Thrill! (64 page)

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"What's with the traffic?"

Nikki said impatiently, stuck behind a line of cars on the Pacific Coast Highway.

"I don't know why you didn't let me drive,"

Sheldon responded irritably.

"Because it's my car and I know where we're going."

"You never could drive,"

Sheldon said.

"According to you, I was incapable of doing anything,"

Nikki replied.

"Maybe that's why you married me, so you could take a child and mould her. Is that why you married Rachel, too?"

"I refuse to listen to your garbage,"

he said, staring straight ahead.

"I was such a baby, wasn't I? So malleable. That's why you were able to talk me into leaving Summer with you, when she should have come with me, and you know it."

"Summer is a very well-adjusted girl. Or at least she was, until she stayed with you in LA. Examine the way you conduct your liieRichard seemed decent, now you're with someone who looks u*-c he belongs in a rock and roll band."

"Aiden's a very fine actor."

458

"I always said you were damaged. Now you've proved me right."

"I'm not getting involved in a fight,"

Nikki said with a weary sigh.

"I've achieved so much since you and I were together If you'd had your way, I'd still be locked in the house while you systematically screwed your way through all your patients. God! I cannot believe you're a psychiatrist. It seems criminal."

A policeman with a flashlight slowly moved down the line of cars, talking to the drivers. He reached Nikki's window.

"Big accident up ahead, ma'am,"

he said.

"There'll be a delay."

"How long?"

she asked, impatiently.

"We're trying to move it along as fast as possible. But unless you have to make the journey, I suggest you turn around and go home."

"Thanks,"

she said.

"We have to get into town."

At least she had an idea where Summer was now. If she was with her friend, Tina, it wouldn't be long before she found her.

And when she did, she was never letting her go again.

# # #

The cab finally pulled up in front of Tina's apartment building.

"You'll have to wait a minute,"

Summer said.

"I've got to get my money - it's inside."

"Oh no, no no,"

the driver said, his face turning purple.

"I no wait. You run out back door, I know American girls."

"If you don't trust me, come in with me,"

Summer said "^patiently.

"I no leave cab,"

he answered sternly.

"Somebody steal."

She sneezed.

"I'm going inside. Either you come with me, or wait here for your money. I really don't like care? With that she lur»g open the cab door and ran into the apartment building, ^ost slipping on the front steps.

God, she hoped Tina was home. What was she going to do if e wasn't? The wacko cab driver would probably have her arrested lfshe didn't pay him.

459 She rang the doorbell of Tina's apartment and waited.

Seconds later Tina flung open the door.

"About time,"

she exclaimed.

"OhmiGod, look at you! What did you do, go for a swim in the ocean?"

"I've come to collect my things,"

Summer said frostily.

"Then I'll get out of your way."

"Don't be so lame,"

Tina said.

"You look like you've had a crummy night. Come in. Anyway, I told you on the phone, there's a whole new development, so you'd better get spiffed up."

"What new development?"

"Well . . . fifteen minutes after you left, Norman came out of the bedroom, dumps the two babes he's with, and says, "Where's Summer?" How'd you like thatr

"He did?"

Summer said, perking up.

"He certainly did. So I told him you weren't pleased with the situation and had gone home. That excited him no end. Seems he likes a girl who's hard to get."

Now Summer was really interested.

"What happened then?"

she asked.

"He said, "I'll get rid of everybody - bring her back." And I said, "Show me the money!"'

"What're you talking about?"

"I told him you weren't coming back for nothing, and if I had to go find you, we wanted to get paid for our time."

Tina grinned.

"You know what? He gave me a thousand bucks and said, "Go find her." We're rich!"

"I've had the most horrible night,"

Summer complained.

"I nearly got raped. Then I was lost, and couldn't get a cab. Now I'm hungry and tired."

Inexplicably she burst into tears.

"I think I made a big mistake coming back to LA."

"No way,"

Tina said, putting her arm around Summer s shoulders.

"I told you - we're gonna make a fortune. We got oft to a bad start, that's all. Now go take a shower, and wash your hair. I'll fix you some hot soup, then I'll call Norman and see if he wants us back tonight or tomorrow."

"I'm not going anywhere tonight,"

Summer said, vigorous y shaking her head.

"I have to sleep."

"If he wants us to, we gotta go. If we don't, then I think he'll like lose interest. You don't want to miss out, do you?"

"Oh, wow!"

Summer said, suddenly remembering.

"There's an angry cab driver downstairs waiting for me to pay him

"

"I'll take care of it. You go shower. And Summer'

"Yes?"

"Sorry I acted like a major bitch before. Didn't mean to. Sometimes coke makes me crazy."

"OK,"

Summer nodded, relieved they were friends again.

"All is forgiven."

The two girls hugged.

"I'll go pay your cab driver,"

Tina said.

"Be right back."

&&&

Finally they crawled past the accident on the highway. Nikki could see two cars, both of them overturned and in bad shape. She looked quickly to see if one of the accident vehicles was Aiden's truck, he drove like a madman. Fortunately he wasn't involved.

Sheldon had slumped into silence, which was a good thing because she didn't have anything to say to him. She did not care to be in his presence. She should have left him at the beach house and come to find Summer by herself. But then again, maybe she'd need his support.

Why had Summer run away? That was the question.

She turned down Sunset. The twisting street was like a river, a slick of rain water rushing down toward the inadequate drains. Lightning flashed, accompanied by loud rumbles of thunder. Keeping to the inside lane, she drove as fast as she could without endangering both of them. When they drew closer to Beverly Hills s«e said, "I have to make a right on San Vicente, so watch out, I c*n barely see a thing."

Ten minutes later Sheldon said,

"Make your turn at the next stop light."

She reached the light, veered to the right, and as they were rning into the apartment building on the left, Sheldon urgently Said>'Look-isn't that her?"

461 She glanced over. Summer was getting into a red sports car. Before she could cross in front of oncoming traffic, the sports car roared off in the opposite direction.

Sheldon sat up very straight.

"That is her,"

he said.

"Follow that

car."

Nikki didn't need asking twice.

462

/-fc,^_-^Bfc SHE'D FACED danger before. Sitting in the next ^^imiL^ room while her father had shot her family to death. The endless hours in the motel room before he'd turned the gun on himself. It had been raining that night, too; and the night Morgan Creedo's car had smashed into the truck, decapitating him.

Oh, yes. Danger. Lara knew what that was about only too well. But all the same, her throat was dry, her hands shaking. She was trapped in a dark house in the middle of a storm with an obsessed stalker.

She backed across the living room, feeling her way around the furniture until she reached the glass doors that led outside to the terrace. Slipping the catch, she opened the door and eased herself outside into the driving rain. If she could reach the stairs and get down to the beach, then she'd make a run for it - hopefully get to Bother house for help.

But what if Cassie came back, and walked into the situation?

Vhat if Alison attacked her? Oh God! Now she was in a quandary.

w she run, or did she stay? She had no weapon, nothing to defend

herself with. Plus she wouldn't be much help to Cassie if Alison

cwell carried out her threat and slit her throat. Then the two of

them would be dead.

No, the best thing was to go for help and call the police. Get °Ut"

*« was the smart thing to do.

ortunately, Alison Sewell had no idea there were stairs leading *** to the beach.

463 The ground was thick with mud and overgrown plants. Lara kept on tripping as she ran toward the gate at the top of the outside steps. Unfortunately, when she reached the gate and tried to open it, she realized it was padlocked.

Now what?

She glanced back at the house. A flash of lightning lit up the sky.

In the momentary glare she could see Alison Sewell standing by the glass doors she'd just escaped from. Alison was holding a knife. And on her face was an expression of pure hatred.

vr ir ft «

Richard smiled to himself. Ever since he'd come back from Mexico, his nefarious past firmly behind him, there was nothing he couldn't do.

He wanted to direct successful movies. Done.

He wanted to marry Lara Ivory. Done.

Now he wanted her back, and nobody was going to stop him. And if they tried to ...

Well, he'd killed once - there was nothing to stop him doing it again if it meant protecting Lara.

Who else would think of calling Cassie in her car? God, he was clever. He'd come a long way from the sixteen-year-old streetsmart kid who'd run away from home. Not to mention the twentyeight-year-old drugged-out loser who'd shot Hadley and thought that was it. Over. Finito.

Yes. He was a true survivor. He'd reinvented himself, become an upstanding member of the Hollywood community - admired and respected.

And yet . . . only Lara had made him truly happy, and look what he'd done to her.

He was determined to make up for his cheating ways. When he and Lara were back together he'd treat her like a queen. No more make-up girls or Kimberlys or actresses who begged him to W them so they'd get more than their share of close-ups. No. One again he was reinventing himself just for her.

He called the front desk and told them to bring his car around. Then he put on his raincoat and set off.

Soon he would experience a reunion with the love of his life. As far as he was concerned, it couldn't be soon enough.

I ft ft ft

The bitch was attempting to run. But running was no good, because Alison Sewell could run faster than anyone. She'd chased more celebrities than she could remember. Tracked them down and caught them in her lens.

Outside the rain was coming down in fierce torrents. Lara Ivory couldn't get away from her, no sense in trying.

Alison pulled the hood of her parka over her head and resolutely headed for the spot where she'd last seen Lara standing.

Bitch! She wouldn't be the pretty girl when Alison got through with her. No - not Lara Ivory who'd represented all the pretty girls Alison had been forced to look at year after year. The actresses on film. The haughty supermodels strutting down the runways showing off their skinny bodies and fake tits, smiling at the camera as if they were the only pretty girls in the world. She hated them all!

Lara would be punished for every one of them. Michelle Pfeiffer's calm beauty; Naomi Campbell and her superior smile; Cindy Crawford with her cute little beauty mark; Winona Ryder's winsome charm.

Yes, Lara Ivory would pay the price. She'd pay the price for all of them.

ft ft ft

Oh, fuck!"

Joey exclaimed, as he approached the accident site and recognized the remains of Cassie's car. Abruptly he pulled the ^ercedes over to the shoulder of the road and jumped out.

Oh Jesus, God. What if Lara was hurt? What if she was dead} **e couldn't bear the thought.

He raced over to the wrecking crew who were busy untangling

465 twisted metal.

"Where are the people who were in this car?"

he asked urgently.

"They took

"em to the hospital,"

one of the guys said.

"What hospital?"

"Dunno, it wasn't long ago."

"Was anybody . . . killed?"

he asked, barely able to get the words out.

"You'll have to ask that cop over there. He was here when the ambulance came."

He ran over to the cop.

"That your car over there?"

the cop said.

"Get it outta here. Can't you see what's going on?"

"I knew the people in the Saab. Are they OK?"

"Yeah, yeah - the woman's pretty cut up with some broken bones, but the ambulance guy said she'll be all right. The man in the Porsche bought it. Straight through the windshield - no seatbelt."