Bruce Flores - Daddy_s plaything

That's it. Shock. But then as Sheila spoke Sherry realized that this pampered, spoiled girl was not in shock at all. She had ice water instead of blood in her veins.

"That won't be necessary," Sheila said, smiling. She was actually smiling – not any forced, stoic front – but smiling! "I'd rather watch your last show. Perhaps later, Victor, you and I can have a late snack in my room."

"Whatever you say," Victor said, stunned.

"Look," Tony said, "I think you should go and lie down." He started to rise.

"Please sit down," Sheila said. "I assure you that I'm perfectly all right. Mother and father are gone. They went quickly and nothing can be done to bring them back. The real problems will come in the near future. That's when I'll need rest. God, there'll be a giant funeral with every relative imaginable there. There'll be endless arrangements and, of course, the probating of the will. You see, I'm the sole heir to over four million dollars – a bit less I suspect after the government and lawyers get their grubby hands on the estate. So you can see that this isn't exactly an occasion for mourning, is it? Champagne anyone?"

Sherry could stand it no longer. She ran from the booth and went down the stairs to her dressing room. Tony entered right behind her. "If that girl's in the audience for my last show I'll-I'll walk off, I swear," Sherry said. "I never saw anything like her in my life…"

"Easy," Tony said. "Obviously she's sick. It's her problem, not yours. Why get yourself upset because she doesn't mourn the loss of her parents? You can't do anything about it, so you might as well accept it." He held her close and tried to console her.

"I guess you're right," she said, nuzzling in Tony's shoulder, "but I couldn't stay in that booth a second longer."

"Look," Tony said. "Sheila said something about having a late snack with your father after the show. If your father does go to her room, I want you to get all your things out of your room and spend the night with me. We should be together when Bruce Morris arrives to look at your papers anyway in the morning. I'll help you move, all right?"

Sherry nodded. "Yes, Daddy will stay with her tonight," she said. "Jesus, she'll probably give him the blow job of the century – in memory of her ma and pa."

"Sherry!"

"I'm sorry," Sherry said. "I'm not myself." Tony glanced at his watch. "I'm on in just a few minutes. When your show is over I'll meet you at the stage door. Give your usual performance no matter what, understand?"

Sherry agreed.

As she had promised, Sheila watched Sherry's last show with Sherry's father. Then Victor went up to Sheila's room with Sheila as planned. It was nearly two in the morning when Sherry and Tony finished moving Sherry's things to his room in the Alpine Hotel. They did not make love but cuddled close and thought of lawyer Bruce Morris's arrival.

"There's no problem in preventing your father from withdrawing any funds or cashing in stocks and bonds," Bruce Morris said. "We'll put an immediate freeze on everything. Naturally, your father is entitled to, say, ten percent of whatever you've earned since he has acted in your behalf as your business manager. No more. We'll arrange a comfortable allowance for you until you're of age and then you can have the entire sum. These cases are not as infrequent as you might think," Bruce said. "I assure you that the judge's decision in this case is very very predictable."

Bruce Morris smiled confidently, stacking the evidence on the coffee table before him. He was a distinguished-looking man with a pleasant smile and the look of efficiency. In his late forties, be had a ruddy complexion and the beginnings of a paunch beneath his expensive, gray mohair suit.

"Thanks a million, Bruce," Tony said. "That's what she wanted to hear. I appreciate your flying up on such short notice."

Sherry gave Tony's lawyer-friend a kiss. "I feel much better," she said. "I didn't want to seem grasping or selfish, but when I realized Daddy had been lying to me all these years Tony thought I should get help."

"Wait until you receive the bill before you think me," Bruce said, grinning at Tony. "Morris, Blaney, and Abernathy is not an inexpensive law firm. Let's see, there's the cost of plane fare from Tahoe to Los Angeles roundtrip, court costs naturally, and now a three-martini lunch. No use trying to bribe me with kisses young lady. A fee is a fee and…"

Tony slugged Bruce playfully in the stomach and they embraced each other as the three of them went downstairs for lunch. "You didn't know that young Caruso's father here put me through law school, did you?" Bruce said.

"No," Sherry said. "Did he really?"

"Yes, really. Just keep me advised of your whereabouts if you're still traveling around. When things start popping in court I'll want to contact you."

"Will Daddy go to jail?" Sherry asked.

"No, nothing like that," Bruce said. "He'll be just a little less rich than he thought, that's all. You were very wise in contacting me now. It's a hell of a lot smarter than waiting till they liquidate everything and head for Arabia or some God forsaken place."

"I-I don't think Daddy would do anything like, that," Sherry said.

Bruce glanced skeptically at Tony. "I wasn't implying that he would," he said. "But this way we're certain, aren't we? When it comes to money, dear, never trust anyone. Sounds awful, I know, but listen to a veteran who has witnessed example after greedy example that would curl your teeth." They entered the elevator. "Oh, one other thing," Bruce said, smiling at Tony, then at Sherry, "when you get married make up your wills for Christ's sake, will you? You wouldn't believe the delay and red tape you save."

"Who's getting married?" Sherry said, blushing.

"And who's planning on dying?" Tony said. The elevator opened on the casino floor and they exited and entered the main dining room. Sherry and Tony ordered hotcakes and eggs and sausage. Bruce ordered a double martini and the dietetic luncheon. Sherry realized why he had a paunch and why his complexion was ruddy. She liked Tony's friend very much though. He was friendly, told funny jokes and inspired unquestionable confidence. Bruce was on his second double martini when Victor Redgrave arrived. Sherry introduced Bruce to her father, not mentioning that he was a lawyer. Victor Redgrave was visibly distressed and merely nodded at Bruce.

"Is Sheila all right?" Sherry asked.

"Yes, how did she manage through the night?" Tony added, his sarcasm intentional.

Victor ignored Tony with a hasty, "Fine, fine." Then he questioned Sherry fretfully. "Dear, I just returned from our motel. There were some papers and things in one of the – uh – dresser drawers. They seem to be – uh – missing. I was just wondering if I misplaced them. Have you seen them?" Sherry glanced back and forth from Tony to Bruce, not knowing what to say. The moment she had dreaded had arrived.

"They're very important, dear," Victor went on. "And – uh – I noticed that your things are gone. Do you suppose we could have been robbed? Did you take your clothing and things?"

Tony suddenly interrupted the silence. "Mr. Redgrave, your daughter's things are in my apartment along with the papers and things you mentioned. Sherry told me about the checkbooks and things yesterday – she found them by accident – and I advised her to see a lawyer. Mr. Morris is an attorney. Your things are not missing and you were not robbed. Mr. Morris has everything and he will be in touch with you. Meanwhile don't try to write any checks or cash any stocks and bonds?" Victor Redgrave turned scarlet, his face twisted in rage. "You Goddamn meddling Wop!" he said. "What gave you the right to interfere in my daughter's and my affairs?"

"Affairs is right," Tony said, not bothering to elaborate on the sexual aspect of the comment, though he could clearly see that Sherry's father caught his meaning.