Chapter 9:
Cornbeef and Cabbage
All through our lunch I couldn't focus on
anything but the words Trish said to me outside of Nick's hotel room. It didn't
make any sense. Why would he tell Trish that I loved Cornbeef and Cabbage? Why
Trish?...
"Hello? earth to Brian come in Brian!" I felt someone annoyingly
tapping me on the top of my head and saw it was AJ hitting me.
"Ow, jerk! Why are you doing that?" I pushed J's hand away.
"I've been trying to get your attention for the last few minutes. You
seemed to be in another galaxy somewhere." He then took on a more serious
tone to his voice.
"Is everything all right?" I wanted to tell him but I couldn't not
while she was sitting there at the table in ear shot. When AJ asked me that
question she turned her attention to my answer.
"Yeah everything's fine just a little tired that's all." I then
looked at Trish who had resumed carrying on a friendly conversation with Kevin.
He looked as if he was consoling her. She seemed upset. It doesn't make any
sense...
"Trish" I called to her. She looked away from Kevin and planted her Blue
eyes on me.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"So, when did Nick tell you I liked cornbeef?" She laughed. It seemed
like a nervous laugh to me but I may have been a little paranoid.
"Why are you so interested in that? I didn't know you had such an intense
hatred of the stuff. I never would have brought it up." She seemed sincere
enough. Maybe I was just jumping to conclusions. I mean it was so long ago.
Was it 1994 it may have even been 1995. Back in the days when being stalked was
a far away reality. the only fears we had at that point were boring reporters,
Lou, Johnny and Transcon. We shared a hotel room in our younger days. Maybe if
we still did that now he would be safe but too late for maybes. I remember Nick
and I sharing a room sitting on the bed and talking about food, one of our
favorite topics...
"I love macaroni and cheese. My Mom makes the best in the entire
galaxy!" I said as Nick shifted on the bed and was laying with his head
dangling off the end.
"You're gonna fall you know and I'm not rushing you to the hospital!"
"Huh very funn.." He didn't get to finish as he went sailing to the
floor. "Ouch!"
"Idiot, I told you so." He did a somersault and jumped back on the
bed.
We both had so much raw energy back then. No wonder we drove everyone crazy.
"Well, I like Mac and cheese but I LOVE pizza. I could eat it morning noon
and night!!" He rubbed his stomach and we both laughed.
Something else we did a lot of in those early days.
"I'll tell you what I hate. Cabbage! God that stuff is beyond gross!"
He made this ridiculous face that had me howling with laughter.
"Yeah I know what you mean, my dad loves it but it smells nasty!" He
nodded in agreement.
"It smells like feet. Never trust anybody who likes that stuff Brian. They
are NO good!"
"Hey! I just told you my dad loves it"
"Right, well besides him Bri, no else can possibly be trusted who likes
cabbage!"...
Trish looked at me hoping the question would go away but when I returned her
gaze she forced herself to continue.
"I'm not sure when he said that to me. It wasn't that long ago. He told me
you enjoyed it. Mistakes happen unless he was hoping I would make you some, you
know as a practical joke"
"Oh yeah, I can see him doing that" Howie said and I started to think
maybe that was the case. I could see him doing that too. Sitting back and
laughing while Trish served up a piping hot plate of cornbeef and cabbage.
But..
"Why would he think you would actually cook it for me? Makes no sense.
Besides he has long stopped playing pranks on us! he outgrew that a while
ago!" She shifted in her seat. Why would she do that? makes no sense.
"Excuse me a minute guys I have to make an important phone call" She
said as she ran out of the room, dialing furiously.
"That was weird" Kevin said as he continued to gnaw at his steak.
"Uh huh" I agreed half listening to the conversation but more
thinking back on that night...
"Hey Brian do you trust Lou?" The question seemed misplaced.
"Why do you ask?" I asked him as he shifted for the third time on the
bed. Finally deciding to sit up pretzel style.
"It's just that he is I don't know...I don't trust him." He seemed
troubled and I got a little alarmed.
"Did he say or do something to you?" I was hoping the answer was no.
Kevin did not like the way the Big Poppa looked at Nick. Not at all.
"No, he just makes me squrim. I don't like being alone with him."
"Then don't be alone with him!" he nodded in agreement. Nick started
to laugh and the worried look left his face.
"What is so funny now?" The kid amazed me how easily he could switch
gears.
"He smells like cabbage! Did you ever notice that? Lou smells like stinky
rotten cabbage!" he laughed so hard that he fell off the bed once again.
I definitely didn't like Lou and through our ten years we would have a lot of
problems, but that's another story for another day.
It was my turn to be serious now. I helped him up and we sat next to each
other.
"How about we make a code word Nick, this business is pretty rough and
there are a lot of weirdoes out there." He looked as if he wasn't
listening to me. I grabbed his arm and made him look me in the eyes.
"Nick, listen to me, there are many people in this world who will not care
that you are only a kid and if any of those people make you feel uncomfortable
say cabbage." He laughed.
"You want me to say cabbage?"
"Yes, if you are with someone you don't trust, say cabbage and I'll come
running."
"Uh,Brian why can't I say Brian HELP!!" He snorted with laughter.
"Because bonehead, sometimes you don't want to make it obvious. It might
even be a friend who turns sleazy you say cabbage and I'll know not to trust
that person. Not let that person be alone with you. Okay?"
He looked at me letting what I said to him sink in, then he nodded yes.
"But what if you get sleazy?"
"Well, then you're shit out of luck!"
"What if I'm in danger?" I didn't like hearing that but I played into
it. He was being dramatic.
"Then say Cornbeef and cabbage!" We both laughed our heads off. The
word was all but forgotten until now...
Trish walked back in the room seeming a little more relaxed. She smiled at me
as she took her seat.
"I just called the police and asked them to investigate Nick's room"
she than finished directing her response at me.
"Are you happy now?"
"Sure" I said and we continued with our meal....
*******************
I am so hungry! God, you would think that I hadn't eaten in weeks or something
but so far I've only skipped one dinner. I really think it's all in my head.
the thought of them controlling when I can eat disturbs me greatly. What if
they decide 24 hours is not enough? What if they just decide to forget about
me. I wonder how they killed the other guys? I wonder if this is how they did
it! I can't think like that now. I have to stay positive. Howie taught me that.
Once you look at a situation in a negative way, it will only get worse. So stop
thinking about eating Nick you can do this!
I decided to read through my journal and gather all my info. So far I know
that:
I am in Florida
Joe had been fired
The guys are back in California
Trish and Joe are related and he murdered their parents
Trish really enjoyed Tye's company and hated her brother so much that she
almost beat him to death
Joe had also mentioned a "Him" I would need to find out who that was.
Next time Joe comes down here I will make that my mission..... If Joe comes
down here.
God chaos, you can't think like that. Do something constructive. Kevin would
say that this would be the perfect time to work out. What if I get too
exhausted? The workout might make me pass out? Well, big deal. So I sleep!
That got me moving and I started my exercise routine for the day. This stupid
guy was not gonna break me. I will win!
********************
We had finished our meal and were going our separate ways when I decided to
pull AJ aside and get his opinion on the whole Trish thing. I invited him over
to my house and we sat in my den as I poured out my memories to him about the
cornbeef and cabbage night.
"Rok, have you gone totally insane?"
"No! I'm telling you AJ it was just a little weird that he said cornbeef
and cabbage. Out of any food in the entire world, cabbage? Seems strange don't
you think?" I was having a hard time convincing AJ that maybe Trish was
not who she appeared to be.
"Yeah but we can't start thinking she is a crazy woman just because Nick
said you liked Cabbage. It was a long time ago Brian, he might have
forgotten"
"Not Nick, he has a great memory. Believe me he KNOWS I hate cabbage and
cornbeef means he is in danger. It makes total sense! God why don't you believe
me?" I was getting frustrated. AJ thought I was just being silly but I
suddenly didn't trust Trish.
"Didn't you think it was weird how she ran out of the room so frantically
after I drilled her on that?"
"Well, honestly...no I would have done the same thing. You were being
strange. She probably needed a break from all the cornbeef and cabbage talk. I
know I sure as hell do!"
"Well, I don't trust her and I think you shouldn't either! Now are you
coming with me?"
"Coming with you where?"
"Nick's hotel room, she didn't want us poking our heads in there."
"Jesus Christ Brian, she called the police and THEY are handling it."
"Come on please? If we get caught, I'll say it was my idea. I just need to
do this AJ okay?" AJ looked at my face and when he saw the desperation
there, he finally agreed to it. I hugged him and then we made our way back to
the hotel...
***
