Thrill! (65 page)

"There were two women in the Saab. Are they both OK?"

"Only one in the car - the driver. Kind of a large lady. Got a feeling her bulk saved her."

"Only one? You sure?"

"Yeah. They've taken her to St John's. Now do me a big one an"

get your car outta here."

"It wasn't Lara Ivory?"

The cop laughed.

"The movie star? Are you kiddin"

me? If it'd been Lara Ivory, I'd've known about it."

"Thanks,"

Joey said.

"They're talking mudslides down the highway, and some flooding, so if you don't havta go there, I'd turn back."

"I gotta get home."

"You'd better hurry,

"cause we may be closin"

the roads soon."

"OK, thanks."

He ran back to the Mercedes. Something didn't feel right. He was filled with the same kind of uneasiness he'd experienced when he'd visited his mother that fateful day, and she'd ended up shooting Danny.

A lot of cars were turning around and heading back to town? which meant the traffic ahead was easing up. But the road wa

466

becoming more hazardous. People were dashing across the highway lugging sandbags; small boulders were beginning to roll down from the sodden cliff.

He knew he'd better hurry and get there while he still could

ft ft ft

One look at Alison's face was enough to convince Lara that she had to get away as quickly as possible. And how was she going to do that when she couldn't even reach the steps down to the beach?

She hid in the heavy shrubbery surrounding the terrace, holding her breath, desperately thinking what she could use as a weapon if Alison came at her.

Then she remembered, there was a small garden shed at the side of the property. She began scrambling toward it.

ft ft ft

Once past the accident, Joey made good time. He tried calling the hospital on the car phone. They informed him Cassie hadn't been admitted yet. Next he phoned her sister, told her what had happened, and to get over to the hospital as fast as possible.

All he could think was thank God Lara hadn't been in the car.

The rain was blinding, the condition of the road getting more hazardous by the minute, but he managed to make good time, slowing down when he came to Point Dume Road, searching for the turning past it, finding it and making a sharp left.

Now he found himself on nothing more than a dirt road, dark and deserted. The wheels of his car were spinning and sliding in the mud, and as far as he could see there didn't seem to be anything down here. He slowed the Mercedes. Maggie must have made a Mistake and given him the wrong directions.

He was ready to turn back when he almost ran into a car parked by the side of big open gates that led to an isolated house.

Two thoughts crossed his mind. Whose car was it? And why Were there no lights on in the house?

467 Keeping the bright lights on the Mercedes, he drove through the gates, and drew up outside the house.

-ft ft ft

Lara moved silently through the thick shrubbery, her arms getting scratched and torn by rose thorns and jagged palms. She kept going, sure that there must be something in the shed she could use as a weapon - something she could use to fight back.

She refused to be a victim. She'd been a victim too many times in her life, and it was not going to happen again. She was Lara Ivory - survivor. She wasn't an actress playing a part - this was real life, and she was in a situation she was going to have to get out of herself.

Watching her father shoot himself, she'd had no control. Now she was in control, and nobody was going to destroy her.

She stumbled up to the shed, and was about to open the door, when a huge body leaped on her from behind.

"Got you!"

Alison Sewell yelled, wrestling her to the ground, rolling in the thick mud.

"Got you, you pretty little bitch,"

Alison crowed triumphantly.

"What do you want from me?"

Lara shouted.

"What have I ever done to you?"

Alison put her hefty arms around her, holding her in a tight bear hug.

"All I wanted was to be your friend,"

she yelled above the noise of the howling wind.

"But you didn't want a friend like me, did you? I wasn't good enough for the likes of you. I was too ugly, wasn't I?"

"What are you talking about?"

Lara shouted, desperately struggling to escape.

"As if you don't know,"

Alison yelled, straddling her, pinning her to the ground with her weight.

Then she raised the knife.

Lightning lit up the sky. Lara looked up, saw the knife, and let out a long anguished scream.

"Now we'll see who's the famous one,"

Alison yelled, cackling wildly.

"Now we'll really see!"

^^^^Jjl SUMMER TOOK a shower, washed her hair and ^^^P^PL^ touched up her make-up. Tina was more than solicitous. She made her a hot cup of celery soup, apologized repeatedly, then told her that she'd spoken to Norman, and he'd insisted they come back that night, because he was leaving on location the next day.

"We gotta close the deal,"

Tina said excitedly.

"If you play it right, maybe he'll invite you to visit the location. How cool would that be?"

Summer was tempted. The soup and the shower had made her feel better, and to tempt her further, Tina lent her a very hot Dolce Gabana pants suit.

It was past one in the morning, and she decided that maybe Tina was right - she'd be wise to close the deal while she had the opportunity. Although deep down she wished she could just go to sleep.

"OK,"

she said at last.

"If you think so, we'll go."

"Excellent!"

Tina exclaimed, and they set off.

&&&

"For God's sake,"

Sheldon said.

"You're losing them."

"No, I'm not,"

Nikki retorted.

"I can see the car ahead of me."

"They only have to make one green light, and you're fucked."

"Oh, Sheldon,"

she mocked.

"Using four-letter words. What

happened to your

"I don't like you, Nikki,"

he said, staring straight ahead.

469 "You liked me when I was young."

"Well, I certainly don't like the woman you've grown into."

"Then shut up and leave me alone,"

she snapped.

"The only reason we're together is to find our daughter."

& & ft

As they drew closer to the hotel, Tina said,

"Listen, thterc's something I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

Summer asked.

"Cluny might still be there,"

Tina said.

"But that's cool,

"cause she's so famous."

"Why might she still be there?"

Summer asked suspiciously.

"I think he kind of like, you know, hangs out with her. Nothing romantic, but um . . . she's sort of like his friend."

"I don't get it,"

Summer said.

"Look,"

Tina said reassuringly.

"I'm sure it'll be you and him alone together. If she's there, I'll keep her busy in the other room."

Summer shook her head. Somehow she felt as if she was being sucked into something she didn't want to do. And yet - Norman Barton and his puppy dog smile. If she could be Mrs Norman Barton, nobody could touch her. And now that her father was in LA, she had to find someone to protect her.

"OK,"

she said, with a little sigh.

"I guess if you keep Cluny in the other room, it'll be all right."

"And^ Tina said, lowering her voice,

"Norman has primo grass. I told him that's what you were into."

"You did?"

Summer said, thinking that the last thing she felt like doing was smoking a joint.

"Hey - we're here,"

Tina said.

"You want me to report that scuzzbucket who tried to rape you?"

"No, no,"

Summer said quickly.

"Absolutely not. It was my own fault. I shouldn't have gone to his house. It was a dumb move."

"You can say that again,"

Tina said.

"C'mon, let's go."

A^{\

She jumped out of the car, gave the keys to the parking valet and they entered the hotel.

ft ft ft

"Make the turn,"

Sheldon ordered.

"I can't, there's traffic,"

Nikki replied.

"Do it!"

he commanded, pissing her off.

"Don't panic, Sheldon,"

she said coolly.

"They went into the hotel. We're five minutes away from being with her."

The traffic eased up and she crossed into the hotel driveway.

"Are you a guest?"

the parking valet asked, as he opened her door.

"No, we'll be out shortly,"

she said.

"Please keep my car somewhere close."

They entered the lobby. No sign of Tina or Summer.

Nikki went up to the desk, closely followed by Sheldon.

"Excuse me,"

she said.

"Two young girls just came in here. Can you tell me where they went?"

The woman behind the desk said,

"I'm sorry, we cannot divulge that kind of information."

Sheldon hammered his fist on the desk.

"One of those girls is my daughter,"

he said.

"She is fifteen years old. I suggest you tell me where they went, otherwise I'll summon the police, and you can tell them."

"Just a moment, sir,"

the woman said, startled.

"I'll get the manager."

"Do what you want, but I'm not leaving this lobby until I have mY daughter back."

ft ft ft

"eY-"

It was Norman Barton himself.

Summer gazed into his puppy dog eyes and thought, No, I Hven't made a mistake. It's really him. And he's really cute.

471 "What happened to you?"

he said, grinning.

"Saw you for a second, then you were gone."

"It seemed to me you were pretty busy,"

she said.

"Never too busy for a honey rabbit like you,"

he said, taking her hand and drawing her into the suite.

Cluny was stretched out on the couch, looking quite out of it. She waved vaguely in their direction. Summer noticed that there was still a small mound of white powder on the glass-topped table and her stomach dropped.

"Want a snort?"

Norman said, indicating the supply.

"I don't do coke,"

she replied disapprovingly.

"Nor does Tina,"

she added, shooting Tina a warning look.

"But if you've got any grass . . ."

Tina said quickly.

"Then we're talking!"

"Hey, cutie,"

Norman said, pulling Summer into the bedroom,

"let's go see what I got for you."

"Just me?"

she said, staring straight at him.

"Just you,"

he replied, chicklet teeth flashing in her direction.

ft # &

The manager of the hotel was Beverly Hills perfect, with crimped silver hair and a nut-brown suntan.

"What seems to be the problem?"

he said, ignoring Nikki and giving Sheldon an all guys together look.

"There's no problem at the moment,"

Sheldon replied stiffly, taking charge.

"I'm Dr Sheldon Weston. My under-age daughter is in this hotel, and I would like to know where she is."

The manager didn't want any trouble. He glanced at the desk clerk.

"Do you know where this gentleman's daughter might be?"

"Uh . . . yes, Mr Bell. She and another young lady went up to Mr Barton's suite."

"That would be the penthouse suite,"

the manager said.

"I can escort you up there and we'll see if your daughter is there. I usually wouldn't dream of disturbing my guests at this late hour, but since you seem so certain'

"Oh, I'm certain,"

Sheldon said ominously.

"Yes, he's certain,"

Nikki added.

"And she's my daughter

. . ly'

" "w.

so let s go.

ft ft ft

Norman handed Summer a joint and told her to sit on the bed

"I'm watching this great Mel Gibson movie,"

he said.

"But you know what? You're so cute and pretty, I thought it'd be nice to have you hang with me."

It was exactly what she wanted to hear. Hang with him. Become Mrs Norman Barton. Escape from Chicago for ever.

"I ... I thought about you a lot while I was at home,"

she ventured shyly.

"Where's home?"

he asked, jumping on the bed beside her.

"Chicago."

"Yeah? Did a promo tour there once. Kind of a happening city.1

"Maybe if you take me with you next time,"

she said boldly.

"I could show you around."

"Honey, all they do is move me from limo to limo. I never get a chance to see the sights."

"That's a shame."

"They pay me good."