“It’s 350 miles to San Francisco, and it will take you all night and half of tomorrow to get there. In your condition, you might not get there at all. The coast highway will be treacherous. I’ve seen you drive,” he added pointedly.
Bebe pulled free of Reuben’s grasp, glaring at him. “If, and I say if, you’re so damned concerned about me, then you drive me. That’s fair enough!” Reuben thought her beautiful at that moment, with her damp curls wisping about her forehead and ears. A Christmas angel. She wasn’t angry, not really. She was issuing a challenge—and he found it compelling. Despite himself he could feel his cold reserve start to thaw.
“Don’t fall for it,” Daniel growled at his side. “She’s trying to manipulate you, Reuben.”
“We can’t let this pack of fools out on the road in this fog. Did you ever try to reason with a drunk? If you take a good look, you’ll see the whiskey and gin on the floor in the back. Eli is making a delivery. They’re going to make this trip no matter what.”
Bebe hopped back in the car and let her head loll against the seat, the picture of a weary, happy drunk. Only she wasn’t drunk at all; in fact, she hadn’t had a drink all day. She closed her eyes. What was better: going to Reuben’s apartment or having Reuben drive her to San Francisco to party all weekend? Quick as lightning she turned on the ignition, ground the gears. The car bucked forward and then stalled. The other engines came to life, their fog lights dancing crazily in the eerie mist. Bebe laughed uproariously. Reuben clenched his teeth so hard his jaw started to ache. “Get your brother in this car,” he barked. “Daniel, get in the back with Eli.”
“Reuben, you’re not serious about this….” He sidled closer to his friend. “You don’t even have your glasses.” His voice trembled with worry.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Reuben said quietly. “I just can’t let these fools go alone. Someone has to watch over them. Don’t you understand, they could cause this studio one hell of a lot of trouble if something goes wrong. Are you coming or not?”
Daniel looked around at the ghostly hulks lined up as though for a parade. The chattering and laughter grated on his nerves. Reuben was right about the studio. He was soaked right down to his underwear, either from perspiration or the high humidity. This was ridiculous. He tried one last appeal, this time directed at Bebe. “Come home with us. Bebe,” he begged.
“Daniel, I don’t want to make a cake. I want to go to a party. Don’t you want to go to a party? Don’t be a poop. Reuben’s a poop. Reuben doesn’t know how to have a good time. Reuben doesn’t even know how to smile, does he, Daniel?” She laughed, a deep throaty chuckle. Her voice dropped several tones. “Reuben wants to run this studio and be the boss. Isn’t that right, Reuben?”
But Reuben refused to be baited. Without a word he climbed in the car, pushing Bebe over as he settled his large frame behind the wheel. Eli was last to settle himself in the backseat. Horns honked as the cars and passengers hooted in excitement. The fog parted in ghostly shapes, only to return thicker and heavier. Reuben clenched his teeth again.
Bebe swung her legs over the side of the door, started to sing in a voice loud enough for the last car’s riders to hear. “We’re going to a party, we’re going to a party.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d shut up, Bebe, and let me concentrate on my driving,” Reuben snapped. “Go to sleep!” Oh, he was just itching for a fight, and he didn’t care with whom. He glanced in the mirror. Eli was asleep, his neck resting on a carton of liquor, and Daniel…he didn’t even think of picking on him at the moment. It looked like his fight would have to be with Bebe if she didn’t go to sleep. Instantly his shoulders and arms stiffened in anticipation of the verbal onslaught. Bebe turned completely on her seat to stare at Reuben. In the swirling gray mist she looked ethereal. Reuben grunted as he concentrated on steering the powerful machine.
“Very well, Reuben, if you want me to go to sleep, I’ll go to sleep. Good night.”
Another trick, Reuben thought in disgust. Bebe never did what she was told. He risked a quick glance over his shoulder at Daniel, who simply shrugged, as if to say there was a first time for everything.
Reuben tried to settle himself for the long drive ahead of him. Daniel thought he was crazy, and he agreed. What had possessed him to do this thing? Had he actually agreed to drive to San Francisco? No, he decided, not exactly. But he’d climbed in the car, and that had made it official. Of course, he could have driven Bebe and Eli to Benedict Canyon and just dropped them off. Now he wished he’d done just that. He looked into the rearview mirror. The other cars, swathed in the murky fog, were not far behind. This was probably one of the stupidest things he’d ever done in his life. Was he trying to make amends to Bebe? Did he want her to think he was better than that person in the barn?
The miles rumbled beneath him. After a few hours the temperature seemed to drop slightly and a soft wind whistled through the open windows. The cool air felt good on Reuben’s face, but his eyes were aching with strain and his leg was starting to twitch, a sure sign of fatigue. Once again he chastised himself, the litany of grievances raced through his mind. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
A thick swirl of mist came through the open window and seemed to enshroud the girl sleeping at his side. Reuben lashed out with his arm to disperse the cloud. Bebe stirred and then settled back to sleep.
“Jesus, Reuben, that stuff looked like a bunch of fat snakes,” Daniel said in a tremulous voice. “Maybe you should close the windows.”
“I need the fresh air to keep awake. I think it’s getting a little cooler. Maybe the fog will lift. It’s not bad in some places and in others you can’t see an inch ahead of you. I’ll get us there, Daniel, don’t worry about it. Haven’t I always come through for you?”
“Yes, but this is different. Before you never took reckless chances. I don’t understand this. We’re fools, both of us. I wish this liquor weren’t in the car.”
“So do I, but it’ll be all right.” Reuben said tightly.
Daniel inched himself forward until he was leaning over the seat behind Reuben. “Is there any one particular reason we’re on this dismal road to San Francisco, a reason I am not aware of?”
“Neither one of them was in any condition to drive. You saw how determined Bebe was to make the trip. I don’t know about you, but I know I wouldn’t be able to look Sol in the face if something happened to Bebe or Eli when I could have stopped it.”
“Is that the only reason?” Daniel asked quietly.
“I have a few others, but that’s the main one. Why don’t you try and get some sleep.”
“With this guy next to me? I trust him only as far as I can see him. When he wakes up he’s going to be one angry young man. You pretty much made a fool of him back at the studio, and now you’re horning in on his territory.”
The long road loomed ahead of them like a never-ending snake. Reuben settled himself as comfortably as he could for the rest of the drive. The fog was lifting slightly, allowing for better visibility. Every now and then, when the road cleared, he risked a glance at Bebe. Each time, something cringed in him at the sight of her sleeping face. She looked so…so angelic. Her brother, on the other hand, looked like the devil incarnate.
Bebe peered at Reuben through her fringe of heavy lashes. She caught each furtive glimpse he took of her as a ray of hope. If there was a way to get Reuben Tarz for her very own, she promised herself, she’d find it. More than anything else in the world, she wanted him. And one way or another she’d always managed to get what she wanted. This time wouldn’t be any different. After all, she held all the cards. The day might come when she wanted or needed to deal him the joker in the deck. She smiled as she slipped into sleep. Reuben Tarz was as good as hers.
The sorry-looking caravan arrived at the Sherwood Hotel at mid-morning. Reuben was red-eyed and irritable when Bebe hopped out of the car, stretching luxuriously. “See, Reuben, you were concerned for no reason. We’re here, safe and sou
nd. Now it’s time to party. Eli! Eli, wake up. We’re here, toots.”
Eli struggled to wakefulness. Spittle was caked at the corners of his mouth, and his greasy hair stuck up in stiff peaks. Like horns, Reuben thought. He was wrinkled and stiff from the long trip. Red, festering blotches dotted the side of his face he’d slept on. His beady little eyes stared at Reuben. “Carry that stuff in the back and in the trunk upstairs,” he ordered Reuben and Daniel.
“You want that ‘stuff’ carried upstairs, I suggest you hop to it,” Reuben said coldly. He stared at Eli until the young man looked away.
“Bebe,” he whined, “how are we going to get this liquor up to the party?”
“I have no idea, but I’d be real careful if I were you, Eli, I’m sure they’re counting on it.” Bebe danced her way to the entrance.
Reuben strolled over to Eli. His voice was quiet, almost musical when he spoke. “Eli, the only reason Daniel and I are here at all is because you and your sister were too drunk to drive. I suggest you keep your nose clean while you’re here. If you don’t, you won’t have a nose.” The moment he turned his back, Eli spit in his direction. Daniel grinned and wagged his finger at the young man, who kicked the car in rage.
“Flunky,” Eli muttered.
Reuben stopped in his tracks and turned, his eyes never leaving Eli’s face. Slowly he backed Eli against the car. “What did you call me?”
“You heard me the first time,” Eli whined shrilly.
“The first time you were drunk—now you’re not.”
“You work for Maxie same as I do,” Eli said belligerently.
Reuben’s fist shot out. Eli went down in the gutter, his legs sprawled straight out. “What were you saying?” Reuben asked icily.
“Okay, okay, so you’re not a flunky. What makes you so different from me? We both work for Maxie.”
Reuben lifted his foot and placed it on Eli’s neck. “Wrong, Eli. Max works for Fairmont, and you owe Max. There is a big difference. If you agree to behave yourself, I’ll take my foot off your neck. Just nod.” Eli nodded. “If I hear one more peep out of you this entire weekend, your ass will go back to L.A. in a basket. Do we understand each other?” Eli nodded again, and Reuben removed his foot.
“I’m too tired to breathe,” he grumbled to Daniel as they entered the hotel. “All I want is a bath and a bed. Since we aren’t exactly invited members of this party, I wonder where we can sleep?”
“Reuben, Daniel, over here!” Bebe called from the desk. “My friends have taken over an entire floor, so I’m certain there will be a room where you can catch some sleep. I didn’t thank you properly for driving us. I do want to apologize.” Bebe said, giving each of them a warm, moist kiss. “Thank you, Reuben. You, too, Daniel.” Reuben drew in his breath sharply. “Where’s Eli?” Bebe called over her shoulder. “Did he get someone to carry his…his baggage?”
“The last time I saw your brother he was leaning against the car, but I wouldn’t worry about him if I were you.”
Bebe turned, her face full of concern. “But you see, I do worry about my brother. That’s why I came along on this trip. I would much rather have stayed home, but sometimes Eli needs a keeper.”
“What you’re insinuating is you don’t require a keeper,” Reuben said, amazed at Bebe’s audacity.
“Whoops, I think we’re here.” Bebe laughed at the blast of sound that greeted them when she thrust open the suite door. “I’m Just Wild About Harry” blared from the gramophone. “I wonder who Harry is?” Bebe giggled. Daniel stared, his mind busily sifting and collating what was happening around him.
“To the City of Hills!” a man said, holding his glass aloft.
Daniel recognized him immediately. Richard “Dickie” Hastings was the hottest director in Hollywood. He was also notorious for throwing the wildest and most decadent parties of the day. For years he had informed anyone who would listen that he had two goals in life: one, to be the greatest director of all time; the other, to go down in history as the party king of the twenties. He was well on his way to becoming the living legend of his prophesies.
“I’ll drink to that,” Bebe said. reaching for a glass.
Reuben’s eyes narrowed and Daniel’s jaw dropped at the sight the open door provided. Hastings was standing, glass raised, smack in the middle of the cocktail table, in his boxer shorts, his fat belly jutting out obscenely. Christ, thought Reuben, the bastard was so hairy he looked prickly. Girls and women in various states of undress simpered around him, offering him grapes and cheese. Reuben’s eyes continued to narrow until they were mere slits in his face as he watched a budding starlet pour her drink down Dickie’s shorts. “You lick that right up, you hear me. darlin’?” Dickie said, laughing lasciviously. The starlet obliged by pulling at Dickie’s shorts, then craned her neck to do his bidding.
“Jesus,” Daniel breathed. All three of them were rooted to the spot.
The moment Dickie exploded into the starlet’s mouth, he noticed Reuben. “Hey, Tarz,” he bleated, “it’s a party. Let your hair down, there’s enough here for you, too. Who’s your friend?”
“They’re with me.” Bebe smiled uncertainly. This was the first time in her life that she’d seen public sex. She felt embarrassed and couldn’t look at Reuben or Daniel. “And they’d like to take a bath and get some sleep. We drove all night,” she added feebly.
“We have the whole floor. Take your pick. Take a girl if you want,” he said generously.
Reuben carved a path through the writhing bodies on the floor in his quest to get back to the door and hallway. Daniel could feel his cheeks flame as one buxom starlet ripped her dress from the shoulder, exposing large creamy breasts. Reuben looked back once to see if Bebe was following them and saw her cuddling with a young actor who was prettier than any girl in the room. She waved gaily.
“Son of a bitch!” Reuben seethed. He spotted Eli carrying two heavy cartons while he pushed a third with his foot, his face sheathed in perspiration. It was probably the hardest work he’d ever done in his life. “That supply should keep the party going for at least a half hour,” Reuben snapped sarcastically.
“I’ll go back and keep an eye on…things,” Daniel volunteered.
“That’s a good idea. If I don’t get some sleep I’m going to drop in my tracks. Wake me in a couple of hours.”
Back in Dickie’s suite of rooms, Daniel tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. His eyes searched out Bebe, his main concern. She was still snuggling with the pretty young actor, who was busy whispering in her ear. He hated the blank look in her eyes and her nervous giggle. Eli, he noticed, was doing his best to put his hands up a woman’s dress. The ravages of liquor, dope, and too many wild parties showed on her young-old face. She seemed to suit Eli, he thought uncharitably.
“C’mere, Mavis,” Dickie called out to her drunkenly. The woman struggled to her feet and wobbled over to Dickie.
“Whatcha want, honey?” she simpered. Up close Daniel thought she looked even worse. Her face was caked with old as well as new makeup. But Dickie didn’t seem to mind—or perhaps he didn’t notice, as he drew her into his arms.
“You and me, toots,” he said, “we had some good times, didn’t we?”
“We sure did, Dickie, but you got real famous and didn’t need me anymore.”
“You got old, that’s why,” Dickie said drunkenly. “I’ll never deny you were the best lay I ever had.”
“You want to try again for old time’s sake?” Mavis asked hopefully.
“Maybe later.” Dickie chuckled as his eyes slid across the room. He knew he could have any woman in the room except maybe Bebe Rosen. What the hell did he want with a crinkly old broad like Mavis? She smelled, too, he thought in disgust. He failed to see the malevolent look on Eli Rosen’s face.
At one point Daniel estimated over a hundred people were in the room, eating Dickie’s food and drinking his liquor. The bash had to cost a fortune. They were like a horde of locusts foraging o
n food, drink, and flesh. Daniel felt dirty just watching.
At one point Dickie returned to the room with a towel wrapped around his middle. He greeted each new arrival by name. “I’m so glad you could come. Come on in and join the party.”
Daniel wondered if Dickie realized half the people in the room didn’t care a twit about him, but only what he could provide in the way of food, drink, sex, and reefer. His eyes returned to Bebe, who was extricating herself from the pretty actor. She pouted and made her way over to Daniel.
“Where’s Reuben?” she asked, her full pink lips pursed on the rim of a glass.
“Your lips are bruised,” Daniel said disapprovingly.
Bebe shrugged. “That happens after you kiss a lot. Walk me to my room?”
“One of these rooms, or did you engage one?” Daniel asked.
She pointed upstairs. “On the next floor. A girl needs a room where she can repair her makeup and tinkle without sixty people observing her.” She barely suppressed a smile at Daniel’s embarrassment. “Daniel, you are just too precious for words. Please, don’t ever change.”
“Do you get some kind of weird pleasure out of making fun of me?” Daniel snapped.
Bebe’s eyes widened. “Oh! Don’t ever think that, not for a minute. I love you just the way you are, and l don’t want you to change—that’s all I meant. Sometimes when I say things they don’t come out the way I intend them to. I would never make fun of you,” she repeated.
Somewhat mollified, Daniel allowed her to link her arm with his. They made their way out to the hall, the strains of “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” following them. “Do you think I’m as pretty as a melody, Daniel?” asked Bebe.
Daniel flushed. “You bet.”
The real Bebe Rosen smiled at him. “I know you mean that. Thank you for the compliment. I think we can both use a breather away from that party. It was wild, wasn’t it? Did you see some of those people Dickie hangs out with? I hear Mavis is always around. She licks his feet and he kicks her, supposedly. I thought he was nicer than that. I hate to be disappointed in people. Eli…Eli wants to be invited to things like this. I can’t make him understand they just use him. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him for a while, have you?”
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