who get invited aren’t well known. It keeps everything a
lot more low key than it usually would.”
“Sounds very well thought out and cozy,”
Travis said.
“Crispy Spider’s last album didn’t do as
well as was expected. Their antics on their latest tour kind of took away from
the music. The sales were good but they weren’t great. The management company
stepped in and laid down the law. This business is ruthless. You don’t produce
amazing sales, there is always someone else nipping at your heels. Luckily, the
guys heard what was being said and that’s why this little retreat was
organized. We keep them as cloistered as possible and give them the chance to
create with as few distractions as we possibly can.”
Travis looked skeptical. “Parties with hot
women every night does not exactly sound very cloistered to me.”
I recognized the truth in that statement.
“For these guys it was the best compromise we could come up with. The idea is
that if it is kept in-house then security can deal with any issues that may
eventuate. It keeps the situation from getting messy.”
“Didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?”
“No,” I said, “it didn’t.”
“I’m going to need you to take me through
everything that happened that morning,” Travis said as he stood up. “If I can walk
through what you did and what you saw, I may get a better handle on it.”
I stood up and absentmindedly brush at some
more of the goat hair that was stubbornly refusing to leave me. “Not a problem.
Just do me a favor and try not to antagonize Griffin.”
Travis gave me his trademark grin. “Of
course, Trudie. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
That just filled me with confidence.
Chapter Fourteen
I followed Travis through the door. I
wasn’t surprised to find Griffin waiting for us.
“Griffin,” Travis nodded.
“Cooper,” Griffin replied.
I waited a second as both of them eyed each
other.
“Seriously, guys. We’re doing this now?”
Griffin broke eye contact first.
“No, you’re right. We need to act
professional. Cooper and I have worked together before…”
“And wasn’t that just a special experience?”
Travis interrupted.
I rolled my eyes. I seriously could not
believe that I had to put up with this. It was like two irritating puppies
fighting for dominance.
“We have a job to do and we all need to
work together, nicely,” I said through gritted teeth. I was very much looking
forward to the end of this day.
Griffin at least had the ability to look a
little shamefaced. “Sorry, instinctive reaction.”
“You need to work on those,” I muttered.
“Still can’t believe you got a job here,”
pointed out Travis.
“You’re not the only one,” Griffin said
tightly.
I shot a worried look in his direction. “Is
everything okay?”
Griffin nodded. “The lawyer is not happy
that I’m here but he was overruled by management. Seems Monique has a lot of say
when she wants it.”
I nodded. We were all just lucky that
Monique used her powers for good rather than evil. If she ever went to the dark
side, the world could be in real trouble.
“So, what are you two doing now?” asked
Griffin suspiciously.
“I’m walking Travis through what I did the
other morning when I found Jolena’s body.”
“Do you mind if I tag along?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Don’t you have work you’re supposed to be
doing?” queried Travis.
Griffin shrugged. “Nobody seems to have any
idea what to do with me. I have been given strict instructions to stay away
from the band. Seems the lawyer doesn’t trust me not to bust them on a drugs
charge or something.”
To be perfectly honest, neither did I.
“Monique wanted me to stay close to you and
be there if Jorge needs help, so that is what I’m going to do,” Griffin said
with a smile on his face.
I couldn’t really say that I found that
smile to be comforting at all.
“Is Trudie in danger?” interrupted Travis.
I was touched by the concern in his
lot more low key than it usually would.”
“Sounds very well thought out and cozy,”
Travis said.
“Crispy Spider’s last album didn’t do as
well as was expected. Their antics on their latest tour kind of took away from
the music. The sales were good but they weren’t great. The management company
stepped in and laid down the law. This business is ruthless. You don’t produce
amazing sales, there is always someone else nipping at your heels. Luckily, the
guys heard what was being said and that’s why this little retreat was
organized. We keep them as cloistered as possible and give them the chance to
create with as few distractions as we possibly can.”
Travis looked skeptical. “Parties with hot
women every night does not exactly sound very cloistered to me.”
I recognized the truth in that statement.
“For these guys it was the best compromise we could come up with. The idea is
that if it is kept in-house then security can deal with any issues that may
eventuate. It keeps the situation from getting messy.”
“Didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?”
“No,” I said, “it didn’t.”
“I’m going to need you to take me through
everything that happened that morning,” Travis said as he stood up. “If I can walk
through what you did and what you saw, I may get a better handle on it.”
I stood up and absentmindedly brush at some
more of the goat hair that was stubbornly refusing to leave me. “Not a problem.
Just do me a favor and try not to antagonize Griffin.”
Travis gave me his trademark grin. “Of
course, Trudie. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
That just filled me with confidence.
Chapter Fourteen
I followed Travis through the door. I
wasn’t surprised to find Griffin waiting for us.
“Griffin,” Travis nodded.
“Cooper,” Griffin replied.
I waited a second as both of them eyed each
other.
“Seriously, guys. We’re doing this now?”
Griffin broke eye contact first.
“No, you’re right. We need to act
professional. Cooper and I have worked together before…”
“And wasn’t that just a special experience?”
Travis interrupted.
I rolled my eyes. I seriously could not
believe that I had to put up with this. It was like two irritating puppies
fighting for dominance.
“We have a job to do and we all need to
work together, nicely,” I said through gritted teeth. I was very much looking
forward to the end of this day.
Griffin at least had the ability to look a
little shamefaced. “Sorry, instinctive reaction.”
“You need to work on those,” I muttered.
“Still can’t believe you got a job here,”
pointed out Travis.
“You’re not the only one,” Griffin said
tightly.
I shot a worried look in his direction. “Is
everything okay?”
Griffin nodded. “The lawyer is not happy
that I’m here but he was overruled by management. Seems Monique has a lot of say
when she wants it.”
I nodded. We were all just lucky that
Monique used her powers for good rather than evil. If she ever went to the dark
side, the world could be in real trouble.
“So, what are you two doing now?” asked
Griffin suspiciously.
“I’m walking Travis through what I did the
other morning when I found Jolena’s body.”
“Do you mind if I tag along?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Don’t you have work you’re supposed to be
doing?” queried Travis.
Griffin shrugged. “Nobody seems to have any
idea what to do with me. I have been given strict instructions to stay away
from the band. Seems the lawyer doesn’t trust me not to bust them on a drugs
charge or something.”
To be perfectly honest, neither did I.
“Monique wanted me to stay close to you and
be there if Jorge needs help, so that is what I’m going to do,” Griffin said
with a smile on his face.
I couldn’t really say that I found that
smile to be comforting at all.
“Is Trudie in danger?” interrupted Travis.
I was touched by the concern in his
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