Afraid

by Jo Gibson

  They approached the open doors to the terrace, and he moved her smoothly through them. And then they were dancing on the smooth stone floor, embracing in the velvety darkness illuminated by thousands of brilliant stars.

  The dance ended on a clear, sweet note, fading away into breathless silence. Julie waited for the moment he would release her, but he didn’t seem to want to let her out of his arms. She looked up with a question in her eyes. And then his lips came down to meet hers.

  His kiss was bold, a confident declaration of his passion for her. Julie felt a jolt of surprise. It was a man’s kiss, the blazing caress of an experienced lover who was aware of his power to seduce an attractive woman. But that shouldn’t really surprise her. Ross was almost four years older than she was, and he’d obviously had experience.

  Julie’s mind spun in dizzy circles. How far should she let him go, now that she’d gotten his attention at last? Would Ross be satisfied with one kiss, a single caress in the shadows, when he was obviously used to much more?

  Her mind spun in crazy circles. She’d done everything she could to attract Ross, hoping for this very moment. And now that the moment was here, she found she really didn’t like it. His kiss was expert, and she should have been enjoying it, but she couldn’t help thinking about Paul and how disappointed he’d be if he knew that Ross was kissing her.

  Julie pulled back, stepping out of his embrace. “I . . . I think we should go inside now.” The harlequin nodded, and Julie saw the flash of his smile in the darkness. Then he inclined his head, and offered his arm.

  Julie stared at him for a moment, and then she took his arm to let him escort her back inside. But suddenly, she felt that curious prickling at the back of her neck. Was someone watching them? She turned to look back at the dark shadows where he had kissed her, but it was too dark to see. And then they were inside, under the lights, where people were laughing and talking.

  The purple-and-black harlequin led her to the refreshment table where Donna was waiting. Then he bent one knee in a sweeping bow, and left her.

  “Was that Ross?” Donna’s voice was eager.

  “What?”

  “The purple-and-black harlequin . . . was it Ross?”

  Julie nodded, barely registering Donna’s question. His kiss had been so intense, her legs were shaking.

  “You look weird. What did he do, try to hit on you?”

  Julie hesitated. She trusted Donna not to spread gossip, but she didn’t want anyone to know about the kiss. Not yet. Not now. Not until she’d sorted out the strange feelings she’d experienced.

  “Well?” Donna grinned as she waited for Julie’s answer. “Did he?”

  “No. Of course not. We just went out for a breath of air, that’s all.”

  “Oh, sure.” Donna raised her eyebrows, and gave Julie a knowing grin. “And Santa Claus is alive and well at the North Pole. But I think I should warn you. You had an audience. I saw another harlequin follow you out there.”

  “What color was he?”

  “I didn’t notice. Is it important?”

  “No . . . not really. I was just curious, that’s all.” Julie took a glass of punch and followed Donna to an empty table. They’d only been sitting for a moment when a skeleton and a scarecrow came to ask them to dance. The skeleton was an excellent dancer, and Julie did her best to concentrate as he whirled her around the floor. But all she could think about was the other harlequin who’d seen her kissing Ross, and hope that he hadn’t been Paul.

  The rest of the dance passed in a fog. Julie was sure she’d danced with every single one of the two hundred male guests. And then it was midnight, time for the unmasking and the awards for the best costumes.

  There was a drum roll, and Aunt Caroline stepped up on the bandstand. Donna came over to stand beside Julie, and they listened as Aunt Caroline explained the prizes. There were three trophies, one for the best-dressed woman, another for the best-dressed man, and a third for the best-dressed couple. The first runners-up in each category would receive season ski passes, and the second runners-up would be entitled to free dinners in the lodge restaurant.

  As Aunt Caroline awarded the prizes, Julie’s eyes scanned the crowd for the purple-and-black harlequin. It was almost time, and she wanted to see Ross pull off his mask. But the purple-and-black harlequin wasn’t mingling with the crowd. He’d disappeared right before the unmasking.

  There was another drum roll and everyone unmasked. Julie gasped as Donna pointed toward Ross. He was wearing a black-and-white harlequin costume!

  “But who was in the purple?” Julie’s voice shook slightly as she remembered the kiss with the harlequin she’d thought was Ross.

  Donna grinned. “All I can say is, it’s a good thing you didn’t kiss him. I saw him drive off in his car.”

  “Who was he?”

  “There’s only one Rolls Royce Silver Ghost in town, and it belongs to Dick Stratford.”

  The Halloween costume party was over and the guests had left. Julie helped to clear the tables, and as she was carrying the last tray of dishes into the kitchen, she spotted Donna putting away the leftovers from the party platters.

  “Hi, Julie.” Donna finished covering a platter with plastic wrap, and set it on the counter.

  “Donna? I know you have to help clean up, but I really need to talk to you.”

  “No problem. I’m due for a break.” Donna shoved the tray to the back of the counter. “What’s the matter?”

  Julie glanced around. There were several other people in the kitchen. “Can we go somewhere private?”

  “Sure. Let’s go into the lobby. We can talk there.”

  A moment later, both girls were seated on one of the overstuffed leather couches. Julie took a deep breath and blurted out her confession.

  “You were right, Donna. I kissed the purple-and-black harlequin. But I really thought he was Ross.”

  Donna started to laugh. “You kissed Dick Stratford?”

  “Yes. I never would have done it, if I’d known who he was. And now I feel so . . . so cheap.”

  “You just kissed him? That’s all?” Donna looked puzzled when Julie nodded. “I don’t see why you’re so upset. It was just a harmless kiss at a party.”

  “I know. But I don’t want to be like Vicki. I heard she was . . . uh . . . a little wild.”

  “Forget it, Julie.” Donna reached out to pat her on the shoulder. “There’s no way you could be like Vicki. She used guys, and then she dumped them. You’re not like that at all.”

  “But . . . I’ve kissed three different guys since I moved here. And I liked it, Donna! All except for Dick Stratford. He was so good at it, he scared me.”

  “I’ll bet! Dick Stratford’s had plenty of practice.” Donna laughed, and then she turned serious. “You’re really worried, Julie?”

  Julie nodded. “Aunt Caroline and Uncle Bob have been great, but I miss my parents. And I keep remembering all the happy times we had. I’m afraid that I’m going to throw myself at some guy because I miss the love and affection my parents gave me.”

  “Thank you, Miss Freud.” Donna grinned at her. “Look, Julie . . . I don’t think that the fact you kissed three guys has anything to do with missing your parents. Did you date a lot at your school in Switzerland?”

  “No. It was a girls’ school, and we were supervised almost every minute. I only went out on my own a couple of times, and I never really had a boyfriend. It was just friends of friends, that sort of thing. And I never met anyone I was serious about.”

  “So you never had this much freedom before?”

  Julie shook her head. “No.”

  “Well, that’s it, then!” Donna grinned at her. “There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.” Julie frowned.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure.” Donna laughed. “You’re just making up for lost time. If I’d been locked up in a girls’ school for almost five years, I’d go absolutely wild when I got out. And kissing three guys is
n’t exactly wild, especially when you thought one of them was someone else.”

  Julie breathed a big sigh of relief. “Thanks, Donna. I was really worried, and you helped a lot. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, all you have to do is ask.”

  “Well . . . there is one thing.”

  “What is it?”

  “Tell me who else you kissed. I’m dying to know.”

  Julie sighed. She was trapped. She had to tell Donna, now. “I kissed Ryan. He took me by surprise up on the ski slope.”

  “Ryan?” Donna began to grin, and she leaned forward. “Was he as good as his father?”

  “Almost.”

  “And you liked it?”

  “Yes.” Julie could feel herself blushing again. “I liked the kiss, but I’m not sure I like Ryan. And I’m not going to kiss him again.”

  “That’s good. Ryan’s not right for you. Who’s the third?”

  Julie took a deep breath. She had to tell, and she didn’t really want to. “You’ve got to promise not to say anything to anybody.”

  “Okay. I promise. Who was it?”

  “Paul.”

  “My brother, Paul?”

  Donna looked shocked, and Julie winced. Perhaps she shouldn’t have told her. “I’m sorry, Donna. It just sort of happened.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I think it’s fantastic! Did you like it?”

  Julie nodded, and began to blush again. “I liked it a lot. And I think he did, too, once he got over being shocked. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t like kissing Mr. Stratford, even though I thought he was Ross. I kept thinking about your brother.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve had all year!” Donna absolutely beamed. “Did Paul ask you to go out?”

  “No. He apologized. And then he promised me it wouldn’t happen again.”

  “Right.” Donna’s grin grew wider. “My brother, the gentleman. Give him a little time, Julie. Paul’s dense sometimes, but he’ll come around. And I can almost guarantee you that if he kissed you once, he’ll kiss you again.”

  It was three in the morning, and Julie still couldn’t sleep. She’d tried all the usual tricks, counting sheep, watching a bad movie, reading a boring book, but none of them had worked. The talk she’d had with Donna had helped a lot, but she was still worried about having kissed Dick Stratford. He’d assured her that Stratford men didn’t kiss and tell, but the other harlequin had followed them out on the terrace. It would be horribly embarrassing if he told anyone what he’d seen.

  There was no sense staying in bed when sleep was impossible. Julie got up and flicked on the light. It only took a moment to dress in jeans and a Saddlepeak Lodge sweatshirt, and then she grabbed her key and let herself out of the apartment. Since she was awake, she might as well work. Mrs. Robinson would be grateful if she tidied up the kitchen before breakfast had to be served.

  The elevator doors opened the moment she pressed the button. Julie rode down and walked through the silent lobby. Dave had night clerk duty, and Julie grinned as she caught him sleeping at the desk. She didn’t blame him. It had been an exhausting party, and the phone would wake him if one of the guests had a middle-of-the-night request.

  There wasn’t as much to do in the kitchen as she’d thought. The work crew had washed the dishes and put them away. Julie ran soapy water in the sink and wiped down the stainless steel counters until they were clean and shining. She was about to go back upstairs when she noticed that there was a platter of cold cuts sitting-out on the butcher block worktable in the center of the room.

  The kitchen was chilly, and the meat would probably be all right until morning, but since she was here, Julie decided to put it away. She picked up the heavy platter and carried it to the huge walk-in refrigerator before she realized that it was locked. Restaurant personnel had the combination to the lock, but she didn’t. And the big serving platter would never fit in Aunt Caroline’s refrigerator upstairs. What should she do?

  Julie stared down at the platter. There was Black Forest ham, choice smoked turkey breast, delicious rare roast beef, and an array of expensive cheeses. It was a shame to take a chance that all this good food would spoil. Uncle Bob was always complaining about waste in the kitchen.

  Suddenly Julie realized who’d been assigned to put away the party platters. She’d heard Uncle Bob tell Donna to do it. Her friend might be in danger of losing her job if Uncle Bob discovered the forgotten plate of cold cuts. She had to do something. But what?

  Julie glanced around the kitchen again and began to smile. It would be breaking a rule, but she’d cover the platter with several extra layers of plastic wrap and put it the game cooler for the rest of the night. The game cooler was never locked. Of course, restaurant food wasn’t supposed to be kept in there, but Donna could sneak it out again in the morning.

  It took only a few moments to wrap the platter. Julie carried it to the game cooler and hesitated. No one was allowed to open it from the kitchen entrance—it was a health regulation—but the inspectors would never know.

  The game cooler had been the original walk-in refrigerator for the lodge, when her great-great-grandparents had owned it. Since those early years, the restaurant refrigerator had been replaced with successively newer models. The walk-in refrigerator Mrs. Robinson used now was state-of-the-art, with lights that went on automatically, doors that couldn’t lock from the inside, and handy, moveable shelves and hooks. The game cooler was ancient, but it was perfectly adequate for its purpose. When hunters brought in their kill, it was stored in the original cooler until the town butcher came to cut and wrap it for the successful sportsman. The trophy animals were stored there, too, until Red Dawson skinned or mounted them.

  She frowned as she thought of Red. Julie had caught him staring at her several times, and she hoped he wasn’t beginning to feel the same way about her as he’d felt about Vicki. She liked Red even though he was a little strange, but she wasn’t at all interested in going out with him. If he asked her, she’d have to turn him down. And she’d have to be very careful how she worded her refusal. Vicki had hurt him badly, and he might be very sensitive.

  Julie balanced the tray in one hand and pulled on the door. It was very heavy. There were two entrances to the cooler. The game was brought in through an outside door to avoid the kitchen. There were several official signs posted on the kitchen entrance, warning about potential contamination, and it was never used. Julie had heard Uncle Bob tell Mr. Larkin to board it up as soon as possible, to comply with health regulations. But Mr. Larkin had been busy replacing floors in several of the guest bathrooms. Thank goodness he hadn’t done it yet!

  The heavy door creaked as it swung open, and Julie shivered slightly. It was dark inside. She felt around on the wall for the light, and found a knob, but no switch. How odd. But then she remembered the old-fashioned light switches she’d encountered in an old hotel on the West Bank, and she turned the knob it until it gave a resounding click.

  A dim bulb lit up, and Julie shuddered as she saw several carcasses swaying on hooks in the center of the long room. It was best not to look too closely. Julie stepped in to place the platter on a wooden shelf near the door, but the shelf was old, and the wood had warped with age. The platter slid dangerously close to the edge, and Julie caught it just in time.

  Averting her eyes from the swinging carcasses, Julie moved deeper into the cooler. She managed to find a solid shelf, and she set down the platter carefully. Then she checked to make sure the plastic wrap was tightly in place, and turned to leave. That was when she heard it, a sound that made her gasp in fright. The cooler door was creaking shut.

  Julie sprinted toward the bright, safe light of the kitchen. She should have propped the door open! But she hadn’t, and she reached the door just as it shut with a heavy thud.

  Frantically, she reached for the handle. No reason to panic. She’d just open it from this side. But there was only a smooth panel of metal. No handle. No way to open the door.

  She screamed then
, a thin, high scream of terror. No one knew she was here. No one would dream of opening the game cooler to look for her. She was trapped, and there was no way out!

  It could have been minutes. It could have been hours. Julie’s panic was timeless. She knew she’d been pounding on the door for some time. Her hands felt hot and bruised, a startling contrast to the rest of her body, which was chilled and shaking. Unanswered questions flashed through her terrified mind. Would she suffocate? Was there enough air? Or would she freeze to death first? There was a thermometer hanging right next to the door. Thirty-seven degrees. Could she freeze to death when the temperature was above the freezing point?

  Then she thought of the other door, the door that led to the outside. Perhaps it had a handle on the inside. She’d come in through the original door, and safeguards like inside handles might not have been required when the cooler was built. But the outside door had been added later. She wasn’t sure exactly when it had been installed, but it might conform to the new safety standards. If so, it would have an inside handle!

  There was only way to find out. Julie got to her feet, and frowned. Why was she kneeling on the floor? She couldn’t remember. Then she turned to face the other end of the cooler and the narrow corridor that led to the outside door. Her eyes swept past the hanging carcasses, and she shuddered. To get to the other door, she’d have to walk past all those awful gutted shapes, those horrible, huge, frightening animals. But she had to do it. It was her only hope of escape.

  It was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Even though Julie tried not to look, her eyes were drawn to the grotesque shapes and the monstrous shadows they cast. She forced her trembling legs to move past the deer, gutted and bloody, with their heads still attached. Their eyes stared sightlessly down at her, and their antlers looked as sharp as the meat hooks that were forced through their necks.