Stars in the Night

by Cara C. Putman

  “You’ll be fine. I promise.” He let go of her hand long enough to pull a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and scribble something on it. “Here. This is my number. Call me if you need anything while you’re in town.”

  “Thank you.” Audra could barely mumble the words, until he retook her hand. How could he be so calm?

  “Tell me about yourself.” His rich voice held a promise that everything would be okay.

  “Audra Schaeffer.” Wait, she’d already told him. He must think her a ninny. “Indianapolis.”

  “What brings you to California?”

  “Looking for…” The plane tipped and Audra glanced out the window. The ground rushed toward them at a dizzying rate. She sucked in a breath to stifle a scream. Robert squeezed her hand, and she pulled her gaze back to his steady one.

  “Looking for a role?”

  “No, my sister.” How did he endure the flight in that unflappable manner? None of the turbulence affected him. Maybe she could match that. The plane bounced once, twice, and then slowed to a stop. Audra released his hand. “Did we make it? Are we on the ground?”

  Robert cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, Audra, the plane has touched the terra firma of California.” He shook his head, a slight grin tweaking his lips, and played with his seatbelt. “Maybe if you’re free tonight you could come to a fundraiser. I know that’s not a typical welcome-to-Southern California experience, but I’m emceeing the event.” He took a breath, a hint of shyness creeping into his voice. “I’d like to see you again.”

  The plane taxied toward the terminal, and Audra froze. A movie star had just invited her to an event? “I don’t know what to say. Or what Rosie’s planned. She doesn’t know I’m coming, you see.”

  “Oh.” He hesitated. “Enjoy your time in California.”

  As soon as the plane stopped, he stood and ambled toward the door. Audra watched him, shocked that she’d turned down the opportunity to spend time with the star. He’d already proven himself kind, with a self-deprecating viewpoint. Not at all what she’d imagined. Maybe she’d call him and say she changed her mind about joining him once she found Rosie.

  Her mind raced with the realization she’d landed in a strange city and foreign state with no idea how to proceed. She’d wasted time panicking instead of forming a plan. She straightened her box jacket and reached for her hat underneath the seat in front of her.

  This endeavor had the earmarks of a half-baked gut reaction. She had no facts to reinforce her need to find Rosemary fast. Daddy had been right. She should have stayed home and made the most of her case.

  Her fellow travelers streamed from their seats and off the DC-3. The stewardess walked up the aisle, empty Coca-Cola bucket in hand. “Can I get anything for you?”

  “No.” Audra plucked her purse from the floor in front of her. “Thank you.” The stewardess nodded, and Audra descended the plane’s steps. Heat settled around her body like a coat. Palm trees like those in LOOK magazine photos dotted the arid landscape. The scenery couldn’t be more different if Rosemary had chosen the other side of the world. Where Indiana was dotted with rolling hills and cornfields that melted into Indianapolis, the view from the tarmac contained a diversity of distant mountains, dry landscape, and exotic plants.

  She grabbed her suitcase and straightened. Time to find Rosemary and her efficiency apartment somewhere in the sea of buildings spread before her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  __________

  Where now?

  The question hit Audra like a blow as she left the airport.

  She didn’t know.

  A line of taxis idled in front of the airport. A man hopped from the front cab and reached for Audra’s bag. She pulled it away from him. “I’ll keep it. Thank you.”

  He stepped back and opened the door. “Yes, ma’am. Where you headed?”

  She didn’t know.

  The thought almost made her turn around, flee the cab, and race into the airport. Instead, she slipped in the backseat, pulling her bag after her. What if Rosemary was out of town? Busy for the week? Completely and totally unhappy to see her?

  She didn’t know.

  It didn’t matter if Rosemary stomped around or acted miffed. Audra could endure any scorn and charges of being overly protective as long as she was satisfied all was right in Rosemary’s world. Part of her even felt excited at the chance to see that world for herself. Rosemary had bubbled about her apartment, the location, the neighborhood, everything Hollywood. Now she could give Audra the grand tour.

  She tried to reassure herself that Rosemary’s silence meant she was swept up in the excitement of life in Hollywood. Yet a premonition nagged Audra.

  “Miss?” The cab driver turned in the front seat to stare at her. “You want to sit in the car all day or actually go somewhere?”

  “Sorry.” Audra pulled her thoughts from their downward spiral and dug in her purse for the scribbled note with Rosemary’s address. The taxi pulled from the curb into traffic, and she leaned against the seat and closed her eyes. In a matter of minutes, the taxi would deposit her at her sister’s apartment. Then, if Audra’s fears were overwrought, Rosemary would open her door, a look of shock coloring her face that her big sister would make a frivolous and expensive trip across the country based on a missed phone call. Audra prayed that happened. If Rosemary wasn’t home, Audra would use the extra key Rosemary had mentioned she kept hidden under a stone. Audra would let herself in and wait until Rosemary came home.

  With her role in Andrew’s death, she couldn’t simply wait and see what happened.

  The car slid in and out of traffic, the driver never pushing quite far enough to make Audra concerned for her life. Yet she caught her breath as he came dangerously close to another car’s bumper.

  As the cab continued down a wide boulevard, Audra couldn’t see the appeal of the town. The landscape was dry, almost barren, and couldn’t appear more unlike Indianapolis. How could Rosemary like it? Yet she did—at least that’s how things had sounded the first few months, as she received callbacks after auditions that led to a couple of walk-on roles. Then Rosemary called, voice vibrating with excitement, because her agent thought a contract for a speaking role was on its way.

  The car drove past a red brick building with a sign that read MASTERS STUDIO. Had that studio seen something they liked in a film test? Had someone there landed Rosemary one step closer to her dream?

  Rosemary moved closer to her dream, while Audra had fled the opportunity to breathe life into hers. Had she wasted that opportunity? It shouldn’t matter. Family was more important than any job. Yet her heart pained at the golden goose she’d killed when she left Indianapolis.

  A few more turns, and Audra couldn’t tell anymore which direction the cab headed.

  Her thoughts returned to Rosemary and the sudden decline in her excitement. She’d turned unusually quiet when she talked to Audra. And then, during their last conversation, there was a panicked edge to her words. She wouldn’t tell Audra exactly what bothered her, but Audra had surmised that Rosie had some kind of man trouble.

  The taxi jolted to a stop in front of a nondescript stucco building. The front entrance faced the road, but Rosemary’s small apartment had an outside entrance separate from the one the other residents used.

  Audra handed a dollar to the driver.

  “Thank you.” He flashed her a smile that revealed a mouthful of crooked teeth. “You like me to wait?”

  “No. That’s all right.” Audra opened the door and slid out of the cab, pulling her bag behind her. She studied the building as the taxi raced into traffic. “Time to confirm how foolish I am.”

  She hefted the bag’s strap over her shoulder. Her steps dragged as she looked for the sidewalk that led to Rosemary’s entrance. As Audra edged around the side, she had to step around trash blown along the overgrown hedges. She didn’t share Rosemary’s enthusiasm for the location. A bus lumbered up a side street. Audra covered her nose against the odor.

&
nbsp; Almost at the backyard, Audra found the door. She knocked on it and waited a minute. No one came to the door, so she knocked again then searched for the rock that hid the apartment key. Rosemary hadn’t mentioned she had a rock garden next to the door. Audra broke a nail as she culled through the rocks, finding the silver key under the sixth rock. “About time.” Audra knocked one last time, but when no one came, she inserted the key and opened the door. The curtains were drawn, and a dusky light coated the room.

  Audra stepped into the room but hesitated to go farther as she dropped her bag.

  All was silent and chaos reigned, typical of Rosemary’s lack of housekeeping. A pillow and blanket were tossed on the floor next to a floral davenport. Bottles were strewn in a haphazard fashion on the vanity that was pushed into a corner of the room. The wardrobe overflowed with a riot of gowns and clothes pushing out of the gap between the unclosed doors. A few shoes had tumbled to the floor in front of the wardrobe.

  A clammy sensation coated Audra’s skin, and the hair at the back of her neck stood on end. She whirled around, purse pulled tight against her body.

  “Oh.” She gasped at her silliness. No one waited behind her, ready to pounce. She tried to laugh, but it sounded like a kitten’s weak squeak. “Get ahold of yourself.”

  She swallowed.

  Enough. She marched farther into the room, toying with a charm on her bracelet as she absorbed the scene. A davenport. Stacks of paper. A hot plate on a tiny table. Audra wrinkled her nose at an underlying odor that pervaded the room.

  The blanket indicated Rosemary slept on the davenport or the floor. Audra moved toward the desk. Paper covered its surface, a hodge podge of debris, yet somehow Rosemary would be able to find anything she needed.

  Some fancy foiled invitations sat on top of the mess. Audra selected one. A fundraiser for the Hollywood USO at the Roosevelt Hotel. Looked like her sister had snagged an invite to appear at the event that evening. Audra noted the address. If Rosemary didn’t show up beforehand, she’d borrow one of Rosie’s dresses and meet her there.

  The next stack caught Audra’s attention. They were articles written about the Hollywood Victory Caravan. Rosemary had circled items about the stars who’d boarded the benefit train. Bing Crosby. Desi Arnaz. Abbott and Costello. So many had made that trip, raising money for war bonds at each stop. Underneath the articles was a letter inviting Rosie to participate in a second caravan that was scheduled to leave in a week. Rosie? On a trip like that?

  Audra turned to the wardrobe, running a hand along the dresses until she found a navy number she’d wear tonight if she attended the fundraiser. As she studied the overstuffed wardrobe, she wondered how Rosemary could afford the abundance of outfits. And what did she wear when she wasn’t at an event? Nothing seemed serviceable for every day. Audra shook her head. Rosemary had not turned into a practical person while out here. If anything, it appeared her flighty, fun-loving personality had lost what little restraint it had.

  The wardrobe’s bottom drawer puckered out, and Audra tried to push it into place. The drawer resisted and she reached in, expecting to move clothing or a handbag. She tugged out the obstruction and found a little black appointment book shoved among a mishmash of heels and other shoes. The book looked like one Rosemary had kept since high school, when the football team noticed her blooming beauty.

  She’d made notes about every boy who asked her out and kept track of what happened on their dates.

  Flipping through the pages, Audra whistled as she ran down the list of stars Rosemary had penciled on its pages. As she turned another page, Audra realized her sister rarely had a night at home. No wonder she had an invitation to join the caravan. Everyone in Hollywood had to know her. Had that contributed to her nearing a movie role?

  According to the book, Rosemary would attend the USO event with Robert Garfield, the star from the plane. Audra’s fingers trembled as she remembered their closeness. His film charisma certainly carried over to the living, breathing version.

  She turned back to the book. The calendar cleared after tonight’s appearance. Had Rosemary planned a break, or did it indicate a change in her status? Audra would have to ask when she found her. Already Hollywood seemed like a totally different world from Indianapolis. The magazines seemed to have it right—every night revolved around a party or gala. When did the stars work?

  Audra turned another page and found a list of names and telephone numbers. Many of the names matched those found on the calendar. Closing the book, Audra tapped it on the table then placed it back in the drawer. Next, she rifled through a few piles on the desk. A note filled with Rosemary’s curly doodles stopped her. Names swirled around the edges, mixed with flowers and crossed-out hearts. Rosie only doodled when something bothered her, but the contents of the note made no sense to Audra. She placed it with the black book for easy access when she found Rosemary. She’d ask her about it—and insist Rosie tell what bothered her. Audra stepped away since nothing else there held her interest.

  Everything looked all right. Controlled chaos as only Rosemary could enjoy.

  Yet the longer she stood there, the more it felt like spiders skittered up her back. There was little left to explore, other than whatever waited behind the lone closed door.

  She nudged open the door to the bathroom.

  Was that…?

  She gulped and leaned against the door, opening it against a weight that pressed back.

  A pale pink glob was visible. Audra swallowed and crouched down.

  A hand?

  “Rosemary?” She shrieked, unable to stop the terror. “Honey? Let me in.”

  She pushed hard against the door, felt the weight give, and the door eased open.

  Audra leaned around the door. She screamed. Then the world opened up as its axis shifted.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  __________

  Robert Garfield bounced his legs as he waited in the lavish anteroom for his agent, Artie Schmaltz, to see him. The other three leather lobby chairs sat miraculously empty at the moment. A cluster of palm trees filled a corner, and one of the leaves tickled his neck when he moved just so. He should slide over to avoid it but couldn’t find the energy after rising early to catch the plane out of Tucson.

  The trip home had drained him from the moment he heard his mother lay in a hospital. His father hadn’t expected her to live long enough for Robert to get there, but she’d rallied. Then she’d ordered him back to Hollywood with the flush of health convincing him she’d be all right. The woman had an iron will. When he’d protested, saying nothing waited there for him, she’d snorted.

  “With an attitude like that, I can see why.” She’d patted his hand and told him to get on the next plane. “You can’t do anything here. I’ll be right as rain in no time. But you go back to Hollywood and prove to that group of snobs that the Garfields are worthy of appearing in their silly films.” She’d coughed, the deep, chest-rattling sound that robbed her breath. “You go for those of us they snubbed.” She smiled then pointed a finger at him. “And do not let that woman steal your career.”

  Robert had agreed, even as it pained him that his parents still didn’t see him as a success. His name had reached second and third billing in a dozen films, but it wasn’t enough. All they could focus on was his current, uncontracted status.

  So he’d returned to Hollywood, back in Artie’s office after two long days, hoping a screen test had turned into work. He fought the urge to let fatigue pull him into a slump. Instead, he pushed his shoulder blades together, straightened the knot in his tie, then kept his hands loosely clasped, stilling his knees in the process. Appearances meant everything here, everyone trained to watch for the slightest sign of weakness. But the façade that every day was sunny with nary a cloud in sight grew harder to maintain. If Artie didn’t have good news that a contract was on the way, Robert’s wallet might as well shrivel up and blow away in the next Santa Ana wind.

  At the very least he needed a few decent roles to keep
the rent and other bills paid.

  Goldie Simmons, Artie’s curvaceous but bubble-brained secretary, looked up from filing a nail. “Don’t worry, Bobby. He’s about ready to see you.”

  Robert worked to keep his face blank at Goldie’s substitution of that horrid nickname. Robert was a strong name, one worthy of an A-list star. Bobby indicated a kid who hadn’t quite gotten his act together. “Thanks.”

  “You going to the USO event tonight?” She smacked her gum and examined a nail. After the way she’d sawed it, the nail must be honed to a point.

  “Artie got me invited, then ordered me to emcee.” It seemed a simple enough thing to do to be seen and move his career forward. One well-placed notice would lead to the next role, and then he’d clear the last hurdle to the A-list.

  “Oh, great exposure for you. That’s what it’s about, ya know.”

  “I know. Making sure the right people see you in the right settings.”

  “You learn quick, Bobby.”

  Robert nodded and studied his hands. It didn’t matter. Until he achieved Cary Grant’s status, Artie would consider him second tier.

  “Your chance will return. It always does for the ones who want it most.”

  “I’m counting on that.” Robert rested his head against the wall. He forced his eyes to stay open. Somehow, he’d find the energy to appear peppy and interested as he kept the partygoers entertained. “Any idea who’s attending tonight’s shindig?”

  “Artie said the biggest and best from Hollywood.” She waved her file in the air. “That’s why it’s good for you to participate. He’s paired you with his new young thing, Rosemary Schaeffer.”

  Another aspiring starlet. Robert would never forget the first time he met her. Intelligence had shone from her eyes as she took him in. A flirtatious air surrounded her, but she held it in check. Rosemary Schaeffer had the potential to make it—he could see that special something shimmering underneath the surface. Was this the gal that Audra, the nervous but beautiful woman on the plane, was looking for? What were the odds that her sister was Rosemary? The last name wasn’t that common around Hollywood, and Robert wished he hadn’t left the plane without a way to reach her. “Have any drinkable coffee back there?”