El Scorcho

Read this first: http://thinspiralnotebook.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/one-lump-or-two-2/

Morning sun shone onto the small portico of Vivian’s home as she and Lenore took a few minutes of silence, together. Her previous house in Atlanta, Georgia was more modern and aesthetically pleasing. But this three bedroom fixer-upper she bought with her degenerate father’s gambling money made her feel the most comfortable she’d ever been. Pictures, computer print outs and handwritten notes were strewn about the round wrought iron table. She sipped her Brazilian bean roast coffee and talked to Lenore.

“How angry is Pauley about my sleep aid?”

Lenore grinned. Her emerging crows’ feet around her small, dark eyes told stories that Vivian didn’t dare ask. Lenore rubbed her tattooed right arm and responded in her native tongue.

“A Senhorita pauley e o seu amigo de homem é muito infeliz. Você deve reconsiderar o transporte de uma arma.”

Vivian rolled her eyes and stood. She stretched and looked into the high, hard sun.

“I’ll be okay, Lenore. I think Pauley and Stan should give you one of their guns. I want you to come to the dress shop today and help me and Danela look out for Tomas.”

The door to the portico opened and Pauley stood in the threshold, bleary-eyed and stone-faced.

“Listen Viv, let’s get something damn clear between us!”

Lenore rose and stepped in front of Vivian. Unaware of their dynamic, she acted as a bodyguard. Vivian leaned into her.

“It’s alright, Lenore. Let the lion roar.”

Lenore stepped back and Vivian placed her hands on her hips and shot a sarcastic look to antagonize Pauley. Pauley countered by walking to within a few inches of her friend’s face.

“I don’t give a damn what you think about Stan being here so, one, don’t mess with us, again, or I’ll do what the Sampas want to do to you and head back to the States!”

Pauley’s eyes volleyed between Vivian and Lenore then she let out a sigh.

“And I think you and Lenore to carry guns for a while.”

Stan appeared at the doorway, shaking his head in agreement.

“Yes, I agree with Pauley. While we do some planning today, I’ll provide you two with something you can carry in a purse of thigh holder, whatever you prefer. But let’s get on the same page.”

Vivian turned and looked at the pictures laying on the table behind her. A photo of Tomas gave her a feeling of rage that surfed over her body.

“Lenore is very capable with weapons. But I already have some special things for Tomas and his men in syringes in the downstairs refrigerator.”

Pauley pulled Vivian close to her to get her attention then spoke.

“Viv, this is about to get really serious. You need to protect yourself.”

Vivian looked at Lenore who shook her head in agreement with Pauley.

“Saponin grows in the Amazon. It’s so powerful that anywhere you inject it into the bloodstream, it will kill anythinginstantly. I’ll be fine. Why don’t you and Stanley wake Danela while Lenore and I get back to we were doing.”

Pauley turned around and walked to Stan.

“We should go home. She’s too frustrating to help.”

Pauley felt Lenore calloused right hand on her arm. The dark-haired woman whispered into her ear.

“Please help Miss Vivian, your friend. She my friend, too. Tomas is more dangerous than she know Please.”

Pauley and Stan nodded to each other and looked over Lenore’s shoulder at Vivian, who had sat down to read through the notes and data on the table about the Sampas. Pauley used her fingertips to wipe small beads of sweat from her forehead.

“Okay, Lenore. It’s going to be a hell of a hot day, today.”

*****blogger’s note****

This is my chapter of two new ones for my co-written story about two female killers – Vivian and Pauley, with my friend and writing partner, Tara aka @Tara_R http://thinspiralnotebook.wordpress.com/

The lyrics don’t quite match but the feeling and tone do. Here’s Weezer’s underrated rock classic from the awesome Pinkerton album, El Scorcho.