The Athena Factor by W. Michael Gear

Author:W. Michael Gear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2012-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

For the Jagged Cat party, Bernard had rented Dan Tana’s, a small two-room Italian steak house in the nine thousand block of Santa Monica Boulevard. The Friday night gathering was intimate, the cast’s chance to share the final familial bonds they had forged during the short but intense shooting schedule.

Red-and-white checked tablecloths, red leather booths, and hanging Chianti bottles decorated the rooms. Celebrity artwork, movie posters, and photos hung on the crimson walls. The fare was New York steak marinated in a special Italian tomato sauce; rolls, many of which were used as projectiles; and all the wine the cast could drink.

Sheela had hooted and clapped as Bernard conducted the impromptu awards ceremony. For her gag gift, she had received a bent carving knife to commemorate the scene where she chased her father around the kitchen. Then she had turned to the familiar faces, told them what a pleasure it had been to work with them, and blown them all kisses before retaking her seat and listening appreciatively to the others as they took the floor and received their gag gifts.

Manny de Clerk sat in a booth in the back, surrounded by his agent and manager, a somber look on his face. He had just smiled and waved when Bernard gave him a framed photo.

Poor Manny. Sheela had covered her sympathy with a smile. When the real world had broken through his fake self-image, he had cratered. What about yourself? she asked. If someone penetrated the walls you’ve built, could you do any better?

She swallowed hard and rolled the cloth napkin between her fingers. Her heart was beating, anticipation sending tingles through her muscles. God, she felt like she was a girl again, stealing her father’s motorcycle.

That’s silly! You’re a grown woman. Yeah, one who was sneaking away for a weekend of sin. Or so she hoped.

She glanced across the room to the door, knowing that she was coming up on time to leave. She could still back out, call Christal and tell her that she’d changed her mind.

“Anyone else got anything to say?” Bernard demanded. “No? Then I guess that does it for me. Again, thank you all. You’re the best, most professional cast I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. God bless you all.”

They all applauded, whistled, and stomped.

“If anyone’s interested,” Bernard answered, “I’ll be serving drinks up at my place. You’re all welcome.”

More whistles and cheers.

As they stood, Sheela made the rounds, kissing cheeks, hugging, making the pleasant chatter expected of her. She reached into her purse, thumbing the button on her cell. Plugging her other ear with a finger, she said, “Paul? I’m ready.”

“I’ll be there soonest,” he said. “The door security will call for you when the limo is out front.”

Sheela mingled in the knot at the door, smiling, feeling alive for the first time since she and Lymon had gone tootling around on the Indian. Sapping fatigue lay there, deep in her brain and body, but the adrenaline rush held it at bay.

What’s happened to you? she wondered.

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