Regina's Legacy (Sweet Valley High Book 73)

by Francine Pascal

  "But it's not just me he takes pictures of," Shelley continued. "Lately he's been taking pictures of every other person who crosses his path. Look! There he goes again!"

  Jim had been gazing around the crowded cafeteria with a speculative eye. Suddenly he had grabbed his camera, twisted in his chair, focused the zoom lens, and snapped a picture.

  Shelley shook her head. "All I see is Winston Egbert trying to balance his lunch tray on his head. Why would you bother taking a picture of something as silly as that?"

  Jim smiled mysteriously and caught Elizabeth's eye. She took a bite of her sandwich to keep from giggling.

  Todd observed this exchange. "What goes on in this photography club, anyway?"

  "We take pictures," Jim replied neutrally.

  "And develop and print them," Elizabeth added innocently.

  "I should have warned you," Shelley said to Todd. "The first time Liz picked up a camera, she was doomed. It does something to the brain."

  "Don't worry about us," Elizabeth assured Todd and Shelley. "We're not as cracked as we seem!" She took another bite of her sandwich and enjoyed Todd's quizzical look. Jim's idea to make the photo essay a secret had certainly made the project more fun. Now, if they could only keep it a secret!

  Jim, Elizabeth, and a few other members of the photography club stayed late in the darkroom Monday afternoon. The darkroom was Jim's favorite spot at Sweet Valley High. He loved everything about it: the enlargers and basins for processing prints, the new print dryer, even the way the orange safelight cast a warm glow on the photographers' faces.

  "How many pictures did you take this past weekend?" Jim asked as Elizabeth clipped up another long strip of negatives to dry.

  "Three rolls of thirty-six," Elizabeth confessed. "I don't know what came over me! I got in my car on Saturday morning and spent the whole day driving around Sweet Valley. Everywhere I looked, I saw a picture waiting to be taken. I couldn't stop myself."

  "I recognize this phenomenon." Jim grinned. "It's called photo-obsession."

  "And you should know!"

  "It's true," Jim conceded. "Ever since I got my first camera when I was a kid, it's been like a part of my body. Shelley's right—I take it with me everywhere."

  "So you formed the club as an outlet for your artistic energy," DeeDee surmised.

  "I guess. Except if anything, it's increased my obsession. This photo essay's really gotten me in gear. Although I'm still looking for a special angle."

  "The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm going to stick to black-and-white for this project," Elizabeth said. "I'm still not completely confident working with color, and I don't want to goof up."

  "I'm just worried my pictures won't be good enough for the mural." Andrea looked over at Jim. "Is this what I do next?"

  "You've got it," Jim confirmed. "Just slide the print into the developer and agitate it. Then after two minutes, put it in the stop bath for thirty seconds." He went on to explain the timing for the fixer and the wash.

  Andrea did as Jim instructed. A minute later, she gave an excited squeal. "Look at my picture!"

  Jim smiled. It was the first photo Andrea had printed on her own. He knew how excited she felt.

  Elizabeth peered at the photograph floating in the developer and burst out laughing. "What a riot!"

  Andrea had taken a picture of her rock-star father doing a cannonball off the diving board of their swimming pool. "In private, my dad's kind of a goof," Andrea confided.

  "By the way, Liz," said Jim. "Is that a new camera you have?"

  "Yes. It's inspired me. That's one of the reasons I've been taking more pictures than ever. Here, check it out."

  Elizabeth took the camera from its case and handed it to Jim. He examined it with an expert's eye and whistled in admiration. "This is the best camera Nikon makes. If it was a gift, somebody must really like you."

  "Actually, it was." Elizabeth told the others about her visit from Regina Morrow's mother.

  "Mrs. Morrow was glad she had something to give you to remember Regina by," Andrea affirmed.

  Elizabeth tipped her head thoughtfully. "It's funny, but when I use the camera, I feel close to Regina. It's almost as if she's with me, as if when I look through the lens I'm seeing the world with Regina's eyes as well as my own. Does that sound weird?"

  Claire looked up from placing a piece of printing paper on the easel of an enlarger. "No, it doesn't," she said softly. "After Ted died . . ." Claire paused. She seemed far away at that moment, obviously thinking about her older brother who had died of cancer shortly before the Middletons moved to Sweet Valley. "He still seemed alive in my memory," Claire continued. "I felt his presence when I tried out for the football team. Whenever I threw a pass it was like my arms got strength from him."

  "The photography club must seem kind of tame after football," Jim remarked.

  Claire smiled. "Working on the photo essay is exciting in a different way."

  "Just watch out for nosy people," Elizabeth warned. "Jim and I are already having a tough time keeping this a secret."

  "Speaking of nosy people, I have to meet Shelley," Jim announced with a laugh. "I'm out of here."

  "I'm done, too," said Elizabeth. "I'll walk out with you."

  "Stick around as long as you want," Jim told the others. "Just make sure the last person out locks the darkroom door. And hide any photo-essay evidence!"

  Shelley stood in front of the locker room mirror and towel-dried her hair. Then she combed it out with her fingers, leaving it attractively tousled.

  "Ready to head out, Shell?" her best friend Cathy Ulrich asked.

  "Um-hmm. I just need to grab my book bag from my locker."

  "It was a pretty good practice," Cathy commented as they left the locker room.

  "Yeah," Shelley agreed. "After that killer season with the team, intramurals are a lot of fun."

  "You can't fool me," Cathy teased her. "You still play to win."

  Shelley grinned. "I never said I didn't!"

  "Where are you off to? I have my mom's car today, so I could drop you off somewhere."

  "Thanks, but I'm meeting up with Jim. Guess where he is?"

  Cathy pretended to ponder the question and Shelley laughed. "I'll just take a wild guess. The darkroom?"

  "Bingo!"

  The two girls said goodbye, and Shelley hurried in the direction of the darkroom. It was silly. She had seen Jim only a few hours ago, but she missed him as much as if they'd been separated for a week. Shelley had always thought the feeling she got playing basketball was the best feeling in the world. But that was before she fell in love with Jim.

  She entered the photography-club room just as Jim emerged from the darkroom with Elizabeth. They were deep in conversation.

  "Well, hello you two," Shelley remarked dryly. "It's a good thing I'm not the jealous type, Jim, or I'd wonder about you spending afternoons in a darkroom with beautiful blondes."

  "You don't have to worry." Jim reassured her as he slipped his arm around her waist.

  "With Jim and me, it's just a meeting of minds," Elizabeth explained.

  "You mean a meeting of lenses!" Shelley kidded.

  Elizabeth stopped off at the Oracle office. Jim and Shelley strolled toward the lobby, their arms around each other's waists. "So, how's Sweet Valley High's latest extracurricular craze?" Shelley asked.

  "People are lining up in droves to join," Jim joked. "Seriously, though, we've got a lot more members than I expected. I think the club's going to be a big success."

  "Of course it is." Shelley hugged her boyfriend a little bit closer. "With you in charge, it has to be."

  "Flattery will get you everywhere!"

  "So, let's see today's batch of pictures." Shelley could barely contain her curiosity.

  "Pictures?"

  "Yeah, pictures." Shelley tickled his waist. "You know, those things you take with your camera. That is what the photography club's for, isn't it, taking pictures?"

  "I don't have an
y with me," said Jim with a shrug.

  Shelley tapped her finger on the manila folder he was carrying. "Then what's in here?"

  Jim quickly stuck the folder inside one of his books. "Sorry, that's classified information."

  "Come on," she pressed. "I just want to see what you're working on these days. What's wrong with that?"

  "Nothing, but—"

  "So, hand it over!" She was beginning to get annoyed.

  With one arm, Jim held his books away from her, and with the other he pulled her to him for a kiss. "You'll just have to take my word for it, Shell. You don't want to see these pictures."

  "OK, but I don't know why these particular pictures should be such a big deal."

  "You'll understand one of these days," Jim assured her.

  Jim's car was one of the last left in the student parking lot. Shelley climbed into the passenger seat, only half listening to Jim as he talked about the movie they were planning to see at the Valley Cinema that night. Her mind was still on the manila folder and its mysterious contents.

  What was Jim hiding, and why?

  Three

  "No way, Liz. You're not taking the car again!" Jessica protested the next afternoon as Elizabeth entered the kitchen, her camera bag over one shoulder and the keys to the Fiat in her hand. "I'm going shopping today."

  "You're just going to the mall with Lila, aren't you? She can drive," Elizabeth pointed out reasonably.

  Jessica stepped in between Elizabeth and the door, blocking her twin's escape route. "Lila said it was my turn to drive, and she's right. When Mom and Dad gave us the car, we were supposed to share it, remember? And you've been monopolizing it for your boring photography project."

  "Maybe I have, but who's the one who usually hogs it to go to the mall all the time?" Elizabeth countered.

  Jessica put her hands on her hips. "I do not go to the mall all the time!"

  "I'll tell you what. I'll drop you off at the mall on my way to the beach to take pictures, and then I'll pick you up on my way back."

  "Thanks anyway," Jessica said with a sniff, "but I'll get a ride with Lila. As usual." She narrowed her eyes. "All I can say is this photography club is really getting out of hand. At first I thought it was just you. You have to admit, it's not normal to take a picture of Ms. Dalton in the middle of French class!"

  Elizabeth had decided on her special angle for the mural just that morning: she would photograph Sweet Valley High teachers doing what they did best. Ms. Dalton had been her first subject. Elizabeth smiled. "I asked her before class if it was OK. But who else is acting weird?"

  "That nerd Allen Walters," continued Jessica. "He snuck into cheerleading practice today and was zooming in at us from all over the place! I thought he was only interested in math and chemistry. You photography-club types are just a bunch of Peeping Toms. It gives me the creeps!"

  "One of these days it won't seem so creepy," Elizabeth promised her sister. "Happy shopping!"

  "Happy snooping," Jessica retorted as Elizabeth headed outside.

  Elizabeth supposed she couldn't blame her twin for being a little annoyed about her taking the car. She was guilty as charged. Lately, she had been spending all her free time taking pictures with Regina's camera both during and after school.

  "And today we're going to the beach," Elizabeth said to Prince Albert, who had followed her out of the house. Prince Albert barked happily when he realized Elizabeth was going to take him along in the car. He jumped right into the small back area, not even waiting for Elizabeth to open the door to the convertible.

  Elizabeth drove at a leisurely pace, humming to the songs on the radio. It was another perfect Southern California day. The sky was clear and blue, and palm trees waved in the gentle breeze. As Elizabeth crested a hill, she caught a glimpse of the Pacific. A short time later, she was parking the Fiat in the lot next to one of the public beaches. She had deliberately chosen a different beach than the one where the Sweet Valley students hung out. Instead, she chose a deserted beach, one where there was no swimming.

  Camera in hand, Elizabeth walked barefoot onto the sand. She loved the beach. It was so much a part of life in Sweet Valley. She couldn't have counted the number of times she had come there for a quiet time with just one friend or for a volleyball game or a cookout with a whole crowd. Now Elizabeth recalled a few parties in particular, given back when Regina was still alive. She had always brightened the scene with her beautiful smile.

  I was lucky to have a friend like Regina, she thought. Elizabeth lifted the camera to her eye and focused on a big piece of polished and fancifully twisted driftwood. She also snapped a few pictures of Prince Albert chasing seagulls. Then Elizabeth sat down by the driftwood. She knew she was partially hidden and hoped to catch a few beachcombers unaware.

  She smiled as she waited for her first victim. Maybe Jessica was right. Maybe she was turning into a Peeping Tom!

  After several minutes, Elizabeth stood up and stretched. She walked along the beach, snapping pictures every few minutes. She photographed a funny old man in a straw hat, searching for treasure in the sand with a metal detector; a long-haired surfer waiting patiently for the perfect wave; three young mothers trying to keep track of their toddlers and carry on a conversation at the same time; a girl practicing cartwheels at the edge of the crashing surf.

  Two hours passed in a flash. As Elizabeth trudged back in the direction of her car, she suddenly realized she was tired. After leaving her perch by the driftwood, she must have walked at least two miles up the beach and back again!

  The parking lot was on the other side of a sand dune criss-crossed with footpaths. When she reached the dune, Elizabeth turned to whistle for Prince Albert who was happily loping behind her. That was when she saw three men running along the next path.

  Elizabeth stared at the men, her attention captivated. There was something odd about them. They're running too closely together, that's it, she observed. And they're not dressed for jogging. The youngest was wearing jeans and a T-shirt; the other two men, who looked to be in their late thirties, were wearing trousers and sports shirts.

  But it was more than that. Somehow, there was a sense of uneasiness surrounding the trio. Whatever it was, they made a striking image. Intrigued, Elizabeth lifted her camera, focused quickly, and snapped a picture.

  As she was about to take a second photograph, one of the older men happened to look in her direction. She noticed he was very red in the face and sweat gleamed on his balding forehead. He stopped in his tracks and glared at her. "What do you think you're doing?" he yelled.

  "Just taking a picture," Elizabeth replied, stating the obvious. And before Elizabeth could apologize for any unintended offense she might have given, the man was running toward her. The next thing Elizabeth knew, he tried to snatch her camera right out of her hand!

  "Hey!" Elizabeth yelled, yanking the camera out of his reach.

  Suddenly, Elizabeth heard a menacing snarl. Prince Albert ran up and jumped up on the man, his teeth bared.

  The bald man fell back in surprise.

  Quickly, Elizabeth sprinted over the dune to her parked car. She jumped inside and started the engine, looking over her shoulder anxiously. The man hadn't given up; he was chasing her!

  Prince Albert ran after the man, barking loudly. Elizabeth didn't hesitate. She had to trust her dog to know what to do. She couldn't risk having that man catch up to her!

  "Come on, Prince Albert!" Elizabeth shouted, her voice high with fear. Then she hit the gas.

  With a bound, Prince Albert overtook the man and leapt into the back of the convertible just as Elizabeth pulled away.

  In the rearview mirror, Elizabeth saw the man stop at the edge of the parking lot and shake his fist after her departing car. The other two men had disappeared from sight.

  Elizabeth gripped the steering wheel, her heart pounding, and sped out of the parking lot onto the road. She took a few deep breaths and reminded herself she was all right. That man must have been cr
azy, she thought.

  After dinner that night, Todd picked up Elizabeth in the new BMW his parents had given to him when the family had moved back to California. The two stopped at Casey's Ice Cream Parlor in the Valley Mall on their way to Todd's house to do homework together.

  They had been sitting in the car in the parking lot for five minutes. Todd was almost finished with his cone but Elizabeth had barely touched hers.

  "Something's on your mind, Liz, I can tell," her boyfriend observed. "What could be more important than chocolate chip ice cream?"

  Elizabeth smiled. She was preoccupied; she couldn't hide it. "I had a strange experience this afternoon, that's all. Make that a scary experience." She paused to lick around the edge of her melting cone.

  Todd frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "I'm all right," Elizabeth hurried to assure him. "I just got spooked. I was at the beach this afternoon, taking pictures with Regina's camera. And I saw these three men running."

  Elizabeth hadn't mentioned the incident to her family. She hadn't wanted to upset them. Now, as she told Todd about her encounter with the menacing bald man, she realized it didn't sound as bizarre and frightening as it had seemed while it was happening.

  "The guy was definitely a jerk," Todd commented. "But I'm sure he wasn't trying to hurt you. He just didn't want you to take his picture." He grinned. "Sometimes even I feel that way!"

  Elizabeth handed her ice cream cone to Todd. She couldn't finish it. "It was more than that. He was mad, really mad. He didn't just yell at me for taking the picture. He tried to grab my camera!"

  "Maybe you should be more careful about who you take pictures of," Todd suggested. "You have to expect that some people, like this guy obviously, are going to think of it as an invasion of privacy."

  Elizabeth shook her head, unconvinced.

  "Don't take it so seriously. After all, it goes with the territory. There's some danger involved with being a photographer-at-large," Todd teased.