Star Attraction
Page 17
“Well, not always honestly. I didn’t tell them about Jonathan when we were all sitting around having that cozy meal at Tavern on the Green. I should have gone to the police then. If I had, maybe none of this would have happened.”
“But they can hardly blame you for that! All you wanted was a quick divorce, freedom from the monster you had married. Believe me, they’ll understand.”
Kelly continued, “Zaira, for what it is worth, I honestly don’t think your telling them then would have made any difference. Jonathan would have had to spend months setting up this whole campaign against Brad, so even if you had told them the truth, he probably would have gone ahead with it anyway.
“The only significance is the timing. Jonathan probably moved much more quickly that he intended, just in case you did decided to blow the whistle on him. He got careless over the dates on the photos, which suggests he was in a bit of a panic. If we can keep him scared, maybe he'll play right into our hands and slip up again. Then we’ve got him.”
“I hope you’re right, Kelly. I couldn’t bear it if Brad were hurt any more than he has been. He would die if Cormac or the Studio were damaged. But even if we clear him, there will still be many people convinced of his guilt.”
“Then we’ll just have to unconvince them!” Kelly insisted.
Zaira looked at her new friend earnestly, and said, “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all you and your family have done. I was desperate when I came here. Now you’ve all given me hope.”
“All part of the job, Zaira, and like I said, if we have a hope of catching your ex-husband, we will.”
The next day Zaira telephoned Matt, just to say she was safe, and her plans were working out.
“Listen, I’m not going to talk long, just in case they're tapping your phones. Go to Raymond Ness. I’ll post any letters to him, and can you send them on to Brad. I don’t want him to know that I am out here in California, or else he might think about coming back. I’ll ring Raymond tonight at seven. Be there then if you can.”
Zaira hung up, shaking with fear. What if they knew Matt was helping Brad? What if Jonathan knew about his involvement, and was wondering if Zaira would move against him? But there was nothing she could do about it now. Zaira just had to keep a low profile and hope for the best.
She spent the next few days trying to help the team with their work, but it became mind-bogglingly dull after a short while. Most of the time they just loitered around hoping Jonathan would come out of his office at Clarke Studios for some reason, but even when he did, he usually just ambled around some of the old warehouses, and after a long day at work, went straight home.
There were no suspicious contacts that they could see, but Jimmy managed to bribe Jonathan’s secretary into keeping them posted every time he went out of the office. She would ring his cell phone number twice. On one occasion, about four days after they had started their surveillance, Kelly said, “Hang on, Mary rang five minutes ago, and he still isn’t out here. Back entrance to the Studio lot, perhaps?”
Zaira nodded, and pushed her sunglasses firmly up the bridge of her nose for a better look. She was fairly well disguised, and decided to get out of the car for a snoop around. She grabbed the camera and tape recorder off the front seat, though Kelly hissed, “No, Zaira, it’s too dangerous!”
But Zaira kept low, lurking in the cluster of birds of paradise that decorated the side of the building, and as she went around to the back, she saw Jonathan creeping away from the service elevator. She counted to five, and then followed. A few more yards took her to another of the old disused studios, and she slipped inside and kept close to the wall.
She could hear two male voices, and one of them was definitely Jonathan’s. Fumbling, she switched on her tape recorder, and tried to set up the camera for a clear shot.
The other voice said, “Well, so far people seem to be buying it, but if you want the really hard stuff, you’re going to have to pay more. If I go back inside, my number is up and you know it. After that, I want an airline ticket out of the country, someplace exotic like Tahiti.”
“You and the girls will get whatever you want. I just need you to do a few more sessions, and a few more coke deals,” Jonathan replied.
“You make it sound so easy, man, but why is it I still get the feeling I’m being shafted? It;s too easy, and besides, you still haven’t told me what’s in it for you.”
“Money and power, more than I have ever dreamed. But don’t try complaining to me. You get the girls, all the dope you want, and your cash and plane ticket to paradise. Just grin and bare all for the cameras a few more times, Mike, and I promise, in just a little while, you’ll be free of all this.”
“All right, but you’d better me playing straight on this one, because if you aren’t, you’ll be hearing from me, Jonathan, and I’m not so nice when I get angry,” the man called Mike threatened softly.
“Don’t worry, just be here tonight, usual time,” Jonathan ordered brusquely.
Zaira could see a short but powerfully built man heading towards the doorway where she was concealed. She slipped out quickly, and hid behind a row of motorcycles that were parked nearby.
Mike came out, and Zaira gasped. The resemblance to Brad was stunning, were it not for the fact that he was so heavily tattooed, and several inches shorter. Also, in the sunlight, she could see he had dyed his hair to make it look darker, and she suspected that seen up close, his eyes would be blue rather than Brad’s stunning emerald green. He pulled on his helmet, and started the Honda with a powerful kick.
As he drove out of the car park, Zaira began to run for the front entrance of the building, but just then Jonathan started coming out of the Studio. Zaira dropped the small bag with the surveillance gear on top of the seat and pulled on a helmet over her red hair quickly, with her back to him, and then sat on one of the bikes.
Jonathan glanced at her briefly, and she nervously fingered the handlebars. She accidentally hit the automatic start button, and the machine purred into life. Zaira decided to leave while she could, and the opportunity to follow Mike the male model was too good to resist.
Zaira sped to the front entrance, and then shouted into the car window, “The fake Brad, on a motorcycle. I’m after him.”
She threw the camera and tape recorder bag in through the window of the car, and waved as Kelly pointed to the right.
Zaira negotiated the traffic carefully, as she followed. She had been on a bike a few times in her teenage years, and hadn’t forgotten how to drive it. Fortunately, Mike the model had a very distinctive leather jacket, red with a tiger’s face snarling on the back, so even though she was well behind, she could still see him vaguely in the distance.
As she sped along, she could see the lights up ahead turn red, and she ran right through the yellows as fast as she could. Soon she was only five or six cars behind Mike, who didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, so Zaira had to hang back, and prayed he would not spot her trailing him. She waited for a red light, and then heard a car horn and her name shouted.
“I’m on to him, and I think you’ve stolen Clarke Studios’ property!” Kelly called to her, and she now took up the chase after Mike.
Zaira went more slowly now, but still pressed on. She wanted to back up her friend in case anything went wrong. Mike was going into a pretty bad neighborhood, and Zaira gasped and hit the brakes. She nearly ran him over as he walked out into the road in front of her.
For a moment Zaira thought he had figured out she was tailing him, but he calmly walked over to the opposite corner, and began talking to a very shifty-looking man. Zaira had no choice but to drive down the street. As she turned the corner, she saw Kelly in her car, getting some clear shots of whatever transaction was going on.
Zaira went further up the avenue, and then turned down the third side street on her right. Chances are he didn’t live in this neighborhood, so she would have to wait until he was headed for his next stop, which might even be his own home.
Zaira didn’t see any sign of Kelly, and once or twice she got the feeling Mike was looking over his shoulder. She had to think quickly. Zaira had only a vague knowledge of LA’s layout, but she thought she might be able to turn down the next avenue, out of sight, and still be able to follow him. She turned off to the left just as she saw him begin to slow down. There wasn’t a traffic light in sight, so either he was stopping because he lived there, or because he was suspicious.
Sure enough, when Zaira sped on down the next avenue, he was carrying on in a straight line. She breathed a sigh of relief. She hated to think what might have happened if he had confronted her about following him.
As she looked up the next street, she could see Kelly’s car in the distance, also carefully keeping an eye on Mike. He was their best chance. They couldn’t afford to lose the double who had posed for all those supposed photos of Brad.
Zaira remembered the conversation she had overheard, which she had managed to record. Mike had been in trouble with the police before. He might be willing to tell the police everything for the right offer. It was not only urgent that they save Brad’s career, but also stop Jonathan’s crime spree once and for all.
Zaira lost sight of Mike after a time, and wondered if he had turned down another street. She hesitated, before doubling back and approaching from the opposite direction.
As luck would have it, she saw him putting his cycle into a garage as she peeped around the corner. He had to live there. Now all they had to do was keep an eye on him.
Zaira waited for a few minutes before heading back to the centre of town, and soon Kelly flashed her lights and got her to pull over.
“Here, you’d better bring that bike back straight away, only make sure you wipe your prints off it. I’ve phoned for backup there on our young friend, and Jimmy is keeping an eye on Jonathan. We’ll head back to drop off the Suzuki, then go home.”
Zaira followed Kelly back, and after they had wiped off all the prints, they starting heading back to the Tremaines' house.
Kelly told her off in no uncertain terms as soon as she got inside the car. “You could have really got yourself into a lot of trouble by stealing that cycle, not to mention following someone all by yourself whom we have every reason to believe is dangerous.”
“We couldn’t afford to lose him. He's a crucial witness to Brad’s innocence and Jonathan’s guilt. I got a tape, and some photos. Wasn’t that worth the risk?” Zaira demanded.
“It was great, but he isn’t stupid. I’m pretty sure he knew I was following him, and he might even have grabbed you if you hadn’t turned off in time. It was a nice piece of work, but I do wish you would leave this to us. It is what you pay us for, after all,” Kelly reminded Zaira.
“I’m sorry, I was just so frightened that Mike the model would get away.”
“Well, he won’t now. We can run a check on him, and keep him in our sights. Well done.”
“Not only that, but they are planning to meet again tonight, organize another shoot. We have to be in there tonight, with a camera, the whole lot. Then follow them all home. If Jonathan is there himself, it will be a huge bonus. What did those two say to each other on the street corner?” Zaira asked suddenly, remembering Mike’s first stop. “Did you see anything interesting?”
“A pretty big cocaine deal, by the looks of it. We can get the snaps blown up, get some samples of fibres and stuff from the inside of that fascinating jacket he wears. We can set him up with the police to make a deal with him, then get him arrested on his own charges of drug dealing. Then maybe he’ll be willing to help us out with everything he knows.”
“Hold off on that just for now though. We don’t want Jonathan running scared if they take Mike into custody. Besides, if your photos are as good as they say, we could lean on him ourselves. With my photos and tape, it’s obvious there is one huge conspiracy going on here.”
Kelly stared at her, her eyes wide with astonishment as they pulled up in front of the house.
“From the conversation I overheard in the Studio, it would appear friend Mike already has quite a record sheet. The last thing he wants is another spell in prison. He asked Jonathan for a ticket to Tahiti, one way. We can go to him, get him to help us with names, dates, places, for immunity.”
“God, and I thought you university professors all lived in a world of your own, and now I find you tailing suspects, cutting deals,” Kelly laughed. “Are you sure you’re in the right job?”
“I’m sure. Thanks for the offer though, but this is a once in a lifetime operation,” Zaira joked.
“Well, in any case, we’re getting somewhere, so I would suggest you ring Brad now, and tell him to sell his story to a reputable newspaper. We’ll be in that studio tonight. You’re going to meet with his father tomorrow, and then we’ll decide on our next move.”
“All right, but I’ll go out to a payphone to call, just in case anyone is tapping the lines in London.”
Zaira placed a brief call to Brad. He seemed so far away, she nearly cried when she heard his voice.
“Listen, Brad, we haven’t got much time, so here’s what I want you to do. Ring one of these newspapers. I’ll give you the names and numbers in a minute. Get them to print your side of the story. Say that you've been in New York all this time, not in LA, and give them the names, dates, places of anyone you were with. That will include all of us in the cast of Hamlet, and I'm sure Adam and Brian will be more than willing to help.”
“But I don’t see...”
“Just do it, trust me. It will work out, but under no circumstances should you consider coming back until you hear from me or Matt that it is all over.”
“I feel so helpless,” Brad sighed.
“I know, my love, but trust me, things will work out. I’ve heard things about the investigation. It’s going well.”
“When I get my hands on the person who did this...”
“Don’t worry about that now," she soothed. "Just concentrate on what you're going to tell the papers tomorrow. Listen, what did your father say when you told him?”
“It was just as I predicted. Condemned without a trial. He insists he's going to disown me, but he’s said that before. He’s stormed out of the apartment, gone to a hotel.”
“Oh, damn!” Zaira sighed, now feeling more certain than ever that Jonathan was going to make his big move soon.
“Don’t worry, Zaira, the money doesn’t make any difference to me. I still have plenty of money to get by, and if my father has so little faith in me, then I don’t want to be his son and heir anyway.”
“Brad, he’s your father, the only family you have, and you would feel terrible if anything happened to him. So please, for my sake, find him while he's still in London, and try to patch things up,” Zaira begged.
“I don’t see why I should! This is the one time in my life when I've ever really needed him, and what does he do? He turns his back on me.”
“Brad, I'm going to have to go now, so please do those things for me, and I'll talk to you soon.”
“Zaira, I miss you, I miss New York. I want to come home.”
“I want you to come home, darling, believe me. But it isn’t safe. Things will change. Please, just work on “The Dark Lady,” or anything you can to take your mind off things, and I’ll speak to you soon.”
“Listen, I’ve tried to ring you, but haven’t got an answer. Is there something wrong with the phone?”
“I haven’t been answering it. They're tapping the phones,” she lied. “I’ll ring again from another payphone soon. Take care.”
“I love you, Zaira.
&n
bsp; “I love you too, Brad, no matter what.”
Zaira was pensive that night as she contemplated her meeting with Cormac Clarke the next day. Certainly he and Brad had had their differences, but was that any reason to suspect him of all the foul crimes he had been accused of? Unless of course Jonathan was trying to put his foot even more firmly in the Clarke Studios door, by offering Cormac “proof” of his son’s guilt in other ways? Zaira felt a grown sense of fear that she was in over her head, that Cormac was in grave danger, and only she could help him. If only he would listen to her…
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Zaira took her laptop computer with her to the Bonaventure hotel, and checked into a small suite to wait for Cormac Clarke’s arrival. She used the name Zoe Dominick, and rang the Studio offices to say it was an urgent matter about “The Dark Lady” project.
The secretary reassured her that Cormac had not forgotten the appointment, and also mentioned in passing that he was just getting back from London, so not to be too impatient if he ran slightly late.
Zaira was relieved to know that Cormac had been out of Jonathan’s way in England, but she also wondered whether it would cause problems for their investigation. Now that the cat was back, the mouse might not be so free to play around with his various activities on the side. But with any luck, Brad’s exclusive might make front page news, and force Jonathan’s hand.
Zaira wondered if she should get Cormac to openly declare his faith in Brad in the national press. But she was reluctant to make Cormac a sitting duck for Jonathan. Would it not be better, if more dangerous, to get Jonathan to think Cormac really was intending to make him his heir?