Soul Searching: Chapter 14
“Aren’t you going to tell us what this is all about?” Marvin Ridgeway said.
“I think we should wait until we’re all here,” Bobby said. “We’re still waiting for Ms. Goldfield.”
“Nicole is always late,” Madeleine sighed.
“In that case, why don’t we start with the hors d’oeuvres?” Bobby suggested. “The Arapaho’s famous chef has prepared some of the house’s unique specialties for us, and there’s beluga caviar, of course.”
“I’ll stick with the champagne,” Florence decided. “One has to think about one’s figure with bikini season approaching.”
“I think about your figure all the time, Flo,” Marvin said, mouth full with caviar.
Florence slapped him coquettishly on the arm. At that moment Nicole Goldfield entered accompanied by a cloud of perfume. There was much air-kissing, and Bobby waited patiently for the chatter to die down.
“Does everybody have a glass?” he started. “If so, I’d like to propose a...”
“Can we skip this and get to the point, Bobby?” Marvin interrupted. “I’m a busy man, so spit it out. Why did you invite us this evening?”
“If this is about the souls, Maddie and I have already talked about it,” Nicole said. “We don’t want them back. We’re doing just fine without them.”
“As indeed you have,” Bobby said with a big smile. “When I borrowed your souls I freed you from the constraints of things like compassion, conscience, empathy, morals and plain old decency. As a result you have all been successful in your chosen fields. Extraordinarily so, one might even say. And, as a result of that, you have all amassed a great deal of wealth, fame and power.“
“Get to the point, will you?” Marvin muttered.
“The point is that I believe you owe a great portion of all that success to me. I’ve seen the same talk shows as everybody else, and all the tales of you tell of being self-made and so on. It’s all a lie. When I borrowed your souls, I made you what you are today. Now I want my fair share. It would be preferable if you willingly sign over a stake in your respective businesses to Fulton Enterprises. Do we have a deal?”
“No way,” Marvin said.
“What happens if we refuse?” Nicole asked.
“I’m so happy you asked, Nixie,” Bobby said with a smile. “The first thing that happens is that I raise the stakes. As you may know, I’m not married, and sometimes it can be a little lonely. In addition to giving me a stake in your businesses, you will have to perform wifely duties from time to time. No, not you Marvin, don’t worry.”
“In your dreams, Bobby,” Florence said.
“The other thing that happens is that I have your souls in my possession. If I set one of them free, it will take off for the afterlife. As a result, its owner will die on the spot. Allow me to demonstrate.”
Bobby produced a small wooden cage that he’s kept hidden under a cloth. In the cage was Cedric.
“What on earth is that thing?” Madeleine exclaimed.
“It’s a pangolin, Maddie,” Florence rolled her eyes. “Don’t you know anything?”
“Pangolins are much bigger,” Nicole protested.
“So what?” Florence said. “It’s a tiny pangolin, then. Some of us are small and dainty, others are a little bigger. You if anyone should know that, Nixie.”
“Oh, you have the nerve,” Nicole growled.
“Marvin’s soul is inside this creature,” Bobby said, raising his voice to be heard. “Sorry Marvin, I’m about to set that soul free. Ladies, please observe.”
Bobby Fulton tossed the cage into the fireplace, and within mere moments Cedric was reduced to ashes.
At the very same instant Bobby Fulton let out a blood-curdling scream, and fell dead to the floor.