Drop Dead Beautiful (36 page)

“It’s forgotten.”

“Hardly. The press is all over me. They’re outside my house in droves waiting for Billy to comment, and he’s not even here.”

“Where is he?”

“Out on location with Alex,” she said, laughing derisively. “That should be a press-worthy scene.”

“I would imagine so.”

“Y’know, Lucky, I think the time has finally come for me to move on.”

“Again?”

“This time I mean it. Oh, and when I do—please, I beg you—make sure I
never
hook up with an actor again. Too much baggage.”

“Whatever,” Lucky said, her mind elsewhere.

“What’s up with you?” Venus questioned. “You sound out of it.”

“Max is still not home and I’m mad as hell. Right now I’m on my way out to talk to Cookie again. These kids share secrets—I’ve got a hunch our little Cookie knows more than she’s saying….”

“Anything I can do?”

“Thanks for the offer, but no.”

“Well… if you think of anything …”

“You’ll be the first.”

“I should hope so.”

After speaking to Lucky, Venus realized it was time she got it together. Billy was taking up too much time and energy. Because of him, she was neglecting her career, and her career was what she
should
be concentrating on, not a man. Even worse—a younger man. And on top of everything else—an actor!

What was she thinking? Falling in love was a bitch. Getting over it was even worse.

But she would do it. No more making excuses for Billy’s behavior. No more putting herself out for him. He had to grow up and take some responsibility.

And just as she was thinking about ending their affair, he called, apologized profusely, and told her he’d make it up to her and that he’d been thinking about her all day.

She melted.

Damn! She was still in love.

Why not?

“Who’s this girl you wanna get on the movie?” Kev was desperate to know.

“A friend of a friend,” Billy answered evasively.

“What friend?”

“Fuck off with your questions.”

“How’s your crabs?”

“What?”

“You heard.”

The trouble with best friends was that they usually found out stuff, and Kev knew him too well for him to keep up the lie. “Okay,” he admitted. “It was a mistake, a one off.”

“Tell me everything,” Kev begged, agog with interest. “And don’t leave out
any
of the dirty details.”

Chapter 56

Ace hit the accelerator, and the Chevrolet shot forward.

“What’s up?” Max asked, alarmed.

“It’s him,” Ace said.

“Who?” the boy asked, wriggling around on his seat.

“Nobody,” Max replied, looking out the back window and seeing the Volvo in close pursuit. Her stomach did a somersault and she felt like she was about to throw up. How could this be happening, just when she’d thought they were safe?

“Don’t worry,” Ace said, pressing his foot down hard. “There’s nothing he can do.”

Oh, yes there is
, Max thought.
He can shoot our asses
.

She glanced quickly at the boy. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“Jed,” he said. “Why we speeding? Gramps don’t like goin’ fast, sez it uses up too much gas.”

“Gramps is asleep,” Max pointed out. “So what he doesn’t know …”

“Think I’d better wake him,” Jed said, looking worried.

“No,” Max said quickly. “Don’t do that. We’re playing a game with a friend, it’s no big deal.”

Jed climbed up on his knees and peered out the back window. “If this person’s your friend, how come you ain’t drivin’ with ‘im?”

“’Cause it’s complicated,” Max replied as Ace put his foot to the floorboard and the Chevrolet hit its limit.

Her heart was pounding—they were still in the middle of nowhere.

WHAT IF INTERNET FREAK CAUGHT THEM?

He spotted them immediately and gave chase.

So incensed was Henry that he could barely see straight. Not only was he angry, he was also deeply disappointed, he’d had such high hopes for himself and Maria. And now she was running away from him, and it was so wrong.

The problem was her cousin. He should’ve shot the cousin when he’d had the chance.

Pow!
A bullet through the heart.

Good-bye, cousin.

Good-bye, problem.

A muscle in his cheek twitched uncontrollably as he chased the old Chevrolet down the deserted road. Eventually they’d reach the main highway, so it was imperative he stopped them before they got there.

But how? He was not a very experienced driver, he had no idea how to run another car off the road, because if he did, that’s exactly what he’d do. Besides, he couldn’t take a chance of hurting Maria. It wasn’t
her
fault she’d run, it was all to do with the cousin.

Henry was filled with hate against the cousin, just as he was filled with hate against Lucky Santangelo and Billy Melina. They were all unworthy, all three of them.

Only Maria was pure. His Maria.

Somehow or other he had to save her.

“Can’t you go any faster?” Max yelled.

“We’re going as fast as we can,” Ace yelled back.

“I’m gonna wake Gramps,” Jed whined.

“No you’re
not
,” Max snapped, thinking it was a miracle that the old man was still asleep.

“You people are weird,” Jed sniveled.

“We’re not weird, we’re like having fun,” Max said, trying to convince him that nothing much was going on.

“This ain’t
my
idea of fun,” Jed said. “I wanna wake Gramps.”

“No!” Max said sharply. “Let him sleep.”

“But I—”

“Tell you what,” Max said, trying to keep it together. “When I get back to L.A., I’m sending you a CD player and all the Stones CDs. What do you think?”

“You’d do that?” Jed said, his face lighting up.

“Yes. I swear,” she answered, saying a silent prayer that Internet Freak was not going to catch them.

Ace swerved the car, narrowly missing a coyote that suddenly appeared in the middle of the road.

Max could see he was sweating, but she had to admit he was doing a great job of getting them away from the Volvo, which seemed to be slowing down. She was trying to remain calm for the sake of the kid, but it wasn’t easy, since her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst right out of her skin.

“When?” Jed asked.

“When what?”

“When I gonna get me one of them CD things?”

“Soon,” she said. “Like that’s a faithful promise.”

Henry hit the coyote full on. The animal rose up in the air and came thumping down on the hood of the car with a sickening thud, blood trickling down the windshield.

Henry pressed his foot down on the brake and promptly lost control. The Volvo veered across the road, finally shuddering to a stop in a ditch.

Henry hit his head on the windshield, and then there was nothing but silence.

Chapter 57

Lucky drove over to Cookie’s house all set to catch her off guard. This time she was determined to find out more information. Enough fudging around from Cookie—there was only so much pretending she could get away with. Cookie
had
to know
something
and Lucky was going to find out what that something was.

Once she’d driven through the impenetrable gates and high-tech security cameras—a way of life in Bel-Air and Beverly Hills—Gerald M. himself opened the massive front door. Barefoot and attractive in an “I am a big star and don’t you forget it” kind of way, Gerald ushered her in. “Hey, Lucky, you gotta come out to my studio,” he enthused, fiddling with a large diamond cross hanging on a diamond-studded gold chain around his neck. “I laid down a track yesterday that’s gonna blow your ass from here to the Bahamas!”

Somewhere in the background a beautiful Latina girl clad in a barely-there bikini flitted from one room to another. Gerald M. ignored her.

“Actually, I came by to see Cookie,” Lucky said.

“Some party last night,” Gerald continued. “You stage that fight thing or what?”

“Sure I did, Gerald,” she said patiently. “It was all staged, couldn’t you tell?”

“Genius, baby!” he chortled.

“Thanks,” she said, fast becoming impatient. This was not a social call, she wanted action. “Is Cookie around?”

“Still sleepin’ it off.”

“Do you mind if I go upstairs?”

“Sure,” he said, fingering his cross. “Then you gotta come by my studio out by the pool.”

“I’ll do that,” she said, heading for the ornate staircase.

“First door on the right,” Gerald called out as a petite blonde emerged from the kitchen drinking Diet Coke from the can.

First door on the right was locked. Lucky knocked loudly several times, until eventually a bleary-eyed Cookie opened up. She was clad in an oversized Snoop Dogg T-shirt and nothing else.

“Mrs. Go— I mean, Lucky!” Cookie exclaimed. “What’re
you
doin’ here?”

Lucky glanced pointedly at her watch. “It’s almost noon and no daughter, so I thought you and I should have a little talk. Can I come in?”

“Uh … sure,” Cookie said, reluctantly backing up to allow Lucky access to her darkened bedroom.

The room reeked of pot and incense and the walls were painted dark brown. Curled up in a sleeping bag on the floor was a male figure.

“Am I disturbing something?” Lucky inquired, black eyes glittering with impatience.

“No, course not,” Cookie said, poking the male figure with her foot. “It’s only Harry. He sleeps over when it’s late.”

“Too far to drive to Brentwood,” Lucky said dryly.

“Too wasted,” Cookie giggled.

Great
, Lucky thought.
And these two are Max’s best friends
.

“So,” she said as Harry surfaced, spiky black hair standing on end, “I need more information about Max.”

Cookie rubbed her eyes. “I wish we like
knew
more,” she ventured. “But honestly, we don’t.”

“Come
on
, Cookie. I understand what it’s like to be sixteen—loyalty to your friends and all that. Only this is
getting serious. I have to speak to Max, and I have to speak to her today.”

Cookie gave her nothing, and by the time Lucky got back to the house, she was steaming. Paige was outside the house supervising Gino Junior, who was loading their luggage into the car.

“What happened?” she asked. “I thought Gino was all set for a round of golf. Why are you leaving so soon?”

“Gino has decided we should beat the traffic,” Paige explained. “And who am I to fight with your father? He’s the worst backseat driver in the world, so I try to avoid all the nagging I can.”

“You’re a smart lady, Paige.”

“Living with Gino, I have to be.”

“Hey, Mom,” Gino Junior said, almost dropping a heavy Vuitton bag. “Granddad says I can go stay. Is that okay with you?”

“If you promise to behave yourself,” Lucky said. Gino Junior always had a good time with his grandfather, and that suited her fine since she’d be spending so much time in Vegas.

Gino emerged from the house. “You’re back, kiddo,” he said. “I wondered where you were.”

“Yes, Gino, I’m back, and I’m looking forward to seeing you in Vegas.”

“Can’t wait! We’ll be there. The party was the greatest, kiddo. Now come over here an’ give an old man a hug.”

She hugged her father, told Gino Junior to behave himself, and instructed Paige to drive carefully.

Once they’d left, she went into the house and looked for Lennie. He was sitting in front of his computer.

“Any new info?” he asked.

“Cookie’s stonewalling me,” she said, shaking her head. “Says she’s sure Max is okay. As if
she
would know. She and Harry are lying around in her room totally stoned.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I guess we’ll wait until four, then if we haven’t heard from her, I’m reporting her missing.”

“Isn’t that kind of drastic?” Lennie said. “She called yesterday and left a message that she’d be home today. I’m thinking that would hardly put her on the missing list.”

“And what if she’s not home today?” Lucky demanded, getting more anxious and frustrated by the minute.

“We’ll deal with that
if
it happens. And believe me, sweetheart, it won’t, she’ll be back today.”

“I’m glad
you’re
so sure.”

“I am. Everything’s gonna work out.”

Sometimes Lennie drove her crazy with his laid-back attitude. Here she was hanging around L.A. waiting for Max, when she should be in Vegas meeting with the heads of all the different departments. The Keys was due to open in two weeks and that’s exactly where she should be right now. She had so much to do it was ridiculous. But no. Max was screwing up all her plans, and there was nothing she could do about it except sit and worry that her daughter was okay.

Chapter 58

Once they’d lost Internet Freak, it didn’t take long before everyone realized the old man wasn’t merely asleep, there was something seriously wrong. He’d slumped forward in his seat, and when Jed tried to wake him, he’d failed to respond.

Jed immediately began to panic. Max attempted to calm him. “Has your grandpa been sick?” she asked.

“He takes pills,” Jed said, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

Max shook the old man’s shoulders. No reaction. “I think he might be unconscious,” she whispered to Ace.

“Okay, we’re almost at Big Bear,” Ace said, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. “Keep it together and find out where they live.”

Jed mumbled that they lived way back where they’d come from. According to him, they were on their way to visit the old man’s sister. Unfortunately, he didn’t know her exact address, although he knew that she lived somewhere in Big Bear.

“This sucks,” Ace muttered.

Jed looked as if he was about to cry.

Max squeezed his hand. “Your grandpa’s going to be okay,” she assured him.

“You shouldn’t’ve been driving so fast,” he muttered.

“That’s what did it.”

“No, it didn’t,” she argued. “Going fast had like
nothing
to do with it. Your grandpa might have, I dunno, some kind of heart condition.”