Chicken A La King Page Fifteen

Mindy and Cynthia lay on chaise lounges at the Voille Rouge Beach. It was a private beach, known mostly for it’s nude sunbathers and celebrity seekers. Today the beach was teaming with starlets and playboys, all trying to outdo each other by being more outrageous than the next.
Mindy applied some sunscreen lotion on her arms.
“I wonder how Sam is doing.”
“I’m sure he is fine. He’s a big boy.”
“I’m a little worried about him,,,,I had a strange dream last night that he cheated on me.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“Who with?”
“Some blonde”.
“Sam doesn’t even like blondes...He’s alway told you that he favors brunettes.”
“Thats true...”
“Don’t worry about it, Sam is not cheating on you Mindy!”
Ah Sam. She felt sorry for him for working so hard. But that was what he loved. He didn’t know how to relax and have a good time. She did though and that was all that mattered.
Mindy looked around. The beach was filled with beaufitul women from all over the world. They were all topless except for her and Cynthia. It was obvious that they were from America.
“Cynthia...Look around....”
“What? Who’s here?”
“It’s us.”
“Us?”
“Everyone has their tops off. Should we take ours off too?”
Cynthia looked around. No one seemd to care.
“Why not?”
They slowly undid their bikini tops. Mindy felt slightly uncomfortable exposing her breasts but Cynthia didn’t seem to mind one bit.
“Oh, thats much better.”
Mindy was a bit embarassed and self conscious at first, but she slowly adpated to being half nude. When in France, do as the French do. A handsome playboy type approached them.
“Bonjour ladies, je suis Jean Pierre.”
“Hi ya Jean Pierre.”
“It is lovely to see such beauty here.”
He smiled at them both flashing his white teeth in the sun agains his tanned skin.
“Thank you very much.”
“Would you ladies care for a drink from the bar.?”
“Yes please, two wine sprtizers please.”
“I will be back soon.”
Cynthis nudged Mindy.
“I think he likes you.
“Please!”
Jean Pierre returned with the wine spritzers.
“Where are you from?”
“New York”
“Ah yes, New York...A wonderful place.”
“Have you been.?”
“Yes, I buy jewellery there for my business......
He eyed the large diamond around Mindys neck.
“I like your stone. it is a very good quality.”
‘Thank you.”
“Are you staying in town?”
“Yes, we have a villa here.”
“Oh perfect.....I love America....It is so productive there. I think you Americans are very ambitious people, not like the French...the French are well, we are lazy....We like to enjoy life, we enjoy our food and our wine and making love....”
Cynthia and Mindy looked at each other.
“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope we will meet again soon...”
He walked away and turned around and waved to them.
“Did you get a load of him?”
“Yeah, French men, alway looking for place to park their dicks.”
“Want to go for a walk?”
“Alright.”
They got up and walked down the beach. Beyond them was a dune and behind it lay a horde of photgraphers. They snapped away as Mindy and Cynthia walked along the beach topless.
Scott commandeered the motorhome around the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. He and Ali were out for a ride today. He had all kinds of plans in his head for expanding the show and reaching new audiences, plus he loved showing off the motorhome.
“So I’ve been thinking about taking the show on the road for two weeks.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Want to come along?”
“Yes!”
“Good, I’ll take care of Fratelli for you, don’t worry, it won’t be a problem.”
“Oh Scott, it’ll be so great to be on the road with you!”
“I have some dates lined up in New Mexico and Texas........And I thought maybe we’d stop in Iowa.
”Really?”
“Yeah, how about that?”
“I’d love for my parents to meet you!.”
“Alright then, it’s a date.”
“I’m so excited!”
“Think you can handle sleeping in the cabin?”
“Yes.”
They stopped at a light and looked across the street. There was some kind of demonstration going on.
“What’s over there?”
“I don’t know...Oh, it’s Uncle Sams. Looks like some people are protesting.”
“Let’s go and see!”
He swung the motorhome around and pulled into the restaurant parking lot. There was a mob there and they crowded around the coach. They started chanting.
“Elvis! Elvis! Elvis!”
Scott opened the door and they yelled inside.
“Come out! Come out! Come out!”
He got out of the motorhome and they screamed, mobbing him. A woman waved a sign that says chicken wings = murder.
“Please help us out.” she begged.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Can you sing a song for us?”
“Surley Ma’am....”
Scot climbed in the coach and got a microphone set up. He turned the speakers on full blast and went outside. The crowd cheered.
He talked into the mic.
“Hello guys and gals, I know some of you are here today because you are mad. Mad that Uncle Sam The Chicken Man has done those chickens wrong. But don’t be mad anymore, be happy that things are going to get better for these animals soon. This is a little song I wrote called Chicken House Rock”. He started to sing......
“The warden threw a party in the county jail, The prison band was there and they began to wail, the band was jumpin and the joint began to swing, you should’ve heard those knocked out chicken sing, Let’s rock, everybody, lets rock, Everybody in old cell block Was dancin to the chickenhouse rock.”
The crowd applauded loudly and yelled and whistled. A news crew arrived on the scene and came over to interview Scott.
“Why are you here today Elvis?”asked the reporter.
“I’m here today because there is an injustice going on and we’re not staying quiet about it anymore. We want our voices to be heard.”
“What change will your song bring about?”
“ I hope the chicken people out there will listen to this....Clean up your act fellas. Give these poor birds a chance.”
“Thank you Elvis....And thats me Paul Soto, from Uncle Sams Chicken in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
Sam turned on the 6:00 news. It had been a long day and he was tired. A small dinner tray was set up in front of the TV for him and Marsha the maid had prepared a lovely veal marsala for him. The news started.
“Good evening...Now for the news.....Fighting errupted today in the middle East, there were six American casualties and two American soldiers were taken hostage.”
Sam continued eating.....More news items were broadcasted.
“And this just in....Activists in Nevada staged a protest today at Uncle Sam’s Chicken. They protesting the alleged animal abuse charges against Sam Fullbein, the owner and founder of the restaurants. On hand today was an Elvis impersonator from Las Vegas.”
Sam couldn’t beleive it!! This was insane! All this bad press was destroying him. He had to put a stop to it immediately. He picked up the phone.
“Get me Nelson Heinz please.”
Nelson was his private investigator, one of the best in the business.
“Nelson?...Its me, Sam....I’ve got some business I want you to care of.....Seems some Elvis clown in Las Vegas is saying bad things to the press about me. He’s started a demonstartion outside one of my stores! I want an end to him. Find him!”
“Yes, Ill get on it immediately.”
Nelson Heinz was 42, a retired police officer and private investigator to a wealthy clientele. Personal security was good these days and business was booming. He had a good sense of people and carried a Glock at all times. He was ready to use it if necessary.
He reviewed the newsreel again and printed stills of the Elvis guy and zeroed in on the picture off the screen. There looked like a motorhome in the background and he was almost able to make out the license plate number.
Nelson would board a plane for Las Vegas tonight to start his search. It wouldn’t be easy, Vegas was a big town and there were alot of entertainers there....But how many had a motorhome like that one? That was likely the key to finding this guy.
He landed in Vegas and rented a car. His first stop was Bally Resort. He walked into the lounge. There was an Elvis impersonator there doing his show and he waited until the show was over. He went and talked to him.
“Excuse me....”
“Yes?”
“I’m a private investigator and I’m looking for this guy...Do you know him?”
The Elvis guy studied the picture.
“No, sorry. Don’t recognize him.”
“Sorry to bother you.”
Nelson put the photo back in the envelope. The Elvis guy spoke.
“Hey, you might want to try Caesars Palace, there’s a review there tonight.”
“Thanks, I’ll give it a shot.”
Nelson made his way over to Caesar’s Palace. The night was warm and balmy and he unbuttoned his shirt a few buttons. It was exciting to be back in Vegas, he hadn’t been here since a divorce case in 1991.
He arrived at Caesars and walked into the lounge. The show was in full swing and the Elvis guys was onstage. It could be him, one never knew for sure. He ordered a club soda and waited. When the show was over he walked up and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes Matey?”
“Hello, my name is Nelson Heinz...I’m a private investigator....Is this you by any chance?”
He showed him the picture.
“Hell no Matey. I wouldn’t sport sideburns as long as that....”
He looked at the picture a little closer.
“As a matter of fact, I do recognize this lad, I shared a pint with him in the bar the other morning...He was havin’ some women problems as I recall.....”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes, Matey....seems his old lady had a husband lurking about or some rubbish.”
“You don’t recall his name do you by chance?”
“It was...er....Raymond! That’s it.....Scott Raymond.”
“Thanks very much good sir.”
“Not a problem Matey, not a problem at all....”
Nelson headed back to the car where he would run a computer check on the name and see if an adress followed. He entered the information into the computer and pulled up a Scott Raymond at 19 Fullmont Street. He swung the car around and headed off to the south side of town.
He drove slowly past the house. The lights were on and somebody was home. The motorhome was in the driveway. Bingo! This was the place! He copied the license plate number down and called Sam.
“Sam? Nelson here....I have your man.”
“Keep your eyes on him.”
“I will.....You want me to talk to him?”
“Not yet....Let’s watch him for awhile and see what he does.”
“Yes sir.”
Click! Nelson sat and watched the house from across the street. It looked like it would be a long night.
It was morning and Scott awoke to a buzzing alarm clock. Today was a busy day, he had a bass player, drummer, keyboard player and guitarist to organize for the trip. They would all be travelling in a bus behind the motorhome. He called them TCB after Elvis’s crew Taking Care Of Business. They were all fantastic players and would be a big hit.
He got his costumes ready, they were all drycleaned and hanging on a rack. He had a whole collection of custom jewellery to take, some of which he would give away on occasion a la Elvis style to adoring fans.
Across town Ali packed for the trip. She didn’t have many clothes for the showbiz life. With her tips from waitressing she had saved some money ad might buy a few things to wear in public, maybe Scott could help her pick something out.
Ali was excited about going on the road. She had never been to New Mexico or Texas so it was all a great new adventure. She packed some underwear, a bra, some T-shirts and some sandals. The rest would have to be bought along the away.
It was the last stretch of the girls vacation and Mindy and Cynthia were now in Sardinia, Italy. Sardinia was marrooned between italy and North Africa. It was a lovely town off the sea and they were staying in a rustic house just off the ocean.
Mindy was getting dressed to go to a party at a nearby villa. She chose a white crocheted dress with a scooping neckline that hugged her slim waist and showed off her tanned legs. She brushed her long brown hair until it gleamed and put on a beauitiful diamond choker that Sam had given her.
Cynthia appeared in an orange minidress and high heeled sandals.
“Ready to party?”
“Ready.” Mindy said
“I’ll drive....”
“No, I’ll do the driving tonight, I know you are going to get toasted there.”
They headed off in the white convertible BMW up the rocky mountainside. The villa they were going to was owned by a race car driver and it would be a wild party tonight. Mindy followed the curving road and Cynthia lit up a joint. They both smoked it and giggled.
“Slow down.”
“Don’t worry....”
“Think we’ll see any movie stars at this party?”
“I’ve heard the Franko really knows how to throw a bash.”
“Can’t wait to see his place...he’s a hottie.”
“I wonder how Sam is doing now?”
“Who cares?”
They laughed and drove up to a stone mansion with large wooden gates in front. Cars filled the driveway and a valet parked the car for them.
“Come on!”
Mindy and Cynthia stood in the doorway of the mansion. The ceilings were high with large wooden beams and the walls were stuccoed over. Some large tapestries hung on the walls. Franko came over to greet them.
“Ah! Beautiful Ragettzas!
He gave them each two kisses on thie cheeks.
“Please, come and have a glass of wine.”
They settled into the party of beautiful people. There was food spread out and it was a mix of Phoenician, Carthagininan and Spanish, some wild boar, lamb and spit roasted pig with myrtle, couscous and nougat. There was excellent bread and salty, pungent cheese. Mindy was enjoying herself when a tall dark haired man approached her. He shook her hand lightly.
“Hello, my name is Carlos.”
“Mindy.”
“Nice to meet you.....”
There was electricity in the air between them. she could smell the faint musk of his cologne and his breath smelled like red wine. He touched her hand ever so slightly. Franko came over to see them.
“Ah, Carlos....I see you have met my American friend....”
“Yes, how delightful...”
“Mindy, Carlos is from the famed De Portia family, they manufacture automobiles here in Sardinia....”
“Oh really....”
“Yes, my family has been making cars for fity years. It is a tradition.”
Franko looked at Mindy.
“Mindy is in the restaurant business in America.”
“My husband is.....”
“Restaurants? Oh, we love to eat here in Italy...”
“It’s a little different than in America.”
Carlos took her hand in his.
“Why don’t we go for a walk on the terrace?”
“Yes, I would like that.”
They walked out on the terrace which had huge terra cotta planters with orange trees in them. The sky was starting to change from dusk to night and it was a hue of purple and blue.
“It is so calm here, I like it very much.”
“Yes, it is.” she replied.
“Do you like Italy?”
“Yes, it is my first time here.”
“So, you are married?”He asked
“Yes...”
“Are you married?” She asked
“No, I am just, what you say in America...A playboy.”
He looked around at the people inside the party.
“Would you like to come for a drive with me? I would like to show you Sardinia.”
“Sure.”
“Come.”
He led her to his car, a red Ferrari and opened the door for her. They sped off, cascading down the mountainside. Her hair blew around her face.
“You look lovely when you smile.”
“Thanks.”
“Your husband is a lucky man.”
“I guess he is.”
“I wish i was him.”
Mindy was silent.
They reached th top of the mountain and they got out of the car. It was breathtakingly beautiful and tiny lights were coming in in the city below. Carlos reached around her waist.
“You are very beautiful...Can I kiss you?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her softly and his tongue played in her mouth. They stayed and enjoyed the view for awhile.
“Come, we had better get back to the party.”
They got in the car and he sped off, twisting and turning around the mountainside. He sped up just before a hairpin curve and didn’t see the car coming straight towards them. The cars crashed......Glass flew everywhere and the sound of schreeching metal echoed in her ears. Mindy blacked out and a sea of blackness enveloped her.
The headline read, “Heir to Di Portia Fortune Dead.” There was a large picture of Mindy walking topless on the beach in St Tropez with a brief description of the American married woman that was with him when he died.
Carlos’ coffin was placed beside his cousin, Roberto Turelli, who died from stomach cancer a few months before. Outside the iron gate of the chapel lay a single floral tribute, two ears of corn tied with a red and blue ribbon with a card bearing the wors, “For Carlos”. A minute’s silence was observed that morning at the car factory as a sign of mourning.
Sam had received the call the night before. He was flying to Italy that morning to be with her. From what he understood from the doctors she was in stable conditon and would live. But she might not be Mrs Fullbein much longer.
He was furious, this was the last straw. This was the ultimate betryal and he wondered if she had ever loved him or just married him for his money. It was over for him, She had not lived up to her deal of five years, therefore she would not be entitled to any money. She was out. He would see to that from his lawyers.
Scott turned the key in the ignition. They were on their way. They left behind all the signs and lights from the city and drove out into the desert. Miles and miles of road lay ahead of them.
Nelson followed the motorhome and the bus out of the city, keeping his distance. He was driving a black Ford Bronco which he had just filled with gas.
Scott looked over at Ali enjoying the scenery.
“Good to get away, isn’t it?”
“Yes....”
“We’re on our adventure.”
“Yes, I can hardly wait to show you Iowa.”
“So, you lived there all your life?”
“Yes I did.”
“So how long did you know Chet?”
“Oh, forget about that!”
“No, just curious.”
“Ten years. I met him when I was fifteen. We went to school together.”
“Oh, high school sweethearts huh?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“He seemed like a nice guy...i mean, he came here to get you.He must have really loved you. Did you love him too?”
“Well, I was in love with him, but then I sort of outgrew him but stayed with him anyway because in Iowa its like that. You can’t just go jumping around from man to man.”
“I see.”
“How about you? How come you never got remarried?”
“Me? Married? Well, I meet plenty of women. Just never found the right one for me.”
“I’ll bet you meet lots of women.”
“No, sweetie, not like that.”
“Then like what?”
“I mean, I meet women all the time, at my shows, I have fans but they’re not special, like you, you know what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“What I’m trying to say is, I don’t fall in love with anybody....Not until I met you.”
Ali was quiet and stared out the window. So he was telling her he was in love with her already. Wow. They drove in silence for awhile. Scott opened a package of gum.
“Want some?”
“Okay, thanks.”
“So what were you like when you were a kid?”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I was shy. I used to play by myself. I loved animals and we always had animals on the farm, rabbits, chickens, cats and dogs...Then I turned into a teenager and that was the turning point for me.
“Why? Because you discovered boys?”
“No, I discovered books.”
“Books?’
“Yes, I learned about the world from books.”
“Oh.......Thats cool.”
“That’s why I came to Las Vegas, because I read about it in books and it seemed do different from where I was from.”
“It’s different alright but Vegas ain’t no book darlin......Ready to be my co-pilot?”
“Yeah.”
“Get out the map.” Sam arrived at the St Michele Hospital in Sardinia. There was a media circus outside and he slipped past the reporters and photographers. He had no flowers, no card and no candy for Mindy. Just a hurting heart that it had come to this.
Mindy lay back in the hospital bed dressed in a pink satin robe. Her hair was brushed back from her face and she looked weak and pale. Sam entered the room and came to her side.
“Darling.”
“Sam.”
She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her stroked her hand.
“I’m so sorry.....”
“Ssh, it’s alright. Don’t talk.”
“Oh Sam.”
He looked at her and felt sorry for her. She had been such a good girl in the beginning and she had given him alot of passion. The sex between them had been incredible for him.... He did love her but couldn’t bear her acts anymore, her spirit was too strong for him.
“I must say darling that I am very disappointed in you. I have given this whole ordeal some thought and I think it best that we part. I cannot take care of you anymore.”
“Oh Sam! No....No, no, no....”
“Yes, it must be so.”
“I’m sorry.” she managed to whisper
“”I am sorry too. Since we have not been married for five years, as you know, there will be no money from this marriage.”
Her face fell and her hands started to shake.