Cinco de Mayo

Chapter 1 Los Angeles, California February 14, 1997 The sleek black limousine stopped at the curb directly in front of the long dark blue awning that stretched out from the front door of Hogan’s, Los Angeles' newest, and for tonight, hottest night spot for the ultra rich. It, in a short run of just a few weeks, had become the favorite for fine dining with Hollywood's movie elite. Even before the tires of the big car had stopped turning, a young man dressed in a dark business suit, opened the right front door and stepped out. As quickly as he did so a black Chevrolet Suburban came to an abrupt halt directly behind the limousine and two more men, also dressed in business suits, jumped out and took positions surrounding the limousine. Jessica Malone was finishing the final drops of wine, giggling as she did so. Her escort for this Valentine's evening was all that he had been reported to be. Charming, witty, good looking of course, and able to ask just the right questions to make her feel comfortable and relaxed. She was impressed, perhaps more so, and more quickly, than at any other time she could remember. And that was saying a lot. The former beauty queen and now top drawing film star, in her short twenty four years of living, had managed to spend what might be called, quality time, with some of the hottest men in Hollywood. Some available, and some that were not. Tonight's Valentine's dinner companion was not. Jessica was still laughing when Willard Davis Penn nodded to the driver indicating they were ready. As quickly as the driver was able to raise his arm to his mouth, the limousine's right rear door was opened by one of the men standing guard over the car and it's occupants. What could have been called the press corps, was acting and sounding like paparazzi. When the door of the shiny black limousine opened, they instinctively began to press in with a displeasing hunger for the best photo shot. Cameras whizzed, flashes where continuous. Those with video cameras were yelling, calling out to the couple with questions that could not be understood over the multiple shouts. All they really wanted was the sound of any greeting the couple might offer. Jessica Malone tried to look her best and was anxious for a good shot. Willard Davis Penn appeared to all but ignore them. As it ended up, only Jessica offered a wave and a big smile. Within seconds, the duo, plus security, were safely inside the recently popular Hogan’s, and a waiting table. The owner, perhaps overly aware of his special guest for the evening, was waiting their arrival. He personally took care of the greeting, and escorted the couple to what he considered the best table in the house. Willard Davis Penn was not interested in the best table in the house. He was only interested in Jessica Malone. He tried desperately not to stare, or at least not get caught. The object of his attention was Jessica’s deep purple, shimmering ribbon pattern dress, cut several inches above the knee and just as many below the neck. The form fitting designer dress, probably from Rodeo Drive, showed more than a hint of her ample breasts, as the front was cut deep down the middle. The design was to be worn of course, without the benefit of any extra support, not that Jessica Malone required any. There was the problem for Willard Davis Penn. He only hoped that he would make it through the night. Jessica had been down this road before and she knew what she was doing and where she was going. She had Willard Davis Penn exactly where she wanted him. The security men, quietly waiting in the background, watched all that took place inside Hogan’s. They did not miss the game being played between Jessica Malone and their charge. It was a source of amusement for them, helping to pass what, except for it's importance, could be a very boring job. The service offered by Hogan’s was exact. The waiter, two assistants and the wine steward, all tending to this table and this table only. The two special guests of Hogan’s waited or wanted for nothing. Glasses were tended almost to the point of intruding on the privacy of the guests. With service as good as this however, no one complained. Jorge Ojeda was one of the two assistants who tended to the filling of glasses, water that is. The wine steward tended to the wine, and what a show he put on for Ms. Malone. Jorge had practiced this moment for hours, knowing full well the out come and the repercussions should he not perform flawlessly. Jorge carefully watched the water glasses of his patrons. When he observed them to drop an inch or maybe a little more below the full mark, he quietly moved in and exchanged them for freshly filled glasses with plenty of ice. It had been decided that refilling the glasses at the table would be too intrusive to the guests. Willard Davis Penn and Jessica Malone had been dining, drinking, laughing and exchanging secret looks for nearly an hour when Jorge Ojeda determined it was time to complete his job. Without the slightest hint of nervousness or conscious, and with the adeptness of a slight of hand master, he swiftly emptied the contents of a small vial into a freshly filled water glass. He walked out of the kitchen and into the dining area. Without hesitation, he headed straight towards the table. One of the security men standing duty watched him move cross the thick carpet just as he had countless times over the course of the evening. As on previous visits, the waiters assistant picked up the partially consumed water glasses and placed them on his serving tray, first Jessica Malone's and then that of Willard Davis Penn. Jorge then returned to the bus station near the kitchen, still able to observe his quests. He deposited the used water glasses just collected, into a bus tub, just as he had done all evening. The second assistant had only moment’s earlier, retrieved two dishes that the guests no longer needed, and he too was standing in the server’s area waiting the need to further assist the guests. Company policy was that the two were not to talk except while in the kitchen proper. The two stood quietly. Jessica Malone had obviously consumed most of the wine this evening and it was really beginning to show. Willard Davis Penn, of course, considered that fact to be his good fortune. Jessica Malone was past warming up to her Valentine escort and appeared to be enjoying herself in the company of a man old enough to be her father. Willard Davis Penn lifted his water glass, having past up any further wine for nearly thirty minutes. He had decided Jessica could have all she wanted. He sipped his water as if it were wine and stole yet another look at the plunging neckline of Jessica's lovely dress. Then, before setting the glass on the table, he took a long healthy sip. Jorge Ojeda appeared yet again with two more water glasses, quickly did his job and this time returned to the kitchen. Jessica Malone was talking again but Willard Davis Penn was not listening. Jessica didn't know he wasn't listening because she was playing with a spoon and not looking at her date. Willard Davis Penn reached his finger inside his collar and pulled, hoping to loosen it a little without unbuttoning the top button or pulling on his tie. He was feeling flushed, then... suddenly... very flushed. He pulled on his tie, this time not caring how it might look. He took a long drink of ice water and after setting the glass on the table, loosened his collar. He began to feel faint. Light headed. Then, quickly, more flushed then just seconds earlier. He began to experience a series of sensations, like giant waves, one following another in rapid succession. Then something new. Like nothing he had ever sensed. It swept in with one of the huge waves. Fear… for the first time in his life he was scared. Really scared. Something was happening. Something was going on, and he did not know what.