Deadline (18 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
Chapter 20
K
ABC was the first to break the news, courtesy of a tip from
The Informer
's editor in chief. Helen Woods, the reporter Abby trusted, broke through a network game show to share the new information with the public.
ABC was the first to break the news, courtesy of a tip from
The Informer
's editor in chief. Helen Woods, the reporter Abby trusted, broke through a network game show to share the new information with the public.
“
Missing actress Laura Leigh and her attorney, Christopher Clay, are alive and well. There has been much speculation in the past five days as to their whereabouts. It was first reported the couple were seen together at the popular Los Angeles nightclub, Hot Wired. Later, Mr. Clay's Toyota Camry was found and towed in by his mechanic. The vehicle was combed for evidence. Nothing incriminating was found in Mr. Clay's car. A family member hired a private investigator, who immediately jump-started the investigation by checking Mr. Clay's cell phone for a GPS signal. When it was discovered, the Mammoth Lakes Sheriff's Department located Mr. Clay and Laura Leigh in a luxury cabin in the mountains. Sources say the couple were happily ensconced inside during what forecasters have been calling the storm of the century. The couple was unharmed, and no further investigation is expected. The two lovebirds will arrive at Los Angeles International Airport sometime before noon ...”
Missing actress Laura Leigh and her attorney, Christopher Clay, are alive and well. There has been much speculation in the past five days as to their whereabouts. It was first reported the couple were seen together at the popular Los Angeles nightclub, Hot Wired. Later, Mr. Clay's Toyota Camry was found and towed in by his mechanic. The vehicle was combed for evidence. Nothing incriminating was found in Mr. Clay's car. A family member hired a private investigator, who immediately jump-started the investigation by checking Mr. Clay's cell phone for a GPS signal. When it was discovered, the Mammoth Lakes Sheriff's Department located Mr. Clay and Laura Leigh in a luxury cabin in the mountains. Sources say the couple were happily ensconced inside during what forecasters have been calling the storm of the century. The couple was unharmed, and no further investigation is expected. The two lovebirds will arrive at Los Angeles International Airport sometime before noon ...”
Abby clicked the television set off, more than a bit ticked at Helen Woods for implying Chris and Laura were two lovers purposely hiding from the public. “I shouldn't have told her. Let them do their own investigation. This is a cruddy business to be in, too much competition.”
“I never thought I'd hear those words coming from your mouth,” Toots said. “Are you going with me to the airport? Chris did say he wanted to talk with you. I think he said his words were âvitally important.' I wonder what's so important. Aren't you the least bit curious?”
“No, I have to get back to the paper. I can't let Josh run the place forever. Tell Chris I'm glad he's okay.” Abby's voice betrayed her emotions.
“Abby, let's wait to hear from Chris. You don't know that he's involved with Laura Leigh, and I know damn well that's what you're thinking. I believe it's just as he said. That news anchor didn't know what she was talking about. I heard the implications in her report and saw the smirk on her face as she reported it. She isn't as straight up as you said.”
Toots knew Abby was anguished over Chris, was uncertain what he felt for her. She would bet the contents of her bank accounts that Chris was head over heels in love with Abby. Toots couldn't voice the words because they weren't hers to say. She could only offer her daughter love and a shoulder to cry on if that was what it came down to.
“Yeah, and it's the last time I'll ever share a tip with her.”
“Do you think you could manage to get away for a celebratory dinner tonight? We could go to Moonshadows, that new place on the Pacific Coast Highway. The reviews are good, and of course it's on the beach.” Toots wanted to celebrate, kick up her heels, shout to the world because her son was alive and well. It was her new mission for the dayâto bring Abby and Chris together.
“I don't know, Mom. It depends on the paper, what's going on there.”
“Call me if you can make it. I think we'll need to make a reservation.”
“Okay. Think Mavis would care if I leave Chester again?” Abby asked her mother, then turned around when she heard Mavis enter the kitchen.
“Chester can stay as long as he likes. Coco is so smitten, I'm sure her little heart will break when he goes home.” Mavis gave Abby a hug, then proceeded to make another pot of coffee.
“Not that organic stuff today, okay? It kills me. And Sophie hates it, too.” Toots grinned.
Mavis filled the coffeemaker with spring water. “You girls should have told me. To be quite honest, I'm not that fond of it myself. We'll go back to the Maxwell House.” She busied herself searching through the cupboards for the coffee as, behind her back, Toots gave Abby a thumbs-up.
“Will you at least stay for breakfast?” Toots asked her daughter. “It's early. I've plenty of time to get to the airport.”
“I can stay for breakfast. No fruit, Mavis. My system can't take it,” Abby said, smiling.
Toots burst out laughing. “That's what we've been trying to tell her. While very healthy for your body, too much isn't, if you know what I mean.”
“I get it, Mom.”
Toots laughed again.
A tired but happy-looking Sophie entered the kitchen. “Did I hear the word
coffee?
I think I've slept about twenty minutes. You can't imagine ... never mind. Where's the coffee?”
coffee?
I think I've slept about twenty minutes. You can't imagine ... never mind. Where's the coffee?”
“No, no! Don't you dare tell me something, then not tell me anything.” Toots cried. “Does that make sense?” she asked Abby.
“Yes to me, no to the rest of the world,” Abby replied.
The coffeemaker made its final gurgling sound to indicate the pot was finished. Mavis removed six cups from the cupboard. Following her lead, Sophie removed the half-and-half from the refrigerator, saw the sugar bowl in its normal positionâthe center of the kitchen table.
Toots, Sophie, Mavis, and Abby gathered around the kitchen table, each sipping her coffee. Goebel and Ida were nowhere to be found.
“Exactly how long have we been sitting here?” Sophie asked out of the blue.
Abby looked at her watch. “Three minutes.”
“Why do you want to know that?” Toots asked.
“Duh. Has anyone seen Ida? Goebel was just getting out of the shower when I came into the kitchen.”
Sophie let her words hang in midair. Without saying anything, Toots and Abby raced upstairs to Ida's bedroom. Toots banged on the closed door. She waited a few seconds, then repeated her action. “Ida, if you're in there, you'd better get your ass out here, and I mean now!”
A second later the bedroom door opened. With her bright pink hair standing in every direction, dark circles beneath her eyes, Ida looked rough, and that was being kind. “Were you sleeping?” Toots asked.
Ida turned her back on them, went back inside the room, and sat down on her bed. She motioned for them to come in. “Exactly what do you think I've been doing? Eating bonbons?”
Neither Toots nor Abby knew what to say.
“Mavis has the coffee ready. I'm just surprised you're not up,” Toots finally said. “I came up to make sure you hadn't kicked the bucket.”
“Well, give me fifteen minutes, and I'll be downstairs. I have to shower and do something with this horrid-looking Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown hair. And I
will
get you for this, Toots. You just wait. Revenge is sweet. Now, both of you, downstairs,” Ida ordered imperiously.
will
get you for this, Toots. You just wait. Revenge is sweet. Now, both of you, downstairs,” Ida ordered imperiously.
Leaving no room for further discussion, Toots and Abby headed out of the room. “What did you expect to find in her room?” Abby whispered.
“Goebel,” Toots said flatly.
“Mother! You should be ashamed of yourself. Why anyone who has eyes can see he adores Sophie, and she is wild about him.” Abby shook her head, an ornery grin turning her mouth upward.
“I know, but Ida can be very seductive when she wants to be. I want Sophie to have a chance with Goebel. I like him. A lot.”
“You don't trust Goebel to keep his hands to himself?”
Toots stopped before they reached the bottom of the stairs. “Yes, I trust him. It's Ida I don't trust. At least not when a handsome, rugged man like Goebel is in the picture.”
“I really think Ida knows Goebel is off-limits, Mom. There are plenty of men out there, and I'm sure Ida is quite aware of that. Don't tell the others what you just told me, or you'll stir up a hornet's nest.”
“You're right. Now, let's go make breakfast.” Toots had only slept an hour and needed another pot of coffee. The day ahead promised to be full of fun and, just maybe, a surprise or two.
Mother and daughter returned to the kitchen to find Goebel, of all people, turning the oven on, one of Mavis's aprons tied around his newly slimmed-down waist, and a large mixing spoon in one hand.
“You can cook?” Toots asked, her shock evident by the look on her face. She'd been through eight husbands, and not one of them had ever attempted to make a meal. Sophie had truly lucked out.
Goebel chuckled. “Yes, ma'am. You can't remain a bachelor your whole life and not learn how to cook. New York takeout gets old. I bought a beginner's cookbook, and before you knew it, I could make chateaubriand. Give those folks over at The Food Network a run for their money.” He turned his back to her, but continued to talk. “I'm gonna make you gals a batch of Southern biscuits with homemade strawberry preserves.”
Toots raised her eyes when she saw Sophie grinning at her. She mouthed,
You are a lucky lady
and Sophie's grin became even bigger. She just shook her head and winked.
You are a lucky lady
and Sophie's grin became even bigger. She just shook her head and winked.
“Is there time for this? I have to pick Chris up at the airport.”
Goebel laid the mixing spoon down, rinsed his hands, then dried them on his apron. “Actually, I've made arrangements for Chris and Laura to be escorted out of the airport through the general aviation area. An old pal of mine works security at LAX and said he would take care of it. He owes me a favor. With all this publicity, the last thing any one of you needs is to get caught up in all the hoopla. I was gonna tell you, Toots, but you weren't here when I came downstairs. That okay? I hope I didn't overstep my bounds.”
Actually, Toots was relieved. She knew that the press would be out in force. The thought of getting mobbed wasn't pleasant, but she wanted to see Chris so badly she would do whatever she needed to do, as any mother would. “I can't thank you enough, Goebel. Of course you haven't overstepped anything. Why, you're practically family. Right, Sophie?”
Behind Goebel's back, Sophie flipped Toots the bird and grinned from ear to ear.
“Right, Soph?” Toots insisted, smiling broadly, ready to burst out laughing at her friend's discomfort.
“Kiss my tush, Toots. And the dogs' tushes, too,” Sophie shot back.
Abby cringed, and Mavis had the good grace to quickly turn away. Toots grinned.
“I think we should talk about ... the strawberry preserves Goebel is making. I thought it took, like days to make that kind of stuff,” Abby said, hoping to change the topic of conversation. She looked at Toots and shook her head. “What about it, Goebel, how do you actually make strawberry preserves so quickly?”
Keeping his back to them, Goebel spoke while he worked. “Just mash up a bunch of strawberries, depending on how much jam you want to make. Add some sugar, a little bit of fresh lemon juice, boil it, and let it cool. Since I'm not actually going to jar the stuff up, I don't need sterile jars or pectin. Just plain strawberries and sugar.”
“I am impressed, Goebel. And here I thought making jam was an all-day affair.” Toots emphasized the last word, unable to resist getting in another dig. Sophie shot her the bird for the second time.
Before Toots could respond, Ida descended the stairs as though she were royalty. “Good morning, Abby. Did you get any rest at all? You look tired. I think you should give yourself the day off. It's not like you'll get fired or anything,” Ida stated matter-of-factly.
Toots turned ten shades of white. Sophie's eyes bulged out like a cartoon character's, and Mavis chewed her bottom lip like a piece of gum.
As casually as she could manage, Abby asked, “Is there something going on among the three of you that I should know about? You've all been acting odd ever since I got up.”
Toots felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Should she spill the beans? Or run across the kitchen and yank that hot pink hair out of Ida's blabbering head?
Sophie caught Toots's eye and shook her head left to right, which Toots assumed meant Sophie could read her mind and it wasn't the time to open that particular can of worms. Toots nodded back.
“We're just tired. This excitement with Chris and Laura has been too much for us. Right, girls?”
Toots shot Ida the
I-will-get-you-for-this-later
look.
I-will-get-you-for-this-later
look.
“Your mother is right,” Mavis said hastily. “We've all been very tired.”
“What are we doing that makes you think we're acting odd?” Sophie asked.
Toots almost screamed, then bit her tongue. Literally.
The oven timer went off. Toots wanted to jump in the air and shout hallelujah. But if she did, Abby would absolutely know something was wrong. Maybe she would even question Toots's sanity.
No,
Toots thought,
now is not the time to mention the fact that I am the moving force behind all those e-mails and FedEx letters.
No,
Toots thought,
now is not the time to mention the fact that I am the moving force behind all those e-mails and FedEx letters.
“Hot biscuits,” Goebel said. “Sit down and let me serve you gorgeous ladies breakfast.”
“I'm starving,” Toots said. “And I'm so grateful we're not eating fruit and oatmeal for a change.”
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