Grey Skies in Mourning

© 2010 Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Ten

Nikki had been right, between the strange events regarding that basset hound and what had happened at Candor Ranch plans had obviously been changed. The afternoon that Charlene finished her last scene she found a car waiting for her in the studio’s visitors parking lot. A nice looking though obviously in her late thirties doe sheep was waiting for her.

“Please get in Miss van PugPug” the doe instructed upon leading Charlene to the waiting vehicle, a serviceable but older 1930 Chevrolet. “It’s ah rental” the doe explained as she climbed into the drivers seat.

As Charlene shut her door she looked over at her driver. “Would it be pushing things to ask where you are taking me?” she asked, noting the grip of a .38 sticking out of the other woman’s purse. “I wouldn’t think that Yade would set me up for a one way ride, not yet.”

“Not yet” the older woman agreed. “Now sit and be silent girl. I must drive now and I am not very good at it.”

As they drove Charlene realized two things, one her driver was very very good and two, they were headed for the Union Air Terminal, was Yade on to their plans? Was she headed for a long swim like Yade’s wife? Charlene looked again at the butt of that revolver so convenuatly showing, as though begging to be taken.

“It wouldn’t work” the vixen whispered, moving her body away from the doe driving their automobile.

“Yer right darlin” the doe answered, her voice in a more normal conversational level. “That .38's empty, the one on my left, that’s loaded and ah do know how to use it.”

“Test?” Charlene asked, accepting that she was truly NOT the woman her fiancee was and would be after finishing Songmark.

“Yep, wanted to see if you were stupid Sand, since I’m part ‘n parcel of your groups plans.

“You’re with Nikki?” the vixen asked, her heart lifting. “What didn’t you just say so?”

“Because there too many ears around that part ‘ah town honey” the doe explained. “Nikki clued us in to tha changes but she still wants tah cripple Republic long enough to grab actors ahn scripts. Its business, Yade would understand that. Now you two are headed back to Spontoon for ah business meeting, then back here with tha results. Once we know exactly what’s goin on we can act, not a second before.”

Leaning back into the Chevrolet’s worn upholstery Charlene van PugPug relaxed for the first time in months. “I’ll get to see her again I hope” she said without thinking.

“Who? Your wife tah be?” the doe asked.

“Yes, and maybe I will be lucky and she will fire me in her furnace and I will forever lose that name Sand.”

They were approaching the airports gates now, the doe expertly navigating the various roads and access ways until they came to a stop next to a small private hanger. FlyPine Airways she read, a very bad spelling of Nikki’s homeland and probably for a reason.

“What’ll we call yuo gafter that sweeety” the doe asked before opening her own door.

Charlene turned her head and gave her driver a warm smile. “All I know is it will not be Crystal and it will be a private name between my wife, Nikki and a very select few friends. Do we just go in?”

“Plains waitin for you and I, our luggage ahn passports are already aboard so as soon as I turn these keys over to one of the boys we fly.” Shutting her door the doe walked around the car to join Charlene. “By the way, my names Patricia, not Pat. Not even my husband calls me Pat, he’s the Basset Hound you met recently.”

“Your accent slips Patricia” Charlene noted, “If you ever want to be an actress you need to correct that.”

“I know, ahm still tryin to nail it down. Now lets vamoose.”