Afraid (18 page)

“It won't be easy.” Julie sighed deeply. “Everything happened so fast. I was about a third of the way down Hannah's Folly when I heard the avalanche. I skied off into the trees as fast as I could and it just missed me.”

Donna shivered. “It must have scared you practically to death!”

“Not really.” Julie frowned slightly. “It was all over before I had time to be scared.”

“You didn't look back?” Paul looked surprised, when Julie shook her head.

“No. The minute I heard that cracking noise, I knew what was happening. All I could think of was to get away as fast as I could.”

“Tell us about the noise.” Ross looked worried.

“It was . . . loud. And sharp. Almost like a rifle shot. And then there was a roaring noise, like a thousand freight trains rumbling past me.”

“An ice pack?” Paul looked at Ross and frowned.

“I guess so.” Ross didn't seem to be pleased with that explanation, but he nodded reluctantly. “I didn't think we had that much ice, but we'd better set off the cannon, just to be sure. If there's any more loose snow, we want it down before we open tomorrow.”

Donna looked puzzled as she turned to Julie. “How did you get over to Lady Luck?”

“I took a trail through the woods. I knew I'd run into another slope if I just kept going. There was a map on the wall at the pro shop and I remembered that they were roughly parallel.”

“You must have skied right past Dead Man's Run!” Donna shivered again. “You're lucky you didn't try to get down that way.”

Julie nodded. “I saw it, but it wasn't groomed. And there were no markers. I wanted to be safe, so I went on to Lady Luck.”

“Smart girl!” Ross smiled as he knelt down and snapped loose Julie's bindings. Then he held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let's go back in and have some lunch. You need to warm up.”

Julie's mind was whirling all the way back to the lodge. Ross's arm was around her shoulder, and she was nestled close to his side. It felt wonderful, but Julie knew she hadn't deserved his praise. Ryan just had to keep his word and not tell anyone she'd made the mistake of trying to ski Dead Man's Run. If Ross ever found out she'd made such a stupid mistake, he'd never smile at her again!

J
ulie was so excited, she could hardly sit still as she worked the switchboard. It was Saturday afternoon, and tonight was the night of Saddlepeak Lodge's annual Halloween costume dance. Aunt Caroline had explained that the dance was a lodge tradition, started by Julie's great-grandfather. Everyone in Crest Ridge was invited to attend, and almost everyone did. Of course, the lodge guests were welcome, too, and an enterprising costume rental place in Denver had set up a temporary shop in the lobby this morning.

The phone rang and Julie reached out to answer it. “Saddlepeak Lodge. This is Julie speaking. How may I help you?”

Julie listened for a moment, but there was only a distant crackling on the line. The indistinct background noise reminded her of the other call she'd received, the one that had frightened her so badly.

She frowned and forced herself not to panic. Perhaps it was just a bad connection. “Hello? Is there someone on the line?”

Without conscious thought, Julie reached for a pen and the message pad. If this was another threatening call, she was determined to take down every word.

“Julie.”
The word was a harsh whisper, spitting and crackling through the line. “
I warned you, but you're wicked, just like she was.”

Julie shuddered. It was the same hissing voice. And he'd used the word “wicked,” just as he had before. Her fingers shook as she scribbled down the words. What should she do? Call for help?

Suddenly Julie knew. She'd pretend she couldn't hear him and ask him to call back again. That would give her time to find someone to listen in, someone who might recognize his gravelly, whispery voice.

Julie took a deep breath, and spoke into the receiver. “Hello? I'm sorry, but we must have a bad connection. Could you call back, please?”

“You heard me!”
The whisper was even harsher, filled with hateful venom.
“I watched you with him, and I know what you're doing. You've adopted her wicked ways!”

Julie frowned. She hadn't done anything he could possibly think was wicked, unless he was referring to that kiss on the mountain with Ryan. But he couldn't know about that!

“I saw you flirting with him. Stop right now before it's too late!”

Julie's fingers were shaking so hard, she almost dropped her pen. There was no way she could pretend to be calm any longer. She was too frightened. But if she could keep him talking, she might get a clue to his identity. “I don't believe you! You're not watching me.”

“Oh, but
I
am. You're wearing her earrings, little gold hearts. You can't hide from me.”

Julie whirled around and glanced out the window, but no one was there. She had to calm down. He was trying to scare her, and she couldn't let him know how well he was succeeding.

“Such a wicked girl.”
The voice sighed deeply. “
I warned you up on the mountain. Next time I won't be so nice. Mend your ways before I have to punish you, too.”

“Who are you? What do you want?” Julie's voice was shaking. But the whispery voice just laughed, the same chilling sound she'd heard over and over in her dreams. The awful laugh reached a screeching crescendo, and then it trailed off, leaving only the sound of any empty line. And then there was a click as the connection was broken. And a dial tone, loud and droning in her ear.

Julie's hands shook as she replaced the phone in its cradle. She was shaking so hard, her teeth were rattling. She tried to tell herself that the caller was just a harmless prankster, someone who got his kicks by scaring women on the phone. But he knew too much about her to be a random caller. He had to be someone she knew.

Julie glanced down at her scribbled transcript. He'd said he was watching her, and to prove it, he'd described Vicki's earrings. But she wasn't wearing Vicki's earrings. She'd forgotten them on the dresser this morning, and she hadn't had time to go back to her room to get them. She'd worn them every other time she'd worked the switchboard, but not today.

He had made an error, and that made Julie feel slightly better. He'd lied about watching her, but what did he mean about warning her on the mountain? Julie shivered as she remembered how puzzled Ross and Paul had been about the avalanche, especially when she'd mentioned the loud crack she'd heard right before it had happened. Was it possible he'd started the avalanche to scare her?

Julie's heart pounded hard, and she turned to her scribbled notes again. She hadn't flirted with anyone . . . except Ross. It was true that she was trying to get him to notice her. Would Ross make a whispered phone call to warn her to stay away from him?

That thought was so ridiculous that she almost laughed in spite of her fear. If Ross didn't want to be around her, he'd just tell her to leave him alone. But how about Paul? There were times when he acted as if he hated her. But she
did
look like Vicki, and Donna claimed that Paul had been in love with Vicki. What if Paul hated her and wanted her, all at the same time? Would he make a whispered phone call to warn her to stay away from Ross?

Julie sighed. No. Paul didn't seem to be the type to hide behind a phone call. He'd be nasty to her face. But no one else had been on the slopes except Ryan. Why would Ryan call her wicked?

The kiss! Julie shivered as she thought about their secret moment of passion. Did Ryan think she was wicked because she'd responded to his kiss? He was very intense, and Donna had said she thought he was weird, but Julie couldn't believe Ryan would resort to making a whispered phone call.

“Hey, Julie!” Donna walked in, and hurried to the desk. “Your aunt said to tell you that . . . what's wrong?”

“Oh . . . nothing. Nothing at all.”

Donna raised her eyebrows. “You look freaked, Julie. Did you get a prank call?”

“What do you mean?” Julie tried not to looked as shocked as she felt. How had Donna known about the call?

“It's Halloween. I worked the switchboard last year and it was ridiculous. Vampira asking to speak to Frankenstein, the Wolf Man howling, all sorts of kid stuff like that.”

Julie seized the opportunity Donna had given her and nodded. “No wonder! I forgot people would be making calls like that on Halloween.”

“Well . . . don't let it get you down. Just remember that tonight's the biggest party of the year. What costume are you going to wear?”

“I don't know yet. Aunt Caroline said she'd send someone to relieve me so I could go to the costume shop before all the good ones are gone, but she must have forgotten, because . . .”

“Say no more.” Donna interrupted her. “That's what I started to tell you when I came in. I'm supposed to relieve you. Go ahead, Julie. And when you come back, I'll go.”

Julie got up and gave Donna her chair. “Does everybody unmask at the end of the evening?”

“Not unless they want to. Last year I danced with a totally incredible pirate, and I still don't know who he was.”

“You never found out?”

“No.” Donna shook her head. “Vicki taped the whole thing, and she was going to let me borrow it, but . . .”

“Vicki had a camcorder?” Julie interrupted.

“Sure. Your aunt gave it to her when she started competition skating. She was supposed to use it to improve her routine, but she spent more time taping parties, and dances, and stuff like that. I'd give anything to see some of those . . . what's the matter, Julie?”

“I wonder what happened to Vicki's tapes. I went through the things in the entertainment center, but there were no personal tapes.”

Donna shrugged. “They're probably packed up with the rest of her things. I know Paul carried a bunch of boxes up to the fifth floor.”

“Are you working tomorrow?”

“No.” Donna frowned slightly. “You know Sunday's my day off.”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure, if I have to. What's up?”

Julie began to smile. “I think I'll go through some of my parents' things tomorrow. They're on the fifth floor, too. Do you want to help me?”

“I'd love to!” Donna began to grin. “And if we happen to stumble across some of Vicki's videotapes, we might just decide to watch them, right?”

Julie nodded. “You got it!”

 

The costume shop was deserted and Julie frowned as she went through the costumes still hanging on the rack, looking for something in her size. She had just pulled out an old-fashioned nun's habit that was much too large when she felt an uncomfortable prickling at the back of her neck. Someone was watching her.

Julie turned and tried to keep the pleasant expression on her face as she saw who had just entered the shop. It was Ryan Stratford, and he was grinning at her.

“Are you sure you want to rent that?” Ryan laughed as he saw the costume Julie was holding. “You have to take a vow of chastity to wear something like that.”

“Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea.” Julie blushed, and turned away. She knew Ryan was referring to the kiss they'd shared on Dead Man's Run.

Ryan walked up, close to her side, and reached out to touch the bulky material. “I think it would be a terrible waste of natural resources. And it's much too big for you, anyway.”

“That's true.” Julie put the costume back on the rack and sighed. She didn't want to get into any sort of personal conversation with Ryan, but she had to be polite to him. He'd saved her life up there on the mountain, and he hadn't told anyone about her embarrassing mistake. He hadn't mentioned the kiss, either. She was sure she'd have heard some gossip if he had. Perhaps Mr. Stratford had been right when he'd told her that Stratford men didn't kiss and tell.

“Ryan?” Julie moved away slightly. It was hard to think when he was so close to her. “I ran into your father the other day, and he said you'd dated my cousin Vicki.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “You're really curious about her. Are you sure you should be asking all these questions?”

“I told you the other night. I really want to know more about her. Did you date her?”

Ryan shrugged. “I'm not sure ‘date' is the right word. Let's just say I was one in a long line of guys.”

Julie did her best not to react. At first she'd been sure that Ryan was lying when he'd told her that Vicki had slept around, but now she had doubts. Uncle Bob had mentioned Vicki's sexy clothes, and Mr. Stratford had told her that Vicki had been at one of his parties without her parents' knowledge. There was a possibility that Ryan was telling the truth.

“A long line of guys?” Julie frowned as Ryan nodded. “Who were they? I want to know.”

Ryan closed the space between them, and slipped his arm around her shoulders before Julie could react. “Meet me at the stone archway tonight, and I'll tell you.”

“Oh, sure!” Julie pushed his arm away, and stepped out of reach. “Come on, Ryan . . . I'm really serious. Who else did Vicki date?”

Ryan stared at her for a moment, and then he seemed to make up his mind. “Look, Julie . . . I'm telling you this for your own good. Give it a rest, huh? A lot of people are very touchy about Vicki's death.”

Julie frowned as Ryan turned on his heel and walked away toward the clerk at the other end of the costume shop. Was Ryan right? Was she asking too many questions about Vicki? A few minutes later, he was back, carrying an armload of harlequin costumes. Aunt Caroline had told her that all the men who worked at the lodge would dress as harlequins tonight. They could still have fun in their masks and costumes, but the guests could identify the male employees without benefit of name tags.

“I like you, Julie.” Ryan was very serious. “But I think you're a little too curious for your own good. I'll tell you one more thing, but that's it. And then I want you to promise to drop it.”

Julie nodded, although she had no intention of dropping anything. “What is it, Ryan?”

“Your cousin slept around. I already told you that. And used to have this crazy alphabet thing. Vicki was only interested in guys whose name started with the letter ‘R.' ”

 

Julie frowned as she adjusted her veil so that only her eyes were visible. Since she'd arrived at the costume shop so late, there had been only one costume left in her size—a harem dancer's. It consisted of a very skimpy bright pink bikini covered by a see-through veiled skirt. It was terribly revealing, and Julie felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she turned from side to side, watching the diaphanous veil float around her body. She looked good. Her reflection confirmed that fact. But there wasn't enough cloth in her whole costume to cover a decent-sized throw pillow!

There was no help for it, and Julie sighed as she turned from the mirror. Thank goodness everyone was required to wear a mask of some type. If she was lucky, no one would recognize her under her the veil that almost covered her face. Julie was just walking through the living room, feeling naked and exposed, when she heard a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Julie resisted the urge to rush back into her room, and headed for the door instead. Perhaps Aunt Caroline had forgotten her key.

“It's Paul.” His voice was muffled by the heavy wooden door. “Your aunt sent me up to get her camera.”

Julie winced. She didn't want Paul to see her like this, but she had to let him in. Aunt Caroline always took pictures of the best-dressed guests, and put them up on the lodge bulletin board.

“Just a minute.” Julie unlocked the door, and took a deep breath. Then she pulled it open and faced Paul.

Paul's mouth dropped open and he stared at her. He swallowed hard, and then he frowned. “You're wearing
that?”

Julie was very glad she was wearing the veil. At least he couldn't see the color rise to her cheeks. She'd wanted to keep her identity a secret, but now that Paul knew, he'd probably tell everyone that she was the harem dancer.