“Asleep,” Little Joe said. “I just took a look.”
“I’m goin’ down there,” Big Mark said.
“No!” Little Joe said sharply. “She’s asleep.”
“That’s what we should all try to do,” Eric said. “Get some sleep before tomorrow.”
“Did yer reach her parents?” Big Mark asked.
“Yes,” Eric said. “They’ll be coming up with the money soon.”
“How much’re you asking?” Arliss inquired.
“If you must know, a hundred thousand.”
“A hundred thousand!” Big Mark exclaimed. “And we’re only getting ten each?”
“Figure it out,” Eric said. “By the time you’ve all been paid, I’ll have less than half left.”
“We deserve a bigger cut,” Davey muttered.
“I haven’t got the money yet,” Eric said flatly. “And don’t forget who set this up. I gave up my job to follow the girl. It wasn’t easy. Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money, you should be grateful.”
“A hundred thousand dollars,” Big Mark muttered belligerently. “An’ yer gettin’ over half?”
“It’s my scam,” Eric pointed out. “Come up with one of your own, and you can take half too.”
Big Mark staggered out of the room. “Gotta take a piss,” he mumbled. “I’m thinkin’ ’bout this.”
“Shocking about Pattie, ain’t it?” Arliss said, quick to move off the subject of money. He hadn’t told Big Mark, Davey, and Little Joe that his payout was twenty-five thousand. They wouldn’t like it, and that was too bad. He deserved a bigger cut because he was the one who’d put everyone together and supplied the location. Without him this entire scam wouldn’t’ve come to pass. “She liked you,” he added, turning to Eric. “She was always watching you.”
“Was she now?” Eric said.
And look where it got her.
“I liked her myself,” Arliss said. “Only she didn’t wanna know about me.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Eric said, staring at the skinny man with the long greasy hair and the nervous facial tic. Like any woman would have anything to do with Arliss Shepherd. Ha! That was a laugh.
•
NICCI AWAKENED from an uneasy sleep when she heard the door open. It wasn’t until a large hand started stroking her hair that she sat up with a start and began screaming.
“Shut the fuck up,” said a deep voice.
And there he was, sitting on the edge of the cot, the big, ugly, frightening man she’d seen at her house. The one who’d grabbed her.
“What do you want?” she asked, shrinking away from him, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
“Thought yer might need company,” he mumbled, breathing whiskey fumes all over her.
“I don’t,” she said, her eyes darting toward the door, which he’d left open.
“No need t’be pissy,” he said, his big hands reaching out to touch her breasts.
“I’m thirsty,” she gasped, squirming away from him. “I need water.”
“What I get for a drink?” he leered, his big hands continuing to fondle her.
Kicking this one in the balls probably wouldn’t have any effect. He looked like he was made of cement. God, he was a hulking beast of a man. Big hands, huge feet, a Herman Munster head.
“Please,” she said, pushing his hands away. “I’m sick. I need water.”
“Fuck!” he mumbled. “Yer remind me of those girls who come drivin’ up in their fancy cars an’ their sexy outfits, treatin’ me like I’m nothin’. Starin’ right through me like I’m no one. ‘We’re on the list,’ they say as they shove past me an’ shake their tight little pussies all t’way inta the club.”
“What club?” she asked.
“Never you mind,” he said, his big hands moving down to the zipper on her jeans.
“Leave me alone,” she yelled, kicking out. “Can’t you see I’m sick?”
“Yer too good fer me, is that it?” he said, getting nasty.
Suddenly she heard a voice behind him. “I told you she was sleepin’. You shouldn’t be in here.”
Thank God! It was the short man coming to her rescue.
“Jus’ seein’ if she wants anythin’,” Big Mark slurred, backing off.
“Eric would be mad if he knew you came in here.”
“What the fuck,” Big Mark mumbled. “He ain’t the boss a’ me.”
“You’d better leave her alone,” Little Joe warned. “Nobody wants trouble.”
“Who said I was makin’ trouble?”
“You’re in here, aren’t you?”
“Aw piss off.”
“You want me to tell Eric?”
“What’re we—in school?” Big Mark said, burping loudly. “Run an’ tell Eric. I reckon we should dump him an’ keep all the money ourselves. We’re the ones did the job.”
“He’s gotta get the money first,” Little Joe pointed out. “He knows how to do these things.”
“Somebody’s gotta watch him,” Big Mark said. “I don’t trust the bastard.”
Nicci realized she now knew who two of them were. Eric, who was probably the mastermind. And although she didn’t have a name for the giant, he’d revealed he worked in a club. Sounded like he was a bouncer. He was big enough and rough enough.
“I need some water,” she repeated weakly.
“I’ll get you water,” Little Joe said. “C’mon,” he said, grabbing Big Mark’s arm. “Go sleep it off.”
“Shit,” Big Mark said, lumbering out of the room. “Nobody gets t’have any fun ’round here.”
Once the big man was gone, Little Joe turned to her. “You hungry?”
She shook her head. The thought of food was sickening.
“I got you a burger,” he confided. “Only the boss wouldn’t let me bring it to you.”
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“If anyone asks ’bout the sleepin’ pills,” he continued. “Say you took ’em—okay? You help me, an’ I’ll help you.”
“Will you help get me out of here?” she asked, hoping to appeal to his better nature.
“Can’t do that.”
“They’re not going to hurt me, are they?”
“Naw,” Little Joe assured her. “Why’d you think that? Your folks’ll pay the money, an’ we’ll let you go.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow, the day after.” He groped in his pocket and came up with a couple of stale cookies. “Here,” he said. “I saved these for you.”
She took them from him, wondering if she could make a dash for the door.
“It’s no good tryin’ to run out of here,” he said, reading her mind. “This building is locked up tight. You’ll be trapped in the building, then we’ll catch you again, an’ Eric’ll punish you. He’s a cold one. Not like me—I got compassion. See, I even know words like ‘compassion.’ ”
She nodded. Everything she’d ever heard about kidnapping came to mind. Make friends with your abductors. Force them to realize that you’re a person, and then they won’t hurt you.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Oh no,” he said. “Can’t tell you that.”
“Thanks for the cookies. If you could get me some water, I’d be grateful.”
“I’ll come back,” he said. “Gotta see where Mark went.”
Now she had two names. Eric and Mark. Eric was the mastermind, and Mark worked as a bouncer in a club. She knew she had to hang onto every detail.
Little Joe left, locking the door behind him. He was back a couple of minutes later carrying a paper cup filled with water. She gulped it down.
“I’ll be in to check on you in the morning,” he said. “Don’t mind the rats an’ roaches, they can’t do you no harm.”
She shuddered. Maybe he would help her.
Chapter Forty-six
* * *
LISSA AND MICHAEL left the hotel at 5:00 A.M. with Walter Burns, who brought along Rick Maneloni, the hotel manag
er. Rick carried the bag containing the money.
As they boarded the Desert Millennium Princess plane, Michael was surprised to see that Cindy was still on duty. She gave him a cool look. “Morning,” she said. He barely acknowledged her. He’d spent a sleepless night looking after Lissa, who was holding up well considering the circumstances.
They’d sent Danny on ahead, warning him not to alert anyone about what was going on. Michael had called Quincy and filled him in. “Stay by a phone,” he’d said. “I’ll be in touch if I need you.”
Going to Walter Burns for help had been a good move; the hotel owner was turning out to be a useful ally. It was reassuring to have the support of what was obviously a far-reaching organization.
Everyone slept on the short flight into L.A. Everyone except Michael. He watched over Lissa, wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms and protect her. She looked so young and vulnerable. How he hated the sonofabitch who was putting her through this torture.
Shortly before landing, Walter conferred with him. “I’ve been involved with this kind of case before,” Walter said.
“Me too,” Michael said.
“Then we know what we’re dealing with.”
“Yeah, the unknown,” Michael said.
“There’s a team set up near her house,” Walter said. “They’ll trace the 8:00 A.M. call and find out where it’s coming from. As soon as he tells her where to make the drop, my men will fall into position. They’re professionals of the highest caliber.”
“What do you think our chances are of getting Nicci back safely?” Michael asked.
“I’m a gambling man,” Walter replied. “Fifty-fifty.”
“That’s not very good odds.”
“If this were Italy, they’d have sent Lissa an ear by now.”
•
THE FIRST THING Brian did when he woke up on the couch in Evan’s house was to call his brother. “Did she get there?” he asked.
“No,” Evan replied. “Thanks a lot, you’ve turned Abbey into a nervous wreck.”
“I don’t think anyone could turn Abbey into a nervous wreck,” Brian said. “Give her some coke to start the day, that’s what she needs. What’re you doing with her anyway?”
“None of your goddamn business,” Evan said.
“Does this mean that Nic’s up for grabs?”
“No, it doesn’t. But I am thinking of postponing the wedding. Nicci and I will be married a couple of months later. I can’t allow our movie to get fucked up.”
“That’s big of you, Evan,” Brian said. “The movie first. Your bride second.”
“Anyway, where is Nicci?”
“I’m glad you’re finally concerned.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s vanished. She’s not in Vegas with her mom, she’s not with you.”
“So where is she?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Call me if you hear anything.”
“Your concern is touching.”
Saffron was asleep on top of the bed. He shook her awake, then went into the kitchen and made coffee. A few minutes after that he tried calling Lissa in Vegas and was informed she’d checked out. He looked at Saffron and shrugged. “I dunno what to say. This is a bummer.”
“Do you think we should call the police?” Saffron asked.
“First we should talk to Lissa. I’ll call her house.”
He did so, and Danny answered.
“Has anyone seen Nic?” he asked. “Did she go to Vegas.”
“Miz Roman knows where she is,” Danny said.
“Thank God!” Brian exclaimed. “So where is she?”
“Miz Roman will contact you later. She asked me to tell you not to worry.”
“That sounded weird,” Brian said, hanging up.
“What?” Saffron asked.
“Some shit about they know where she is, only they’re not saying, and we shouldn’t worry.”
“At least she’s okay,” Saffron said. “I’m heading home, and later I’m telling Nicci exactly what I think of her. Putting us through this crap for nothing. That’s cold, man.”
“Yeah,” Brian agreed. “I guess we’ll find out why she did it later.”
•
LARRY WAS UP long before Taylor. Not only was he up, but he was on the phone to Oliver Rock before seven.
Oliver was still sleeping. “Yeah?” he managed.
“Do you jog?” Larry asked.
“Who’s this?” Oliver mumbled.
“Larry Singer. I’m asking if you jog?”
“I’ve been known to,” Oliver said, stifling a yawn.
“Then get your ass out of bed. I’m coming by to pick you up.”
“What time is it, man?”
“Don’t worry about the time. We need to talk.”
“Yeah, sure,” Oliver said, imagining that this was the way Larry Singer did business. Shit! And he hadn’t even glanced at Taylor’s crappy script since Larry’s involvement.
Larry was already dressed in his jogging clothes. He walked back into the master bedroom and took a long look at his sleeping wife. After staring at her for a few moments, he left the room, went downstairs, got in his car, and set off to meet Oliver.
Larry Singer had made a very important decision.
•
UPON ARRIVAL in L.A., everyone went straight to Lissa’s house. She’d already alerted Nellie and sent Chuck on ahead with Danny to make sure everything was in order. They knew something was going on, but had not been filled in.
“We’ll be in meetings all day,” Lissa informed Nellie when they arrived. “Please keep the coffee coming.”
“Yes, Miz Lissa,” Nellie said, wise enough not to ask questions.
•
NICCI SLEPT in fits and starts, shivering all the while. When she awoke in the early hours of the morning, she was extremely hot and knew she probably had a fever.
Great. How could she fight her way out of this dungeon if she was ill?
Little Joe came in early, bringing her a piece of dry bread and more water. She wondered if they’d drugged the water to keep her sedated. She was so thirsty that she gulped it down anyway.
“I’m getting sicker,” she informed him. “I’m freezing cold one minute and burning up the next.”
Little Joe felt her forehead with his clammy hand. “You might have a temperature,” he conceded.
“I do,” she said weakly. “I know when I’m sick.”
“The boss is coming to see you,” Little Joe said. “You gotta speak on the phone. He’ll tell you what to say. You’d better not mess with him.”
“Who’m I speaking to?” she asked wearily.
“Your mom or your dad. One of ’em.”
“Oh,” she said.
“Your daddy must be rich,” Little Joe added. “ ’Cause the boss is askin’ for a hundred thousand bucks.”
Is that all I’m worth? she thought. A hundred thousand. Lissa would have her out of here in no time.
•
WHEN ERIC WAS READY to make the call, he slipped a stocking mask over his face and entered the windowless room. He hadn’t wanted to have any contact with the girl at all, but the money cow had forced him into doing so.
“You’ll tell your mother you’re all right,” he said. “And that’s all you’ll tell her. Understand?”
“Yes,” Nicci muttered, wondering why he was wearing a mask and the other two weren’t.
I know your name, she thought. You’re Eric. And now I know what you look like. I can’t see your face, but I can describe your body and what you’re wearing. Once I’m out of here, they’ll catch all of you, and you’ll be locked away. Forever I hope.
•
WHEN THE PHONE RANG at exactly 8:00 A.M., everyone was ready. Once again the call was on speakerphone. Walter had reiterated his assurance that with the sophisticated equipment his team of people used, they’d be able to trace the call as long as Lissa got him to stay on the line long enough.
“You have to keep him talking,” Michael drilled into her.
“I’ll try,” she said.
The first thing the muffled voice wanted to know was if she had the money.
“Yes,” she said. “Now let me speak to my daughter.”
“I’m putting her on now.”
“Nicci?” Lissa said, desperate to hear her voice.
“Mom?”
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Pay them, Mom, and they’ll let me go.”
“Where are you?”
Before Nicci could answer, the phone was snatched away from her.
“I’ll call back in five minutes,” the muffled voice said. Then the line went dead.
“Was that long enough to trace it?” Lissa asked anxiously.
“No,” Rick Maneloni replied. “You need to keep him talking longer.”
“Lissa,” Michael said, taking her hand “When he calls back you’ve got to pretend you don’t understand when he gives you instructions for the drop off, ’cause that’s what he’ll do next.”
“He will?”
“Yes. He knows you’ve got the money, so he’ll be hot to get it. Don’t forget he’s as nervous as you are.”
“I’ll do my best,” she said faintly.
Five minutes later the phone rang again. Lissa tried to draw her words out, even saying, “Hello?” in a slower tone.
“Satisfied?” the muffled voice said. “Do you have the money?”
“I do.”
“Cash?”
“Yes.”
“They’d better be clean bills, because if they’re not, I’ll come back for the girl, and next time she won’t be so lucky.”
“You’ll have to tell me where to meet you.”
“You’re not meeting me,” the man said. “I’m not that stupid. And I hope you’re not stupid, because if you’ve brought in the FBI or the cops, you’ll be very sorry indeed.”
“How are we going to do this?” she asked, speaking as slowly as possible. “And how do I know I’ll get my daughter back?”
“You’ll have to trust me.”
“How can I trust you when I don’t even know you.”
“There’s no other way,” he said. “Give me your cell phone number.”
“Just . . . just a minute,” she said. “Hold on, I have to get it.”
Hollywood Wives--The New Generation Page 41