Third Half (16 page)
Authors: P. R. Garlick
"I think I'll go and buy something extra special to wear for the
show tonight." She was about to turn, but he grabbed her arm to
prevent her escape. "You do want me to look nice, don't you?" She
added quickly.
Again, as they had so often in the past days, Ricardo allowed
his eyes to closely examine her. "Wear the same dress you wore that
first night," he ordered. "The orange one."
That dress had been chosen in haste, out of Maria's small
wardrobe. Liane had felt uncomfortable that entire evening, and now
Ricardo expected her to wear it again. She looked up at his face,
ready to protest, but saw the determined set of his jaw. His mind was
made up, and he knew exactly what he wanted.
"I'll wear it on one condition," she said coyly.
"And what is the condition?"
"You tell me some things about this Spence Jackson. Like,
why you so obviously dislike him?"
"Why do you have such an interest in him?"
"It seems to me that I'm not the one who has the interest in
him," she said. "The owner of this nightclub is the one who wants to
keep him on the billing. You obviously don't. You've made that clear
since the first time you spoke to me about him."
Ricardo's eyes were dark as he answered. "You are right. I
have no love for Jackson. I do not like his type? But that is none of
your business."
"I just want to make certain I don't make the same mistakes."
Ricardo laughed drily. "You need not fear that."
Liane smiled, her green eyes alight with humor. "I think I
understand. He was competition."
She wasn't prepared for Ricardo's blazing anger, as he dug his
fingers into the flesh of her upper arm. "Why do you say that? What
have you heard?"
"Let go of my arm!" She tried to pull away, but he only held
her more firmly. "Of course I've heard something! Do you think
everyone in this place is blind? It seems you haven't done a very good
job of hiding your feelings."
"Go on. Tell me what else you have heard."
"First,
you let go of my arm!" she ordered, rubbing her bruised
flesh when he dropped his clenched fists to his sides.
"I'm waiting!" He seethed.
"Okay." Her eyes were ablaze as she stared up at him in anger
equal to his. "It seems you dislike this Jackson fellow because of
some beautiful woman who may have designs on him, instead of you.
"Then, there's also the fact that you can't fire him, because for
some unknown reason, the owner of this place wants him here. That
must make the pill even harder to swallow."
"Yes, maybe part of that is true," he replied more calmly, yet
his words had a warning quality. "But I can fire anyone else I
choose."
"I see," she said, knowing he had only confirmed what she had
already been told.
Though she was certain Ricardo knew nothing about Jack's
disappearance, he did know the owner of the club. As well as the
mysterious woman who appeared at all Jack's shows. Either one of
them might know where she could find her brother. She felt certain if
she found either of them she could get the information needed to find
her brother.
"Ricardo." She stuck out her pink lower lip in a pout. "I don't
want us to argue. I was wrong to listen to silly gossip. I just thought
it may help me."
"Help you? In what way?"
"I really like working here. And well . . ." She smiled.
"Maybe I won't want to go right home when I have the money for my
fare. So it doesn't hurt to have a little insurance. Knowing what my predecessor did, right or wrong, whichever the case may be, can
benefit my own future."
"I see." Ricardo took her arms and pulled her closer. "I will
be glad to offer a few suggestions on ways to stay in my favor." His
head lowered as he tightened his hold.
"Ouch," she said quickly, reaching up to rub the arms he had
bruised only moments earlier. She was thankful for the bluish marks
already forming.
"Ah . . .I did this to you." He lowered his lips to kiss the
discolored skin on her arm. "I have such a temper at times." He
frowned.
"It's okay. I bruise easily," she said with forced kindness.
"You will forgive me. And we can make a new beginning."
She smiled. "Certainly. We can make a fresh start tonight."
She was relieved to see him nod in agreement. She had no intentions
of entering a relationship with anyone, much less this man. She
hoped it wouldn't come down to using sex as a means of finding her
brother.
She didn't know if she could go that far.
"Why wait until tonight?" Ricardo suddenly asked.
"Because I have to go and get ready for the show," she said
cheerfully, rushing toward the door. "You want me to look nice."
She lifted her hair with one hand and brushed it aside. "I have to wash
my hair. I'll see you later."
Once outside the door, she laughed, knowing that washing her
hair was one of the oldest excuses in the books to get out of a date,
but somehow she doubted Ricardo had ever heard it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Liane knew the club was filled to capacity. Maria had warned
her that on weekends they nearly doubled their usual number of
customers, and tonight was no exception. She was even more nervous
after Maria informed her that the auburn-haired woman was in the
audience. It was the mysterious woman who came to all her brother's
shows. The one who peaked Ricardo's jealousy.
The lights were low as she sang her ballad, adding to the
intimacy of the love song. The room was quiet as she sang several
more tunes, but once she was finished the lights came on, applause
erupted.
She could finally allow her eyes to search the room for the
auburn-haired woman. She saw Ricardo standing by the bar wearing
a somber expression. Following his dark piercing gaze, she found the
woman.
She was indeed lovely. It came as no surprise that her brother
would be attracted to her. Liane noted the look of distress on the
woman's face as she spoke heatedly to her companion.
Glancing to the opposite side of the table, Liane saw the man
sitting with her. She nearly gasped, stiffening as soon as she
recognized the man's brown leather flight jacket. Slowly her eyes
went to his bearded face. A familiar face
–
one she thought she'd
never see again. Ralph Devereaux.
Her mind raced over their previous meeting. Suddenly it
occurred to her that this man was not her brother's agent. He was
more than likely the person who had really murdered Devereaux. She
must have walked into the agent's office before he had a chance to
escape his crime.
She realized the applause had stopped and she was standing
dumbly on the stage, gawking at the couple as they spoke.
Embarrassed, she prepared to leave when she heard someone shout
"Encore!"
She said a silent prayer, hoping the man would continue with
his intense conversation and not notice her. If he did notice her,
would he, with any luck, fail to recognize her?
Her eyes hardly left his face as she sang. Then, as she
finished, a waitresses handed her a slip of paper.
Not a request.
She forced a smile that nearly faded as she read
the contents of the note.
"Meet me outside after your last show. I
want to talk about your brother. Now, sing anything."
"An uncommon request. But one I can hardly refuse," she
said, turning immediately and asked the band to play the theme from
Cats
the first Broadway show she'd ever been in
–
also her favorite.
I
"Ricardo," she began. "I simply can't do the late show
tonight."
"What's wrong?" he demanded.
"I was so nervous about doing tonight's show that I have a
migraine." She rubbed her temples, squinting her eyes for added
effect. "Please Ricardo, don't be angry with me."
"I am sorry, but Miss Kitty Katt has made a huge impression
on
everyone
. . ." He accented the word. "She cannot abandon us
now."
"Have you ever heard the old Vaudeville saying: 'Always leave
them wanting more'?" She forced a smile. "Couldn't I just . . ."
He shook his head.
"You haven't heard it," she said glumly, a sigh escaping her
lips.
"No, I have a better saying. Never leave someone wanting too
long."
"I suppose I better go and get ready for the last show," she
said as she headed for the dressing room. Now she'd have to come up
with another plan.
"Maria." Liane was surprised when she found the girl waiting
there. "I thought you were out on the floor waiting tables."
"I wanted to talk to you," the girl said. "Did you see her?
And the man with her?"
"Yes. Do you know him?"
"No, not really." Maria hesitated. "I was with Spence once
when he came to talk to him. They only talked a moment and he was
gone again."
Liane made her decision. "Look, if anyone asks, tell them I'm
laying down in here because I have a headache." She opened the huge
window to her dressing room.
"What are you going to do?"
"It's better that you don't know. But Maria, whatever happens
from here on in, thank you for your help." She turned and went out
the window, knowing her final words had sounded ominous, yet
feeling it was necessary to have said them. Things were becoming
more mysterious and frightening at every turn.
Liane went to the Smiths and changed into her sister's black
and white habit, quickly grabbing her carry-on bag from the airport,
before heading back to wait outside the nightclub.
She knew that soon they would find her missing and Ricardo
would be furious. Still, it was the chance she had to take. This turn
of events was unexpected and she had to go with her hunch.
