Billy's Halloween (pt 8)

Billy tried not to sound too concerned at his surprise co-passenger. “Did you, uh, need a ride home too, Martin?”

The CEO smiled in the semi-darkness. He moved his way down the limo’s interior, settling himself at the end of the long side-seat that ran almost the length of the car. Now he was only a few feet from Billy; close enough to reach out and touch.

“No, I didn’t need a ride home,” he admitted. “I just wanted to keep talking to you.”

“That’s very flattering,” Billy said. Perhaps his instincts about Martin’s attraction to Linda were right after all. “You could have just asked me out to dinner. The agency has my details. I’d be happy to go, considering how fun tonight has been.”

Martin nodded. “True, but what I wanted to talk to you about might not be a great dinner conversation.”

A slight chill went through Billy.

“I also felt it was sort of time-sensitive,” Martin continued.

The limo accelerated as they joined the freeway. Despite the dark tinted glass on the outside of the limo’s windows, lights from the side of the road flashed across Billy’s face as they sped up.

“So what is it,” Billy said, unsure what Martin could possibly need to talk to ‘Linda’ about that was so urgent.

“I wanted to talk about what happened at Comic-Con,” Martin said casually.

The chill running through Billy took root, spreading from his gut down, stopping any sense of arousal he had taken with him from the party. Of all the subjects he wanted to discuss – with anyone – what had happened at Comic-Con wasn’t one of them. He couldn’t let Martin know that, though. The last thing he needed was to give himself away, not when the rest of the evening had been so perfect; not when his impersonation had been so flawless.

He sat up a little straighter and slowly crossed his legs, buying time, not being provocative – although he noticed Martin’s eyes flicker towards his beautiful heels, his gorgeous calves. If it threw the CEO off his line of inquiry, all the better.

“What, exactly?” Billy said, keeping his voice light. “How I got hand cramps signing autographs? How I needed a facial after smiling for several days straight?”

“More specific than that,” Martin replied. “I wanted to ask you about what happened at the Guardian Girls reunion panel.”

Billy felt color draining from his face. If he hadn’t been wearing a mask, which itself was covered in makeup, his concern would have been more obvious. As it was his complexion was probably close to Elvira’s in color right then. If Martin wanted to talk about the panel, he wanted to know about one thing. There was nothing else, no other event during that panel that could possibly warrant this secretive approach, this clandestine rendezvous.

He wanted to talk about Jonathan, Billy’s half-brother, impersonating Linda on that panel – and later unmasking to reveal himself to the world.

Billy still wasn’t going to let him get off that easily. “Did we get some answer wrong? The show was a lot of years ago, we can’t remember everything.”

“Well, you didn’t remember anything, did you,” he said with a wry smile. “You weren’t actually at the panel.”

“I was,” Billy replied, even though he knew Linda hadn’t been there – but Billy had, disguised as her. It was Billy’s intervention in the panel that actually caused his half-brother to reveal himself, to rip off his own Linda Merrill disguise. ‘Linda’ had exposed him, or at least, so the world thought. “I was the one who made Jonathan reveal himself, if you recall.”

Martin nodded. “Yes, sorry. It’s easy to get it all mixed up.” His looked intently at Linda. “What a wild experience though. Someone impersonating you? So flawlessly that they could stand on stage and fool an entire crowd? It must have been quite something to see.”

“It was, yeah,” Billy said quietly, not wanting to encourage further questions.

“Did you know about it in advance?”

That wasn’t a question Billy had expected. “In advance? No, I didn’t know. How was I supposed to know? I didn’t even know–”

Billy stopped himself. He had almost said “that Jonathan existed”, as he had no clue Linda had another child before him. Linda, of course, knew. “That Jonathan was in San Diego,” he finished.

“Were you in touch with him? Before the convention?”

Billy, again, stopped himself. “I’m not sure that’s something I want to discuss with you, Martin. Nothing personal.”

Martin nodded silently. “Did you know he could impersonate you?”

“Of course not,” Billy replied, which was true, at least according to Linda. She knew Jonathan existed, considering she’d given birth to him – she even knew he lived in California, she’d later admitted to Billy. Everything else had been news to her, including Jonathan’s uncanny ability to assume her persona.

“It really was quite remarkable,” Martin said. “I’ve watched the videos of the panel, quite a lot in fact. From the start until you stood up to challenge him, he’s very convincing as you. Did you think so?”

“I suppose.”

“It’s almost as if he became you. By magic.” Martin grinned. “Like our friend the count, changing into a bat.”

Billy snorted. “Well, a little bit. Let’s not get into the science of that, shall we? Changing from a full grown man into a flying creature that’s a fraction of his size is a little hard to believe.”

“I think most people would agree impersonating a woman is hard to do, too.”

“Well, yes,” Billy said, unable to stop himself, considering his own personal experience. “I’m sure that it takes – that it would take a lot of effort to disguise yourself as someone else. Anyone else, really. Someone specific must be even harder.”

Martin nodded, looking like he was thinking carefully. “Yeah, I agree,” he said. “Your son had to have found it even harder. Not only did he impersonate a specific person, he also managed to flawlessly change his gender, his sex. He literally ‘passed’ as you.” He looked carefully at Billy. “Quite impressive. All thanks to the mask he wore.”

Billy frowned. “Well, it’s a lot more effort than just, you know, pulling on a mask.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I mean – I guess it must be. From my acting days, the few times I had to do impersonations, you know. It’s more than a voice. It’s posture, it’s how you walk. The best impersonations include all of that. The mask is really a prop for the bigger performance.”

“It sounds like you’ve really thought this through,” Martin said.

“Well, I’m assuming. Jonathan’s the one who made the effort.”

“Maybe he inherited the acting gene from you.”

Billy nodded, looking out the window, feeling like this was straying too close to his own background. “Maybe he did,” he said, “but honestly I hadn’t seen him for many years before we met at the show. He could have spent a lot of time figuring out how to impersonate me.”

“That’s true,” Martin said. “He could have spent years. Researching, working on prototypes. I looked into his background, you know. His company, Secondskin? They’re doing remarkable work for practically zero recognition in the market. Odd, isn’t it? In some ways that company is more like an artist’s collective than a place of business.”

This really was new information to Billy, and he suspected it would be to Linda, too. What was also new was the fact that Martin, CEO of some tech company, was “looking into” the background of Billy’s half-brother. Why the hell was he doing that?

“Am I right in thinking,” Martin said casually, as if he wasn’t finally asking the question he’d been working up to, “that you have another son?”

The cool, pale complexion beneath the Linda mask flushed red. “Yes,” Billy replied, forcing his voice to sound casual. “Billy.”

“He calls himself ‘Billy’?” Martin repeated. “How old is he?”

“Old enough to probably not be called Billy anymore,” Billy said with a half-laugh. “It’s his choice though.”

“Do you think he was bitten by the acting bug too?”

This conversation was headed in a direction Billy didn’t want to go. “Not that I’m aware of,” Billy said. “As far as I know, he’s just into the normal stuff that teenagers are into.”

“So no interest at all in acting? Or in any kind of performance?”

Billy shook his head and frowned Linda’s frown. “Nope.”

“I mean, you know the saying. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. So considering what you’ve discovered about Jonathan, aren’t you at all concerned that the same would apply to Billy?”

Billy forced himself to laugh, as if this was a preposterous suggestion. “That’s a little hard to believe. What are the odds, huh?”

Martin chuckled. “Yeah, of course. What are the odds? But still, it’s not impossible.” He looked directly at Billy. “Right?”

Billy searched Martin’s face, looking for any suggestion of motive. Why was he pursuing this line of questioning? Why had he specifically chosen to follow Billy into the limo, to ride along so he could talk about this one-on-one?

More and more, Billy felt like the evening had been planned – much more than he realized. From asking for Linda specifically for the event, to meeting her, dancing with her and then getting into her limo. Martin seemed to be pursuing Linda, and not with the motive that Billy had first assumed. This was something else.

Could he know what was really going on? That ‘Linda’ was not what she appeared to be?

There was no way, Billy told himself. His disguise was flawless, his impersonation perfect.

Sat there under Martin’s stare though, Billy felt like this man could see right through him. That he could tell, somehow, that the sexy middle-aged woman in the Elvira outfit was actually just a young man dressed up in his mother’s clothes.

But if that was the case – if he knew – why wasn’t he saying anything? Was he waiting for the right moment? Did he want to force Billy to confess? Was he furious? After all, he’d paid for Linda Merrill and strictly speaking, didn’t get her.

Billy stared into Martin’s eyes, returning his gaze, trying to figure out if he was right, if this was all some sort of elaborate trap.

Martin didn’t move, didn’t flinch. Billy decided to continue his charade, to finish the conversation. “No,” he said finally. “Billy is normal. He’s a normal kid.”

The lie felt like lead in his mouth.

“Fair enough,” Martin said. “Maybe he uses one of our products.”

Once again Billy realized he really didn’t have a clue what the company did. Whatever they made didn’t have an obvious name, but then again, that seemed to be the case with a lot of software.

“Maybe,” he said. “I, honestly, no offense, didn’t pay much attention to what you guys do.”

Martin laughed. “Ah, okay. Well when you see Billy, you can tell him where you were tonight, and maybe he’ll be impressed.”

“I’ll make sure to mention it,” Billy said. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar street. “Oh, we’re almost there.”

He wanted to make it clear Martin’s time was short. If he was going to make a move on Linda, or even rip off Billy’s mask like he was revealing a Scooby-Doo villain, it’d have to be soon.

Martin seemed not to care however. “I think, ultimately,” he said, “what’s really fascinating to me about Jonathan is not that he could become his own mother, because arguably, that’s an easy impersonation.”

Billy stifled a laugh. “Oh, really? Have you done it recently?”

“No,” Martin said with a smile. ”My mother’s actually long passed. But think about it: who else would make an excellent target for impersonation, but someone you’ve spent almost all of your life around?You’d know that person intimately. You’d know how they walk, how they talk, their likes and their dislikes. You’d know how to become them.”

“I suppose so,” Billy said, “although Jonathan hadn’t really had much contact with me, and he still managed to fool a lot of people.”

“True,” Martin said. “That just shows you how skillful he is, I suppose.”

He smiled and raised one eyebrow, as if he had a secret.

A thought slammed into Billy’s mind.

Was this even the CEO? Could this be – Jonathan?

It was almost too absurd to believe, but Billy had left the CEO behind at the party. Next thing he knew he was inside the limo. How did he get downstairs and into the car without passing by Billy? Could Jonathan have arrived in the limo? Did he bribe the driver to let him in? Did the driver know what was going on?

For a moment Billy thought about texting Julie, just to check if the CEO was with her. They probably only had minutes before they arrived though; if this was Jonathan, surely he’d reveal himself. When Jonathan had fooled Billy a while back by dressing as Linda – and then seducing him – he had loved revealing his true identity. It seemed to turn him on almost as much as it did Billy.

But if the man in front of him was Jonathan, Billy still couldn’t understand his motivation. Unmask Billy? Prove he was the better actor? Just mess with him?

‘Martin’ wasn’t giving him any clues. Despite the suggestive eyebrow, now he was sat back, looking at his phone, being the ‘busy CEO’. He wasn’t even looking at Billy.

Perhaps this was all his active imagination.

The intercom crackled again. “We’re pulling up now,” Billy heard Edgar say.

“Thank you,” Billy replied. Then he addressed Martin. “Guess this is my stop. Um, this has certainly been an… interesting conversation.”

Martin chuckled. “Sorry, I know it’s weird subject matter, but you really did have a unique experience. I was just fascinated to hear more about it.”

Was that it? Was he just… interested?

“You know,” Billy said, “I’m sure you could get to speak to Jonathan himself. If you wanted to.”

Martin’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

“Oh yeah,” Billy said. “I’m sure a man of your connections could get to talk to him quite easily. Heck, you could just go drop in on Secondskin, I suppose.”

“Interesting,” Martin said. “I might just do that.”

Billy stared one last time. Maddeningly, Martin did indeed look ‘interested’. There was no flicker, no trace, no suggestion that he was anything other than what he seemed.

The car rolled to a stop.

“Well, this is me,” Billy said. “I’d better get to bed before midnight or I’ll turn into a pumpkin.”

“Was that an Elvira thing?” Martin said with a laugh. “I need to go back and watch some more episodes.”

Billy gave him one last Linda grin. “Sounds like it could be true though, right?”

He reached for the passenger door handle, but Martin’s hand intercepted him, causing Billy to freeze in place.

In that moment, Martin lunged forward, cloak flapping, pinning Billy to the seat, his hot breath and dominating presence forcing him backwards.

“I’ve wanted to do this all night,” Martin said, in an urgent, whispered tone close to Billy’s ear. “Not just because you’re looking so sexy in that outfit, no. And not because I have some teenage crush on you either. It’s more than that.”

Billy suddenly felt Martin’s hand sliding up his leg, his fingertips grazing over his pantyhose. Billy shifted slightly, as if he was recoiling, but Martin adjusted, and for a second, it seemed Billy was moving his legs in response to his touch.

“I admit it,” Martin continued. “Thinking about how, maybe, underneath this dress, beneath this outfit, there’s something other than what I’d expect. That perhaps this face, this perfect Linda Merrill face, actually isn’t a face at all, but actually a mask–”

His hand suddenly moved up and between Billy’s thighs. Billy felt his breath catch in his throat; he stared into Martin’s red eyes, feeling like he couldn’t resist. Martin’s strong, masculine hand was spreading over Billy’s crotch, pressing down, almost massaging him.

“That idea, that possibility, that you’re in disguise, that you’re a different person, a different gender… oh, god,” Martin moaned. “I admit it, that is so fucking hot to me, so kinky, so forbidden that I want it!”

His voice became muffled as his lips came down on Billy’s masked neck, as if he really was a vampire, ready to suck Billy’s blood. Billy flinched instinctively, eyes widening in horror as he realized that if Martin continued to bite down, he might pull away the throat of the mask – or worse, actually rip the mask itself. But Martin backed off, mouth moving to Billy’s lips, tongue flickering.

Billy wanted to push him away, wanted to act like an affronted woman, but there was something about him, something about his presence and confidence – the feeling had been there all night and now he was here, trapped, helpless, about to be seduced –

There was a soft knock on the window.

It was as if Martin had been in a trance, and it had suddenly been broken. He moved backwards like he was floating, across the limo, back to his seat. “Yeah,” he said, loud enough to be heard outside.

“We’ve arrived,” Edgar’s voice said from outside.

Billy stared at Martin. His expression was unreadable, uncertain. A moment stretched between them. Unspoken agreements were made.

Then Billy said loudly enough for Edgar to hear, “Okay, thank you. I’m ready.”

The door opened, Edgar standing in the pale street light. He extended a gloved hand to Billy, who took it like the lady he was pretending to be. He extended one leg, allowing it to slip between the folds of his dress, which fell open for a moment, but then he was moving, out and onto the asphalt. Edgar shut the door firmly behind him.

Steadying himself against the limo, Billy smiled to Edgar and murmured “Thank you”. Had Edgar heard? Had he seen? Had he even expected? Like his boss, there was no expression on his face for Billy to discern.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, ma’am?”

“I don’t think so,” Billy said, head full of the kiss, of Martin pressing his body against him, pushing against his disguise.

Edgar smiled, happy to do his job.

Suddenly, Billy heard the distinct ping of a phone. It wasn’t his, and was unlikely to be Martin’s given the limo’s sound proofing.

It was Edgar’s. With a slightly sheepish look, he took the phone from his pocket and checked it quickly.

“Ah,” he said. “I’m to give you something.”

Billy looked confused. “What?”

From inside his jacket, Edgar produced a small business card. There was nothing on it apart from the CEO’s name and a single phone number.

“What’s this?”

“His direct, personal number,” Edgar explained. “Not many people get that,” he added in a slight whisper.

“Uh, okay then,” Billy said. “Thanks. I guess.”

Edgar chuckled. “Do what you want with it.”

With a smart salute, he turned back to the car once more. The car left Billy behind, feeling slightly confused on the sidewalk.