She was a lovely woman, just a few months shy of her thirtieth birthday. Melody, a product of a mixed marriage (her father was white, her
mother biracial), possessed a beauty unparalleled. Her olive-toned skin glowed with
a radiance that attested to her ethnic heritage. She was, what they used to call
in the old days, a "quadroon". Her long glossy raven hair tossed and tousled in
the wind as she drove to her appointed destination. The eyes, a deep liquid
brown, danced with eager anticipation of a potentially dangerous assignment. Not
that Melody was any stranger to perilous situations; she was used to handling
herself when the need arisen.
Of medium height, Melody had a fantastic figure,
not too slender or plump; all her curves were in the right places. While not
possessing an athlete's physique, she was an expert kickboxer and excelled in
the martial arts, skills that served her well during her tenure as Metacorps'
top agent.
As she waited out the red light, Melody sipped her coffee and
listened to the local classic rock station. Then, something broadcast over the
radio gave her pause. Another campaign ad for Ray Marsh, the candidate who
hastily replaced the late Marty McCormack. It seemed the whole town was talking
about Marsh's sudden rise in popularity, a non-descript businessman who had
absolutely no political experience, virtual unknown.
This was the subject of
Melody's latest assignment, although Reyna couldn't tell her many details over
the phone. But Melody had an inkling of the truth, that Marsh's sudden surge in
the polls was a result in Dark Horse, her mom's top secret project. Melody knew
the truth about Mary Starr's project because the Ferraras, her mentors and
grandmother's neighbors, revealed all to her when she turned sixteen. It was
then that Melody started her training as a secret agent for hire.
Wheeling into
the parking garage, Melody inserted her ID card into the reader, then proceeded
to her reserved space. All during the elevator ride to the twenty-fifth floor,
Melody briefly recalled a tragic event in her life.
°°°°°°
"Come on, Melody, we have to go."
"Grandma, what
happened? Why are you taking me out of school?"
"Honey, there was an accident at
home. Your mommy and daddy have been hurt."
"Was there a fire?"
"No, honey."
"Did Mommy fall down the stairs?"
"No, honey...it's nothing like that."
"Then what happened, Grandma?"
"Melody, baby...It's just that...Your daddy and mommy have gone to live
with Jesus."
°°°°°°
Melody successfully fought back tears as she got off the elevator and made
her way to the office. She stopped in the ladies' room on the way, just to check
her hair and makeup. Once inside, all alone, she broke down, tears running
freely down her lovely face. How long has it been? Nearly twenty-four years to
the date. She was just six years old when it happened, and Grandma was so
wonderful trying to explain it all. In a way, Melody was grateful she wasn't
home at the time. No telling what could've transpired if she was home.
The
killers were never brought to justice, although, as Melody grew older, she
imbibed the rumors about the Maxwells being the prime suspects. But Frank
Maxwell had been dead long before her parents were murdered. Reyna suspected
Frank's widow, Olivia, for ordering the hit. But why?, thought Melody. It was a
mystery that may never be solved. Olivia Maxwell died herself, so did the
daughter Deidre.
Melody wondered about Deidre, once a kindergarten classmate.
She hadn't seen Deidre since, and the last time the girl's name was mentioned,
Deidre was already dead – killed in a horrific car wreck on prom night. OK, that
was then...the Maxwells are all gone, so if they didn't order the murder of my
parents, who did?
Melody studied her reflection in the mirror, then corrected
her hair and makeup. She adjusted the black cashmere sweater and tight black
leather pants. Sighing, she went to meet with Reyna. For what it was worth,
Melody's worries about her love life with Kent were, by now, backburner status.
Kent would just have to understand that duty calls.
Through the glass doors she
strode, with the polish and confidence of a queen. Melody had not idea why Reyna
was so tight-lipped about the assignment. All she knew was that Taylor, her
coworker and good friend, had been working on the Dark Horse case for the past
three months. Taylor was a good spy, one of the best, so it bothered Melody that
something awful had to happen. Perhaps Taylor's cover was blown; she could've
been captured, tortured, or worse.
Her fears came true once she found herself
the behind closed doors of Reyna's office. Taylor, while partially uncovering
the mystery of Ray Marsh's unexpected, unprecedented rise in the polls, was
discovered, captured, and killed.
Melody silently mourned the loss of a good
friend and colleague, but bucked up as she knew she had to extra careful. This
is more than a fixed election; it runs much deeper than that. Something is afoot,
and both Melody and Reyna wracked their brains to come up with a surefire plan
to bring down Charmaine, the woman suspected behind this latest nefarious caper.
Who was Charmaine? Good question, though no one at Metacorps could ever catch
the woman; she was that slippery. Charmaine Shade surfaced years ago, masterminding this and that evil plot. First it was theft of priceless artifacts
to sell to the highest bidder, then it was dealing in stolen arms or sensitive
government files. As always, Charmaine's schemes had been thwarted before they
spun out of control, but this one...
"I don't get it, Reyna," said Melody as she
scanned files and photos pertaining to her new assignment. "If Charmaine is
indeed behind this, then why fix an election?"
"Don't you see, Melody? She
obviously thinks that by having her man firmly ensconced in the state
legislature, she could influence the passage or defeat of who knows what bills.
Once Marsh, and I'm only speculating, does her bidding, then she can move on to
bigger game."
Melody nodded, completely understanding, "Like have Marsh run for
governor or the U.S. Senate."
"Exactly. And since we know Dark Horse has been
used to influence voter opinion, I believe Charmaine is operating somewhere
within Marsh's night club."
The women hatched out their mission. Melody would go
undercover, but not as Taylor did. No, Taylor posed as a bartender. Her frequent
absences from her post raised the suspicions of Audra Byers, Marsh's business
partner.
"Melody, I suspect Audra tipped Charmaine about Taylor. So, for your
part, I suggest..."
Since Charmaine did not know Melody, it would be best for
all concerned that Metacorps' top agent pose as a lead singer in Cosmic Chaos'
house band. That way, with Melody enthralling the crowd with her musical
talents, she could move about more freely, get to know the regular patrons. More
importantly, she could get closer to Audra and Ray, pump them for pertinent
information.
"But, please, Melody," Reyna said worriedly, "I don't want to lose
my top agent. Be careful. If I know Charmaine, she'll have her minions crawling
all over the place, looking for anyone who seems the least bit suspicious. Now,
here's the club's address. Your cover is..."
Thus Melody Starr was rechristened, for the next few days, Satine Noire, an aspiring rock vocalist. She was to search for Charmaine's hideout, and that would not be easy. It could be dangerous. As expected, Melody accepted the assignment to honor her parents' memory –– and to avenge their murder.
°°°°°°
Audra Byers tallied last night's receipts as she listened in on the house
band, Drowning Freedom, rehearse for tonight's show. While not a wholly creative
or stellar band – it played mostly covers of 80's and 90's rock – it still
managed to entertain and enthrall its audience. Most nights, the club would be
packed just to listen to the band, but this could be one of Cosmic Chaos' more
dismal nights.
The band had just lost its lead singer, and Kris, the lead
guitarist tried to fill in that capacity with miserable results. The gal is no
singer, thought Audra, mindful that Ray would be highly upset if attendance
dropped another night. It was imperative, he said, to keep this place packed;
his political future depended on sellout crowds.
Oh yeah, Audra thought, I know
all about his "political future", and I know what's behind his sudden rise in
popularity among voters. If he only knew that I was feeding information to
Charmaine, and that I know what she has in store for him once he's elected...
The phone went off just as the band winded up another non-productive rehearsal.
It was all wrong, protested Tyree, Drowning Freedom's drummer. What good is a
band with no singer. Kris sang off-key, the songs were totally unsuited for her
voice, and she doesn't even know how to sell a song. On and on the arguments
went while Audra, ducking behind the bar so she could hear her caller.
"Yeah,"
she said, "we could really use that singer. What's her name? Can she sing? Good!
Send her right over."
"Guys!," she shouted from the bar, "you're gonna get your singer tonight!"
"Oh yeah?," said Rodney, the bassist, "and can she sing?"
They
got their answers in a matter of minutes as a knockout lady entered the club.
She was gorgeous beyond compare and dressed in the style reminiscent of the
1980's. Wearing skintight and shiny black spandex pants, an equally fitting
black halter top, and those vintage wooden Candies heels, she strode forth,
extending her hand to Audra.
"Ms. Byers, I'm Satine. My agent talked to you..."
Audra, getting an eyeful of this heavenly creature, and feeling a stirring
within, took Satine's hand, saying, "Pleased to meet you. And this," with a wave
of her hand to the band, "is Drowning Freedom."
The band members, totally blown
away by Satine's exotic beauty, not to mention her taste for sexy retro fashion,
each introduced themselves, then began the audition. Satine took the mike, asked
the band to play an 80's favorite, then launched into a steamy rendition of
"Little Red Corvette".
What a surprisingly gorgeous, sexy voice Satine had,
thought Audra. Nice stage presence, sensual moves that would make Elvis
blush...Yes, I think we have a winner here.
When the song ended, the band
members immediately swarmed around Satine. "Wow!," said keyboardist Abbie, "you
really got what it takes!"
"I'll say!," rejoined Tyree. Satine just stood there,
trying not to let all this adulation go to her head. She asked Audra, "Well, do
I get the job?"
"Honey," replied Audra, "you had the job the moment you walked through the door."
°°°°°°
"So, Nydessa, any news from above?"
"No, Charmaine...Wait! Audra was
auditioning another lead singer this afternoon."
"Ah well, this could be the
one."
"One what?"
"Use your head, girl! Isn't it obvious? Metacorps just lost
its best agent, now they send another as the 'new girl singer'."
Charmaine Shade
and her latest "pet" Nydessa Charles sat in the cool of their hideaway deep
beneath the club. With its comfortable sofas and chairs, enormous glass desk,
and several TV monitors, the lair was completed in time for Ray Marsh's
sudden foray into politics. The only other persons who knew this room existed
were Ray and Audra.
Charmaine, watching the audition via the monitor, turned her
seductive blue eyes to Nydessa, saying, "I'm sure this Satine girl may be a
Metacorps agent. Dessie, I want you to watch her just as you did Taylor."
Nydessa merely nodded and, without further instruction from her mistress,
arranged herself on the queen-sized bed nearby. She knew that look Charmaine
gave her. It was the same sparkle that took a desperate teenaged runaway off the
streets and into a life of comfort and glamour. Well, to Nydessa, what she had
with Charmaine was glamorous: lots of sexy stylish clothes to wear, plenty of
good food, and all the fun and excitement of the club scene.
All this in exchange for being 'available' whenever Charmaine got the urge. And this time, Nydessa's mistress, on the verge of clinching the coup of the year, was especially hungry.
TO BE CONTINUED...GO TO CHAPTER 3!
Copyright©2004 by PRP. All Rights Reserved.