Hollywood Kids

by Jackie Collins

  'You're a hard worker.'

  'Hmm,' she said reluctantly. 'I suppose I should get back to it.'

  'Yeah,' he agreed, 'and it's about time I checked in with Quincy.'

  Well...' she murmured, feeling completely satisfied. 'I guess we've both got to work.'

  'Quincy will be wondering what happened to me.'

  She touched the back of his neck, sliding her fingers through his thick hair.

  'You're turning me on,' he said, enjoying every moment.

  'It's my intention,' she murmured.

  'Really?'

  'Yes, really.'

  'I thought we were getting up.'

  'No, Michael, you're getting up,' she teased.

  He lightly brushed the tips of her nipples. 'This is something, huh?' he said.

  'I know.'

  'I didn't come over here with this in mind.'

  'Oh yes, you did.'

  He grinned. 'Oh yes, I did.'

  The phone began to ring. She reached out and clicked the bell off. 'No calls,' she whispered. 'No interruptions.'

  Then they both forgot about getting up as his lips descended on hers and once again they began the rapturous trip.

  He moved on top of her, preparing for the wild ride.

  And she knew for sure she was never going to be alone again.

  Chapter Fifty

  'We gotta find the little prick before Luca blows,' Reno said. 'He's gettin' close.'

  'I know that,' Bosco agreed. 'Where we gonna start?'

  'We go back to the house,' Reno said. 'And tear his room to pieces inch by inch.'

  'We did that.'

  'This time we'll search my way.'

  They took the limo to the house, had the driver wait outside, and made their way to Zane's room.

  'So now we'll do it good,' Reno said, quite pumped at the thought of wrecking a room. 'Slit the mattress, peel off the wallpaper, pry up the floor-boards. I didn't come to LA to spend my time chasin' this cocksucker. I came out here to relax. This time we're gonna nail him.'

  They went to work.

  * * *

  Bobby and Mac huddled with Detective Carlyle at the edge of the sound stage.

  'If this man was let out of jail, shouldn't Jordanna and Cheryl have been notified immediately?' Bobby asked, blue eyes blazing.

  We didn't know it was him,' Detective Carlyle explained. 'It only came to light in the last twenty-four hours.'

  'So you're telling me that four women were murdered and you didn't know it was him? Nobody put together the connection before now?' He turned angrily to Mac. 'Do you believe this?'

  Mac studied his shoes. His worst nightmare was coming true. This should never have happened, and the horrible thing was he blamed himself, he should have gone to the cops immediately instead of hoping Luca would take care of it.

  'We've got to find Jordanna,' Bobby said grimly. 'What's being done?'

  'Everything possible,' Detective Carlyle replied, wondering why everyone thought they had a right to blame him.

  'Where's Cheryl?' Mac asked.

  'I stopped by her house,' Detective Carlyle said. 'Only her brother was there.'

  'She doesn't have a brother,' Mac said grimly. 'Maybe it was Zane.'

  'No, I have a photograph of Zane - it wasn't him.'

  'What happens next?' Bobby asked. 'Will there be a ransom demand?'

  'If that's what he's after, he'll most likely contact her father.'

  'Does Jordan know what's going on?'

  'I'm on my way to see him now.'

  'I'll come with you,' Bobby decided.

  'You can't leave the set,' Mac objected.

  'Close down for the day,' Bobby fired back. 'Jordanna's in danger, and I'm going to be out there doing everything I can to help find her.'

  * * *

  Grant paced around the lobby of the St James's. He'd already asked the girl at reception for Mr Nanni, and she'd said he was out. Next he'd spoken to the parking valets and found out Cheryl's car was not parked there. In fact, one of them remembered her collecting her car and leaving the hotel the night before at around ten.

  For the first time in his life Grant decided he cared about someone more than he cared about himself. Cheryl and he had always been close, now that she might be in danger it was a frightening thought.

  He took out Detective Carlyle's card and studied it.

  If he called and told him that Cheryl could be missing, he might have to reveal that she'd been visiting a client last night.

  So what? He'd face that problem when it arose. If her safety was at stake it was worth it.

  * * *

  'If we're going to talk, first you've got to let us use the bathroom,' Jordanna said insistently. 'And can't you see that Cheryl's sick? You poisoned her with that stuff you forced her to drink. She could be having an allergic reaction. Why don't you let her go? All you have to do is drive her to a hospital and drop her off outside. She can't tell anyone where you are, because she doesn't know. You'll still have me.'

  He ignored her pleas. 'What did Ingrid say about me?' he demanded.

  'I want to tell you, Zane, I really do, but I'm in a difficult position. Give Cheryl a drink at least, then I'll tell you everything. That's a promise.'

  He was drawn towards her in spite of himself. 'What's there to tell?'

  'Ingrid talked about you a lot. She really liked you. It was terrible what happened, but I know it was an accident.'

  'Don't try to fool me. You're the one had me thrown into jail.'

  'I had no choice. My father forced me to testify.'

  'Your father didn't force you to do anything. You did it because you're a spoiled rich cunt.'

  'No, Zane, you've got it wrong. Ingrid confided in me.'

  'What did she confide?' he asked suspiciously. 'If you don't tell me soon, I'll leave you down here in the dark. You think the rats were bad? Wait until you see what else I have for you.'

  Cheryl groaned. Even though Jordanna was worried about her, she wished she'd shut up, because instinctively she knew Zane would get off on weakness, only strength would intimidate him.

  'Ingrid thought you were handsome,' she lied, realizing that although she had his interest, she needed more. 'Ingrid was always telling me.'

  The truth was that Ingrid had never mentioned him, except to say he was the most obnoxious creep she'd ever come across.

  A flicker of expression. 'She did?'

  He actually believed her. 'Oh, yes,' she said, nodding her head.

  Zane sat down on the stairs and regarded her through narrowed eyes. 'When did she say this?'

  She stayed silent, which infuriated him.

  His voice hardened. 'I said when did she say this?'

  More silence. Now she was doing exactly what he had done earlier and he didn't like it.

  'Don't play games with me, bitch,' he said stonily. 'Because you'll regret it.'

  'Why do you call me names?' she asked, trying a new tactic. 'Ingrid said you were a nice guy, she really liked you - respected you, in fact. If she knew what you were doing to us, she'd be upset.'

  His voice registered no emotion. 'Ingrid played me for a fool.'

  'You didn't understand her, but she understood you.' She paused for a moment, gauging his reaction. He was hooked, but she still had to reel him in very carefully, otherwise she'd lose him. 'Some of the things she said about you were so interesting...'

  He blinked several times. 'What?'

  'C'mon,' she said persuasively. 'Be a nice guy and let Cheryl go, then I'll tell you.'

  'Cheryl stays.'

  'At least give her some water.'

  'I don't have to do anything.'

  'I know that.'

  'I could kill you both.'

  There was a long tense silence while he decided what to do next.

  Mentally Jordanna willed him to do the right thing. She'd always believed in the power of positive thinking.

  Now if she could only hook him into her mind trip...
/>   * * *

  'Michael?'

  That's my name.'

  'This all happened so quickly. I'm not used to falling into bed with men early in the morning when I'm supposed to be working.'

  He raised a quizzical eyebrow. 'Men, Kennedy?'

  She smiled. 'You.'

  'Thank you.'

  'You're welcome.'

  'Are you complaining?'

  Well... I don't want this to be a casual breakfast affair.'

  'Is that what you think it is?'

  'No... but we did rush into it. Shouldn't we have had some kind of -'

  'What?' he interrupted, half-smiling. 'You want me to take you out on a date and buy you dinner?'

  'Why not?'

  'OK, if that's what you want,' he said, sitting up and reaching for a cigarette. 'We'll go on a double date with Amber and Quincy - how's that?'

  She sat up next to him, pulling the crumpled sheet over her breasts. 'You mean I get to mix with real people?' she asked, widening her eyes.

  'Very funny.'

  'At least I can make you laugh.'

  'You can make me do a lot more than that.'

  'Really?' she teased. 'Tell me about it.'

  He grabbed her playfully. 'How about I show you?'

  She squirmed out of his grasp. 'How about we take a break?'

  'You're a difficult woman, Kennedy.'

  'And you smoke too much.'

  He took a deep drag and stubbed out his cigarette. 'So,' he said, 'we're going on a proper date, is that it?'

  'When will we do this?'

  'When do you want to do it?'

  The truth is,' she said, stretching like a contented cat, 'I never want to leave this bed - not with you in it.'

  'Me, too,' he said, staring at her beautiful face, 'yknow, the first time I saw you I knew this was going to happen.'

  'You did?'

  'I sure as hell wanted it to, but first I had to straighten out my life. Now I hope I've done that, and guess what - here we are.'

  'Hmm... here we are,' she sighed.

  'You're not regretting it, are you?'

  'No, Michael,' she murmured. 'I'm not. How about you?'

  'You've gotta, be kidding. You're the best thing that ever happened to me.' He leaned over and kissed her.

  She pushed him gently away. 'I hate to ask, but what time is it?'

  He took a peek at his watch. 'Jeez! It's eleven thirty. Quincy's going to be pissed I ran out on him.'

  'Let's get up then.'

  'Yeah, let's do it.'

  Neither of them moved.

  'We've got this stalker thing going on with Marjory Sanderson,' he said. 'She claims there's a guy threatening to kill her.'

  'Is there?'

  'I don't know if I believe her.' He took a beat. 'There's something I should tell you about Marjory.'

  'Go ahead. I'm in a listening mood.'

  'I had to borrow money from her.'

  'How much?'

  'Ten thousand bucks.'

  'Why?'

  'Information in exchange for currency. That was the deal to find Bella.'

  Ten thousand dollars is an awful lot of money.'

  'Right - and I've got to pay it back.'

  'How do you plan on doing that?'

  'I dunno... I guess I could moonlight as a private security guard, work my balls off, sell my body -'

  'Michael!' she admonished.

  'Unless you feel like paying.'

  She took a moment. 'Will a dollar do it?'

  'Lady,' he quipped. We're talking ten bucks or forget it.'

  What do I get for ten bucks?'

  'Come here and I'll show you.'

  'Again?'

  'If I was seventeen...' he said, putting his arm around her and pulling her close.

  He made her feel so good. 'Y'know,' she said softly. 'After Phil died I never thought there'd be anybody who could take his place. And yet - here you are.'

  'Yup, here I am.'

  'You've come into my life like an explosion.' Her fingers traced his face. 'I hope you're staying around.'

  'Around?' he said quizzically. 'Sweetheart, I'm moving in.'

  Her voice was low and husky and filled with satisfaction. 'Who said you could do that?'

  'Kennedy, you may as well face it, we're together and that's how it's going to be. Unless you don't want it.'

  She snuggled even closer. 'I do.'

  Was it possible he'd gotten this lucky in such a short period of time? She was so... perfect. 'You know what?' he said.

  'What?'

  'You opened up my heart and walked right in.'

  'Why, Michael, this is a revelation - underneath the tough detective there lurks a true romantic.'

  'Hey,' he said, playfully grabbing her again. 'With you I can be anything.'

  They began to kiss as if they were only just beginning.

  * * *

  Eldessa got off the bus near the bottom of Laurel Canyon. Clutching her black purse tightly to her side she started the long steep walk up the hill.

  Eldessa was used to walking, it didn't bother her. Ever since her car had broken down a year ago she hadn't gotten around to replacing it. It was an old car anyway, and had given her more trouble than it was worth.

  She thought about her family as she made her way up the canyon. Five children, all scattered in different places. Not that she saw much of them, but occasionally they came to her for financial help and she did her best.

  Five thousand dollars was a fortune. If she had that money she could retire, go live in Santa Monica by the ocean with her cousin, and finally, after a lifetime of cleaning up after other people, spend her days doing nothing.

  Eldessa thought she had a chance of getting it. She was almost sure Shelley would be able to tell her where Zane had gone.

  It was worth the long trudge up the steep canyon. Every single weary step.

  * * *

  'Take a look at this,' Reno said, cracking his knuckles.

  What?' Bosco asked, sweating profusely in the LA heat.

  'It's his car rental papers. He hid them under the mattress. I told you, when you toss a room you gotta do it good.'

  'OK, so now we've got his car licence number, big deal.'

  'You don't understand - we got that, we got him. Let's go.'

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Bobby roamed around Jordan Levitt's lavishly appointed study, watching and listening as Detective Carlyle explained the situation.

  Jordan Levitt was a tall handsome man who'd probably intimidated the hell out of Jordanna when she was growing up. Bobby knew the feeling well. In a way Jordan reminded him of Jerry. He had that 'I'm a- major player - don't mess with me' aura.

  When Jordan finally spoke, his deep voice was filled with a barely controlled anger. 'Why wasn't my daughter warned?' he thundered, glaring fiercely. 'Why wasn't she placed in protective custody?'

  'I asked the same questions,' Bobby said.

  Detective Carlyle shifted uncomfortably. He was finally meeting Hollywood Big Shots, and what was he getting? A freaking tongue-lashing as if Jordanna Levitt's disappearance was his fault. If she'd returned his original call this would never have happened.

  'We attempted to warn her -' he began.

  'Bullshit!' Jordan roared, slamming his fist on his desk. 'That's pure bullshit and you know it. Get on the phone and put me through to whoever's in charge, I want action, and I want it now?

  * * *

  'I think I hear your doorbell,' Michael said.

  'Tell them to go away,' Kennedy replied.

  'We gotta do something about getting out of this bed. It's past noon. Definitely time to get up.'

  She sighed. 'If you say so.'

  'Do you want me to answer the door?'

  'No. You go take a shower. I'll see who it is.'

  He kissed her and jumped out of bed. 'Meet me in the shower in sixty seconds. I'll get very impatient if you're not there.'

  'If I do, we'll never get any work
done.'

  He grinned. 'On second thought, who needs work?'

  'We both do,' she said, reaching for a robe.

  Throwing up his hands, he said, 'OK, OK, I'm going to shower.'

  She padded to the door, calling out, 'Who's there?'

  'Kennedy?'

  Recognizing Rosa's voice, she reluctantly opened the door a crack. 'Oh, hi,' she said. 'What are you doing here?'

  'What am I doing here?' Rosa said crossly. 'I've been trying to call you for the last two hours. Where were you?'

  'Working,' she said vaguely.

  'Are you letting me in or not?'

  'Yeah, yeah - I guess.'

  'You guess? What in hell's going on with you? And why aren't you dressed?'

  Reluctantly she opened the door all the way, allowing Rosa to sail past her and enter the apartment.

  'I repeat,' Rosa said. 'How come you're still wandering around in your robe?'

  'I've been working at my computer.'

  Standing back, Rosa surveyed her with a jaundiced eye. 'You've got that recently fucked glow,' she said accusingly.

  'Excuse me?'

  'You heard.'

  'I'm working on a story. I've been up all night.'

  'Yeah, baby. It's me you're talking to. Who's here?'

  'Nobody.'

  'I can hear the shower running.'

  'I was just about to take one.'

  'Uh... excuse me,' Rosa said, bending down to pick a piece of clothing off the floor. 'Whose pants are those?'

  Kennedy spun around. 'What are you - a spy?'

  'Hey, don't get on my case. I'm delighted for you, honey. Who is he?'

  'Michael,' she admitted.

  'Oh, boy. You work even faster than me! One date? Is that all it took?'

  'He's an incredible man, Rosa,' she said, smiling dreamily.

  'Kennedy! This isn't like you - I'm delighted to see that you're a human living female after all.'

  'Now that I've told you, can you please get out?'

  'No, I can't. There's been developments.'

  It occurred to Kennedy that life went on; and it was time to join the real world again. 'OK, fill me in,' she said, attempting to pull it together.