Keeping Faith

Chapter Thirteen: Unexpected Twist

    David was rather nervous as he entered the club that night. The place was buzzing with hundreds of people that personally knew Eddie. They'll know I'm not the real Eddie in a heartbeat, he worried.

Anthony came through the back way and entered David's dressing room, "Hey..." he whispered. David turned quickly, "You shouldn't be here." Anthony nodded, "I know, but I thought you should know that Eddie's girlfriend is here...Sonny is bringing her up here now. They said her name is Cora Beth. I didn't catch a last name. Anyway, I guess Jonathan didn't have her in his notes. Eddie calls her 'babe' most of the time from what I gathered. I have to get back downstairs...they want me to deal during the show."

David placed a hand on his shoulder, "Thanks...be careful." Anthony nodded and disappeared down the back stairs just as Sonny walked through the door.

"Eddie, look who I found down stairs." David turned and smiled, "Hey babe." She smiled, sashayed over and attempted to kiss him.

He turned from her and grabbed his suit jacket. She frowned, "Where have you been, darling? I haven't seen you in weeks." Cora inquired of Eddie.

David was about to fabricate on where he had been when Sonny broke up this chummy get together. "Come on, Ferrelli. We've got costumers waiting." David nodded, "Of course. I'll be right down." Cora stayed in the dressing room with David as he finished putting on his coat and tie.

She seemed to be analyzing every move he made. Finally, he turned to her and asked, "How do I look?" She smiled, "Handsome as always."

David smiled, "Thank you..." She raised an eyebrow, "What?" "For, uh, for telling me I look handsome." She cocked her head, "I've never heard you say thank you before." Oops...this is great. Okay, be cocky. "And you never will again." She sighed, "Same ole Eddie, I see." "Well now what's wrong with that?!"

She stood, "Nothing! Nothing at all. It's just that sometimes I wish you could be just a little bit nicer. At least to me." With that she left the room and David sighed. He would have to be careful. If anybody would know he wasn't Eddie, Cora would.

Sonny pointed to center stage. A gesture for David to perform. David entered the stage as the band gave him an old jazz swing intro. He grabbed the microphone and began to snap his fingers as he started the show with a one of his favorites:

"Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear — and it shows them pearly white. Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe and he keeps it, ah, out of sight..."

The audience roared with applause as the band played the final note and David took a bow. They gave him a standing ovation and an encore. He followed with a section by Frank Sinatra — 'Fly me to the Moon'.

The show went much smoother than David had anticipated. So far, everything was going like clockwork.

He headed over to the bar and was stopped by Frankie, "Sonny wants you to meet the vice president of this organization."

David gave a permitting nod, "Sure, lead the way." Frankie lead him into a dark, shadow filled room, and there sitting in the corner was an unwelcomed, all too familiar face. One that David wished he hadn't seen.

A smirk grew in the corner of the figures mouth. You...this is all I need.

"This is Darien Clark." Frankie informed, "You've probably seen him on TV. He's a pretty popular guy." David nodded and extended a hand as he walked forward out of the shadows.