Thrill! (59 page)

fighting \a take her picture.

A smile spread across her face at the thought. Alison Sewell on the cover of Newsweek. She'd have to do something pretty outrageous to get that kind of coverage.

Was killing Lara Ivory outrageous enough?

There is a very thin line between love and hate. Alison Sewell had crossed that line.

She'd loved Lara Ivory with an absolute passion. Now she hated her enough to kill.

Tonight Lara Ivory was going to pay.

Tonight Lara Ivory was going to die.

419

Jfe THE BIG old house was deserted, dark and cold.

^JJ^P^P^-rit Cassie had gained access through an open kitchen window, and then let Lara in through the back door.

"There's no power,"

she complained.

"Lara, if you don't mind me saying so, this is not a good idea."

"We're here now,"

Lara said stubbornly.

"All we're going to do is sleep."

"Oh,"

Cassie said, unable to> hold back a twist of sarcasm,

"like eating went out of style, I suppose. Not to mention heating."

"I can tell you never camped out,"

Lara said.

"A little hardship is good for you."

Screw hardship, Cassie wanted to say. NYPD is on TV and I want my dinner. But she didn't, because Lara was in one of her weird moods. The photo-spread in Truth and Fact had obyiously freaked her. But why was Joey "being punished?

Til get the flashlight from my car,"

she said.

"Good idea,"

Lara answered, thinking that all she really wanted to do was get into bed and shiut out the world. Joey Lorenzo had completely fooled her, making believe he cared, while all the time he was waiting to score off her and then who knows?

She'd never had much lu

The house was freezing. Maybe Cassie was right - a hotel might be a better idea.

But no, if she checked imto a hotel she'd be recognized, and before she knew it Joey would find her. She wanted complete

420

anonymity. In a way she was punishing herself for having been su h a lovesick idiot.

She thought wistfully of Tommy and his wise advice. He'd t 11 her the photographs were yesterday's news and to forget about them. And as for his take on Joey

"All men are pigs,"

he'd say.

"it depends on what degree of piggery you're prepared to put up with."

If only Tommy had been straight, she thought with a wan smile., we could have gotten married and lived happily ever after. That's if he hadn't gotten sick and died on her.

Cassie came back with a flashlight and they began looking around. Although she'd bought the two-storey house furnished, everything was covered in dust sheets.

As they started upstairs, Cassie said,

"It just occurred to me there'll be no linens, so I guess my hotel suggestion is the only way to go."

"Will you stop carrying on about a hotel,"

Lara said sharply.

"God, you're such a complainer."

Unfortunately Cassie was right, there were no linens on the beds.

"You see,"

Cassie said triumphantly.

"No, I do not see,"

Lara said, throwing open the big linen closet in the hall. It was stocked with everything they needed.

"Sorry, Cass,"

she said.

"It seems we're going to be making beds after all."

"I can't spend the night here unless I get something to eat,"

Cassie muttered.

"OK,"

Lara said,

"here's the plan. You go find a supermarket and stock up, while I stay here and make our beds."

Cassie raised an eyebrow.

"You're going to make the beds?"

"I'm capable, Cass. Besides, I feel like it."

Cassie had no idea she used to be a maid at Aunt Lucy's motel and could make a bed in record time. Anyway, she didn't mind, sometimes housework was therapeutic.

"OK,"

Cassie said,

"if you're sure. I'll buy food, batteries, candles. Anything else?"

"Nope,"

Lara said.

"Don't worry, we'll be perfectly comfortable here."

421 "What can I get you for dinner?"

Cassie asked.

"How about a couple of Big Macs?1

"Hmm,"

Lara scolded,

"we're really going to have to do something about your eating habits."

"I can't help having a healthy appetite,"

Cassie said defensively, well aware she was fifty pounds overweight.

"Healthy is the wrong word if you're talking Big Macs."

"It's oral satisfaction."

"Don't get me started, Cass. You should look after yourself."

"I will,"

Cassie promised, knowing she wouldn't.

"But not tonight. Now, what would you like to eat?"

"I'm not hungry,"

Lara said, feeling depressed and sad.

"You pick up whatever you want."

Til be quick,"

Cassie promised.

"No need to rush. Who needs television or lights? If it stops raining I might even take a walk along the beach."

"Don't even attempt to go down those rickety stairs,"

Cassie said sternly.

"You worry too much,"

Lara answered lightly.

"I've got a new policy - I'm doing what I want whenever I want, and I refuse to worry about anything."

"Can I ask you a question?"

Cassie said curiously.

"Will Joey be joining us tomorrow?"

"Joey?"

Lara looked at her blankly.

"Who's Joey?"

:

ft & a?

The dogs greeted him before Mrs Crenshaw.

"Is she back yet?"

he asked.

"Not yet, Mr Joey."

"Jesus! Where is she?"

"I'm sure I don't know,"

Mrs Crenshaw said, a touch officiously.

"I've prepared dinner if you're hungry . . ."

"No, thanks."

He stared at the old housekeeper. Was she telling him the truth?

"You're certain she didn't leave a message?"

"Quite certain."

He went upstairs. The bedroom was empty. It was almost ten

422

o'clock. He could understand Lara was upset about the pictur but why hadn't she called?

"

He went back downstairs to the den and put on the TV. NYPD Blue was just starting. He watched moodily for a while. Jimmy Smits, smooth as silk; Dennis Franz, crotchety as usual; Kim Delaney, edgy and wild. It was one of the few programmes he enjoyed, in fact, he'd decided to talk to Quinn about maybe getting him a guest shot. Of course, he wasn't into doing TV, but appearing on a show as good as NYPD Blue wouldn't be a bad thing.

He had no intention of becoming Mr Lara Ivory simply because they were married. Oh no, Joey Lorenzo was planning on making a name for himself.

As far as he was concerned, he hadn't even started.

ft ft ft

Cassie drove away from the big house. If Lara wasn't so damn secretive, she could've called Linden and instructed him to get his ass out there, so that he, too, could babysit Lara and put up with the inconvenience of spending the night in an empty house with no power. It was dark, frightening and plain stupid.

The first market she came to was fifteen minutes away and did not have anything she wanted. Plus an oversize biker with yellowing teeth, stringy grey hair and multiple leather crosses and chains hanging around his neck was eyeballing her like he wouldn't mind having her for supper. Even Cassie, who was constantly on the lookout for a man, was not tempted.

Getting back in her car, she drove all the way to the big supermarket in Malibu, where she suddenly had a brilliant idea Granita, one of Lara's favourite restaurants was right there. She could order something special for Lara - a Wolfgang Puck pizza being a much better deal than something she'd pick up in the market. Before parking and going into the restaurant she called her sister with whom she shared a small house.

"Where are you?"

Maggie asked.

Cassie explained the situation, finishing off with

"I hope y°u're taping NYPD."

423 "Of course!"

Maggie said.

"Hopefully I'll see you in the morning."

She left the car and entered Granita. As soon as Wolf heard she was there for Lara, he came over, greeting her personally, promising to fix Lara's favourite chicken dish. Then he insisted she sit at a table while she was waiting, and a few minutes later he sent over one of his delicious smoked salmon pizzas.

She tried Lara on her cellphone. Unfortunately it was out of range.

Oh, well - Lara had seemed perfectly happy alone in the house. Cassie didn't think she'd mind if she took longer than expected.

ft ft ft

Lara explored the big old house with only Cassie's flashlight to guide her way. First she went upstairs to the master suite where there was a spectacular view of the ocean. Not that she could see much tonight, only the stormy sky and the ocean down below, everything a raging mass of darkness.

Next she returned to the living room with its vast terrace perilously overhanging the edge of the cliff. From the terrace there was a gate, leading to a rough wooden staircase that went all the way down to the beach. When she was renting the house she'd taken a walk along the beach every morning at six, and loved the freedom.

She ventured onto the terrace for a moment. Too wet, cold and windy. She hurried back inside.

Somehow being in the house alone fit her mood - she wasn't planning on feeling sorry for herself, but she liked the idea that nobody could reach her.

In the morning she'd start making decisions about her future. As everyone couldn't wait to tell her - she'd been working too hard

- nonstop, in fact. Was that why she'd fallen into Joey's trap, instead of treading carefully as she usually did?

Nikki was right, he'd hooked her sexually, damn him. Good old Nikki. She certainly knows her stuff. Sex does it every time.

424

It occurred to her that she'd probably been too hard on Nikki putting the fall blame for the photographs on her. Revenge didn't need cheap publicity, it was a powerful movie that could stand on its own merits.

/ haven't been much of a friend, she thought. Nikki's going through a tough time and I should be therefor her.

Reaching into her purse, she took out her cellphone. Unfortunately the battery needed recharging and she couldn't get a signal.

Now she felt really isolated. But that was good, it gave her time to reflect, and most of all, to regain control of her life.

# # #

Joey paced restlessly around the house. It was past eleven and he had a bad feeling that something must have happened to Lara. He had no idea where to start looking. The only person he could think of to call was Nikki, so he found Lara's book and looked up her number.

Aiden answered the phone. Recognizing his voice, Joey said,

"Hey, man - I need to talk to Nikki."

"About Summer?"

"Summer?"

"She's missing. You didn't know?"

"No, I'm tryin"

to find Lara. Is she there?"

"Sorry."

"Maybe Nikki knows where she is."

Til see if she can talk."

Nikki came on the line a few moments later.

"I have no idea where Lara is, Joey."

"Aiden told me about Summer. What happened?"

"She took off. We don't know where she's gone."

"Could she be with Lara?"

"I don't see how. Didn't Lara leave you a message?"

"No, nothing. She wasn't at the party, they said she never showed."

"I wish I could help you."

425 "Yeah, well, I'm sorry about Summer."

"Wait a minute,"

Nikki said.

"I just thought of something. Richard was on the set this morning."

"With Lara?"

"Yes - he was busy putting in his ten cents about the tabloid photos."

"Are you sayin"

she might be with him?"

"No . . . but he was up to something. He had an older woman with him - he took her into Lara's trailer and left them alone together for a while."

"Who was the woman?"

"I don't know. She was in her fifties, smartly dressed, reddish hair."

The description chilled him. Could it possibly be Madelaine Francis?

No. Inconceivable.

And yet . . . Richard hated him and still lusted after Lara. Maybe he'd found out about Madelaine. If that was the case he was in deep trouble.

"Thanks, Nikki,"

he said, clicking off the phone.

If Madelaine Francis was in LA he'd find her. And if Richard Barry had put her in touch with Lara, he was going to pay.

Something was wrong. And he'd better find out what, before it was too late.

426

-^^^Jfl IT WAS c°ld sitting in her car watching the big ^^^BD^^* house, but Alison Sevvell was fired with energy She leaned over, reaching into the back seat0f her station wagon and grabbing a warm parka which she kept f0r just such occasions - the occasions when she had to track stars and sit outside their houses all night.