Obsessed (9781617732393)

by Gibson, Jo

  “Which three things?” Carla was curious. “You can’t assume her job. Marc already has that.”

  “I know. But I was the last one to leave tonight. I pulled the door closed and tested it to make sure it was locked. That’s one thing that Judy always used to do. And I punched her time card before I left. That’s something she used to do, too.”

  Carla wasn’t sure why, but suddenly she felt very uneasy. “What are you going to do for the third thing?”

  “Well . . . I tried to get something of Judy’s to wear, but her parents are on vacation and Marta’s not there, either. And I asked Mr. Calloway if I could carry out some props, but he said he needed me to stay behind the juice bar. I called my aunt and she told me to think of something else, something that Judy had really wanted to do before she died. My aunt said that if I could fulfill a dream of Judy’s, that would definitely put her spirit to rest.”

  Carla winced. She was pretty sure she knew what was coming. She turned to glance at Michael, but he didn’t seem to be on her wavelength.

  “That makes sense.” Michael smiled at Vera. “Did you think of something that Judy really wanted to do?”

  “I sure did. It’s something that Judy told me. But I need your help. You’ll help me, won’t you, Michael?”

  Michael nodded. “Sure. What do you want me to do?”

  “Judy always wanted you to ask her out on a date. Will you ask me out on a date, Michael?”

  Michael looked very uncomfortable. “Uh . . . sure. I guess I could do that. Where do you want to go?”

  “To a party. My aunt owns a beach house in Malibu and it’s got a private beach. She said I could throw a party there on Sunday night, and I’m going to invite everybody from Covers.”

  Michael nodded. “That sounds like fun. Okay, I’ll take you to the party.”

  “Thanks, Michael.” Vera reached out to hug him. “But there’s one more thing you have to do. It’s absolutely guaranteed to work.”

  “What is it?”

  “You have to stay and spend the night with me. That’s the one thing Judy wanted that she never got. My aunt says it’s the perfect way to get rid of Judy’s ghost forever!”

  Thirteen

  By the end of the week there wasn’t one single person at Covers who hadn’t heard about Vera’s plan to exorcise Judy’s ghost. Most of the gang thought it was silly, but the prospect of a catered party at a private beach was too tempting to resist. Everyone was coming, except Carla. Of course she hadn’t told anyone that she wasn’t planning to attend for fear they might guess why. The truth was, Carla couldn’t bear to see Michael with Vera. She knew it would break her heart.

  It was late Saturday afternoon, and everyone had gathered at Covers to rehearse for the show. The office door was open, and Carla could hear Michael singing. He sounded wonderful, and she sighed deeply. She was gazing off in space, looking sad, when Linda appeared at the office door.

  “Who does Vera think she’s kidding with this whole exorcism bit?” Linda was frowning as she walked into the office. “Really, Carla . . . can’t you talk some sense into Michael?”

  Carla shook her head. “Believe me, I tried. But Michael’s convinced he’s doing Vera a huge favor by being her date for the party and staying with her for the night. He told me that absolutely nothing is going to happen, but . . . well . . . I’ve got my doubts.”

  “Me, too.” Linda’s frown grew deeper. “What do you think, Carla? Is Vera just using this ghost thing as an excuse to pick up on Michael?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. But she seems very serious about it. She told me how her aunt had to go to Boston to stay with a man for two weeks to get rid of his dead wife’s ghost.”

  Linda gave a very unladylike snort. “I’ll bet! Did Vera’s aunt have to sleep with him?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t have the nerve to ask. And I’m not sure I really want to know.”

  Linda sat down in one of the chairs in front of Carla’s desk, and propped her feet up on the other. “Oh, well. The party should be fun anyway. What are you wearing?”

  “I haven’t really thought about it.” Carla looked down at her desk and refused to meet Linda’s eyes. “How about you?”

  But changing the subject didn’t work with Linda. She just stared until Carla had to look up. “You are going, aren’t you, Carla?”

  “Well . . . I’m not sure. My throat’s been sore all day, and I’m afraid I’m coming down with a cold.”

  “The only cold you’ve got is cold feet!” Linda looked very upset. “Look, Carla. You practically have to show up. Everybody’ll figure you’re jealous, if you don’t.”

  “I know. But I don’t think I can do it, Linda. The thought of seeing Michael with Vera makes me positively ill.”

  Linda laughed. “Me, too. But don’t lose hope. Maybe Michael will tumble to Vera’s little scheme in time, and tell her to get lost.”

  “I don’t think that’ll happen. Michael’s too nice to suspect Vera, and she’s got him wrapped around her little finger.”

  “And that’s precisely why you should be there! Michael trusts you, and I think you should make one final effort to save him from Vera’s clutches. She could get him in a whole lot of trouble.”

  Carla nodded. “I know that. But how can you save a guy who doesn’t want to be saved?”

  “Well . . .” Linda looked thoughtful. “You could tell him that your car’s not running right, and ask him for a ride home from the party. And then you could hogtie him and keep him with you until morning.”

  Carla began to laugh. It was good to have a friend, even though Linda’s idea was the dumbest one she’d ever heard.

  “That’s better. At least I got you to laugh.” Linda gave Carla a smile. “Now promise me that you’ll get all dressed up, and meet me at the party. I don’t have a date, either, and we can keep each other company.”

  “Well . . . okay.” Carla caved in, against her better sense. “I’ll go, but I don’t think I’m going to like it.”

  The next evening at nine o’clock, Carla drove into the driveway of Vera’s aunt’s beach house. There was nowhere to park. The party had started at eight, and everyone was here already. Carla pulled in behind Vera’s car, and gave one final glance in the rear-view mirror. She’d had her hair done and she was wearing a pair of loose white pants with a multi-colored floral blouse that tied at the waist. Even though she knew she looked pretty, it wouldn’t help her tonight. Michael was with Vera, and he was taken for the entire night. He probably wouldn’t even notice her.

  The front door to the beach house opened, and Linda raced out. She was wearing blue and white cotton jeans and a matching jacket over a blue top. “Carla! I was beginning to think you’d chickened out on me.”

  “Maybe I should have.” Carla got out of the car, and locked the door behind her. “Where is everyone?”

  “Down at the beach. The caterers dug a big pit and they’re roasting a whole pig.”

  Carla nodded as she followed Linda down the path that went around the side of the house. “Too bad they’re not roasting you know who.”

  “I knew you’d say that.”

  Linda laughed and led the way to a wooden staircase that ran down the steep hill. As Carla followed her down the steps, she saw that the caterers had decorated the private beach for a Hawaiian luau. Flaming torches were stuck in the sand for light, and wooden tables and folding chairs had been set up in a circle to ring the barbecue pit. There was even a wooden bar, covered by a roof of palm fronds, at the far end of the beach.

  “Where’s Vera?” Carla scanned the familiar faces as she went down the stairs.

  “Over there in the gold outfit.” Linda gestured toward a large table right next to the edge of the water. “I’ve been praying for the tide to come in.”

  Carla frowned as she spotted Vera. She looked gorgeous, and she was surrounded by several guys from Covers, who were gazing at her with fascination. She was wearing a gold bikini top with a long gold sk
irt and tiny gold sandals. Her bare skin gleamed like copper in the light of the torches, and Carla could understand why the guys were so attentive. Vera’s black hair fell past her shoulders in a shower of shimmering waves, and the gold bracelets on her arms made her look like an exotic Gypsy princess.

  “She makes you feel undressed, doesn’t she?” Linda shook her head in disgust. “She told us all to dress casually on purpose, so she’d look really good. See? There’s Tammy. She’s wearing a denim skirt and a cotton sweater. And there’s Winona over there in shorts and a blouse.”

  Carla nodded, but she was too busy looking for Michael to pay much attention to what Linda was saying. And then she spotted him, sitting on a stool at the bar, firelight from the torches casting flickering shadows across his handsome face. “At least he’s not with her.”

  Carla didn’t realize she’d spoke aloud, until Linda nodded.

  “That’s true. And he doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself. Let’s go over and say hello.”

  “I’m not really sure that’s a good idea. After all, he’s Vera’s date.”

  “Don’t be an idiot!” Linda grabbed Carla’s hand and pulled her across the sandy beach. “Somebody’s got to cheer him up. Michael looks like he’s just lost his best friend.”

  “Hi, Carla.” Michael stood up and waved as they approached. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”

  Before Carla could even say hello, Linda jumped into the conversation. “Carla had a little car trouble, but it’s probably nothing that serious. I’m going to get us a plate of appetizers, and she can tell you all about it.”

  “But, Linda . . .”

  Carla started to object, but Linda gave her a warning look. “That’s okay . . . I don’t need any help. Just tell Michael about your car and I’ll be right back.”

  Carla smiled, and let Michael pull her up on a stool next to his. And then she met his eyes. Michael looked almost desperate, and he didn’t let go of her hand. It was clear he was beginning to feel trapped by Vera.

  “I ordered this for you when I saw you coming down the stairs.” Michael placed a drink in a coconut shell in front of Carla, and smiled at her. “Tell me . . . what’s wrong with your car?”

  Carla made up her mind. Linda’s plan was stupid, but she owed it to Michael to try. “Well . . . I’m not sure. It started to sputter about halfway here. It’s probably nothing.”

  “It sounds like a carburetor problem to me. You came here alone?”

  Carla nodded. Maybe Linda’s stupid idea wasn’t so stupid, after all.

  “You can’t drive home by yourself.” Michael began to frown. “It might conk out on you, and you’d be stuck.”

  Carla nodded again, and managed to look worried. “That’s true. I’d hate to get stuck on one of those mountain roads at night. It might be dangerous.”

  “Don’t worry, Carla.” Michael slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a friendly squeeze. “I’ll take care of it for you, I promise.”

  “Thank you, Michael.” Carla smiled and he smiled back, but then his friendly expression turned to a frown. He was staring at something over her shoulder, and Carla turned to see what it was. It didn’t take her long to spot the cause of Michael’s discomfort. Vera was heading across the sand toward them, so fast she was almost running.

  “Hello, Carla!” Vera had a bright smile on her face, but her eyes were glittering dangerously. “I’m so glad you could make it to our little party. We’re going to have fun, aren’t we, Michael?”

  Michael nodded. “Sure. Carla was just telling me that she had car trouble on the way here. I told her it wouldn’t be safe to drive home alone.”

  “Of course not!” Vera shook her head. “Andy lives close to you, doesn’t he, Carla?”

  “Well . . . not exactly. His place is more than five miles away.”

  “That’s not very far. I’ll ask him, and I’m sure he’ll be glad to follow you home. We can’t have you out there on the road by yourself . . . right, Michael?”

  “Right.”

  Michael nodded, and Carla’s spirits took a nose dive. She was sure that Michael had been about to offer to give her a ride, before Vera had appeared on the scene.

  “The band’s almost ready to play.” Vera put her hand on Michael’s arm. “You’ll dance the first set with me, won’t you?”

  “Uh . . . sure. But I don’t want to leave Carla sitting here by herself.”

  “Oh, she won’t be alone for long.” Vera smiled her very best smile. “Marc promised me he’d ask her to dance. Let’s go, Michael. I want to tell the band to play something slow and romantic.”

  Carla knew it wasn’t very nice of her, but she couldn’t help staring daggers at Vera’s back as she walked away with Michael in tow. If Vera was really as terrified of Judy’s ghost as she claimed she was, she certainly shouldn’t be trying to snare Michael! In the letter that Judy had left, she’d confessed that she was the Cupid Killer. Carla didn’t believe that Judy’s ghost had come back to kill the girls who dated Michael, but she almost wished it were true . . . especially since Vera was setting herself up as the next target!

  “Oh, no!” Carla sighed softly as she spotted Marc, walking toward her across the sand. He didn’t look happy about asking her to dance, and Carla wasn’t happy, either. Although Marc was a very nice guy, he had two left feet and no sense of rhythm. But Carla was trapped and she knew it. She had to dance with Marc because her refusal might hurt his feelings.

  “Do you want to dance, Carla?”

  Marc smiled, but it was very clear his heart wasn’t in it. He expected her to make some excuse, but Carla was too kind-hearted to do that.

  “Thanks, Marc. I’d love to.”

  “You would?” The expression on Marc’s face was almost comical, he was so shocked. “Are you sure?”

  Carla got up, and took his arm. “Of course I’m sure. But I’m not sure you want to dance with me. I’ve got two left feet, and no sense of rhythm.”

  “Me, too!” Marc grinned at her happily. “What do you say we sit this one out and save our feet from certain destruction?”

  “Great idea.” Carla sat back down, and patted the stool that Michael had vacated. “Sit down, Marc. Linda’s coming with a plate of appetizers, and I’ll buy you a drink.”

  The rest of the evening passed by Carla in a painful blur. The appetizers were divine, the barbecued pig was crisp and succulent, and the fruit drinks were tasty and refreshing. The band was excellent and Carla was asked to dance almost every set, but there was a pall over the evening that no amount of good food and great music could cure. Michael was with Vera, and she couldn’t think of any way to rescue him.

  It was one in the morning when the band packed up, and shortly after that, the party guests began to leave. Carla and Linda had moved to a table, and Carla knew they’d have to go soon. It would look strange if they were the last ones to leave.

  “Are you ready, Carla?” Andy was frowning as he approached their table. He’d been trying to pick up on Tammy all night, but he’d obviously struck out.

  Carla nodded, and reached for her purse. “I’m ready. But you don’t really have to follow me, Andy. There’s nothing wrong with my car. I was just trying to give Michael an excuse to leave, if he didn’t want to stay with Vera.”

  “I don’t think Michael minds staying.”

  Andy gestured toward the deserted stretch of beach that had been set aside as a dance floor, and Carla turned to look. Michael was still dancing with Vera, even though the band had stopped playing over ten minutes ago.

  “You’re right.” Carla sighed as she watched them dance to the nonexistent music. Michael didn’t look trapped now. His arms were around Vera’s waist and he was holding her very close. There was a dreamy expression on his face, and he was smiling down into Vera’s eyes.

  “He’s bombed.” Andy leaned close to whisper in Carla’s ear. “The bartender said he’s been spiking Michael’s drinks with vodka. Vera told him to do
it. I guess she really wants him to stay.”

  “I guess so.” Carla got up, and started for the stairs with Linda and Andy. She didn’t want to say goodbye to Vera, and there was no reason to say anything to Michael. He was so torqued, he wouldn’t remember it anyway.

  Andy seemed to be oblivious to Carla’s disappointment. He even whistled a little tune as they climbed up the stairs. When they reached Carla’s car, he opened the door and grinned at her. “Nice party, huh?”

  Carla didn’t bother to reply. She just got inside her car, started the engine, and backed out onto the highway. It hadn’t been a nice party. It had been horrible.

  As Carla drove down the highway toward home, she found herself wishing that she were more like Judy. What Judy had done was wrong, but Carla was beginning to understand why she’d done it. She was almost as angry as Judy had been, when she’d seen Michael falling under Vera’s spell.

  “Where are you when I need you, Judy?” Carla let the wind from her open window blow her words away. Then she gave a bitter laugh. She almost wished that Judy were still alive. If Judy had seen Vera spiking Michael’s drinks, she would have taken action. Judy wouldn’t have sat by idly and watched as Vera set her trap for Michael. She would have armed herself with another arrow and gotten rid of Vera, once and for all!

  Fourteen

  Vera was having the time of her life. She’d seen Carla sitting at the table, looking heartsick, and it hadn’t bothered her a bit. Carla’d had her chance with Michael and she’d blown it. She never should have let him get away.

  A soft laugh escaped Vera’s lips. Her father’s passion was fishing, and he was always talking about something called “catch and release.” If her father caught a fish, he took out the hook and put it back into the water so the next fisherman could have his fun. Vera knew that Carla had landed Michael, hook, line and sinker. He’d certainly seemed to be crazy about her. But Carla had lacked the courage to keep him. She’d let Michael go, and that had been her big mistake. Now Vera had caught him, and she intended to keep him until she got exactly what she wanted. Michael was her trophy, and this party had been an excuse to show him off.