Charlotte and the Starlet 3

by Dave Warner

  Strudworth came over to Charlotte. 'The abductor either came in from the back door that leads out to the lane or slipped past the salesgirl without her noticing.'

  Leila had already figured as much.

  'The back door wasn't locked?' asked Charlotte.

  'It was but it was easy to unlock it from the inside. Is Leila picking up anything, do you think?'

  Leila wouldn't mind picking up a nice little diamond stud for her ear but not for the thousand bucks they were asking.

  'I'm not sure,' said Charlotte. 'Let's have a look at the door.'

  Leila had to inhale to squeeze through the narrow passageway that led past a small kitchen area to the back door, which led onto an alleyway.

  'The police think the abductor had a van waiting out here.'

  Strudworth gestured to the narrow alley. Charlotte led Leila down the alley.

  'Back in a minute.'

  'Where are we going?' asked Leila.

  'To see where this takes us.'

  The alley emerged onto another street. Charlotte cut through there and found herself at a bus stop. A girl her age was waiting there and was keen to pat Leila.

  'Where does this bus go?' asked Charlotte.

  'Downtown,' said the girl, stroking Leila's ear.

  Charlotte thanked her and headed back.

  'What's going on?' asked Leila. 'You look like you know something.'

  'I don't know anything, Leila. But I do suspect.'

  'Suspect what?'

  But there was no time to answer for as they turned back towards the rear of the shop, Miss Strudworth was gesturing excitedly.

  'The kidnapper is on the phone to Mr Gold.'

  They hustled to the back door where Mr Gold had his phone switched to speaker. The detective was writing furiously.

  'If you vant the girl return, you do as told.'

  It was a young woman. She spoke with a thick accent that Leila had heard in several James Bond films – Russian, she believed.

  Mr Gold was very anxious. 'Is Sarah-Jane all right?'

  'I know you have police with you, don't play me for fool. One million dollar in unmarked bills. You have hours twenty plus four only. We will give further instructions. You want proof we are real deal, check change room. Red mark on wall match red mark on outfit left.'

  The call rang off. The detective shook his head. 'Not long enough for a trace.'

  The uniformed policeman appeared from the shop. 'The marks are there. That was the kidnapper all right. Only they would know about the red marks.'

  The detective muttered bitterly. 'I'm afraid this has the hallmark of Russian mafia.'

  Mr Gold could see it all. 'It was probably the woman who abducted Sarah-Jane. Waited in the neighbouring change room with chloroform or something to knock her out. Then let in help to carry her out to a waiting van.'

  'My thoughts exactly,' said the detective. 'Very nasty people, these types. I hope you can get a million dollars, Mr Gold. Otherwise . . .'

  He let the sentence hang ominously.

  Feathers had been brought up to speed by Leila and Charlotte, who were back in the trailer. Mr Gold had got it re-towed to his house for the time being. Feathers pushed his beak forward in thought. 'I wonder if the Russian mafia snatched the tabby as well?'

  'Why didn't they ask for a ransom?' asked Leila.

  'I don't know. What do you think, Charlie?'

  Charlie had been sitting quietly all the way back in the car and was looking thoughtful. 'I think it's highly suspicious.'

  Leila snorted. 'Of course it's suspicious, the Russian mafia is involved.'

  'Are they?' asked Charlotte.

  'That's what the cop said.'

  'Cops know nothing,' said Feathers definitely.

  'That voice on the phone, I've heard it before,' said Charlotte.

  'Where? We could get a reward.'

  It was the first time Leila had shown much interest in saving Sarah-Jane. She was thinking that with her cut of a reward, the diamond stud could be hers after all.

  Charlotte frowned in concentration. 'I can't place it, I've heard it recently.'

  'Oh my God.' Leila threw a quick look around. 'Is our door locked? It could be somebody here and if it's somebody here, who's the next target, hey? Who is the only target likely to bring in more ransom than Sarah-Jane?'

  Feathers thought hard. 'Mr Gold?'

  'Not Mr Gold. Me, you idiot! Charlotte, lock the trailer. I'd do it myself but my hooves aren't good with fine motor movement.'

  'Do as she says, Charlie,' Feathers was peering out the curtain. 'These Russians could be lurking and I'm the prime target, not her.'

  'You?'

  'Who do you think Mr Gold cares about more?'

  'I know who Mr Gold cares about more. His movie star!'

  'Who he left in Australia!'

  'Only because I bit him!'

  Charlotte intervened. 'Stop it, you two. I'm not sure there is any Russian mafia.'

  Leila shook her head. The kid knew nothing. 'Don't you watch Law and Order? The Russian mafia is always doing something bad.'

  'I mean, I don't think they were involved.'

  Feathers and Leila looked at each other meaningfully. Feathers used his wing to circle his ear as if to say 'crazy'.

  Leila said, 'You been eating the loco weed, Charlie?'

  Charlotte gave her a thin smile.

  'This morning I wound up with Sarah-Jane's sports bag by mistake. It looks exactly the same as mine. Inside were a pair of pyjamas and a toiletry bag.'

  Feathers and Leila looked at each other and shrugged as if to say, so?

  Charlotte groaned. 'Doesn't that strike you as odd?'

  Feathers shook his head. 'If I had a bag with pyjamas, that might be odd.'

  Charlotte sighed and patiently explained. 'Sarah-Jane had a trailer here. Why wouldn't she just leave her pyjamas and toiletries in the trailer?'

  'Ah,' Leila nodded smugly. 'I got it. You're right. She suspected the Russian mafia would steal them from her trailer. She was onto them!'

  'NO!' Charlotte exploded in frustration.

  'No?' Leila was certain she'd worked out what Charlotte was driving at.

  'No. She didn't need to take pyjamas with her. And she had the bag at the boutique as well. I don't think she was kidnapped. I think she staged it, went out the back door, down the alley and jumped on a bus downtown. From there, she could have gone anywhere.'

  It hit Leila with the force of a cold slab of steak right across the face. 'Of course! I thought she took my opening triumph too easily. This is all about her getting press. You're a genius, Charlie!'

  Feathers was more sceptical. 'Maybe there is some other explanation . . .'

  'Noooo,' whinnied Leila, 'and I know where I've heard that Russian woman. That's the exact same accent Sarah-Jane used in Thrills and Spills.'

  Charlotte was excited. 'Yes! That's where I heard it. At the Excelsior exhibit. Do you think we should tell Mr Gold our suspicions?'

  Leila was dubious. 'You'd have to be the one who told him.'

  'Did anybody else see what was in the bag?' asked Feathers.

  Charlotte wasn't sure.

  Leila worked through it. 'So it's only your word.'

  'What about the Russian voice? Can't they do some fancy scientific test to prove it was Sarah-Jane?' asked Feathers.

  Leila answered. 'Suppose they do and they show it is her. What does that prove? The kidnappers could have forced her to say that. No, we don't have enough to go on. Charlie could look like she's got something against Sarah-Jane, next thing you know, she's prime suspect.'

  Charlotte did not like the sound of that. 'So what can we do?'

  Leila thought it was pretty obvious. 'We have to figure out where she's hiding and try to expose her before the ransom pick-up.'

  'She won't be at home,' said Feathers.

  'What was in the bag, Charlotte? Do you remember anything that might help us find her?'

  Charlotte thought back
. 'There was a folded map.'

  Leila got in close, extremely animated. 'What map? Where? Think, Charlotte. Think, this is important!'

  Feathers flapped a wing in recognition. 'Harrison Ford in Witness.'

  Leila winked. 'You got it.'

  Charlotte closed her eyes and tried to remember any names on the map. Letters spun around in a jumble before reassembling . . . azquez? She opened her eyes.

  'A-z-q-u-e-z,' she said. 'I'm certain that was one word.'

  'Azquez?' Feathers shook his head, at a loss.

  'Was that the whole word or part of it?'

  'It was all I could see.'

  'But the map was folded, right? So it could be Azquez – something or something – azquez.'

  'Sounds Spanish,' said Feathers, 'but there's about ten thousand Spanish place names in California.'

  Charlotte suggested they get a map of California and begin looking for a match. 'Maybe then I'll recognise the rest of the area?'

  Leila said, 'California is a big place. I don't think Sarah-Jane would be taking herself too far. She can't drive and she wouldn't want anybody in on it. She'd go by bus or train. Let's look for a two-hundred-mile radius from L.A.'

  Feathers said, 'Mr Gold has a big library. Come on, Charlotte.'

  Charlotte and Feathers left Leila watching news footage of herself arriving at the Melrose boutique. The press still didn't know what was going on and the police and studio were laying a false trail, hinting that it was actually a scene from the upcoming movie. On the way to the library Charlotte passed Hector Martinez, Mr Gold and Hawthorn in a low and troubled conversation.

  'Anything happens to her, we're dead in the water,' said Martinez gravely.

  'Straight to the bottom,' offered Hawthorn.

  'You don't need to tell me,' said Mr Gold.

  Charlotte felt very sorry for him. He was a nice man and this movie had been a horror for him. The library was indeed enormous and it was just as well she had Feathers with her because the maps were high up and Feathers was more quickly able to locate what they needed. Charlotte had to climb a library ladder to fetch them.

  Back in the trailer they spread out a detailed map of California and took sections, looking for any town with the letters azquez. It was about fifteen minutes later when Charlotte spotted something.

  'Look here. Valazquez Ravine.'

  Leila and Feathers crowded in to check out the area, which was about one hundred miles north-east of Los Angeles.

  'I know that area!' Leila was excited. 'We shot some scenes near there during Horses for Courses, in an old, disused mining town. 'It was right . . . here.'

  She put her hoof on the map but it covered about twenty square miles.

  'Move your big fat hoof, I can't see,' whined Feathers.

  'How would you like my big fat hoof on your tiny bird brain?'

  Charlotte, again, had to arbitrate. 'Guys, cut it out. Leila, let us see, please.'

  Leila removed her hoof. 'See, just there, Gilbertsville. There's nobody around for miles. A coach runs from the city.'

  'There's only one problem,' observed Feathers. 'The hundred miles between here and there. How are we going to get there?'

  Charlotte said, 'Obviously I can't drive . . .'

  She looked at Leila. 'Oh no. No way I'm walking there. And don't even think about suggesting the coach.'

  'I know!' said Charlotte. 'I can ask Strudworth to drive us.'

  'You going to tell her what we think?' Feathers sounded doubtful.

  Charlotte said, 'She's a good person. I think we can trust her.'

  Charlotte found Strudworth in her bungalow, pacing about, concerned.

  'It's awful, Charlotte. I really feel I should be doing something to help Joel.'

  'Well –' Charlotte took the plunge – 'that's kind of why I'm here.'

  Strudworth regarded her. Her eyebrow raised in a question. 'Go on.'

  Charlotte told her everything. Strudworth listened without interrupting.

  'You feel that if you go to the police, you'll be suspected of creating mischief or being a loony? Hmm. Believe me, I know the feeling.' Strudworth was conducting some inner struggle. 'The thing is, I feel very uncomfortable deceiving Mr Gold.'

  'If we tell Mr Gold, he will have to tell the police.'

  Strudworth nodded. 'Yes. If we're right, Sarah-Jane could be charged by the police, which will not help the movie. And if we're wrong and something terrible were to happen . . .'

  Strudworth's head shot upwards. She had made her decision. 'Very well, we leave at dawn.'

  'Apparently, it's very difficult terrain. We should take Leila. Give her some exercise anyway.'

  'Good idea.'

  The phone buzzed and Strudworth seized it swiftly.

  'Yes?' There was a pause. Her eyes fell on Charlotte. 'Yes, she is.' She held the phone out. 'It's Todd Greycroft.'

  Charlotte took the call. 'Hi, Todd. I'm so sorry, things have been hectic here and I have no idea how you did?'

  'Came fourth.'

  Charlotte thought that was excellent, given the experience of the other riders.

  'So now I'm all finished. I'm coming up to L.A. tomorrow.'

  Charlotte thought quickly. 'Can you bring Warrior?'

  'I suppose. Why?'

  'I'll tell you tomorrow. We might have to camp out for a night though.'

  'Sounds very mysterious.'

  Charlotte gave him Mr Gold's address.

  'I can be there by 8 am,' said Todd.

  Charlotte rang off, feeling excited and relieved. Todd had a very cool head in a crisis. She knew she could trust him to help.

  'I gather he's joining us,' said Strudworth.

  Charlotte realised she hadn't even asked Strudworth. 'Is that okay?'

  'I'm sure he'll be an asset. I'll organise the horse floats. Now get a good night's rest.'

  Charlotte wasn't sure she would be able to sleep a wink.

  Chapter 11

  As it turned out, Charlotte slept well. It was Leila who was antsy. The next morning she was in a panic, trying to look her best.

  'Try the pink bridle,' she commanded Charlotte, who was walking around in one boot, looking to get the other one on.

  'Give me a break, I'm not dressed myself.'

  'Like anyone would notice. Come on, hop to it.'

  Charlotte found the pink bridle and slipped it on Leila, who regarded herself in the mirror.

  'Is it too evening with the pink? Try the rhinestone one.'

  'I haven't got . . .'

  'Rhinestone. Come on, make it snappy.'

  Charlotte kept her cool, and tried the rhinestone bridle on Leila, who peered at herself in the giant mirror.

  She shook her head. 'Nope, that is definitely too evening. What about the western-style?'

  Charlotte threw that on her.

  'Maybe too try-hard,' observed Leila, checking herself from every possible angle.

  Charlotte had had enough. 'You're wearing this.'

  She slipped on Leila's normal work bridle.

  'But it's so plain!' whined Leila.

  'It will make your eyes stand out better,' offered Charlotte, giving herself time to pull on her other boot.

  'Maybe you're right.' Leila tilted her head around, satisfied. 'Okay, now my mane. I'd like a little French braid.'

  'You told me never to plait your mane!'

  Charlotte was throwing clothes into her backpack. Feathers was still snoozing on his perch.

  Leila said, 'You know better than to listen to me.'

  There was a rap on the door.

  'Charlotte. Are you ready?' It was Strudworth.

  'Not quite.' Charlotte desperately seized clothes and threw them into the bag.

  'We need to get an early start. The traffic out of the city will be horrendous.'

  Leila had momentarily forgotten how bad it could be stuck in a horse float on an L.A. freeway. At least it would leave some jaw-time with Warrior. But then Warrior could be precious. If he was in
one of his moods it would be like going to the dentist. She would need a distraction. She nudged Charlotte.

  'You better pack my iHorse too. The one marked Nashville. Seeing as we're heading to the Wild West, I think country – Keith Urban and Travis Tritt.'

  'Is there somebody in there with you?' asked Strudworth suspiciously.

  'It's the TV.'

  Charlotte glared at Leila, grabbed the map, stuck it in her pocket and opened the door to find Miss Strudworth on the step, in very neat tweed.

  'Let's go, Richards. Todd Greycroft has just arrived.'

  Charlotte and Leila needed no incentive to leave the trailer. Feathers remained drooped on his perch, snoozing.

  Todd and Warrior were waiting in the driveway. Todd, in jeans and a denim shirt, looked ready for a trail ride. Leila left the humans to jabber among themselves and sauntered up to Warrior. She decided to get the first shot across his bow.

  'Only fourth?' she said in Horswegian.

  Warrior looked at her with his piercing brown eyes. 'Not bad out of fifty-four.'

  'I hear dressage was your weakness again.' She enjoyed needling him.

  Warrior grunted. 'It's such a girly thing. All that prancing and dancing.'

  'In other words you suck royally at it.'

  'Like you do at the jumps.'

  'Hey, I started late.'

  'Any time you need a little schooling . . .' Warrior shrugged.

  Leila wouldn't mind a little schooling with the black stallion but no way would she admit that to the arrogant fathead! She changed the subject. 'You want me to fill you in on what this is about?'

  'Fire away.'

  'Believe me, I can take my time. We've got a long road trip ahead of us.'

  Leila noticed Charlotte and Todd heading for them.

  'I like your bridle,' said Warrior.

  'You do?'

  'Yeah. I figured you'd be wearing hot pink or some kind of bling. That looks more natural.'

  Leila felt a little tingle down her spine. She loved it when Warrior gave her a compliment.