The Midnight Tour

“Nobody I know,” Tuck said. Laughing, she backed out of the garage.

As she turned the Jeep around, Dana gazed at the front of the house. With its many outside stairways, its passageways and balconies, the enormous stucco house looked more like a nice hotel than . like a private home. “It’s really fabulous,” she said.

“Amazing what you can do with a few million bucks, isn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t mind living in a place like this.”

“You are living in a place like this,” Tuck said. “All summer.” She aimed the remote over her shoulder. As the garage door started to close, she put the remote away and headed down the long, narrow driveway.

The morning air blew Dana’s hair. She took deep breaths. She could smell the woods and the ocean.

Though the area immediately in front of the house was bright with sunlight, the driveway soon took them into thick woods. There, in shadows as heavy as dusk, the rays of the sun looked like golden pillars slanting down through the trees. Haze drifted like smoke in the gold.

Dana smiled at Tuck, and shook her head.

“Not exactly like Los Angeles, is it?” Tuck asked.

“Not exactly. I can’t believe I’ll be spending the whole summer here.”

“Neither can I. Man, am I ever glad you could come.”

“You’re glad!”

“You bet I am.” Tuck picked up speed on the downhill. She took the curves awfully fast.

Too fast for Dana’s taste.

Even with the seatbelt on, Dana felt her body being shoved from side to side as they raced around the bends.

It’s okay, she told herself. Tuck knows what she’s doing. She’s probably driven in.and out of this place thousands of times.

Tuck glanced at her and grinned, then faced the front again. Her long, blond hair was streaming behind her in the breeze. “We’re gonna have a great time,” she said.

“I hope so.”

If she doesn ’t slam us into a tree.

“And you know what?” Tuck asked. “I couldn’t have stayed home this summer if you hadn’t agreed to come.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“They were all set to drag me along with them on their damn cruise.”

“Oh, that would’ve been a fate worse than death.” ,

“I hate cruises. Yuck!”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Have you ever gone on one?”

“No.”

“just wait.” Some hair blew across her face. She fingered it out of the way with one hand while she steered around a curve with the other. “It’s like being on a floating prison full of chipper weirdos. But Dad didn’t want me staying here alone. So I’d be out somewhere on the briny sea, right now, if you hadn’t come to stay. I owe you bigtime.”

Shrugging, Dana said, “I’m sure you could’ve gotten somebody else.”

“I didn’t want anyone else. You’re my best friend. Besides, you’re the only person Dad would’ve agreed to. It was you or nobody.”

“How come?”

“Hell, don’t ask me. He likes you. He trusts you. He thinks you’re a regular Girl Scout.”

“I’ve got him fooled.”

Tuck smiled at her. “No you don’t. He’s right.”

“Aw, shucks.”

“Anyway, I thought you should know. It’s not like I’m doing you all the big favors. You’re doing a major one for me just by being here.”

“Why don’t you do me a favor and slow down?”

“This is nothing. You wanta see me really go fast?”

“That’s all right. Some other time. When I’m not in the car, for instance.”

“All right, all right.” Tuck eased her foot down on the brake pedal, and the Jeep slowed down.

“Thank you,” Dana said.

“You’re always so cautious.”

“You’re always so reckless. Maybe that’s why your dad didn’t want you to stay by yourself.”

“I don’t think that’s why.”

“Was he afraid you might throw wild parties?”

“Nah. It was the whole idea of me being alone in the house. You know, it’s so enormous and there’s nothing around it but the woods. No neighbors or anything. It can get a little creepy when you’re there by yourself. Anyway, I think Dad had visions of the Manson family or Hannibal Lecter coming for me.”

“In which case, a lot of good I’d be.”

“It’s just some sort of mental aberration on Dad’s part. He seems to think I’ll be fine if you’re staying with me. It’s not because you’re such a big, strapping brute, either.”

“I hope not.”

“Not that you aren’t.”

“I see that living in the lap of luxury hasn’t robbed you of your native charm.”

“Nope. Thank God, huh?”

“Yeah. It would’ve been a major loss. Anyway, if they’d forced you to go on the cruise with them, what would they have done about Beast House?”

“Put Clyde in charge,”

“Who’s Clyde?”

“Clyde Bennett. You met him yesterday. He’s a charmer. He’s gotta be thrilled to death about me being head honcho this summer.”

“Does he give you a hard time?” Dana asked.

“He used to.”

As they glided around a bend, the two-lane public road came into sight. Tuck slowed the Jeep and came to a complete stop.

This is where you’ve gotta start being careful,” she explalned. “Some of the people around these parts drive like maniacs.” She eased forward, checking in both directions, then stepped on the gas. “Beast House,” she yelled, “here we come!”

Chapter Four

THE STORY ACCORDING TO PATTY

“Hello again,” Patty said.

Owen, relieved by the interruption, settled back in his seat and leaned sideways a little to look up the aisle at the guide.

“Is everyone enjoying the scenery?” she asked. “It’s pretty terrific, isn’t it?”

Looks good from here, Owen thought.

Patty was standing casually with the microphone close to her mouth. She held on to a support pole with her other hand. The hand was high, as if she’d raised her arm to ask a question.

“This section of Pacific Coast Highway can be a little frightening,” Patty said. “But you folks probably enjoy a good scare, or you wouldn’t be on your way to Beast House. Am I right?”

Some of the passengers responded, “Right.” Others chuckled.