Chapter 80 - Crisis

Nowicki immediately dialed the number in his mobile. He was so pissed off he didn't even think about what he was doing.

"Have any of your boys let go of his mouth?" He growled without preamble.

"Oh, hi, how nice for you to call" a pleasant male voice said on the other side. "Good morning to you too."

Andrzej took a deep breath. He did not miss the sarcasm of his interlocutor. Well, the guy was right. Certain courtesies had to be respected.

"Sorry, this is fucking important. Someone started talking?"

"Are you crazy? Only Kaktus, Myszy and me know about the case" the man explained. 

"So where the hell is this leak?"

"Are you asking me? Look on your side. My boys are clean. Anyway, are you sure you want to get involved in this actor's affairs? What do you want to achieve with this?"

There was a bit of rebuke to these questions, but also a great deal of concern. Andrzej knew that they were only asked for his good, but he felt irritated nonetheless.

"Does not matter. Sorry to suspect you."

"No problem, but Zgrywus[1], just give up that kid. I advise you after good old acquaintance. This boy is bad news." Since all respond to him was heavy silence, the man on the other side sighed. "Anyway, do as you wish. Don't worry, I'll clean up the mess after this. If there will be something left to clean."

"Thanks…"

Okay, if the man assured that the information leaked not from them, Andrzej could do nothing but believe him. After all, Bambus also had a reputation for maintenance and could not afford leaks like this.

Nowicki had barely hung up when his phone rang with an incoming call. Andrzej did not recognize the number, but answered it.

"Hello."

"Andrzej? This is Piotr, Piotr Duda. What the hell is going on there? What is this sensation?"

'Why is he calling me? Does he know that I live with Dominik? If so, does he know anything else?'

"I do not know what you're talking about" Nowicki answered coldly. Did this guy think that since they used to work together for the same ragmith, Andrzej would now be his source of information?

"Don't pretend! I'm talking about threatening letters!"

"I don't know about any letters," he replied firmly. He did not lie. There was only one letter, and he denied knowing about the plural.

"Such rumors do not come from the air."

As if! Who was Duda trying to deceive, him or himself? Did he think that Andrzej did not know where and how the most interesting and sensational stories come from? A simple official letter, or spam, could turn into a life-threatening letter in the eyes of a talented journalist with a vivid imagination.

Nowicki really had neither the time nor the desire for such talks.

"If Śliwiński has an official statement on this matter, we will let you know. For now."

He hung up the phone cursing under his breath.

"On what matter should I have an official statement?" Dominik asked with a yawn, appearing in the doorway. A landline rang in the living room. "What is this early morning commotion?"

***

Dominik moved away from the window as soon as he noticed a paparazzi lurking behind the fence. He was pale and clearly nervous, but he held up bravely.

"I'm sorry, I really have no idea how this information could have leaked out" Andrzej felt guilty although he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

"It is not important anymore. It could have been one of the paramedics when they arrived in the ambulance or his buddy who heard about it while drinking vodka. What's the difference?"

Śliwiński was confused, even lost. He had no idea how to handle these situations. Andrzej knew that he had always had Marczak for that.

He himself had no idea what now? Dominik came under fire from the media, which saw a sensation.

"I guess you'll have to tell them something," he muttered. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a commotion in front of the house. An elegant silver car stopped in front of Śliwiński's gate and a man who was well known to them got out. "Well, great, only he was missing here."

Dominik looked from Andrzej to the door. Apparently it was hard for him to decide what to do now.

"I'll open it," Nowicki announced. "Who like who, but Marczak certainly has experience in such matters."

The relief he saw in the actor's eyes made him feel sad. Despite everything Dominik had suffered from his former manager, he still trusted him.

Marczak burst into the living room as if to his own house - determined, arrogant, self-confident.

"Dominik, what's up with these threats?" He grabbed his shoulders.

"A few days ago I got a package and a letter. This is just a stupid joke, not threats ..."

"What was in the letter? In the package? And what is this hospital about? Rumor has it that you are sick, but so far everything has been a whisper. I need to know everything, otherwise I won't be able to help you."

Nowicki felt like a fifth wheel on a cart. He wanted to be a support for Śliwiński, his rock against Marczak, and the first crisis situation was enough to show how little he actually can.

Dominik gently freed himself from the hands of his former lover.

"Sorry, this is too intimate. We no longer have such a level of trust."

Marczak straightened up. His face showed that that word cheek slap had hurt. He turned to Andrzej, who didn't quite understand what had just happened.

"Mr. Nowicki, right?"

"Yes."

"I assume that, as experienced paparazzi, you already have prepared tactics for fighting with your colleagues?"

"Actually ..."

Marczak looked away from him with irritation.

"Dominik, you cannot exclude seven years of life together with one word. Maybe I'm not the kind of person you'd like to have with you, maybe you hate me and despise me right now, but I still love you and want to protect you. I won't ask who you are sleeping with at the moment, but when it comes to business and media relations, you won't find anyone better. At least not that fast. Let me sort this out, please. Mr. Nowicki, you know that only I can help now."

"I know."

Dominik looked down in resignation.

"A few days ago I got a package with a dead Persian kitten. Exactly what I talked about in the newspaper interview. It shocked me a bit and I felt bad. This was witnessed by the director Maciej Werner who called an ambulance. They examined me and left. They suggested conducting additional medical tests. There was nothing else, just one macabre package and a letter saying cute little kittens were vulnerable.

"Did you notify the police?"

"For what? It was just a silly joke."

Marczak seemed to think otherwise.

Could it pass through Nowicki's mind that someone had previously sent similar letters to Śliwiński and Marczak hid this fact from him?

The manager looked at him as if he were guessing his thoughts.

Yes, it was not the first time.

"Dominik, I told you yesterday that people like you are often the object of unhealthy attention. Almost all actors receive crazy fan letters, but a gift of a dead animal is more than a sick joke. We have to deal with the media gently. The stalker wants to be noticed so it's best to ignore him. It is too late for that now. I suggest you turn it into a joke. It wasn't a real kitten, just a movie prop. You fainted because you didn't eat breakfast."

"Anyone gonna believe it?" Andrzej was not convinced of this plan. It looked too simple.

"Of course," said Marczak with superiority. "You only need to sell it well."

Easy for you to say, the photographer thought. After all, you are a born liar and a fraud.

"If you allow me, I would like to appear on your behalf before the media. It will only be a one-off situation. You will do whatever you want with the rest of your life and career. You can accompany me, but if you don't want to, I can do it myself."

"Thank you."

"If anyone asked, what do you two have in common?"

"I am preparing new photo material for Mr. Śliwiński" explained Nowicki.

"I understand."

Andrzej felt how he was boiling inside. He's a bastard, that sadist who nearly r**ed Dominika two months ago, now looking down at him. He knew that in crises like this, he had the upper hand.

But not too much and not too long. Marczak may be triumphant now for the immediate settlement of the matter, but it is he, Andrzej, who will detect and catch the joker, removing the threat from the actor's life. The manager is allowed here only temporarily. Let him not think that everything has already been forgiven and forgotten.

[1] It can be translated as Jocke