Obsessed (31 page)

Michael nodded. “I see what you mean. Why don’t I ask Andy to come along with us, too? That should give Andy plenty of time to get to know Heidi.”

“That’s just fine with me.” Carla did her best to look pleased, but she knew that tomorrow night would be a disaster. Heidi was gorgeous. Andy would hang on her every word. And even worse, so would Michael. Why should Michael pay attention to her? She was Carla Fields, his ugly duckling friend. If the
evening turned out the way that she expected, Heidi would have two men competing for her attention. Michael and Andy would be so busy trying to im press Heidi, that they wouldn’t even realize that Carla had come along for the ride!

Marc Allen was just bringing up the spot when Carla joined him behind the screen. She was very glad she didn’t have to fill in as stage manager any more. Office work wasn’t as exciting, but it was a lot less nerve-racking. She’d spent the past hour to taling the ticket sales, filling out the time cards, and finishing next week’s schedule of rehearsals. Now it was time for Heidi’s debut, and she hadn’t been able to resist coming out to watch.

Heidi sat on a tall stool, near the apron of the stage. Her hair looked like burnished copper in the light, and she was wearing a skin-tight black leotard, with a patterned black and white skirt. The neckline on the leotard was low. Very low. Several of the guys at the front row of tables were staring at Heidi with their mouths gaping open, and Carla wondered whether Covers could be busted for allowing inde cent exposure.

Marc Allen sighed, and reached for a tissue to wipe his forehead. The air conditioning was working per fectly, and Carla knew the beads of sweat that had popped out on Marc’s forehead had nothing to do with the temperature. It was a reaction to Heidi, and every guy in the audience seemed to be having the exact same reaction. Heidi was hot.

Heidi started to sing in her low, husky voice, and there was a collective sigh from the audience. She was singing an old, blues ballad, the same song they’d heard her sing at the Sherman Oaks High School talent show. Carla watched her for a moment. She really was good. Everyone was spellbound, guys and girls alike, as Heidi crooned her song.

“She’s a winner, huh?”

Carla jumped, as Marc leaned close to whisper in her ear. And then she nodded. Heidi was an excellent performer. Even though she’d heard Heidi sing this same song before, Carla felt tears come to her eyes, as Heidi sang the sad lyrics of a woman in love with a heartless man.

When Heidi’s last note had died away, the audience burst into applause. But it wasn’t just polite applause for a new performer. The applause swelled and grew until it was a deafening roar. The guys were whistling and stamping their feet, and their dates were clapping so hard, their hands were turning red. It was very clear that everyone thought Heidi was a wonderful performer. And even though she didn’t like to admit it, so did Carla.

Heidi’s second number received the same huge ovation, and so did the third. The audience applauded so long after Heidi’s set was finished, that she had to come back to do an encore.

She was halfway through her encore, when Michael came up to stand by Carla. He slipped his arm around Carla’s shoulders, but Carla knew he was barely aware of her existence. All Michael’s attention was focused on Heidi as she finished her song.

Then Heidi left the stage, and joined them behind the screen. Carla took a deep breath, and said the words she really didn’t
want to say. “That was wonderful, Heidi. You’re really fantastic.”

“Thank you.” Heidi smiled, but her eyes were drawn to Michael. “What did you think? Am I good enough to be a regular at Covers?”

Michael’s grin stretched to the limits, as he nod ded. “You bet! That was incredible, Heidi. They loved you out there.”

“Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.” Now Heidi’s smile was for Michael, alone. “But I’m going to have to work very hard if I’m a regular here. I really don’t have that many songs, and I can’t sing the same things over and over. I need new material, but I’m not sure where to find it.”

“I might be able to write something for you. How do you feel about doing originals?”

“I’d love to do an original! Do you think you could write something bluesy? My singing coach says I’ve got the right voice for singing the blues.”

“Oh, you do! Maybe we should listen to some old Bessie Smith records, and see what we can come up with. But first, we’ll have to find out your range. Do you know your best key?”

Michael was so busy talking, he didn’t even give Carla a glance. He just followed Heidi down the hall and ducked into her dressing room. Carla sighed as she walked back to the office. She couldn’t blame Michael for being excited. Mr. Calloway had friends in show business, and they often appeared in the audience at Covers. If Michael wrote a song for Heidi, and a record producer heard her sing it, Mi chael might be on the way to establishing himself as a songwriter.

Carla was frowning as she walked back down the hall to the office. She’d been on top of the world when Michael had sung the song he’d written for her, but now she was completely down in the dumps. She wanted Michael’s attention, but how could she ever hope to compete with Heidi Robinson? Heidi was a gorgeous, talented girl, and Carla was . . . just plain Carla. Tomorrow night was going to be awful. If Heidi set her sights on Michael, Carla knew she wouldn’t have the chance of a snowball in hell!

Six

Michael rang her doorbell promptly at seven, and Carla opened the door with a smile on her face. But her smile faltered when she saw that Michael was alone. If Andy wasn’t coming along with them, they’d be stuck with Heidi all night.

Carla tried not to look worried as she asked the obvious question. “Where’s Andy?”

“I’m picking him up next. Heidi called and said she’d meet us at the club. Her father’s dropping her off.”

Carla was still puzzled as she climbed into the pas senger seat, and Michael drove off toward Andy’s house. Michael had obviously gone out of his way to pick her up first. But why?

Michael stopped at a red light, and turned to look at Carla. “I suppose you’re wondering why I didn’t pick up Andy on the way.”

“You read my mind.” Carla smiled at him. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“I really wanted some time alone with you. And this might be our only chance tonight.”

Carla felt her heart start to pound. Michael looked very serious.

“I need to ask you for what Dr. Tunney calls a ‘reality check.’ And you’re the only one I can trust. Have you noticed anything unusual about the way people are treating me at Covers? Maybe I
’m just imagining things, but I get the impression that ev eryone’s very jumpy when they’re around me.”

“You’re right, Michael.” Carla took a deep breath. She didn’t want to be the one to explain why every one was so nervous, but Michael had to know. “Pull over to the curb. We need to talk.”

Michael pulled over to the side of the street, and shut off the engine. Then he turned to face her. “Bad news?”

“I’m afraid so.” Carla nodded. “You were right, Michael. Detective Davis has been asking questions, and it appears that you’re still a suspect in the Cupid Killings.”

Michael frowned. “But . . . how? Judy confessed to the murders in her suicide note.”

“I know, but Detective Davis has this crazy theory. He thinks that Judy might have been lying to clear your name.”

“Oh, great!” Michael gave a deep sigh. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take. First I’m a suspect, and then I’m not, and now I am again.”

Carla nodded, and gave his arm a sympathetic squeeze. “I’m afraid there’s even more. Detective Davis thinks that Judy might not have committed sui cide.”

“Let me guess.” Michael sounded bitter. “Detec tive Davis thinks I forced Judy to write that note, and then I killed her so she couldn’t talk. Is that right?”

“That’s one of his theories. But don’t worry, Mi chael. There’s no way the police can prove something that never happened.”

“Let’s hope not.” Michael didn’t seem convinced. “I knew something was up when Andy started asking me all sorts of questions about the night that Judy killed herself. He wanted to know exactly where I was, and what I was doing. Andy always thought I was innocent before, but now he seems to think that I’m the Cupid Killer.”

Carla thought about it for a moment, and then she shook her head. “You’re wrong, Michael. Andy doesn’t suspect you. He’s just playing detective. You know Andy. He’s storing up facts in that brain of his, and adding them all up together. Once he gets the whole story, he’ll know that you’re innocent.”

“I hope so. I really like Andy and it makes me feel bad when he doubts me. How about you, Carla? Do you still believe I’m telling the truth?”

“Of course I do!” Carla nodded firmly.

“But what if Detective Davis proves that Judy didn’t murder all those girls? Will you still believe that I’m innocent?”

“Absolutely. If Judy didn’t do it, then the Cupid Killer is somebody else. But it’s not you, Michael. I know that.”

“Thanks, Carla.” Michael began to smile. His eyes had lost that haunted look, and he actually laughed. “I guess you’re the only friend I have left. Everyone else has deserted me.”

“No, they haven’t. Detective Davis just scared them, that’s all. If the Cupid Killer’s still out there, they could be in danger. They feel threatened, and that makes them jumpy.”

Michael was silent for a long moment, and then he nodded. “You’re right, Carla. I just never thought of it that way. You’re really something, you know?”

Carla sighed as Michael reached out to hug her. She hugged him back, and found herself wishing that his friendly hug could turn into a passionate embrace. Of course, it never would. Someone as handsome as Michael would never get romantically involved with someone like her.

Michael started his car and pulled out into traffic again. He was grinning, and he seemed much hap pier. “Thanks, Carla. Talking to you always makes me feel better. We’re really going to enjoy ourselves tonight . . . right?”

“Right.” Carla nodded, but she wasn’t convinced. Maybe Michael would enjoy himself, but she doubted she would. Not unless Heidi Robinson broke her leg and couldn’t horn in on their evening!

“Oh, Michael! Isn’t this fun?” Heidi reached out to squeeze Michael’s hand. “That last comic was re ally super! Who’s on next?”

Michael pulled his hand away and glanced down at his program. “Nancy Dell. She’s a torch singer.”

“Oh.” Heidi sighed deeply. “I’ve heard her before. She’s not very good. I sang one of her songs once, and everybody said I was much better.”

Carla glanced at Michael. He was frowning, and she hid a smile. Michael only approved of constructive criticism, and Heidi’s comment had been just plain mean.

But Michael didn’t say anything to Heidi. He just turned to Carla. “Come on, Carla. The waiters are busy. Let’s get a round of drinks at the bar, and bring them back here.”

“Oh, I’ll go with you.” Heidi jumped to her feet. “Carla has to work. She’s supposed to check out the M.C. for Mr. Calloway.”

Michael nodded, and pushed some money across the table toward Andy. “Thanks for reminding me. I’m supposed to check him out, too. “You and Andy go for the drinks. Carla and I’ll stay here.”

“Hurry back.” Carla managed to keep a straight face as Michael moved his chair closer to hers. She waited until Heidi and Andy had left, and then she grinned at Michael. “I don’t think that’s exactly what Heidi had in mind.”

Michael nodded. “I know it’s not. She’s been try ing to pick me up all night. I wish Andy had driven, too.”

“Why?” Carla held her breath. She was hoping for the right answer.

“If they had Andy’s car, we could ditch them.”

Carla pretended to be shocked, even though Mi chael had said exactly what she’d hoped he would. “That’s not very nice, Michael. Don’t you like Heidi?”

“Oh, she’s all right, I guess. But I wish she’d start paying more attention to Andy. He was supposed to be her date.”

“I know. But Heidi seems to be more interested in you.”

“Yeah.” Michael sighed deeply. “And she doesn’t seem to realize that I’m not interested in her.”

“But she’s very pretty. Heidi’s exactly the type of girl you always used to date.”

“I guess I’ve changed. A pretty face just isn’t as important as it used to be. Now I’m much more in terested in personality. And a good heart. And a sense of loyalty. What do you think, Carla? Am I growing up?”

Carla didn’t say a word. She just smiled. And then the M.C. came on, and both of them turned their attention to the stage, again.

*  *  *

It was almost midnight when they pulled up Heidi’s circular driveway. Carla gasped as she saw the house. It was modeled after the Taj Mahal, com plete with domes on the roof and colorful mosaic tiles.

“Thank you for a lovely evening.” Heidi smiled her stunning smile. “Would you like to come in? Cook prepared a tray of snacks and we could go out by the pool.”

Heidi was looking at Michael, but Andy answered. “Sure. We’d love to. Right, guys?”

“How about it, Carla?” Michael turned to her. “Do you have time?”

Carla saw Andy’s hopeful expression, and she nod ded. “It’s fine with me. But I didn’t bring my pass port.”