Riverbend (28 page)

“If they can find him,” said Annie.

“That's right,” said Peter.

“What about the cell phone calls?” asked Drake.

Peter shook his head. “Can't trace them is my guess. I'll take a look but if this guy is as dangerous as we think he is, there's no way he's using a registered phone. Banger phones is what they call them. All the drug dealers use them because they can't be traced.” He sighed, cocking his head to the side, looking at Annie. “Listen, I'm going to call some buddies I have in the L.A. police department and tell them what's going on. They'll put special attention on it.”

“I would appreciate it very much,” said Annie.

Peter smiled at her. “My pleasure. Drake and I have quite a history together. Meantime, I think it's a damn good idea to stay here. There's no way anyone's getting in here without a severe electric shock.”

Drake nodded. “And I take her to work. They have a system down there where she's never alone.” Drake took in a deep breath. “Let me ask this, though. What do we do once he shows up?”

“Call 911.”

“No offence, Peter, but this town has one cop and he's worthless. How is she supposed to defend herself if he has a gun?”

“We have to hope it doesn't come to that. He's clearly not that careful if he's making all these threatening phone calls.”

Later, while Alder stayed inside to read, Annie took Cleo outside to show her the gardens while Peter made some phone calls to the precinct in Los Angeles. They were approaching Bella's quarters just as she and Graham came out the door. From Bella's face, red and splotchy, she could see they'd been arguing. Perhaps Graham was leaving? Dare she hope for that?

They came to stand before them, and Annie made introductions.

Graham was staring at Cleo. What was it with this woman that no one could take his or her eyes off her? It was a shame she'd given up her acting career.

“Cleo Tanner?” asked Graham. “Is it really you?”

Cleo was staring back, her eyes wide with surprise. “Graham Rouse?”

“My God, how long's it been?” asked Graham.

“Over ten years, I guess.”

“At Simon's memorial, isn't that right? Remember, the one we had at the film school?” asked Graham.

“Yes, I believe so.”

Graham looked over at Bella. “Simon was my friend at film school. He was killed in a motorcycle accident near campus.”

“At USC?” asked Bella.

“Right. We were graduate students when Cleo was an undergrad. I finished my masters the spring Simon was killed, and I lost touch with Cleo. I heard you changed majors from acting to English or something. And then no one ever heard from you again. What happened?”

Annie, like watching a tennis match, moved her eyes back and forth between the three of them. How strange they would run into one another at Drake's home.

Cleo's eyes were sad again, like earlier. “I couldn't do it after Simon died. We were so close and had all these dreams. They died with Simon.”

Graham's face held something between disbelief and disgust. “But you were the finest actress on campus. And let me tell you something, I've worked with some of the best and no one has anything on you. You should get back in the game. You've grown more beautiful since then, I might add. I know some casting directors that would eat you up with a spoon. You'll have to drop ten pounds. Just the way it is these days. Can't have an extra ounce on you what with HD and all that.” He paused, taking a breath. “We're casting my latest project right now. I know a role you'd be perfect for. Kind of a minor part but requires acting chops. I can put you in touch with the right folks. Get you an audition.”

Cleo put up her hands in protest. “I'm so rusty. There's no way.”

“Ridiculous. Get yourself a coach. I know a great one. She works with all these idiots they hire for the reality shows. Teaches them how to cry for the camera and rustle around on the ground, releasing their inner crazy bitch. She could whip you into shape in a minute.”

Bella nodded. “She's really good, Cleo. I've seen her take some of the biggest bimmers in the business and turn them into Oscar nominees.”

“Bimmers?” asked Cleo.

“Bimbos,” said Bella, grinning. “They're everywhere. I'm a make-up artist so I know all the dirt. You should hear the conversations I hear while getting them ready for their close-ups. They seem to forget I'm there and just chat away on their cell phones. It's hilarious.”

“I'm headed home to Los Angeles later today. Call me. I'll fly you down myself if I have to. You know who I am now, right?”

“Yes,” said Cleo, smiling. “I've followed your career from afar. Simon would've been proud to see how far you made it.”

Graham looked over at Bella again. “Simon and I had big dreams back then. I was going to produce and he was going to direct.”

“And I was going to be their actress,” said Cleo, still with the sad note in her voice. “But then everything changed.”

“Speaking of films,” he said, glancing over at Annie. “I thought of a way to get you and Drake to like me.”

“Yeah?” said Annie.

“Don't look so skeptical.” He smiled and placed his hand on his chest as if she'd hurt him, which Annie knew was impossible for a narcissist. “This film I think would be good for Cleo. I want to film it here.”

For once, Annie could think of nothing to say. What was he talking about?

“That's right. I'm doing it for Bella. To prove how much I love her and want her back. Apparently, it's important that her brother embrace me.” He cocked his head to the side, looking at Annie like he'd just challenged her to a fight behind the bleachers. “That make you like me any better?”

A movie filmed here? Think of the revenue for the town, she thought, not to mention Linus's inn and their restaurant. And Tommy. Maybe more of his songs would get noticed for the movie soundtrack. Her mind was racing, thinking of the possibilities.

She kept ice in her voice, not wanting to let on how exciting his idea really was. “Having that happen would make a lot of people in this town very happy. Whether that makes Bella happy or not certainly remains to be seen.”

From behind, Peter and Drake approached, both of them looking somewhat grim. What had Peter discovered?

“Honey, it's time to go if we want to reach Eureka by dinner time,” Peter said to his wife. The scotch Drake had gotten him earlier was tucked under his arm. “I'm looking forward to drinking a tumbler or two of this, watching the tide come in.”

“Oh, you and your scotch,” said Cleo with a shiver. “But yes, we should go.” She continued to look somewhat shell-shocked over what Annie assumed could be a life-changing offer from Graham. Powerful men could make things happen, she thought. For better or worse.

Graham reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card. He handed it to Cleo while introducing himself to Peter.

Cleo held the card, staring at it for a moment before turning it over and over in her hands.

“What's this all about?” asked Peter, indicating the business card.

“I'll tell you in the car,” said Cleo, but her eyes were shining, making her even more lovely than a moment before. “Probably nothing.”

“Call me, Cleo. I mean it,” said Graham.

Peter motioned to Annie to follow them to the car. Once there, tugging at the collar of his shirt as if it choked him, he looked up at the fir next to his car before turning to look her in the eyes. “There's no easy way to say this. I didn't learn a thing that's helpful. No one has any clue where he is. I have every reason to believe he's here in town and just waiting for the opportunity to grab you.”

She felt the fear coming inside like it did, spreading from her pounding heart to her stomach and then out to her limbs. “I knew it,” she whispered. “It's only a matter of time.”

Drake moved closer to her, taking her hand that was limp at her side. “It's all right. We have our plan.”

There is no plan
, she screamed inside her head.
Only me living here like a trapped animal, in love with a man who can't love me back.
But she was silent, merely nodding as if everything were fine.

“We'll be in touch,” said Peter, holding his hand out to Drake. “It's really good to see you again. I know it's been nearly impossible
to go on living but I see you've made good progress here.”

Drake moved even closer to Annie, squeezing her hand. “I have, in spite of myself.”

Cleo, her eyes shining with tears, gave Annie a hug first and then Drake. “I know how hard it is to move on after you lose someone. It took me ten years.” She looked over at Peter. “But then someone came along to wake me up, make me feel alive again. There's redemption in loving again.”

Drake stared at her, his eyes startled. “Is there?”

“Yes. Trust me,” said Cleo. “Don't waste a chunk of your life like I did. For ten years I held onto nothing but memories.”

Drake continued to stare at her.

Peter put his hand on his wife's shoulder. “Well, we'll be getting on. Like I said, I'll follow up, see how things are going. And thanks for the scotch, Drake.”

“Peter, thank you for being willing to help,” said Annie.

“I'd do anything for a friend of Drake's,” said Peter. “I'm sorry I wasn't more helpful.”

Peter and Cleo got in their car and drove away. They stood together, hand in hand, as the car made its way down the driveway.

“How do you know Peter Ball?” she asked.

She felt him stiffen beside her. “I just do. That's all I can say.”

“Okay.”

“I just do,” he repeated, sounding dazed.

“It's all right. I won't push.”

“Thank you.”

“I'm so tired,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Me, too.”

Graham Rouse left later that afternoon, his black Mercedes shining in the sun. Drake and Bella were talking privately in the house while Annie stood on the deck, her hand shielding the light from her eyes, thinking over the events of the past several days. How
twenty-four hours could change circumstances, she thought. Would Bella leave? Or would she decide to stay?

Just then, Drake joined her, interrupting her thoughts. “Bella told me the idiot wants to film a movie here. As a way to prove himself to her.”

“I heard.”

He didn't say anything for a moment. In the distance, they heard Graham's car pull out onto the road and then fade away in the distance. “Would be great for the town. Short term, anyway.”

“Yes,” she said.

“You think he's really left his wife?”

“No.”

“Me either.”

The four of them stood by Bella's car, hovering in that moment between goodbyes and the sadness that would soon come. Bella turned to Annie and squeezed her tight. “I love you. I'll miss you.” Then she wrapped Alder in her arms, mussing his hair with one of her hands. “You keep reading all those books. They'll make you smart like my brother. Help you live up to your potential.”

“I will,” said Alder solemnly. “But Bella, you're messing with fate.”

She drew back, watching his face. “What do you mean?”

“Two nights ago when Ben chose you instead of acting like a jackass.”

“Jackass?”

“Sure. Like men do sometimes.”

“They do?”

“Yeah, just ask my mom. Anyway, he proved he's seriously badass. Like you. Which means you belong together.”

“Alder, it's more complicated than that.” Bella looked like she wanted to sink into the pavement. “It's hard for someone your age to understand.”

“No it's not.” Alder backed away, looking at her with the same expression he used to carry around during Annie's one brief relationship three years ago—a mixture of disapproval and disappointment. “It's not more complicated than that, Bella. You just don't see it. And that's not living up to your potential. I'll see you sometime. Hope it's sooner than later.” He turned on his heel, fleeing inside the house.

Bella's eyes were glassy with tears. “I don't know what to say. I didn't even think he knew any of what went on the last couple of days.”

“He's odd that way,” said Annie. “Gets me every time, too.”

“I'm sorry,” said Bella, wiping tears from her cheeks.

Annie put her arms around her friend one more time. “Listen, you change your mind, just call us. We'll all be here for you.”