Luck be a Lady-3
Elizabeth sighed deeply. They were safe in their capsule for at least 25 more minutes. “Sorry about the arm, I was afraid I might lose you otherwise.”
“It is quite alright,” William sat down on the floor and leaned against one wall of the capsule. “So how did you know I needed help? Well, how did you know how to-? Why?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I have many friends who go through the same thing. And you are dear to me, so I had to help you.”
William looked at her quizzically. “Have we met before?”
“No, not really. I work for the Gloria Leslie Foundation, so I had seen your name in the files.”
William nodded at this new information. “Leslie, any relation?” He was afraid to hear her answer.
“She was my mother,” Elizabeth replied softly. She turned away and began rummaging through her bag. She popped out with the strawberry box in one had and a bottle of Pellegrino in the other. “Hungry?”
“Oh, well now that you mention it, sure!” William was glad to change the subject. This was not the time nor place to discuss such things.
They munched on the strawberries and talked little. The silence was less than awkward but not entirely comfortable. “We need to get out of here,” Elizabeth muttered. “What we need, is a plan and a getaway car.”
“Well alright Bonnie,” William said in a terrible western accent. “You hitch up the horses and leave Clyde here to get the guns!” He pulled at imaginary suspenders and winked.
“Bonnie and Clyde had a car!” Elizabeth said while laughing hysterically. “They did not trot around on horses after robbing banks!” She laughed for a few more moments. Then she went quiet. “Oh!” She turned around and grabbed her cell phone. “I think I have a plan.” William watched with interest as she made three phone calls, talking fast without pausing for a breath. When she finished the last one, she hung up with a triumphant look on her face. “Well, we will be able to get out of here, but you’re going to have to trust me.”
He stared at her for a minute. Her green eyes blazed with determination and an energy he had never quite seen before. “Of course I trust you,” he smiled and stood up. The ride would be ending soon. “We’ve been in here for over 20 minutes and you never once asked for an autograph.” They both laughed. Elizabeth stood up and they both stood looking at the city.
“Oh no,” Elizabeth pointed down to the exit. A group of paparazzi had gathered just outside the entrance. And she was having a hard time seeing where the security from her father’s office was. She knew they would be there, their jobs depended on it but she could not see them. “This might be harder than I thought.”
“Can we not just ride this thing again?” William asked, his voice wary.
“No,” Elizabeth said. “We will make it through fine. Just look for the big scary guys with Leslie Communications on their shirts. They will be wearing all black and probably wearing sunglasses.”
“Do you have your own secret service?” William asked incredulously. “What kind of charity are you running?”
Elizabeth laughed, realizing she had explained very little. “No! Don’t be silly. My father owns Leslie Communications, the PR firm. He is sending some people over to help us out of here, then we can take my car and I’ll drop you somewhere safe.” William nodded. They were nearing the platform now. “Come on, let’s go. And we have to stick together.” Elizabeth took Will’s hand. “And if we get separated, find one of the guards.”
William felt a little strange. He had known this girl for barely 30 minutes and it seemed like his safety was in her hands. Still, his own agent was contracted with Leslie Communications, and it was by his suggestion he donated to the charity. Maybe it was all connected for a reason. Perhaps he was destined to be here.
All thoughts of destiny would have to continue later. As soon as the doors opened, they ran through the exit. Two guards had made it to the exit and flanked them as they walked out. William felt a strong grip on his upper arm. One of the guards had grabbed him and another had grabbed Elizabeth round her arm as well. They made it through the crowd quickly and painlessly. More guards met them and led them away from the Eye. People attempted to follow but they could not get through the guards.
Finally they reached a line of cars. There were three large black cars, with Leslie Communications Security in tiny blue writing on the side, and a blue Mini. William almost stopped in his tracks. The plate said ‘Tiara’ clear as day.
“Come on, they’re coming!” Elizabeth shouted and opened her door to get in. William jumped in the passenger seat, and before his safety belt was even on, they we’re off.
She maneuvered the car expertly through tiny side streets to escape the Moseley mania. Before long, they were driving down little alleyways and through crumbling archways in a part of the city William was not familiar with. No one had followed them.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m not sure,” Elizabeth answered. “Where do you want to go?”
“Where are we?”
“Again, I’m not sure. I just kept turning and hoping they would leave us alone.”
“So we are lost?!” William looked ready to jump out of the car.
“Hardly,” Elizabeth pushed a few buttons on her dashboard, and a flat panel screen appeared from behind a panel. The screen came to life and within seconds it had a digital map of the city, pinpointing exactly where they were. They were in South London, which explained the condition of the city and the uneasy feeling of the surrounds. This was no place for a society girl and a celebrity. Elizabeth pushed a few more buttons and the screen mapped out an escape route. A few more turns and several blocks, and they would be back in one of the fashion districts. “Ok, we’ll be out of here soon enough.” She stepped on the gas and before long, they were in a safer part of London. “So where to?”
“Well, I guess home would be the best bet.” William said. “Though I can just hop in a cab. It is probably easier for you that way.”
“Don’t be silly, I’ll drop you home. Where do you live?”
“I have a flat in Notting Hill, anywhere near there is fine I can walk.”
“Are you joking?” Elizabeth took her eyes off the road to look at him. “I live in Notting Hill, on Kensington Park Road.”
“No way,” William smiled. “I live on Portobello Road.”
“We’re practically neighbors!” Elizabeth was getting more and more excited. “Well then, home it is.” And they set off, gabbing away about their neighborhood.
“It is quite alright,” William sat down on the floor and leaned against one wall of the capsule. “So how did you know I needed help? Well, how did you know how to-? Why?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I have many friends who go through the same thing. And you are dear to me, so I had to help you.”
William looked at her quizzically. “Have we met before?”
“No, not really. I work for the Gloria Leslie Foundation, so I had seen your name in the files.”
William nodded at this new information. “Leslie, any relation?” He was afraid to hear her answer.
“She was my mother,” Elizabeth replied softly. She turned away and began rummaging through her bag. She popped out with the strawberry box in one had and a bottle of Pellegrino in the other. “Hungry?”
“Oh, well now that you mention it, sure!” William was glad to change the subject. This was not the time nor place to discuss such things.
They munched on the strawberries and talked little. The silence was less than awkward but not entirely comfortable. “We need to get out of here,” Elizabeth muttered. “What we need, is a plan and a getaway car.”
“Well alright Bonnie,” William said in a terrible western accent. “You hitch up the horses and leave Clyde here to get the guns!” He pulled at imaginary suspenders and winked.
“Bonnie and Clyde had a car!” Elizabeth said while laughing hysterically. “They did not trot around on horses after robbing banks!” She laughed for a few more moments. Then she went quiet. “Oh!” She turned around and grabbed her cell phone. “I think I have a plan.” William watched with interest as she made three phone calls, talking fast without pausing for a breath. When she finished the last one, she hung up with a triumphant look on her face. “Well, we will be able to get out of here, but you’re going to have to trust me.”
He stared at her for a minute. Her green eyes blazed with determination and an energy he had never quite seen before. “Of course I trust you,” he smiled and stood up. The ride would be ending soon. “We’ve been in here for over 20 minutes and you never once asked for an autograph.” They both laughed. Elizabeth stood up and they both stood looking at the city.
“Oh no,” Elizabeth pointed down to the exit. A group of paparazzi had gathered just outside the entrance. And she was having a hard time seeing where the security from her father’s office was. She knew they would be there, their jobs depended on it but she could not see them. “This might be harder than I thought.”
“Can we not just ride this thing again?” William asked, his voice wary.
“No,” Elizabeth said. “We will make it through fine. Just look for the big scary guys with Leslie Communications on their shirts. They will be wearing all black and probably wearing sunglasses.”
“Do you have your own secret service?” William asked incredulously. “What kind of charity are you running?”
Elizabeth laughed, realizing she had explained very little. “No! Don’t be silly. My father owns Leslie Communications, the PR firm. He is sending some people over to help us out of here, then we can take my car and I’ll drop you somewhere safe.” William nodded. They were nearing the platform now. “Come on, let’s go. And we have to stick together.” Elizabeth took Will’s hand. “And if we get separated, find one of the guards.”
William felt a little strange. He had known this girl for barely 30 minutes and it seemed like his safety was in her hands. Still, his own agent was contracted with Leslie Communications, and it was by his suggestion he donated to the charity. Maybe it was all connected for a reason. Perhaps he was destined to be here.
All thoughts of destiny would have to continue later. As soon as the doors opened, they ran through the exit. Two guards had made it to the exit and flanked them as they walked out. William felt a strong grip on his upper arm. One of the guards had grabbed him and another had grabbed Elizabeth round her arm as well. They made it through the crowd quickly and painlessly. More guards met them and led them away from the Eye. People attempted to follow but they could not get through the guards.
Finally they reached a line of cars. There were three large black cars, with Leslie Communications Security in tiny blue writing on the side, and a blue Mini. William almost stopped in his tracks. The plate said ‘Tiara’ clear as day.
“Come on, they’re coming!” Elizabeth shouted and opened her door to get in. William jumped in the passenger seat, and before his safety belt was even on, they we’re off.
She maneuvered the car expertly through tiny side streets to escape the Moseley mania. Before long, they were driving down little alleyways and through crumbling archways in a part of the city William was not familiar with. No one had followed them.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m not sure,” Elizabeth answered. “Where do you want to go?”
“Where are we?”
“Again, I’m not sure. I just kept turning and hoping they would leave us alone.”
“So we are lost?!” William looked ready to jump out of the car.
“Hardly,” Elizabeth pushed a few buttons on her dashboard, and a flat panel screen appeared from behind a panel. The screen came to life and within seconds it had a digital map of the city, pinpointing exactly where they were. They were in South London, which explained the condition of the city and the uneasy feeling of the surrounds. This was no place for a society girl and a celebrity. Elizabeth pushed a few more buttons and the screen mapped out an escape route. A few more turns and several blocks, and they would be back in one of the fashion districts. “Ok, we’ll be out of here soon enough.” She stepped on the gas and before long, they were in a safer part of London. “So where to?”
“Well, I guess home would be the best bet.” William said. “Though I can just hop in a cab. It is probably easier for you that way.”
“Don’t be silly, I’ll drop you home. Where do you live?”
“I have a flat in Notting Hill, anywhere near there is fine I can walk.”
“Are you joking?” Elizabeth took her eyes off the road to look at him. “I live in Notting Hill, on Kensington Park Road.”
“No way,” William smiled. “I live on Portobello Road.”
“We’re practically neighbors!” Elizabeth was getting more and more excited. “Well then, home it is.” And they set off, gabbing away about their neighborhood.