Thrill! (51 page)

Tramp! Did she have to sleep with everyone?

Alison soon found out who he was. Joey Lorenzo - some small-time actor. He was goodlooking. Big deal. Alison hated him too.

She kept far enough away that they couldn't spot her, and took a series of pictures of them coming and going.

While she was waiting for Truth and Fact to run, she discovered that if she climbed a nearby tree she could get a clear shot into Lara's bedroom. This so excited her that she nearly fell out of the tree, only saving herself by clinging to a protruding branch.

358

She called her new-found agent.

"What if I can get shots of Lara Ivory screwing her boyfriend?"

He promised her a hefty cheque and a Cadillac. Incredible! Uncle Cyril had never gotten a Cadillac.

The night before Truth and Fact hit the stands she almost got the shot. Lara and Joey were in the bedroom, talking; then Lara walked into the bathroom, and Joey pulled off his T-shirt.

Click. Click. This was shaping up nicely.

Joey began flexing his muscles. Click click click.

He walked toward the window. Even better.

He pulled down the shades.

Bastard! How could he do such a thing?

But she'd get

"em, no doubt about that. All she needed was patience.

If there was one thing Alison excelled at, it was waiting around.

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^^^^Jfl EARLY FRIDAY morning, photos of Lara taken ^^^m^A from the set during the rape scene were front page on Truth and Fact - a particularly down and dirty tabloid.

Lara Ivory - skirt up around her waist.

Lara Ivory - topless.

Lara Ivory - lying in the gutter almost totally naked.

Nikki was the first to see them, because when she woke up in Aiden's rumpled bed and checked with her answering machine at home, there were several messages from an angry Richard yelling and carrying on.

She immediately woke Aiden and asked him to run out and get her a copy of the paper. He pulled on his jeans and obliged.

When he came back and handed her the offending tabloid she stared at it in horror. For once Richard's information was right. Somebody had gotten extremely graphic photographs of Lara.

Aiden inspected the photos over her shoulder.

"Hey, we should've been paid for these,"

he remarked, like it was no big deal.

"I don't show off my ass for free."

"Lara will freak,"

Nikki groaned, dismayed.

"I'd better call Mick, find out how this happened."

"It doesn't matter,"

Aiden said.

"The photos are out there now. Look at it as good publicity for the movie."

"You don't understand,"

Nikki said.

"I feel responsible. I should've posted guards on the set."

I

360

"Fuck it,"

Aiden said.

"I never believe anything I read, you shouldn't either."

"It's not a question of believing. The pictures are there for everyone to see,"

she said, reaching for the phone.

"I have to tell her myself."

Mrs Crenshaw answered, informing her that Lara had already left and was on her way to work.

"I've got to go,"

Nikki said, frantically gathering up her clothes from the floor and quickly dressing.

"I'll drive you,"

Aiden offered.

She nodded.

"Can you break speed records? I have to get to her first."

"We're on our way,"

he said.

"I'm gonna give you the second greatest thrill ride of your life!"

ft ft ft

"Come in, make yourself comfortable,"

Richard Barry said, ushering Madelaine Francis into his bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

"This is quite lovely,"

Madelaine said, inspecting every detail.

"They recently refurbished the hotel,"

Richard said.

"I like hotel living. Takes a lot of the daily responsibility out of life."

"I thought you were married,"

Madelaine remarked, placing her Prada purse on a table.

"Separated,"

Richard replied, heading for the phone.

"What can I get you?"

"A decaf cappuccino would be nice."

"Two decaf cappuccinos,"

Richard said into the receiver.

Madelaine sat down. There was something vaguely familiar about Richard Barry, she felt as if they'd met before. But she couldn't remember where or when, which irritated her, because she prided herself on a brilliant memory. Of course, he was a famous director, so maybe he struck her as familiar because she'd seen his photo and read about his movies over the years. Yes, she decided, that was it.

True to his word, he'd made all the arrangements to fly her to LA. She'd arrived yesterday from New York, and was staying at the

361 Beverly Regent Hotel for three nights. Well aware that this free trip had something to do with Joey, she was most curious to find out what. Patting her briefcase she said, "I've brought tapes of several young actors whose talent I'm sure you'll appreciate. And if you care to see any of them in person, I can arrange to fly them out. Shall we view the tapes now?"

"No,"

Richard said, wasting no time.

"Put them on the table. I'll take a look with my people later."

"They're for you to keep,"

Madelaine said.

"I had copies made."

"You're very organized."

"I have to be in my business,"

she replied, thinking how charming and attractive he was - not what she'd expected at all.

"So,"

he said, getting right to it,

"tell me about Joey Lorenzo."

"What is it you wish to know?"

she asked carefully.

Richard fixed her with a purposeful gaze.

"Everything,"

he said.

For one wild moment she wondered if he was gay, and that's why he wanted information on Joey.

No. At one time he'd been married to Lara Ivory, and was now married to Nikki Barry, the costume designer, so he couldn't possibly be gay. Although you never knew in Hollywood, there were always surprises.

"Everything is a very all-encompassing word,"

she said slowly.

Til be truthful with you, Ms Francis"

he began.

"Please call me Madelaine,"

she interrupted.

"OK, Madelaine, allow me to be frank. I'm looking forward to seeing the tapes of your actors, and I'm sure that sometime in the future we'll do business together. But right now I have a problem with Joey Lorenzo, and I need information."

"You do?"

she said, wondering if Joey had stolen money from him, too.

"And what might that problem be?"

"Unfortunately he's attached himself to my wife,"

Richard said, his face grim.

"Oh,"

Madelaine said, quite surprised.

"Nobody seems to know anything about him,"

Richard continued.

"And the truth is - I'm extremely concerned."

And so you should be, Madelaine thought. Joey Lorenzo is a—

362

thievingsonofabitch.

"Did he meet Mrs Barry on a movie?"

she asked politely.

"It's not Nikki he's with,"

Richard answered impatiently.

"It's my ex-wife, Lara Ivory."

For a moment Madelaine was completely speechless.

Joey with Lara Ivory? Impossible!

Then she thought about it and suddenly everything made sense. Joey was devastatingly handsome with charm to spare - not to mention sensational in bed. Women chased him wherever he went. Why wouldn't Lara Ivory want him?

"I ... I don't know what to say,"

she said, shaking her head.

"Joey's quite volatile. You're right to be apprehensive."

Richard leaned toward her.

"Can I ask you an extremely personal question, Madelaine?"

"I suppose so,"

she said, thinking it wasn't fair. How could she, Madelaine Francis, compete with one of the most beautiful women in the world? Not that she wanted him back, no way.

His voice was low and intent.

"Did you and Joey have an intimate relationship?"

She felt herself blushing.

"Look, Mr Barry, I realize Joey's quite a bit younger than me, but . . . sometimes, men of my age only want twentytwo-yearolds."

A long pause.

"Yes,"

she admitted, refusing to make any more excuses.

"Joey was there, and very responsive. We lived together for a while."

Right, Richard thought triumphantly. He's the hustler I imagined he was. Living with an older agent to further his career. Madelaine Francis has to be at least twenty years his senior, and she's hardly Jane Fonda.

The room service waiter knocked on the door and delivered two cappuccinos. Richard signed the check.

"Can I get you anything else, Mr Barry?"

the waiter asked hopefully - really wanting to say

"Will you read my screenplay? I act, too."

"No,"

Richard said curtly.

Reluctantly the waiter left the room. As soon as he was gone Richard turned back to Madelaine.

363

'Exactly how long were you and Joey together?"

he asked, his voice tense.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then decided that she might as well tell him something, after all she had nothing to lose and everything to gain if she could win Richard Barry's friendship.

"Joey was twenty-four when we first met,"

she began, remembering the moment only too well.

"He was a young actor trying to make it in New York and not getting very far."

She let out a long weary sigh.

"Believe me, I did plenty for him. Landed him a substantial role in Solid, a movie for which he received fabulous reviews. After that stellar beginning his career was all set to rise. Then he vanished."

"What do you mean - vanished?"

Richard asked, his interest aroused.

"He left town,"

Madelaine said, sipping her cappuccino.

"Nobody heard from him. Nobody knew where he'd gone. Six years later he reappeared, told me he'd had family problems. Like a fool I took him back, and shortly after, I sent him up for the role in The Dreamer, where he obyiously met your ex-wife. That's the last I saw of him."

Richard drummed his fingers on the edge of his chair.

"Where was he for those six years?"

Madelaine shook her head.

"I have no idea."

"What about his fiancee?"

"Fiancee?"

she said, frowning.

"I know nothing of a fiancee."

"He told everyone on The Dreamer he. was engaged."

"To whom?"

"A woman called Phillipa?"

"Knowing Joey - my guess is he probably made it up to make him appear more substantial."

"He'd do something like that?"

She gave a bitter laugh.

"Joey would do anything."

"Didn't you ever try to find him when he ran off?"

She shrugged.

"Not my style, Mr Barry. I'm hardly a detective.*

"Were you living with him when he made The Dreamer?

She nodded, her anger building. Dumped twice. It wasn't fair. Joey Lorenzo was a cheating no-good bastard and she hated him for the way he'd played her.

364

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"What would that be?"

"Give me Joey's address Ther^'c u discuss with him."

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Richard leaned over and lit her dearer * . hands. He felt sorry for her she wast?

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"it might be hll'./^ ^^ had ^ about you and Joey."

Pfal lf y°U told her Personally

"I can do that,"

Madelaine offered fillin u , soothing smoke. JW love to do that § ""

"UngS with

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"

"Good."

" , s*:"^ Cdy "» »*«- Barry operson,wayorg^;t*tdCUld ^ herP'CaSUrc-H"

365

^^^^^Jfc LINDEN, LARA'S publicist, got to her before ^^^P^P^M* anyone else, handing her the offending tabloid in the privacy of her trailer. She stared at the twopage spread of revealing photographs and felt sick. Who'd allowed a photographer to capture the most intimate of scenes? Why wasn't anyone protecting her?

"I don't believe this!"

she said, utterly dismayed.

"How can this have happened?"

"Somebody on the set with a hidden camera,"