Neo Geisha
by Monica L. Patton
Genre: Steamy Thriller
Philomene Doucette is a made-to-order assassin, and death never looked so good. Smuggled into Japan to carry out a kill, she finds herself enmeshed in a web of half-truths and shadow agendas. When the carnage exacts a personal toll, Philomene takes it all on--like the beautiful monster she was programmed to be.
"The characters are intriguing and the storyline pulled me in from the first page. The family dynamic, power struggles, and mystery surrounding the disappearance of... the perfect concoction for a page-turner." - Sara Fields, Book Club Moderator, The Phenomenal Women Group
**Releasing this Fall!!**
Neo Geisha Synopsis Philomene Doucette is a made-to-order assassin, and death never looked so good. Brain-washed by Beau Dupree, a CIA spook, Philomene is preparing for her biggest mission to date: Kill Haruto Mori, leader of Japan's Onagowai clan. She is put under the charge of Tadakai, the son of Dupree's Yakuza associate. Despite being cautioned, Tadakai falls for the pretty killer—and despite herself, she returns his love. To conceal her true purpose, she is smuggled into Japan via the sex trade and given as a gift to Haruto. Philomene's mission to kill Haruto becomes an inner battle as she struggles to break free of her conditioning and the growing fondness she feels both for Haruto and his ever-present shadow, The Green-Eyed One. When there is an outside attempt on Haruto's life, Philomene realizes there is more to the mission than revealed. Devastated when the carnage exacts a personal toll, she takes it all on--like the beautiful monster she was programmed to be. NEO GEISHA will be issued with a companion six-song soundtrack, co-composed by Monica L. Patton, author and co-lyricist of the Broadway-bound Love & Southern Discomfort, and Daniel Klintworth, the former associate conductor on The Book of Mormon Musical Tour." The novel features cover and chapter art by Harvey Richards, formerly of DC Comics, with actress Bryce Charles serving as the muse and Literary and cultural coach Dr. Yuko Kurahashi for cultural competency.“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net by Monica L. Patton 1“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Chapter 1 Till Death Do Us Part She stood in the opulent foyer with her back against him. The top of her black, very tight, very short dress was pulled down, exposing her tawny brown skin. She leaned on him for support as he branded the side of her neck with his lips. One hand caressed her generous chest while the other, wet with her need, teased the swollen bud atop her sex. She turned around to taste him. Their tongues wrestled for control as she slowly backed him up toward the living room. With her mouth still locked onto his, she unbuttoned his pants, pushed him down on the couch and swiftly mounted him. His cadence steady, her rhythm sure as passion surged between them. A tiny thread of sadness crept inward. A thread. That is all she would allow. As she reached up and undid the clasp of her barrette, a cascade of inky black waves tumbled down and around her shoulders. From the base of the barrette, she pulled an ornate jewel, unsheathing a needle coated with a sticky white substance. As her hips increased their tempo, she stroked the top of his head and peppered him with feathery kisses. He was near to completion when he called out her name. "Sophie." Her rhythm faltered. She hated that name. He opened his eyes. "Sophie?" She inserted the needle between his top two vertebrae. He froze with a look of mild surprise on his face. He tried to speak, but his mouth would not move and, to his horror, neither could he. 2“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net "Shh..." she whispered as she placed the tips of her fingers on his lips and reverently watched him struggle with the encroaching darkness. As he closed his eyes, she kissed the top of his head, then said a prayer. She always said a prayer. Death was sacred, even if she was the one dealing it. She got up, righted her dress, walked back into the foyer toward the console table to grab her purse then up the stairs to the door just left of the landing. It was a steel security door with a digital keypad lock. She reached into her clutch and took out a small aerosol can. Upon first glance, it looked like hairspray. She sprayed the substance on the keypad and when it dried, it left a residue on the keys from the oil that had been deposited from the owner’s fingertips. Taking out a cell phone, she pulled a cord from its base and inserted that into the lock. She plugged in the numbers then waited for her modified phone to go through all possible configurations in less than a minute until triggering the lock. The door opened to a home office, ordinary in scope except for the almost half-million-dollar security system. There, for one thing only, she detached the portable hybrid external drive and left the way she came. She took out her cell phone again and this time used it as such. [Ring.] [Ring.] Then, finally: [Click.] "I'm listening," said the voice on the other end. Exact. Male. "Seven," she replied. Flat. Hollow. She put her cell phone back in her handbag then reapplied her lipstick in the mirror above the entryway table. Red lips reflected back. The mirror shattered and red ran down her arm. Red dripped onto her very tight, very short dress and it mattered none as she put on her sunglasses, grabbed the hard drive and walked out the door. She drove away in her black SLK convertible. Reaching into the armrest, she brought out a remote control, pushed its lone button, then threw it in the back seat. A great boom 3“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net sounded as she neared the corner. In the rearview mirror, she saw smoke and flames paint the sky black and red. Police cars whizzed past her. Fire trucks followed. She drove--down the Hudson, through the Catskills and across the Delaware until the light of dusk stained the horizon. When she saw a tiny, out-of-the-way cottage, she stopped, and sat motionless in the car, like a robot out of charge Minutes passed before she slowly looked around and her eyes brightened with the remembrance of how she came to be there. She got out of the car and walked toward the front door of the cottage. As she opened it, she dropped her keys on the floor. Their clattering sound reminded her of spent shell casings. She pulled her dress off from over her head and threw it down alongside her keys, then walked toward the back of the cottage, through the open patio doors, and dove into the pool lying beyond it. She submerged herself completely, reveling in the cold sting of the water, and remained there till the air in her lungs burned for release. The butterflies took flight. Always the butterflies, as she unfolded within herself and pushed out her darker self, who found no issue with killing. When she emerged from the water, a young woman stood at the pool's edge with a towel extended. Blonde. Green-eyed. Knowing. She watched as her bronze mistress, who was barely older than she, stepped out of the pool and into her waiting arms. She dried her hair with the towel then wrapped it around her as she hummed a lullaby for only her mistress to hear. As she led her into the great room, the song quieted the fluttering in her mistress' head. A tall Asian man stood waiting. Lean. Muscular. Handsome--almost pretty. He nodded, ever so slightly. The petite blonde released her and disappeared into the adjoining room. "Philomene?" Nothing. 4“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Without a word, he walked into the bedroom and moments later, returned with a robe. Philomene was motionless as he placed the robe on her. He guided her over to the couch, sat her down, then sat down beside her. He turned to her. "Not now, Tadakai." Philomene stayed facing forward. He faced front again. "He affected you." “I don’t know.” She leaned forward with her head down, elbows propped on her knees. "He was...kind." Tadakai did not respond. "How much time do we have?" "None. We leave in the morning." Philomene sat back. "Are we in play then?" Tadakai walked over to the bar and poured drinks, scotch on the rocks for him, bourbon straight up for her. She took a deep breath. "I'm tired." "Don't." He handed her the drink. She took a large swig, savoring the slow burn down her throat, then took another and finished it. Her face warmed but she felt her insides cold. Tadakai observed Philomene's internal battle, but it was short-lived. In an instant, the light went out in her eyes. "Come." He stood up and extended his hand. "You should sleep." Philomene put her hand in his without argument. She was tired but sleep would elude her as it had for the past couple of nights. Death filled her dreams, but whose she did not know. Tadakai walked her to her room and stopped at the door. Philomene stood motionless with her back to him, willing him to cross the threshold. "I'll do one last sweep of the area before I lock down for the night." Philomene nodded as she turned to face him. He nodded slightly then made to leave. "Tadakai?" 5“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net He turned to face her. She hesitated. She wanted to say “Stay,” but Philomene was conditioned not to want. Not to want, not to hope, not to expect, only to be--what the mission required. She had wanted to say stay, but all she said was "Goodnight." Tadakai nodded and left. Philomene closed the door and stared at nothing. She had been feeling unsettled of late, which was unusual because most times she did not feel anything at all. She sensed a presence and wondered if Tadakai had had a change of heart. When she opened the door, the petite blonde stood with a cup of tea extended. Philomene ignored the offering. "Can I help you, Sissy?" "I thought you'd like something to help you relax, Miss Doucette. I know you haven't been sleeping well." "How so?" "You cry out in your sleep." Sissy offered the cup again. Philomene ignored the offering again, but she stood aside to let her into the room. She felt that even if she had objected, Sissy would have insisted. Sissy placed the tea on the nightstand. "Please excuse my familiarity, Miss Doucette. My only concern is your well-being.” "Sissy, I wish you would call me Phil. We have known each other for a while now." "I don't think it's advisable," Sissy said with a shake of her head. Philomene said nothing. "Let me braid your hair up for the night, Miss Doucette. It will be so pretty when I take it down in the morning." "It's not necessary." "Beau likes for you to look pretty," she said, then as an afterthought, she put on a homegrown Southern smile. "Sit, it will only take a minute." Philomene sat down on the bed. Sissy brushed Philomene's hair till all the tangles were out. Afterward, she plaited the long tresses and all the while, crooned a disconsolate tune. The ministrations relaxed Philomene. 6“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Make her stop. The image of her Six-Year-Old Self flickered briefly in Philomene's head. I don't like that song. She's gonna wake the butterflies. Philomene stood up abruptly. "Thank you, Sissy, that'll be all." Sissy smiled but it wasn't genuine or believable. Philomene watched her leave. I don't like her, said her Six-Year-Old Self as she corporealized in Philomene's mind's eye to stand beside her. With a faraway look in her eyes, Philomene nodded as she drifted back to a memory best left unremembered. The bedroom morphed and faded into a dimly lit concrete bunker. The hour was late, and the same woeful tune Sissy had been singing was playing loudly from a vintage record player. Six-Year-Old Philomene was being timed as she disassembled and reassembled an assault rifle. Philomene stumbled over her task and with all mistakes, Beau poked her with an electric cattle prod, sending 4000 volts into her tiny, sleep-deprived body. He turned up the music to drown out her screams. The bedroom reappeared. Philomene's eyes were moist. There was so much she couldn't remember, only the blood. There was always blood. Her Six-Year-Old Self took hold of her hand. You remember the song. As she closed her eyes, Philomene haltingly began to hum. Her Six-Year-Old Self joined in. It was their song now. 7“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Chapter 2 Child of the Blues Early next morning, the three departed. All traces of their occupation wiped clean the night before by Sissy. They chartered a small plane out of Factoryville, Pennsylvania. Their destination: Plaquemine, Louisiana. A quintessential, sleepy, Southern town that time had forgotten. Philomene both loved and loathed its cicada-filled, moss-covered bayou backwardness. Dirty, pretty things wrapped in gentility. Majestic, crumbling facades held together by secrets. Philomene knew about secrets. Her whole life was one. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on the windowpane. It was cool to the touch. Go to sleep, Phil. Her Six-Year-Old Self, climbing into the narrow bed she had once shared with her mother. Philomene shook the image away. I don't want to sleep, she silently said to herself. You don't want to dream. Having learned how, some time ago, Philomene mentally erected a wall. She was too tired to deal with more than one voice in her head. She looked over at Tadakai, then behind, to spy Sissy texting away on her BlackBerry. "Do you need anything, Miss Doucette?" said Sissy as she looked up. "No." "We'll be home in three hours, Miss Doucette. Maybe you should rest your eyes for a spell? Mr. Dupree wants to see you immediately after we land." A small voice giggled. Philomene pictured a door shutting closed, instantly rendering the voice silent. 8“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net * * * "Fifi, I am going to need that pot for my gumbo." "Look, Mama. I’m making gumbo too! See?" Philomene sat on the kitchen floor surrounded by pots and pans. Her favorite dolls, all dressed in their best finery, sat propped up nearby as she prepared their imaginary feast. Alice smiled as she bent down and grabbed the eight-quart pot, giving it a good rinse in the sink. "Then all I have to do is add the onions and peppers, and we got ourselves some good eats." She went to the refrigerator and grabbed a stick of butter for the roux. "Tell you what, since you made my job easier, how ’bout I make a batch of pralines." Philomene jumped to her feet and did a happy dance then ran to her mother, wrapping her arms around her legs. Hearing the sound of heavy footsteps, she peeked from around her mother. Beau Dupree, the white man her mama worked for, stood in the doorway, looking far off into the distance. The big man scared her, and as if hearing her confession, he turned and looked directly at her, smiling a fearsome, toothy grin. She almost peed her underpants. Philomene felt her mother ruffle her curls, and all thoughts of the bad man disappeared. Smiling, she looked up, but it was no longer her mother's face gazing at her--it was her own. Her mother with the face like hers lifted the pot of gumbo and carried it into the next room. Philomene ran after her. At the head of the dining table, she saw Beau sitting like a deposed king. Tadakai, the gallant knight, sat beside her play brother, Junior, the disgraced prince. Each man stared up at her, expectantly. Philomene the mother looked in the pot. "It’s not enough." She looked back toward the men, her eyes broadcasting her anguish. "I don't have enough to go around." Her hands shook as tears flowed from her eyes. Philomene the little girl pushed a chair from the table toward her mother, climbed and placed a kiss on her damp cheek. "Go to sleep, Fifi," she whispered. Philomene the mother smiled and closed her eyes, releasing everything into the younger one's care. As the pot went crashing to the floor, Philomene the little girl clasped her hands together in the shape of a gun. 9“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net *** Philomene jerked up in her seat. Out of habit, she went for her gun but thankfully came up empty. Awake now, she settled back in her seat, fully aware that Tadakai was now seated beside her. He extended a bottle of water toward her and without a word of thanks or a look in his direction, she took it. "You called out for your mother," he said, his voice void of emotion. Philomene unscrewed the top and took a sip. "Where is your mother?" Philomene shrugged. "I don't know." "I'm sorry." "Why?" "I am also without a mother." She turned and looked out the window. "This is not a contest." She immediately regretted her words. Tadakai returned to his seat. 10“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Chapter 3 Bayou Boogie They arrived at a private airstrip just outside of Baton Rouge. As she disembarked, Philomene spied a black Town Car waiting nearby. The driver, one of the many nameless faces Beau employed, stood beside the open car door. Tadakai placed their baggage by the trunk then climbed into the back alongside Philomene. Sissy sat up front and resumed tapping away on her iPone. As Philomene gazed out the window, with the passing of each familiar landmark, her tension slowly dissipated. She did not always understand this place of sorrow and grandeur, but she felt its power wafting through the trees, seeping from the soil, and she was somehow in tune with its ancient song. The car turned onto a dusty back road flanked by ancient oaks and weeping willows. Philomene lowered her window, flooding the car with the rich, earthy scent of the nearby Bayou Lafourche. As they emerged from the density of the trees, a sprawling antebellum plantation unfolded into view. The driver turned left and pulled up into a long, tree-lined driveway that had horses grazing on both sides. In the front yard, pruning centuries-old rose bushes, kneeled a woman in her late 50s, with her long silver-gray hair secured haphazardly atop her head. 11“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net The car stopped and Philomene got out before the driver could open the door for her. "Phil!" The woman stood up with her arms outstretched and a smile on her face. Philomene walked into her arms and allowed herself to be held. "Hello, Tite." Minette Dupree, affectionately called "Tite," hugged Philomene tighter. "My goodness, you get prettier every time I see you, which is not often enough, may I add." Philomene smiled. "Are you hungry? I've got some sweet tea and tea cakes on the porch." "No, thank you." Tite gently placed her hands on both sides of Philomene's face. "I don't like it when you're gone so long." Tite finally acknowledged Tadakai as he quietly stood by. "Mr. Watanabe." Tadakai made a slight bow with his head. "How was the trip?" she asked out of politeness. "Successful." Tite waited for him to say more. Nothing. "Tite?" Mrs. Dupree turned to Philomene. "Yes, darling?" "Is he in his office?" "Child, that's the only place he is of late," she answered as she resumed her gardening. As Philomene and Tadakai made their way up the steps onto the porch, Mrs. Dupree said, "Oh, by the way--Junior's home." Philomene paused. "For how long?" "I don't know," Tite replied, not looking up from her gardening. "It seems that he got into a little bit of trouble down in New Iberia so he's here cooling his heels. Beau's none too happy with him, but we both know he rarely is." She sat back on her heels and turned her head toward Philomene. "Anyway, I thought I'd..." "Warn me?" 12“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net "Warn you? If my memory serves me right, I think it was Junior who required stitches from y'all’s last encounter." "I said I was sorry." "And I'm sure you were. I just thought you'd like to know, that's all." Phil nodded then turned, headed toward the house. "Stitches?" said Tadakai, following close behind. "Uh huh." Philomene turned right, past the library, and headed toward the east wing. "Perhaps one day you will share the story with me." "There's nothing to share. He had something of mine, I wanted it back, end of story." "I see." "Do you?" she said, raising a brow. Philomene stopped in front of a pair of imposing mahogany doors. To the left of them, a graying black manservant in a valet uniform, replete with gold braids and all, rested on a high-backed chair. "Bienvenu! Welcome back, Miss Phil. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." "La meme, Mr. Ceebo." Philomene warmed at the familiar sight of him. Mr. Ceebo was as old as Moses and had been with the Duprees just as long. "Mr. Dupree told me you'd be stopping by. Will you be staying a spell?" "Not likely." He smiled and nodded in understanding. "Mr. Ceebo, you have on your Heads of State uniform. Are we expecting someone important today?" Mr. Ceebo tugged down on his vest. "No, Miss Phil, just you--just you!” Philomene smiled and it almost reached her eyes. Since the day of her mother's disappearance, Mr. Ceebo had always had a ready lap and infinite patience for a confused, angry little girl. Mr. Ceebo looked over her shoulder at Tadakai and bowed his head. "Mr. Watanabe." Tadakai returned the gesture. "Mr. Ceebo." Mr. Ceebo turned his attention back to Philomene. "It'll be jus' a minute, Miss Phil. Mr. Dupree is counseling one of his employees." 13“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net [BAM!] "Alrighty, then," Mr. Ceebo said calmly. "I guess counseling is over. Have a seat, Miss Phil. I'll let him know you're here." He took a deep breath and pulled out an old pistol from the inside of his vest. "Do you think you'll be needing that, Mr. Ceebo?" "Chil', even the Devil's luck runs out." "Then maybe I should go with you." "We," said Tadakai, chiming in. Mr. Ceebo hesitated then nodded his head. "All right but let me go first." Philomene wanted to protest but thought better of it. Mr. Ceebo was stubborn, and time was wasting. When Mr. Ceebo turned away, both she and Tadakai quietly readied their guns. Mr. Ceebo knocked on the heavy doors. "Mr. Dupree, is everything, all right?" Muffled moans could be heard from inside. "Yes, Pritchard," replied a gruff voice. "Why wouldn't it be?" Mr. Ceebo put his gun back in his vest and opened the doors. Standing in the middle of the room was a slight man with a ruddy complexion. He was holding his bloodied hand close to his chest as he apologized profusely. The front of his overalls slowly darkened with his blood. "I'm sorry, Mr. Dupree. I'll never do it again." "You bet your ass you won't! Let me hear of you damaging my merchandise again and the next time it won't be your hand. Got it?" The man nodded frantically. "Yes, sir! I sho' do!” Beau, a man with the physique of an aged linebacker, stood up from behind the executive desk with his gun pointed directly at the bleeding man. "Now get your ignorant swamp ass out of my face." "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!" cried the bleeding man, leaving a telltale trail as he backed out of the room. "See?" Beau muttered aloud. "Try to be nice and bring a couple of 'em boys out of the swamp and they wanna play you for a fool." Indicating with the gun, he pointed toward the blood on the carpet. "Pritchard, have Louisa clean this shit up." He then 14“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net returned the loaded gun inside the bottom right drawer. He looked at Philomene pointedly. "Well?" Philomene took the hard drive out of her satchel and placed it on his desk. Beau settled back into his chair, gesturing to Philomene and Tadakai to sit down as well. "I received word from my contact at the French consulate down in Nawlins. Effective, but a little over the top don't ya think?" "You said to sanitize," Philomene answered dryly. "Yes, but..." "The signature echoes that of NPR in the French Congo, crude but efficient. I layered the trail to allude to his family's ties to the blood diamond trade." Beau furrowed his brow. "I see you've been doing your homework." "It's what you trained me to do." "Yeah, well, don't forget I still have a few tricks of my own." "Duly noted." "Don't be a smartass." Philomene lowered her gaze. "Forgive me. It's just that I'm tired. It would have been nice to have a moment." "Damn it, Phil! You know I don't like putting you into play so soon after, but you knew that when this went down it would go down hard and fast." Beau looked to Tadakai. "Is she ready?" "Yes." "She better be, because it has taken me many years, many bribes and many bullets to get to this moment. So, this goes without saying: if you fuck up, I will fuck you up." Tadakai tipped his head forward. Addressing them both, Beau asked, "Are you sound on the history?" They nodded in unison. "Your backstory is layered enough if anyone starts asking questions." He directed his next words to Philomene. "I wish it were get in, get out, little girl, but you're going in deep on this one. The hit can't go down, I repeat you cannot neutralize the target, until you have the contents of the book or the book itself.” "Have we confirmed its location?" 15“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Beau stretched his large frame. "No, we've only been able to ascertain--to a degree--its existence." He continued with the briefing. "No hardware for this one. You'll go with the other girls with only the clothes on your back. I have my best handlers for this trip, but I can't guarantee you won't be messed with. But I trust that you will find a way to dispose of them discreetly if it comes to that." "Of course." "There are two weapon drops at your disposal. A garage on Detamachi Pier in Yokohama and The Hotel Charm in the Shinagawa Prefecture." Beau turned to Tadakai. "Your father informed me that he has someone in place to act as a go-between." Tadakai nodded. "Good, because you're strangers once you leave this house. You will have no further contact until the mark has been eliminated. Do you understand?" They nodded. "You have less than twelve hours." As Tadakai and Philomene went to leave, Beau said, "Phil, wait a minute." Tadakai looked at her, then left. Philomene remained, standing. Beau rose up from behind his desk. "Remember your endgame.” "Affirmative." "Stay on point." "Absolutely." He walked around to stand behind her. "Locate, acquire, erase," he commanded as he dragged the tip of his thumb along her jawline. "Queen takes rook." Go to sleep, Fifi! pleaded her Six-Year-Old Self as she stood at the threshold, too afraid to cross over. "Queen takes pawn, queen takes..." Beau's voice was like the low rumble of a coming storm. Philomene's head filled with the growing resonance of fluttering wings. "Don't. Please," she begged as she whipped around. "Not yet. It's not her turn. It's not time, it's not...I don't wanna go away." "Go to sleep, Fifi." It slipped out before she had a chance to think about what it would cost her. "No." 16“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Beau chuckled, but it was anything but joyous. "You were always a fast learner; I'll give you that. And since I'm in a giving mood, this little display? I'll give you this one, too, but I made you. I'll decide whose turn it is." Beau stepped back, confident his threat hit home. With her head down, Philomene sank to her knees. She raised her arm, hand limp and broken at the wrist like a primate in an act of submission. Her knees still bore the faint scars from hours spent kneeling on uncooked rice until they were bloodied, and all for offenses the average person living an average life would have difficulty understanding. She readied herself. She was becoming more adept at re-engaging and memory lapses were fewer when she embraced the awakening, but there were always questions--blood-soaked questions. After a long moment, Beau tapped the back of her hand with his. Philomene rose, her expression neutral but inside, she was relieved that she was still herself--the good part of herself. He searched her face as he ruffled her hair, then nodded, giving her permission to go. Philomene backed up slowly and closed the doors. She turned, pausing with her back against them. She looked up to see Mr. Ceebo staring at her. "Dinner will be served soon, Miss Phil. Do you want me to send Louisa up to fix you a hot bath?" "That's okay, Mr. Ceebo," she said as she stepped away from the doors. "I’ll probably just hop in the shower." “I'll have Louisa lay out a dress for you.” “No need, I can take care of it.” "I'm sure you can take care of a lot of things, Miss Phil, but you know how Mr. Dupree gets about paying people to do nothing.” "Right.” Philomene smiled. “And thank you." She started to leave. "No thanks needed, Miss Phil, just lookin' out fo' ya." 17“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Philomene stopped with her back to him. "Why?" She turned around. "You see me, don't you? Most people see what they want to see; what I allow them to see or pretend not to see, but you...You know, and still..." "I love you like you were my own." Mr. Ceebo stepped to her. "Chere, Lord knows I wish I knew what happened to yo' mama, but I know she would never leave you. Chil' your mama used to feel things. You know, sense if something' was coming’, and a few days 'fore she disappeared, she had felt like something' real bad was about to happen." Philomene's eyes widened. "Yeah, you feel things too, don't you? That's how you’ve been able to keep one step ahead of a bullet." "I used to think that she was with me, somehow. Somewhere in the world, she was thinking of me, but I can't feel her anymore.” Philomene quieted. "She's gone. She's really gone, and I can't help feeling that…that all hell is about to break loose.” *** Beau reached into his pants pocket and brought out a cell phone. He took the back cover off, dislodged the battery, then reached into his shirt pocket and took out a sim card to replace the one that was already inside. He reassembled the phone and proceeded to dial. [Ring.] [Ring.] [Click.] There was breathing on the other end. "Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia..." Beau waited to be verified. To anyone listening in, it sounded innocuous, but each state, according to their induction order, represented a number: 7-1-35, the codename assigned to him. The voice on the other end spoke. "They predicted rain today." "You can't trust the weatherman," Beau replied. "There is not a drop in the sky." "Your garden is in order?" 18“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net "The seeds have been planted." "You may have need of an exterminator if the weeds get out of hand or cross-pollination occurs." "I have someone local, should the need come up." Beau gleaned from the code-speak that a sleeper had been activated. He waited for more information, but all that followed was, "Wishing you a successful harvest." [Click.] Beau removed the phone from his ear; he dialed another number. "Moshi Moshi" "Your price went up." A male cursed on the other end. Beau moved the phone away from his ear and waited for the volley to pass. "Look, I'm not sending you just' a piece of ass, I'm sending you an investment. On the off chance that my investment becomes collateral damage, cause this lil' surprise you got planned blows up in yo' face, well...I'm gonna need something to lessen my loss. If ya know what I mean." "This was not what we agreed upon." Beau dropped his accent. "This is not a request. You have until five p.m. to conduct a wire transfer or you'll be modified and spend the rest of your pathetic life a quadriplegic." "Are you threatening me?" "Threat? No, I'm just stating the facts. Plain and simple. But if you want a demonstration, how about we start with that latest piece of juvey ass you've been blowing your money on? I'm sure your horse-faced wife would consider it a favor if parts of that little bitch were missing." Long pause. "That won't be necessary." Beau slipped back on his good ol' boy routine like a comfortable bathrobe. "Wonderful! Nice doing business with ya! See ya when the smoke clears." [Click.] "Or not!" he said, chuckling under his breath. 19“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Chapter 4 Dress Rehearsal As she walked through the kitchen toward the back door, Philomene's eyes darted past the small room off the pantry. No time for ghosts, she told herself, and continued on. She paused on the porch, scanning the vast property, and at the edge of the clearing she saw Tadakai performing a series of karate stances. She went to him. The heat caused rivulets of sweat to run down between her breasts, back and thighs. Philomene hiked her dress further up her thighs, took off her heels and walked the rest of the way in bare feet. Tadakai smelled her scent on the wind. He stopped and waited. When she reached him, Philomene tossed her shoes on the ground and slowly circled him, her eyes fixated on his tattooed chest. She stopped in front of him just as the wind made a mess of her curls. Tadakai untied the leather thong from his hair and gently gathered up her rebellious locks, securing them atop her head. She smiled a wisp of a smile before descending to her knees, legs tucked beneath her, then back to standing in one fluid motion. "Horse stance. Cat stance. Half-moon," Tadakai barked as Philomene gracefully executed each move with a warrior's precision. Without warning, Tadakai charged, striking her with his left arm. Philomene jumped into a back lunge and pivoted around to strike his midsection with a mule kick. 20“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net He quickly recovered and delivered two straight punches and a heel push kick. She caught his leg midway. Tadakai countered and swung his elbow up, hitting her under the chin. Philomene careened backward. She spat blood from the corner of her mouth as she righted herself and assumed a defensive stance. Tadakai aggressively went on the attack with a downward swing of his arm. She caught it and used it as leverage to swing and jump up onto his shoulders. She locked her legs around his throat, bent her torso forward and flipped him. Tadakai landed on his side with her legs still wrapped around him. [Clap.] [Clap.] Philomene and Tadakai disengaged and stood ready--for anything. "Bravo Phil, bravo." "Hello, Junior," Philomene replied evenly. She had been aware of his approach. On more than one occasion, she had pointed out that his flat feet would alert an army. "No Phil, really. That was some fancy shit." Junior barely spared Tadakai a glance as he took in Philomene's disheveled appearance; dress tight, torn at the side with a generous view of her upper thigh. The circles of sweat outlining her full breasts told that she wasn’t wearing a bra."But I was wondering, how about giving a good ol' boy a turn? You know, a little karate versus some swamp fu? You get it. Swamp fu!" said Junior with a laugh. He was the only one laughing. Tadakai took a step toward him. Reading his mind, Philomene turned toward Tadakai and, with a barely perceivable tilt of her head, she signaled for him to stay his hand. Junior picked up on their silent exchange. "Oh, hey there, Toh-doc-eye..." He purposely mispronounced his name. "You still here? I thought you'd be on your way back to China by now." Tadakai's jaw clenched. "What do you want, Junior?" Philomene said as she stepped in between them. Junior moved in close, leaned down and murmured, "You." 21“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Philomene took advantage of his proximity and elbowed him on the side of the face. She pivoted on her right foot and followed with a blow to his kidney. Unprepared for the ferocity of the attack, Junior crumpled to the ground in pain. Philomene jumped up, landing with her right knee in between his legs and in quick-fire succession, struck his sternum with her elbow and put her fist to his larynx. Junior contracted, coughing and gulping for air while Philomene stood over him and surveyed her handiwork. She then turned around and motioned for Tadakai to join her; as far as she was concerned, the fight was over. Together they walked back toward the house. Ring around the Rosie... She spotted Beau in the distance. He was coming toward them. Pocket full of posies... Beau paused; his gaze keyed into something in the distance. Ashes, ashes, we all fall... Philomene turned around just in time to see Junior with a pocketknife aiming for the closest target. She pushed Tadakai to the ground and landed on top of him seconds before the knife whisked overhead. She scrambled to her feet. Tadakai moved to intervene, but Beau shook his head and shot him an icy glare. Junior ran toward her. Philomene dove for the knife, rolling out of the way as Junior tried to stomp on her. She rolled to a crouch, knife in hand. Junior blindly rushed toward her, his anger getting the best of him. She feinted to the right, pivoted, then administered a shallow laceration across his back. "Enough!" yelled Beau. Junior threw his arms wide open. "Come on! The party's just getting started." "I said enough," Beau barked. With her gaze locked onto Junior, Philomene stood up with her arms raised in a show of surrender, knife still in hand. She backed away slowly. When she reached Tadakai, she lowered her arms. "Fuck!" yelled Junior. "How the hell am I supposed to be more when you won't let me do more? Our biggest shot is going down and you won't let me in on it. Why her? Why some nigga bitch and not me, your own flesh and blood?" 22“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Beau's face slowly turned red from the neck up. One was reminded of how thin a veneer of civility he wore. He walked toward his son; finger pointed at his chest. Junior instinctively backed up. "Because that nigger bitch is everything you're not!" He grabbed him by the collar. "You just got your ass served on a platter. That's what I need in my pocket, not some whiny little boy bitching about what his daddy doesn't do." He flung him away in disgust. "My father was a decorated Ranger. His father reported directly to Hoover. Where in hell did, I go wrong with you? Now get the fuck outta my face because the only reason you're still standing is because yo' my flesh and blood, but if you ever disrespect me again, even that won't save you." Beau then fixed his eyes on Philomene. "Knife." She threw it. Beau caught it by the hilt, mid-air. His eyes had never left hers. "Now go and get cleaned up. Supper's almost ready." He turned to Junior and in an almost civilized tone said, "You too, Junior. You know how agitated your mama gets when you're late. And when you're done..." He added, "Go ready the shipment, and cut back on the smack. I want them willing, not strung out." Junior walked away but not before giving Philomene a look that conveyed every ounce of hate he felt. Beau shook his head and threw the knife, lodging it in the side of the tool shed. He went to leave but not before giving Philomene one last word. "Get yo' head in the game, girl." *** Sissy sat on the back porch swing, partially hidden by the jungle of plants Mrs. Dupree carefully tended to. She had witnessed the whole thing. She was witness to a lot of Junior’s antics. Beau had recently sent her and a few of his heavies down to New Iberia to settle Junior’s debts and to smooth over any hurt feelings over his card counting. As he stormed ahead of his father, she stood up and sauntered toward the steps. She leaned on the portico column and tried to get his attention, but he ignored her and 23“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net marched on toward the carriage house. She watched him for a moment before making the decision to follow him. 24“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Chapter 5 Close Quarter Standby Lost in thought, Philomene stared at Beau as he walked away. She couldn't remember a time when she and Junior didn't fight, and the older they got the more savage the fights became. No matter how hard Junior tried, he couldn't best her and he hated her for it. Not that she had much choice in the matter. For six ordinary years her only worry was not getting underfoot when her mama cleaned the big house. Never once had Beau given her a second look, but that all changed the day when the man who brought Beau a satchel of money every week wanted more than just a hug in exchange for candy he brought. Like usual, the man was asked to wait in Beau's office and, like usual, she went in to discover what treats he had brought with him. It was a game, he said. Their fun little secret and up until then, everything was the way it had always been, until he forced his tongue in her mouth and put his cold, rough hands up her dress. She screamed and did the first thing that came to mind. She grabbed the letter opener from the desk and stabbed him. Now they were both screaming. Beau ran in with his gun out and yelled at her to leave. She never knew what happened to the man, On the next delivery day, someone new brought the satchel. Beau said only in the heat of the moment do you discover the true measure of a man. That day he had discovered hers. Tadakai put his hand on her shoulder. Philomene flinched. He quickly dropped it. She had almost forgotten he was there. When she turned her copper gaze on him, Tadakai saw that her face was smeared with dirt. He licked his thumb and wiped away a spot. 25“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Philomene closed her eyes as he trailed his thumb languidly down the side of her cheek. Gently, he cupped her chin, tilted her mouth upward to meet his and captured her bottom lip, sucking on it before coaxing her mouth to accept the probing of his tongue. When his lips left hers, she touched them as if wounded. Philomene said nothing. She just turned and walked back to the house. Tadakai donned a blank expression with her every step. Philomene went through the kitchen and up the back staircase, entering the first room on the landing. On the large redwood four-poster bed, a dress was laid out as promised. She closed the door behind her, crossed the room into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As she looked in the mirror, weary eyes looked back at her. Willful tendrils had escaped from her topknot. Philomene untied Tadakai's leather thong and freed the rest of her hair. Her mind went back to the kiss. He kissed her like one of her marks. Some of them said they loved her, and she said she loved them in return, but it was part of the job. Death was her constant companion. Love makes you weak. Weakness gets you killed. Philomene looked in the mirror to see her Six-Year-Old Self standing behind her, eating a lollipop. "Quoting Beau, are we?" Her Six-Year-Old Self smiled and continued sucking on her lollipop. Better me than her. You don't want to wake her up, do you? "No." Good, then don't do anything stupid. "Kissing someone is stupid?" Yeah, if you're not gonna kill 'em. The room began to fill with steam. "I thought you were supposed to be sugar and spice and everything nice." I am, said her Six-Year-Old Self, laughing. This is your head, remember? When Philomene wiped the condensation from off the mirror, she saw only her reflection. *** 26“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Junior towered over Sissy as she laid on the table with her legs draped over his shoulders. He was unkind in his assault as his hips pummeled into her and although he stared right at her, it was not her face he saw. Each thrust punctuated the anger he felt over the knowledge that his father had little faith in him. As his member swelled, he accelerated his thrusts and when his body was wracked with tiny tremors, he collapsed on top of her. After catching his breath for a few moments, he got up and headed toward the bathroom. Junior spoke to Sissy through the open door. “I know my father told you to watch me but what do you think he would do if he found out you were fucking me too?” Sissy pulled up her underwear and adjusted her skirt. "Probably ask me if you were any good." Junior flushed the toilet. "Ha-ha. Aren't you a fucking comedian," he said as he exited. “What else do you do when you aren't cracking bad jokes or snitching to my father?" "I'm not a snitch, Junior; I'm a sheep. A sheep who knows when there's a bigger wolf around. Leave the pretty killer alone. That's one present you don't want to unwrap." Junior threw her shirt at her. "Get out." Sissy caught it, unfazed. "Dinner’s at six. Don't be late." "Get the fuck out now." Sissy laughed and exited. *** The dinner bell rang. Philomene took one last look in the mirror. Smoky powder lined the bottom of her lids; a metallic sheen glossed her lips. When the bell rang again, she exited her room and descended the grand staircase to join the family in the expansive dining room. Everyone had assembled. Tadakai nodded to her to acknowledge her presence. Junior was seated already. 27“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net "Get up, Junior!" scolded Tite. "A gentleman takes his seat after a lady sits down." "I will," he said, making a point to look at Philomene, "when there's a lady pres...Oww! What the..." Junior turned around to see his father with his hand drawn back. "What I tell you about getting fresh with yo’ mama?" Tite shook her head. "That's enough, Beau. I'm sure Junior was just playing. Right, Junior?" Junior nodded, afraid to say anything. Tite smiled and signaled to Louisa to begin serving. "Now sit-down Beau, Mr. Watanabe..." she said, gesturing to the chair beside Junior. "You too, Phil, honey, I want to hear all about your trip." The room was quiet except for the clink of the soup ladle as Louisa, who'd worked for the Duprees almost as long as Mr. Ceebo, began serving the first course. "So..." said Tite. "How did everything go?" Philomene looked to Beau fleetingly before answering, "Great." "Did you get a chance to do any shopping while you were in the city? I saw online that Henri Bendel's was having a forty percent off sale." Philomene smiled and shook her head. Tite was the closest thing she had to a mother. If she were capable of loving anyone, it would be her. When her mother disappeared, Tite was there to give what comfort Beau would allow his child soldier, but Tite was blind to what did not fit in her imagined world. She had the unfailing ability not to see. "No. Things wrapped up pretty quickly with the...client but if there are any loose ends to tie up, I'll try to make a trip." "Do we have to do this?" whined Junior. The room quieted. Beau cut his eyes at his son. "What did I just..." Tite raised her hand and it somehow silenced her fearsome husband. She folded her napkin, deliberately, and placed it on her lap. "Yes, we do. You have your pretense--I have mine. And in mine, we are not animals, so yes. We do have to do--this.” Philomene rose from the table. Tadakai stood as well. 28“Neo Geisha” * #1274059 WGAE * monica@pdsproductions.net Beau kept eating. Louisa came into the dining room to remove the soup for the next course but sensing the tension in the room, she turned right back around. "Don’t leave, Phil, you haven’t finished your dinner yet." Philomene went over to Tite and kissed her dutifully on the cheek. "I’m not hungry." "Will I see you for breakfast?" "No." Tite looked at her with knowing eyes. "When will you be back?" Philomene smiled her almost smile and walked away. Junior got up to leave too. "Did I say you could leave?" Tite unfolded her napkin, not sparing her son a glance. Junior sat back down, and the table resumed eating in silence. 2
Ms. Patton is the author of Love & Southern Discomfort, an engaging musical about an old-money family, told through the prism of love lost, addiction, mental illness, and a harrowing family secret. Monica toured with the Broadway 2nd National tour of The Book of Mormon since its inception in 2012 (she was the only cast member to be in the company from day one until it closed in 2020.) Ms. Patton has worked with such notables as Jesse Norman, Diahann Carroll, and Freda Payne. She covered Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and sang opposite Jon Secada as the Narrator in the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
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