Sunday November 24, 2002
Thomas & Mack Center- Backstage Hallway
Las Vegas, Nevada
7:31 PM Local Time
“We did it again!” Wendy Briese giggled as the WhirlyBirdz burst through the backstage curtain, their World Tag Team Championship belts still slung over their shoulders. It had been one of the most difficult title defenses they had been through- they actually had been underdogs to one of the teams in the triple threat match, but had managed to overcome the odds yet again and retain their titles, to the cheers of the rabid Las Vegas crowd.
“Never any doubt, really,” Terrence grinned, as the two ducked out of the backstage area and into a side corridor that lead to the locker room. He embraced Wendy, planting a kiss on her, which the redhead returned eagerly. For several long seconds, the two remained embraced passionately, before Wendy, her face flushed, and not just from the match, broke away.
“We should go get cleaned up. Don’t you want to watch the main event?”
“I’d rather do this,” Terrence replied, a mischevious grin on his face.
Wendy smiled, then smacked her fiancee playfully. “You know what I’m going to say to that, hon.”
Terrence smiled forlornly, rolling his eyes good naturedly. “Yeah yeah. Not til we’re married.”
“Oh, don’t look so glum. It’s not like we’re talking about three years here, just a few months. And then... “ she paused, smiling. “I promise you it’ll be worth it.”
“Well, we’re in Vegas,” Terrence grinned. “We could get it done tonight if you want.”
Wendy burst out laughing at her boyfriend’s suggestion. “Right. Because that’s how every little girl dreams of their wedding day. A post wrestling match trip through a drive-thru wedding chapel.”
“Well, how WOULD you like it?” Terrence replied, turning and putting his arm around Wendy, the two resuming their walk back to their locker rooms. “Might as well start planning.”
“I want it in a big cathedral, with all our friends there.” Wendy mused, “And a live band playing the reception, and the biggest cake you’d ever seen. And your Uncle Steve standing up with you, while my-” she cut off immediately, realizing what she had just said.
Terrence grimaced. He hadn’t hoped the subject of Wendy’s parents would be breached- not when everything had gone so damn well tonight, but such as it was. “I’m sorry.” He finally said.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Wendy said softly. She paused for a few long seconds, then sighed. “Mother called the other day. Left a message inviting us to Thanksgiving.”
“Are you going to go?” Terrence asked.
“Of course not!” Wendy snorted, as if the idea of spending Thanksgiving with her parents was the worst thing imaginable. “They disowned me, Terrence! And now they’re getting a divorce? Because vows don’t mean anything to them? Those two idiots are tearing our family apart, and now they’re inviting me for a front row seat? To hell with them.”
Terrence waited patiently as Wendy ranted, before squeezing his girlfriend closer to him. “I think we should go.”
Wendy looked up at him, her mouth agape. “Are you out of your MIND?”
“Probably, but that’s not the point,” Terrence chuckled. “Look, hon. You know what your father is, and now your mom does too. He’s cheated on her. He’s a selfish prick who’s resorted to mental manipulation and intimidation to get what he wants. Can you blame her for wanting to leave him?”
“Then she should have known what he was like BEFORE she married him!” Wendy declared.
“That may be the most callous thing I’ve ever heard you say, hon,” Terrence replied, arching an eyebrow. “If we get married, and it turns out I really really enjoy hitting you... would you leave me?”
“Of course I would. But this is different. Daddy never abused-”
“The hell he didn’t,” Terrence said fiercely. “Mental abuse is still abuse, and it leaves its marks. Like maybe a complete unwillingness to forgive your mother even when she’s reaching out to you.”
“Why are we even having this conversation?” Wendy snapped, turning to walk away. “Tonight’s supposed to be a happy night.”
“I’m just saying, I don’t think this mess is her fault. And she’s not going to be around forever.” Terrence said quietly.
Wendy stopped, and turned around. She had never seen Terrence looking as serious as she did at that moment. Of course he’d know about that- he’d lost his parents at the age of five.
“I’m sorry,” Wendy said, quietly.
“Nothing to apologize for,” Terrence said. “I was too young to really have regrets about it. You’re not.”
Wendy felt deflated as she leaned against the wall, all the exuberance and adrenaline of the match having left her. She stared at her boots for a long while, before looking up at the man she loved. “I’ll call her tomorrow. But no promises.”
Terrence smiled softly as he reached out again to embrace her, and the two resumed their walk back to the locker rooms.
“No promises.”
=============================
Sunday November 24, 2002
City Streets- Augustus Briese’s Porsche 911
Indianapolis, Indiana
10:38 PM Local Time
Gayle Briese sat quietly in the passenger seat, waiting for her husband to finish dealing with the valet. She watched as Augustus pulled out his wallet, and hand the valet a couple bills, the expression on the man’s face suggesting that the tip he had just received was on the offensively pathetic side. Of course, he tried to keep both his dismay and disdain hidden, well enough so that Augustus simply turned his back on him, walked around the car, and got in.
“You shafted the boy,” Gayle commented as Gus started the engine, revving the 911 a couple of times before putting it into gear, and pulling away.
“I paid the boy for his services,” Gus replied, a low tone. “Why should I have to pay a man extra for simply doing his job?”
“Because that’s what polite people do!” Gayle snapped, then sighed. “You know damn well that people like him are paid very little base salary, and tips make up for the remainder.”
“Not my problem.” Gus replied callously. “I sure as hell didn’t design things that way...”
“And thank God you didn’t!” Gayle replied. “I’d hate to imagine what a world that actually bent to your whims would really be like.”
Gus’ eyes narrowed, and he glared daggers at Gayle, his mouth becoming thin. “It might not be as bad as you’d think.” He finally growled in his Irish brogue, but then his voice softened. “It’s been such a lovely evening, Gayle. It was a wonderful benefit night, and I’m glad that you still saw fit to attend. Must we ruin it now by fighting?”
“Just take me home,” Gayle whispered, as she looked out the window at the buildings as they passed through downtown. It had been a little over a month since that night in Chicago, when the last coverings of Gus’ facade had finally fell away, revealing the true man he was. She had found a condominium on the northern outskirts of town. She planned to stay there until the divorce was finalized, and then... who knew? Back to Ireland, most likely.
The land she never should have left, especially for the sake of this man.
Gus apparently wasn’t so eager to let the conversation die. “What are you doing on Thursday? The Rutherford’s have invited us to share Thanksgiving dinner with them.”
“I’m not interested.” Gayle replied icily. “I went with you tonight for the sake of appearances. That doesn’t mean I’m interested in not following through-”
“Of course,” Gus replied as he turned the car onto northbound I-65, accelerating rapidly up the on-ramp. “I just didn’t want you to spend Thanksgiving by yourself. Or are you going to be spending it with-”
“No, I’m not.” Gayle cut him off angrily. She took a deep breath trying to control her emotion. “She won’t answer my phone calls, or respond to me in any way. Our daughter-”
“She’s not our daughter anymore, apparently. She’s the one who walked out-”
“Shut up! Just shut up and drive me home!” Gayle snapped, wiping away a tear that spilled from her eye. She clutched the rosary around her neck, the same one Wendy had discarded on the floor that night in the hotel room.
“Do you blame me for that?” Gus chuckled, glancing sideways at her. When Gayle didn’t answer he continued. “Might I remind you that it was YOU who told her that we were going to disown her. Had you kept your mouth shut, especially at that moment...”
“I know!” Gayle breathed. “You don’t think I don’t? I’ll regret that to my dying day.”
“Why?” Gus asked. “We gave her a choice, Gayle. Her career or her family. She chose her career.”
“She shouldn’t have had to choose either way!” Gayle replied bitterly. “And she’ll have a new family soon enough.”
“With who, the Thompson boy?” Gus snorted. “She’ll be on the streets in five years, begging or whoring herself out because of that man. He’s no good, he’s never been good.”
“And how do you know that, Gus?” Gayle demanded. “Or do you just assume all men are like you?”
“Like me? You mean like the man who gave you everything you ever wanted in life? The man who took an overlooked struggling understudy and made her a star? That kind of man?”
“And how many corpses were burned to make this star shine, Gus?” Gayle snapped back. “How many sins were committed for a few short fleeting years of-”
“You didn’t complain at the time,” Gus replied. “It’s always funny how regret only comes after the lights go out and the music stops.” He glanced down at his dashboard. “Shit,” he growled, slowing the car down.
“What’s going on? Why are we pulling onto the shoulder?” Gayle asked.
“Something’s wrong with the engine.” Gus muttered, lightly breaking and coming to a stop right next to the milepost 120 sign.
“I don’t hear anything,” Gayle replied. “And isn’t this a new car?”
“Oh, so you’re an expert now?” Gus asked sarcastically as he shut off the car. “Have you taken to studying cars to be closer to your future son-in-law? Actually, that’d be a great way to stop the wedding. You always were good at fucking to get what you want.”
*SMACK*
Gayle was certainly glad Gus wasn’t driving anymore as her palm smashed into his face. Gus, for his part, merely glared back at her, before grinning svagely. “Do be careful, dear. In this day and age, it’s as easy for the husband to claim spousal abuse as it is for the wife.”
And with that, he popped the hood, and left the car.
Gayle sat steaming in the passenger seat, her arms folded across her chest. The only thing keeping her from getting out of the damned car and walking home herself was the, distance, the high heels, and the frigid weather. She had hoped that the threat of a divorce would have at least cowed Gus, to make him pretend to act reasonable. But he had almost seemed to take a delight in it, as if their pending seperation gave him carte blanche to be as insufferable a jackass as he could be.
She pulled out her phone, and scrolled through her address book, grimacing at the number of names she had to pass to get to the “W” area. Names she couldn’t give a flying damn about now, even if she had once. But there, towards the bottom, was Wendy’s entry.
It almost seemed fitting.
She pressed the enter button, and Wendy’s number came up. Still the 317 area code for Indianapolis, even though she had been living in New England for the better part of the last year. She moved her thumb over the green button, ready to press it and make the call. For several seconds, she hovered, before finally shutting her phone off.
She wouldn’t answer. Why would she? She hadn’t the last dozen times Gayle had tried to call her. Besides, she was in Vegas tonight, wrestling at that massive pay-per-view. Maybe she was out there right now, competing.
“Stay safe, love” Gayle whispered, putting her phone back into her purse. She wanted reconciliation with her daughter, and sooner rather than later. But it wouldn’t happen tonight. She hoped it’d happen sooner than later.
And what the hell was taking Gus?
She opened the passenger door of the Porsche, slipping outside. She gasped at how cold the night was- if it wasn’t below freezing, it would be by the time morning came around. Hardly the best weather to be stranded alongside the road. She walked up to the front of the car, looking at Gus, who had the hood up, and was gingerly poking at various cables and connections under the hood, a small light on the bottom of the bonnet providing illumination.
“Find anything?” Gayle asked, raising her voice to be heard over the passing traffic on the freeway.
“Nah,” Gus grunted. “I’m not a mechanic. Just thought maybe something got loose. Doesn’t look to be it.”
“Want me to call a tow truck?” Gayle asked, wishing she hadn’t left her purse in the car.
“Give me a few more minutes,” Gus grunted, turning back to the hood. Gayle watched as he poked and prodded some more, occasionally glancing out at the freeway to watch the car’s passing by.
“Gus, I’m going to call a tow truck. You can’t fix this.” Gayle finally said again after a few more minutes, turning to walk towards the passenger side.
“Gayle! Wait!”
Gayle stopped as Gus stood up, turning towards her. He walked towards her, and Gayle was surprised to see the expression on his face. It was one of solemnity, mixed with a bit of sadness.
“I’m sorry, Gayle. I know I made a lot of mistakes on a lot of things. I just wanted you to know that.”
Gayle stopped, and stared at the man she had been married to for over twenty years. It was an odd thing for him to say. Gus shrugged, and went back to his fruitless examination of the Porsche. Gayle shook her head, and turned to again retrieve her phone, but stopped as something caught her out of the corner of her eye. She turned, and was shocked to realize a third person was there!
Even in the darkness, she could tell he was a big man, at least a foot and a half taller than her. She turned to get a better look, but before she could, she was shoved, hard.
Everything happened in mere seconds. Gayle grunted in protest as she stumbled from the push, pinwheeling her arms to keep her balance, nearly falling in her high heels. For a fleeting moment, she saw that Gus had turned to look at her, that exact same expression on his face.
*HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Gayle spun just in time to see two headlights of a semi-truck, merely feet away, bearing down on her. She tried diving out of the way, but as she did, a strange rushing noise filled her eardrums, growing louder, and louder, as the headlights grew brighter.
Then, with the world engulfed in light, and the rushing sound deafening, something hard slammed into her side, and she knew no more.
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