“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Ryan took the cup. I wondered how it felt to be him. He used to be a star too. Well, at least he played half of a character that everybody loved. Now he was running errands behind the scenes on his brother’s movie.
SUSPECT PROFILE
Name: Ryan Carraway
Hometown: Chowchilla, California
Physical description: Age 17, 5’11”, 150 lbs., collar-length blond hair, brown eyes, cleft chin.
Occupation: Employee of Just Justin, his brother’s production company
Background: Shared a role on Five Times Five with Justin, then stopped acting.
Suspicious behavior: Ended up as Justin’s errand boy.
Suspected of: Being Justin’s stalker.
Possible motive: Jealousy.
A sick thought entered my head. Could Ryan have written one of the threatening letters to Justin?
Did Frank and I need to protect Justin from his own brother?
It Would Be Better If You Died Now
“Let’s get you guys—and the coffee—over to Syd,” Ryan said. He led the way down to a smaller trailer and gave a double knock on the door.
A woman in a colorful dress answered. She had on three belts and a pair of mesh gloves. “My mocha latte!” she exclaimed. “You’re an angel, Ryan. Could you do me one other favor? Justin didn’t think the jeans he’s wearing in the elevator scene fit right. Put them on for Amanda and let her take a look, okay?”
Ryan nodded. He gave Sydney the rundown on me and Joe, then disappeared inside the trailer.
“I’m liking the looks of you two,” Sydney told us. “Very middle America, very boy-next-door. Movie boy-next-door, I mean. You’re both supercute.”
I felt my face get hot. Joe just grinned. “We’re glad New Haven banned Justin,” he said. Sydney’s lips tightened, and Joe rushed on. “Because now the movie is shooting in Bayport. It’s a great place. Frank and I would be happy to show Justin around, if he has any free time.”
Sydney tapped her chin with one finger. “I was thinking a quick pic of you greeting Justin. But now I’m falling in love with the idea of him seeing the town with you. It’s just what he needs.”
“Everyone thinks making a movie would be all fun, but I guess the guy could use some R & R,” Joe said.
“You’re sweet,” Sydney told him. “I was thinking more that Justin’s image could use a little polish, and I think the combo of you two and this town could do it. Ryan will go too, of course. And Justin will want Rick along.”
“How about Emily Slater?” Joe asked. “We don’t want her to feel left out.”
I wasn’t positive who Emily Slater was, but I was betting she was the blond girl in the scene Joe and I had watched being filmed. I was pretty sure I’d seen a little trail of drool coming out of his mouth when he looked at her.
“Hmmm. Interesting idea,” Sydney said. “But no. I think it should be a boys-on-the-town thing.” She opened the trailer door and leaned in. “Ryan, the cute local boys are going to take you and Justin out tonight. Organize it, all right?”
Ryan stepped out of the trailer wearing new jeans. “Let me look,” Sydney told him. “Turn around.” Ryan obediently did a slow turn. “I don’t know what Justin was talking about. They look fab.” She frowned. “Amanda, you’re right. The jeans are perfect. But we have to do something to them for Justin. Maybe different belt loops . . . Anything.”
A loud sigh came from inside the trailer. “Fine. Just as long as you know and I know that it’s completely unnecessary.”
“Thanks, dolly,” Sydney answered. “I’ve got to return a call to the local paper.” She pulled out the tiniest cell phone I’d ever seen. “Ryan, take the boys over to the set. I want the paparazzi to see them welcoming Justin to town. You know the flashbulbs will start going off, and that’s what we need. Remind your brother to smile.”
“Elijah Gorman is out there,” Ryan told Sydney.
Sydney’s lips tightened again, then she forced a smile. “Just do your best.” She flipped open her cell, and Ryan gestured for me and Joe to follow him.
“Who’s Elijah Gorman?” I asked.
“One of the paparazzi,” Ryan answered. “He’s insane. He won’t leave Justin alone. He actually got a shot of him in the restroom once. Justin hates the guy.”
“I wouldn’t be feeling the love for someone like that either,” Joe commented.
“To be fair, Justin had smashed one of Elijah’s cameras the day before. So Elijah wasn’t exactly feeling the Justin love either. Actually, they both completely hate each other now.”
“Why doesn’t Elijah go after another celebrity then?” I asked.
“Pictures of Justin get top dollar. You might have noticed he’s kind of popular,” Ryan answered as we walked back toward the part of Main where the filming was taking place. I thought I heard a little bitterness in his voice, even though he had a smile on his face.
“Yeah, we noticed,” Joe put in, jerking his chin toward the mob surrounding the shoot.
Ryan slowed down a little. “Listen, I want to ask you guys a favor. About tonight.”
“What’s up?” I said.
“Justin had to get insured to do this movie. I’m talking big-money insured. I don’t know if you guys read the tabloids or watch shows like Star Gazer—”
“My brother does,” I told him.
“So you know that Justin’s had some . . . problems getting to the set on time. Or at all,” Ryan said. “It’s not that he doesn’t care about the movies he’s working on. It’s just that he cares about having fun a little more. And when you’re out all night having fun, it’s kind of hard to get to work.”
Joe nodded. “So you don’t want Justin to have an excessive amount of fun when all of us hang out tonight.”
“Exactly. If the insurance company has to pay up because Justin’s behavior makes the movie run over, it’s going to really hurt his career,” Ryan explained.
“But like you said, he’s so popular. Wouldn’t everyone still want him to be in their movies?” I asked.
“They’d want him, but if he messes things up, Justin would definitely need insurance again, even more insurance than he does for this movie. The movie company has to pay for the insurance. It could make hiring him way too expensive, even for a big-budget movie,” Ryan explained.
“Well, Bayport is a rockin’ town,” Joe said. “But I think we can manage to show your brother the sights and still get him home at a decent hour.”
“All I’m asking is that you try,” Ryan answered. “I know no one can actually control Justin. And even if he does manage to be responsible for once, I’m afraid the insurance company might still have to pay.”
“How come?” I asked.
“Forget it. It’s no big,” Ryan answered.
“Sounds kinda big,” Joe said. “If it’s something that could stop Justin from making movies.”
Ryan stopped walking. “I just meant it’s probably not something that would ever happen . . . . ” He looked up. “Sorry, I’m a little distracted. There’s a lot going on right now.”
“Everything okay?” I asked, jumping at the opportunity.
“Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine. It’s just . . . Justin got another stalker letter today. And it came right to the hotel. Somebody dropped it off at the front desk,” he told us.
“Wait. Back up. Stalker letter?” I said.
“Yeah. All celebs get them. Creepy letters from obsessed fans. Some are even threatening. The one left at the hotel was,” said Ryan.
“Do you have it on you?” Joe asked.
Ryan raised his eyebrows.
“It’s just that I’m always hearing about those crazy fan letters. Star Gazer is always reporting on them,” Joe explained.
I snorted. “Reporting, yeah,” I couldn’t stop myself from adding.
“Anyway, the show never gives details on what the letters say. I’m curious about what’s actually in them,” Joe continued.
“I guess it wouldn’t matter if I show it to you,” said Ryan. He pulled a plain white envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Joe.
Joe opened the envelope carefully and then held the letter up so I could see it too. The little hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I began to read:
“You have so much, Justin. So much of everything. So much talent, so much money, so many fans. But you don’t have the most important thing—self-respect. I know you don’t respect yourself. I can see it. Every day you throw part of your life into the trash. Do you ever think about how much other people want your life? How much they wish they were you?
“Sometimes I think it would be better if you just died now. Then maybe someone who deserved it would get some of what you have. Some of your opportunities. The right person with your money and influence could change the world. I guess you change it too—but you make it worse. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the world would be a better place if you just died. Now.”
“That is freakier than I thought it would be,” Joe said. “I guess when I think of stalkers, I kind of think of girls who are way too in love with you and are going to follow you around everywhere until you say you’ll go to the prom with them.”
“Justin definitely has some of that kind of stalker,” Ryan answered. “But he has people who want to hurt him too. Like whoever wrote this letter.” He took it back from Joe. “Probably the writer will never do more than just write another twisted letter. But what if they want Justin dead so badly that they would actually try to make it happen? Sometimes I think it’s possible that somebody is going to try to murder my brother.”
All About the Fun
Ryan told the security guards that we were with him—and just like that, we were on the other side of the barriers. Pretty cool, huh?
“Hey, bro!” Justin called out. “Everyone has been told I want a shot of chocolate in my coffee, right?”
“Slick’s told them. Sydney’s told them. I’ve told them,” Ryan answered, leading us over to Justin.
“So why did I just get coffee with no chocolaty goodness at all?” Justin asked.
“Because it was my coffee. You didn’t ask for any, then you decided you wanted some, so you got mine. And you know I’m allergic to chocolate,” Ryan explained.
“You’re allergic to everything. You should see his allergy pills. He has a whole pill box full of them. He’s like a little old lady,” said Justin, talking to me and Frank like we were already buds. Then he wrapped one arm around his brother’s shoulders. “You didn’t have to give up your drink. Rick could have made another run. That’s his job.”
“He was busy,” Ryan answered.
“Too busy to get me coffee? Dude, it was essential. I could not get myself to act like I wanted to be near Emily without some chemical stimulation. So without the coffee, no scene. Rick has to get his priorities in line.” Justin’s voice got louder, and his eyes started to bug out. He poured the cup of coffee he held out onto the ground. “No coffee with chocolate, and the movie shuts down, and he—along with everybody else—loses his job.” He was screaming now.
Then suddenly he laughed. He had one of those laughs that make you want to laugh too. And I did. So did Frank. And Ryan.
“I had you guys going for a minute. Admit it,” Justin said to me and Frank.
“I admit it,” said Frank.
“You got me, too,” I agreed.
“I figured you deserved a little show,” Justin told us. “You couldn’t say you’d met Justin Carraway and he was totally normal and well behaved, am I right? That would be no fun.”
“My brother’s all about the fun,” Ryan said.
“My brother’s all about the work,” Justin countered. “So did you two win backstage passes on the radio or something?” he asked me and Frank.
“They’re the welcoming committee from Bay-port High,” Ryan explained. “Syd wants us all to hang tonight. They’re going to show us the town.”
Justin took the brochures I still held in my hand. “Folk art museum—boring. Scenic bus tour—boring. Colonial times re-enactment—boring. Pizza coupon—I’ll be keeping this. Firehouse museum—boring.” Justin handed the brochures back. “What I’m thinking for tonight is a private party at the hotel. Maybe a little poker. You play?”
“I have more toothpicks than anyone else combined,” I boasted. “That’s what we play for—toothpicks,” I explained.
“I usually play for cash,” said Justin. “But I’m kind of out of your league in that department, so toothpicks it is. So can you round up a few players?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Invite some girls, too. I feel like meeting some new people,” Justin added.
“Finding girls willing to hang with you?” I asked. “It’ll be tough, but we can call in some favors.”
Justin laughed. So did Frank and I. But this time, Ryan didn’t even smile.
“What?” Justin asked.
“Like you don’t know,” Ryan answered. He turned to me and Frank. “Justin uses girls up like Kleenex. Goes out with them once or twice, then throws them in the garbage.”
I flashed on part of the letter Ryan had shown us. Every day you throw part of your life into the trash. It was similar to what Ryan had just said.
“Come on, I’m seventeen. I’m not supposed to be getting married anytime soon,” Justin retorted. “And, in case you’ve forgotten, Ryan, you’re seventeen too. Stop worrying about everything all the time. Worry when you’re old.”
“Whatever. I just think you’re trashing things—people—that are worth keeping. Very worth keeping,” Ryan said.
“Like Emily,” stated Justin. And it was like Frank and I had disappeared. The two brothers faced off, ignoring everything else.
“Yeah, like Emily,” Ryan agreed.
“The only reason you care is because you have a crush on her,” Justin snapped. “You should be glad I dumped her. Now you can have your shot.”
“Right. She can’t stand to look at you because you hurt her so bad,” Ryan shot back. “She’s not going to be able to get past it. When she looks at me, she still sees you. Which means she can’t stand to look at me, either.”
“Sorry I messed that up for you, bro,” said Justin. “At least you can still drive that car I bought you, and swim in the pool at the house I paid for, and travel anywhere you want to go on my dime.”
“I still have Five Times Five money,” Ryan protested.
“Only because I pay for everything,” Justin told him. “I pay your credit card bills, bro. I bought you your Maserati. Wherever we go, I pick up the tab.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed.
“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Justin taunted.
Ryan’s hands tightened into fists.
“You going to hit me now?” Justin demanded.
Cleen vs. Clean
I shot a glance at Joe. Should we be stepping in? “I know you won’t do it,” Justin taunted.
Ryan’s jaw clenched. I didn’t know if he’d hit his brother or not. But I was pretty sure he wanted to.
Rick hurried over and joined us. “Five minutes, Justin,” he said. “And so you know, some of the paps have their telephoto lenses geared up. I don’t think that was the kind of photo op Sydney was hoping for.”
Ryan immediately took a step away from Justin. “Syd wants you to let these guys do an official welcome, let the paparazzi get some pictures no one has to be ashamed of—for once,” he said, his voice emotionless.
“I’m not ashamed of anything I do,” Justin told him. He turned to Rick. “Go get a couple of the paps. Not Elijah. The hot girl from Know This. Whoever else you want.”
“Excluding him is only going to make him go after you harder,” Ryan said. “Do you want to have another picture of yourself in the bathroom all over the net?”
“What do I care? All my friends thought it was hilarious,” said Justin. “I think I’ll start eating chili every meal so I’ll be prepared to l
et some stink bombs fly if Elijah does try it.”
Ryan rubbed his eyes, like he was suddenly incredibly tired.
“Come on, Ryan. I’m just using one of your old tricks,” Justin said. “You used to save up your farts like ammunition. Remember how you used to turn the air in the bathroom foul before our on-set tutor went in there?”
“Bean burritos with garlic. Plus lots of soda for extra gas,” Ryan answered. And he actually smiled.
I guess these two couldn’t stay mad at each other. Joe and I are like that. I can be wishing I was an only child, then Joe will say something that cracks me up. And it’s pretty much impossible to stay mad when you’re laughing.
“The boy was a genius,” Justin told me and Joe. “Still is. He keeps things running smooth for me.”
Rick returned with four photographers, and suddenly Sydney materialized. “These boys are Frank and Joe Hardy. They go to Bayport High, and they’re here to welcome Justin to town. In fact, they are going to take him out to see the sights tonight.”
I shook hands with Justin. Then Joe did.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
“Where are you going to take him?” one of the paparazzi called out.
“Folk art museum,” Joe deadpanned.
“Followed by a bus tour of scenic downtown,” Justin added, his smile getting wider. “Now I’ve got to get back on the set. See you later, dudes. Bring plenty of toothpicks. You’re going to need them.”
The photographers followed Justin as he headed over to the section of Main where the shoot was taking place. Sydney hurried after them.
“I’ve got some stuff to take care of,” Ryan said. “You guys can watch the filming from over there if you want.” He pointed to a couple of empty canvas chairs behind a monitor. The director stood nearby.
“Excellent,” said Joe.
“Come on over to the hotel about eight,” Ryan added. “Bring whoever you want. But keep the number manageable, okay? If the party gets too out of control, Justin could end up banned from a new place.”
Double Trouble Page 3
