Part 28 (2/2)

Dawn checked her watch. She and her love-struck pal needed to get going if they were going to be on time for their appointment with Robby's old costar.

She stood. ”Time,” she said to Kiko.

He looked disappointed because the conversation with his future wife was going so swimmingly. Suddenly, Dawn wondered if he'd been serious about the phrase back at the fencing studio-if he'd had some vision about her marrying him.

”Gotta go,” Dawn said to Jacqueline, rus.h.i.+ng things along.

”Maybe I'll see you fencing sometime?” she asked hopefully.

”Maybe.”

”Wait, wait a sec, would you?”

Dawn did, slipping her shoulder bag in place. It was heavy with her stake and gun.Jacqueline had gotten to her feet, too, an inch or so shorter than Dawn, but a whole lot more slender. Instead of a stuntwoman's streamlined muscles, she had a willowy grace that came with balletic limbs and natural a.s.surance.

”I was thinking,” the girl said, ”that maybe we could even meet at the studio. You're into sabers, Dipak said, and I know I'm not that good, but if you ever need a partner to beat up on...” She laughed. ”And I'm not asking you out, either.”

Dawn thought that maybe, after she found Frank, she could spare some time to keep an eye on this girl-from afar, you know.

If she didn't, she'd have a hard time forgiving herself when Jacqueline Ashley got eaten by the Hollywood machine, and the last thing Dawn needed was more regret. Besides, a safety check didn't have to happen more than once every two months.

She gave Jacqueline her business card. ”Call, and we'll sweat it out sometime.”

Then, with short wave, she went to the car with Kiko.

And, as they drove to the production lot, someone followed, keeping an eye on Dawn, too.

TWENTY-TWO.

THEPAIN.

THATnight, h.e.l.l came to L.A.

It started around a quarter after midnight, when Dawn, Kiko, and Breisi were back at the office after a long day of interviews plus bar and hotel visits. At the very least, they weren't getting any evidence to support the theory that Nathan had been using Robby to gather blackmail material against the more powerful players in town. This gave weight to the possibility that he might've been lending Robby out to further his career even more. Or was it even more personal than that?

h.e.l.l, all Dawn knew was that today's first interview with Robby's old costar had revealed a viper; all morning, as they'd strolled around the Universal lot, he'd sniped at his fellow child actor, seeming to revel in Robby's misfortunes. The man was clearly taking out his own failure to succeed in the biz on Robby, but he'd confirmed what Klara Monaghan had told them about Nathan and Robby's pa.s.ses at the older costars, and he'd noted that his compet.i.tor seemed to be getting tired of his little-boy roles. He'd also given them more names to interview.

Accordingly, they'd hit a fraction of that list, plus the one they'd already developed. The highlights included a producer who'd supposedly taken Robby up on Nathan's offers, although he wouldn't admit to it; a childless Hollywood wife who'd brought Robby home to pretend he was her own child for one night-or so she said (and Dawn believed her, even before Kiko had taken her reading and given her the thumbs-up); and a silver-haired actor who'd been accused of hiring the child for an entirely different reason. Much to Dawn's shock, he'd even related the nauseating details of what he'd done to the boy.

”Sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” she said, even though it was hours later in the foyer of the Limpet offices. Having just updated with The Voice himself, they were getting ready to go to the coroner's office for a closer look at Klara. Word had it that there'd been good DNA evidence collected at the scene. Should be interesting.

But what was even more interesting was the way Jonah was treating her. Strictly professional, even deeply respectful, without any hint as to what had happened last night. h.e.l.l, she was used to the morning-after amnesia of sleeping with someone, but that wasn't exactly the case here.

She recalled the scream of rage she'd thought she heard before he disappeared.

Maybe it was smart to give him a time-out.

Presently, Kiko was agreeing with Dawn's a.s.sessment of the ”sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d.” ”Wouldn't it be great if the Marquis de Sade could travel forward in time and get a hold of that guy? Match made in h.e.l.l.” Getting out of his chair, he adjusted his shoulder holster, readying himself to leave. ”He and Nathan Pennybaker probably got along real well back when they were doing business. Like our fugitive friend, the perv liked watching you two women while he told us all about his adventures in Neverland.”

”He didn't like it so much when I got up in his face.” Dawn meant to scowl, but instead she yawned. ”G.o.d, I couldn't stand to hear any more of his putrid stories.”

”Yes, Dawn,” Breisi said, standing and jotting notes to herself on a clipboard. ”Your interview-ending temper will go a long way in getting us more sources of information. I'm sure the word is out about your happy hands.”

Kiko laughed. ”Are you kidding me? Perverts like that love a little who's-your-daddy action. Dawn's phone'll be ringing off the hook.”

Speaking of phone calls, Dawn remembered that Matt Lonigan had left a message on her old voice mail an hour ago. ”Call me,”

he'd said. Short and sweet-just the opposite of how she usually liked her men.

”Gotta ring Lonigan,” she said, standing.

Breisi speed-walked for the door. ”Let's go.”

Instead Kiko, being a general pain in the bupkis, came over and nudged Dawn's waist with a pointed finger, obviously intending to rib her about Lonigan. But the second he made contact with Frank's unders.h.i.+rt, he hitched in a breath.

”What?” she said, on alert.

Ever since twilight had hit the horizon, Kiko had been getting stronger vibes whenever he touched the s.h.i.+rt, as their ritual demanded. It was almost like Frank's consciousness was awakening with the growing darkness. Dawn didn't like what that foretold at all.

”Sc.r.a.ps of last night's vision,” Kiko said.

Breisi wandered back to them. ”Do it again.”

Tentatively, Kiko laid a hand on the s.h.i.+rt. Who could blame him for being reluctant now that the night was at its darkest?

He jerked his hand away.

”What?” Breisi and Dawn stereoed.

”Bava. I saw Bava.”

”Jonah said that's where he disappeared.” Dawn bent down to Kiko's height so she could peer into his eyes.

Normal, focused. Steeped with concern for Frank.

”Jonah?”Breisi asked.

Dawn ignored the question of why she was using The Voice's first name. ”What else, Kik?”

She grabbed his hand, put it in the center of her chest, over the s.h.i.+rt where her heart kicked, as if wanting to get out.

Kiko flinched. ”Music...dancing...shock, so much shock because of something...” He shook his head. ”I'm not sure what he saw, but it got to him.” ”Go on,” Dawn said.

He squinched his eyes. ”He went to call the boss...storage room...something behind him-?”

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