I nodded.
Chip Robertsonhad come highly recommended by Stracey, the incomparable vocalist andperformer, who he’d done five tours with. And while I was impressed with hiscredentials and work so far, I was worried that he might not have the physicalstrength and stamina he once had. After what had happened with my lastbodyguard, there was no way I was going with someone who didn’t have experienceand a spotless record. Unfortunately, that narrowed the pool down to slightlyolder candidates.
“Blue Team, thisis Team Leader,” Chip said over his radio. “I need a twenty on Zeppo, over.”
Starting at anearly age, I’d been hounded mercilessly by the paparazzi, so our security teamalways used code names when discussing members of the band. Sometimes it wascartoon characters or historical figures. Once, I got to be Joan (as in ofArc). On this tour, the musicians were named after an old comedy group calledthe Marx Brothers. My code name was Maggie, after Margaret Dumont, the mostfamous of the female leads. Of course, Chip had to explain all of this to me, asI knew nothing about the Marx Brothers, other than that they made black andwhite movies and that one of them had a big moustache and smoked a cigar.
“Roger, TeamLeader. This is Blue Three. I’ve got eyes on Zeppo,” a voice crackled back onChip’s radio.
“Roger that,Blue Three. Please escort Zeppo to the band’s dressing room. Maggie’s orders.And collect his phone as well. This is a code ‘Spanish Archer,’ so actaccordingly.”
“Roger, TeamLeader. Out.”
“What’s aSpanish Archer?” I asked.
“It meanssomeone’s getting fired,” he replied.
I shook my head,still not understanding the reference.
“You know,” Chipsaid, thrusting his elbow outward. “Spanish Archer. The old ‘El Bow.’”
“Thank you,Chip,” I said, trying my best to smile through my seething anger at Gill.
Just then, the restof my band came into the dressing room together.
“Hey, Boss,”Vick Weathers, my keyboardist and musical director, said. Multi-instrumentalistAndy Schultz, and legendary U.K. bassist and veteran road dog Edgar “Puddin’”Daily had all done multiple tours with me, but none of them had put in the timethat Rod had.
Gill Crenshaw,on the other hand, had only been in the band for two months. Both of which werespent rehearsing for what my label kept referring to as my “career redefining”tour. Gill was a top player who came highly recommended by Puddin’. They playedtogether on Brooks Martin’s last world tour and had great on-stage chemistrytogether. Gill seemed like the perfect fit for this tour, which was now injeopardy before we’d even played the first show. Tonight’s gig was a charityevent hosted by Gunnach Pharmaceuticals which was supposed to serve as a dressrehearsal for the tour, which made this whole situation even more messed up.
“I’m telling youfor the last time, man. Keep your fuckin’ hands off me, bro,” Gill said as themassive security guard tossed him into the center of the room, before handingthe phone to Chip.
“Thank you, BlueThree. Please wait outside in the hallway,” Chip said.
“What the fuck,Melody?” Gill huffed. “What’s up with sending that fucking gorilla to come getme? The itinerary says we have a break until four o’ clock.”
“This isn’tabout the schedule, Gill,” I said.
“Why did he takemy phone?”
“What’s goingon, boss?” Vick asked.
“That’s a greatquestion,” I replied. “Gill, would you like to tell Vick and the rest of uswhat the actual fuck is going on?”
“I have no ideawhat you’re talking about,” Gill replied.
“I’m talking aboutCarrie Harker,” I said.
“Am I supposedto know who that is?” Gill replied, the color draining from his face.
“I’m sorry,” Ireplied. “Maybe you only know her as ‘Morgzfangirl333.’”
Gill shook hishead, his eyes darting nervously around the room.
“What’s all’dis?” Puddin’ asked Gill. “Who’s Carrie? What the fuck is Melody talkingabout?”
Gill saidnothing.
“I’ll tell you,”I said breaking the silence. “Carrie is a fourteen-year-old girl in Pooler,Georgia. She’s a high school freshman and an active member of the Melody Morganfan club. She’s also currently being preyed upon by a sick fuck who’s nearlytwice her age.”
