The River Girls

by Melinda Woodhall

  Eden didn’t want Hope to follow in Mercy’s tragic footsteps when it came to men. But she had fiercely protected and insulated her niece for so long, she now wondered if she’d inadvertently prevented the girl from gaining the experience and confidence she would need to navigate the trials and tribulations of romance that lay ahead.

  “I don’t think you should worry about what might happen months from now,” Eden said, reaching out to push a silky strand of hair off Hope’s face.

  “If Luke is sincere and really likes you, then he’ll still like you in the fall. And, if he doesn’t, then you’ll know it wasn’t meant to be. Either way you’ll be just fine. With or without Luke Adams.”

  Hope nodded and sighed. “But he’s just so cute. And I want him to like me so much. I know I should play hard to get, but when he’s around I forget all that. I forget everything but him.”

  The look of longing in Hope’s eyes startled Eden. She wasn’t a child any longer. Her niece was becoming a woman. And Eden knew she was doing so in a world that had proven to be treacherous for the trusting and the innocent.

  Eden had seen her fair share of women that had made decisions by listening to their hearts rather than their heads and had suffered for it. She had seen the same longing in their eyes that she saw now in Hope’s. The women just wanted to be loved.

  But sometimes, for reasons Eden couldn’t fully understand, love morphed into something evil and dangerous. The love and happiness the women had hoped to receive from a partner turned into hate and fear. How could she tell her fifteen-year-old niece that sometimes following your heart proved fatal?

  “Just be sure you don’t forget to be safe,” Eden said, using a light tone. She didn’t want to discourage Hope from sharing her feelings in future.

  “Remember to protect yourself and use your head. It may be tempting to surrender to the emotions, but I know you’re smarter than that. No boy is worth risking your future or your safety.”

  Hope rubbed the silver locket at her neck. She’d received it as a present on her tenth birthday. It had been the last gift she’d gotten from her mother. Whenever she was pensive, she would reach for the locket.

  “Thanks, Aunt Eden, I’ll be careful,” Hope said, her mood quiet now. “I’m going to go upstairs and try on the clothes I bought for the trip. Sage talked me into buying tropical colors, but I’m not sure they are really my style.”

  “I’d love to stay and play stylist, but I have to go to the office. There’s something I need to do on my laptop and I left it on my desk.” Eden stood up and followed Hope toward the stairs. She pulled Hope into a hug, squeezing a little too tight before letting go.

  “What’s that for?” Hope asked, frowning up at Eden. “Is everything all right? Has something happened?”

  “No, nothing you need to worry about,” Eden said, her chest swelling at the concern and love she heard in the girl’s soft voice. “Everything is going to be fine.”

  But as Eden climbed into the Expedition and waited for Duke to get settled in the back seat, she wasn’t so sure. Would she be able to help the police find Star? And if she did, would she be putting herself or her family in danger? Questions swirled in her mind as she backed out of the garage onto Briar Rose Lane and headed downtown.

  Eden’s talk with Hope had reminded her about the other young girl out there, alone and scared. She knew she had no choice but to try to find Star. And she wanted to help Leo Steele find the man who had killed Jessica. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if her inaction led to another girl suffering Jessica’s fate.

  Chapter Thirty

  Hollywood waited until he was sure the Expedition had driven past before sitting up in his seat and looking around.

  “Coast is clear, man,” he said to Vinny, who was crouched over the gear shift with his head turned at an awkward angle to avoid being seen. “Don’t think she saw us.”

  He looked back at the driveway. The black Jeep was still there. She was still there. Hollywood smiled as he imagined what her reaction would be when she saw him.

  But, first things first. Vinny was nervous about going along with Hollywood’s new plan without Sig giving them the okay. He said that Sig didn’t like surprises. He wanted approval from the old man before he would agree to join in. So, thanks to Vinny, Hollywood needed to get in touch with Sig and explain his idea. Hollywood gritted his teeth.

  The little wimp is always scared about something. His whining is getting on my last nerve.

  Sig’s phone rang twice and then a gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”

  “Hey, I got some good news.” Hollywood knew better than to say anything too specific over the phone. “I’ve got a new, um, product for our shipment. A real fine one. I’ll bring her, I mean it, to the home base tonight. I think you’ll be happy.”

  “You think so?” Sig’s voice was deep, almost a growl. “Well, the product you have, had better be young and fresh. No more spoiled goods, if you know what I mean. No more fuck-ups.”

  “Right, right,” Hollywood said, his tone casual even as rage simmered, heating the blood in his veins. “Only the youngest, freshest products for our partners in Miami. No sweat. Just make sure you bring lots of candy.”

  “You’ll get your candy when you’ve delivered the expected quota, kid,” Sig said, and Hollywood heard a hint of panic under the bluster in the old man’s voice. “Otherwise, our partners in Miami might decide to have a little word with you. And I don’t think you’re gonna like what they have to say.”

  “Stop sweating, man, everything is fine. Just wait. You’ll see. Now we gotta go.”

  Hollywood disconnected the call before he lost control of his temper and said something to Sig that would disrupt the stream of dope the old man supplied. Hollywood wasn’t scared of Sig; he wasn’t scared of anyone. But he was very scared of having his supply cut off. He needed the smack now, couldn’t last long without it. No, he couldn’t do anything to jeopardize his source.

  “So, you didn’t exactly tell him what you’re planning to do.” Vinny’s voice cut through Hollywood’s fog of anger. “You didn’t say you were planning to knock on the door and introduce yourself.”

  “The old fuck doesn’t need to know everything,” Hollywood spit out, glad to have Vinny there, glad to have a target for his rage.

  “He’s freaking out about those Miami dirtbags and their stupid shipment. They must have something big on his ass. They must own his ass.”

  “But what if she calls somebody before we can tell her what we want?” Vinny asked, ignoring Hollywood’s rant about Sig.

  “Who the hell would she call? She won’t call the cops, I know that.” Hollywood put his hand on the car door handle. “Now come on. Quit screwing around before it’s too late.”

  Hollywood stepped out of the car and scurried across the road. He looked back to see Vinny slide out of the driver’s side and reluctantly trot after him. Hollywood grinned as he crossed the wide, green lawn.

  I knew he’d cave. The dumbass has no backbone.

  “Just look like you belong here,” Hollywood said over his shoulder as he rapped on the door, “in case one of the neighbors gets curious.”

  Vinny stood behind him on the porch, and Hollywood could hear his heavy breathing.

  Probably scared shitless, Hollywood thought, and felt a ripple of anticipation in his stomach as he heard footsteps approach.

  The door opened, and Sage Parker stood in the doorway staring at him as if she’d seen a ghost.

  “Well, well, well…look who we have here. Just the girl I was looking for,” Hollywood said, his tone cheerful, as he pushed his way past Sage. “And I got Vinny with me, too, ain’t that great? We can all have a friendly little reunion.”

  Sage gaped at Hollywood, fear shining in her eyes as if she already knew what his sudden appearance could mean for her.

  “Looks like you got a cushy little set-up here.” Hollywood grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hall towards the living room. “Aren’
t you gonna offer to show us around?”

  “Come on, Hollywood, this isn’t cool,” Vinny said, then closed his mouth at the angry look Hollywood aimed at him.

  “Hollywood? Is that the name you’re using now? I thought that was just some dumb joke,” Sage said, seeming to have gotten her voice back. “And what the hell are you doing here? I’m not using anymore. I’m clean now, so I don’t need whatever it is you’re dealing.”

  “That’s good, Sage, since you still haven’t coughed over what you owe me for the last bag you begged off me.” Hollywood’s tone had gone from cheerful to nasty. “I’ve come to get what you owe me. Plus interest.”

  “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t come back,” Sage said, looking over her shoulder. The stairs that led to the second floor were empty.

  “I was messed up. I needed to get help. By the time I’d gotten through rehab, I figured it wasn’t a good idea to hang out with the same crowd anymore.”

  “How convenient,” Hollywood said, grabbing her arm again and dragging her toward him. “So, you decided to just screw me over? Now you’re too good for me and my boy here?”

  “Sage?” A soft voice called from upstairs, and footsteps could be heard overhead. “Who was at the door?”

  Sage flinched and pulled away. “Please, they don’t know about my past. You can’t say anything.”

  Hollywood grinned and turned toward the stairs, watching as slim legs, clad in faded jeans, began descending. Soon he could see a pink t-shirt and then a fresh-faced girl with long, brown hair and big blue eyes. Nice. From a distance she had looked like a kid, but up close he could see she had already started to develop in all the right places.

  You asked for young and fresh, Sig, and look what shows up. This just may be my lucky day.

  “Hope, go back up to your room, everything is okay here,” Sage said, her voice shaky. “I used to know these guys. They stopped by to say hello, but they aren’t able to stay. They’re just leaving.”

  Hope looked at Hollywood with friendly, curious eyes. He could see she was something special. A real knock-out. He thought that once the Miami guys got a load of her, they’d be drooling at the thought of all the money she’d bring in.

  Maybe they’ll even be willing to take her in place of both Star and Jess. This innocent young piece is worth more than both those druggie whores.

  “What’s your name?” Hollywood asked the teenager, cocking his head and looking at her from under hooded eyes. His dirty-blonde hair fell over one eye and he pushed it back without taking his eyes off Hope. “You sure are a pretty, little thing.”

  Hope blushed and smiled, before looking down at her feet in confusion.

  Hollywood felt a surge of adrenaline. He liked the challenge of seducing a new girl. It was almost as good as the high he got from shooting up. Almost. Mainly he enjoyed the power kick when he sensed a girl was interested. And almost all of them were interested.

  He knew if he focused his charm on a female, young or old, the chances were high he could persuade them to give in to him, at least physically. The men around him never understood what it was about Hollywood that always seemed to intrigue any female between fifteen and fifty.

  Of course, the more experienced women soon lost interest once they’d gotten past the stimulating exterior and initial sexual high. But it took longer for the young girls, the innocent or vulnerable ones, to become disillusioned. He fascinated them, made them desperate to earn his desire.

  Maybe it was his broody, dark blue eyes or the full, almost-feminine mouth, framed by chiseled cheekbones and a sculpted jaw, that transfixed them. Perhaps they sensed he was ultimately unattainable, and they longed to possess what they could never have.

  Whatever it was, he had used it to destroy too many girls over the years to count. And now, another lovely conquest stood before him, waiting for her turn to surrender. Too bad he would have to forgo the seduction routine. There wasn’t enough time. He’d have to get her back to the motel and ready to pass on to the Miami gang within days.

  Hollywood sighed at the thought of what he was going to be missing. She would have been fun to have around for a few weeks. But business was business, and he was already craving a hit. He needed to earn some credit with Sig after the recent screw-ups with Star and Jess, so that he could get more dope. No time for fun and games now.

  “Hope, how’d you like to go for a ride with us?” Hollywood asked, reaching back to draw out the little black handgun he’d stuck into the back pocket of his pants when they’d gotten out of the car. Sage screamed and pulled Hope backwards, eyes wide.

  Hollywood aimed the .38 Special at Sage and cocked the hammer. The sound sent a thrill through his body. He’d never killed anyone before, and he suddenly wondered what it would feel like to pull the trigger and take a life. What a rush to have the power of life and death over the girls in front of him.

  But then the thought of the blood and the resulting mess made him recoil. He wasn’t the type for violence. At least not the messy kind. Best to use his smarts instead, as he always had done. The gun was just a way to intimidate the girls. Besides, it was his mother’s gun, and he wasn’t even sure it was loaded. He’d stolen it from a box under her bed before he’d forced Vinny to hide it.

  Hollywood looked up to see Vinny staring at him. He was blinking rapidly behind his glasses, as if unsure what he was seeing. The gun had been in the silver car’s glove compartment ever since Sig had pulled them into the operation at the Old Canal Motel. Vinny hadn’t liked it, but he knew the crew from Miami were armed and dangerous. If something went south, Hollywood had insisted they have some protection.

  “Vinny, go upstairs and get Hope’s purse and cell phone. Bring anything she’d take with her if she ran away.” Hollywood waved the gun towards the stairs and Vinny turned as if in a trance and ascended to the second floor.

  Hollywood turned back to Sage and Hope, who were huddled together. Their terror-filled eyes trained on the little revolver. He lowered the gun to scratch at his arm. The itching was getting worse, and the jitters were starting to come back, too. He needed to get back to the motel.

  For his plan to work, he’d need enough dope to keep Hope drugged up and compliant for the next few days. And he’d need a fix for himself soon. His stomach was already feeling the effects of withdrawal. Queasy waves of nausea lapped at him, and he knew it would only get worse if he didn’t shoot up soon.

  “Hope is coming with us,” he said, once again raising the gun. “And you, Sage, are going to say she ran away. You’re going to make sure no one comes looking for us.”

  “Why would I do that?” Sage asked, anger starting to spark in her eyes along with the fear.

  “Because if you don’t, we’ll tell them the truth. That you’re a druggie and a thief. That you lied about your past and invited us into this house.” Hollywood smirked, liking the look of doubt that had entered Hope’s eyes.

  “Yeah, that’s right, Hope. Your nanny is a drug addict who steals money and drugs from her friends. Or should I say ex-friends. And now to pay off her debts, she’s going to betray you, like she has everyone else.” Hollywood turned to see Vinny hurrying back down the stairs.

  “Get the car and pull it around to the garage,” Hollywood barked at Vinny, as the nausea in his stomach began to worsen. “I’ll bring the girl out that way.”

  Vinny paused, as if he were thinking about refusing, but then he shrugged, opened the door and stepped outside.

  “I don’t care what happens to me,” Sage said, her voice shaking. “If you take Hope I’ll tell the police everything I know about you. They’ll find you and you’ll go to jail.”

  “I don’t think so,” Hollywood said, tempted again to aim the gun at Sage and pull the trigger.

  But he knew he couldn’t do it. If he did, the police would know for sure Hope had been taken. His plan was much simpler. Make everyone think the teenager had run away to meet up with some guy. Some pimply kid at school. When she never came home, the
y wouldn’t know what had happened to her.

  Teenagers ran away from home all the time, right? She’d be in some motel in the next city, maybe even the next state, before they suspected foul play was involved.

  “Go to the garage,” Hollywood said, waving the gun at Sage and Hope. “Walk slowly and don’t make any quick moves, or I might get jumpy and pull the trigger.”

  Sage walked toward a door off to the left of the kitchen. It led into a two-car garage. One side held a collection of bikes, scooters, and sporting gear. The other side was empty. Hollywood inspected the panel by the door and pushed a button that activated the garage door opener. The big door rolled up, and Vinny’s little silver car pulled inside.

  Hollywood grabbed Hope by the arm and pushed her toward Vinny, who had already opened the door to the backseat. As Vinny bundled Hope inside, Hollywood grabbed a jump rope coiled against the wall and threw it in after them.

  “Tie her up so she doesn’t try to jump out once we’re on the road,” Hollywood said, before turning back to Sage.

  “You’ll never get away with this, you know,” Sage said, tears shining in her big, brown eyes.

  “I better get away,” Hollywood growled, trying to keep down the meager contents in his stomach.

  “Because I’ve seen the woman and boy that live here, and if you tell them or the cops anything about me, I’ll come back and kill both of them. But before I do that, I’ll stop by your mother’s house to give her a little surprise. I haven’t seen her in a while. I’m sure she’d be glad to find out what I’ve been up to.”

  Sage choked out a sob. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Let’s just say that there are some very bad men that won’t be happy if I show up empty handed. Once they have Hope maybe they’ll leave me alone. So, you’re gonna tell everyone that Hope ran away. Say you don’t know where she is, but that she was talking about some guy at school. And you better make it sound believable. The life of everyone you love depends on it.”