Thrill! (44 page)

Sad fact of life. She didn't have any friends. Only Lara Ivory, who'd turned out to be a Judas. And yes, Lara would be punished. And soon.

"What kind of favour?"

she asked, reaching for the powerful whistle she kept in a bedside drawer, because if this was a dirty phone call, she'd blast this sicko's eardrum straight through his asshole.

"I know why you were in jail,"

the man said.

"And in my eyes it was injustice."

"How do you know anything about me?"

she asked suspiciously.

"Let's just say we have a mutual interest."

"What mutual interest?"

she snapped.

306

"Are your cameras in working order?"

She lowered the sound on the TV.

"You from one of the tabs?"

"No. But I do have an assignment for you. Something you should relish."

"What's that?"

"Let me explain . . ."

307

^^^Jfl HEART POUNDING wildly, Lara walked down ^^^P^P^A the dimly lit street, dressed in a simple blouse and skirt, sensible shoes, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Clutching a bag of groceries to her chest, she hurried along the deserted street, leather purse slung casually over one shoulder.

She was Rebecca Fullerton, a schoolteacher who worked hard at a job she loved, and took care of her elderly mother with whom she lived.

The real Rebecca was on the set today. Watching. Observing. This made Lara even more nervous, painfully aware that every detail had to be right.

Suddenly she heard footsteps behind her.

Mindset Rebecca. Did she realize she was being followed1? No. Was she frightened? No. The real Rebecca had said she was thinking about what she was going to cook for dinner.

Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on walking as if nothing was about to happen.

How would she react in a situation like this? Rebecca had fought back, fighting and clawing until her strength deserted her. Even after she'd stopped fighting, she'd been beaten repeatedly.

They'd blocked the scene out before shooting just to make sure every move was in place right up until the attack. After that Mick had told the actors they were on their own - he was going for total reality with no set dialogue.

"Improvise,"

he'd informed them.

Earlier she'd sat with the real Rebecca, asking questions.

"I was fighting for survival,"

Rebecca had told her quietly, her thin face

308

impassive.

"It was surreal, almost like a dream happening in slow motion to someone else. I'll never forget it."

Yes. Lara could understand that.

They were working on a dusty street in the seedy part of town. Beyond the lights and cameras, onlookers and fans were cordoned off behind police lines. Mick had wanted a closed set, but since they were shooting on a public street it was impossible. Nikki had suggested they film this scene in a studio, but their production manager had informed them that it upped the budget prohibitively. Besides, Mick wanted the authenticity of being out on a real street.

Lara kept walking, trying not to tense her body in preparation for the attack she knew was coming any second. Act natural! a voice screamed in her head. Go with whatever takes place.

Joey had said he wasn't coming to the set, but in the end he'd relented and she knew he was lurking somewhere behind the main camera. Now she regretted asking him to be there.

Suddenly she felt the presence of the three actors as they fell into step beside her.

"Hey, cooze - what's a fine piece a ass like you doin"

out alone?"

Aiden jeered, shoving his hand in her grocery bag.

"Whatcha got for big daddy? Somethin"

hot an"

juicy?

"Cause, honey, that's what big daddy's got for you."

"Go away,"

she said, repeating the words Rebecca had said on that fateful night.

"Go away and leave me alone."

"Don"

wanna share what you got with big daddy?"

Aiden mocked, circling her like a snake, while the other two men laughed and crowed.

She could smell him, he hadn't bathed for several days because Rebecca had mentioned how badly the men smelled. Aiden was nothing if not a method actor.

She quickened her step, trying to escape. But as she passed the opening to the alley, Aiden's character struck, putting his arm around her throat, spinning her off balance and dragging her into the alley.

The bag of groceries fell to the ground, vegetables and fruit rolling everywhere.

Rebecca was right - no time to scream. Concentrate on survival.

309 She kicked out, and as she did so she felt one of the actors run his hand up her skirt.

In the distance she heard the whirr of the camera. Everything was surreal - just as Rebecca had said - like she wasn't being watched by hundreds of eyes - like this was actually happening to her and there was no way she could think about anything except getting through it. Just like real life, she thought.

Aiden flung her up against the side of a building, hurting her back. His smell was all over her as he began clawing at her clothes.

Mick had promised to shoot in such a way that her body would be hidden from the cameras.

"But like you gotta be in the moment,"

he'd said.

"We gotta feel your pain."

He meant that when Aiden ripped the clothes from her body, she'd be totally naked, apart from the flesh-coloured G-string she wore under her panties. And that she shouldn't let nudity hamper her performance.

One take, she kept on thinking. I only have to do this once and then it's over.

Aiden tore off her blouse, tipping her breasts out of her bra before dragging it from her body until she was totally naked and exposed.

In a daze she wondered what the camera could see and what it couldn't. She didn't wonder for long, because she was too busy defending herself. The man on top of her wasn't Aiden Sean any more - he was scum from the streets, violating her body, hurting her, exposing every secret she possessed.

He faked a violent slap across her face, then his hands were moving under her skirt, and she was frantically struggling and screaming, while the two other actors spread her legs, held her down, and dragged her skirt off. Next they went for her panties, and she felt the G-string come off with them, but there was nothing she could do, because if she called "Cut,"

they'd have to start all over again, and she couldn't take it a second time.

Aiden was on top of her, simulating fucking. The camera was behind him. He was breathing hard, his stink enveloping her.

She recoiled in horror. Why had she asked Joey to come to the set? She didn't want him seeing her like this - degraded and used.

310

This might be a movie, but she was still the victim - just like she'd been once before ... an innocent victim caught up in a wild frenzy of unspeakable violence.

"Dumb cunt!"

Aiden screamed, faking another hard slap across her face.

"Tell me you love it, bitch. Tell me you're gettin"

off!"

Aiden wasn't acting any more. She felt his hard penis between her legs. If he dropped his pants she'd be forced to scream,

"Cut!"

The other actors were all over her, faking slaps and punches, yelling vile obscenities.

She began to struggle and scream in earnest. This was too much

- she wanted out. Why had she agreed to make this movie? She should have listened to Quinn and Joey, they'd both warned her it was a mistake.

She continued screaming, but it wasn't doing her any good, they still kept at her, swarming over her like locusts.

And somewhere, three cameras were busy covering her humiliation and degradation.

She felt Rebecca's rage and pain burning through her like a firestorm. And she screamed - an explosive scream of fury and frustration.

Finally Mick stepped forward and shouted

"Cut!"

The pack of rats retreated.

Rebecca and Nikki moved in next to her, comforting her, while the wardrobe woman threw a silk robe across her shoulders, covering her nakedness.

"You OK?"

Aiden asked, his long thin face nothing more than a vague blur.

She nodded, still in a daze.

Mick dashed over, arms going like windmills.

"Unbelievable!"

he enthused.

"Freakin"

unbelievable!"

Without any warning she suddenly bent forward and began to weep, unable to hold back the unexpected flood of tears.

And she couldn't stop sobbing until Joey was beside her, scooping her up in his arms, carrying her to her trailer and safety.

Finally her ordeal was over.

311

^^^_^^fc

"THAT'S IT,"

Joey said, scowling darkly.

"They've ^M^^PIPL* got their scene. No close-ups - nothing. Your standin can do the rest. That's fucking it\'

"Joey,"

she murmured,

"if Mick wants close-ups, I'll have to do them."

"No,"

he said ominously.

"I'm taking you home."

i

"I can't leave. I must finish."

"Why the fuck did I let you do this?"

he exploded, black ey«8 full of rage.

"I knew they were out to exploit you."

P

She couldn't believe he was mad at her. What had she done?

"Joey"

she began, but it was no good reasoning with him he was on a roll.

"How fuckin"

stupid can you get?"

he raged.

"How fuckin"

dumb? This'll blow your whole career."

Nikki knocked on the trailer door, entering tentatively.

"Spectacular!"

she exclaimed.

"Yeah,"

Joey said, turning on her,

"spectacular for your fuckin"

movie. What do you think this'11 do for Lara?"

"It'll get her an Oscar nomination, that's what,"

Nikki said tightly.

"Yeah, sure."

"Don't be so negative, Joey,"

Lara said, attempting to keep the peace.

"It's OK, really it is."

He turned on her, still furious.

"Negative? Fm tryin"

to protect you. Can't you see what these people are doin"

to you?"

"What are we doing to her?"

Nikki asked, ready for battle.

312

"Screwing her, that's what,"

he yelled.

"And what do you think you're doing?"

Nikki retorted angrily, pushing a hand through her short dark hair.

"You assholeV he muttered.

"All you wanna do is make money."

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

she blazed.

"You're exploitin"

the shit outta Lara in the name of friendship."

"How dare you!"

"Stop it!"

Lara shouted, shivering uncontrollably.

"Get out of here - both of you. I can't take this."

"Are you talkin"

to me?"

he said, turning on her - his dark eyes cold and hard.

"Are you tellin"

me to get out?"

"It was my choice to play this role,"

she said weakly,

"so don't make a big deal of it."

"Fuck you,"

he said angrily.

"Fuck you.'"

And he marched from the trailer.

"What's /;wproblem?"

Nikki said, still angry.

"He's upset. I shouldn't have forced him to come to the set, it was selfish of me."

Nikki was amazed. He'd just screamed at Lara for no reason, called her stupid and God knew what else, and she was defending him!

"Why are you putting //« feelings first?"

she asked, exasperated.

Td react in the same way if I had to watch him getting beat up."

"You're too understanding for me to fathom,"

Nikki said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"The guy's with you, for Chrissakes he should be kissing your ass."

"Don't criticize him,"

Lara said, clutching her robe around her.

"He treats me wonderfully."

"Yeah, well, /haven't seen it."

"You know what?"

Lara said, wishing Nikki would vanish.

"It's really none of your business."

"I'm your friend,"

Nikki said earnestly.

"How do you know Joey's not just another bum actor hanging around for the glory?"

"I suppose you got that little speech straight from Richard. It sounds exactly like him."

313 "No,"

Nikki snapped.

"Richard and I have split up. I didn't want to tell you before, in case it upset you."

"So now I guess it's all right because I'm upset anyway?"

"No. I didn't mean'

"This isn't the time to get into it,"

Lara said wearily.

"If you don't mind, I need to be alone."

"Fine,"

Nikki said, and left the trailer, disappointed Lara wasn't more concerned about her news.

As soon as she was by herself, Lara began shivering uncontrollably. She was in shock that the people closest to her were acting like this. First Joey walking out. Then Nikki and her problems. Just when she needed tender loving care, they'd both seen fit to dump on her.