Deadline (4 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
“Actually there may be. I don't know if you'd call it juicy gossip, but, apparently, Laura Leigh is missing.”
Laura Leigh was a midlist actress in her early twenties who often guest starred on some of the more popular sitcoms. She'd had a starring role in a B-grade horror flick a few months earlier and had appeared on all the late-night talk shows. While the movie wasn't a blockbuster by any means, she'd gained quite a following among teenagers. It was said there would be a part two, and possibly a part three, to follow. Shades of
Halloween.
Halloween.
“Oh my God! Exactly what do you mean by
missing
?” Toots placed her hand over the receiver and told the other three what Abby just told her.
missing
?” Toots placed her hand over the receiver and told the other three what Abby just told her.
“Missing, as in she hasn't been seen for three days,” Abby said. “She was supposed to meet with her agent, and apparently the meeting was crucial to her career. She never showed, and now this.”
“It's probably some publicity stunt. Are the police involved?”
“I'm sure they are. Her family just landed at LAX about two hours ago. I had one of the reporters waiting there, hoping to get something for the paper, but her parents and younger sister wouldn't talk. I hate to think Laura would pull such a stunt, upsetting her family like this. They all looked incredibly worried. I've got a reporter waiting at her house in case she shows up. It would be great for
The Informer
if we could get a scoop about her return. It seems that she frequents a couple popular bars in downtown Los Angeles. I've got two reporters staking out those places now. This could be really big news, especially if it's a stunt, which it probably is. I think she liked all that publicity she received a few months ago, and now that it's died down, maybe she's looking to add a little more excitement to her life.”
The Informer
if we could get a scoop about her return. It seems that she frequents a couple popular bars in downtown Los Angeles. I've got two reporters staking out those places now. This could be really big news, especially if it's a stunt, which it probably is. I think she liked all that publicity she received a few months ago, and now that it's died down, maybe she's looking to add a little more excitement to her life.”
“What a terrible thing to do, especially to her family. If she wants publicity, she should make better movies, something with a real plot and story line. Not those horror vampire slasher movies. Though I know they're quite popular with the younger set.”
“Mom, can you hang on for a minute? I think I have another phone call coming in.”
“Sure.”
“Abby's got reporters staked out at all the hot spots that Laura Leigh frequents. It seems no one has been able to locate her for the past three days,” Toots explained to Sophie, Ida, and Mavis, who were engrossed in anything their goddaughter had to say. Toots heard the click and held up a finger indicating Abby was back on the phone.
She was met with silence. “Abby, are you there?”
“Yeah, uh ... I'm here.”
“What's wrong?” Toots asked anxiously. “I can hear it in your voice.” She knew her daughter better than anyone in the world and recognized when Abby was worried.
“I'm not sure if anything is wrong. It was just a call from one of my sources at the Los Angeles Police Department. Apparently, Laura Leigh's family is there giving statements.” Abby paused, then went on. “I'm not sure if I believe what I just heard or not.”
“I am your mother. Do not do this to me. If there is some super-duper juicy gossip, especially something that you're going to report in
The Informer,
I want to know before it's in print.”
The Informer,
I want to know before it's in print.”
“Mom, you know I don't like to reveal what my sources tell me until I've confirmed it, but I'm going to make an exception to the rule this time. Promise me you will not reveal one word of this to anyone.”
“Not even your godmothers, Abby?” Toots asked.
She heard her daughter's intake of breath.
“I suppose you can tell them, but please explain to them how important it is to keep this to yourselves until I have confirmed it.”
“That's a given, Abby, you should know that by now. I'm surprised you would even say such a thing,” Toots chastised her daughter.
Sophie, Mavis, and Ida stared at Toots, even more intrigued now that they had heard her end of the conversation.
“According to my source, and at this point I have no reason to doubt the person since the person is the one who read the missing persons report on Laura Leigh, it seems that Chris Clay was the last one to see her alive.”
Chapter 3
T
oots felt like she'd been sucker punched. “There has to be a mistake. And why would you say
alive
? she asked Abby. “Do they believe she's dead?”
oots felt like she'd been sucker punched. “There has to be a mistake. And why would you say
alive
? she asked Abby. “Do they believe she's dead?”
Chris Clay was Toots's stepson, an entertainment attorney who practiced in Los Angeles. She had high hopes that someday he and Abby would stop denying what they felt for one another and become a couple. Chris was the most upstanding guy in the world, just like his father, Garland Clay, had been. Toots couldn't recall his number in her lengthy list of marriages, but next to John Simpson, Abby's father, he was the second love of her life.
“I'm just reading what the report said, Mom. It's cop talk.”
“Have you spoken to Chris?” Toots asked, as she moved from the deck into the kitchen, with Abby's godmothers trailing behind her.
“No. But I'm going to hang up and call him right now. Give me half an hour, and I will call you back.” Abby clicked off.
Toots nodded, then placed the phone back in its stand on the countertop.
“Toots, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost. No, scratch that; been there, done that. You look like shit,” Sophie said with her usual tactlessness.
“Abby says her source at the police department called and gave her a tip. It seems that Laura Leigh's family was brought in for questioning. I don't know if this is true or not. I'm only repeating what was told to Abby. Apparently, Chris was the last person seen with Laura.”
A hush fell over the homey blue-and-white kitchen, where Mavis was busy pouring everyone another cup of coffee. “I don't understand,” she said. “Why would they think he had something to do with her disappearance?”
Toots's hands shook. “That's what Abby is trying to find out. She's going to call back in half an hour.” Toots got up from the table and walked over to the cabinet where they stored the liquor. She reached for a bottle of whiskey and brought it back to the table. After she finished the last of her coffee, she poured a liberal amount of the liquor into her coffee cup. Sophie, Mavis, and Ida followed suit.
Ten minutes later, the telephone rang again. Toots looked at the caller ID before picking up. “What did you find out?” she asked Abby, without bothering to say hello.
“I called Chris's house and his cell phone. I even sent him an e-mail. I haven't heard anything yet, but it's just been a few minutes. If I don't hear from him soon, I'm going to go look for him myself.”
“You're not going alone. Name a place and we'll meet you there. This is family, not some silly movie star,” Toots said.
“Mom, stop. I'm sure we're all overreacting. You know and I know that Chris would never get involved with anything even remotely shady. He's probably just with a client and can't be interrupted. I'm sure he knows what's going on. He is an attorney, you know? He has his share of sources just as I do. It's probably nothing, but when I got the phone call, it just alarmed me. I shouldn't have said anything until I knew something for sure.”
“You did exactly what your gut instinct told you to do. You're that much like me. I hate to ask, but was this Laura Leigh more than just a friend? I certainly hope not.”
She heard her daughter's deep sigh.
“I wouldn't know.”
Toots was sure Abby was holding out on her. She didn't blame her. Abby's relationship, or her lack of one, with Chris was none of Toots's business. She just didn't want Abby to get hurt. She certainly didn't want Chris to get caught up in some Hollywood scandal, something that had the potential to ruin his career. She would not sit by and do nothing. If, God forbid, Chris was in any kind of trouble, something she really doubted, she would spend every dime she had in his defense. After all, he was her son.
“There must be something we can do. I hate sitting here waiting, not knowing,” Toots said.
“Good thing you don't work at the paper, Mom. Sitting and waiting is ninety-five percent of our job.”
Toots about fell off her chair. Poor Abby. If she only knew. “Of course, I understand that. This is different. This is family.”
“Sorry, Mom. I know you mean well. But I really think I've overreacted. Let's just wait until I hear from Chris himself. If he thought either of us was poking around in his affairs, he would have a shit fit. As soon as I hear something I'll call you back, I promise,” Abby said.
“Please do, I'm very concerned.”
“Okay. I will talk to you later,” Abby replied, before disconnecting.
For the second time that evening, Toots placed the phone back in its stand. Worried, feeling as though she should be doing something, anything, she began to pace the length of the kitchen. Spying her pack of cigarettes lying on the kitchen table, she grabbed it and went outside to the deck. Sophie, Mavis, and Ida trailed behind like little ducklings following the mama duck.
“What's going on, Toots? Is Chris in some kind of trouble?” Sophie lit a cigarette and blew a thick cloud of smoke over her shoulder.
They took their usual places while Toots filled them in on what Abby had learned.
“I saw something about that girl on the Internet, but I'm ashamed to say, I deleted it, thinking it was another one of those e-mail hoax things that does nothing more than spread viruses,” Mavis said, her words regretful.
Toots nodded. “I understand. I wouldn't have paid one bit of attention to it, either. But it is what it is, and we will have to deal with it, one way or another.
“Sophie,” Toots said, releasing a wide ring of white smoke, “have you talked to Goebel lately?”
Goebel Blevins, a former New York City detective for over thirty years, now turned private eye, had been instrumental in locating the murderer of Thomas, Ida's dead husband. Chris had recommended him as he'd used him on more than one occasion. He was damn good at what he did.
“Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I've spoken with Goebel. He e-mails me daily. I've even read for him a few times. He's got good karma.” Not only did she perform séances, Sophie was quite the psychic, and her ability with tarot cards was uncanny. She had accompanied Goebel in a sting operation of sorts, and they'd hit it off.
“I like that man,” Ida said out of the blue. “He's shaped up quite nicely since Mavis suggested her diet.”
Sophie whirled around, almost knocking the giant seashell ashtray over. “Listen you ... you fornicatress, you, he's not up for sale. You got that?”
Indignant, Ida lashed back. “ âFornicatress'? Why, I should smack that filthy cigarette from your dirty mouth. How dare you call me such a name!”
Toots tried to hide her smile but couldn't. “Now is not the time, children. Ida, for the record, I do believe Sophie and Goebel are quite fond of one another. Let's not start a war. We have to help Chris.”
Toots looked at the three women gathered on the deck and fixed her gaze on Sophie, who was still fuming. “Why don't you call Goebel, see if he's up for a trip out West? I would like to have him close by just in case. Tell him I'll foot the bill, first-class all the way.”
“I can do that. As a matter of fact, I'll do it right now.” And without further ado, Sophie hopped off the deck chair, marched through the open sliding glass doors, and headed upstairs to her room.
Toots, Mavis, and Ida were so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ida's prim voice broke the silence. “A woman has a right to comment on a man's looks. It doesn't matter if he's spoken for or not. The man has done a complete 360. I was simply paying him a compliment.”
“Yeah, just don't do it in front of Sophie. She's a bit sensitive where he's concerned. Remember, Walter, the old bastard, was the only man in Sophie's life. If she gets a second chance at her age, I say more power to her. So leave it alone, Ida. Don't antagonize her, and I'll make sure she doesn't do the same to you. Sometimes, you both act like little children.” Toots huffed.
“Yes, we certainly shouldn't be arguing at a time like this. Poor Chris. I hope nothing has happened to him,” Mavis commented.
Toots leaned forward, scooting to the end of the deck chair. “Let's not think that way. I'm sure it's just as Abby said. His name was mentioned on the police report, and maybe he was the last person to be seen with Laura Leigh publicly. We don't know that anything has happened to her, much less to Chris. I'm sure this means absolutely nothing. Starlets like publicity. Some will go to great lengths to be mentioned in Jay Leno's monologue. Let's just hope this young woman is found unharmed. Let her agent deal with her.”
Sophie padded back out to the deck, her cell phone stuck to her ear. “Here, I'll let Toots tell you. She spoke to Abby.”
Sophie handed Toots her cell phone. “Hello, Goebel. It's great to hear you, too. Yes. Of course. Anywhere you like, just name it.” Toots's auburn topknot bobbed up and down as she spoke. “I'll take care of the arrangements right away.” She handed the cell phone back to Sophie, then went inside.
Picking up the phone, she placed a call to her travel agent, explaining the travel requirements for Goebel. Ida and Mavis followed her, and as was becoming normal, they all gathered around the kitchen table.
“I'll make another pot of coffee,” Mavis said.
Toots clicked off the phone and sat back down at the table. “Goebel will be here tomorrow afternoon. I've booked him a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Ida, I want you to be on your best behavior. We need to focus on helping Chris.” She allowed Mavis to pour her a cup of coffee. “That is if Abby calls.”
Taking a sip of the hot brew, Toots winced and reached for the sugar bowl and creamer. She generously filled her cup with half-and-half, then added three large tablespoons of sugar. She desperately needed a sugar fix.
“Good thing you're not a diabetic,” Ida said sarcastically.
“Kiss my ass,” Toots offered with a grin.
“You keep asking me to kiss your old ass, and by now I would think you would know better. I am not that kind of woman,” Ida singsonged.
“You're not now. However, that's apt to change after spending several years in California. Who knows which way you'll go,” Toots teased poor Ida. “We do see a lot of same-sex couples out here, much more so than we would in Charleston. But that's the South for you; they are a bit behind the times. Not that it's my cup of tea, but I say, whatever floats your boat.”
“Why are we talking about sex again?” Mavis asked timidly.
Loving to see the shocked look on poor Mavis's naive face, Toots said, “I'll give you my usual stock answer. None of us is getting laid.”
“You will never find a sophisticated man with that gutter mouth of yours,” Ida added smartly.
Toots was in the middle of swallowing and almost choked at Ida's words. Mavis ran around the table and smacked her on the back. Toots took several deep breaths before speaking again. “First of all, let's get one thing straight; I am not looking for a man. Remember, I've had eight husbands, all of whom, I might add, were almost as sophisticated as they were wealthy. Might I also add, dear Ida, you will never find a man to stick around if you continue to hop in and out of bed with them. You know that old saying, about milking the cow, why bring it home?”
“Girls, girls! Now is not the time. You both still act like you're in eighth grade. I wish you would learn to get along better. I so hate when the two of you fuss. For one thing, Coco gets upset when she hears loud noises.”
At the mention of her name, Coco jumped up on her hind legs and wrapped her two front paws around her mistress's leg.
“See?” Mavis said. “Even she's asking you to stop.”
At that moment, Sophie came back inside with a smile as big as the moon on her face. “Goebel says he'll be here tomorrow; he just received the e-mail from your travel agent, Toots. I do love the instantaneous e-mail stuff. He'd heard about the missing girl but almost croaked when I told him Chris might be the last one to have seen her. If something bad has happened, Goebel will be the one to find it out. The man is sneaky and sly. Just my kind of guy.”
Toots hadn't seen Sophie's eyes sparkle as they were now since high school, long before she had met that old bastard Walter. It was high time she had a man who would treat her respectfully. She'd spent the better half of her marriage being Walter's punching bag.
Though Toots disliked anyone speaking ill of the dead, when it came to Walter, she made an exception. He had been a worthless alcoholic who'd spent his entire life making her very best friend miserable. If Sophie and Goebel became an item, Toots would cheer them on. Ida was absolutely right. Eighty-five pounds lighter than when they first met him, Goebel was quite the hunk.
Toots looked at the clock. It had been almost an hour since she'd heard from Abby, and she was starting to get worried. She'd no sooner had that thought when the telephone rang. She looked at the caller ID.
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