Risky Investment Part 27

Sam looked surprised, then set a shot gla.s.s down in front of Chris and filled it to the brim.

Chris caught Sam's arm as she pulled the bottle of tequila away. "Leave it here, Sam, it's going to be a long night."

Sam leaned on the bar, watching as Chris threw back the first shot without a flinch, Sam poured her another.

Chris looked up into Sam's eyes. "I guess I have a decision to make."

Sam smiled, grabbed another shot gla.s.s, and proceeded to fill them both.

"The way I see it, hon, your decision has already been made," Sam said, pus.h.i.+ng Chris's full gla.s.s toward her.

Chris picked up the drink. "What do you mean?"

"Girl, look around you. You're sitting in a gay bar. All you can think about is locating a woman you can't get out of your mind, and you're proceeding to get s.h.i.+t-faced because you think that you may never see her again." Sam smiled and offered up a toast with her gla.s.s. "Seems to me that your decision has already been made!" That said, she slammed back the shot, dropped the gla.s.s to the counter, and walked away.

Chris had consumed half a bottle of tequila by the time Sam came around again.

"Chris, give me your car keys, hon."

Chris looked at Sam, her face beginning to look a little fuzzy, and handed over her keys.

"Lynn would never forgive herself, or me for that matter, if I let you drive in this condition," Sam said as she stuffed the keys in her pocket.

Chris took another look around the bar. She examined every face. Was she like all these other women? She motioned for Sam to join her.

"Sam, I just don't think that I'm like these other women. I mean, I haven't been attracted to any woman until Lynn. One woman, Sam*" Chris tried to explain.

"Sweetie." Sam paused and put her hand over Chris's hand. "Don't you understand? That's how it was for Beth. That's how it started for almost all of these women. One day each of them felt attracted to aeone' woman. Each of them had to make a decision, just like the one you're fighting with right now."

Chris's eyes teared up. Suddenly, she felt a connection with every woman there. She threw back another shot, praying that the liquid would numb the pain.

Lynn sat on the couch in the hotel room surrounded by paperwork. She had gotten more and more angry that afternoon after she sent the flowers and received no response. She felt like she had been sucked in and spit out once again. Why did she keep falling for it? Trying to immerse her mind into something else, she opted to catch up on paperwork.

She worked nine hours straight when she received the phone call. Recognizing the phone number as that of the Rainbow Room, she picked up immediately.

"Lynn Gregory," she said into the receiver.

"Hey, it's Sam."

"Hi, Sam. How are things at the bar tonight?" Looking over to find the time had slipped away from her, Lynn asked, "It's just about closing time, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm calling about," Sam replied.

Lynn was confused. "I don't understand."

"I have someone here who needs a ride home," Sam said, looking over at the body still sitting at the bar.

"Sam, I'm a little far away for that*" Lynn began to explain.

Sam interrupted, "Look, Chris is here and she is way beyond wasted."

"Sam, please don't let her attempt to drive that way," Lynn said softly.

"Drive? She'll be lucky if she can walk! She drank almost an entire bottle of tequila," Sam explained. "Lynn, come take her home, please. She needs you. All she kept mumbling was something about making a decision. I'm sure you know what that was about."

Lynn tried to explain, "Sam, you don't understand. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, it would take me over an hour to get there! And that's if traffic is good!"

"You're over an hour away? Where are you?" Sam asked, then said sarcastically, "Or should I ask who are you with?"

Lynn resented the question. "Sam. I am alone. I am in the city. I cannot come to get her." Then changing her tone, she asked, "Please promise me that she will get home safely, will you?"

Sam sighed as she looked over to the woman in misery. "I promise."

Lynn hung up the phone and pictured the scene at the bar. The music stopped, most of the crowd would have left by now. She thought of Chris sitting alone at the bar with an empty bottle in front of her. Part of her was happy to learn Chris was in such misery. Part of her wanted to hold her close and comfort her. She put her paperwork away and shut down her laptop computer. She lay down on the bed, exhausted after having experienced so many emotions that day. Happiness and hopefulness over the flowers, irritation with herself for having hope, anger over not receiving a response, and finally guilt for the pain that Chris was feeling. It would all be over soon, she convinced herself as she drifted off to sleep.

Chris watched as Sam argued with someone on the other end of the phone line. Hanging up the receiver, Sam approached Chris.

"That's it, Chris, closing time. Time to go home."

Chris moaned and tried to stand. Sam rushed around the corner of the bar and pulled Chris's arm around her shoulder, balancing the woman.

"Come on, I promised Lynn that you'd get home safely," Sam said as she helped Chris out the door.

All Chris remembered later was Matt answering the door and helping her to bed. She rolled over and wept as the numbness wore off and the pain overwhelmed her body once again.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Lynn slowly pushed open the bedroom door to watch as the body, snuggled under the sheets, slept. A million thoughts were rus.h.i.+ng through her mind*memories of the past week, Chris's laugh, her smiles, her tears. She wondered if she would ever see her again. Matt walked up and stood behind her, placing his arms around Lynn.

"Penny for your thoughts," Matt said softly.

Lynn shook her head and continued staring at the slow rise and fall of the sheet. Matt left her to her thoughts. After a few minutes, Lynn walked down the hall, picked up her keys, and said to Matt, "Call me when she's gone."

Matt nodded and headed into the kitchen to make his "hangover special."

He stirred the ingredients together vigorously, then leaned on the counter as the liquid spun around and around. He couldn't help but be disappointed in the outcome of the situation. Oh, he wasn't disappointed in Lynn. He knew that she couldn't force Chris to succ.u.mb to her feelings. And Chris wasn't to blame, either. Admitting that you're in love with someone of the same s.e.x isn't an easy thing to do. He thought she just needed a gentie nudge, but he had done all the nudging that he could do.

Lynn slid onto the leather seat of her BMW. Her day wasn't going to get any better. After changing into her business attire, she was heading to a meeting that she dreaded. The investment that Charles had been so excited about, turned out to be nothing to be excited about. Turning the key in the ignition, she ran over several scenarios in her mind. She sighed as she turned onto the freeway. There was just no easy way to tell him. Maybe she should tell him that her most recent investment hadn't been successful either.

Matt sat down on the edge of the bed and shook Chris's arm lightly.

"Hey, sleepyhead," he said softly.

Chris, having trouble opening her eyes, rolled over and lay on her back. "What time is it?"

"Time for you to get up," Matt replied. "How's your head?"

Chris made an attempt to sit up, then fell back on her pillow in pain. "Ohhh," she moaned.

"That's what I thought." He picked up the gla.s.s of his special hangover elixir from the bed table and handed it to Chris. "Here, this should help."

Chris looked at the red concoction and gave out another moan. "What is that?"

"Don't worry about it. This little concoction will have you feeling better in no time," Matt answered.

Chris raised herself on one elbow and took a sip of the liquid. Not bad.

"I have to go in to work for a while but we're meeting my parents at five o'clock, okay?" Matt said as he headed out the bedroom door.

"Matt?" Chris called out, making Matt turn around. "Was it just my imagination, or was Lynn standing right there a little while ago?"

Matt nodded. "Not your imagination, she was here. She just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"But she's gone again?" Chris hesitantly asked.

Matt looked at her, nodded, and sighed. "She's gone again."

Chris stumbled to the shower after drinking the entire gla.s.s of Matt's mixture. She stepped in and let the cool water rush over her face, hoping it would relieve her pounding head. She turned her back to the water, crossed her arms, and leaned her head on the shower wall. Tomorrow her life could return to normal. She could go back to her apartment, her studying, her freedom. Funny, it didn't really sound all that appealing.

Toweling off, she looked around the room. This had become her home. In just a little over a week her life had been turned upside down. And now, she wasn't at all sure that she wanted it to change back. She sat on the bed ma.s.saging her temples. She wished Lynn were here now to rub away the tension. She wished Lynn were here now, period.

Charles rose from the table as Lynn approached.

"Well, don't you look all business!" Charles exclaimed as he pulled out a chair to seat her. It wasn't often that he saw her in anything but casual attire. Now she stood before him in a business suit and heels.

"There's a reason for that, I'm afraid," Lynn answered. Not exactly sure how to approach the matter, Lynn placed her elbows on the table, folded her hands, and looked Charles straight in the eye.

"Charles, you haven't actually handed over any funds for this investment yet, have you?" Lynn asked delicately.

Charles shook his head and smiled. "Well, there was a small deposit that I had to make just to hold my position open. But I never hand over the big money until I run it by my very knowledgeable investment advisor."

"How much of a deposit?"

"A thousand bucks, why?" he asked curiously.

"I'm afraid you've been a victim of fraud," Lynn answered softly. She watched as the blood drained from the face of the man across the table.

"What? But the men seemed so professional. You saw the prospectus, all the brochures*" Charles stuttered.

"Yes, it all looked good on paper, but once I started checking around*" Lynn began to explain.

Charles interrupted, still in disbelief, "And you're sure about this?"

"Positive." Lynn nodded. "Charles, I hope you don't mind, but I called a friend of mine over in the Fraud Division of the FBI. He'll be joining us in a few minutes to discuss the matter."

Charles lowered his eyes and began fidgeting with his napkin. "No, of course I don't mind." Then raising his eyes to hers, he explained his nervousness. "I know I'm only out a thousand bucks on this, but I have friends* let's just say that they won't be as lucky."

Lynn sighed. "I hate to say it, but this kind of thing happens all the time. I'm just glad that you came to me."

"You and me both," Charles smiled halfheartedly. He hurt inside for his friends who could face financial ruin.

"Good afternoon," said the man who had approached the table during their private conversation.

Lynn looked up and stood. "Bill, thanks for coming." Then turning, she made introductions, "Bill Woods, Charles McKinley"

The men shook hands and they all took their seats. Lynn informed Bill that she had explained the situation to Charles. The two men talked about how much money was involved. Bill opened his briefcase and pulled out a folder.

Opening the folder, he scooted it across the table in front of Charles. "Are these the men?"

Charles picked up several photographs and nodded. "They sure look legit, don't they? I mean, having been on the bench and all, as a judge, you would think that I could be a better judge of character, wouldn't you?"

Bill took the folder, shoved it back into his briefcase, and shook his head. "Please don't be hard on yourself. These men are professionals. They've run this racket all over the world."

"Well, is there anything that I can do to help you get these guys behind bars?" Charles asked.

Bill nodded. "Lynn furnished me with all the material that you gave her. Their office address is listed on the prospectus. We'll start there. Anything else you can tell us will be appreciated."

Charles spent the next hour telling Bill about how he and his friends were approached and all of the details that followed. Bill interrupted occasionally with questions, maldng notes as the discussion continued.

Just as they were concluding, a cell phone rang. Bill checked his phone, then turned to Lynn. "Nope, must be yours."

Lynn picked up her phone and excused herself from the table to take the call. Bill leaned over to Charles.

"So, Lynn said that you were the father of a friend. Would that be her boyfriend?" he asked with a smile. "I've been trying to get a date with her since I met her. She just keeps saying that she likes to keep her personal life separate from her business life."

Charles smiled, not knowing exactly how to answer. Lynn must have her reasons for keeping this young man in the dark. If Bill was truly interested, he was sure that someone in the FBI could have found out about Lynn's lifestyle. He decided on the plain and simple truth. "Lynn lives with my son."

Bill nodded and stood as Lynn rejoined the men. "Well, I think that I have all that I need now." Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to Charles. "I'll be contacting you for a list of investors involved."

Shaking Charles's hand and then Lynn's, he said, "Nice to have met you Charles, and Lynn, always a pleasure."

When Bill left, Charles focused on the business card still in his hand. "Lynn, looks like I owe you another one."

Lynn placed her hand over Charles's hand. "You know I'd do anything for you and Marie. And of course for Matt." She felt a twinge of guilt over the current charade.

Charles smiled at the mention of Matt's name. "By the way, I may have led Bill to believe that you were involved with my son."

Lynn laughed. "I leave the table for one minute. How did that come about?"

"He asked if I happened to be your boyfriend's father. I merely said that you and he lived together. It wasn't a lie. Is there some reason why he doesn't know about your lifestyle? I thought you were pretty open about the whole thing."

"Sometimes you can just tell who is accepting of it and who isn't. I just have this feeling about him. Maybe he wouldn't be as cooperative with me if he knew," Lynn explained. "Word gets around. I'm sure that he'll eventually uncover the truth." Then smiling, she added, "So if you get a call in the middle of the night that I've been falsely imprisoned for something, you'll know what happened."