Her American Classic (Part 2)

by G J Morgan

  “So, if you had some time to yourself what would you do?”

  “I’m easily pleased. A good bottle of wine and a book.”

  “No, I mean what if you had a proper vacation. Some real quality time just for you. No work, just time to unwind, do things for yourself.”

  “I don’t know, do I? I’m a work person, Lilly. Holidays put me on edge. Too much time to think. It isn’t good for the body to be docile. My parents learnt that the hard way.”

  “Your parents?”

  “They both worked till they were into their early seventies, both fit as a fiddle. You know what happened when they retired? When they had time to themselves?”

  “What?”

  “They died, that’s what.”

  “And you think your body would shut down?”

  “Not shut down, but I wouldn’t cope well with time on my hands. My mind is troubled, Lilly, full of bad things and negative thoughts. Best I don’t give it time to roam. I will always work. I will always give up my life to work. That’s why I love this job. I mean I moan a lot, I’m stressed a lot but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

  “You assume time for yourself means being idle. Having a break doesn’t mean you can’t be productive, you can still be busy.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  “What about you, Frank? If you some time just for you?”

  “Might stay with my family in Washington for a bit. See how Chillum Heights has prospered in my absence. After that, who knows? Not a lot, surf, eat, sleep. I’ve always fancied building something, like a tree house, my own boat.”

  Sally’s cell buzzed, she took it from her jeans pocket, gave it one look. “I need to take this,” she said, walking into a different room.

  I looked over at Frank. “I’m dead in the water, aren’t I?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m going to hell for this.”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re not helping, Frank”

  “Sally’s a big girl. She’ll hate you for a bit, but she’ll calm down. I can’t imagine she’ll be unemployed for long, there are plenty of troubled actresses out there in need of a governess. Question is, when you decide to come back in the game, whether Sally will too. When you gonna break it to her? Tell her about this long vacation of yours?”

  “Soon.”

  “Before or after we fly back?”

  “Before, as long as I grow big enough balls to tell her by then.”

  “Might be a long flight back with Sally ignoring you.”

  “That’s if I fly back.”

  “You’re staying here?”

  “I might be. I need to sort some things out. It’s all a bit up in the air.”

  “Sort what things out?”

  “Just people I need to talk to.”

  “Who?”

  “Just someone.”

  “You’re being very vague here, Lilly.”

  “I met a guy, that’s all.”

  “What guy?”

  “Just a guy.”

  “When?”

  “After you left.”

  “Please tell me he isn’t the reason for this sudden change of direction.”

  “He doesn’t even know I’m doing this. This has nothing to do with him.”

  “Seems an awful coincidence to me. Who is he?”

  “I’d rather you meet him before you start making judgements.”

  “That doesn’t sound promising.” Frank took my empty plate. “Jesus, Lilly. Anything else you wanna tell me today? Anymore revelations?” just as Sally marched back into the kitchen.

  “What’s wrong with you, Alquist?” I joked, hoping it would crack a smile.

  “You tell me, Lilly,” she handed me her phone. “What the fuck is this?”

  I looked at her cell. Photos of me, lots of photos of me.

  “Is this how you keep busy when me and Frank are away?”

  “How did you get these?”

  “Where even is this?”

  “That’s a hotel.”

  “And here?” scrolling through her cell, showing me a photo of me in Tom’s garden.

  “That’s a friend’s house.”

  “What friend?”

  “A friend, that’s all.”

  “And please tell me this isn’t you smoking pot.”

  “It was only once, Sally, I swear.”

  “Who took these?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t play dim, Lilly.”

  “How did you get these? Who gave you them?”

  “How and why aren’t important right now. You need to explain yourself, Lilly. I need to understand what the hell you have been doing.”

  “She’s met someone.” Frank stepped in. “She’s met a guy.”

  “Who is he?”

  “His name is Tom,” I said, looking at Frank, wondering why he wasn’t fighting my corner.

  “And who is Tom? What is Tom?”

  “He’s a friend.”

  “And how did you meet this Tom?”

  “We just met.”

  “What does he do?”

  I sat down. “Sally, who sent who these? I need to know.”

  “Right now, I don’t know, Lilly.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “It’s anonymous. I have no idea who sent it. I have no idea who else may have been sent it either.”

  “What’s so bad about them? OK I smoked some pot, but the rest are harmless.”

  “Lilly, read this email. Read what it says at the top.”

  I looked at her cell again.

  “What does it say?”

  “It says these are just a warning.”

  “A warning, Lilly. Whoever sent this has more and it looks like there is worse to come. I’ll ask you again, Lilly. What else have you done?”

  “Nothing.” I felt myself starting to cry.

  Frank put his arm around me. “Tell us about this Tom.”

  “Tom wouldn’t send these.”

  “How much do you know about him? How did you meet him?”

  “He’s paparazzi. I mean he was paparazzi.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Lilly.” Sally’s face was red. “You fucking child.”

  “It’s not like that. He isn’t like that.”

  “Lilly is there a chance… ” Frank’s voice calm and low, ‘… the tiniest of chances that this Tom might be playing you for a fool?”

  “No, 100% no.”

  “He has no reason to use you for his own gain?”

  “I bet it’s Max. I bet it’s some evil fucking paparazzi. It’s not Tom.”

  “Can you be 100% it isn’t this Tom?”

  “Tom loves me.”

  “People will say anything to get what they want.”

  “How do I know you didn’t take these?”

  “This is absurd. You’ve finally cracked up. You hear her, Frank? She’s finally lost it.”

  Frank put his hand on my shoulder. “Lilly, listen to yourself. Sally wouldn’t do something like this.”

  “How can I trust anyone anymore?”

  “Lilly, you need to tell us what you have been up to. This could affect your career. I might not be able to fix it if you don’t tell me the truth. This is a vital time for us.”

  “I’m not telling anyone anything, least of all Sally. I know what you are up to.”

  “Lilly, where are you going?”

  “Somewhere.”

  “You can’t just leave. This needs sorting.”

  “Then sort it. Until then I’m trusting no one but me.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Frank went to grab my hand.

  “That includes you, Frank. I’m sorry.” I ran to the front
door before anyone could stop me or follow.

  31

  Her driveway was empty.

  I watched the house for about an hour, someone was in, lights were on, the chimney smoked. I checked my phone, Lilly hadn’t attempted to contact me since the morning, I tried ringing her, now it was my turn to be ignored.

  It wasn’t the weather to sit and wait either, heavy clouds hung low above trees, I was about to be rained on, I already felt like shit, my nose blocked, my throat sharp, I didn’t have the stamina to wait it out much longer.

  At her front door, there wasn’t any part of me that wanted to turn back. I’d had all night and all day to go through what I wanted to say to Lilly, I knew what I wanted to ask, I even knew how she’d answer. But it was an answer I wanted to see for myself, wanted to hear the words come from her mouth, not the ones in my head. After that I could leave, fill my car with everything in my room and never come back.

  I took a deep breath. The door had a bell, instead I knocked.

  She looked mad when she saw me, but not mad enough to make a scene.

  “You better come inside,” she said calmly.

  She already knew who I was.

  * * *

  “You said sugar, didn’t you?”

  “One please.”

  “Sugar is worse than tobacco, you know. Has the same toxic effect on your liver as alcohol. There four teaspoons of sugar in a can of tomato soup, you know that?” passing me a mug, sitting down on the sofa opposite.

  “I do all three, I’m afraid. Smoke, drink, sugar. I don’t touch tinned soup though.”

  “Well, more fool you.”

  “Where is Lilly? I thought she’d be here.”

  “She was. But now she isn’t.”

  “When will she be back?”

  “Soon I expect.” Sally paused to sip her drink. “Anyway, gives me time to find out about you.”

  “There’s not much to find out.”

  “Oh, I believe there is. I hear you are paparazzi.”

  “I’m not paparazzi.”

  “You take photos of famous people, yes?”

  “Not people, just Lilly.”

  “Sounds like paparazzi to me.”

  “Lilly is my first job.”

  “Harassment is harassment, Tom. Doesn’t matter if it’s your first or last. Who is paying you? Agency?”

  “A man. You know him. Vince.”

  “No, I don’t I’m afraid.”

  “Well, he knows you.”

  “I know lots of people, Tom. Is this Vince paparazzi too, or just some pencil pusher?”

  “Yeah he’s a pap. A pretty ruthless one.”

  “Show me one who isn’t. Why send you to do his dirty work?”

  “I keep asking myself the same thing. Maybe cos he was tied up back home. Probably because I’m the only British guy he knows. I don’t know. I didn’t want to take photos of Lilly. I want to make it clear that I had no choice. Situation arose which meant it was an offer I couldn’t turn down.”

  Sally sipped her drink. “Tom. You had a choice and you made it.”

  “I didn’t want to take photos of Lilly.”

  “But you did.”

  “Yes, I did. But not for long.”

  “And then you met. How?”

  “I was just in the right place.”

  “Right place, right time, hey. Aren’t you the hero? And then you wormed your way into Lilly’s arms.”

  “No.”

  “She is an easy target. She trusts people. She falls in love easily. Of course, you knew all this and you took advantage.”

  “It isn’t like that.”

  “Then what is it? Enlighten me. She is your fast ticket to a fortune.”

  “Not at all.”

  “What then? You want us to take your bait. You want us to beg. Is that your grand plan?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play that game, Tom. I’ve been around long enough to know when someone has made their first move.”

  “I’m not playing any game.”

  “So why send me the photos?”

  “I haven’t sent you anything.”

  “Do I look like I have the patience for this? What is it you want? How much to make you go away?”

  “Sally, hand on heart, I have no clue about these photos. Show me them.”

  Sally got her cell out, passed it to me, sat quietly as I scrolled through.

  “I didn’t send these, I swear.”

  “Then who did?”

  “I think I know.”

  “Who?”

  “Someone I haven’t been able to catch.”

  “I think you are lying.”

  “My guess is, whoever sent these photos has more.”

  “No shit, Sherlock.”

  “Photos of me and Lilly, I bet.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Things that sell newspapers.”

  Sally finished her drink. “And so begins the love triangle. A very profitable love triangle.”

  “Look, I wanted to make money, but not by exposing myself like this. I don’t want to be famous, don’t want my face on front covers.”

  “Everyone wants their five minutes, Tom. Don’t make out you are any different.”

  “You have a low opinion of me, don’t you?”

  “I have no opinion of you. All I know is, Lilly makes bad choices. And I’m the one left to sort out whatever is left behind.”

  “And how should we tackle this situation?”

  “Let me make this clear. There is no ‘we’. There is us and there is you. All I care about is Lilly. I don’t care where you end up in all this.”

  “I’m on your side.”

  “But I’m not on yours.”

  “Does Lilly know about the photos?”

  “Course she does. I showed her.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “Not a lot.”

  “Does she think I’m involved in all this?”

  “I didn’t have time to ask.”

  “She thinks it’s me.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself. She thinks it’s everyone, including me.”

  Just then the front door banged shut. For a minute, we both thought it may have been Lilly, we both got out of seats, there was a moment’s relief, but it wasn’t her, it was Frank, looking at me like we didn’t need an introduction.

  “What the fuck is he doing here?” his teeth snarled, his fists clenched.

  “Tom, this is Frank. Frank, this is Tom.”

  He looked at Sally. “Did you invite him?”

  “No, he invited himself.” She poured him a drink. “Frank, sit down, you’re giving me indigestion.”

  I stood up to shake his hand, introduce myself.

  “I’m not in the mood for pleasantries, boy.”

  “I’m not part of this. I’ve nothing to do with these photos.”

  Frank sat down. “Right now, I couldn’t care less what you did or didn’t do. All I wanna hear from you is where she is.”

  “I know as much as you do. I’ve only just found out she’s missing.”

  Sally stood up. “Well, wherever she’s gone, she’s taken her passport with her.”

  “Let me help you find her,” I asked.

  “We don’t need help.”

  “Three people searching is better than two.”

  “That may be, but I still don’t trust you.”

  “Look, I know you don’t believe me, but I’m not involved. Why would I be here if I was involved? It makes no sense.”

  “He has a point, Frank.” Sally smiled. “Besides, he’s too innocent to be dangerous. Just young and dumb and caught up in something too big to get out of.”

 
“Thanks. I think.”

  “I wasn’t being complimentary. You said before you might know who’s behind this. Someone you hadn’t caught yet.”

  “Just a car I’d seen a few times.”

  “That’s not a lot to go on.” Sally was pacing. “This could be paparazzi, but it seems far too thought out for them. What about Max? He’s capable of shit like this.”

  “It’s possible,” I said. “Things weren’t left well the last time he was here.”

  “He was here?” Frank looked pissed. “When?”

  “Just after London.”

  “Why?”

  “Sounded like Lilly wanted to keep the peace.”

  “And did they?”

  “No. They didn’t keep the peace at all.”

  Frank wasn’t impressed. “That girl is a liability sometimes. She really is.”

  “And was this before or after you and Lilly became acquainted?”

  “Before.”

  “So, Max isn’t aware of this little holiday romance?”

  “No. Not that I know.”

  “There is not a lot Max Salter doesn’t know. My bet is he is involved.”

  “Who gives a fuck who is involved or not? Finding Lilly is the only concern.”

  “I would not worry yourself, Frank. She’s a big girl. She knows where we are. She’s just sulking.”

  “I don’t think she is as strong as you think,” I said.

  “Oh, you do, do you? You’ve known her seven days.”

  “I know enough. I know she is capable of doing silly things. Doing things without thinking.”

  “And you think we don’t know that?”

  “Well, did you know she tried to kill herself? Tried to fling herself off that bridge.”

  Neither of them answered.

  “I’m not sitting here waiting for bad news, assuming she will come back.”

  “Where are you going, Tom?”

  “I don’t know yet. But I’m not sitting here.” I got to my feet. “Please, regardless of whether you trust me or not, if Lilly comes home, please get her to contact me. Please.”

  Sally looked at Frank. Frank looked at Sally. Any anger they may have felt towards me was outweighed far more by worry.

  “We will.”

  “And I’ll let you know, too. I’ll make sure she calls you guys.”

  “Look man,” Frank stood up, “I’m coming too. I can’t just sit around doing nothing. It doesn’t need two of us to wait for her here. Sally can stay just in case she comes home.”