Righteous Obsession (16 page)

“Colin?”  Alethea whispered.

“Hmm?”

“I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next
month without you.”

“I feel the same way, but it will go fast and we’ll be
together in New Orleans before either of us realizes it,” He consoled her,
running his hands gently up and down her back.

“It just seems like forever right now.”  She sighed
and buried her face in his shoulder.

“I know, but I’ll call you as often as I can.”

“You’d better!  I guess I’ll just have to stay so busy
I won’t have time to think about how much I’m missing you.”

“Well, don’t stay too busy.  I want you to miss me a
little.”

“I will – don’t worry about that!”  She assured him. 
She kissed him and was soon asleep.

Colin and Alethea arrived at the airport the next
morning to find that the rest of the band was already there and waiting.  Russ
did a quick head count and began to herd them outside to their jet.  He saw
Colin hadn’t followed.  “Colin?  Colin, will you come on!”  He called then
muttered to himself, “Jesus!  Why do I feel like I accidentally stepped in the
middle of one of those gum commercials?”

Colin broke off the kiss before being tempted to do
more than kiss Alethea.  “I know we didn’t have time to look at engagement
rings, but we’ll pick one out the next time we’re together,” He promised her.

She nodded.  “That’s fine.”

“I’ll call you tonight.  I love you!”  Colin called as
he sprinted towards the band’s jet.

“I love you, too!”  Alethea called, smiling.  Her
smile lit up her face and her eyes shone.  Colin so rarely expressed his
feelings aloud that it meant so much more whenever he did.

The Unforgiven/Armageddon tour continued to be one of
the year’s most successful tours, selling out every concert.  They were now
touring in the Midwest.

Colin liked the fans in this part of the country. 
They had no qualms about approaching the band members to talk with them and
they appeared to lack many of the pretensions that some fans in New York and
Los Angeles adopted.  He always enjoyed playing concerts in the Midwest, too. 
The audiences were among the most enthusiastic crowds they played and usually
well behaved.

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Colin called his
favorite jeweler in San Francisco. He was shopping for a one-of-a-kind design
for Alethea’s wedding ring.  He told her what kind of gems he wanted it to
contain but left the design up to her.  She agreed to send him some sketches so
he could share them with Alethea.

The concert that night was one of the best of the tour
so far.  The audience called them back for three encores and continued to
scream and cheer for them even after the arena lights had come up again.

When Colin returned to his room he called Alethea. 
“Hi!”

“Colin, I’m so glad you called.  I have a surprise for
you!”

“And it’s not even my birthday!  What’s up?”

“The person who was supposed to do the Alice-in-Chains
interview in Milwaukee had to cancel so Jazz gave me the assignment.”

“And?”  Colin prompted.

“I’m scheduled to be there the day after your concert
in Chicago so I thought I spend the night with you then take the morning
shuttle to Milwaukee – if that’s okay with you?”

“Okay?  Are you kidding!  Jazz must have read my
mind.”

“Or else he took a good look at a certain portion of
your anatomy!”  She teased.

“Be sure and warn those guys if any of them even thinks
about making a pass at you I’ll rip their heads off and play racquetball with
them!”  Colin threatened.

Alethea felt selfishly gratified to hear that he
sounded more than a little bit jealous!  “I found you a wedding ring in an
antique jewelry shop.  I love it and I hope you will, too.”

“Since you chose it, I’ll love it,” he assured her.

They talked awhile longer before reluctantly ending
their conversation so they could both get to bed.

“I’ll see you in Chicago then,” Colin said.  “I can’t
wait!”

“Which part of you can’t wait the most?”  Alethea
teased.

“You’ll find out!”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Colin smiled as he replaced the receiver in its
cradle.  What a woman!

Although he had come to dread checking his voicemail
he punched in his code and then a voice that he’d come to know very well said,
“I told you God wanted me to make you suffer before you die!  I told you last
time I was going to cut out your heart while you were still alive, but I’ve
decided that isn’t enough punishment for somebody as evil as you!  First, I’m
going to carve out your intestines – just enough so you’re in utter agony then
I’ll carve out your heart!”  Shaking, Colin canceled his voicemail, but saved
the message.

The band left Sioux Falls the next morning, their
destination, Minneapolis.  The flight took less than an hour and a waiting
limousine ferried them to their hotel on Nicolett Mall that was only blocks
from the Target Center where they were playing that night.

The hotel had allotted the band half of the fifteenth
floor.  As Steve assigned rooms and handed out keys he warned, “Don’t anybody
get any ideas about running off or calling home right this minute.  We’re
leaving for the Rosedale Mall when I finish with this.  If anybody has to use
the can, do it right now!”  He quickly ducked as several of the keys he’d just
passed out flew back at him.

Colin unlocked his door and went inside.  His room was
smaller because it was a single, but he had a balcony with a nice view as
compensation.  He unlocked his suitcase and the first things he took out were
his pictures.  One was a family portrait taken the previous Christmas and the
other was one of Alethea and him.  He placed them on the dresser then went out
on the balcony and stood in the sunlight, enjoying the view.

“Colin, we’re leaving!”  Steve called.

“Coming!”  Colin yelled.  He came in and dug around in
his suitcase, looking for something without success.  “Shit!”

“We’re waiting!”  Steve said from the doorway.

“Sorry, but I can’t find my glasses,” He complained. 
He dug through the stuff in his flight bag.  “Wait!  Here they are!”

“Let’s go then,” Steve said, grabbing his arm and
steering him towards the elevators.  “I wish to hell you’d get another pair of
glasses in case you do loose them.”

“I’ll get a second pair when I’m home next time,” he
promised.

The rest of the band was waiting in the lobby.  Steve
herded them to the elevators that took them to the garage level where their
limousine was waiting.  None of them had noticed the young priest, standing in
the lobby and staring hard at Colin as he disappeared into the elevator.

Father Michaels approached the front desk.  The desk clerk
looked up and smiled pleasantly.  “Good morning, Father.  How may I help you?”

“Good morning.  I’m Father Michael Davids and I have a
reservation.”

“One moment, Father while I bring up your reservation
on my computer.”  There was a pause while the clerk entered the information. 
The computer beeped as it spewed out the requested information.  The clerk
scanned the screen, bit his lip, and typed in additional information.  “You
aren’t here as part of a convention, are you, Father?”

“No.  Is there a problem?”

“I’m sorry, but your reservation seems to have been
lost.”

“I have a letter of confirmation if you need to see
it,” Father Michaels offered.

“That won’t be necessary, Father, but I’m afraid we do
have a problem.  We don’t have a room reserved for you.”

“What can I do?  I chose this hotel because it was
near to where my business is and now you’re telling me I have to find a room
somewhere else?”

“We have three conventions staying here…” He started
to apologize then said, “Wait!  There is a vacant room on the fifteenth floor. 
They’re doing structural repairs to the outside of the building using that
room’s balcony so it’s temporarily unavailable.”

“I’ll take it.  I’ll be out most of the day so the
repairmen won’t disturb me.  I’m only staying one night.”

The clerk frowned.  “You may want to reconsider,
Father, because the rest of the rooms on that end of the floor are rented to
that rock band that’s playing at the Target Center tonight.  Sometimes they’re
apt to be very noisy, offensive, and occasionally destructive.”

“They won’t bother me.  I’m a very sound sleeper.” 
Father Michaels assured him.

“Fine.  Since we lost your reservation and we're being
forced by circumstances to place you on that floor, your stay here is on us,
Father.  I hope you’ll accept our sincere apology for the trouble we’ve put you
through.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Father Michaels gushed.

“Your room is 1502.  I hope you enjoy your stay with
us.  Can I summon a bellhop for you?”

“No, thank you.  I just have an overnight bag.”

Father Michaels took his room key from the clerk and
walked across the lobby to the elevators.  A security guard stopped him when he
stepped out of the elevator, but after showing his key, the guard allowed him
to pass.  He found his room, went in and quickly unpacked.  He glanced at his
watch and saw he had about twenty minutes before he was due to join the picket
at the Target Center.  He opened his door and cautiously peered out into the
hall.  He could see the guard seated on the bench opposite the elevators,
reading the
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
.  Father Michaels left his room and
quickly ducked into the room next door to him.  He wondered whose room it was,
but his curiosity vanished quickly as he spotted the photographs on the dresser
– the Matthews family portrait and the picture of Colin and Alethea.  He picked
up that picture and studied it.  She must be one of Colin’s whores!  Father
Michaels thought.  He left Colin’s room and returned to his then went out on
the balcony.  There were several items being used in the repair of the building
including a ladder.  He realized immediately that he could use it as a means to
gain access to Colin’s balcony.  He suddenly noticed the time and hurriedly
left his room after locking the door.  As he walked quickly towards the Target
Center, Father Michaels smiled to himself.  God had shown His approval of his
plan to get rid of Colin.  He made it possible for him to get a room in the
same hotel as Colin when he didn’t have a reservation and to get a room right
next door to his evil adversary!  God was indeed good!

Caitlin Michaels and her best friend, Jemma Benteen,
stood towards the front of a long line of fans waiting to get into
Sam
Goody® to see Unforgiven.

“Although I’m really looking forward to the concert
tonight, I will be glad when it’s over just so I don’t have to listen to mom
and Dave ranting about it anymore!”  Caitlin said fervently.

“What’s their problem?  It’s only a concert.  They act
like you’re going to an orgy!”

Caitlin sighed.  “I wish I knew. They’re fixated on
this concert – Dave especially!  Mom’s sole topic of conversation for the past
week is how immoral and decadent it’s going to be!”

“Why does she think that?”

“It’s that morality group she belongs to, Purity in
Programming. Honestly!  They try to blame anything and everything on rock
music.  It’s like they’re saying to the kids it’s okay if you do something bad,
but if you get caught you can always weasel out of it by blaming it on some
rock song or group!”

Jemma shrugged.  “Well, they’re entitled to their
opinion no matter how stupid.”

“I don’t care except they think theirs is the only
opinion that should be allowed,” Caitlin replied then she shrugged and changed
the subject.  “So, what are you going to do when you see Colin up close and
personal?”

Jemma giggled.  “Faint, probably!  Actually, I just
want a kiss from him.  He’s got a really sexy looking mouth and I’ll bet he’s a
great kisser!”

“Well, you’re about to find out.  Here we go!”

Debbie and Diana stood a couple of people behind
Caitlin and Jemma.  Debbie held a poster of the band that she intended to have
them sign.

Diana grabbed Debbie’s arm. “We’re almost to the door,
Deb!”

Debbie stood on her tiptoes trying to see over the
people in front of her to see if she could catch a glimpse of the band.

“See anything?”  Diana asked.

“I can see the top of Colin’s head, but not much
else.”

Diana giggled.  “In other words, you can’t see his
crotch and that’s what you really want to see.  Admit it, Deb!”

“Yeah,” Debbie sighed.  She knew she looked sexy. 
Diana and she had spent an hour on her clothes and make-up that morning and she
knew from the looks she was receiving from the guys in line that they were
dying to fuck her.  A couple of guys attempted to strike up a conversation, but
she politely discouraged them.

“Did you see that butt nugget, Jonathan, when we
passed the Target Center?”  Debbie asked, obviously disgusted.  “He was tagging
along right after Father Dork!”

“I saw Father Chuckles, but I didn’t see Jonathan. 
It’s no surprise he’s there after what he said when we had that asinine
one-sided panel discussion!”  The line moved forward and Diana asked, “What are
you going to do when we finally get in there?”

“I think I’ll wait to see Colin’s reaction and decide
then.  I know he’s going to want to fuck me just like these guys out here do!”

Caitlin and Jemma came out of the store. Both were
carrying posters that they’d bought and had the band members’ sign.  Jemma
sighed loudly, “God!  Colin is so sexy, Cait and he’s as good a kisser as I
imagined!  In fact, he might even be better than Roger, though I won’t let him
know that.”

“I think Liam’s really cute, but he and Colin sure
don’t look anything alike.  They’re directly opposite in coloring, in fact.”

“Well, so are you and Dave,” Jemma pointed out to her.

“That’s true.”

“I think it’s so cool that your dad’s going with you
to see Unforgiven!  You know, I was thinking when I saw Colin that your dad
must have looked a lot like Colin when he was younger.  I’ll bet he really made
the girls cream their panties!  He probably still does!”

“Jemma!”  Caitlin said, trying to sound shocked, but
ended up giggling instead.  “I can’t see any resemblance between them aside
from the fact they’re both tall, dark and have high cheekbones.”

“And they’re both probably expert panty-creamers!”

“Jemma!”