CHAPTER 19: WINDCHILL FACTOR

D ESPITE THE BITING cold wind high atop the Hancock, Cirra strolled along the outside observation deck, one delicate hand tracing along the frigid metal railing. Her black velvet cape over her equally black dress flowed out behind her in one rippling dark wave after another. Blond hair blew back from her face as she smiled into the icy Chicago air. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and gripped the handrail, lifting one high heeled foot and letting it rest against the stone ledge. This was what it felt like to be on the top of the world, Cirra's world. Dark, dangerous, cold, and exhilarating.

Lieutenant Cortesey warily watched the blond ten paces in front of him, his thin blue sports coat no match for the chill he felt. How he ever got messed up with her was a mystery to him. Five years after the incident involving that upstart rookie Tina Amphipoli, Cirra showed up. Cunning, seductive, and highly persuasive. He had more than handled Tina in his own way, making sure she was no longer a threat to his operation. And this beautiful but deadly woman insisted on knowing everything about Tina. Of course, how she got the information out of him was another story.

He shivered just a bit, part from cold but part from remembering. Cirra was single-minded in her determination to find out all about Tina and she wasn't willing to take no for an answer. Laying under her magnificent body, Cortesey gave it all up as he groaned out in pleasure. He told her everything: about her brother Lucas on the force, his death, how they had set that up, how they made sure Tina would never find out about the truth. Those cops under his command and involved in Cortesey's side 'operation' made sure that Tina Amphipoli had nothing to go on, no loose strings. Cortesey smiled just a bit as he paced closer to Cirra. Lucas had been one very big loose string that got cut, immediately. He had found out about Cortesey's side business and was just about to go to Internal Affairs with it when he had a most...unfortunate...accident. Random driveby shooting in a bad South Side neighborhood, what can you do? They had the same thing planned for Tina but that damn Lamonie and the feds supported her enough indirectly to make that plan unfeasible.

But now, seeing Cirra Callistone's darkness against the night sky, Cortesey understood that Tina was no longer his to conquer. No, the blond perched gracefully at the observation deck railing had claimed the blue-eyed ex-cop as her own. And she summoned Cortesey to meet her this night for that reason.

"Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight?"

Cirra spoke, not bothering to turn her head to look as the cop came to stand next to her at the railing. She let a casual hand drift up, her fingertips brushing against her bare neck as she took in the sparkling skyline below her. Looking out over the city into the blackness that was Lake Michigan, Cortesey shrugged as he spoke, his voice a tight clenched-jaw gravel.

"You're much more beautiful than the city, Cirra."

The blond rolled her head to the side, taking in the cop with a bored expression. He was not such a bad looking man, his sandy brownish blond hair was cut short and he had scruff on his face. Though slightly crumpled looking in his clothes, he was nonetheless just another man who was there to be used, his pants doing the thinking for him. With a roll of her eyes, Cirra shook her head, her voice sounding condescending in the night air.

"Oh please, Cortesey. Your compliments are so pathetic. We both know why we're here so let's get to it."

Cortesey shrunk back just a bit, never one with a real backbone when it came to women, he felt much more powerful when he was back in his little office in the precinct, telling his boys what to do. Still, he wanted something out of this too. With a slight smile, he nodded.

"As you wish. Here's the deal. I give you the information and we stay out of it. You make sure Ari keeps supplying our operations. And you give me a little something extra."

Cirra looked at him with brown eyes, her expression unreadable, which made it all the more scary. There was always something 'extra' for everyone. Sex, drugs, money, attention, whatever. She had a good idea which one of those Cortesey wanted. Then again, she needed to know about Tina Amphipoli.

"Fine. Ari has no intention of not carrying through with your precious drug shipments. He and I have negotiated that part of the bargain already."

The blond paused as she regarded Cortesey, his slightly chiseled features standing out against the city skyline below them. Turning to face him, she reached out her hand and grabbed the bulge in front of his khakis, holding it with just the right amount of pressure and force to let him know she was the one who called the shots. In a deceptively sweet voice, she smiled.

"And I'll give you what you want after I take care of my little friend. Mmmm...doesn't that sound good?"

Of course, the cop wasn't sure whether the blond was referring to the sex part or exacting her revenge on that private detective, but it didn't really matter to him. Cortesey nodded shakily, feeling himself rise in Cirra's hand as she caressed him. Knowing he wasn't allowed to touch her, he stood there, closing his eyes to the sensation as he ground out his words.

"God, you are so fucking good."

Cirra rolled her eyes again at this pitiful excuse for a cop. He was a crooked as they came, but he promised that his men would not to interfere in anything involving Tina and Cirra. He couldn't control all of the Chicago PD, but he would stay out of it. Besides, his paltry little drug operation wasn't in danger. Not anymore at least. With a bored sigh, she gave one last squeeze to his very small penis and pulled back, crossing her arms and waiting impatiently for him to open his eyes. When he finally did, she barked at him.

"Tell me!"

Cortesey reached out and grabbed the handrail to steady himself, the bulge in his pants standing out against the fabric of his khakis. Blinking, he cleared his throat and spoke, his jaw clenched tight.

"She's on the case now. Lamonie talked her into it yesterday. And she's got a partner. Some young FBI chick. From what I know, she's out in the field now, trying to track down information. That's all I've got."

Cirra spun around in a circle, her black velvet cape swirling around as she smiled and clapped her hands together, a gleeful spark in her brown eyes. With a laugh, she looked out over the city and spoke to herself, all but forgetting the cop.

"Perfect! I knew she would take the bait. Oh, Tina, how I long to make you suffer. You're making it so easy for me..."

Everything was coming together so nicely. Tina would fall into her trap tonight as planned. She had made sure her operatives were stationed all over the city on the look-out for a tall, dark, blue-eyed woman who Cirra remembered to be as beautiful as anyone she had ever seen. Of course, the last time she had come in contact with Tina Amphipoli, it had been the single most devastating day of her young life. And it had forever changed her. With a glance over at Cortesey, she nodded as she turned toward the observation doorway, speaking in a sugary voice.

"Thanks, I'll be in touch. Oh, you might want to wait until that..."

She paused, letting her eyes rake down his body and stopping on the small lump in his pants, pointing one long finger out at him and cocking her head to the side as she continued.

"..thing goes back into his little shell, hmm? Ta ta."

With a dismissal hand gesture, she left him standing on the deck of the Hancock building, her mind filling with all the planning she needed to do for tonight. Oh, it was going to be brilliant!

Cortesey looked down at himself and then back at the closing door as a big gust of chilly Chicago lake front wind blew around him. Mumbling with a gravel voice, he shook his head.

"Little?"

* * *

Ari was just about to take a big puff off of his newly lit Cuban Cabanas cigar when he saw Cirra walking in to the 95th's after dinner lounge. Ming and Drakkar were sitting on the leather stools next to him, sipping brandy when their eyes turned to the blond making her entrance into the mostly male enclave. Her cape was thrown over her shoulders and she had changed, discarding the slinky black dress they all had admired for a pair of black leather pants, boots, and a leather bra with silver studs. Walking with an air of primal authority and a total disregard for the dress code, Cirra came over to the seated men and spoke in a no-nonsense voice.

"I've got other business to attend to, boys. The merchandise will be ready in the morning. 6am sharp. If I have my way, you'll have one more before the night is through. I'd much rather she be sent to Jakarta, but Zhu, you can have her. You'll get an extra one next time, Drakkar."

Ari held up his hand and stood, his tall form taking up space at the brass and wood bar. This wasn't in the plan. He knew Cirra enough to know that she was more preoccupied with her plan for vengeance than she was in helping him secure the Chicago slave and drug trade. With a deep voice, he spoke.

"Wait. What's this all about, Cirra? I thought we were going to celebrate tonight. You're not letting other things get in the way of this deal, are you?"

Cirra reached into her pocket and took out her keys, twirling them around one long index finger as her eyes sparkled. Ari had such a one track mind. Catching her keys in the palm of her hands, she pointed a finger at him, her smile fading in and out.

"Listen, I promised you girls for your business associates here. I made arrangements with Cortesey for you. And I fucked you all day. You promised me satisfaction..."

Here Cirra paused, letting her eyes rake over the gorgeous man. He wasn't half-bad, but right now, she had other things on her mind and those things did not include wasting any more of her time clapping these three on the back and toasting to their own brilliance. With a smug voice, she continued.

"...and as satisfying as you are, Ari, I've got a date with an old friend that can't wait. I'm sure you'll understand. Besides, by the time you come to pick up the shipment in the morning, I might be in the mood for a little celebrating of my own."

Ari shook his head, knowing that he had as much chance of talking Cirra Callistone into something as he did at disappearing into thin air. Still, he didn't trust this woman as far as he could throw her. With a warning glare, he spoke.

"You just remember our deal, Cirra."

With a smile as fake as her hair color, Cirra reached out and took the Cabanas from Ari's hand and put it between her own lips, drawing in the deep rich taste of the priceless Cuban smoke. All three men watched as the blond's perfect mouth wrapped around the cigar, caressing it as she inhaled, her cheeks sucking in the taste. With a smile, she removed the cigar and exhaled a big puff of white scented smoke in their direction before turning on her heel to leave. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled grandly and spoke.

"Goodnight, boys."

And with that, she strode out of the bar, her cape flowing behind her as older stodgy men moved out of the way for her, intimidated by her bare skin and gorgeous looks. She had a purposeful stride to her steps as she sauntered through the doorway, her face holding a sinister crazy smile. If anyone cared to follow her down to the parking garage, they'd have seen that that smile didn't fade one bit as she climbed into her convertible black Porsche and sped off into the Chicago night, oblivious to the chill in the air, her cape flowing out behind her through the city streets. She was on her way to a reunion she vowed she would have ten years ago, a reunion that would end in bloodshed one way or another.

* * *

Silver rows of corn, endless rows in the dark night. Lisa's legs had given out a long time ago and now she was tired, her feet feeling like cement blocks as she trudged up and down each row, looking for her sister. Once, she had thought she had seen Mariel, three rows over and she had fallen while trying to get there. It turned out to be the golden strands of cornsilk, the moonlight catching it just right. On and on she went, her voice was hoarse from the calling and dry from the air, the field had turned to dust.

"Mariel...."

Her voice echoed in the night air, the insects quieting down so that now the only sound was her own breathing and her own weak voice. Falling to her knees, Lisa turned her head to the sky and silently begged anyone or anything that might be listening to help her get out of this maze.

"Please..."

Lisa jerked awake, the word still on her lips. Her body was stiff from sitting against the wall and from the effects of the drug. Blinking her eyes, she found herself in total darkness, save for a light coming through the window on the door. She couldn't see Valerie's miserable form on the cot near hers and frankly, she did not particularly care either. Rubbing her swollen eyes with her hands, she licked her lips, feeling the parched cracks and the dryness in her mouth. Just as she was about to go find the water they had left them, she saw two faces appear in the lighted door window smiling at her before she heard the unlocking of the door. With a cry that surprised even her, she screamed out.

"Nooo!!!!"

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 507