Daylight

TWENTY THREE

Elizabeth...

Charles was freaking out quietly over the line. I kept my eyes and mind inside the building.

The host came down from the balcony and waved his hand up high. Everyone turned to look at him and got quiet.

"I am so sorry, my staff just found a weapon in the hallway towards the bathroom. Please be patient with us, I wouldn't want this annual moment of peace be ruined by the likes of me. All of you will be checked and searched, so if you need to use the facilities now, please do so. Nobody will the leave the main lobby." He said.

"Vic, I'm going to go use the restroom." I told him, to which he nodded.

"Come back quickly. We need to cooperate and look like what we are." He said as I walked away.

"Yeah, like pieces of shit. That's why I'm going to the bathroom." I mumbled under my breath, putting my hands into a fist.

The plan had turned upside down, and it wasn't even 7 yet! I screamed silently in my head as I walked on the caret hallway. Men past me to go the restroom, probably to sniff some coke before coming back.

I never heard of anyone breaking the rules at this event. Unless Vic didn't tell me, but he always told me whenever he went. I remember I'd stay up just to wait for him to get back and tell me all about how elegant it was.

I didn't mind hearing him complain about all the people, or all the formalities. I thought it made me useful for something. An emotional outlet.

I really didn't mind. I felt like he still needed me then.

But I really never thought someone so dumb would bring a weapon into the building!

Well, except for me. I'm not dumb though, I'm brave! And I have backup waiting, Charles said so! I'm lucky it wasn't me who dropped anything, or else I would have been cornered. Only a handful of women brought a purse or a bag.

I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed. I put my hair back in place and then went to go lock he door.

"Charles?" I asked. He answered with a displeased yes. "What do I do?"

"This would be so much easier with the director watching my every move right now...uggh."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. What your going to do, is go back out there, get through their search and then make an excuse to leave again. Tell Russo that you sneaked out or something and that you have to be back before we get suspicious or something. Tell him you have diarrhea or something. Spill some wine and say your on your period."

"Have you thought about all these just for this occasion??" I asked.

"No, I thought about what Tori might do if she ever wanted to leave a party. Or make a scene at one."

"Has she?"

"I don't know, I don't think so. But just get out as soon as possible."

"Renovi isn't here by the way." I told him. "I'm just saying, if you and the DEA go in right now, tonight, Vic will know something is up."

Charles sighed and groaned again. It was kind of annoying how much he whined, like the world came crashing down again and he had to fix it.

But he was the adult. I wondered for a moment what Tori might have been doing. I wondered if she was getting ready for bed, or getting things packed again for school.

I wondered if I would be able to join her tomorrow. Liz! Stay focused! Your not in the future, don't think about the future. Stay present!