The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 19

Huttman's private dining room was set on a second-floor porch, screened in to keep the local noxious pests away. (Leia wished it had worked with Huttman and some of his guards.) The room was done in white, green, and gold, the better to match the towering potted palms and rubber plants towering in corners. The furnishings were all white wrought-iron, as delicate as filigree, with soft, comfortable green and gold flowered cushions and a golden brocade tablecloth.

Boba Fettman pulled out Leia's seat for her. “Welcome to my humble abode, my pet,” Huttman purred as Cedric “oh dear”ed in the background. “You look cute tonight, but why didn't you wear somethin' easier to take off, like I said?”

“I'm not a woman of means, Mr. Huttman. I borrowed this from a friend.” Leia's modest white gown, with its ruffled sleeves, high lace collar, and soft tulle skirt, had been a discovery in the shops in Anchorhead two days before. She'd planned on wearing it to the casino floor on her night off. She wanted to give Jenkins enough to chew over without letting him have a full-course meal.

“I could change that.” Huttman rolled himself closer to her chair as Cedric jumped aside. “He wants you to be his mistress and his newest playmate.”

“Mr. Huttman, aren't you married?” Leia reached for a soft yellow roll. It was sweet and tasted faintly of pineapple.

“Apparently, his wife is off the island. Anyway, they have an agreement.” Cedric wrinkled his nose. “He pays for her home and clothes and lavish lifestyle, and she doesn't get in the way of him doing what he wants.”

Leia swallowed, trying to look flirtatious when she really felt like jamming the rolls down his fat throat. “Would that include me, Mr. Huttman?”

Hutman reached over to grope her breasts. She managed to dodge him just in time. Cedric gasped as Huttman's eyes roamed over her decolletage. “Sir, she's at least thirty years younger than you! That's indecent!”

“I don't need translator now.” Huttman gave Cedric a shove. “You're dismissed. Go bother Fortuna or the kitchen maids. I'm busy.”

“Yes, sir!” Cedric made such a hasty exit, he tripped over two chairs and a side table before finally rushing out the door.

“Now, my pet,” Huttman boomed, “let's talk about us.”

“Actually,” Leia began, trying to scoot away from him without looking like she was, “I want to talk to you about what you did to Henry Solo. How did you manage to cover him in crystal.”

“The crystal and the chains and cuffs were provided by Baron Vader.” His fat hand slid under the layers of lace on her knees. “I took his crystal, and he got new, better weapons and steam barges for his men. Don't let it be said that Jenkins Huttman don't work with the government.” He pulled her close enough to smell his overpowering, musky perfumes and the sweat it was covering.

“Where do you keep the keys to his cuffs?” Leia felt like an idiot, but she batted her eyelashes. “They must be somewhere very close-by.”

“You ask questions, pet. I don't like questions. Pets should be seen, not heard.” He stroked her breast, his sausage fingers clutching at her bosom. “And you are a pet. You're my pet. I'll keep you here, in my private quarters, dress you in the finest gowns, jewels, anything your pretty little head wants.”

He was about to tear the buttons off her dress when Charles arrived with Rusty and three other waiters, pushing a tray filled with food. Rusty and three boys brought a roast pig, mountains of vegetables, exotic mangoes and papaya with sprinklings of coconut, rice smothered in cream and mushrooms, and a towering coconut-covered cake for dessert.

As hungry as Leia was, she had to concentrate on the mission at hand. She nodded at Charles, who poured the blue glass wine bottle with the gold rim. “I have never seen this before.” Jenkins sniffed at it. “What it is?”

“It's a special gift.” Leia gave him her most coquettish smile. “Just for tonight. I have...connections.” She turned to the window as Rusty opened the curtains, giving them an incredible view of the beach front. “Oh, isn't that beautiful? Look at the lights. They're like a thousand jewels sewn into the tapestry of the island.”

“And I control every last one of them.” Jenkins turned to admire the indigo night...just as Charles dropped a tiny bit of powder into his drink. “If you become mine, pet, you'll be able to enjoy all the fabulous things my empire offers, too.”

“Maybe I will.” Leia gave him her most teasing smile as she lifted her glass. “Here's to us, Jenkins.”

“Here's to us, pet.” Her eyes focused on Jenkins as he knocked back the entire glass of wine in one gulp. “Ahh. Excellent vintage. My compliments to your buddy.” Within moments, his yellow-gold eyes began to contract, his eyelids fluttering. “Oh...holy shit. What a kick that stuff has! I feel...I feel really good.”

His swimming eyes tried to focus on the goddess before him. “Good enough to tell me where the keys to Henry Solo's cuffs are?”

“Oh, him. He's just some stooge of mine. Thinks he's so great, just 'cause he got some prince or somethin' as his sponsor. He ain't so great, pet.” Jenkins' eyes glazed over. A tiny bit of drool slid out of his mouth. “He'll never run off on me again. No one will. Not as long as I have the keys in my pocket.” He clutched at her. “He can't get away. No one will. No one will ever leave Jenkins again! No one...never...” The grotesque gangster finally dropped into her lap, snoring heavily.

“Thank god.” Leia pushed him off. “I never thought he'd quiet down.”

Charles and Rusty were already searching his person. “Here they are!” Charles handed her the keys. “Now, let's you n' me get Henry out of here, before the kid arrives to lay waste to this residence of sin.”

“I won't argue that.” Leia tucked the keys in her white beaded purse. “Rusty, go find Cedric and tell Luke we have Henry.”

Rusty saluted her. “Will do, Your Grace.”

As the trio split in two different directions, Jenkins opened one eye...and his fat lips formed an evil grin.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The main casino floor was dark. Only a single moon beam showed down from one of the cathedral windows, showing an empty beachfront with glowing white sand and palm trees that were little more than black strokes in the darkness. Leia made her way down the hall, carrying her white silk pumps to avoid her heels clicking on the wooden floor.

Henry was still guarded, even at night. The guards didn't even have time to protest before two hairy fists smashed into their faces. Charles, who walked behind her, easily took care of the two men, knocking them over the head and shoving them against the wall as quietly as he could.

Leia managed to climb up onto the pedestal. “Oh Henry,” she whispered. “How could they have done this to you?” His eyes were closed; his even breathing indicating that he was probably sleeping, or attempting to. She ran her gloved hand over his smooth cheek. “I wish I knew how to get this off...”

“I think I do.” Charles pushed his finger into one of the places Jenkins had prodded with his cigar earlier. “He's melting. Jenkins melted the crystal earlier.” He pulled out a bunch of cigars. “Good thing Rusty n' I snared a few of these from Jenkins earlier. Didn't think he needed all the good stuff.”

“Good work!” Leia heated the first one on one of the few oil lamps still lit, then handed it to Charles. “You do the bottom. I'll work on the top.”

“But how...” Charles' bushy face broke into a wide grin as Leia stood on her tip-toes to kiss Henry's crystal-coated lips. A soft blue light filtered over them as the glowing liquid melted away. His hands dropped to his sides, then pulled Leia into his arms.

“Who....who are you?” Henry touched her smooth, lovely face.

She snuggled into his slightly wet and sticky chest. “Someone who loves you.”

“Leia!” the industrialist gasped. “Is that you? Charles? I can't...I can't see, sweetheart. Everything's a blur. I can't see you.”

Charles growled softly. “Probably all those drugs Jenkins jammed into you. I'm guessin' it'll return once they wear off.”

Leia undid the collar and cuffs as quickly as she could. “We've got to get you out of here.” Charles took his other side. “The others are waiting on the Falcon and at Benjamin Kenton's home.”

They didn't get two steps from the pedestal before a booming guffaw filled the room. Henry stopped, groaning. “I know that laugh. Should have figured he'd know. He always knows.”

Not only Jenkins Huttman, but his entire entourage was behind him, some in night clothes. All hooted with the same derisive laughter as their employer. “Look, Jenkins,” Henry began, “I was going to pay you back. Honest. I just got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault.”

“Not your fault?” Jenkins snorted. “I've heard that from you a thousand times. You may have been the best pirate in Europe ten years ago, but you went soft. I have no use for soft pirates who can't deliver their shipments on time. Take him and his hairy ape away.”

Leia tried to cling to Han, but Fettson and two of his men finally dragged him away. It took six to shove Charles after him. She wanted to follow them, but three of his men grabbed her arm. “Bring the girl to me.”

“I told you, Jenkins, we have powerful contacts.” She gave him her angriest glare. “You're going to regret this.”

“I'm sure I am, Your Grace.” A familiar dark face shoved her onto Jenkins' lap. “You think I didn't know who you were? I've never kept a duchess as a pet before. This will be a new experience.” He grabbed her hair, pulling her into his face. “You're my special pet now, Duchess Organa. You're mine.”

Cedric gasped as he gave her a sloppy, wet kiss across her porcelain face. “I can't bear to watch!”

“That's it.” Rusty tugged on Cedric's arm. “We gotta go get the kid. No one will notice if a waiter and a translator comes and goes.”

“Maybe not a waiter, but I have a job to do.” Cedric sniffed. “Mr. Huttman has a very important group coming in from Sullustia, and I simply must be there to translate. Mr. Huttman may be vulgar and large enough to pass for his own country, but he doesn't tolerate lateness.”

“We'll be back before that.” Rusty quickly directed Cedric out before anyone could notice them.