by Tobin, Val
Cope muted the TV. “Jesus, Katherine. How did this happen?” He had to get to the mountain. Where the fuck was the bodyguard? How could a famous actress disappear while filming a fucking movie?
“I don’t know. Want me to go with you? We can volunteer to help in the search.”
“Hell yes. Right now.”
“Okay, Cope. We’ll get there, but I don’t want you to kill yourself doing it. I’ll change into hiking gear and pick you up. Should I meet you at your place?”
“No, come here. Just hurry.”
Katherine promised to be there in thirty minutes and ended the call.
An hour-and-a-half later, they talked their way through a police checkpoint at the head of the trail leading up the mountain. Katherine drove up to the group of trailers that comprised the base camp for the location shoot. A staging area had been set up, and a woman and man stood beside a folding table and two chairs.
Katherine found a spot amongst the other cars and pulled over. She’d barely put the car into park when Cope flung open the door and jumped out. Katherine’s door slammed as she got out on her side. Cope’s heart skipped a beat at the police tape around Dani’s trailer. The couple near the table waved and greeted the new arrivals.
“Can we help you? I’m Andrew Holt,” said the man, who looked to be in his mid-fifties. He waved at his companion, who wore a Los Angeles Police Department uniform. “This is PC Sophie Enders. You’re Robert Copeland. I recognize you from the newspapers.”
“That’s right. Can you tell me what happened? Are you with the LAPD also? Where’s Dani’s bodyguard?”
PC Enders stepped forward. “Can I see some IDs?”
Cope frowned, frustrated, but he and Katherine both took out their wallets and handed over driver’s licenses. When Enders acknowledged the identities, Cope said, “What happened?”
Holt held up a hand. “I’m not with the LAPD. I’m Danger Play security. The police believe Miss Grayson didn’t leave of her own free will. There are signs she was abducted.”
Cope’s heart thundered in his chest and his mouth went dry. He turned to the police officer. “Who?”
“Greg Henderson might be involved. He hasn’t been seen since last night. Miss Grayson arrived at this location early in the morning, prepared for the shoot, and did four hours of filming. She returned to her trailer at 11:00 am and had a shower. It appears she collapsed getting out of the shower, and someone, likely Henderson, broke into her trailer and abducted her.”
“No one saw this? Where the fuck is Ryan Pearlman? What the hell do I pay him for? He’s supposed to be protecting her.”
Holt and Enders exchanged glances, sending a shiver of fear through Cope at their expressions. “What is it? Where’s Ryan?”
Enders replied. “He’s in the hospital. We found him behind Miss Grayson’s trailer. He’s been shot, but he’ll survive.”
“Jesus Christ. What’s the son of a bitch doing?”
Another exchange of glances. Enders again broke the silence. “Sit, Mr. Copeland.”
“No. What aren’t you telling me? More than half the day is gone. Where the fuck did he take her?”
Enders reached out and touched Cope’s shoulder, stroked his arm, a gesture meant to reassure, but instead it heightened the fear. Cope stepped back, gritting his teeth, face grimacing in pain. “Where are you looking? Is she out on the mountain somewhere?” It came out an airy whisper, almost a wheeze. Oh, God. Dani. His heart hurt. What if he lost her? His arms longed to hold her. If he could see her again, he’d take her in his arms and cover her with kisses. Please, God, just let me see her again.
“Tell me. I have a right to know. She’s my fiancée.” A lie, but a temporary white lie. He’d rectify it as soon as they were together again.
“We’re doing everything we can to find her. He took her away in his vehicle, but has since abandoned it. We don’t know what he’s driving now. The car was ditched in Culver City.”
“Will he harm her?” Cope couldn’t bring himself to ask if Henderson intended to kill her. If anything happened to Dani, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. He should have had two bodyguards watching her. He should have—Katherine interrupted his desperate musings.
“Cope, pull yourself together. We’ll find her.”
“Sit, Mr. Copeland.” Enders used a grip on his arm to guide him to a chair. “I’d like to ask you some questions.”
Cope let her press him into the seat and waited for her to say something.
“When was the last time you communicated with Miss Grayson?”
“This morning.” Cope showed her the text Dani had sent him. “We get no chance to talk on the phone when she’s up here, so we kept in touch this way.”
“Has Miss Grayson said anything to you about Greg Henderson? Had he tried to contact her since he was released on bail?”
“If he had, she wasn’t telling me. Have you checked her phone records?”
“That’s in process. I was hoping you had additional information.”
Cope shook his head. That snake probably kept to himself so her guard would be down. How to find her? He had to think. If the cops let him join the search, they’d steer him to the least likely place. They wouldn’t want him to be the one to find Henderson. He’d have to slip off by himself if he had any hope of finding Dani soon. “Answer the question. Do you think he’ll harm her?”
“He might if anyone tries to take her from him. Henderson has at least one gun with him.”
“Did he stay around here?”
“We’ve gone over this place with dogs, and there’s no reason to believe he’s on the mountain. We’re using Culver City as the starting point for the search though we don’t know what kind of car we’re looking for. There’s been no report of a vehicle stolen in that area, so we’re speculating that he had one waiting. Video surveillance might have picked that up, and if it did, we’ll put out an APB.”
“Have you searched his house?”
“We have officers there right now. If they find anything, they’ll alert us. There’s nothing to do now but wait.”
Restless and frustrated, Cope stood and made his way to the trailer. “Can I go in?”
“Yes, if Danger Play permits it. The police have already searched it and collected whatever was there.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Copeland,” Bennett said.
Cope strode to the trailer, yanked the tape off the door, and stepped inside.
Chapter 34
Groggy and nauseated, Dani regained consciousness dangling from the shoulder of whoever had her in the fireman’s carry. A heavy-looking backpack bumped against her head with every step. Dani groaned. The man—she knew it was a man by the muscles and the sweaty male scent—stopped and set her on her ass among the leaves.
Before she could see who was there, Dani rolled onto her hands and knees and vomited. The odor of bile assaulted her, and she retched again. And again. And again. Whatever was in her stomach wanted out so bad it hurt. Sobs cheered on the vomiting, and Dani wished she could pass out again.
When the cramps and spasms eased, she crawled backward away from the puddle of puke. A hand holding a bottle of water, cap off, appeared under her nose, and she accepted it, grateful. “Thanks.” Manners first, then relief. Dani chugged.
“Not so fast. You’ll be sick again.”
A chill shot up her spine, and the blood whooshed out of her face. Greg Henderson. Dani’s head snapped up to look at him, and oh, God, it was Henderson looming over her. The bottle dropped from her fingers, and she backed away, scuttling crab-like on hands and feet. Weak and dehydrated, Dani collapsed in the dirt.
Henderson caught up to her and slid his hands under her armpits. Dani struggled, but it was no use, and she gave a frustrated sob. “What have you done, Greg?” Grief and rage saturated her words, but they came out clear enough.
“I came back for you, babe. No one can keep us apart.” He dropped to the ground and pulled her into his lap, arms viselike a
round her torso.
Memory fuzzy, Dani tried to recollect what had happened. She’d been filming. The scene had ended, and the next one involved the stunt double and two other actors. She must have returned to the trailer, but she couldn’t remember doing it. Dani checked out her clothes. She wore a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, but had no memory of putting them on. “Have you lost your mind? You’re out on bail.”
“I can’t live without you, baby. We belong together. We’re perfect together.”
“No, we’re not, Greg. Let me go before you get in more trouble. When Jake finds out I’m gone, he’ll look for me. Please. Take me back. This is crazy.”
Henderson’s arm snaked away from her body, he gripped her hair, and yanked her head back. Dani cried out, more from shock than pain.
“Shut up. Dumb bitch. Keep that mouth shut. I’ll tell you when you can speak, and then you keep your tone respectful. Got that?”
Dani nodded. Henderson was crazy. He had to be. She flashed back to when he’d attacked her in her apartment and shuddered.
“That’s right. You’re my little doll. My girl.” The hand released her hair and stroked her cheek. He was gentle now, but that could change in an instant. She’d seen this Jekyll and Hyde routine when they’d dated, though it hadn’t been frequent, and it hadn’t seemed so deadly. It had scared her even then.
Afraid he’d hit her, but desperate to find out his intentions, Dani leaned into Henderson as though resting against him the way she used to when they were dating. When his breathing slowed, his chest rising and falling against her back, she whispered his name. “Greg?”
Henderson stirred, one arm tightening around her body. His mouth nuzzled her hair. “My love?” His breath blew on her, and she smelled a trace of alcohol.
So he’d concocted this stupid stunt after a night of drinking? Dani wondered when he’d had his last drink. Maybe when he sobered up, he’d come to his senses and take her back.
Henderson’s hand continued to stroke her cheek, her hair. He laid a gentle kiss on her temple.
Ask him, Dani. Ask him now, or you’ll be too terrified to ever say anything. “Where are we going?” She’d excised the fear from her voice, making it low and gentle.
“Our place. No one will ever find us there,” he said quietly, not edged with hysteria or anger. The tone was good, but Dani’s fear skyrocketed at the words.
She looked around for the first time since she’d awoken and saw they sat on a dirt trail covered in oak leaves, fir needles, and other natural debris. Evergreen trees and big old oak trees stretched away from the path on either side. The trail led up.
Were they still in the mountains near the shoot? Dani hoped so. If she escaped, help might be easy to find, especially if the police were already looking for her.
“Can you walk?” Again gentle. Courteous. A light kiss on the cheek, two lovers nestled together, resting before resuming their journey.
“Yes.” A little too loud, too fearful. Tears welled up in Dani’s eyes, and she squeezed them shut. The salty water ran down her face, and, afraid he’d get upset if he knew she was crying, Dani pressed her hands to her cheeks, obliterating the wet streaks. She took a deep breath and exhaled, forcing herself to stay calm. She wasn’t tied up, which worked in her favor. She’d cooperate, and when he let his guard down, she’d find a way out.
Henderson released her, stood, and held his hand out. Dani grasped it and let him pull her up. When his arm slid around her waist, she forced herself to reciprocate and lean on him, and he led her up the trail.
***
A picture of Dani and Cope lay in its frame on the floor under shattered glass. Cope recalled the afternoon it was taken—that perfect picnic on the beach when their future looked as bright as the white sand reflecting the setting sun. A selfie, taken while they canoodled on a blanket after a walk along the beach. The sight of it amped up the worry, the heartache, the fear, and brought the threat of tears with it. Cope gritted his teeth and snatched the picture off the floor.
How like her to have had it printed and framed. He picked the glass out of the frame and set the picture on the table, the sight of the happy couple in the photo tugging at his heart. A wet spot in front of the shower stall caught his eye, and he crouched before it, running his hands over the dampness.
Cope pictured her stepping out of the shower. Something made her fall, but, thankfully, there were no blood stains. He scanned the room. Nothing out of place aside from the wet carpet and the broken picture frame. If there had been anything useful, the police would’ve taken it. Cope picked up the framed photo and left the trailer.
When he stepped outside, he noticed how long the shadows were. The air was getting cooler. He hoped to God Dani was okay, and they’d find her soon. He turned to Holt and Enders. “What’s your next move? Seems they’re gone and won’t come back here.”
“Agreed,” Enders replied. “I’m pulling out soon.” She eyed Cope for a moment, then said, “Don’t do anything foolish, Mr. Copeland. We’ll find her. If you think of something that might help with the search, call me.” She gave him her card.
Katherine moved to Cope’s side and put her arm around him. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
Cope didn’t reply, but as soon as they pulled away from the lot, he said, “Drive to Henderson’s apartment.”
He heard her sudden intake of breath. “Cope, no. We can’t do that.”
“Then, take me home to get my car. If you don’t want to come with me, I’ll go by myself.”
Reluctantly, she agreed to go along, but when they arrived at the apartment, a crowd of reporters surrounded the place, and Cope told her to keep driving. “I’ve got an idea. Drive to Ben’s.” He should have thought of getting his brother’s help sooner. With Ben’s help, they could have Dani home and Henderson behind bars by morning.
***
By the time Dani and Henderson reached the cabin that was their destination, he was carrying her. As the sun dipped behind the trees, he set her on a Muskoka chair and fished in his bag for a key.
The oaks were sparser here, the pine trees taking over. Dani’s head throbbed, and she thought she might pass out again. A long hike without food compounded whatever he’d drugged her with.
The door swung open. Henderson hauled her out of the seat. When she collapsed against him, he swung her into his arms. “I’ll carry you across the threshold, babe. Our new home.” He kissed her nose, and she didn’t have the strength to protest. Dani’s eyelids slid closed.
When Dani opened her eyes again, she realized she’d slept. The headache had disappeared, and she lay in a bed, a thick, fluffy comforter covering her. Bound hand and foot with duct tape, she was naked.
Twilight filtered through a window in the opposite wall. How long had she been out? Where was Henderson? Dani listened to the silence. Maybe he’d gone out or had fallen asleep? If so, she should try to escape before he returned.
Dani struggled the comforter off and sat, spinning her feet onto the floor. After a deep breath in, she stood. Thankfully, Henderson was an idiot and had forgotten she’d been trained to escape from duct tape when they’d filmed their first movie together. Dani raised her arms above her head and smashed them on her belly. The tape split apart, and she ripped it off her wrists. Then she crouched and peeled it off her ankles.
She scanned the room for her clothes. Nothing. There was a closet, but when she checked it, she found it locked. He wasn’t a complete idiot then. Dani crept to the window and peered out. It was getting dark. If she climbed out the window and escaped, she’d be naked and in danger of being found by predators before anyone rescued her. Henderson probably counted on her realizing that. What he didn’t understand was how desperately she wanted to get away from him.
Dani unlocked the window and raised the lower sash. As she gripped the screen to lift it out, she heard a sound behind her. A whimper escaped her lips, and she turned to face Henderson.
“What do you think you’re doin
g?”
“I was getting air. I needed air.” Dani’s voice shook, and she folded her arms over her breasts, attempting to cover her nakedness.
“Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?”
Yes, but I won’t tell you that. “No. I didn’t know where I was. I wanted to look outside and get some air.”
Face turning red, he pounced on her. The first blow knocked Dani to the floor, and then he straddled her as she lay on her back. Henderson grasped her wrists in one hand and held them above her head.
“Greg, no. Please. Don’t.” Her jaw ached where he’d hit her. She’d have a fat lip from that.
“I’m afraid you need to learn discipline, babe. What did I tell you about respect? Speak to me with respect.” He spit out the P sound when he said “respect,” and in a moment of lunacy, she almost screamed, “say it; don’t spray it.”
Henderson hit her on the side of the face, open palm. Again. Again. She lost count by the time he stopped, and her ears rang. The only sound was the smack of skin on skin and Dani’s hitched, ragged breathing. She refused to scream or beg or cry.
“I don’t want to hit you, babe, but you’re making me do it. You wanted to climb out the window. Don’t lie. Tell me that’s what you wanted to do, and I’ll forgive you. Just tell me the truth.”
Oh, God. Was this a trick? She tested it. “I told you the truth. Where would I go? I’m naked. There could be mountain lions out there.”
“Liar!” He stood, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her to the bed. This time she did scream, she did beg, and she most definitely cried. “Greg, please. No. You’re right. I was scared. I wanted to climb out. Please. I’m sorry.”
Henderson threw her on the bed, and Dani frantically burrowed into the quilt, wanting to hide. He put a hand on her throat and squeezed, then released. “Don’t fucking move. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
He stomped from the room, and Dani huddled on the bed, too terrified to do anything else. Suddenly, she flashed back to when she was four years old. Home alone with her mother, Dani had spilled a glass of milk on the living room carpet. Lilli backhanded her, then grabbed her by the hair, shoved her nose in the mess, and dragged her into the bedroom. She ordered Dani to wait on the bed and left the room. Dani heard her cleaning the milk, understanding that the real punishment would begin when Lilli returned.
