STAGESTRUCK - The Complete Series (35 page)

BROADWAY STARLET TARGETED BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANT—
AP

Broadway’s newest sensation Kate Harper has confirmed rumors

that she’s been the victim of several vicious attacks by an unknown

assailant. Speculation about Ms. Harper’s wellbeing began several

weeks ago, when she missed three consecutive shows after a reported

case of food poisoning. Harper’s fans became even more concerned

last week, when she collapsed on stage in front of a packed house.

Theater reps initially reported that Harper passed out from exhaustion

and lingering side effects of the food poisoning.

The story of Harper’s stalker broke late yesterday afternoon, when NYPD

officers began questioning crew members at the Lincoln Theater. Harper

confirmed the rumors late last night, releasing a statement to the press

and her Facebook fan page. (For Kate Harper’s full statement, see page

3B.)

In her statement, Harper apologized for lying to her fans about the

source of her trouble. She confessed that her first missed performance

happened when her dressing room was broken in to and vandalized.

Harper further explained that passing out on stage wasn’t a side effect

of extreme fatigue, but the result of something much more sinister.

Sources at New York Presbyterian Hospital have confirmed Harper’s

claim that after her collapse, she was admitted and treated for arsenic

poisoning.

Arsenic is an incredibly toxic drug. It’s also tasteless and odorless, which

has long made it a favorite of criminals.

Sources at the NYPD report that as of press time, the police have no

suspects in the case. Multiple sources report that Harper is under

constant guard, but still in good spirits. She assured her fans that

one person’s actions would not make her back down; she plans

to continue her work on Jersey Boys despite the apparent danger.

The Lincoln Theater is offering a reward for information leading

to the identification and capture of Harper’s stalker. Tips may be

submitted to the Manhattan precinct of the NYPD.

I finished the Times article and pushed it away. I’d spent the entire morning reading through the articles and ignoring my phone. I’d already spoken to my family; everyone else could just read the papers.

I looked down at the screen and saw that I’d missed fourteen calls and twenty-seven text messages. Out of curiosity, I swiped the screen to see who’d reached out to me in my time of need. I didn’t recognize most of the phone numbers but all of the messages fell into one of two categories: those offering genuine care and concern, and those kissing my ass because the stalking had made me even more famous. The final voicemail was the only one that stood out; my heart sank at the sound of Fiona’s tiny, scared voice.

“Hello Miss Kate, this is Fiona. I read your story in the paper this morning and I wanted to see if you’re okay. I’m sorry that the bad person made you sick. You can call me if you want to.”

I saved the message and dialed the little girl’s number. She answered on the first ring, her voice full of concern.

“Miss Kate, are you okay?” She asked. “I worried when you didn’t answer the phone. I thought that the bad person had gotten you again.”

“I’m just fine sweetheart,” I told her. “I feel much better now and I have a whole bunch of good guys protecting me.”

“So the bad person can’t hurt you anymore?” She asked hopefully.

“No, no one is going to hurt me.” I promised.

“Are you coming to class on Monday?”

“That’s not a good idea right now, Fiona.” I explained softly. “You know how much I love you and all of the other kids. Until the police catch the bad person, I can’t come to class. I don’t want to put any of you in danger.”

“Okay… but you’ll be back when it’s over?”

“Yes,” I told her. “The very second.”

“Uncle Max is worried about you.” She whispered. “Mommy and I went to his house for breakfast this morning. His face was all white and he kept looking at your picture in the newspaper. I told him that he should call you, but he said it was a bad idea. Is it?”

“Fiona honey, it’s not a bad idea.” I assured her; I didn’t relish the idea of getting a call from Max, but I didn’t know how to tell the little girl that.

“Okay, I’ll tell him you said it’s alright to call.” She said brightly. “I think you should be his girlfriend again Miss Kate, he’s been really sad since you broke up.”

“I’ll be his friend who’s a girl Fiona, but I don’t think that your uncle and I will ever be boyfriend and girlfriend again.” I warned gently. “I need to get ready for work, but thanks for calling to check on me.”

“You’re welcome Miss Kate, I’ll talk to you soon.” She replied.

I ended the call and set off for the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

“Kate, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” Dylan insisted. “You can barely get here and back without being trampled by the hoards of reporters following you. This isn’t the right time for a night out on the town.”

It was a Saturday night, a little over two weeks since I released my statement; Dylan and I were arguing in my dressing room. I’d been living under constant surveillance, both at home and on the streets. Paparazzi and reporters followed me everywhere I went, and the stress of being on constant display was wearing me down. To make matters worse, Dylan had been surly and overly critical of me since I’d officially turned down the movie offer from Warner Brothers. All I wanted was to spend one night with my friends somewhere other than my living room.

“It’s not a night out on the town,” I argued. “It’s a drink after work with friends. It’s perfectly safe for me to go to Syd’s, Dylan. No one’s going to try to hurt me while I’m surrounded by paparazzi.”

“You have to take a security guard.” He insisted.

“I told you, I’m tired of being guarded all the time! Nothing’s happened in weeks Dylan.” I reminded him.

“Nothing’s happened because you’ve been protected. But for all we know, the stalker is lurking close by, just waiting for an opportunity to attack.”

An idea dawned on me; it was crazy and dangerous, but if it worked it would be worth it. “Maybe I should give them an opportunity.” I suggested.

“What are you talking about, Kate?”

“You said it yourself a few weeks ago. The only way to catch this asshole is for me to act as bait. I’ve been so protected, I may as well have gone back to Iowa. Maybe we should have the security teams back off a little and lure the stalker in.”

“I won’t hear of it, Kate.” Dylan insisted. “I don’t see what the big deal is. Why can’t you just come to work, go home, and let the police do their jobs. If you’re restless, we can stay at my place tonight.” He suggested.

“I don’t want to stay at your place, I don’t want strange uniformed men to sit in my entryway, and I don’t want to keep fighting about it!”

“Okay, look at it this way.” Dylan told me. “You’ve confirmed the stalker rumors and, as you’ve pointed out, the press is following your every move. You’ll get photographed at Syd’s and anywhere else you go and the stalker will see the pictures. You’d basically be handing the asshole a list of new places they can get to you.”

“I’m only going to Syd’s, and I’ve already been photographed there plenty.” I told him.

“Fine, I see that I’m not going to win. Let me get my jacket from my dressing room and we’ll head to the bar.” We stepped into the hallway and I locked my deadbolts.

“I don’t want you to come.” I admitted softly. “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but we’ve been together every day since the last attack. I just want some time alone with my friends.”

“Again Kate, you’re surrounded by paparazzi.” He said impatiently. “I can’t let you go without me, I can just see the headlines now. They all know your story and they’ll crucify me for not being with you for protection.”

“I’m going ALONE Dylan.” I insisted again. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Between now and then, I’d like you to decide which you care about more: what the press thinks, or how I feel.”

Dylan opened his mouth to reply and then stopped himself. He opened his dressing room door and disappeared inside.

“I know you’re getting frustrated Kate, but I think that Dylan’s right.” Mark told me as I slammed back a shot of whiskey.

“I agree,” Parker added. “I know that you’re anxious for all of this to be over, but if you loosen your security you could be seriously hurt.”

I turned to Janette. “Let me guess, you hate the idea too?”

She shook her head, a serious look on her face. “I don’t love the idea, but I understand why you want to be done with all of this. And I think you’re right, the attacks escalated before you had the guards and stopped completely after. None of the leads from the break ins panned out; if there isn’t another attack, or at least an attempted one, the cops will never solve the case.

“You two have lost your minds.” Parker told us. “You’re talking about offering yourself up to a crazy person Kate. You’re not going to convince us that that’s a good idea. Just give the police a little more time to do their jobs.”

“You don’t know what it’s like to live like this.” I argued. “I haven’t had a single moment to myself since the day I collapsed. There’s been a revolving door of security guards in and out of our apartment and I feel like I have to be a good hostess and take care of them. The police have interrogated everyone I work with, which hasn’t made me popular at the theater. Everyone’s keeping their distance from me, like they’re afraid they’ll be arrested if they say hello. And to top all of that off, I’ve had to call my mother three times a day to keep her from flying out here and dragging me home.”

“Having the security guards at the house all of the time is getting old.” Janette agreed. “I keep forgetting that they’re there and embarrassing myself. Josh was there yesterday; I walked out of my bedroom in just a bra and panties.”

“You didn’t!” Parker laughed.

“Yes I did. I don’t know which one of us was more embarrassed.”

“That’s awful, but I think that we can all agree that if having the guards there saves Kate’s life, it’s well worth it.” Mark said.

“I think the apartment is completely safe, even without the guards there.” I told him. “If something else does happen, I’m sure it will be at the theater.”

“Do you think that Marion and Bruce will let you drop the guards?” Mark asked.

“Marion might fight me on it, but I think that I can convince her.” I told him. “Bruce will be thrilled that I don’t want them anymore, he’s the one paying the bill.”

“Does this mean that we don’t get to hang out at the theater with you anymore?” Parker asked with a pout. “I’ve been looking forward to my next visit with Mica. Did you tell Janette that she volunteered to do hair and makeup for you two for the wedding?”

I shook my head. “I forgot to mention it.”

“That’s awfully nice of her.” Janette said.

“Yeah, Mica’s great,” I said dryly, “unless, of course, she’s one of the stalkers.”

“We’ve been over this, Kate.” Parker reminded me. “You were with Mica when your food was poisoned, there’s no way she’s involved.”

“Unless she snuck in and poisoned it while I was napping.” I told him.

“Do you really think she’s involved?” Janette asked.

“I don’t know what to think anymore.” I confessed. “The police still haven’t figured out if there’s only one attacker or if a couple of people are working together.”

“Wait a second, Kate.” Janette interrupted. “Serena has an alibi for the time the graffitied article was planted and Mica has an alibi for the time of the poisoning, right?”

I starred at her for a second and then realized what she was implying. “Yes, that’s right… you think that they’ve been working together?”

“It would be convenient.” She replied. “I’m sure that they knew you’d suspect Serena on the first break in, so Mica planted the article. Serena had an alibi, so she was dropped from the suspect list. Once Serena was off the hook, she probably took over the dirty work so Mica would have an alibi for the other attacks.”

“Do we know if either of them have an alibi for the second break in?” Mark asked.

“I’d been away from the dressing room for sixteen hours before I found it destroyed.” I explained. “No one in the theater has a full alibi for the full timeframe.”

“I wonder if the police have considered that the two of them are working together.” Janette thought out loud.

“I’m not sure, but I’m going to call Ramos and tell him our theory.” I announced.

“While you’re on the phone with him, ask if he thinks it’s a good idea for you to drop your security.” Parker told me.  “If he says yes, I’ll stop arguing with you about it.” He teased.

“I’ll call him tomorrow and let you know what he says.” I told him. “Tonight, I’d just like to hang out and act like a normal person.”