You Belong To Me (24 page)

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Authors: Patricia Sargeant

BOOK: You Belong To Me
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Nicole's gaze settled on his smiling eyes. The skin at the nape of her neck tingled with unease. “Hello, Omar. Strange running into you like this, isn't it?”
Omar pushed away from the display window. “It's quite a coincidence, but it's a popular mall.”
Nicole locked her knees and stood her ground as Omar approached her. “It's a large mall. A person would have to work hard to find a familiar face in a mall this size. Or he'd have to follow her.”
Omar chuckled, his Hollywood charm never faltering. “No,” he denied, stopping several paces from her. “Just lucky, I guess.”
Lucky my eye.
Her suspicions in no way easing, she clutched her purchase closer. If he was the one stalking her, what would he think if he saw what her bag contained?
She controlled her legs' desire to sidle away. “I would think you'd be at work.”
“I gave myself the day off. Have coffee with me.”
Nicole made a show of checking her watch, although she wasn't able to focus on the numbers. “I'm afraid I don't have time. I'm meeting Mal tonight about the
InterDimensions
project.” Nicole stilled as she remembered Omar was one of Malcolm's business associates, albeit a competitor. Did he have Malcolm's cell phone number?
Omar's expression sobered, and he slid his thumbs into his front pockets. “That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I don't think it's safe for you to be around Mal. He may have already killed one person—”
“That's enough.” Nicole trembled with outrage. In her peripheral vision, she saw a group of people look her way in surprise. She slowed her breathing in an effort to control her temper and her tone. “Mal has not killed anyone.”
“He's a suspect in Ty's murder.” Omar regarded her earnestly.
“But he's not guilty.” Nicole turned to leave. Omar's grip on her arm stopped her.
“Don't let Mal's charm fool you,” he cautioned. “I've known him for five years. You've only just met him. He's ruthless.”
Nicole stared at Omar in surprise. Malcolm? Ruthless? She could agree with his being obstinate and driven. But ruthless? She almost laughed.
“If you can believe Malcolm is capable of killing anyone, then you're the one who doesn't know him.” She pulled her arm from Omar's grip and forced herself to walk away calmly.
 
Nicole raised her hand to insert the spare key into Malcolm's front door. The door flew open without her assistance, and strong hands grabbed her waist to lift her through the threshold.
Malcolm stood her in the hallway before he locked the front door. His hard gaze pinned her in place and swept her from head to toe.
“You're home early,” she managed stupidly.
His hot-cocoa eyes simmered. His movements were stiff and jerky. Nicole squared her shoulders and cautioned herself to tread carefully.
Malcolm took two strides away from her; then he turned to blast her with his gaze. “Where have you been?”
“The mall. I thought I would be home before you.”
Malcolm glanced at the plastic bag she clutched to her chest. “You went shopping?” he asked incredulously. “When there's someone out there intent on hurting you, you went to the mall? Do you have any idea what you've done to me? I've been going out of my mind. And you went shopping?”
Nicole flushed, embarrassed and contrite. “Mal, I'm sorry I worried you. I should have called to let you know where I was going, but I truly thought I would be back before you.”
Malcolm rubbed the back of his neck. Lowering his hand, he took several deep breaths and spoke with deliberate patience. “You're missing the point. It's not safe for you to go around alone. After what happened in your apartment, there's no question that someone is trying to hurt you.”
“But I was at the mall. It's a public place.”
Malcolm stared at her for long silent moments. His anger was palpable. “What were you doing at the mall?”
“I'll show you.”
Nicole took his arm and led him down the hall to his family room. They sat next to each other on the sofa. With slightly shaking fingers, she reached into the bag and pulled out her purchase, the second book in her
InterDimensions
series. She sat for a moment trying to figure out how to start. “Do you remember the message left in my apartment last night?”
“How could I forget? ‘Time is a luxury, but not for you. Leave my family alone.'”
Nicole nodded. He'd quoted the message exactly. “I recognized those words.”
Malcolm's eyebrows arched in surprise. “How?”
She opened the book to the dog-eared page. “I wrote them.” She handed him the book.
He accepted the paperback from her. But it took him a few moments to wrest his surprised gaze from her face to read the page. He skimmed the words, then stiffened as he apparently came to the passage in which one of the alien ambassadors to the InterDimensions Space Station chastised the captain for human beings' lack of appreciation for time. Nicole wondered if he was experiencing the same eerie chill she'd had when she'd realized someone had used her own words to threaten her.
“I remember this scene,” Malcolm murmured. “Ambassador Ore criticizes humans for trying to control time rather than enjoying the time we have. ‘Time is a luxury, but not for you.'”
“Yes. The scene is significant to the plot.” Nicole shrugged out of her coat without standing up, and laid it across the arm of the sofa.
“What does this mean?” The question seemed pulled from him. “Why is he quoting from your
InterDimensions
books?”
“I think we've found our link. The connection between Ty, you, and me. The stalker—our stalker—is an
InterDimensions
fan.” She paused as Malcolm looked at her. “I'm the reason Ty was killed.”
C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN
“That's ridiculous.” Malcolm wrapped his long, lean fingers around Nicole's slender upper arms and turned her to face him. “You had nothing to do with Ty's death. It was this maniac who broke into your apartment who killed him.”
Nicole eased away. The room had grown cold suddenly. She rose and shrugged back into her coat, pulling it close around her. She walked to the windows. Through the blinds she saw storm clouds rolling across the Southern California sky.
She spoke with her back to him as she watched the clouds advance. “I hate the idea that someone is so enthralled with my stories, they would kill because of them.”
“I still don't understand.” Malcolm's frustration came through loud and clear. “What does the reference to his family have to do with Ty or your books?”
Silence settled over the room while they each considered the question. Why would someone reference his family while quoting from the
InterDimensions
books?
“I don't know,” Nicole said after a while. “I can't get my mind around that one. I think I used up all its resources trying to comprehend that someone knows my books well enough to threaten me with my own words. What kind of fans has my work attracted?”
Nicole burrowed farther into her coat. She started as Malcolm rested his hands on her shoulders and began to massage her tense muscles. She reached behind her and covered his right hand with her left.
“We should tell the detectives about our theory,” she said.
“I know. I should probably also tell them I've read all your books. They're going to ask me, anyway.”
“I'm so sorry, Mal.”
“Don't be.” He slid his hand free of hers and turned away.
Nicole felt his rebuff like a cold wind breaching the defenses of her coat. His message was clear. He didn't want her empathy or support. Too bad. He had them, anyway. She spun toward him.
“How can I not be?” she demanded. “I can't imagine how much it would hurt to have anyone believe I could kill my best friend.”
Malcolm kneaded the back of his neck, apparently trying to find the relief he had offered her. Nicole started to approach him, hoping he would allow her to provide him this ease. But he turned and she stilled.
“That's not my main concern right now.” He dropped his arms. “For now, I need to make sure you're safe.”
“That we're both safe,” Nicole corrected. “We've both received threats.”
“He called me only once, whereas he's become your personal pen pal,” Malcolm pointed out, his dry sense of humor making what was a rare appearance these days.
Nicole winced. “I promise I won't go out again without letting you know first.” She wasn't comfortable with this arrangement, but she knew she couldn't add to his worries.
Malcolm approached her. “That's not what I'm talking about.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I think you should return to New York. It's not safe for you here right now.”
Her eyes widened. “I'm not going to leave you to deal with this alone.”
“You have to. That maniac broke into your apartment yesterday. In broad daylight. He's getting bolder. You've got to leave.”
Nicole searched his eyes, a horrible feeling taking root. The situation had become unbearable. His best friend was murdered. The police appeared to have him as their top suspect. His company was in jeopardy of defaulting on its completion guarantor. Was he using the threats as an excuse to get out of the
InterDimensions
project? Had he reached his point of running?
“And what will you do?” She kept her voice steady, without a hint of the disappointment burning a hole in her soul.
Malcolm released her shoulders and rubbed his stubbled chin. “I'm going to find the person who killed Ty.”
Nicole blinked. This wasn't the answer she had been expecting. “How?”
He shook his head. “I'm not sure yet.”
Nicole smiled. He looked frustrated, baffled—but determined. She saw the warrior in him. Had he been like this when he and Tyrone were building Celestial Productions?
“Why are you going to do this?”
He looked at her as though she'd addressed him in a different language. “I'm not going to allow this psycho to skip free or to threaten you.”
Nicole stepped forward. “But the police are investigating.”
“And they're looking in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, this maniac is getting closer to you. Trashing your apartment was a wake-up call. You've got to go back to New York, and I've got to find this guy and stop him.”
Nicole's gaze challenged his. They locked in a battle of wills from which neither was going to turn away.
She set her hands on her hips. “I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone. Ty was your best friend, but my work caused his death. I want to find his killer as well.”
Malcolm began shaking his head before Nicole had finished speaking. “No. It's too dangerous for you.”
“But it's not too dangerous for you?” Her voice rose in incredulity.
“Nicky, I can't search for a killer while I'm worrying about you.”
“Then we'll both search for the killer while we're worrying about each other. I can't help thinking, if I hadn't agreed to make this movie, Ty would still be alive.”
Malcolm approached her. “If you hadn't agreed to make this movie, your cousin might not be alive today.”
Nicole turned away, caught by the truth of his statement. She'd been in a cosmic catch-22 without even realizing it. No matter what decision she'd made, she would have lost someone. Still, she was the cause of this tragedy. She wasn't hiding from that responsibility. “I'm not leaving, Mal.”
Malcolm exhaled in exasperation. “Fine. For now. But I don't want you going anywhere without me.”
Nicole didn't like the idea of restricting her movements. But, from the steel in Malcolm's eyes, she knew if she didn't agree to his terms, he'd try to strap her into an airplane seat. “Fine.”
“And if we have any more stalking incidents, we put you on the first plane to New York.”
Nicole showed some of her own steel. “We'll discuss that if the time comes.”
Malcolm grunted.
Nicole sat on the sofa arm, exhausted from the negotiations. “I saw Omar Carter at the mall today.”
Malcolm shoved his hands into the front pockets of his pleated gray Dockers and scowled. “Great. What did he have to say?”
“I'm telling you this because I know you'd want to know. Omar doesn't think I should spend any more time with you. He thinks you were involved with Ty's death. And he's probably telling other people that as well.”
A flash of anger crossed Malcolm's features. “He probably is. I'm certain he's behind the vendors' sudden lack of confidence in me. I have to stop him. But the only way to do that is to find the person who killed Ty.”
 
The next morning, Nicole repeated Malcolm's number from memory and waited while Denise wrote it down.
She'd called her agent after she'd showered and eaten breakfast. She had agreed with Malcolm—reluctantly—that she should take a hiatus from jogging outside until the police caught the homicidal maniac who was stalking her. Instead, she'd exercised with an hour-long weights-and-aerobics program that aired on one of the cable television stations. The toothy exercise instructor was one more reason she hoped the police caught the stalker soon.
“So, what are the cops saying about the break-in?” Denise demanded.
Nicole stretched out her calves. “Not much.”
“Did they get any prints?”
“No. I guess the maniac isn't completely crazy. He knew to wear gloves.” She leaned forward, stretching her quadriceps.
“This is terrible. I should never have forced you into this contract.”
Nicole paused midstretch, shocked at her agent's conclusion. “You didn't force me. I chose to accept the contract.”
“First, that nice Tyrone Austin is murdered, and now some crazy breaks into your apartment and trashes it.”
Nicole sank onto the floor and folded into additional stretches. She debated how much she should tell Denise. She didn't want to worry her agent and friend, but she didn't think Denise could get much more worried than she was now. “We think the two situations are connected.”
A startled silence met her announcement. “What?”
“Mal and I think the same person who's stalking me murdered Ty.”
Nicole explained about the note left behind in her apartment and the dialogue in the second
InterDimensions
book.
“Oh, my goodness,” Denise breathed. “He took the words right out of your book. Girl, this is really bad. Do you think you should still be there? Maybe you should come home.”
“Mal and I believe I'll be safe here.”
It was only a small fib, Nicole told herself. She and Malcolm did agree she could stay in Los Angeles. But Nicole wasn't about to tell Denise her ex-husband insisted on serving as her personal bodyguard. She didn't think that information would reassure Denise about her safety.
“What did Malcolm really say?” Denise's voice was thick with suspicion.
Nicole sighed. She should have known better than to try to put something over on Denise. “He suggested I return to New York.”
“Uh-huh. And does Derrick know about this latest attack?”
Nicole leaned into her final stretch, becoming exasperated with the conversation's direction. She knew Denise was gathering support against her decision to remain in Los Angeles.
“Yes.” Nicole sat cross-legged on the floor. “I called him last night.”
“I'm sure he was in a really good mood after your talk, too.” Denise snorted.
Nicole could hear her agent drumming her nails on her desktop. “He wasn't very happy,” she said, remembering her brother's arguments for her to return home.
“I'm sure your overprotective baby brother freaked out. And he's right. It's three for three. This is not a good situation for you, girl.”
“Denise, this isn't a vote. This is my choice. I've decided to stay here with Mal and find the murderer. Surely you can understand why I can't run away and allow this maniac to go unpunished?”
It was Denise's turn to hesitate. “But, Nicky, it's not safe. I don't want anything to happen to you.”
“I know, and I appreciate that. I care about you, too. But would you choose any differently if the situation were reversed, and you were in my position?”
Nicole could sense Denise trying to find a way to wiggle off the hook. But she knew Denise too well. Her friend's sense of fairness was at least as strong as her own, as was her sense of loyalty and commitment.
“No,” Denise admitted. “I wouldn't make another choice. I'd do the same thing you're doing.”
“I know. And that's only one of the reasons I love you. Besides, you know I can't leave with the
A.M.
L.A.
interview coming up,” Nicole teased, trying to lighten the moment.
“Girl, they can always interview you from a safe house in New Zealand via satellite,” Denise grumbled.
Nicole burst into laughter. “I'll be fine here, Denise. Really. Please don't worry. I promise to be careful.”
Her promise did little to comfort her agent. Nicole could hear Denise's nails continuing the impatient beat in the background.
“So, what are the police saying about the murder investigation?” Denise asked. “Anything new?”
Nicole was becoming chilled from her damp exercise clothes. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her calves to warm herself while she updated Denise on the investigation.
“We talked to the detectives about the connection between the stalker and
InterDimensions,
” she explained.
“And what was their reaction?”
Nicole shrugged. “They were interested. Providing a motive helps create a list of suspects. Unfortunately, it's a motive they can apply to Mal.”
“What?” Denise screeched. “Mal may not be the same man he was when you all first married, but he couldn't have changed that much. And I know you'd never marry a murderer.”
Nicole surprised herself with a chuckle. “Thanks. But the police don't know that. And I don't think they would consider as substantial evidence my opinion of someone's character.”

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