Heartless People

THIRTEEN

I have struck a city - a real city - and they call it Chicago. . . It is inhabited by savages.

—Rudyard Kipling

LAUREN.

As I poured the brandy into her glass, she looked me over carefully, and I was certain that she was confused as to why we were sitting at a private table that overlooked the restaurant.

"Will that be all, Mrs. Jauregui?" the waiter asked me.

"Yes, its perfect. Thank you," I told him before he turned and walked away.

Vero reached for the glass and stared at the liquor. "I vaguely remember being witness to a meal similar to this with an old business associate before he lost his life."

"Yes, so do I. We dubbed it his last supper," I replied, as I cut into the nearly red meat before me; I've always preferred my meat just a little bloody.

"He never saw it coming. One moment we were laughing over brandy, and the next he was gasping for air. It was quite tragic."

Vero frowned and placed the glass down before she met my gaze. "Do you believe I've betrayed you, Lauren?"

"Have you?" I asked before chewing.

"I'm insulted by the question. We're so close that I think of you as a sister, not my cousin." She picked up the glass once more and drank its contents. "But then again, I know you, and if you truly believe that, you would've had me tied to a chair. We wouldn't be settling anything over filet mignon at the Plaza."

"If you know me as well as you think you do, then why are you sweating?" I grinned, as the beads of sweat rolled down the side of her cheek.

She gasped as she reached for her neck, and felt her own pulse. She had to have known by now.

"Lauren, have you lost your damned mind?" She hissed as she took a deep breath and undid her tie. "I would never—"

"I know. Its not poison. You're going to be fine, Vero."

"What the fuck did you give me then?" She snapped, as she pressed her thumbs to her temple.

"Clonidine."

"Isn't that—?"

"Mothers menopause pills? Yes, it is," I snickered, taking another bite as she glared at me. "You see, I know you wouldn't betray me. My wife on the other
hand wasn't one hundred percent certain. I can't have doubts about you Vero. Not even a little bit. So, take it as a compliment."

"I'll get right on that when I can feel my tongue again, asshole." She licked her  lips before she reached for my glass. "Am I still being tested? Or can I wash this down."

"You should probably ask for a new bottle,"  I said, as I nonchalantly took another bite.

She sighed, and released her glass to signal the waiter for another bottle. As She did, I smiled and took a drink from my snifter. Again her eyes narrowed as she sat back.

"Do I get an explanation? Or are you going keep fucking with me?"

"Im just enjoying myself," I replied.

"Yeah, I can see that."

Wiping the corners of my mouth, I addressed the issue that had been plaguing me. "We have a mole."

"You can cross me off the list."

"I know. But I think its Chris," I replied and she froze.

The waiter came over with a new bottle, and reached for a glass, but Vero took the bottle, waved him off and began drinking directly from it.