Dangerous Kiss (53 page)

'I'll see you in the morning.'

'You got it, Alex.'

Chapter Ninety-one

It was almost dark, and the rain was pounding down. Boogie had been listening to the radio, the newscaster was predicting a big storm. Driving carefully, he noticed car lights up ahead of him on one of the many dirt roads he'd driven down over the last hour. It looked like a Maserati with a lone male driver. He wondered if he should flag the car down and ask directions. Or maybe he should just follow behind. The driver must be heading somewhere in this wilderness, and when he arrived, that would be the time to get directions.

This seemed like the best idea, because if he flashed his lights at the guy, it was highly unlikely he'd stop in this weather.

Boogie was angry with himself. He should have paid Lorenzo to come with him, guide him, but Christ, who'd have thought the place would be this hard to find?

Although Lorenzo had warned him.

He had a feeling he must be getting near.

Up ahead of him, the Maserati was travelling too fast for the driving rain. Boogie found it easy to keep up - he hadn't taken a course in hazardous conditions for nothing.

It occurred to him that the man driving the car must notice he was being followed. How come he didn't stop and ask what Boogie wanted? Although, since this was Italy, perhaps he thought the car behind him might be driven by a kidnapper.

Boogie hung back, allowing the Maserati to race ahead. He didn't want the guy coming at him with a gun.

Suddenly the Maserati hit something, and for a few seconds the powerful car swerved out of control. The driver didn't stop.

Boogie slowed down to see what he'd hit. Checking it out, he spotted an old bicycle lying across the dirt road.

Something told him to stop. Like Lucky, he always followed his hunches, which is probably why the two of them got along so well.

He knew that if he stopped he'd probably lose the driver up ahead, but somehow he also knew that he had to.

He pulled over, turned off his engine, armed himself with a flashlight, and got out of the car.

The bike was dilapidated and rusty: it could've been lying there for months. Or maybe not.

Boogie began kicking it to the side so he wouldn't have to ride over it. He was surprised it hadn't torn up the Maserati's tyres.

As he was moving the bike, he noticed a flash of golden hair and an arm over to the right.

Christ! There was someone on the ground.

He ran over. A woman was lying there, semi-conscious. He immediately felt her pulse. Thank God she was still alive.

He shone his flashlight on her face and was horrified to discover it was an almost unrecognizable Brigette. She was shivering and shaking, her clothes saturated with rain and mud.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his car.

Her eyelids fluttered open for a moment. She was delirious. 'Where… am… I?

Where's my baby? He'll be all covered in mud, and the grave will float away.'

He laid her down on the back seat of the car, stripping off her wet clothes and wrapping her in his shirt and jacket.

She was shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering, lips and eyelids blue with cold.

'Don't worry, little Brigette,' he said, remembering her when she was a child.

'Stay with it, we're getting help.'

'I lost the baby,' she sobbed hysterically. 'I lost my baby.'

'It's okay,' he said, running around and jumping into the driver's seat bare-chested. 'We're getting you to a hospital, honey. Hang in there, it won't be long.'

Carlo had noticed the car behind him, and it bothered him. What would a car be doing out here at this time of night in the pounding rain?

He had no intention of stopping to find out. He had an uneasy feeling that maybe somehow Brigette had been able to summon help, and someone was coming to get her.

If that happened…

He wasn't too far from the house when his Maserati hit something in the middle of the road and veered over to the other side. Fortunately this forced the car behind him to stop, and checking out his rear-view mirror, Carlo roared away.

They'd never find the hunting lodge - nobody would unless they knew exactly where they were going.

A few miles on he took a sharp left turn, then two more rights, and finally he was there.

The house was in total darkness since there was no electricity. He'd left Brigette a few candles and some matches, but obviously she wasn't using them.

Grabbing a flashlight from the glove box, he jumped out of the car, threw open the front door, and ran into the house.

'Brigette!' he shouted. 'Brigette - where are you?' No answer. He hurried into the living room, the flashlight making shadows on the wall. Then he saw the dried blood all over the floor. Oh, Christ! What had happened here? Had she killed herself? Was he about to find her dead body somewhere?

He hoped not, for he was under enough suspicion as it was concerning the death of Isabella's husband. If Brigette's body was discovered at the hunting lodge, he'd be the first person at whom they'd point an accusing finger.

Quickly he set about searching the house. Upstairs. Downstairs. All around.

She was not there.

He searched again, shouting out her name.

No Brigette.

How could she escape from this place? She had no phone, no car, no means of communication. It was impossible for her to get away.

And yet… she was gone.

He searched one more time, and then he ran out to the Maserati.

He would find his wife. And when he did, she would be very sorry indeed.

Chapter Ninety-two

Lucky pulled up at a stop light. She was on her way to see Lennie, which made her feel good. She'd enjoyed her short meeting with Alex, he was still her best friend, but she couldn't believe he'd said that if she got back with Lennie, he was marrying Pia. What was that all about? Was he trying to piss her off?

Too bad, Alex. It doesn't piss me off at all. I'm simply worried that you're settling for less than you deserve.

Although who was she to interfere? Maybe Pia was the right one. She'd certainly been with him longer than any of the others, so she obviously made him happy.

Hey - it wasn't Lucky's problem. Right now all she had on her mind was seeing Lennie and working things out. She called Venus on her cellphone.

'Wasn't I right?' Venus crowed, picking up on her private line.

'You were absolutely right,' Lucky agreed. 'Billy is great. Between you and Alex, you'll get him doing everything you both want.'

'Let's not forget you,' Venus said. 'You'll have him running around with his dick hanging out. We all know how you like equal nudity on the screen.'

'Quite right too,' Lucky said succinctly, remembering how when she'd taken over Panther, that had been one of her edicts. If the actress takes it off, so must the guy. Boy, there'd been some screaming about that one.

'Wait till Cooper gets a look at him,' Venus said. 'He'll throw a jealous fit!'

'Why are you always trying to break Cooper's balls?'

' 'Cause that's our shtick,' Venus explained, laughing. 'We have fun doing it.'

'So here's the latest,' Lucky said, moving away from the light, which was now green. 'It's juicy stuff.'

'What?' Venus said. 'Tell me immediately.'

'Okay, okay.' A beat. 'Steven has found himself a new girlfriend.'

'I think that's great!' Venus exclaimed. 'Is she nice?'

'Well… nice isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe her.'

'Is she pretty?'

'Staggeringly gorgeous.'

'Staggeringly gorgeous?' Venus repeated. 'Hmm… who is she?'

'Lina.'

'Lina? You mean the Lina from the fashion mags and the runway shows, and every gossip column in the world? Isn't she in bed with Charlie Dollar?'

'She sure as hell ain't in bed with him now,' Lucky said. 'She's sharing living quarters with Steven, and from what she says, they've settled into domestic bliss.'

'You've gotta be kidding me!' Venus said.

'I think it's great,' Lucky said. 'I mean, if you think about it, who's he going to find?

Some little bimbo who'll be in Mary Lou's shadow for the rest of her life? Lina has it going for her. She's her own woman.'

'Good for him,' Venus said enthusiastically. 'Does Charlie know?'

'What does he care? He's engaged.'

'Yes, for seven years!'

'Anyway, I gotta go,' Lucky said, pulling up at another red light. 'I'll keep you informed, and I'll see you at lunch tomorrow.'

She caught the guy in the car next to her staring. Oh, God, she hoped he wasn't a journalist. Lately they'd been following her.

As soon as the light changed, she took a few sharp turns at high speed and soon lost him.

Then she set off up Loma Vista to the address Lennie had given her.

'Good evening,' Duke said politely.

It was dusk and, since the sun was just beginning to set, he considered it a most appropriate greeting.

Claudia was exploring the bedroom when Lennie saw him. A medium height white man with a baby face. But it wasn't the face Lennie noticed first, it was the gun.

'You really should learn to lock the door behind you,' Duke said mildly, standing in the doorway. 'This is Los Angeles. Shit happens.'

Lennie stared at the gun and the baby-faced gunman, and every bad memory of the night with Mary Lou came back. 'Don't hurt anybody,' he said, very slowly.

'We'll do what you want, just don't hurt anybody. I've got a watch, a few hundred dollars, credit cards, and you can take my car. It's parked right outside.'

'That's what I like,' Duke said cheerfully. 'A sensible man. Now, both of you continue being sensible and take your clothes off.'

'What?' Lennie said.

'First throw your money and watch over here, and then remove your clothes,'

Duke instructed, savouring every moment.

Claudia was petrified. She gazed at Lennie, seeking protection.

Christ! What was he supposed to do? This was a nightmare. The second time in months he'd had a gun in his face. Fuck! No more Mr Nice Guy Liberal. From now on he was carrying a gun at all times, and shooting back just the way Lucky would.

Oh, God, Lucky! She was going to be here soon. If she walked in on this… It didn't bear thinking about.

'Listen, man,' Lennie said urgently, throwing over his money, credit cards and watch. 'Take the stuff and go. We're expecting other people.'

'Really?' Duke said, like he couldn't care less. 'Are you going to do as I tell you?'

he added, waving the gun in Claudia's direction. 'Or perhaps I should shoot her.

What do you think, Mr Golden?'

'Take off your dress, Claudia,' Lennie said, in a strained voice, trying to figure out how the gunman knew his name.

She looked at him questioningiy. 'What?'

'Take it off,' he repeated. 'He doesn't want us running for help, that's why.'

'Good,' Duke said expansively, as Lennie started removing his shirt. 'You understand me. Sometimes people don't. And then it can get most unfortunate.'

Tentatively Claudia began unbuttoning her dress.

'Step out of it, that's the way,' Duke said encouragingly.

Once again she looked at Lennie. He nodded. She stepped out of her dress.

'Pants off,' Duke said to Lennie.

'You've got what you came for,' Lennie said, wanting to kill him. 'It's not necessary to humiliate us this way.'

'Brave man without a gun,' Duke said. 'I have to admire that, but you'd better watch the way you speak to me because I'm in charge here. Now get your pants off, and tell her to lose her underwear.'

'Do as he says, Claudia,' Lennie said, his voice even more strained.

'But, Lennie—' she began.

'Do it!' he repeated, remembering saying the same words to Mary Lou, who'd ignored him, and look where it had got her. 'Quickly, Claudia.'

She unhooked her bra and her breasts came tumbling out.

Duke stared at them, licking his lips. 'Nice,' he said. 'Very nice. And all real, huh?

You're not one of those silicone whores.' She put her hands up to cover herself.

'Now the panties,' Duke said.

'Lennie… I - I don't understand,' she whimpered, almost in tears. 'Why he do this to us?'

'Because I can,' Duke said. 'Now hurry up!'

She stepped out of her panties, vulnerable and exposed.

'You see that bed over there?' he said. 'I want you to take off the sheets and tear them into strips, then I want you to tie your boyfriend up. Got it?'

'Why don't you just take the goddamn money and go?' Lennie said. 'You'll get caught if you stay. People will be here any minute.'

'I'm really scared,' Duke jeered.

Claudia tore up the bed sheets, and Duke instructed her how to tie Lennie up.

When she'd completed the task and Lennie was immobilized, Duke ripped the remains of the sheets and strung Lennie with his arms above him to a low ceiling beam so that he was almost suspended, although his feet just about touched the floor.

While he was doing this, Claudia made a vain attempt to attack him. He slapped her away, telling her to sit down and be quiet, or he'd kill her boyfriend.

She did as he asked, fear written all over her face.

When he was sure that Lennie was secure and could not move, he turned his attention back to Claudia. She was definitely a beauty: he planned on taking his time with this one.

He looked around, discovering a sound system built into the wall. He tuned the radio to classical music and turned the volume up loud. Then he sat in a chair and instructed Claudia to dance for him.

She was scared. He could see the fear all over her face and he liked it.

Reluctantly Claudia began to dance.

Duke watched her, soon becoming aroused. She was not skinny, she was rounded and womanly, with large breasts and long legs. He anticipated what he was going to do to her and smiled.

Lennie was watching her too. He had no choice.

'I thought you were a married man,' Duke said. 'Is this your piece on the side? Is she a good lay? Does she come easily? Tell me about her, 'cause I plan to fuck her later. And you're going to watch.'