, smelly mess.”

“Sounds like heaven,” Pamela replied.

“Mr. Germo,” a woman’s voice caught our attention.  “Dinner is ready.”

I looked to see another maid who had announced dinner.

“Thank you, Francine,” Germo told her.

Everyone automatically got up and started moving.  I followed behind them all.  In the dining room, I watched as they each seemed to head for seats that I was sure they usually sat in.  I noticed Germo automatically sat at the head of the table.  Then I noticed him nodding his head toward one of the seats that was right next to him and that I quickly realized was where everyone expected me to sit.

“I couldn’t believe it when Enrique told us the bad news about Elinor,” Rosita said to me.  “I mean, especially since it’s no secret that she pretty much runs everything around here.  And then when he told me that a replacement had already been found, I was absolutely floored.  But not nearly as surprised when he told us…or I guess I should say he warned us about you.”

I looked over at Germo.  “Thanks.  That was a good idea.”

He nodded then said.  “My decision was made because she seems to have certain…abilities.  Abilities that I need right away.”

“What do you mean?” Ricardo asked.

“Ah!” Germo said as a gleam came to his eyes.  “Not only does she seem to be able to handle my schedule, but this afternoon…”  He shook his head.  “She was rather amazing!  Stupid, but amazing none the less.”

“But even still Enrique,” Rosita said, jumping in before Germo could explain further.  “He’s a man!  And you want him to wear dresses and become Elinor?  That’s just absurd!”

I was starting to like Rosita…a lot!  Maybe she could talk some sense into this guy.

“Yes,” Germo admitted.  “Unfortunately, that’s true.  It seems our new Elinor is regrettably a man underneath.”

“Then why are you calling him Elinor?” Rosita asked.  “Why are you making him be…this?”

Yeah, I was really starting to like her.

“Because that’s what I want!  So that’s what I’m going to have!  Besides, the way the last Elinor died, there is still some confusion as to whether this…person is responsible for her death or not.  In one way, yes, he is absolutely responsible!  But there are evidently things that say her death was due to other reasons.  So because of the questions, and because of the apparent abilities he seems to have, I decided to use him where I need help the most.  Elinor.”

“But Enrique!” Rosita tried again.  “Forcing him to try and dress like a woman is crazy!”

Germo leaned forward and spoke a bit less forcefully.  “My dear Rosita.  Elinor has been my assistant for the last forty-one years.  My personal assistant has always been Elinor, and everyone expects my assistant to be Elinor.  In forty-one years, as you know, the last Elinor was the third one I’ve had.  The first one lasted twenty-four years before she died.  The second one not quite as long, and the last one, I fear just six years.  Now, I guess this one is technically Elinor the fourth.  But just Elinor is all anyone needs to know.  I certainly don’t intend on calling her anything else.  I am simply used to having a woman as my personal assistant, and that woman has always been Elinor.”

Rosita looked at him with disbelief.

“So as long as he remains useful, capable of handling the position of Elinor in my household,” Germo continued, “then he can stay.  Otherwise…” he shrugged his shoulders.

“You mean you’ll shoot him,” Pamela said.

“Pam!” Rosita admonished.

“What?” Pam replied.  “Mom, I’m not a baby!  Besides, I think the whole thing is hilarious.”

Yeah, I was thinking I liked Rosita, but I wasn’t too sure now about her daughter.

“What does he think about having to be Elinor?” Rosita asked.

Germo leaned forward again.  “Rosita, it doesn’t matter to me what he thinks.  All that matters is what he does!  And so far?”  He shrugged.  “She seems to be handling what few matters have come her way quite well.”

“So you’re moving someone from the outside, a complete unknown, into the most powerful position in your organization?” Ricardo asked.

Enrique nodded, then sighed.  “So it seems.”

“What happened earlier?” Ricardo asked.  “You said he has skills.  Abilities.”

“Ah!” Enrique replied, brightening.  “You should have seen her!  She was magnificent!  We had a meeting.  New buyers.  In fact, it was the Johnson group you and I talked about.  But Johnson decided to get uppity in a major unfortunate way.  You know how these things sometimes happen.  But Elinor suddenly stepped in and started giving orders like a drill sergeant!  You should have seen her!  Everyone soon dropped their guns while she let out some kind of made-up spiel about us being connected with the Columbian cartels and that we were networked from California to Florida.  Although she also made up something about Florida not being up and running yet which only seemed to sell the lie more firmly.  Let me tell you, she was magnificent!  Trust me, Johnson fell right in line after that and agreed to pretty much anything we wanted.”

“She…I mean he did that?” Rosita asked.

“Believe it or not, it is the gospel truth!” Enrique told them.

Rosita shook her head.  “I just don’t know what to make of it all.”  She turned to me.  “My dear, I simply don’t know what to tell you, other than you have my sympathy…and my well wishes.”

The conversation was interrupted as several maids began delivering the dinner dishes.  All during dinner, I expected to get asked questions I didn’t know how I could possibly answer, but the few questions they did ask me were simply light and polite.  Nothing personal.

As soon as we were finished eating though and it appeared we were all doing nothing but sitting and talking, Germo turned to me.  “Elinor,” he said.  “I know you’ve got work you need to tend to as usual before tomorrow.  I’ll call you when I’ve retired for the evening.  We’ll meet then in my room for a few minutes…as usual.”

As usual.  Germo had used that term as if it was important.  As usual.  Nothing about my life was usual.  I nodded and said, “Thanks,” glad for a chance to get out of there.  I got up from the table and addressed everyone else.  “Goodnight,” I wished them politely.  “It was nice meeting you all.”

“You too,” Rosita replied.  “I look forward to getting together with you soon and hearing more about you.”

I nodded.  “Thanks,” I replied.

“Me too!” Pamela said with a giggle.

I nodded towards her and made my way toward the stairs.  Stan joined me out of nowhere the moment I got out of the dining room.  “How was dinner?” he asked.

“Like the rest of my day, weird!  But also nice.  The food was certainly good.  I just don’t like the fact that I had to be there wearing a dress.”

Stan let out a small chuckle.  “My guess is that Elinor is, or has always been a woman, which means that everyone is going to expect Elinor to be a woman.  End of story.”

“Maybe for you, but not for me.  And Germo told Rosita something like that earlier.”

“As I said, end of story for you.  You just haven’t fully realized that yet.”

Once back in my suite, I found the number in my new cellphone for Gonzolez, whoever he was.  I called it and learned that he was the chief of security for the place.  I then went over tomorrow’s schedule with him.  After that, I did nothing more than sit and wait, knowing that eventually, probably quite late, Germo would be calling me for a meeting.

The call didn’t come until nearly eleven o’clock.  I left my suite and saw that the door to Stan’s room was open and Stan was inside.  Stan only nodded towards me.  I turned and headed back up the short hallway and into the central area at the top of the stairs.  Mateo was there waiting for me.  He escorted me to Germo’s suite, which like my suite was located along the entire front side of the house on that end.

Germo was sitting with a drink when I went inside.  “Ah, Elinor.  Did you enjoy dinner tonight?"

“It was better than I expected,” I admitted.  “The food was certainly good.”

“Good!” Germo replied and motioned toward a seat, then waited until I was sitting.  “I think Rosita may be more than a bit curious about you,”

“Yeah.  I could see that,” I answered.

“She had an excellent suggestion for you too.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.  She seems to think that we should hire a professional fashion consultant to help your image.”

“A fashion consultant?”

“Yes.  And I think it’s a good idea.  I’m going to need you to look into finding one tomorrow.  And as my dear sister-in-law suggested, I guess I should probably consult with her first, before she meets you.”

“Um…okay,” I replied as I opened the date planner I had brought with me and made a note.  I noticed that Germo seemed to be pleased to see me doing that.

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions about things,” Germo told me.  “Some of them are easy for me to tell you, others are, well, I think you’re going to have to figure them out for yourself.  Things like that are part of your job.  But then, as I’ve noticed a number of times already, you seem to have an instinctive ability to figure things out.”

“Thanks.  I think,” I told him.  “I won’t lie to you.  I’d like nothing better than to go back to my store right now where I live and forget about all of this.”

“But that’s just it,” Germo said.  “You can’t go back.  Hasn’t Stan explained to you yet that you are dead?  The only question now is, how much more of you would you like to be dead, along with your old life?”

I stared at him for a moment, taking in yet another threat that was in reality on top of so many previous ones.  “As you just said,” I finally replied.  “Right now, I’m figuring out that I need to do everything possible just to stay alive.”

He nodded approvingly.  “And that’s the way it needs to be,” he told me.  “Now, what is on the schedule for tomorrow?”

I didn’t even need to look at the schedule.  There were very few things.  Things I had memorized from looking at it so many times.  “Not much,” I told my new boss.  “You have an appointment with someone named Tom at ten thirty tomorrow morning, but I don’t know who that is or where it will take place.”

“Thomas is my chief accountant for the hacienda and horse business.  And this time we’ll meet him at his office in Albuquerque.  He’s going to have to know about you anyway.  Especially since you’ve been…I mean the former you has been having an affair with him for the last few years.  An affair I approved of very much.”  He laughed.  “Your affair was almost as if I was fucking the man myself.”  He shook his head.  “Poor Thomas is going to be so upset.  I believe he really loved you.”

I was a bit horrified to hear that, but I continued.  “After that, you’ve got a meeting with someone named Gerard.”

Germo nodded.  “Good!  Gerard is my tailor.  Some of my suits are getting a bit tight.  Evidently, I don’t get as much exercise as I should.”

“The only other thing on the schedule says John.  Is that the John that Stan told me is your youngest son?”

“Yes.  John is coming up tomorrow afternoon for a visit.  He’ll have dinner with us and possibly stay a day or two.  He’s going to need to meet you too, and so will Michael.  But that will have to wait for another day.  If things continue to go well, I’ll take you down to Mexico to meet his family.”

“Mexico!  I don’t have a passport.”

“Don’t worry.  You won’t need one.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know why I wouldn’t need a passport.  “Just so you know, I’ve already coordinated with Gonzalez about tomorrow.  He told me that your car will be ready tomorrow when you need it.”

“Good!” Germo exclaimed.  “So tomorrow you’ll of course accompany me to Albuquerque to meet Thomas, and then you can help me pick out some new suits.  Now, something else for your schedule tomorrow.  We need to bury my poor last Elinor.  Mateo arranged for it to be done late tomorrow afternoon.  Fortunately for you, I would prefer that you not be there.  Not for that.  Instead, after John gets here, you can have the day to handle whatever business you need to tend to.  Just don’t forget the fashion consultant, and also let Hector know you need riding lessons.  I’m hoping that in a day or two you’ll be able to accompany me when I ride.  That is very important.  I often get my best ideas while I’m on a horse.”

He nodded at me then.  “Goodnight Elinor.  I’ll see you tomorrow.  Oh, and wear something appropriate tomorrow.  Remember.  Everyone will be expecting Elinor to be a woman.  And like it or not, you are now Elinor.”

 

Elinor - Chapter 3

 

Elinor

By Karen Singer

 

Chapter 3

 

I heard Stan’s cellphone ring.  I watched as he answered, then quickly put the phone away and stood up.  “Better grab your stuff.  Mr. Germo is back.”

I quickly grabbed the papers I had printed just a little while ago.

“I suggest you get your entire planner,” Stan told me.  “You’re probably going to need it.”

Trying to follow the advice, I grabbed the entire planner.  “Where’s his office?” I asked.

Stan pointed at a fancy door in the wall of the office we were in.  “Your office is his outer office.  Now let’s move.  We’ll meet him at the car when it arrives.  Hurry!”

Meet him at his car?  But I hurried to keep up with Stan who strode directly to the front entrance of the house, then out onto a shady porch.  In the distance, past fenced in fields of horses, I could see a black car coming down what must have been a very long road…or driveway.  The car stopped in front of the porch and Mr. Germo got out of the back seat and Mateo got out of the driver’s seat.  Another man got into the driver’s seat and drove the car away as Mr. Germo climbed the few steps up to the porch.

“How was lunch?” Stan asked the big boss.

“Ah!” Germo sighed as we walked into the house.  “Excellent as always.  Rodreguez always knows how to throw a good lunch.”  He turned toward me as we walked toward the front door.  “Elinor.  What’s next?”

“Sir?” I said, surprised by the question.

“What’s next on my schedule today?”

“Oh.  You’ve got a meeting with someone named Johnson at three o’clock, then at four with someone named Crisp.  Evidently, you’ve got a dinner date right here at eight o’clock when the Bolten family is supposed to be here.  After that, nothing until eight o’clock tomorrow morning.  Would you like tomorrow’s schedule?” I asked as we all walked into my office.

“No.  That’s for tomorrow,” Germo replied.

Mateo opened the door to Germo’s own office and we all went inside.  The office was easily twice the size of my large office and ten times as masculine.  There was a sharp odor about the room that I couldn’t place.  Germo went directly behind his desk and sat down while the rest of us stood in front of the desk.

I chanced asking, “Would you like to see a copy of your schedule for the rest of today?  I have one for tomorrow’s schedule as well.

Germo held out his hand, and I handed over two pieces of paper.  “The top one is the few things left for today.”

Germo took the time to study both pages briefly.  Then he looked up and held up the papers.  “I like this!” Germo declared.  “It’s all laid out neatly so I can understand it.  But it still doesn't excuse you from needing to be with me at all times.  You’ve got duties to handle.”  He sat back and shook his head.  “I guess I better make some time later after Ricardo and his family leave to have a little chat with you.  I should have a better idea by that time if I’m going to bother keeping you or not.  Make a note to meet with me later tonight.  We do that often enough anyway.”

Germo seemed to study me for a moment, then said, “I think the first problem before that however is that you’re going to need to be dressed properly for dinner, and as always, I need you there.”

“As always?” I asked.

“As always!” Germo insisted.  He looked to Mateo.  “Elinor said Johnson is coming in a little while, then Crisp.  Is everything set up for them?”

“Yes sir,” Mateo replied.  “Since…Elinor here wouldn’t know about that yet, I made sure everything was set while you were having lunch.”

Germo turned to me.  “In the future, things like that are part of your job to arrange.  I’ll let it slide since this is your first day, but from now on, you need to handle the details.  Besides, you’re the schedule keeper here, not me.  But at those meetings, I need you to take careful notes, understand?”

“Uh…yes sir,” I replied.

Germo turned to Mateo.  “Stable three as usual?”

“Yes sir,” Mateo confirmed.

“Good.  I hate when we have to change things sometimes.”  He turned again and seemed to look me over for a moment, then cursed.  “Shit!  As for dinner tonight, I’m afraid you’ll just have to do the best you can.  Ricardo is simply too important a friend and he’s going to find out anyway.  Not to mention Rosita, his wife, and probably his daughter as well.”

“Sir?” I asked.

Germo consulted one of the papers that I had just handed him.  “According to this paper you gave me, after Crisp leaves, which shouldn’t last more than half an hour, nothing is happening until dinner tonight at eight.  I hate to lose you for that much time, but I’m going to need you to go into your closet and find something suitable to wear for dinner.  I know it’s probably going to seem strange, especially for everyone else, but that’s the way it’s going to have to be.”

“Closet?” I asked.  “I have a closet?”

“You have this entire hacienda at your disposal Elinor.  Get used to it!  Now leave me.  Go back to your office.  Let me know when Johnson arrives.”

I filed out of Germo’s office with Stan into my own.  Only Mateo stayed behind.  Stan closed the office door.  “I have a closet?” I asked as I sat at my desk, and Stan took his own chair in the corner.

“You have an entire suite here in the house,” Stan told him.  A large one.  “You have several closets.”

“Oh.”  Then something occurred to me.  “He said something suitable to wear for dinner, but the last Elinor was a woman.”

“And the ones that came before her,” Stan told me.

“Which would mean,” I started as I thought about that.  “Are there any men’s clothes in those closets?”

“Nope!  Nothing even close.  And I seriously doubt that Mr. Germo will allow you at dinner, anytime, ever, wearing something that isn’t suitable for the occasion.”

“But…”

“Elinor, Mr. Germo expects everyone to dress formally for dinner.  And unless I’m completely misreading whatever crazy thing he has suddenly got locked into his head, then I’m pretty sure he’s going to expect to see you in a dress.  Including makeup and…whatever else you need to go with it.”

“But…”

“Or…” Stan replied as he pulled out his gun.  “I can just shoot you now.”

“Maybe that would be best,” I said as I sank dejectedly into my chair.

Stan stood up again and approached the desk.  I couldn’t take my eyes off the gun in his hand.  But as Stan stood in front of me, he lowered the gun as he raised his other hand and held his open palm out.  “Give!” he ordered.

I was confused.  “Give what?”

“Your cellphone, wallet, keys, and anything else in your pockets.  Empty your pockets completely.  Right now!  Give!”  He immediately raised his gun again and pointed it at my head.  I swallowed, then started emptying my pockets, putting everything I had onto the desk.  Stan picked it all up and put it into his own pockets, then he put his gun away.  From one of his other pockets, he pulled out a cellphone.  “Here,” he said, setting the cellphone in front of me.  I didn’t want to give this to you until there was a chance you would be staying.  I won’t lie to you, I’m rather surprised you’re still alive.  It’s not like Mr. Germo at all.  But here you are…still.  So here’s your cellphone…Elinor.  Trust me, you’re going to need it.  Now that you’ve got it, I suggest you call Mr. Germo and tell him you have it.”

I picked up the cellphone.  Like with the computer, there was no password required.  Call Mr. Germo.  I looked up at Stan.  “Why can’t I just knock on his door and tell him personally?  His office is right there.”

“Call!” Stan told me.  “Trust me.”

I started looking through the cellphone and easily found the list of numbers.  Mr. Germo’s was the primary number that popped up.  I pushed the buttons and called.

“Elinor?” Germo’s voice came back.

“I just needed to tell you I have this cellphone now,” I told him.

“Good!” Germo replied, then ended the call.

I was surprised by how abrupt he had been.  I set the phone down on the desk and tried to consider things, but I was still so confused by everything that I couldn’t make sense of any of it.  And then my mind seemed to focus on something else that I realized was going to be a problem.  Probably a major problem.  Mr. Germo expected me to wear a dress to dinner tonight, including all the fixings with it.  What exactly did that mean?  As with everything else today, I simply couldn’t conceive of it.

“A while later, my new cellphone suddenly rang.  I hesitantly picked it up.  “Hello?” I said.

The voice on the other end replied, “Elinor?”

“Um…yes.  That would be me I guess,” I told him.  “It seems I’m the new Elinor.”

“Um…this is the front gate.  Mr. Johnson and his pals just arrived.  They’re on their way.”

“Thanks,” I replied.  “A thought struck me.  “You know that Crisp is due next, then later tonight, the Bolten family is coming.”

“Yes, you gave us the schedule,” the man replied.

“Okay, thanks.  Just checking,” I replied before hanging up.  Evidently, making sure the gate knew who to expect was also one of my duties.  One I better not forget.

Stan was already on his feet.  “Better tell the boss.”

I picked up the phone to call him.

“This time, tell him personally,” Stan suggested.

Not sure what the difference was, I got up from my desk and went around to Germo’s door.  I was about to knock when Stan said, “Just open it and go in.  You’re his assistant.”

I opened the door.  I saw Germo at his desk smoking a cigar.  Mateo was sitting in the corner with a cigar of his own.  “Mr. Johnson is here,” I told them.

“Excellent,” Germo said as he got up from his seat with his cigar.  “Let’s go make some money.”

Germo and Mateo led the way out of the office, followed by Stan and myself, but I suddenly turned and ran back to my desk to get the date planner and a pencil.  Something told me I dared not go anywhere without it.  I had to run to catch up with the others.

We went out through the front door just after a black car went past the house.  The four of us walked after the car for quite some distance.  We went past two horse stables and all the way to a third one before turning to go inside.  Before turning in, I noticed a fourth stable beyond this one.  We went past a number of horse stalls before finding our guests in an empty one.

Inside, I saw a table set up with a couple of large bricks of…drugs!  I made sure to keep my mouth shut while the drugs were tested.

“As you can see,” Germo told his guests, “the quality is the best.  We only sell the best.”

“Humph!” one of the guests grunted.  “This little amount means nothing.  You could switch to something less after a delivery or two.”

“But don’t you always test each one?” Germo countered.  “Most of our clients do.”

“Always!” the man agreed.

“Then what’s your problem?”

“My problem?”  The man laughed.  “You!”  He suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it menacingly at Germo.  In seconds every man held a gun and was pointing it somewhere, except me.  “I’m not buying anything from you!” the man said menacingly.  “Instead, you’re either going to supply me with everything I need and take a small cut of my operation, or we’re going to wipe you off the map completely.  And you already know the reputation of my organization.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Germo said back, completely unfrightened by the man or the situation.  “I’ll blow you to kingdom come right here and now.”

I didn’t know what to do as they argued and sent threats back and forth.  A vague idea suddenly hit me.  I knew it might get me killed, but I was about to get killed anyway.

“Ahem!” I said loudly.  When nobody listened, I yelled as sternly as I could.  “Cut the crap and listen up!”

They all turned to look at me, the only one there without a gun.  I boldly stepped forward, aware that I could get shot at any moment.  I addressed the man who seemed to be in charge of the other side.  Johnson, I guessed.  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m…”

“I said shut it!” I cut him off boldly.  “Shut it, and listen.  You’ve got to be some kind of idiot trying to take over this organization.”

“I’ll do what I…”

“Shut your mouth and keep it shut you idiot!” I yelled.  “Now, as I was saying.  You’ve got to be some kind of idiot not to know that we’ve been in business, not for just a few years, but for generations.  Generations gentlemen.  Do you know what that means?  That means that in all those years we’ve built up a network of outlets that runs through the entire southern United States from California to Florida.  “Uh…sorry, Florida will be online soon, another few months at the most.  Then we’ll have even more outlets to get our product directly from Columbia.  That’s right.  I said Co-lum-bia gentlemen.  Do you know what that means?  It means that we’re backed by some of the biggest cartels in the business.  Are you and your organization ready to go against the Columbia cartels and try to mess up one of their most lucrative distribution networks in the United States?  That’s pure suicide!  But if you want to try it…”  I squinted his eyes a bit.  “Be my guest.  See how long you, not to mention your entire families, survive.  And if you think you’re some kind of badass, you know how brutal the Columbian cartels are.”  I could see that my words had some kind of major impact on our guests.

“The Columbia cartels?” Johnson asked uncertainly.

“Generations!” Germo told him confidently.

Johnson put his gun away and so did his men.

“Now,” Germo said.  “Are you interest in dealing for us, or do we pass on the word to all the other distributers in the country to boycott you so you can’t buy from any of them?”

“Can you deliver by the ton if we need it?  Once a month?” Johnson asked.  “We need a lot.”

“We can handle it,” Germo told him confidently.

“Then we can do business,” Johnson replied.  “Whatever rate you need.  We just need a lot, and the amount will probably vary from month to month.  We’re trying to build our business too, like you’ve evidently done already.”

“Just get in touch with Elinor, my personal assistant there, and give her the details.  The rest is easy.  Supplying is what we’ve handled for generations.  We just leave the final distribution to everyone else.”

Johnson nodded.  “Let’s go,” he told his men.  He looked to me, a questioning look on his face.  “Elinor?”

“Just use the name,” I told him.  “Someone will answer.”

Johnson nodded.  “I’ll be in touch with how much.  We can haggle the price when I do.”

I watched Johnson and his men walk out and get into their car.  A moment later, they were gone.

Germo turned to me.  “What was that?”

“Sorry,” I told him.  “I was just trying to help.  I’d rather not get shot today.”

Germo nodded.  “I suspected as much.”  He pulled a cigar from his pocket and lit it.  “I guess our next guest will be here in a little while.  We might as well wait for them here.  Elinor, what was his name again?”

“Uh…Crisp sir,” I told him.

Germo held up his cigar in acknowledgement and walked away with Mateo lighting a cigar of his own.  I watched as Germo and Mateo walked slowly toward the back of the stable while Stan stayed with me.

“Pretty damn gutsy,” Stan told me.

“I just figured that one way or another I was about to get killed, so I had nothing to lose.  I made up a bunch of stuff that I hope sounded good.”

Stan laughed.  “Like I said, pretty damn gutsy.  Stupid as all get out, but gutsy.”

“Are all his meetings like this?” I asked.

“Some.  It wasn’t really anything we couldn’t handle.  Things like that happen once in a while.  You get used to it.”

I shook my head.  “I doubt it.”

Stan laughed.

A little while later, Crisp showed up with his men, all of them riding motorcycles.  There was no big confrontation, and I was surprised to see they didn’t even bother testing the drugs on the table.  Instead, he and Germo haggled a bit and I tried to take careful notes as to the prices and amounts.  Ten minutes later, Crisp was gone.

“Since I’m here,” Germo said, “I think I’ll go for a ride.”

“Excellent idea,” Mateo agreed.

“Don’t forget about dinner tonight with Bolten!” I reminded him quickly.

“Thanks Elinor.  I won’t forget.  Promise.  Do you want to ride with us?  For that matter, do you ride?”

“No thanks,” I told him.  “I’ve never been on a horse in my life.”

Germo shook his head.  “I can’t have an assistant who can’t ride a horse.  That’s a requirement.  Talk to Hector.  Tell him you need riding lessons.  Immediately!”

Great.  Now I needed to learn how to ride a horse!  I was from Chicago.  Could life get any more strange?

“Don’t forget to dress for dinner tonight Elinor!” Germo called as he and Mateo walked away smoking their cigars.

“Is he serious?” I asked Stan.

“As a heart attack,” Stan replied.

“It’s not a heart attack I’m afraid of,” I returned.  “It’s bullets.”

Stan laughed.  “Come on,” he said.  “I guess, like it or not, I better show you where you live now.”

“What was wrong with where I lived before?”

Stan laughed.  “You’re dead now, and knowing Mateo, you’re getting deader by the minute.  So how the hell can you live there?”

“Dead?  Getting deader?” I asked, but Stan didn’t answer.  He just kept walking back toward the main house.