Editing Adventures of Dash Karp and Cat Flynn (section)

== Chapter 13 "Gladys Interrupts!" ==


'''''DASH'''''


I opened the door and a tempest in the form of Gladys Rutherford burst in. "Dash!" she stopped short when she saw Cat. "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't realize you had company, darling." She looked to Cat and smiled in a friendly enough manner. "Its okay, dear. I don't mind if you stay," Gladys spoke to Cat but then had eyes only for me. "Dash, I just had to speak to you or I would simply bust!" She shook her head. "Oh its simply too queer and strange to explain, but, do you have any idea what Lorenzo wants the Missile of Eros for?" I was blinking and trying to catch up. Gladys could be a whirlwind at times and before I could say anything, she went on. "He believes it will grant him some power over women. He wants to use it to obtain an immortality elixir from a white priestess in Africa." 


'''''CAT'''''

Her gaze swung to the woman who burst into to the room, a tightening of her jaw when the woman gave her 'permission' to stay in her own suite. "How...sweet of you," cool tone and she rose to go and get more whiskey, and yes there was an extra degree of sensuality in her stride.  If Gladys wanted to burst in and distract him, well she was woman enough to be competitive about it. "What sort of power does he believe this item will give him that his money and this weird lair do not?" A sweet smile rose, "after all, that seems enough power to get you here and engaged in his business, hm?" arms crossed.


'''''DASH'''''

Part of me was amused, and part of me felt that Cat still had Gladys all wrong. Then again, Gladys didn't do herself any favors. She returned the smile to Cat in an attempt to be disarming, I was sure. "Gee kid, I know I come off strong sometimes, but I'm no threat to you. I promise. I just want to warn Dash here about what I learned." I was still silent, just letting it all play out. I gave a peek down the hallway before closing the door, then leaned against it while Gladys went on. "Well, Dash, since you've been no help at all in getting me to my ape man," she turned to Cat with an aside, "the ape man is a distant cousin, you see," and I rolled my eyes at that. "Anyway, you know I've been trying to hitch my wagon to someone who could help me find him so I met up with Lorenzo. He didn't seem too interested at first, but then of a sudden he comes at me like gangbusters all fired up about helping me out, but not before saying how he wanted to get this Missile of Eros. That's where you come in and...oh Dash I am so sorry I got you mixed up in this! I told him you and Applewhite were the best procurers in the business. I don't know how she got drug intio this," Gladys looked to Cat again. "I'm sorry, my dear, I truly am. You don't belong mixed up in this business." I was starting to have that 'swept up in events' feeling again. Seems Lorenzo wanted me included all along. Now I wondered if he had manipulated things somehow. "Dash, you can't let Lorenzo have that relic. You just can't! Suppose the legend is true? Suppose a man like Lorenzo finds the elixir?" Now wasn't this just more interesting than ever? 


'''''CAT'''''

She blushed a bit when Gladys said that she was no threat but kept her chin up in that stubborn jut still.  She listened to the blond and slid a glance to Dash as he closed the door and leaned against it. "So either way, Dash was on the agenda for the man, yes? I never saw or heard of you before, but Lorenzo seemed to know more about me than I generally share." She took up her whiskey and crossed to the couch where she knelt, a hip leaning against the arm closest to the pair, taking a swallow."So tell me, what was with the room before? The cloaks, the engravings? Just how deep are you into this man for, Gladys?" She had some theories of her own but if the woman could shed light on the place they were and what was going on well then Cat was going to push.


'''''DASH'''''

Gladys went to the bar to help herself to a drink. "Since neither of you would offer..." as she poured herself a stiff one. "Dash can tell you, I am a bit eccentric in my lifestyle. The typical bored socialite who enjoys pushing the moral boundaries," she said with a flourish in her voice. "Mr. Lorenzo fancies himself an emperor in his own little hedonistic empire. He believes," and most women might blush at this point, but not Gladys, "sex is the key to power, because the energy of sex breaks down the veil between us and the spirit world." She looked directly to Cat then, "and *you* seem to be quite adept at breaking down that veil, Miss Flynn." Gladys made a show of fanning herself as though Cat affected her directly. "Lorenzo has had seances before with other mediums, but none ever set the air on fire like you did." I pursed my lips at all this talk and was not surprised to hear Gladys speak in a way that lent credence to Cat's claims. "The rest of it, I don't really understand. I heard him say something about the red cloaks being worn by the catalysts, but that's all." 


'''''CAT'''''

She not only blushed, she went a dizzing shade of pink at the implication that she somehow knowingly raised that sort of energy. "I can promise you Gladys, it is not on purpose. I rather thought that the sort of energy you speak was simply more present here and that is why." Blue eyes looked to Dash, "catalysts, if he is using the term properly are people who help to channel and shape a specific type of energy during a ritual.  I think I get why Arnav and Magdalena and Gladys would work, but...his inclusion of you....with all due respect Dash, is odd." She took a sip of her own drink and looked intently thoughtful, "a man feeling that sex is power is as old as time itself, question becomes what lengths Lorenzo is willing to go to in order to get his hands on what he wants." She licked her lips, a worried look sent Dash's way. "If he has had in other mediums and tonight was significantly more powerful....that does not bode well for his letting me waltz back to my old life."


'''''DASH'''''

"You and Lorenzo were wearing the red cloaks, Catarina, so it seems he fancies himself having some capabilities as well." Which had me wondering if such a thing could be used against him somehow. I leaned against the bar and noticed Gladys's eyes darting back and forth between Cat and I. Obviously, she was trying to assess what the relationship was. Perhaps it was strategic, or perhaps just simple female curiosity. With Gladys, it could be either...or both. "So why would my inclusion be odd, Catarina?" 


'''''CAT'''''

She swirled her drink some, a nervous tell for sure, glancing down at it. "Well, and sure as I mean no ill to you Gladys, but where yourself and the others seem to be very openly...physical, Dash...you seem far more controlled, more reserved if you will.  If Lorenzo chose participants based on who he thought would raise the most energy, that was an odd choice." Something occurred to her then and her cheeks went a bit pink, "unless he assumes to more between us and thought your presence would therefore add to the...rise," and she took a deep drink from her glass.  Hardly a shy flower, it was the presence of the socialite that spooked her a bit, she did not move in the same circles as the blond certainly.


'''''DASH'''''


I could only shrug at Cat's assessment and chose modesty for the moment. The poor kid had no idea about me! Lorenzo wasn't the only hedonist. But Gladys was a bit more open. "Oh, hunny," she grinned to Cat, "you have no idea! I can be very, very open physically," then Gladys turned to me her bedroom eyes. "Isn't that true, Dash? Darling? Loverboy?" She laughed then and I knew she was enjoying herself by laying my cards on the table for me. "You are not wrong, however, Catarina - may I call you Catarina? We're all friends here, right? But as I was saying about our adorbale knight in shining armor here, Dash can be very controlled. As well as controlling. I find it rather endearing, don't you?" I coughed and frowned and maybe smirked a bit. "Thats enough, Gladys. Now do you think Lorenzo is really going to let me take Cat to Atlantic City unsupervised?" She didn't even take time to consider and just flopped a dismissive hand. "Oh I am sure of it, darling! He wants that stone cock..." she shut her mouth and covered it with her hand for a moment. "I'm so sorry! That was so crude of me!" She shook her head and frowned at herself. "Well he wants it quite badly and believes you will get it for him. But maybe you should never find that thing Dash. The very idea of such a thing! Suppose its true, like his seance came true?" 


'''''CAT'''''

She looked over at the woman, though when she spoke up about Dash her blue gaze shifted to him with a small smirk. "Intriguing, and so noted to be certain," her smile flashed but as Gladys continued she furrowed her brows some, drinking a long slow sip of whiskey. "No need to apologize," for the cock reference.  Catarina was a country girl, sure, but she was from a people and region where the pleasures of the flesh were in no way taboo. "She has a good point Dash, if we do find it....I do not relish handing something like that over to a man like him," she nibbled her lower lip softly.


'''''DASH'''''

I sort of rolled my eyes at the women and their concern over an old phallic symbol from Greek mythology. "I'll worry about the great Missile." I went for the cigarette case at that point and lit one up. "What about you, Gladys? Can you get yourself away from here if you want?" She reached for my face and squeezed my cheeks while looking at Cat. "I told you! He's adorable!" Then she went on her tiptoes to kiss me quickly and affectionately on the lips while patting my chest. "Now, now, darling, you needn't worry about me. I come from such excellent stock, you know. Besides, I am hardly done with this game. Now if you will both excuse me, I am supposed to play...ummm...play cards with Magdelena and Arny," and there were those bedroom eyes again. "If you weren't busy being protective, Dash, I would invite you too," but she didn't even look back with those last words and just left the room. 


'''''CAT'''''

She frowned harder as Gladys kissed him, but averted her eyes and threw back the rest of her whiskey.  The question of whether the woman could leave if she wanted was answered in such a way as to assure Cat that Gladys was a willing participant here, not some victim.  Safe to say she was sure no one had tied up or gagged Gladys, much less held them at gunpoint.  She gave a soft huff that was less than social as the woman left, watching the door close after her and pursing her lips. "She could help us get out of here if she wanted to. Sounds like she rather enjoys the place." Blue eyes met his directly, chin rising, "I do not trust her, not one wee bit."


'''''DASH'''''

I scratched an itch behind my ear. It was an itch I always got when trouble was brewing, and this time I believed the trouble was going to come from Cat concerning Gladys. "If I asked her, she would help...if she could." I shook my head and puffed my smoke. "You have Gladys all wrong, Catarina. You can bet your Tarot cards," though I wasn't sure she actually used Tarot cards, "she's staying here because there's a mystery she wants to solve. A regular sleuth she can be at times." And it was true...the woman socialite who could be a doctor or lawyer was also an amateur gumshoe. "But, there is no denying the woman enjoys sex and I get the feeling this place is full of it!" There may have been the hint of disdain in my voice, but it was less disdain for sex than it was the use of it for power. Rather, whatever nefarious power Lorenzo sought. 


'''''CAT'''''


"Perhaps I do have her wrong Dash, perhaps," a trace of doubt in her voice as she eased from her knees, the extension of legs drawing her nightgown up her legs some.  She looked thoughtful as her head rested back against the couch. "I am more and more convinced that sex drives whatever is going on here, even if I have my doubts that some mystical penis will hand over some extra power to Lorenzo." She clinked the ice in her glass, a slow languid play of blue eyes over his standing form. "Lorenzo does have some power, it sort of rolls off of him.  Detecting it, I can deflect it, but if he was not trying....well.  He could be a force to reckon with," she frowned some, a silent wonder if the man had the ability to awaken desires that had been fairly well dormant...until she met Dash. 



'''''DASH'''''


Well it was good to know even Cat had doubts about the Missile of Eros. "Sex drives the world, Catarina!" I was rather flippant with that statement and regretted it immediately. "I might have to come back for Gladys," I thought aloud and crushed my cigarette in the ashtray. "But first thing's first," I smiled. "We get to Atlantic City, go through the motions, and get you someplace safe before I return to Lorenzo with the bad news." I needed a drink and took up the glass Gladys left behind. I realized she had barely touched it and if I thought on it, I never once saw the woman inebriated. I was still more than skeptical about what Cat could actually do, but I knew I had to keep her feeling confident. The truth was, whether she had some power or not, I did believe she could be helpful...somehow. 


'''''CAT'''''


She smirked, "I must be waiting on the wrong side of the street then," in reference to his comment about sex driving the world.  She was, in fact, a highly tactile woman but she was also living in a city where she had to be so very careful all the time that aside from Johnny and the occasional night's dalliance, she'd had no serious relationship yet.  When he spoke of coming back to get Gladys her face fell slightly but she nodded. "Of course, she is important to you, clearly, it would be best to see her to safety." Of course her real feeling was closer to letting the blond reap what she was sowing, but she was aware that her thoughts and feelings might be muddled on the matter. She resolved to try to push aside whatever burgeoning feelings were growing, she did not want to hurt him nor be hurt, though the annoyance at whether he would have kissed her had Gladys not bumbled in might take longer to settle.


'''''DASH'''''


Important might be a strong word. "She's a friend," though sometimes more. "She's never hurt anyone," to the best of my knowledge. I took a moment to study Cat hard over the rim of my glass. "I do detect that you do not approve of Miss Rutherford, Catarina. Are you sensing something about her? I've known her for years but...." I sipped my drink then set it down on the bar. My eyes never left Cat even as I lit another cigarette. In fact I gave her the sort of inspection I might give a relic I was recovering to discern its authenticity. "Do you know someything? Did the energy say something to you?" I was not trying to flippant that time. Simply curious.


'''''CAT'''''


His steady intense gaze made her supremely aware of her own body, though whether he knew that or not was a mystery to her.  She was not an easy woman to discomfit, and yet she squirmed softly, tucking her legs back up to extend beside her lithe form, the gown clinging to her breasts and hips.  She tossed her long hair back and tried for casual. "Part of me would love to tell you that I sense something nefarious from her Dash, but I do not get a clear read of anything of that sort.  I do get the sense she is an opportunist, but that in itself is not a bad thing," she slid a glance to him, his gaze capturing her own and holding it, words trailing off as she stared.


'''''DASH'''''


Of course I stared back unflinchingly. Not that it was a contest, but I did enjoy staring at her. Even though I was focused on her eyes and that brilliance behind them, in the periphery I took in her form; her lines. I could have confirmed for her that Gladys was indeed an opportunist, as was I. Instead, I remained silent a bit longer and finally let my gaze drift from her eyes and down her chest and then followed the line of her leg. Those were dancers legs of the sort that few burlesque dancers had. Most of them were just tits and ass perched atop a pair of decent stems. They moved a bit this way and that, shaking this and gyrating that and so long as the men in the audience had some flesh to view, they were happy. I could see, however, that Cat's body was a truly unified body. "So why do you think I am hardly affected by all this sexual energy here?" Or did I just hide it better? 


'''''CAT'''''


She heard his question, and was very aware of the play of his gaze over her body.  Indeed, she had none of the va va voom of burlesque, her body was far more sleek and slender, though her breasts and hips were in no way boyish. She considered how to answer that for a long moment, a nervous flip flop of belly before she opted to simply say the first thing that occurred to her, which was sometimes a bad move but it usually led to the truest words. "I think you triage well Dash.  If not for the danger factor, I think you would be more effected by it, or, rather, you would allow yourself to be drawn more into it," she took a sip of her drink. "I believe you when you say you are a cad, but I get the very deep sense that you are a man who chooses his partners and pleasures with a degree of self direction, that the sense here of it being expected throws you off and raises your defenses, almost as though you will not indulge on principal, not dancing to another man's tune."


'''''DASH'''''


Once again I was staring, but this time I am sure I looked like a deer in headlights. She knew me all of two days and she read me perfectly. How did she do that? Whether or not my resistance was my own innate will or not, she was dead on that I didn't like to dance to another man's tune. I might work with Applewhite, but anything I did for him was because I wanted to. Even going to Atlantic City was less for Lorenzo and more for my own reasons. I suppose those reasons were about disproving certain things. First, disprove that ancient relics would be found in a night club. Second, if I did find it, disprove that it had any power. Lastly, disprove that Lorenzo had any mystical power at all beyond a fat wallet. "I wonder if he will give me my gun back before we leave." I liked that gun. I had it a long time. Not that I didn't have others, but that was Army issued. "Its late, Catarina. We should get to bed."


'''''CAT'''''


She chuckled softly, noting his frozen gaze for a moment before he changed the subject. "Truly, I know I can make some people uncomfortable Dash.  Just please trust me that I do not mean to do so," she exhaled softly, the mention of how late it was brought to the fore all of the nervous energy that shrouded her.  A hand rubbed her bare arm as she glanced around. "Do you truly think it is safe to go to sleep here?  Should we...I don't know...take watches or something?" She knew she sounded paranoid but nothing about this place brought her any measure of comfort or safety...except for him.


'''''DASH'''''


"If they wanted to do something, Catarina, they don't have to wait until we're asleep," and I offered a relaxed smile. "Just the same, if it makes you feel better, I can stay out here on the couch. I'm a light sleeper anyway." And I truly was a light sleeper. It was almost as if only half of me slept at any one time. The old, 'sleep with one eye open' practice, but for real. "Do you know how to drive, Catarina? It could be helpful." It was a thought anyway. Something she could put her mind to. 


'''''CAT'''''


She shook her head as she rose to her feet. "Oh no, light sleeper or no, I want you as rested as possible.  Let's be candid, it will be you doing the heavy lifting as it were." She set her glass down by the bar, a reach of small hand to press over his with a smile. "I trust you Dash.  Sleep well and let us hope tomorrow goes without a hitch, yes?" She moved to the door of her room, pausing to look back to him. "I am not locking my door," only as she moved into her room and flipped back the covers did she realize how he could have taken that last statement. "Oh damn," she chuckled at herself, sliding into the large bed, a hand checking for the cash under her pillow and returning the brooch there.


'''''DASH'''''


Were I half the cad I claim to be, I would have taken that as an invitation. Were I a complete and utter scoundrel, I could easily take advantage of the situation and woo the gypsy right into my arms...and then into my bed. Or hers. Either would do. The problem was, after only two days, I hardly felt I had done anything to 'loosen her up' as it were. Not her anyway. "Not to worry, Catarina, I will indeed sleep...and well. Tomorrow, we will be on our way to Atlantic City and that much closer to putting all of this behind us." Well, behind her anyway. I already figured I would be involved with this for a while, if for no other reason so I could throw a bag of monkey wrenches into Lorenzo's machinations. Whatever they were.