Obsessed (12 page)

Judy asked the important question. “So it’s not really a date?”

“I don’t know what you’d call it, but Michael asked her out for breakfast after they’re through bowling.”

Judy frowned. “Oh-oh. That counts, according to the rules the girls made up.”

“Oh, my God!” Linda gave a little shiver. “Isn’t she afraid to go out with Michael? I mean . . . I probably shouldn’t bring this up, but every girl he’s dated this month has been murdered!”

Carla nodded. “I know. I asked her about that, and she says she’s not worried. Deana, and Becky and Mary Beth were all performers. Ingrid just works here.”

Judy looked very serious. “That’s true . . . but what if it’s all a coincidence, and the killer goes after a waitress next?”

Ten

“Miss Judy? You must promise to be very careful tonight. The moon is almost full, okay?”

“Sure, Marta.” Judy turned to grin at their housekeeper. Marta was very superstitious. “Do you want me to wear a necklace of garlic to keep the vampires away?”

The heavy-set Mexican housekeeper frowned as she shook her head. “Please, Miss Judy. This is no time for joke. Three girls at your work, they lose their life.”

“It’s all right, Marta. I’m very careful. And you’re not really worried about me, anyway. You’re just afraid I’ll turn up dead, and then my parents’ll find out about that permis sion slip you signed so I could work at Covers.”

“That is not true, Miss Judy!” Marta shook her head again. “I am very fearful of your safety. You go out into the night alone, and that is not good. Something very bad could happen to you.”

“Relax, Marta. Nobody’s going to hurt me. I’m perfectly safe.”

Judy was slightly puzzled as she went out the door. Marta had looked genuinely concerned. Perhaps Marta really did care about her. Stranger things were possible, but Judy knew better than to count on that.

Things were beginning to settle into a routine at Covers. The new acts were working out, and Michael was back to smiling once in a while. Of course, most of those smiles were for Ingrid. Michael and Ingrid were getting to be an item. He’d taken her home every night, and he’d gone to her house for dinner twice. Judy had seen him leave in the afternoons, too, and she knew he was spending the time with Ingrid.

Judy backed her Volvo out of the garage and drove down the circular driveway. Michael had been so busy with Ingrid he’d barely noticed her lately, except for a couple of pats on the head, and one brief hug after she’d come up with the perfect way to light his new number. Judy wished she could think of some way to get Michael’s full attention, but that was probably impossible. She’d just have to be patient, and wait. His romance with Ingrid was bound to play out, sooner or later. When Michael broke up with Ingrid, he’d turn to her. He always did. And she’d be right there to give him all the understanding and comfort she could.

What did Michael see in Ingrid, anyway? Judy shrugged as she stopped at a red light. Girls always ended up looking like their mothers, and Judy had met Ingrid’s mother. She was a plump Swedish housewife who stayed at home every day, cooking and cleaning for her family. Was that what Michael wanted? A girlfriend who would devote her life to making him meatballs and Swedish pancakes with lingon berry sauce, waiting on him hand and foot? Or was he just passing the time with Ingrid until his true love came along?

As Judy turned on Olive Street, she saw the sign for Don’s Place in the distance. Michael had introduced her to Don’s Place last summer and Judy loved their burgers. The inside was decorated like a rustic bar, where all the regulars gathered to share tap beer and listen to fifties hits on the jukebox, but the patio in the back was pure hamburger heaven.

Don’s patio reminded Judy of the pictures she’d seen of lakeside cabins in the Midwest. There were oilcloth covered tables with molded plastic chairs. Each table had a tupper ware container of peppers that were so hot, it was a miracle they didn’t melt the plastic. Don’s wasn’t fancy and it didn’t have any pretensions, unlike most of the other hamburger places in the Burbank area. There was no menu, unless you counted the hand-painted sign that was tacked up on the wall advertising the three entrees produced by Don’s kitchen.

Don’s served burgers, B.L.T.s, and grilled cheese sand wiches, accompanied by either French fries or onion rings. The food was delivered in red plastic baskets lined with wax paper. It was all finger food and that meant no silver ware was needed. There were no appetizers or desserts or fancy salads. Don’s wasn’t that kind of place. But once you bit into a crunchy onion ring or tasted a perfectly grilled burger dripping with mayo, catsup and mustard, you were addicted.

Michael had discovered that the studio people ate at Don’s, and he called it the great equalizer. Executives shared picnic tables with grips, and it was the perfect place for would-be talent to rub shoulders with studio heads. Michael had taken Judy there almost every week last summer, and they’d munched double cheeseburgers with plenty of lumi naries in the biz. Everyone who ate at Don’s had the same problem. The burgers were so juicy and so thick, they were impossible to eat neatly. Judy had passed handfuls of paper napkins to producers and electricians alike, and she’d seen several big-name stars drip pickle juice on their clothes. She’d been looking forward to going to Don’s this summer, but Michael had been much too busy to take her there. Judy just hoped he wasn’t taking Ingrid to what she thought of as their special place.

Don’s was just up the block, and Judy pulled over to the side of the street. Her eyes scanned the cars in the parking lot and she breathed a sigh of relief. Michael’s car wasn’t there. But just as she was about to leave, she saw a familiar car approaching.
It was Michael’s old white Lincoln, and he was pulling into the driveway.

As the car pulled in, Judy saw that Ingrid was with him. She was sitting so close, there was room for another two people in the front seat. Her blonde head was nestled against Michael’s chest and his arm was around her shoulders.

Michael parked the Lincoln and opened his door. He got out first, and then he helped Ingrid out of the car. They were laughing as they walked toward the patio, and Judy wished that she could join them.

But her better sense prevailed, and Judy pulled out into traffic again. While Michael might be glad to see her, Ingrid surely wouldn’t. Judy couldn’t really blame her. She knew that if their positions were reversed, she wouldn’t be happy about sharing Michael with another girl. Suddenly, a funny picture popped into her mind, and Judy laughed out loud. She hoped that Ingrid would try a jalepeño pepper and turn as red as a tomato. But that was just wishful thinking. Ingrid would never eat anything that had been sitting on the table for hours in a tupperware container. And she probably wouldn’t drip catsup and pickle juice on her clothes, either.

Judy knocked on the dressing room door. “Twenty min utes, Linda. You’re doing the opening act, tonight.”

“I know,” Linda answered, sounding very upset. “Can you come in for a minute?”

Judy opened the door and stepped in. But she frowned when she saw Linda’s pale face. There were dark smudges under her eyes that her makeup couldn’t hide, and her hands were shaking as she brushed her hair. “What’s the matter, Linda? Are you sick?”

“No. I’m just scared.”

Judy nodded. Linda always had the jitters when she sang a new song. “Don’t worry, Linda. That new song of yours is fantastic. They’re going to love it.”

“That’s not it. I know the new song is good, but I’m scared to death to go on stage. What if he’s
out there?”

“Who? He who?” Judy grinned. “And I’m not trying to yodel.”

Linda didn’t smile back. “You know who. The killer.”

“But they’re staking out this place. Andy says they have at least three undercover cops in the audience every night.”

“I know.” Linda still looked worried. “But how about when I’m not performing? He could kill me right here in the dressing room.”

“Listen to me, Linda. You’ve got round-the-clock protec tion. Andy told you that. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I know it isn’t.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to get out on that stage every night. He’s stalking me, Judy
—
I can feel it! He’s just waiting for my round-the-clock cop to look the other way, and then he’s going to kill me just like he killed Deana, and Becky, and Mary Beth!”

“Relax, Linda.” Judy patted her hand. But Linda was so upset, she started sobbing. There was no way she could go on in this condition, and that meant Judy had to calm her down in a big hurry. “You know that victim profile that Detective Davis and Andy are always talking about? You don’t fit.”

“What the hell do you mean? I’m female and I perform at Cov ers. I fit that victim profile perfectly!”

Judy raised her eyebrows. Linda really was upset. Judy had never heard her swear before. “But you don’t. You haven’t dated Michael. Only the girls who dated Michael have been killed.”

“But I did go out with Michael.” Linda frowned deeply. “I just haven’t told anybody about it!”

“You tried to win the contest?”

Judy was so shocked, she stepped back a pace. But Linda shook her head.

“That was before anybody ever mentioned that stupid contest. Michael took me to the movies three months ago. Remember when everybody was talking about Robert DeNiro’s new picture? Well, Michael’s girlfriend couldn’t go, so he asked me if I wanted to see it
.”

Judy nodded. “So Michael took you to the movies?”

“Well . . . not exactly. He met me there. And I already had my own ticket. We sat together, though. And he did buy me popcorn.”

“That’s not exactly a date.” Judy smiled at her friend. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“But the killer might think it was a date, even if it wasn’t. And he might kill me!”

Judy’s smile turned to a frown. Linda’s terror was real. She had to think of some way to reassure her, or they wouldn’t have a first act tonight.

“Look, Linda. There’s something else you’re forgetting. Deana, and Becky, and Mary Beth were all killed when they were alone. Just pretend you’re my Siamese twin to night. Stick close to me, and you’ll be safe. Make sure you’re never alone, not even for a second. Can you do that?”

Linda nodded. “Sure, if you don’t mind. But I hate to bother you every time I have to go to the ladies’ room.”

“No problem.” Judy smiled at her friend. “We’ll stop by the office and ask Carla to help us. If I’m busy, she can keep you company.”

Linda looked relieved. “I really appreciate this, Judy. You’re a good friend. Now tell me the truth. Which outfit do you think I should wear for the first set?”

“Wear this.” Judy chose a soft pink dress and tossed it to Linda. “I’ll light you with a rose filter and that’ll bring a little color back to your face. And hurry up, Linda. We start in ten minutes.”

Judy dimmed the spot at the end of Linda’s first number, but she didn’t go to black as she usually did. Linda was still too nervous to handle a totally dark stage.

“Ready?” She turned to Michael who was waiting behind the screen. Linda was doing a duet with him for the second number.

Michael frowned. “I’m ready. But aren’t you going to black like we did in rehearsal?”

“Not tonight.” Judy didn’t bother to explain. It would only embarrass Linda.

Michael nodded, and then he walked out to join Linda on stage. Judy brought the lights back up again, and they started to sing their duet. It was then that Judy realized she wasn’t alone behind the screen. Ingrid was standing there watching.

Ingrid’s eyes were shining as she gazed at Michael. She seemed totally oblivious to everything but him. Her hands were clasped tightly together and there was an expression of utter adoration on her face.

“Aren’t you supposed to be waiting tables?” Judy frowned deeply.

“I’m on break. Don’t worry, Judy. I’ll stand right here in one place and I won’t get in your way.”

Judy nodded, and turned her back as she flicked another switch on the light box. She didn’t feel very friendly toward Ingrid right now. Michael had taken her to Don’s.

“Judy?” Ingrid touched her on the arm. “Isn’t he the most handsome man you’ve ever seen?”

Judy couldn’t bite back her sharp retort. “What do you care? You’re just going out with him to win the contest.”

“No, I’m not!” Ingrid looked crushed. “It started out that way. I won’t deny it. But . . . something happened, Judy. I think I’m in love with Michael.”

“But is Michael in love with you?” Judy’s voice was hard. Ingrid was a fool if she thought that a couple of dates meant that Michael loved her.

A smile spread across Ingrid’s pretty face. “I think he loves me, Judy. I’m almost sure of it. And I think he’s going to tell me he loves me on Sunday night.”

“What makes you think that?” Judy’s heart was beating so hard, it was difficult to speak.

“He said he had a surprise for me. And he promised to give it to me on Sunday night. And he asked my mother if she knew my ring size.”

Judy swallowed hard. Had things really gotten that seri ous between Michael and Ingrid this fast? “So you’re ex pecting an engagement ring?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. But maybe . . .” Ingrid’s cheeks turned so pink that Judy could see her blush in the dim light seeping back from the stage.