Chapter Thirty-one

 

Jon had to get his wits together fast or this could get bad, real bad. Cheri could hear the yelling coming from the phone and she knew it was bad, even her. She didn’t know that Jon was on the phone and she knew Jon was going to explode on her. So she sat down and mouthed ‘I’m Sorry’ for all the good it would do her knowing how Jon was going to react to this. Seeing that his wife was on a tangent. 

“Babe please calm down so I can explain.” He asked her when the door of the hotel room opened and Richie walked in. Jon held up his hand and mouthed ‘just a sec’ El can you wait just a second, Richie just walked in with some new clothes for her and I just want to touch base with him. I’ll be right, right back hang on.” He didn’t wait for a response and put the phone down.

Richie looked at him and asked, “Is that Ellie on the phone?” Jon just shook his head. “Man am I sorry. I got what I believe she needed.” He told them both.

“Good, Cheri go thru the bags and I don’t fucking care just put them on. I need to explain to Ellie why she’s here.” Jon went back to the phone and sat down and took a breathe before he started to talk to her again. Richie gave the bags to Cheri to go get dressed. She tried to tell him what happened but he just blew her off. She really felt bad at what just conspired here. But she was getting a little sick and tired of them always blaming her for the little things on her. But she did understand why. She had to get out of this business and fast. She got up and went back into the bedroom to get dressed.

  Richie poured himself another cup of cold coffee. He didn’t care he just needed the caffeine kick.  Jon was trying very hard to get thru to his wife that nothing was going on. “Babe I told you didn’t I? I am telling you everything that is going on here. I love you and Jim and that beautiful baby that is growing inside of you. I can’t wait to get home to all of you and see that baby bump of yours. I didn’t get to see it before and I’m dying to this time. So please don’t you ever think right now I want her over you. Ok? All she is doing is laying the trap so we can get Doc for what he is doing to me and really the guys. You do get that right?” he asked her hoping that she understood.  

Trying not to cry, “I did it again didn’t I?” she asked him upset.

“Did what Babe?” he truly wanted to know.

“I went off on you.” Sniffling in the phone.

Smiling as he said this, “Is this what I have to look forward to?”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember it being this bad.” She said to him sadly.

“Well can I say something without you biting my head off?” he hoped.

“I’ll try.” She giggled.

“Maybe because we’re older?” he waited for the crash.

“You know I was thinking the same thing. I was only sixteen and seventeen so I had other things to be upset about. People judging me, telling me to put it up for adoption. Oh my God can you image if I did. I’d be wondering what Jimmy would be doing every minute of the day. You know how I am. I be driving myself crazy. And if he’s mad that we are having another kid only because we didn’t ask him permission that it was ok. Which by the way it is but he wants to have a little talk with you Dad. Can you image that if I went to find him how mad he would be that I did put him up for adoption. He wouldn’t even speak to me or you. Never mind our parents. I’m just so glad that mine stood by me to let me keep him and help me raise him.” She told him.

“So am I. I don’t think things would have worked out the way they would have. You would have been so angrier with me that I don’t think I could have said anything to win you back. But I’m not about to lose you now got that. And Cheri doesn’t mean anything to me. Except to find Doc. So what I need you to do is what I say and that is do what those bodyguards say alright? Doc I believe has the place staked out. And just in case he does…well I don’t think he’ll do anything to you guys, hurting a child and a pregnant woman isn’t his style. But if anything does go down I want to know A.S.A.P. got that.” He told her concerned.

“Yeah I got that. I’ll try to explain to Jimmy too because he’ll want to go out with his friends. He’s old enough now to know what’s going on and if I try and keep anything from him he’ll just withdraw and not trust either of us and I thought having girls were hard. Mom and Dad made it look easynand to get him off the subject.” She told him.

“Well I was out half the time in bars and sleeping in school just getting by and copying off who’s ever homework I could. As long as I told Mom and Dad where I was they were good with it. I just felt bad for Tony and Matty they were the ones getting bullied in school because we rose to fame when we did. I didn’t even know because they told them not to tell me because they didn’t want me to lose focus. Real nice huh? My brothers are getting the crap beaten out of them because of me but don’t tell me because they don’t want me to stop for a second because I might lose money. Then I have a kid out there but again don’t tell me because again I may lose focus because I love his mother and my fans will get jealous and I may run to her and lose focus. So tired of people trying to run my life.” He told her upset.

“Well how is she going to help you find Doc Honey?” Ellie wanted to know and to get him off the subject.

“We’re not sure yet but going out and seeing how these people who are following us will know. They were following Richie last night to the local drug store to pick a few things up and I guess were downstairs when he bought her, her clothes. She really didn’t have anything to wear other than what she chose last night. So he picked her up some jeans and a tee with a jacket and boots not that hooker outfit she was wearing then.” He told her as the phone went dead. “El are you there?”

“Yeah I’m here. I’m just trying to put my trust in you Dear.” She said threw gritted teeth.

“Babe Rich and I slept in the bedroom and she slept on the couch. She didn’t like it but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to risk you again.” He told her honestly.

“It’s just my hormones I trust you. I hate to say this but you better get back to her. Please be careful. There is no way I’m living the rest of my life alone with your Mother!” she told him seriously.

“I love you too. (chuckling) I’ll call you as soon as we have some news ok? Take care of my babies and yourself. I have plans for the two of us.” He snickered over the phone.

It was an hour later and the guys were ready to go and they were waiting on Cheri to finish up whatever she was doing.

“Jesus what the hell is she doing in there? Ellie doesn’t take this long to put whatever shit on her face.” Jon grumbled.

“That’s because she doesn’t need any of the crap on her face. Wait you did unplug the phone in there right?” Richie asked him.

“Yeah I did. Right in front of her when I thought of it. She said I insulted her.” Jon laughed. “But as I told her we aren’t taking any chances and until we can trust her one hundred percent this is how it’s going to be.” He said as he got up and knocked on the bedroom door.

“Cheri are you about done because we need to leave before it starts to get dark out.” He said impatiently.

Opening the door she was dressed and all put together. “It’s still morning and if you want them to follow us then you want them to know it’s me. So I had to fix my hair a certain way. Excuse me. I take it you don’t have sisters.” She asked them.

Both of them shook their heads no. “Well you have a wife and have been around women haven’t you?” she asked.

                “My wife doesn’t take this long to get ready.” Jon told her emotionless.

“Plus we usually kick out our conquest before morning. It’s in our agreement when we bring any of them back to the hotel. We like to sleep afterwards alone in our beds.” Richie explain to her.

“And our Mothers want us to find one for each of their daughters. Did Ellie’s parents know exactly what she was getting in you?” Cheri wanted to know.

“Well let’s see. I got her pregnant at sixteen and my mother hid it from me and I didn’t know til I was about Twenty-two, Twenty-three and by accident I think, oh they thought I was a hell of a person. But when they found out what really happened and it wasn’t my fault why I didn’t know about it they understood and gave me a second chance. Plus I take good care of their daughter and love her to pieces and our son, so I think that’s why they care for me too. So it worked out. But I’m not going to let Doc or anyone else put a wrench into our life. So let’s get moving.” Jon told her moving to the door.

Cheri could see why Jon was angry and he had every reason to be. She had to play this just right.  

They got into the car Jon ordered and drove off. Jon had to go to the studio for some meetings so he thought Richie would get a kick out of it if he could get a tour arranged for him and Cheri while he was in this meeting. It took about a half hour to pull into The Twentieth Century Fox lot. Jon showed the guard his credentials and once he did they let them in. He drove down to their offices and all three of them got out. The studio was bustling with extras walking around in their costumes which they couldn’t believe all the different things that were going on.

“Where are the actors?” Cheri asked as she looked around.

“They’re back inside the studio. That’s where their dressing rooms are. Come on let’s find Emilio and see about that tour and then he and I need to get to that meeting.” He told them leading them to the back where they were filming.

They had to get one of those golf carts and one of the assistants to drive them out to the set. Once there Jon thanked him and asked him to wait for them. They waited for one of the scenes to be over and once the director yelled cut, Jon went over to say Hi to Emilio. As they were talking Emilio looked over and he couldn’t believe who he saw.

“Hey Jon isn’t that the girl you were asking about?” as Cheri waved over to them smiling.

“Yeah that’s her.” Jon told him. “So you do remember her then.” He figured once he saw her he thought he would recognize her.

“Um yeah I told you she is in Charlie’s Harem.” He chuckled.

 Jon was really put out by that only because Emilio knew nothing of what was really going on in Cheri’s circle. “You know I hate to tell you but Cheri wasn’t here to play with you all. She was here to collect information on all of you and then give it to her people so they could blackmail all of you.” Jon basically told him smugly as he looked around to see if could see find his cohorts. He spotted them by the food service table as they were watching another scene being shot.

“Look Emilio has anyone been here to the set asking any questions about me or even say trying to get more clients on his roaster?” Jon asked him.

“Not that I know of.” He told him but Christian Slater was walking by and heard Jon ask him that question.

“Hey Jon. I can I answer that for you.” He told him.

“Really? How?” Jon wanted to know.

“Well a couple of guys were by the other day asking when you were going to be on set again. A couple of us told them we didn’t know. You were only here when the urge struck you when you needed inspiration. They didn’t seem to like that answer because they stormed off.” He told them.

“Why the hell didn’t someone tell me? I’m the damn star of the movie. I should have been alerted to this.” Emilio stated.

“Well excuse me Emilio but we didn’t know that we had to tell you when we all had to piss too. We told security thou and they said they would keep their eyes glued for these guys and when you showed up they would tell you but you haven’t been back to your trailer so I guess you didn’t see their note.” Christian explained to Jon.

“No I haven’t been back there yet. Thanks Christian I appreciate you telling me this. You guys just stay away from them I hear they work for a really bad guy.” He told them.  They told Jon Thanks and they would and Emilio was going to talk to security to make sure this was going to be a closed set from now on.

Jon went and got Richie and Cheri and explained what he learned and next to try and figure out where they would be. Richie suggested Doc’s old office seeing that’s why wouldn’t he be using it now. So they got back in the car and drove over to where Doc had an office in L.A. It took them about a half hour plus traffic to get there but they found it.

“Ok so we’re here. Now what do we do.” Cheri asked them rudely.

“Did we really have to bring her along?” Rich asked.

“Unfortunately yes. If they start shooting we can use her as a shield.” Jon laughed.

“Oh you guys are just hilarious.” She told them slumping down in her seat.

“Look we have to get in there and see if he left any files and the only way we can is for her to distract any security that is there or if we do set off any alarms she has to do the same if any show up. You can do that right?” Jon mockingly asked her.

She was getting pissed off at these two. She could have left them to rot and have Philip’s men beat the crap out of them and use scare tactics on his wife and kid. But instead she talked to Philip and has him at arm’s length right now until she tells him what he wants to hear. Yeah she wasn’t stupid, she is playing both sides right now it’s how she has survived this far and she makes no apologies about it.

 “Yeah I get it. You want me to do them right here in the open?” she asked them pissed off.

“Oh would you?” Jon shot back at her.

Richie had enough now. “Will you two knock it off. If you guys want to go at it you can when we get back at the hotel and I’ll let you do the nasty if it will get whatever crap out of your system. But right now we have to get into Doc’s office and see if we can find anything on him. Can we do that?” he asked really annoyed now.

“Yeah calm down Rich. Besides she started it.” Jon mumbled into his chest.

But Cheri heard him anyway, “I started it! You little pipsqueak!” she shrieked at him as Richie had to hold her back.

“Cheri you just stay here and if anyone tries to enter while we’re in there just stall them please.” Richie asked her.

“I will because you asked me nicely.” And stuck her tongue out at Jon.

Jon just threw his hands up in the air. “Never mind that Jon we need to go before anyone comes back. Let’s go.” As Richie grabbed Jon’s arm and they moved to the back of the building.

Looking around they spotted an emergency door that would lead them inside. “Ok genius how do we get inside without sounding the alarm off.” Jon wanted to know.

“Look you have been pissy since you’ve gotten up this morning. What’s with you?” He asked his best friend.

“Nothing ok? I just want this whole ordeal over with and throw McGhee’s ass in jail. That way I can get home to my family and get away from her.” Jon told him as he just pushed his hair back.

“We will but in order to do that we have to do this first so you two have to stop fighting. Can you just do that?” Richie asked him agitated.

“Fine, fine I can do that.” Jon told him as he was flitting around uneasy.

“Ok let’s try the front and see if we can just walk in without setting off any alarms.” Richie suggested with his fingers crossed.

They walked back to the front and went in that way and Cheri watched this and shook her head trying to figure out what the hell they were trying to do. They opened the doors and walked in and saw the receptionist sitting at her desk. Looking at each other they walk over to her and gave her both their brightest and sexist smiles.

Looking up from her desk she nearly had a heart attack seeing that she was about twenty-four years old and knew what bands were hot. The ones in front of her were definitely on her top two and she was trying so hard to keep her cool.

“Ha…Hi can I Hep…Help you?” she asked them as she did get the words out and Jon and Richie smiled at each other knowing that she was a fan. That meant they had something to work with.

“Well Hello Darling I hope that you can. We were in the neighborhood and were told our old manager was still here. Do you think you could tell us if he is?” Richie asked as he leaned in.

“Well if you could tell me his name, but I think I might know it already.” She smiled right back at both of them.

“Well Baby his name would be Doc McGhee.” Jon told her as he sat on the corner of her desk.

“I knew it! I’m a big fan of yours. I have all of your albums and seen you in concert  several times.” She blushed.

“Well that’s just wonderful. We love to hear that…Melody. Well you’ll fit right in with us now won’t you Melody.”  Jon told her playing with one of her toys on her desk.

“Well Darling could you please tell us what office our ex-manager is in?” Rich asked her.

“Oh I don’t believe he’s in today.” She told them still starry eyed.

“Well if you don’t mind we would just love to leave him a note and shove it under his door. Would that be alright?” Jon asked her.

“Well I guess that would be fine. His office is on the third floor. You can take the elevator then take a right and it should be near the end of the hall. Room Three-twenty-five.” She smiled at them as Jon got off of the desk. Each of them then kissed her hand and headed for the elevator.

Once inside Richie look at Jon and said, “Breathe this should only take a minute.”

“That’s easier said than done.” He said as he held on tight to the back.

“How does Ellie take you out when you get in one of these?” he asked him.

“She doesn’t bug me about it K? Not like you assholes.” Jon told him as he was trying to breathe.

“Well right now I’m trying to distract you Bitch.” Richie laughed. Jon just gave him the stink eye slash death glare.

Leaving the elevator which Jon couldn’t have been happier, they found Doc’s office.

“Ok now what?” Jon asked Richie when he saw Rich take something out of his pocket. “What the hell is that?” he asked him curious.

“Well I asked Cheri for a few bobbypins when you were watching the place. I didn’t want you to see her give me these.” He grinned widely.

“What? When the hell do you know how to pick a lock?” Jon mockingly asked him.

“Hey I don’t tell you all of my secrets. Especially when I was dating this Chick who kept locking herself out of her house when we were in high school. She was really cute but nothing upstairs. If she really didn’t have her head attached she would have lost it. Anyway I use to have to open her back door all the time. So let’s see if I didn’t lose my touch.” He told Jon as he fiddled with the lock. Jon impatiently waited for Richie to see if he could opened the door. When Jon turned around Richie was standing with a big goofy grin on his face.

Jon just looked at him and rolled his eyes. “Don’t say it. Just don’t.” he told him as he walked in the office as Richie chuckled as he shut the door.

“So where do we start?” he asked Jon looking around.

“Anywhere where Doc could hide anything” Jon told him as he took the file cabinets. So Richie took Doc’s desk and went thru his drawers.

As they were going thru the files they heard someone coming. They looked at each other and froze. Then saw the doorknob start to turn. They knew they had to do something and fast.