Master Of Puppets

©Sweet-Kisses™

~*~

Kevin walked into the club that he knew only too well - Club Sin. It had been through a revamp since the last time that he had been there. Once inside, however, he didn't seem to care about the difference in artistry. He went in there for a purpose, for a reason.

He looked around himself to distract any doubt that might rise within. He saw only two employees behind the bar. Both were tall, dark-haired males, dressed in black. They were drying off wine glasses and making small talk, adding a few peals of laughter to the conversation every so often. In one corner, three middle-aged men in dark suits were holding a quiet conference, pushing around papers and each sipping on what looked like scotch. In the other corner, two couples were seated around the small circular table, all smiles and happiness whilst sharing a bottle of Shiraz.

This place was different somehow, different from what Kevin remembered it to be.

The owner walked down the stairs of the club, her hand extended. Her dark eyes sized Kevin up quickly, her jet-black hair flowing down her back. Her heels clicked on the ground as she walked, the jacket and pencil skirt assuming the ever-professional. She shook Kevin's hand firmly. "I'm Morgan Mallis, the proprietor. How can I help?"

Kevin cleared his throat. "I wanted to talk to you about an incident that happened here several months back."

Morgan appeared perplexed. "Sorry, uh - ?"

"Richard. Richard Scott," Kevin lied, quickly realising how pathetic the lie sounded.

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr Scott. I've only since taken over this place just twelve weeks ago and let me tell you, it's not been any easy ride. As you can see, we kept the name but the interior wasn't to my taste"

"I see. What do you know about the past owner? I was told that he had a daughter."

"He?" Morgan laughed lightly. "I think you mean 'she'. Louise Lyons. Pain in the behind to the very last second she was here."

"Did she have a daughter?"

"Daughter? I think not. Louise was so caught up in running this place that she barely had time for herself, let alone a husband or child. No, that woman was a workaholic if there ever was one."

Kevin thanked Morgan and walked out quickly. He surveyed the people who hurried past him, seemingly unaware that a celebrity was in the midst of them all.

I'm dead. Good as dead.

~**~

Kevin coughed loudly. A deep, congested sound reverberated around him and it hurt. His throat and chest was causing him a lot of pain. He was trying to hide it. He was trying to do his best, but he wasn't sure for how much longer he could conceal his problem. Kevin gave a discreet sniff but Brian was already walking over to him, two large coffees in hand.

"Here," Brian said, handing one of the paper cups to his cousin and sitting down next to him. He started to sip slowly. "I know, Kevin."

Kevin cleared his throat and hoped to Jesus that he didn't have another fit of coughing hysteria. "You know what?" he asked, his eyes narrowed.

"I know," Brian repeated, "and guess what else? It's okay."

Kevin sighed. Useless cousin, always interfering and thinking he knew the right answers for everything. "You talk so much for someone who never seems to say anything of importance. Oooh, you know! You know, what? Fucking what?"

"You could get pneumonia if you're not careful and wind up even worse than you are. See a doctor. You sound like hell."

"There's nothing wrong with me."

"That's not what I just heard."

"What you heard is the flu."

"I think we might've bypassed that stage. Look at you. You look like you haven't slept in a while. I'm worried. I know doctors aren't your most favourite of people and I understand. That's what I meant before. I know, and I understand. But you're sick. I can see that. Why put it off?"

Kevin jumped up. "Why not mind your own fucking business?"

Brian stood up reluctantly. This was getting him nowhere. He stared resolutely into his cousin's angry eyes. "I'm really disappointed in you, Kevin."

Kevin watched Brian stalk off and felt anger bubbling within him. He hated his cousin for trying to get close to him. Kevin couldn't let him get close; because what he would find out was not at all pretty.

Not even in the least.

~***~

The doctor was seen, the blood was taken and Kevin walked out sullen. He looked down at his arm and examined the small medicinal bandage where the needle had been. He frowned. He had objected to the test, as much as he could. But nothing would work. The doctor was too pushy.

"Kevin, your arm. Please. Won't take long."

Kevin looked up at his doctor, who held a needle in his hand. "This isn't funny, you know. I said no to this. I'm still saying no now. You can't do this."

The doctor looked less than pleased. "Who's laughing? I'm certainly not. This is serious. You're sick and I just want to know what's going on. That's all. You'll be good as new because of this. Trust me."

Want to bet?

Kevin opened the door to his room and saw familiar black Samsonite luggage in one corner of the room. He stopped suddenly. This was less than ideal.

Hands appeared from behind him to cover his eyes. "Guess who?" a female voice whispered into his ear.

"Like I have to guess."

Light laughter followed Kevin's reply and quickly the female revealed herself to him. It was Edwina, and she looked more beautiful than Kevin remembered. Her short dark hair shone and her hazel eyes were lined softly with a dark kohl pencil. Her outfit - a firm fitting, long-sleeve white shirt and jeans with kitten heels - suited her perfectly. It had only been just over a month since he had last seen her.

Edwina was his oldest friend - she knew him even before the other four men did. They had been next door neighbors for years, growing up together. At one stage, they had even attempted to "date". That is, until Edwina realised she had a crush on the captain of the cheerleading squad as a senior. Kevin had been bitterly disappointed, for Edwina Edwards was really the only female who "got" Kevin at all. When learning of such a revelation, Kevin had avoided Edwina for several weeks until he couldn't deny how much he missed Edwina's company.

The rest, as most say, was history.

Edwina narrowed her hazel eyes and she crossed her arms over her chest. "What's the matter with you? I told you before I left that you need to see a doctor!" She stepped forward. It didn't help much that Edwina had become a pathologist. "You look exhausted. This is not good, Kevin."

Kevin held out his arm to show where blood had been taken. "I did, okay? Can we just put a fucking end to it already?"

"Whatever you say, Rich," she replied, using her nickname for Kevin that had been in place since they were kids.

Kevin stepped past Edwina and sunk onto the large, comfortable sofa. "How's Jasmine?" Jasmine and Edwina had been "married" in one of the very few states in the country that allowed civil union ceremonies. Kevin had been disappointed - twice, since he and Edwina had known each other. He always thought that it was a phase. However, it didn't seem so.

"Jasmine's fine. She asked me to give you a hug."

"There's no chance for me, is there?"

"No, Kevin. None."

Kevin made himself think that he didn't care. People had an idea about him, and he tried to keep that "idea" intact. That idea about him was that he was kind, sensible, moral and honest. They, including Edwina, didn't know about what was happening to him, and what he was doing with younger females. And besides, did he really want to give that all up for Edwina?

Not likely.

"Kevin? Everything okay?" She waved a hand in front of his face. "I just asked you a question."

"What?" Kevin snapped.

"Hey, calm down," she said in a soothing voice. Her eyes fell onto her shoes as she slipped her feet out of the heels. "Well - Jasmine and I - this is a really silly thing to ask - and you can say no - "

"Whatever it is, just say it and stop stuttering."

Edwina took a small breath and what she said was said very quickly. "Jasmine and I want to have children and we want you to help us."

Kevin's eyes widened. Then he turned his head away. A moment later, Kevin stood up with his back toward Edwina. "No."

Edwina stood up and took hold of Kevin's arm. For some reason, he didn't seem as strong as he used to. She moved Kevin around so they made eye contact. "I didn't expect you to agree straight away. But I thought that if you understood how much this meant to Jasmine and I, you would - "

"Reconsider?"

Edwina nodded. "Yes, reconsider. Jasmine and I - we don't want just anyone as the father of our child and we decided that you would be the perfect one. That's why I came to see you."

Kevin shook his head. He thought it was the most stupid, ridiculous thing he'd ever heard but he had to keep up the facade of the supportive friend. "Wow." He sat back down and pretended to be shocked and, almost, humbled - if he could. "I'm...shocked. Why didn't you tell me you were planning on this?"

"Well, we wanted to be sure that this is what we wanted to do. You don't have to decide right away or anything but..."

No, Kevin. You can't do that to her. Tell her. She'll understand. She'll help you. "Sure. Count me in."

Edwina thought that was a rather strange thing to say, but was too overwhelmed to really give it much thought. "Are you really sure? Really and truly?"

"Really."

Edwina gave him a big smile and kissed his cheek lightly. "You're a good guy, Rich. I'm not sure if I've told you that lately but you are."

Kevin smiled but he could hear a voice inside him saying something different. Well done, Kevin. Better add another grave right next to yours. "I try."

Edwina stood up and walked toward the bathroom. Kevin turned his head to watch her walk away. She suddenly turned around. "Oh, did you hear about that girl?"

"What girl?"

"Daisy. Daisy Bigara. It's been everywhere for the past few days. Daughter of the Wall Street tycoon, Phillip Bigara?"

"Oh. Right."

"She committed suicide on Tuesday. Pills. She was only fourteen. How sad."

Kevin nodded. "Yeah. Really sad."

~****~