Ten

Chapter Two

Chapter Two – Dinner is served

Chloe was impressed with the sight of the woman who had appeared on the deck. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties with a meticulous professional hairdo. She wore an impeccable designer skirt with a sleeveless blouse, tall pumps, and a lot of opulent jewelry. She also wore it well, as her appearance elicited authority and attention. No one could have mistaken her for anything other than a business executive or a lawyer.

"Good afternoon, everyone. My name's Bibi Worthington. I'm Mr. DeGeneres' attorney and personal representative. I'd like first to apologize for keeping you here as I was caught up with some other business. But now that I am here I would like to welcome you on behalf of Mr. DeGeneres, and I would also like to verify each of your identities with a driver's license or passport as dictated by the instructions on your invitations."

Bibi then turned back inside the house and called out to the 'creepy' man that Chloe had seen in the window earlier, "Mr. Malatano, could you please come out here for a minute?"

As Mr. Malatano reluctantly followed her out onto the balcony, Bibi introduced him, "This is Enrico Malatano, a personal friend of Mr. DeGeneres and a fellow guest."

Enrico waved politely but disingenuously to the others and then went back inside the house. Bibi then smiled and explained, "Mr. Malatano has some health issues that prevent him from being out in the sun for very long."

Some of the male guests snickered at this, or really at the appearance of this strange little man. Chloe thought it rude, but found herself smiling a little, though she didn't laugh out loud.

"I will now verify your identities if you please," Bibi then began to read off a list of names, "Mr. Robert Hayes?"

"Present."

"Could I see your identification, sir?"

He walked closer and pulled out his police badge and handed it over for her to look at. A few of the others around whispered when they saw the badge.

"I'm afraid that I need to see a driver's license or a passport?" the lawyer insisted.

Robert grimaced and put his badge away and pulled out his wallet, from which he removed his driver's license and handed it over.

"Anything else?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Nothing else," Bibi replied, "Thank you, Mr. Hayes."

"Bibi Worthington, eh?" asked Robert as she turned to call the next person's name.

Surprised, Bibi turned back to him, "Excuse me?"

"The Bibi Worthington," he continued, "Defense attorney for the Santino Murder Trial a few years back?"

"I don't think that's relevant to the situation at hand," she deflected.

"Not relevant," he paused, moving in closer to her, "I'm not entirely certain of that. A man murders a young woman and then is acquitted due to your considerable talent. A year later he murders three more women," he paused again, "I wonder how you're sleeping."

Chloe and Gabe looked at each other and cringed a little. This was getting uncomfortable.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hayes," she replied calmly, cutting him off, and turning to the others. But when she said this her eyes were like daggers into his.

The attorney composed herself and went several names into the list, meeting and checking the identification of each person. She skipped Enrico and the bikini girl, whose name was Madeline, presumably because they had arrived on an earlier boat. When she came lastly to Carl Miller, he asked a question.