Mobbed

by Carol Higgins Clark

  Edna yelped like a wounded animal, slumping against the desk. Regan and Nora had their arms around her.

  “Oops,” the receptionist said blandly, tapping her keys. “That’s someone else. Mr. Parks is doing much better. You can go inside.”

  Edna yelped again, this time with relief. Regan and Nora followed her into a curtained-off area where Wilbur was sitting up in bed, an oxygen tube in his nose. “Wilbur,” Edna cried. Tenderly she kissed his forehead. “How are you?”

  Wilbur attempted to smile. “I’ve been better. But they say it wasn’t a heart attack—I think it was too much time in a hot, smoky casino. At my age, I should know better.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.”

  “Edna,” Nora said quietly, “we’ll give you some privacy.”

  “No! Let me introduce you. Wilbur, these are my new friends Nora and Regan Reilly. They’re better friends than that louse Stix. Where is he?”

  “He called and said he had a family emergency. Oh look, here he is.”

  All heads turned as Stix approached. His shoes were muddy, his expression guilty.

  Edna’s nostrils flared. She stepped toward Stix and gave him a shove. “What’s wrong with you?” she demanded.

  “What are you talking about?” he whined.

  “You leave Wilbur high and dry like that? What kind of errand did you have to do all the way out here?” Edna demanded. “Answer me!”

  “I had a family situation,” Stix insisted. “My cousin is really sick and his wife doesn’t want any strangers around. I thought I’d only be gone a few minutes.” Stix started to cry. “My cousin’s sick. Now Wilbur. I feel terrible.”

  Crocodile tears, Regan thought.

  “Get out of here!” Edna shouted.

  Stix looked over at Wilbur for support. But he wasn’t getting any.

  “Do what the lady says,” Wilbur said.

  Edna shoved Stix again. “Get lost. Be on your way before you end up in one of the other beds in this room!”

  Stix grabbed the railing of Wilbur’s bed to prevent himself from falling. The wallet that had been hanging out of his side pocket fell to the ground. A wad of one-hundred-dollar bills spilled out.

  “Look at all your money!” Edna cried, as Stix quickly bent over to retrieve it. “Aren’t you rich.”

  “You told me you lost all your money today,” Wilbur said, shaking his fist.

  Stix turned, and stormed out.

  Regan looked at Edna. “Did Stix know Cleo Paradise was renting your house?”

  “Everybody knew, right, honey?” Wilbur asked.

  Now Edna looked guilty. “Word got around, I suppose.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Regan said, making a quick exit. Jack was coming through the emergency room door. “Let’s go,” she said, grabbing his arm.

  “Where?”

  “The man getting in that car is the one who deserted Wilbur. It’s just a hunch, but I want to follow him. Hurry. We can’t let him get away.”

  74

  When Stix pulled out of the hospital parking lot, he turned left.

  “Good!” Regan said. “If he were heading back to Golden Peaks, he’d turn right.”

  “I’ll try not to make it obvious that we’re following him,” Jack said as he pulled out onto the road and also turned left. “But I’ll have to keep up. He’s going pretty fast.”

  “Edna threw him out of the emergency room,” Regan said. “I think the last thing he would expect is that anyone would follow him. Wilbur also told him to get lost.”

  The winding road had no streetlights. Regan told Jack she thought Stix seemed much too jumpy and on edge. He looked so nervous, and his shoes had mud all over them. He knew Cleo was staying at Edna’s. There might be no connection between Stix and Cleo’s disappearance; but he was certainly up to something out here.

  Stix put on his left blinker. Jack kept his distance as Stix turned down a heavily wooded dirt road that was marked “DEAD END.”

  “I’ll wait a minute,” Jack said. “But I don’t want him to get too far ahead.”

  Jack finally turned, then lowered his lights. He and Regan rode slowly down the dark, bumpy road; nothing but woods was on either side. After a few minutes they could see a lighted farmhouse and barn set back to the left. Several cars were parked straight ahead where the road ended. A large U-Haul truck was in the driveway, backed up to the barn door.

  “I wonder what’s inside that barn,” Regan said.

  “Let me make a call to the local police before we take a look.”

  A minute later, Regan and Jack got out of the car. Jack took Regan’s hand. Carefully they walked toward the property. Voices floated out into the darkness from the barn. They crept up the driveway, then came around the side of the U-Haul to the open barn door.

  Not a horse or a cow or a chicken was in sight. The contents of the barn were a garage sale junkie’s dream.

  “Any bargains?” Regan called out.

  Scott, Jillian, Jody, Stix, the president and vice president of Cleo’s fan club, and a couple other “shoppers” Regan recognized from Edna’s garage sale looked up.

  “What are you doing here?” Scott shouted. “Get out!” He rushed to close the barn door.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” Jack said, pulling out his badge. “You might as well cooperate.”

  Regan stepped forward and pointed to a table covered with the skulls that belonged to Cleo’s parents. “I see a lot of familiar pieces. I can’t wait to have a look around. Oh, and look at those baseball cards. I think I can find their rightful owner.”

  A police siren could be heard in the distance.

  The “President” of Cleo’s fan club sank into one of Edna’s chairs. He was wearing the same ill-fitting shirt he had on at Edna’s. “I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this. I’ll cooperate! Please! All I did was show up at the sales and buy what they’d told me to buy with the cash they gave me. Is that such a crime? Jody and Jillian are the guilty ones. They underprice everything at their sales and then resell them for a profit.”

  Regan shook her head in disgust, and pointed her finger at Scott. “You are a complete lowlife. Why did you have to string my friend Hayley along? You got engaged to Jillian last night and then made a date with Hayley for Saturday!”

  “Engaged?” Jody screamed. “What are you talking about?”

  “My husband and I followed Scott to a restaurant last night. He proposed to Jillian. Her ring was in a fortune cookie. It was so romantic.”

  “What?” Jody glared at Scott and Jillian. “Are you two double-crossing me?”

  Now Regan was confused. “Double-crossing you?”

  “Scott and Jillian aren’t engaged!” Mr. President explained. “They’re cousins! Cheating people at garage sales is their family business. Who knows what else? They’re a little mob! These people are all related.”

  “Not engaged?” Regan asked.

  “I hope not!” Jody spat. “Their grandmother and grandfather were brother and sister. I can tell they left me out of something. And I’ll find out what it is!”

  So will I, Regan thought. She pointed to Stix. “What is your part in this?”

  Mr. President answered. “Stix was married to their greataunt. He and Scott like to gamble together. He gave them the lead on the garage sale today.”

  The police car arrived, its red light slicing through the darkness. Two officers hurried up the driveway.

  Regan’s cell phone rang. Quickly she answered.

  “Regan, it’s Judson the landscaper.”

  “Yes, Judson.”

  “I wanted to tell you something about Cleo but I thought it might seem stupid.”

  “It’s only stupid if you don’t tell me.”

  “Okay, then. Cleo was reading a book by the pool. I asked her if she liked it. She said she loved it.”

  “Right,” Regan said.

  “Well, it was about a pioneer family who lived in a log cabin. Cleo said she envied their simple
lifestyle. I don’t know. I’m sorry, but—”

  “Judson, don’t be sorry. I’ll call you back later.” Regan tapped Jack’s arm. “Jack, let’s go.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes. I have another hunch. But this one’s more important. I have an idea of where we might find Cleo.” She turned and started running down the muddy driveway.

  75

  The hours Cleo and Dirk spent together passed quickly. After lunch, they’d watched an old movie and several episodes of Bonanza. For dinner, she’d heated up frozen pizza and they’d opened a bottle of wine.

  “I’d better get back to my cabin,” Cleo finally said.

  “Why?” Dirk asked. They were sitting next to each other on the couch. “Aren’t you having a good time?”

  More than a good time, Cleo thought. So good I don’t know what to think. She smiled. “If I weren’t enjoying myself, do you think I would have stayed this long?”

  “Let’s finish this wine first,” Dirk said, emptying the bottle. “Then I promise I’ll let you go.” He smiled. “But only until tomorrow morning.”

  76

  I don’t know or care if this is a wild goose chase,” Regan said as she and Jack got in the car, “but we have to check out the log cabin camp we passed down the road.”

  “I noticed it, too,” Jack said as he started the engine.

  “Daisy said Cleo liked camping. The landscaper just called and said Cleo loved the book she was reading about a pioneer family living in a log cabin. We have to follow any lead we get.”

  “I’m with you, Regan.” He turned the car around, drove out to the winding rural road, and made a left. “As I recall it’s about eight or ten miles from here,” he said.

  They kept a careful watch. The road was so dark. Finally they spotted the sign for the camp.

  “There it is!” Regan said.

  The camp was about a quarter mile off the main road. When Jack turned in to the parking lot, lights were visible from the main office.

  They parked next to a white SUV with California plates. “I hope this is Cleo’s car,” Regan said as they got out and hurried toward the office.

  The sign on the door indicated it was open until ten o’clock. A woman who appeared to be in her sixties was the only one inside.

  “May I help you?” she asked.

  “I hope so. My name is Regan Reilly. I’m a private investigator. This is my husband, Jack, who is with the NYPD.” They both showed their I.D.s.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “We’re looking for the actress Cleo Paradise. Her parents hired me. For various reasons we thought she might have decided to spend time here.”

  The woman shook her head. “We don’t have anyone here by that name. She’s an actress?”

  “Yes. She’s only twenty-four but was nominated for an Academy Award.”

  “My word. I don’t know who’s who in Hollywood anymore. But Robert Redford is my favorite. I also liked Paul Newman, too, may he rest in peace.”

  “Maybe Cleo registered under a different name,” Regan said hurriedly. “She drives a white SUV with California plates. We saw one outside. Who does that belong to?”

  “Oh, I think that car belongs to Connie Long.”

  “Connie Long?” Regan asked.

  “Yes. She’s here writing a book. Let me go back and check the files.”

  77

  Cleo placed her empty wineglass on the coffee table. “Time to go.” She turned to Dirk. “But before I leave I want to tell you something.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, touching her arm softly.

  “I’m an actress.”

  “Really? I can tell you’re talented. I’ll bet you’ll get a break one of these days. You’d better finish that book, though.”

  Cleo laughed. “Actually, I’m not writing a book. And I’ve already had my break. I was even nominated for an Academy Award this year but lost. Have you ever heard of the movie My Super Super?”

  A dumbfounded Dirk shook his head. “I didn’t see the movie but my sister and my mother did. They both loved it and kept talking about the crazy super …” He paused. “Wait a minute. Are you Cleo Paradise?”

  Cleo nodded. “I wanted to tell you before we spent any more time together because I don’t want you to think I was playing games. In a few days I’ll be meeting up with my best friend, Daisy, and we’ll drive back to California together. She’s working on a movie in Florida now.”

  “Oh.” Dirk was quiet for a moment, then continued, “I hope that doesn’t mean I’ll never see you again.”

  “Of course not.”

  “I liked you from the minute I saw you. It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re Connie Long or Cleo Paradise.”

  “I realize that,” Cleo said. “To some people it would make a difference.” She paused. “They would never ever get involved with an actress!”

  Dirk grinned, then leaned over and kissed her. He drew back his head, looked into her eyes, and gently pushed her hair from her forehead. “You won’t get mad at me, then, if I call you Connie by accident? Because to me, you’ll always be Connie.”

  Cleo smiled. “Call me Connie all the time.”

  They kissed again.

  “Until tomorrow.” Cleo stood. “You’ll be all right hobbling around on that foot tonight?”

  “I’ll be fine. I wish I could walk you to your cabin. Take the flashlight by the door. Call me when you get inside.”

  “I will,” Cleo said, not wanting to admit she was nervous about walking to the cabin alone.

  “Thanks, Connie.”

  Cleo laughed and leaned down for one more kiss.

  The stranger outside the window seethed. Why not me, Cleo? Why not me?

  78

  Yes, that white SUV does belong to Connie Long.”

  “Did you see Connie?” Regan asked.

  “Just from the window. She was going swimming with the owner of the camp.”

  “How old is she?”

  “In her early twenties. Petite, light brown hair. Adorable.”

  “That sounds like Cleo. Maybe she registered under the name Connie Long. Can we call her cabin?” Regan asked.

  “There are no phones in the cabins. Miss Long was with the owner today. Let me call his cell phone.”

  “Fine,” Regan answered. She and Jack waited while the woman picked up the phone and dialed.

  “Dirk?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Briggs.”

  “There’s a private investigator here looking for an actress named Cleo Paradise. She showed me her credentials and seems to think that Miss Long might be Cleo.”

  “Can I speak to the investigator?”

  “Certainly.” Mrs. Briggs handed Regan the phone.

  “Hello, this is Regan Reilly.”

  “Hello, Regan. My name is Dirk Tapper. You’re looking for Cleo Paradise?”

  “Yes. Her parents are terribly worried because they haven’t been able to reach her. So is her best friend.”

  “They don’t have to worry. She just left my cabin. She’s been here for hours.” He laughed. “We were having a good time.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful!” Regan exclaimed. “I can’t wait to have Cleo call them. They’ll be so relieved. Can you tell me where her cabin is? I’d like to talk to her in person for a few minutes.”

  “She’s in Cabin Number Four. Mrs. Briggs can point out which trail you should take. Cleo’s cabin isn’t far from the office. I’d take you up there myself but I sprained my ankle. Please grab one of the little flashlights on the counter there. Let me speak to Mrs. Briggs, please.”

  “Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.” Regan handed the phone back to Mrs. Briggs.

  “Connie Long is really a famous actress named Cleo Paradise? My goodness,” Mrs. Briggs said to Dirk. “Yes, I’ll show them!” A moment later she walked around the counter, led Regan and Jack out the door, and pointed to the right. “See that trail in the middle? Connie or Cleo or whatever her name is, is
in the first cabin at the top of the hill. You’ve got your flashlight but there are also red reflectors on either side of the trail to guide you.”

  “Thanks again,” Regan said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Outside Dirk’s cabin, Cleo’s old fears surfaced. Her heart was pounding as she hurried down the steep path, shining the flash-light in front of her. Images of her bathing suit on the clothesline flashed through her mind. She started to move faster. It will be OK, she told herself. I’ll be in my cabin in a few minutes and I’ll call Dirk and then Daisy. I can’t wait to tell her about my day with him. The sound of a twig snapping in the woods terrified her. Did that sound come from behind me? Cleo broke into a sweat and started to run, not stopping until she reached the front door of her cabin.

  Jack had the flashlight in his hand. He and Regan crossed the parking lot and started up the trail.

  “The owner sounded really nice,” Regan reported. “He said Cleo had been in his cabin since early afternoon. What a relief!”

  “Sometimes there’s a simple explanation for these things,” Jack said.

  In the distance they could see a woman standing in front of Cleo’s cabin, flashlight in hand. She pushed open the door, flicked on the outside light, then started inside.

  A figure wearing a ski mask emerged from the darkness, knife in one hand, flowers in the other, and rushed to push his way into Cleo’s cabin.

  “Oh my God!” Regan cried as she and Jack took off up the trail.

  Cleo screamed as she struggled to close the door. She was pushing as hard as she could, but was finally thrown backward. “No!” she screamed as she landed on the floor. “No!”

  The intruder rushed into the cabin and threw a bouquet at Cleo. She tried to get away, but he caught her arm. “You’ll never say no to me again, Cleo! Never!” He raised the knife.

  Jack Reilly lunged forward and grabbed the man’s wrists firmly from behind. “Oh, I think she will,” Jack shouted, tightening his grip.

  Cleo scurried backward as the knife fell to the floor.

  The intruder howled in pain. Regan yanked off his ski mask.