Chapter 9

Hapsboro's Story:

"One thing I don't quite get Wilton," I said as I sipped my drink from the oversized leather chair in his living room. "Why the focus on a bunch of fairly unknown stars, fairly unknown women, for your plan?"

The old man smiled at me, his fierce blue eyes still burning with that same fire of ambition.

"Quite simple my friend. You have to sow the seeds. This business is built on favors and even though I have made it to where I am today," he said, gesturing around at his extravagant house. "through those favors, they have never been enough to subsist on for more than a couple of steps up the ladder. But when you control the players, as I do now, you can make your own rules and make people come to you for those favors,"

I of course knew the truth, but I probed him further. "As in pulling off whatever financial deal you want, right?"

"Exactly. These women are our future Gordon. Through the money they bring in, legitimate business or not, we can divest into other areas. I hate dealing with the drug aspect - I don't trust the blacks or the Mexicans, but it is a necessary evil - but the drugs set the stage for the money laundering, which helps buy politicians, who are of course key. When you have the law in your pocket, you aren't just a God, you ARE God,"

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I hated bringing up the inevitable topic of my weekend visit, but it had to be dealt with, especially given the urgency of the situation.

"I believe we have the Hilt situation well in hand. We have broken him in every way - we've taken his contacts, taken control of the Heigl girl, who I know he is in love with, and we've found his weakness. I think it was you that told me a man's weakness can often be found in his pants,"

"That I did Gordon," he said, rising to fix himself another drink. Willis was starting to move a lot slower now, his cancer really starting to wear him down, and I knew that in a few months time he would have to give his orders from his bed.

Pouring a scotch, he spoke to me with his back turned.

"Hilt is small potatoes though. I really wish he wasn't occupying a man like you so much Gordon. You have bigger and better things to worry about, including the future,"

"True, but sometimes you have to handle problems yourself to make sure they are solved,"

He didn't say anything to that, only nodded. "The girl you've got on him... blonde or brunette?"

"Blonde sir. Kirsten Dunst. You know, the girl who dykes it out with that 'Buffy' chick. Kirsten was in 'Spiderman' a few years back and helped us tremendously when we got into the black through that silent partner deal,"

"Ah yes, I remember her. Very cute, very wholesome looking. I love that. When she is done with him, have her come see me. I'm dying to try her out myself,"

"Should I use the usual enticement sir?" I asked, referring to the mental tactics we usually used to break one of those bitches.

Willis hesitated for a second. "No, I'd prefer her to stay clean of that. If she won't come willingly then maybe we will talk about ulterior options. But that whole pure thing really gets my rocks off," he said, walking back to his chair, his drink in hand. I knew he wasn't supposed to be drinking with the meds he was taking, but scolding the man who signed your paychecks was never too good an idea.

He sipped the drink with a loud smack, his hand trembling just a bit from the pills that were keeping him alive as he lowered the glass away.

"And what of the overseas prospects? I know we have a strong foothold on Europe and Asia, what about Africa and South America?"

"We are working on it sir. I am flying to Buenes Aires in a few weeks to meet with some producers and studio heads there to talk about expansion. I'm sure they won't refuse our offer,"

"They never do Gordon," he said, staring at me with a tight smile on his lips. "No one ever does,"

Alex's Story:

Pacing the room, I tried to keep my mind focused. All I could hear, playing over and over, were the moans of Katherine as she was fucked over the phone, for my benefit. I clung desperately to the hope that whatever had possessed her to do that was a product of something else, and that she was being forced against her will or made to say such horrible, hateful things. Whatever the case, time was of the essence - whoever was holding her had made a mistake in letting her call me. Now I knew she was alive and I knew how to find her.

Reaching into the pocket of my slacks, which were feeling about a million years old by now, I pulled out the card that Kyokota had given me what seemed like a lifetime ago. On it was his personal phone number, for my use if I needed his help. Tonight was certainly a time I needed his help.

Still watching Kirsten and Natalie out of the corner of my eye, I picked up the phone and dialed his number. Two rings later, a voice answered in Japanese.

"Mr. Kyokota?" I said, hopeful that I had dialed the right number.

"Yes?" he said, his voice still carrying that thick accent.

"This is Alex Hilt. I'm sorry, I hope I didn't wake you. I don't know what time it is there,"

"No Mr. Hilt, it is fine. It is mid day here. How may I be of assistance?"

"I need your help in tracing a number. I know that you have contacts in the telecommunications industry over there, is there any way you could help me find where a number was calling from?"

There was a long, agonizing pause on the other end. "Yes, I believe so, but it will take time Mr. Hilt. I trust that this is a critical matter?"

"Yes sir, extremely critical and important to," I stopped in mid-sentence, glancing back at the girls, careful not to say too much. "to... what we talked about on my visit,"

"I see. Please Mr. Hilt, give me the number and I will begin making my calls for you," he said, his voice flat and smooth, dry of any inflection.

"The number is 555-555-0417," I said.

There was a pause for a moment and I assumed that he was writing the number down.

"Thank you Mr. Hilt. Shall I call you at this number when I have what you need?"

"Yes, please do," I replied, hopeful that he would be able to trace the call. "Goodbye,"

"Uh-huh," he said, and then hung up. Hitting the END button on my phone, I dropped my arm to my side and turned back towards Kirsten and Natalie. They had been watching me closely, studying my responses and words, still sitting close to one another. How these two young actresses, who had such a bright future ahead of them, managed to get entangled in all of this, I wasn't really sure. Hollywood was a dog eat dog world and for Kirsten and Natalie, who seemed to have had the best possible experience growing up as child actors to be the predators in such a world, almost boggled the mind.

I moved to a chair and sat down, facing them. Natalie mustered a weak, momentary smile at me, more out of politeness than anything, as Kirsten held her hand and squeezed it tightly against her own. We sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes, studying one another in this bizarre chess game, each of us pondering what kind of move we wanted to take next.

"We do really want to help you," Kirsten said after a while, breaking the pin drop silence of the room. "You know that right?"

I didn't respond to her, for fear of what words I might say that would betray my thoughts.

"This is all a game Alex. It's all one big game of fucking over, literally and figuratively. You are just a player in it, just like me, just like Natalie. You can't take this kind of thing personally if you value your sanity at all,"

"So I should just harden up, and take my lumps as vixens and manipulative bitches like you plot my demise, is that it?" I said coldly, causing Kirsten's head to jerk back in a startled reaction.

"No, you shouldn't. But you shouldn't try to fix a system that is far beyond anything you could ever hope to grasp," she said.

I decided to let the conversation die there, my eyes narrowing at Kirsten as she matched her gaze with mine. Maybe she was right, maybe this was much bigger than me. But if the system was going to try and get rid of me, the least I could do is go out in a blaze of glory.

Again we sat in silence for a few minutes, the setting sun outside gradually making my apartment grow darker and darker with each passing minute. Street lights slowly came to life, blinking and shivering on outside like soldiers who had fought more battles than they ever should have, broken and beaten against an enemy - the night - that never would be vanquished.

My phone rang, and I immediately jerked my arm up and pulled it to my ear, not even bothering to see who it was. With an inward sigh of relief, I relaxed slightly at hearing Kyokota's voice.

"Mr. Hilt, I have traced the location of that call. It came from a building located on 9th and Pine, in Los Angeles," he said. While I didn't know exactly where that was, I did know that it was not the best neighborhood and may in fact be in Compton or on the South Side of town. My teeth gritted at that thought, at what I was planning on doing, but then the rage over the manipulation of Katherine bubbled up in my throat and I knew that it would be necessary.

"Do you have an address?" I said in a soft whisper, the million demons that I had quelled in my mind only minutes before now breaking through the gate and swarming through my head again.

"Yes. 599 Beach Street. That is where the phone company shows the address listed at," Kyokota said, still smooth and flat as if this was just a casual business call.

"Thank you for your help sir. If I need anything else, may I call you?" I asked.

"Of course. Good luck Mr. Hilt, I hope you will keep me informed of your findings,"

"I will. And thank you," I said, hanging up the phone. Kirsten and Natalie had stood up from the couch now, but had not moved at all since, their bodies frozen like mannequins in some life like diorama. The Women Who Will Betray You, the title seemed to be, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of bitterness towards them when the thought crossed my mind. I shook it away though, as there were more important things to worry about now.

"Give me your keys," I said to Natalie as I walked towards her. Fear and puzzlement jumped onto her face for a second, but she robotically reached into her pocket and handed them to me. Taking them from her hand, I motioned for them to follow me towards the door.

"Come on, we are going for a drive," I said.

Once we were on the freeway, heading for the South Side, Natalie and Kirsten in the back and me behind the wheel of Natalie's white BMW, I began to relax a bit, the adrenaline coursing through my blood freely now. The girls were a bit more at ease too it seemed - not because they were being forced to do something that they didn't want to, but only because they knew they might have a chance to get away. If that was what they wanted of course, which I still wasn't certain. Kirsten's words kept ringing in my ears, her contradictions clashing like warriors in battle. She wanted to help me she said, but she knew the game was bigger than both of us. One of those beliefs would have to give, and since one meant my life and the other meant Katherine's, making the decision was not an easy one.

I decided to go with the flow and try to assess things when I got to where Katherine and Mila were being held. In the meantime, I now felt comfortable enough to do a little bit of probing of my companions/prisoners. I knew Kirsten was hardened to such questions and probably wouldn't yield much, but Natalie seemed to be a bit shell shocked by the whole thing, and that would play to my advantage.

"I never would have figured you for a lesbian Natalie," I said, a bit of malice in my voice as I watched her in the rear view mirror.

"What?" she said, taken aback.

"I mean, you could have practically any man you want. Kirsten could too. Why the need for carpet munching?" I said, trying to anger them with stereotypes and bluntness.

"I... I'm not a lesbian," Natalie said, a look of shock still registering on her face.

"Could have fooled me. What with Kirsten rushing to your defense, declaring her love for you, that sort of thing," I said. This last comment hit them both hard - Kirsten flinched and looked away out the window as Natalie's eyes started to well up a bit with tears.

"Look, I'm not gay alright. Things with Kirsten and I just... just happened. I don't have to defend myself to you, and my private life is none of your business,"

"When you come to my house and seduce me Natalie," I said. "Your private life BECOMES my business. Don't worry, I'm not going to rat you out to the tabloids or anything. That's not anything I need right now any ways. All I'm saying is that it surprised me that you would be into girls is all,"

"You don't know her," Kirsten said coldly. "You don't know me. You don't know any of us, not even the women you are driving into the fucking lion's den to try and rescue. You don't know shit Alex, and you never will,"

"Strong words coming from a girl who almost lost it when I threatened her girlfriend," I snapped back. I was certainly getting a rise out of them, which was just what I wanted.

"You think that one little incident meant anything Alex? My feelings for Nat, and her feelings for me, are something you will never understand,"

"And why is that Kirsten?"

"Because no one can ever understand love. Oh sure, you think that just because you stick your cock in one of us, that we are supposed to fall madly in love with you and give it up whenever you want it? That's not love Alex, that's lust. And that's what Hollywood is built on, and that's just what you are blindly following, probably into your own doom. Love is different and love is not something that you can get so easily here or anywhere else. I've been with plenty of other guys before and I probably will be with more in the future. But what Natalie and I have, no one can take away from us or understand. It isn't just sex, its a connection,"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean Kirsten? That I can't find love myself? Because if that is what you think than let me tell you that,"

"No," she said, interrupting me. "That's not what I mean. What I mean is that most of the people in the world spend their whole lives chasing it, and most never really find it. Sure, they find someone who fits them at the time, and maybe that's what Natalie and I have - a momentary connection in our lives - but at least we have it. It's all just another game Alex, and you chase it just as much as we all do. You enjoy the chase too - you think that just because you watch Entertainment Tonight or read People or follow every bit of gossip out there that you will ever know us, ever know if we are truly in love or not? You'll never know us from that. All Hollywood is, is the chase of love put up for public display," Kirsten said, her voice now practically yelling at me.

"Then why the secrecy, why the gossip, why the flat out denials from Natalie that she isn't gay, and the rebuttal by you that you like guys? Or is that all part of your game-obsessed mind too Kirsten?"

She chuckled bitterly, her head shaking side to side as her voice continued to rise in anger and frustration. "You really don't get it Alex. It's the chase - the chase for dirt, the chase for love, the chase for fame and living through celebrities and famous people, that's what it is all about. I may have chased after Natalie but that's not me being gay, that's just me playing the game, whether I knew it or not. I chase Natalie, Eliza chases me, Salma chases Eliza and,"

She stopped suddenly, her eyes going wide with fear as she realized what she had said. Doing exactly what I wanted, Kirsten just gave me what I wanted to know - the hierarchy of the Rose Petals.

"Oh shit," Kirsten said, her face turning white as she looked over at Natalie, who had been following the discussion closely but now looked just as panicked as Kirsten.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit!" Kirsten kept repeating to herself as she held her head in her hands, staring at the floor. I couldn't help but smile as I made the turn off the freeway and headed towards my destination. I had gotten exactly what I wanted from her, had played the game by Kirsten's rules and come out on top, and now was going to use that to my advantage.

There was one more call to make, one more request for help, and now was the time to make it. I pulled my phone from my pocket and started dialing numbers as Kirsten continued to mumble in the back seat.

"Keep it down Kirsten," I said with a triumphant tone. "I've got to make a call,"

Eliza's Story:

Walking into my house, I fished in the pocket of my jeans and pulled out my pack of Marlboro Lights. Picking up a lighter from one of the side tables, I lit the white stick and took a long, deep drag as my guest followed me in, shutting the door behind her.

"Nice place you have Eliza," she said.

"Thanks Rose," I replied, exhaling above my head. I had picked Rose McGowan up to keep me company while Kirsten was out dealing with Alex Hilt. I trusted her and knew that she was okay, but part of me was a little nervous that she hadn't called in the last four hours or so. It was a big risk, bringing Natalie Portman in on things, but Salma had said it would be alright and would actually play to our advantage. I wasn't quite so sure, but I went along with it any ways.

"Make yourself at home," I said, ashing the end of my cigarette in the ashtray by the coffee table. Rose smiled at me and sat down next to me as I smoked half of it down in silence, Rose running her hands over the smooth feel of her leather pants. She wore a bright maroon pair of them, the material squeaking and stretching as she walked, the extra tightness accentuating her ass and I couldn't help but feel myself growing attracted and turned on by her. Her ample breasts were struggling against the pink halter top (a small blue flower located directly between her breasts) and they swayed whenever she moved.

"Thanks for picking me up by the way," Rose said. I nodded in acknowledgment, my mind wandering to other places.

She continued to try and make small talk.

"So Salma is the one behind all of this," Rose asked, her eyes staring at me with a mixture of wonder and curiosity. "The Rose Petals I mean,"

"Yeah, I guess. I know she is in charge of it right now, but I think that someone else handled things before her. Demi Moore I think," I replied. "She took things over about two or three years ago and has been actively recruiting ever since,"

"Is that why I'm here?" Rose said, brushing a long strand of hair away from her face.

I couldn't help but smile at her. "Yes, something like that. We are always looking for new, trustworthy members and I know that, with all the stuff in your past, you are good at keeping secrets,"

Rose laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. Though you wouldn't know it, given all the publicity me and Marilyn Manson received. You'd think I was out there walking the streets or something, spilling my guts to whoever walked by,"

"Don't discredit that kind of publicity," I said, stubbing out my cigarette and turning to face her. "It did get you noticed and attention for 'Charmed',"

"No, getting crushed in that garage door got me noticed. God, I still can't believe how successful that movie was. It amazes me to this day,"

"I'm the same way. Who would have thought something as silly as 'Bring it On' would rake in over $100 million,"

"True. But there is always a market for that teeny bopper shit and I guess you filled it. Or did you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, now that I know all about the Rose Petals and how a lot of roles work out here, I can't help but wonder if they had something to do with the success of that,"

"Shit no girl!" I said with a laugh. "Take a bunch of teen and twenty something actresses, dress them up as cheerleaders and slap some sort of story around it and the people will come running. Kiki helped carry that movie though, I have to admit,"

"Yeah, it really did help turn her into a star. That and 'Spiderman',"

"Did you know I almost got that part?"

"Really?" Rose said, sounding genuinely surprised.

"Yep. I auditioned but decided it wasn't really my thing, especially after 'Buffy' and all that. So I recommended Kiki and, well, that was that. Tobey helped too, his opinion really mattered,"

"Yeah," Rose said, letting the conversation hit a lull for a moment. She looked over at me and smiled, adjusting herself on the couch as she scooted closer to me. I tried to return the flirting back to her, but my mind again wandered to where Kirsten was and I reluctantly looked away. Rose picked up on this immediately.

"Eliza, what's wrong?"

"It's... well, I hate to dump all this shit on you but, the thing is, I haven't heard from Kiki in a few hours. She's out doing... something... for Salma and I don't know where she is right now. I can't stop thinking about it, I'm missing her already,"

"Do you think she is okay?"

"A few hours ago, I would have said yes. But now, I'm not so sure. I don't want to be a pestering bitch and call her, especially if she is in the middle of something, but I am worried,"

"Is she by herself?"

"Well, sorta. She has someone helping her but let's just say that the two of them may be way over their head right now,"

"Then why did you send them?"

"I didn't, Salma did. That's something you gotta be prepared for Rose. You'll have all sorts of sway in town now, but you still have to remember that no matter what you do, you are still someone's bitch,"

Rose's dry sense of humor got the best of her. "Hey, I spent my whole life acting the bitch. Can I be your bitch Eliza?" she said with a grin, her red hair falling over the side of her pale, creamy face.

I laughed, her stupid little joke helping to ease some of my tension.

"Yeah, I suppose you can. If its okay with Salma of course,"

Rose flopped back against the couch in mock frustration.

"Jesus, you have to get approval from Salma for everything don't you?"

Again I chuckled. "Yeah, that's pretty much how it works. It sucks but let me tell you, the benefits far outweigh the little nuisances like that,"

"So... if I wanted to kiss you right now," Rose said softly. "Would I have to call her up and ask for that?"

She moved closer to me and I could feel her bare forearm pressing against my side, her fingers slowly coming to life as they caressed the side of my body.

"No, I think it would be okay to let something like that slide," I whispered.

"Good," Rose said with that same devious smile.

Tilting her head a bit, Rose leaned in towards me and placed her lips just on top of mine, keeping the pressure off as our bodies met for the first time. Gradually, she leaned more and more into me until our faces were pressed tightly together, her arms managing to work themselves free as she wrapped them around my back, the soft feel of her lips starting to part for me as I felt her tongue gently graze over the front of my teeth.

"Mmm... that was good. Now I see why she wants permission before you can do anything," Rose said. "Letting such a delicious mouth as that out could be dangerous,"

We leaned in and kissed again and Rose, ever the aggressor, wasted no time in getting her tongue into my mouth. Not like I would have resisted if she tried of course, but Rose would have had none of that in the first place. Continuing to make out on the couch, I could feel our breath growing heated and more rapid as we wrapped our arms around each other more tightly.

Our breath mingled together as our tongues danced with one another, exploring each and every inch of each other's mouths, the soft weight of her kiss making me more aroused with each passing second. I felt the tip of her tongue slide over my own, tasting my breath and teeth as she caressed them deftly and seductively. Pulling her closer to me, I ran my hands up and down her back, the moans escaping her lips indicating that she liked that. Her left hand glided around on my thigh, her small fingers rubbing and pressing the material of my jeans into the hot skin that lay beneath.

Rose moved her other hand to my face, caressing my cheek with the back of her hand as her fingers grazed my earlobe, playing with the earring that hung from there gently and delicately. I managed to push my thoughts about Kirsten aside for the moment, relishing the contact of another woman, another body against me that was as attuned and skilled at seeking out what it desired as I was. Sliding her fingers downward, I arched my back a bit as Rose touched my cheek and neck, the scrape of her nails sending tingles down my spine as she brushed over my neck, my panting breath now escaping from my lips.

I became the submissive one now, leaning back against the couch as Rose broke the kiss and lowered her mouth to my sensitive neck. Kirsten never paid much attention to it, preferring other areas of my body, but I had learned with other lovers just how sensitive and erogenous it was. Rose knew exactly where to go as I felt her hot breath against my flesh for an instant, just before she kissed the nape of my neck with those soft lips of hers. Her tongue snaked out from her mouth like a timid mouse, licking ever so delicately the flesh beneath my chin as the room filled with the quiet sucking noises of Rose inhaling my neck into her small, wicked mouth.

She moved her kisses around more and more, coating and touching seemingly every hot spot on my neck as she worked from left to right, paying careful attention to the middle of my neck, the involuntary swallowing of pleasure on my part only serving to feed the fuel in her. As she worked downward, her nimble fingers pulled down slightly on the top of my t-shirt, pulling it down lower and lower as she kissed the soft flesh of my shoulder blades, making her way down towards my heaving, panting breasts. The shirt stretched obscenely as I trembled beneath her kiss, those talented lips now on the middle of my breast, her red hair tickling my chin and own mouth, the slight smell of her shampoo and perfume filling my nostrils.

Rose pulled the collar of the shirt to near its breaking point in her quest to get at my breasts. I felt her other hand slide up and under the back of my shirt, her finger nails dancing and playing along my back and spine as she moved towards her goal of my bra. With two skilled fingers, she pushed the strap inward and undid the clasp, in the way that only the most skilled lovers know how, and the click resonated around the room as my bra came free.

Reluctantly pushing her away from my chest, I reached down and pulled off my shirt, shrugging myself out of my bra as I let it fall over my shoulders and body to my lap, my breasts free and tingling in the air. Rose's eyes glimmered with an unbridled lust - she was the aggressive one for sure, but she wanted to show her skills and talents as a lover, to prove herself. I was more than willing to let her.

My passionate instincts increased as Rose lunched for my breasts, a loud moan crying out from my lips as I felt her mouth on my nipple. Her teeth bit down gently on it, turning the bud hard in an instant as her tongue snaked around it, batting it back and forth between her lips. She moved her hand to my other breast and fondled it lightly, pushing it upward as her palm caressed over my nipple, her mouth suckling on my tit all the while. I leaned back against the couch and let her have her way with me as she moved her mouth back and forth between my breasts, always replacing it with her hand to keep both nipples hard and aroused at the same time.

Using her other hand, Rose slid it downward on my body, tracing her finger in little circles over and around my belly button, the tip of her finger rubbing into the hole slightly as she grazed her nail around it, practically carving my flesh with the passion that ignited from her touch. My toned stomach flexed and tingled beneath her, spasming slightly as she moved her hand down towards my jeans. I had kept my legs closed more out of comfort than arousal, but as I felt Rose's palm graze over the button and zipper of the now much tighter denim, my legs seemed to open on their own accord.

I wrapped my arm around her head as I held her to my body, moaning in pleasure at her licks and kisses upon my breast. Her southward moving hand was now rubbing my thighs, stopping only for an agonizing moment as she moved from one leg to the other. What had started near my knees was quickly becoming an ever advancing assault towards my now very hot, very aroused pussy. I nearly came right then when I felt her palm finally land upon my heated opening, her fingers holding on to the hem of my jeans as she pressed her palm against me.

Crying out in bliss, Rose put pressure just below my clit, and I could feel my inner lips already starting to part for her as she used her palm to glide up and down against my now dripping cunt. The jeans had become almost unbearably hot and wet from her attentions, but I didn't dare try to have her remove them now, for fear of putting even a momentary end to the affection to which she was showing my sex. Rose broke her kiss from my breast to look up at my heaving, sweating face. Our eyes met and then I followed hers downward as she pushed harder against my pussy, my legs parting even wider and more for her.