In Between Read Online Free PDF

was in a chair opposite Ben.
    â€œBody builder gone?” she asked. He nodded.
    â€œHarrison Coolson is coming. And Darla called to say she’s on her way. Another party forming apparently. Ben isn’t happy about it.”
    â€œAnything new from Wannamaker?”
    â€œOn his way. The usual suspects gathering. Where’s the gun?”
    â€œWhere he left it, under the towels. Arthur kept an eye on him until he was off the property. He’s another one of Ben’s lap dogs,” he added.
    â€œI suspected as much. Ben treats him like dirt.” She turned away from watching Ben. “And he eats like a pig. Scarfing it down like there’s no tomorrow.”
    â€œWe’ll have to pick our time to move the gun,” Sam said. “There will be too many people around. I don’t want any of them to see a gun falling to the carpet.”
    She shrugged. “With muscle man gone, it won’t make much difference, just so we do it before he comes back. The other problem might be harder. I have to get at your computer before they bring in an expert, and while it’s out of their sight. Let’s hope Darla and Coolson keep him busy with whatever is on their minds.”
    Darla was the first to arrive. Arthur escorted her to the terrace. Darla was wearing a short sundress, her shoulders bare, and she carried a tiny clutch bag.
    â€œIf that dress was any tighter, it would be under her skin,” Lori said.
    â€œWhat’s up, sweetheart?” Ben said as Darla approached his table. “Want some lunch?”
    â€œMaybe later. I wanted to tell you about an interesting thing that happened this morning.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “I was a little worried about Rebecca. I invited her to breakfast. You realize, of course, that she knows few people in town, and last week was so hectic with police asking us all so many questions, I just felt that she might be feeling a little apprehensive, a little bewildered, and perhaps I could help her. She’s such a sweet naïve child.” Her voice was honeyed, her expressive face registering nothing but concern. “It seems that she was puzzled by her contract. It’s so long and confusing, and darling Sylvia was not available, in a panic over that attempt on your life, and police and the media at her doorstep twenty-four seven. Poor Rebecca didn’t know where to turn.”
    As she spoke, Ben stopped eating. He drank some juice and watched Darla with narrowed eyes and a deepening flush on his cheeks.
    â€œI happened to remember that Rebecca has an uncle who is a lawyer in Denver. I suggested that she might want him to vet the contract for her, explain its many clauses in terms she can understand. She was very grateful. It really hadn’t occurred to her to do that. I assured her that there’s no hurry about it, since you don’t have a new picture lined up yet. Heaven only knows how much poor Sam had time to write, or if you can retrieve it. You might have to get a new writer, a new script, a new book or something. These things do take so much time, don’t they, darling.”
    She stood. “Now I think I’ll get into a swimsuit and take a turn in the pool. That was a hot drive up here.”
    â€œYou’ll regret this,” Ben said in a harsh voice. “I’ll see to it that you regret it.”
    â€œDarling, you know I’m thinking only of your future great works. Be back in a few minutes.”
    Sam stood aside as Darla swept past him.
    â€œGo,” Lori said. “You saw one of the most beautiful boy bodies. Now feast your eyes on the most beautiful girl body. I’d say look but don’t touch, but it’s hardly necessary. I’ll keep the pig in sight a while longer.”
    Sam didn’t hesitate. He trailed after Darla and, to his surprise, she did not go up the grand staircase, but turned instead to the stairs to the lower level of the mansion.