Ten

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven – The Judgment-Free Zone

Robert sat comfortably in a chair in the opulent and large room that appeared to be sort of a master bedroom. It was apparently unused by DeGeneres as it was only generically (but expensively) decorated like all of the guest rooms and did not seem to have been lived in for some time. There were several chairs and two couches in the room which seemed to serve the crowd of eight well.

The men had all spent some time moving around the furniture as to make sure that there were no backs to the door. The door had been locked, but only with the doorknob, which meant that one well-placed kick would probably get it open. But then the killer would have to deal with two nine millimeters, an axe, and an array of other knives and blunt weapons.

The group had checked through the entire room for any hidden doors or secret passageways, through which the killer might come through. But they found none. However, there was an opulent bathroom with a shower, a Jacuzzi bathtub, and several sinks. This bathroom had a door that led out of the room into a hallway right near the main living room.

Luckily, this door had a deadbolt lock which Robert locked and secured. He instructed everyone to stay away from that door and not to open it, and everyone agreed, though Carl was visibly irritated. Robert also instituted a bathroom break policy which insured that no one stayed in the bathroom for long or did so without a partner outside.

The couches and chairs were situated so that Robert and Bibi had a view of both the front door to the room and the bathroom door at the back of the room from their couch. Gabe, Chloe, and Kelly had the other couch situated opposite from Robert and Bibi. Carl sat in a chair next to Kelly, while Madeline and Dominic shared a loveseat towards the back of the room.

The various groups engaged in various conversations involving both the situation surrounding them and their own personal lives. Robert was surprised when Bibi chose to sit next to him, though she didn't really say anything, but just crossed her legs and set down her pistol across her lap.

Robert broke the silence, "You're very confident with that thing," motioning to her gun.

"I know," she smiled, "I never would have thought it years ago. Shooting or even owning a gun was the last thing I ever thought I would do."

"Let me guess," mused Robert, "Lapsed bleeding heart liberal?"

"Guilty as charged," she laughed, "Or at least I was back then. Anti-death penalty activist, the whole nine yards," she paused, "I was ever the idealist. I was going to right all the wrongs visited on the world by the corrupt system."

Robert laughed, "So you were the hippie white girl out to save the world?"

"Oh," she smiled, "I was."

"What changed you?"

"The job, or reality," she said, "It toughens you up, sharpens you."

Robert smiled, "I think I can relate."

"So hundreds of cases later I'm the Gucci-wearing bitch you don't want to mess with."

He pointed to her pumps, "Are those Gucci?"

"No," she replied, "The skirt is Gucci. The pumps are Jimmy Choo."

"Nice," he replied, "You run quite well in them."

She laughed, "I know. What was I thinking? I've had to chase down cabs in heels, I guess. But then I live in these things, ninety plus hours a week."