“Maria, please—”
“You slept with him.”
“Maria—”
“If you go near him again, Verona …”
“Maria, you’re being far too dramatic.”
“This isn’t drama at all, Verona. If you go near him again, I’ll kill you.”
“I’m your sister, Maria—”
“I’ll kill you, do you understand that? I don’t know how, or when, but I’ll do it! I will kill you. And trust me, I’m not so frail, or innocent, or so naive that it won’t happen. I’m warning you, you will be dead!”
Kelly slammed her way off the set.
“Cut! Terrific!” Jim cried out.
Kelly was already laughing at something the cameraman was saying. Serena walked off the set more slowly.
The lights were in her eyes. The rest of the room seemed very dark, and the other sets created vast shadows. Where people stood here and there about the cavernous floor, they, too, seemed all shadow.
She shivered, suddenly afraid. She wanted to get off the set.
A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
“You! I am going to kill you! How could you, Serena, how could you? Without a word?”
Chapter 13
SHARON MILLER STOOD AT the elevator, praying that it would come quickly. She should have never come here. She was about to burst into tears, and all she wanted to do was get away.
From the moment Liam had said that he was taking a job at Valentine Valley, she had known it was over. He’d never lied to her; he’d never said that he loved her. She’d known about Serena, and she should have realized from the way he acted far too often that there was still someone else in his heart.
She pressed the elevator button again. “Come, come, come, please!”
It hadn’t helped that she’d seemed to be so cordial, so reassuring, and so decent when Liam had said that they were worlds apart. His relationship with her just wasn’t fair because he couldn’t be what she wanted. She’d tried to tell him that she didn’t want a commitment if it made him uncomfortable. He had told her gently that she deserved a lot more. Every time a guy said that a woman deserved a lot more, you just knew you were screwed. He did care about her, she knew that, just not the way she wanted, not the way she had hoped.
“Sharon?”
“Hey!” she said happily. She did have a friend on the set.
“You’re leaving?”
Sharon nodded. “I’ve got to get out of here, fast.” She wiped below her eyes. “I’ve just been given the kindly brush-off.”
“It’s Serena, right? Serena McCormack?”
“Not her fault; he just isn’t … he isn’t in love with me.”
“Still …”
“Hey, if any more lights or pieces of scenery fall, try to push her in the way, hm?”
“Sharon, I’m so sorry—”
“Don’t be. I didn’t mean it.”
“It is too bad because Serena probably is the most decent person here. Too bad she’s just so …”
“So Serena!” Sharon said with a laugh. “Can you imagine this whole thing, the way that it’s happened? Oh, God, there’s the elevator. Listen, call me at home, please. We can talk then. Really talk. It’s great to see you—I just have to pull myself together!”
The elevator arrived. Sharon slipped in and waved good-bye to her friend.
“Serena, I just don’t believe this,” Andy said. He clapped his hand to his heart. “You’ve wounded me. Deeply.”
“Andy, you know, you are one hell of an actor”
“There you go, striking into my heart again.”
“Andy, I didn’t do anything evil. I did a screen test. I have not been offered a role. If I am offered a role, I will discuss it with you anyway.”
“Why the screen test if you—”
“Andy, you know that I met Eddie at film school. He asked me to do a screen test. So I’ve been his friend, and I thought, hey, why not? And why didn’t I tell anyone? Frankly, I’m not so sure that he will offer me the part, and you know what, Andy? I still have something of a delicate ego. I don’t like the whole world to know when I’ve been rejected.”
Andy understood that.
“You rejected me.”
“Oh, Andy!”
“I still love you, Serena. I remain crushed.”
“Right. So crushed that you run into the arms of every woman in town.”
“Ouch!” he said. “You rejected me, remember? I have an image to uphold. And speaking of parties, we’ve been invited to one tonight.”
“Oh?”
“And I wish you’d come.”
“Who’s having the party?”
“Kyle Amesbury.”
Serena stiffened. “Andy, I’m sorry—”
“He and Joe apparently had words last night. He wants to have a small dinner.”
“Good for him. I don’t like him, Andy.”
“I’ll watch out for you.”
“Andy, I just—” She paused. He wasn’t paying attention to her; he was looking over her shoulder. She spun around, frowning. Liam was just behind her.
“I think we should definitely attend that party.”
“See, there you have it,” Andy murmured. “Even Liam thinks you should go.”
“Where? When?” Liam asked.
“Kyle’s place, in West Hollywood. Eight o’clock cocktails and a dinner buffet.”
“We’ll definitely be there,” Liam said.
“Great,” Andy replied stiffly. “I—uh—I think he meant just the cast and some of the crew—”
“Where Serena goes, I follow,” Liam said. “That’s pretty much what you hired me to do, right?”
“Yes, I guess so. Well, then, I’ll see you both tonight. No, wait, Serena, I’ll see you later on the set. We’re scheduled in a scene together at four o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
Andy nodded and strolled on over to Jim Novac, who was on the Valentine family living room set, talking to Hank and Vera, who were about to have a huge row over their children.
Serena turned and headed toward the elevators, aware that Liam was following her. She was ready to throttle him for saying they’d go to the party.
She wasn’t going.
At the elevator, fully aware that he was behind her, she spun around. “Liam, there aren’t many people I really dislike, but Kyle Amesbury is one of them. He watches people, assesses them as if he’s the devil and he’s wondering what price he’s going to pay for a soul.”
“It’s still important to go to this party.”
“Why?”
“I want to watch him.”
“Liam, he wasn’t on the set when anything happened!”
“I want to see what his relationships with other people are like.”
“Question him.”
“I intend to.”
“Liam—”
“Please, Miss McCormack,” he said politely, with a slight smile. “Think of it this way. If you want me out of your life, helping me to find out what is going on will move things along.”
If she wanted him out of her life? Or if he was in a hurry to get out of it?
“Where’s Miss Miller?” she asked him.
“Gone.”
“Gone where?”
“She’s gone, Serena, I don’t know where.”
A wave of guilt suddenly came over her. “Oh, God, the picture in the paper did cause you problems. I am really sorry—”
“It wasn’t the picture in the paper, Serena, so don’t worry about it.” His voice was harsh.
“Liam, honest to God, maybe I can do something—”
“I don’t want you to do anything, Serena. My life is my concern, all right?”
“Exactly.”
She realized that the elevator door had been open for some time. She hurried into it, and he followed. It felt warm in the elevator, too close.
“Liam, I’m on break. I’ll lock myself in. You can go …” She pause
d, because what she really wanted him to do with himself threatened to trip off her tongue. “You can go have lunch. Or shoot the bull or whatever it is you do with Conar. I’ll be all right alone.”
“You make sure you lock yourself in.”
“I will.”
He walked her to the door of her dressing room. She closed and locked it.
With a real headache now, she flopped down on her sofa and closed her eyes.
Liam found Andy back on the set, watching the scene between Vera and Hank as the two veterans rehearsed, and then taped it. Andy looked glum. The glance he gave Liam was somewhat hostile. “So … have you got anything?”
“Joe Penny was ready to do violence last night,” Liam said.
Andy let out a snort. “In a thousand years, Joe would never hurt Serena.” He shrugged. “She’s the strength of the show. His prize.”
“Yep. But his prize misbehaved, in his eyes.”
Andy looked at him. “You’re crazy if you suspect Joe.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Who do you suspect?” Andy demanded.
“Almost everyone else.”
“Me?”
“You’re still in love with her. She divorced you.”
Andy smiled, looking toward the stage. “No, actually, she had me file the papers. She made me look good all the way through the divorce. Better than I deserved, probably.”
“But you are still in love with her.”
Andy, still smiling, glanced his way. “You’re the one who’s still in love with her. You slept with my ex-wife. You’d lie down and die yourself before letting anyone get to her, so therefore you’re the last person I’d want to have around.” Andy hesitated. “You know, I’ve talked to the police, and I’ve tried to remember every moment of the morning Jane Dunne died. I was never on the set that morning; I was still up in my office when the lights crashed down. But”—he hesitated—”I know that Jeff Guelph was on the set, and he said he hated her. I also know that Jay Braden had a few words with Jane, because he came up and told me that if Jane stayed on the show, there would be a good chance he’d be leaving.”
“When Olsen interviewed you, did you tell him all this?”
“More or less. But there were lots of people in the studio that day, and everyone hated Jane. Allona loathed her. Doug said he couldn’t stand writing for her. Even Jinxy had a bad time with her. She started out as charming as could be and in three short weeks turned from the beautiful queen to the wicked witch.” Andy eyed Liam for a moment. “You know, Detective Hutchens still thinks the lights were an accident.”
“A loose clamp isn’t an accident. It’s either negligence or premeditation.”
“And you think—”
“What I don’t think is that your lighting guys are negligent,” Liam said. “Anyway, thanks for the help. See you tonight.”
Serena couldn’t believe that she’d let Liam bully her into coming to the party.
Liam had been withdrawn all afternoon, leaving her alone but never being too far away. He’d come in at her house, showered and changed in the guest room in record time, keeping his distance, and watched the evening news while waiting for her to finish dressing.
They’d barely spoken on the way to the party, traveling the short distance from Glenwood to West Hollywood. A number of the cast and crew were already there—the driveway was filled with cars. She saw Joe’s BMW, Andy’s new Jag convertible, and Doug’s car as well. The red Fiat was Jay’s.
“I hope this accomplishes something for you,” she said to Liam as they rang the doorbell.
The door was opened by Kyle Amesbury himself. His hair was clean and slicked back, and he was casually dressed in Versace jeans and a silk V-neck shirt. He smiled broadly at the sight of Serena. “Hi! Welcome! Thanks so much for coming!” He reached out, took her hand, and kissed it. She tried not to squirm. His words were ingratiating. His eyes gloated. He was probably sure she had been forced to come.
“Thanks for having us. Kyle, this is Liam Murphy.”
Liam stretched out a hand. “Hi.”
“Welcome. You’re the hunk who was in the paper, aren’t you?”
“That’s me,” Liam said.
After a pause, Kyle realized he wasn’t getting any more than that. He threw out his arm, indicating that they should enter. “Most everyone is here. Drinks are at the bar, buffet is there in the dining room.”
“Thanks,” Serena said, moving on in.
She saw Doug, standing by the bar with Allona, and hurried over to greet both writers with a kiss on the cheek.
“Why are we here?” Serena murmured, accepting a glass of wine from Allona. She made a face at Doug. “Sorry. I guess you like him.”
“I’ll say I’m reserving my opinion,” Doug said, looking across the room to where Kyle had settled himself on a handsome leather sofa with Joe and Andy in chairs across from him. He shrugged at Serena. “The wine is safe—I’ve been drinking it for a while now.”
“Good to hear,” she said, lifting her glass to him.
“Good. I’ll have wine too, then.”
She turned. Doug was grinning at Liam, ready to pour another glass of wine. “Welcome there, Mr. Murphy. What a surprise to see you both. Andy said you were coming, but I didn’t believe him until I saw the whites of your eyes.”
“Where she goes, I follow,” Liam murmured, leaning against the bar and eyeing his surroundings.
“I don’t want to be here,” Serena said.
“Why are any of us here?” Allona snapped. She raised her arm. “He’s a show-off. He just wants to make sure that we know he’s gotten rich and has a big house, great pool and patio, and a Dalí and a Picasso.” She gestured toward the walls.
“It is a great house,” Doug said, “and he likes to show it off. Conar and Jennifer are here, Serena. They’re upstairs taking a tour right now with Hank, who happened to know the previous owner.”
“Conar and Jennifer are here?” Serena said, surprised. So they had been coerced as well. “Who else?”
“Jay, Thorne, and Jinx are by the pool,” Allona told her, pointing out the sliding glass doors.
“It is a great pool,” Doug said. “Like something out of a travel brochure for Hawaii. There are little rock cliffs, waterfalls, flowers … we should go out.”
The pool area was spectacular. The free-form shape was surrounded by stonework caves and grottos, with waterfalls all around. There was a cabana to the rear, in the midst of palms and shrubs. It had the look of an Old Hollywood bungalow itself, a small-scale Garden of Allah out of an old movie-time past. Jinx and Jay were sitting in patio chairs near the cabana, deep in conversation.
Jay rose, greeting Serena with a kiss. “You are here. It’s a miracle. Hey, Liam.”
Jinx stood as well. She looked very pretty in a short blue halter dress, but she seemed uncomfortable. “Hi,” she told Serena. “Joe told me I should come tonight.”
“Sorry. This isn’t part of your job description.”
“Oh, no. I like dinner parties. It’s just, I’m not really cast or crew—”
“You’re as much a part of the show as anyone else, Jinx,” Serena assured her.
She smiled. “Thanks. I’m running in for a drink, then.”
She left them.
Joe appeared at the open French doors. “Hey, Liam, can I see you for a minute?”
“Sure,” he said. His dark eyes touched Serena’s. “Be right back. More wine?”
“Sure.”
“Me, too,” Allona said quickly. She rose. “I’ll help. Hey, here’s another good thing about Kyle, Serena. He knows good wine.”
She gave a thumbs-up sign to Allona.
“So, Jay,” Doug said flatly, when the other two had disappeared, “are you dating Jinx?”
Serena gazed at Jay, a smile curling her lips. She’d been curious herself, but hadn’t thought to be quite so direct.
Jay shook his head. “No … not dating. It’s a big brother kind of t
hing, I think. The kid is cute as can be, but she reminds me of a deer trapped in someone’s headlights.”
“You should watch it, though, Jay,” Doug warned. “She may not see you as a big brother. She may be falling in love. You know, you’re the devastating leading man type.”
“Am I that devastating?” Jay said lightly. “Conar seems to be the one they’re all fighting over. That’s brutal on the old ego, you know.”
“It’s a soap opera,” Doug said. “I’m supposed to keep you all sleeping with one another, procreating in secret, losing babies all over the place, and constantly plotting the downfall of one another.”
Laughter suddenly erupted from the house. Jay rose, looking through the French doors. “I’ll think I’ll see what’s going on,” he said, and started in.
Doug shook his head as Jay left. “I think he’s in for trouble.”
“I think he’s trying to be nice.”
‘That’s because you wouldn’t fall for a Jay Braden.”
“No, I married an Andy Larkin.”
“Yep,” Doug said, grinning. “Know what he told me once?”
“What?”
“You were his punishment from God for all the mean and careless things he had done to other women.”
“Great.”
Again, laughter rose from the house.
“All right, now I’ve got to see what’s going on,” Doug told her. “You coming?”
Serena shook her head. She hated to admit it, but it felt good to sit by Kyle’s pool. The dim lighting cast a blue tint, and as Allona had said, the wine was very good.
“I’m just going to sit here,” she said.
Doug shrugged and went on in.
Serena stared out at the water, sipping her wine. She half closed her eyes. The breeze drifted by her, just lifting her hair.
Her eyes suddenly flew open. The breeze had slammed one of the French doors shut. She sat up in her chair. A maid came and shut the other door.
Serena sat back again.
The wind and the maid had only closed the doors. Liam was inside, close by. Conar was there, Jennifer. All her friends.
The lights began to dim, until the patio was bathed in a twilight blue. The once benign hedges and foliage now seemed like dark screens behind which someone could hide.
She should just get up and go inside.