Regina's Legacy (Sweet Valley High Book 73)

by Francine Pascal

"I say we give it another half an hour. After all, some people like to eat dinner on the late side," Todd reminded her. "How about we split a hot-fudge sundae? Come on, it's in the line of duty."

  Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, all right."

  When the waiter left with their dessert order, Todd took another look at the photograph. "You know, if these guys are drug dealers, wouldn't they avoid a place like this? Keep a low profile—"

  "Todd!" Elizabeth whispered. Her eyes were like saucers and she was staring toward the front of the restaurant. "It's him!"

  Todd turned in his chair. Sure enough, the blond man from the picture had just entered Rick's Place and was speaking to the hostess.

  He wasn't alone.

  Elizabeth's jaw dropped. "Jessica!" she gasped.

  Ten

  "Maybe they're not together," Todd said. "They can't be!"

  "They can and they are." Elizabeth gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white. "The hostess is seating them at a booth on the other side of the restaurant!"

  Todd glanced quickly across the restaurant, then faced Elizabeth again. "Do you think they saw us?"

  Elizabeth shook her head. "They didn't even look this way. And in this dim light, I don't think they could see us unless they tried, which of course they won't because they don't know we're here. They don't have a mirror in their booth the way we do. See? There they are."

  By looking in the mirror along one wall of their booth, Elizabeth and Todd could see Jessica and Chad clearly, without having to crane their necks and stare blatantly across the restaurant.

  "Explain this to me," Todd begged Elizabeth. "I'm completely baffled!"

  Elizabeth felt somewhat overwhelmed herself, but the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. "The new boy Jessica was trying to tell me about the other day!"

  "What new boy?"

  "Someone named Chad. And Chad just happens to be the blond man from the beach!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Oh, why didn't I listen to her when she tried to tell me about him?"

  "Slow down and start at the beginning," Todd said calmly.

  "It was last Thursday," Elizabeth explained. "Two days after I took the photograph. The same night I had dinner at your house and we saw the newscast about the Senate inquiry and Ron Hunter."

  "And?" Todd prompted.

  "And before I left for your house, Jessica was trying to tell me about some guy she'd met that afternoon. She said it was a great story and that I'd get a real kick out of it. But I didn't have time for her. I was so wrapped up in getting ready to go out. I guess I hurt her feelings because later when I asked about Chad, after he had called on Saturday while Jessica was out, she refused to talk about him." Elizabeth bit her lip. "If only I'd listened!"

  The waiter delivered their sundae. Todd spooned into it, a wry smile on his face. "It's kind of funny, if you think about it. The whole time we were doing all that detective work trying to track this guy down, he was calling Jessica and setting up dates with her!"

  Elizabeth frowned. "I don't think it's funny at all."

  "We don't have any proof that he's anyone out of the ordinary," Todd reminded her. "They're just out for a hamburger."

  "Don't you see?" Elizabeth sat forward, her elbows on the table. "This isn't a coincidence."

  "It's not?"

  "Chad must have run into Jessica someplace and have mistaken her for me! Jessica probably thought Chad just wanted to go out with her. She had no way of knowing that he was after something!"

  "The photograph?"

  "The photograph," Elizabeth confirmed.

  The sundae was melting in the dish between them. Elizabeth and Todd were too absorbed in Jessica's predicament to eat it. "So, what do we do now?" Todd asked.

  "I wish I knew." Elizabeth stared into the mirror, trying to read it as if it were a crystal ball. Maybe everything's OK, she thought hopefully. They're just having a hamburger, like Todd said. But Elizabeth knew Jessica too well. Elizabeth could tell by the way her twin was sitting with her shoulders pressed tensely against the back of the booth and a menu held out in front of her like a shield that she was uncomfortable. The certainty swept over Elizabeth like a wave. Jessica was in trouble.

  "Todd, I'm worried."

  "Look, Chad and Jessica are sitting in the middle of a restaurant," Todd pointed out. "He wouldn't have brought her here if he was planning to harm her in some way."

  "We could go over there. Barge in on their date!" Elizabeth proposed.

  "And run the risk of scaring off Chad and never finding out if he and those other two men are connected somehow to the drug ring?"

  Elizabeth felt more confused than ever. She had no idea what course of action was best.

  "Let's wait and watch a while longer," Todd suggested.

  Elizabeth sank back in the booth, resigned to keeping her eyes glued to the image of Jessica and Chad in the mirror.

  "What are you going to order?" Jessica asked. It was getting harder and harder to act as if she were having fun. Chad was bad company; he had hardly said two words since they entered the restaurant. And it wasn't that he was dumb or boring, Jessica had decided. There was something going on in his head; she just didn't know what it was.

  "I can't make up my mind," Jessica chattered on. "The burgers all sound good, but so do the salads. You've eaten here before, right? What do you suggest?"

  Chad's menu was still lying closed on the table in front of him. He's not interested in food, and he's sure not interested in me, Jessica thought. What is he interested in?

  "So, Jessica." Chad's light blue eyes were trained steadily on her face. "You haven't said anything about it, but I know you're into photography. I've been looking forward to seeing the picture you took of my friends and me at the beach last week."

  What was with this guy and Elizabeth's picture? Jessica wondered. She kept forgetting about it; why couldn't he?

  "Oh, the picture!" Jessica gave Chad an apologetic, silly-me smile. "I don't have it with me. I guess it just slipped my mind."

  Chad's face hardened in a dark scowl. "You told me you'd bring it."

  Jessica blinked, stunned by the harsh tone of his voice. "I know, but I—I left it in the darkroom at school," she replied, hoping he would believe her and drop the subject.

  Chad's expression grew more angry. "No, you didn't," he growled. "I've already looked there."

  Jessica stared across the table at him. He'd already looked there? "What do you mean?" she asked, even though Chad's meaning was only too clear. Chad is the person who broke into the Sweet Valley High darkroom! But why? Why would anyone be so interested in a photograph?

  But Jessica had no chance to speculate further. Chad reached across the table and gripped her wrist tightly. "I think we'd better find that picture, Jessica," he said quietly.

  Jessica felt the blood drain from her face. Chad wasn't fooling around; his grip on her wrist was like a vise. Before her eyes, Chad had changed from a cute boy to a dangerous man.

  Maybe it was time to tell the truth and get herself out of this very weird situation. Jessica swallowed with difficulty; her mouth was dry. "Look, Chad. You've made a mistake. I didn't take that photograph. My twin sister did. She has it. I don't know anything about it!"

  Even as she was saying it, Jessica realized it sounded like the phoniest excuse ever. Not surprisingly, Chad didn't buy it. "Let's go get that photo." Chad stood up, still holding onto her wrist. "And no more games, if you know what's good for you."

  Jessica stood up, her knees barely supporting her. "No more games," Chad had said. But this is a game of some sort, Jessica thought, and I don't know the rules.

  What was her next move going to be?

  Todd drummed his fingers on the table while Elizabeth methodically tore her paper napkin to shreds. Their eyes didn't leave the mirror on the wall of their booth for even a moment.

  Elizabeth was the first to detect the change in Jessica's and Chad's expressions. Chad's face had set in grim lines, and Jessica no longer l
ooked uncomfortable. Now she looked scared.

  As Elizabeth watched, Chad grabbed Jessica's arm. They stood up. They were going to leave the restaurant!

  "Todd, there's something wrong!" Elizabeth cried, panic in her voice. "We've got to help Jessica!"

  Todd and Elizabeth stood up, and Todd fumbled in his wallet for money to pay the check. "Hurry!" Elizabeth urged.

  Todd threw some bills on the table. "OK. Let's go!"

  Elizabeth hadn't taken her eyes off Jessica and Chad, who by now had reached the exit. She hurried after them, dodging a startled waitress.

  Chad and Jessica slipped out the door. An instant later, a huge mob of people crowded into Rick's Place.

  "Kimball party of twenty-five," Elizabeth heard the hostess say. "They're setting up tables in the side room for you right now. It'll just be a few more minutes."

  "Excuse me. Excuse me!" In her anxiety, Elizabeth was practically shouting.

  A boy about her age playfully refused to step out of Elizabeth's path. "What's the hurry? Stick around and help me celebrate my birthday."

  Todd put a hand on the boy's shoulder and shoved him aside. "Hey!" the boy exclaimed indignantly.

  At last, Todd and Elizabeth tumbled through the door. "There they are!" Elizabeth cried. Jessica was just sliding into the passenger seat of a light blue convertible parked a few spaces behind the BMW. "Jessica!" she screamed. "Oh no, Todd. We're too late," Elizabeth said in despair. "She didn't hear me."

  "We can follow them. She'll be all right," Todd assured her. "Come on!"

  They dashed to the BMW and jumped in. Todd turned the key in the ignition. Elizabeth waited for the sound of the engine springing to life, but there was only silence.

  A horrible feeling swept over Elizabeth. This couldn't be happening again, now of all times!

  Todd tried again. Still, the engine wouldn't start. Todd cursed and hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand.

  "Keep trying!" Elizabeth urged desperately as she twisted in her seat to look out the rear window. Chad was making his getaway, and he was taking Jessica with him.

  Chad's car pulled abreast of the BMW. At that moment, Jessica turned, glanced out the passenger side window, and looked right across Todd at Elizabeth.

  Jessica's eyes widened with surprise. For a split second, the two sisters stared at each other. Then Elizabeth saw Jessica pointing discreetly at something. Her cheerleading jacket, Elizabeth thought. Why would she point to that? Was Jessica trying to send her a signal of some kind?

  Tires squealing, Chad sped out of the parking lot. Meanwhile, Todd was still trying unsuccessfully to start the BMW. Elizabeth closed her eyes and directed her whole heart and soul into a single wish. Start. Please start!

  A few seconds later, the BMW's engine roared to life. Elizabeth nearly fainted with joy. "They got a head start, but we'll catch them," Todd said with confidence. "Nothing can outrun this car."

  "Chad turned left," Elizabeth told her boyfriend as he prepared to pull onto the main road. "Hurry, Todd!"

  Todd pressed his foot against the gas pedal. In front of them, the highway appeared empty. For a moment, Elizabeth had a sinking feeling that she had made a mistake. Had Chad actually headed in the opposite direction?

  Then a car came into view ahead of them. A blue convertible. It was Chad's! "Here we go!" Todd urged even more speed out of the BMW.

  Todd zoomed up right behind the convertible and flashed his lights. But instead of slowing down, Chad hit the gas. "He's not going to stop!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "He knows we're chasing him!"

  "I don't think he knows who we are. He just thinks I'm some guy who wants to drag race him." Todd laughed grimly. "Well, if he wants a race, I'll give him one!"

  Elizabeth held her breath as Todd put his foot all the way down on the gas pedal. Both cars hurtled down the highway at frightening speed, the BMW gaining ground. There was no one approaching from the opposite direction, so Todd crossed into the left lane, prepared to pull alongside Chad's car and force him over to the side of the road.

  At that moment, Todd glanced into the rearview mirror and saw the flashing lights of a police car. "Don't look now, but we're in trouble."

  "Oh, no," she groaned.

  "Sorry, Liz, but I have to pull over."

  Todd braked and brought the BMW to a stop in a cloud of dust.

  The state police cruiser pulled onto the shoulder behind the BMW. Todd rolled down his window as the police officer approached. "Before I write out a speeding ticket, maybe you can tell me what the rush is all about," the officer said sternly.

  Elizabeth leaned across Todd. "My sister's being kidnapped!" Her voice caught on a sob.

  Todd confirmed Elizabeth's story. "She's in the car I was chasing. That's why I was driving so fast."

  "She's in terrible trouble," Elizabeth continued. "The man she's with may be involved with drugs!"

  Elizabeth had never been so serious in her life. The police officer must have sensed this. "Do you have any idea where they're going?" he asked.

  Todd shook his head. Elizabeth was about to admit her ignorance, too, when suddenly she remembered Jessica, in Chad's car, pointing to her jacket.

  "Wait a minute!" Jessica had been trying to send her twin a message, and Elizabeth knew what it was. Jessica had pointed to the letters on her cheerleading jacket: SVH. "They're going to Sweet Valley High!"

  Eleven

  Jessica hadn't been able to believe her eyes when she glimpsed Todd's car in the parking lot. What on earth had brought Elizabeth and Todd to Rick's Place? Could it have been the same thing that had brought Jessica there—Chad?

  Elizabeth knew something was wrong. Jessica had seen that much during the brief moment their eyes had met. So Jessica had done the first thing that popped into her mind. She had pointed to the letters on her cheerleading jacket, hoping Elizabeth and Todd would figure out the clue and follow her and Chad to Sweet Valley High.

  Chad had warned her against playing any more games with him, but Jessica hadn't had any choice. As they had left the restaurant, she had fibbed once more, this time telling Chad the photograph was in her locker at school. Of course, it wasn't, but Jessica supposed there was a slight chance that the picture was in Elizabeth's locker, and Jessica knew her sister's combination.

  And I'm playing with fire, Jessica thought now, glancing at Chad out of the corner of her eye. His eyes were narrowed against the smoke from his cigarette, and his jaw was set hard as rock. What would he do when he found out she had misled him again?

  Todd and Liz will rescue me. Jessica flipped down the passenger-side visor, pretending to check her hair in the small mirror clipped there. Angling the mirror, she got a view of the highway behind them. Her heart lifted. Todd's BMW was catching up!

  Suddenly Jessica felt the convertible surge forward. Jessica watched the speedometer climb. Did Chad suspect something? "Why are you driving so fast?" she asked him. It was the first time she had dared open her mouth since they got in the car, and her voice came out in a nervous, high-pitched tone.

  "Some rich kid showing off his fancy foreign car," Chad said scornfully. "Thinks he can make me eat his dust. Nobody passes me."

  Jessica relaxed somewhat. Chad was just being macho. As if his dumpy old car were any match for a brand-new BMW! There was no way Chad would be able to shake off Elizabeth and Todd.

  Jessica risked a look at the BMW, just in time to see the flashing lights of the police car. Chad laughed triumphantly. "Poor little rich boy's going to get a speeding ticket. What a shame."

  Jessica twisted in her seat and watched in despair as Todd's car receded into the distance. A speeding ticket would tie up Elizabeth and Todd for ages! They would never catch up with Chad now.

  I'm on my own with him, Jessica realized, the last of her optimism fading. No one can help me now. I'm going to have to help myself.

  Chad was wearing that half-smile again. Jessica guessed he was pleased with himself for having ditched Todd with a speeding tic
ket.

  Chad's half-smile gave her the creeps. She couldn't believe she ever found it, or him, attractive. Jessica felt that it was time to satisfy her curiosity. She might as well ask; at this point, she had nothing to lose.

  She took a deep breath. "So, why do you want to see this picture so badly? It's nothing special. It's just a—picture."

  Chad looked at her as he lit another cigarette. "You're nosy, you know that? You take too many pictures, and you ask too many questions."

  Just one picture and one question! Jessica thought with indignation. Prudently, she kept her mouth shut.

  Chad laughed cruelly. "Yeah, you should really watch out, Jessica. You could get yourself in trouble someday."

  Someday might arrive sooner than you think, she thought unhappily. Like when I open Elizabeth's locker and there's no photo!

  Jessica had one last hope, that there would be something going on at Sweet Valley High that night. A band or chorus rehearsal, anything. If there were other people around, maybe she would be able to give Chad the slip. And if she couldn't get away, at least he wouldn't harm her in front of witnesses.

  Chad chose a spot on the edge of the Sweet Valley High parking lot. He held Jessica's arm as they walked toward the school, his fingers digging into the flesh above her elbow. "Just show me where to go," he instructed her.

  Jessica could see that, except for security night lighting, the school building was dark. She stopped in her tracks. "I just thought of something. We're not going to be able to get in. The school's all locked up!"

  Apparently, Chad found her remark very humorous. Jessica heard the cruel laugh again. It made her skin crawl. "We'll get to your locker." Chad tugged on her arm to force her to keep walking. "Don't you worry."

  When they reached the main entrance of the school, Chad stopped in front of one of the windows. Before Jessica knew what was happening, he had kicked it in.

  "What are you doing?" Jessica screamed, hoping someone would hear her.

  "Shut up," Chad barked. "Get inside." When Jessica hesitated, he gave her a rough push. "Now!"

  Jessica climbed through the broken window into the dark lobby. She was shaking. Now that she had seen Chad's violence in action, she was more frightened than ever.