Chapter Three

         

             Back in San Diego Mary was missing Jon. She was really trying hard not to worry what was 

going on back where he was. She really was trying to take his word that everything was going to be alright. Maybe helping her brothers with this case will take her mind off of what was happening with him. It wasn’t a life and death case but it did need a woman’s point of view where they needed her to go in as a wealthy daughter of a banker and her wealthy brother played by A.J. Rick was going to be their accountant. They needed to find the culprit who conned some elderly people out of their savings to bank roll a non-senior citizen’s retirement village. They setup in the swanky hotel of the Ritz where the McKenzie Brothers were staying. There were two, Brad and David who got their money handed down to them from their father who had passed away three years ago. Since then they have partied ever since. Mary’s job was to get one of their attention. So that meant throwing money around themselves. Which meant they had to go to Joey the loan shark which they hated but had no choice. Hopefully they would recoup their money with what they would get at the end of the case. It took a few days for them to get the McKenzie’s attention finally when they were at this gala event that was hosting a Las Vegas event. High Society was out and about and so was the press. Luckily Mary was doing fairly well at the roulette table and the funny thing going through her mind was Jon’s song of the same name. She thought that maybe that was a good luck charm for her. Brad McKenzie had walked up to her and started to bet with her seeing that she was on a streak. So he thought that maybe some of that good luck would rub off on him. Which it had and after a few hours they both were up a few thousand dollars more, much more.

                

So Brad asked Mary back to the bar for a drink but what Mary hadn’t notice was the news crews and the paparazzi’s taking her picture as they left. The Bongiovi’s had stayed to Jon chagrin much too long and he was really getting annoyed now and wanted to tell his folks just to leave. His mother just kept throwing Dorothea at him; he thought he kept telling her that he was already in a relationship. Again they all settled in Jon’s room for the evening when he was not performing and after dinner there was a game on after the news. All the guys were watching even the girls and were chatting when this segment came on about the Las Vegas Gala in San Diego came on. “Oh Jon turn this up please.” Carol asked him.

“Why Mom?” he asked back.

“Because it’s the social event of the year dear. One day you’ll be there.” She told him. Jon just shook his head in amusement. As they were watching they showed some of the people coming and going and when Richie saw what he thought he saw he let out a little yelp.

“Oh no.” Richie yelped out.

“What is it?” Jon asked. Richie just pointed to the t.v. As Jon looked his mouth dropped. He couldn’t believe what or who he was looking at. Right there in front of his eyes was his girl. She was dressed in this beautiful burgundy dress puffed out down to her feet, strapless while wearing the same color gloves over her elbows. She must be wearing high heels and she was wearing her hair in an up do. She was just stunning. In the back he could also see her brothers mulling around. So deep down he realized that this must be the job that she was talking about but still his heart dropped seeing her with that guy.

Carol looked at Jon then the guys. She noticed the guys just sat there looking at Jon and not talking. “What? What’s going on? Who’s that girl? Jon. Jon!” she yelled at her son. But even that didn’t snap him out of his trance. He just couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

Richie looked at him and then nudged him. “Hey bro your mom wants you.” Rich said. Snapping Jon out of it he turned around.

 “Yeah Mom what.” He said.

She was aggrieved. “Who is that girl that has your full attention?” she demanded.

Jon just shook his head and didn’t want to introduce her this way. “Mom, Dad that’s Mary. Mary Simon my girlfriend.” He said with a smile that went across his face. Carol looked shocked. The girl in the party dress and on the arm of another man is this wonderful girl her son keeps talking about.

“Really Jon that’s the girl you keep talking about? The one in the party dress and on the arm of another man? Are you out of your mind?” she stated.

 He was really trying not to lose his cool but before he could say anything Tico spoke up. “Hey Matty, Tony how would you guys like some ice cream?” Both boys jumped up happily when Tico asked them. John Sr. gave the guys the okay to take them and Richie even convinced Dorothea.

After they left Carol started in on Jon. “Mar will you give it a rest. She’s a private detective and right now she’s helping her brothers out with a case that’s it. Leave it alone will ya.” Jon told her very irritated.

“Jon you saw her she didn’t act like she had a boyfriend now did she?” Carol said.

 Jon was getting sick of this conversation. He didn’t like explaining his relationship. “She’s undercover Mar she has to act that way otherwise the whole case blows up in their faces and she or her brothers can get hurt. Do you want that?” he asked annoyed.

“Well of course not Jon but that doesn’t put you in a very good place now does it?” She asked him concerned.

 “Well I didn’t put her in a very good place when I cheated on her a few months ago either. Or when groupies come up and throw themselves all over me. Or how about this Mom when my mother brings my ex to me and tries to get us back together does that one sound familiar?” he asked her mad as hell.

“Well if you had told us that you were seeing someone…” Carol said trying again.

“Mar I did you just didn’t want to hear me! You still want me with Dot. Well listen to this, I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t unfaithful in that relationship so was she. What do you think she was doing while she was waiting for me while I was on the road? Um? Yeah that’s right she was screwing around with Billy Davidson Mom. That’s why we both broke it off. We just didn’t love each other anymore. Now she wants to get back together I don’t think so. Now I’m making money and getting famous so she’s wants back in? No, no way. Mary doesn’t care who I am and how much I make. She loves me for me and I’m crazy in love with her. So I suggest you take the boys and her back home so when Mary comes back to me she’s gone and you have time to accept her. Because if you don’t well then Mom I think we’ll have a problem because her family has already welcomed me into their family.” When he finished his little speech, he went into his bedroom and closed the door hoping that they would just go away. John Sr. took his wife by the arm and led her out of their son’s room. Jon on the other was sitting on the end of his bed with his head in his hands. He had just about enough of his Mom and his ex. He was grateful for the fact that Mary wasn’t there and had to endure all this crap from his mother. But the thing that mostly was bothering him was that he was bothered by the fact that she was seen out with some rich guy at this stupid Gala event. And the fact that she looked beautiful didn’t help.

   Later that evening the guys brought back Jon’s brothers to his parents and they had turned in for the night. Jon had called down to room service for his favorite sleeping pill when Mary wasn’t with him, a bottle of Jack. He was about half way through the battle when there was a knock on his door. He shook his head figuring it was one of his parents when he opened the door. “Oh great what the hell are you doing here?” he asked upset.

“Well hello to you to Jonny. I knew your mother had upset you earlier, so I thought I would check on you and it’s a good thing I did. How much of that shit have you’ve had to drink already?” Dot asked.

“None of your damn business.” he said smugly. Dot pushed her way into the room almost knocking him down. “Whoa who the hell said you could come in?” Jon asked annoyed.

“I did.” She said looking around until she found what she was looking for. Walking over to one of the lounge chairs she found the half-drunk bottle.

 “Hey that’s mine give it back.” Jon whined as he lunged for the bottle. She swiped it away from him as he stumbled.

 “I don’t think so, you’ve had enough. Does she know that you’re drinking yourself to death?” Dot asked him. Jon just stared at Dot.

“It’s none of your business Dot. So just stay out of it.” He told her annoyed.

 “Why don’t we put you to bed.” She said.

“Oh no, no, no, no you don’t. I’m not goings to fall for that. You get mes drunked and then haves your way with mes. I can sees right through yous.” He said slurring his words while trying very hard to sound coherent. Just as she was heading him off to the bedroom the phone rang. “Oh I has to get that.” Jon said trying hard to reach the phone while trying to climb over the bed.

 “No you don’t the front desk can take a message.” Dot told him.

 “Nope it might bes my Mary” as he finally picked up the phone before Dot was able to grab it from him.

“Helloooo.” Jon said trying not to giggle into the phone.

 “Jon? Is that you Sweetie?” Mary asked.

 “Hey Baby! I knews its was yous.” Jon said back.

“Have you been drinking?” she asked him smiling on the other end of the phone.

“Um kinda yeah. Hey do you want to try and do that thing now?” he laughed.

“I don’t think so Sweetie, I don’t think you’re quite up to it.” She said giggling to herself.

 “I’m always ups to it Baby. Oh wait I have company. Dotty could you pleas leave. I would likes to have phone sex withs my girl.” Jon said to Dorothea whose mouth practically dropped open to the floor. Her plans on seducing Jon tonight bit the dust.

“Jon? JON! Whose there with you?” Mary yelled into the phone. Jon could hear her so could Dot for that matter which made her smile.

“Oh Baby don’ts worry it only Dotty. Shes was putting mes to bed cause I drunk to much, oh and shes was trying to seduce mes but its didn’t work so don’ts worry okay?” Jon nonchalantly told her as Dot’s head just bent down in defeat. But Mary on the other hand was feeling triumph in knowing that even though he was drunk he was still faithful to her and loved her very much not to fall for her crap.

“Okay Sweetie tell you what you get rid of her then get some sleep. It looks like this case is going to wrap up sooner than we thought so I should be back soon. I love you honey.” She told him.

” I love you more. Can’t wait to see you.” and they hung up. He turned around and luckily his bedroom was empty. Dot must have left near the end of his conversation. Just as well so he stripped off his clothes and crawled into his bed, turned off the lights and it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. When morning came or what Jon would call morning at eleven fifteen am his head was pounding but not as bad as he thought it would. He could remember though what had happened last night.

   He wasn’t that drunk to forget what Dorothea had planned and how he didn’t fall for any of it. He also remembered that Mary had called sometime last night and he did believe that Dorothea was there when she called but doesn’t remember when she left. The only good thing was she wasn’t in his bed when he woke up. He knew he had promised Mary that he would be a good boy and not or at least try not to get blasted to the point of not remembering things the night before and getting himself into big, big trouble that he couldn’t get himself out of. He crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom to find some aspirin and then to take a shower. Once that was done and brushed his teeth he dressed then called down to room service hoping he could eat in peace this one morning but just as he was about to phone down there was that usual knock on his door and his mother’s voice asking to come in. He shook his head and chuckled to himself and opened the door. “Hey Mom, Dad morning.” Jon said to them.

“Morning dear.” Carol said to him kissing him on his cheek while walking in the room. John Sr. chuckling as he walked in slapping him on his shoulder as his brothers just ran in to the t.v.

 “Well I was just about to call down to room service would you guys like anything?” he asked them. Carol gave him their order which was a lunch order and Jon just laughed as he was ordering himself some breakfast, mostly coffee. After he hung up he realized that Dorothea wasn’t with them and wonder to himself if she didn’t come because of last night. “Um where’s Dotty?” he asked.

 “Oh she said she wasn’t feeling good, I think it’s a woman’s thing dear.” Carol suggested.

“MOM! EWE!” Tony yelled out.

“Oh now stop and just go back to what you were doing.” Carol said annoyed at her middle son.

“No I don’t think that’s it Mom but I’ll go talk to her.” Jon said trying not to make too much of it.

“Why would you say that?” she asked.

“I don’t want to get into Mom. Let’s just say we had a misunderstanding ok.” Jon told his mother.

“Was it about that other girl?” she asked defensibly.

“Yes and no and that other girl is my girlfriend and she has a name.” Jon said trying not to get annoyed with his Mom.

                While Jon was entertaining his family and getting an ulcer Mary was getting ready to go out with her brothers when they walked into her room. They were going to have breakfast together and they noticed a bouquet of flowers sitting on the coffee table and asked her when she got those. “Why what’s the matter can’t a girl get flowers from her guy?” she asked.

 “Sure she can but there Lilies. We just thought Jon wouldn’t send you Lilies since Michael always did.” A.J. asked.

“Well he does know their my favorite flower so why wouldn’t he send them to me? Plus Michael’s dead so it’s safe to send them to me.”  She said not knowing where they were going with this.

“When did he send them” he asked.

 “Oh for crying out loud. He sent them to me this morning okay? I called him last night he was well out of it let’s say and I think he sent them to me as a Sorry I was drunk and couldn’t talk to you and Oh yeah my ex was in the bedroom Love you so much flowers.” She explained.

“His ex was with him last night in his bedroom?” Rick asked. Mary shook her head yes. “Boy I want a girlfriend like you and by the way I can’t go to breakfast with you and A.J. I need to check on a few things so when you guys get back we should be all set to go.” Rick said. Mary didn’t think anything of Rick’s explanation but A.J. caught on to what Rick was going to do.

  “Yes Jon I know she has a name but Dorothea is here and she isn’t that’s all I’m saying…” Carol was cut off by the knock on the door.

 “I’ll get it!” Jon said happily anything to shut his Mom up. As Jon was answering the door and getting room service his phone rang.

“Dear do you want me to get that?” she asked.

 “Yeah Mom could you?” Jon yelled.

Carol picked up the phone “Hello? How may I help you?” Carol asked.

“Yes may I speak to Jon?” Rick asked.

“He’s busy at the moment can I take a message?” Carol asked.

 “Uh no I really need to speak to him right now.” Rick told her.

“Well as I told you he’s busy.” She scolded.

“Mom who is it?” Jon yelled.

“Well I don’t know he’s demanding to talk to you but I keep telling him you’re busy.” She was getting upset with Rick now as he was with her.

“Mom just give me the phone.” Jon said taking it from her.

“Dear you should really find out who you’re talking to before you answer it. It could be anyone. You’re much too important now to be taking your own phone calls.” She told him.

 “Mom really? Hello?” Jon said.

“Jon its Rick Simon.” He told him a little excitedly.

“Rick? Oh crap is she okay?! I knew she was going to get hurt. Damn it!” Jon yelled.

“JON! Calm the hell down will ya. She’s not hurt, didn’t you just talk to her last night?’ he asked. Thinking to himself he remembered that he did but just hearing Rick’s voice scared the living hell out of him. While this was going on his parents just looked at him worried at why he was yelling.

“Oh yeah right sorry so what’s up Rick.” Jon said trying to play down his mistake.

“Well I think you just answered my questioned.” Rick said.

 “And what question would that be?” he asked.

“You didn’t happen to send Mary a bouquet of flowers this morning did you?” he asked.

 “No why should I?” he asked Rick.

“No, no.” Rick murmured.

 “Rick did she get flowers this morning?” he asked as his heart sank.

“Yeah and don’t freak but Lilies to boot.” He told Jon.

 “WHAT! Even I wouldn’t send her Lilies.” He said nervous now.

 “Yeah well she thinks you did and the card say’s Love you and Miss lots Jon. Okay I need to call the florist where these came from. I wouldn’t care because A.J. and I thought at first they came from that moron Brad McKenzie but then she told us they were from you so I thought I’d call you first but Brad doesn’t know who she really is and that she’s dating you.” Rick explained.

 “Rick Michael’s is dead right?’ Jon asked hopefully.

“Yeah Jon he is. Don’t worry we’ll figure this out. Just don’t tell Mary anything until this case is over okay. Then we’ll send her back to you.” Rick told him.

“Rick just send her back in one piece please.” Jon pleaded. They hung and Jon turned around to face his parents.

John Sr. got up and walked over to his son. “Is there anything wrong Jon?” he asked while putting his hand on Jon’s shoulder.

“No Dad everything’s fine really.” But he didn’t sound convincing.

“You sure, you don’t look okay.” He said.

“No I’m fine really that was just Mary’s brother asking me a question that’s all. Like I told you they’re Private Eye’s. I just mistook something for nothing that’s all.” Jon said trying to convince himself but not very well.

 Meanwhile Rick was making a few phone calls to see who delivered the flowers. All he could find out was that a tall blonde about someone in her thirties paid in cash for the flowers. Said she was Jon’s assistant. When Mary and A.J. got back they got ready to go out and to nail the McKenzie’s brothers. Rick just gave A.J. a nod which meant he would fill him in later. It didn’t take them long to get the goods on the brothers as Mary told them that she needed someone to transfer some funds for her. As they were setting things up with the bank they were working with they started and immediately transferring them into their bogus account which A.J. and Rick had wired. It was a matter of minutes that they had them hook, line and sinker. With that finally finished Mary was extremely excited because it only took two weeks to have taken care of this and she couldn’t wait to get back to her Jon. When they got back to the hotel Rick and A.J. had to tell her what was going on.