‘I’m already part of this. You “dragged me in” when you socked me on the cheek yesterday.’
‘I didn’t sock you. It was a light tap and there isn’t the slightest mark-’
She stopped. His eyes were full of kindly humour, telling her that he was joking, and she should have realised.
‘Just shut up and let me look after you, OK?’ he said.
‘I don’t know what to do next. Perhaps I should go back to England.’
‘Before you’ve established the facts? Surely not.’
‘What difference will it make either way if Lee… I don’t know… Wait, let me give you this now.’
She took out the expensive necklace he’d loaned her.
‘I ought to have given it back to you last night, but there were so many things on my mind-’
‘That’s all right. I understand.’
‘Take it, take it.’ She was pushing the necklace into his hands as though desperate to get it out of her possession. It might have been some fearful thing, full of horrific memories, he thought, dismayed.
‘All right,’ he said, putting the jewels into his pocket. ‘Now, let’s talk this over calmly.’ He drew her to the bed and sat beside her. ‘Running away isn’t a good idea. I’m not letting you out of my sight until we know what’s going to happen. Is there anyone at home for you?’
‘No, I live with my grandparents but they’re away at the moment.’
‘What about other family? Brothers, sisters?’
‘Nobody, but that doesn’t matter. I’m strong, I can cope. Please don’t worry about me.’
He got up and strode to the window, standing with his back to her while he tried to get his head round what was happening. Before him stretched Sunset Boulevard, a glamorous place that seemed to typify the world he took for granted; a world in which presentation was all-important and most things had a price, even if it was often dressed up with tinsel.
Take whatever life offered, give as little as possible in return. That was the conventional wisdom. He’d gained much from Charlene’s presence. Now she was obligingly offering to vanish, causing no trouble, asking no favours, even handing back jewellery that many women would have tried to claim. It couldn’t be better and a shrewd man would seize what she’d given him, pack her onto the next plane, bless his luck and forget about her.
Travis made a slight turn, glancing over his shoulder at where she still sat on the bed. She wasn’t looking at him, just staring blankly into space.
This was how she would cope, he thought; sitting alone in an empty house, looking into the distance. Abandoned by her lover, abandoned by the man who’d called himself her friend and brother.
Common sense demanded that he get rid of her while she was still doing him good and before she could become awkward.
But common sense had never been his strong suit, he thought wryly. Almost everyone who knew him agreed about that.
‘So now we have to get moving,’ he said, returning to sit beside her. ‘Hurry up and pack.’
His businesslike tone sent a faint chill through her. He was dumping her, and she couldn’t blame him. But somehow it wasn’t what she’d expected.
But she should have expected it, she thought, depressed. Clearly he was as unreliable as Lee!
She pulled herself together. ‘Time I was going.’
‘No, you’re not,’ he said firmly. ‘You’re coming to stay with me.’
‘With you-where?’
‘In my apartment. Nobody will know you’re there and you’ll have privacy as long as you want it. And don’t give me any more nonsense about how strong you are because every time you say it I believe it less and less. And if you really think I’m the kind of rotten friend who’d abandon you when you need a hand to hold, well-thanks for the insult.’
‘I never meant to insult you. I just didn’t want to be a burden. I have no claim on you.’
‘Except the claim of gratitude. After last night I owe you big-time. Brenton’s flaming mad, which is great. It means he knows he’s losing the fight and it’s due to you. You’re my best defence, and there’s no way I’m going to let you leave Los Angeles. I’m taking you prisoner. Get used to it. Do as you’re told!’
Without warning, she was flooded by tears. Whatever he said, the truth was that he was protecting her out of kindness. The macho words were just a smokescreen.
‘Hey, come on,’ he said, taking her into a firm hug. ‘No need to cry.’
‘I’m not crying,’ she wept.
‘Of course you’re not. You’re much too strong for that, aren’t you?’
In despair, she shook her head.
‘I’m going downstairs,’ he told her. ‘I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t even think of locking me out, unless, of course, Lee appears, in which case I’ll vanish.’
But that wouldn’t happen, and they both knew it.
When he’d gone she packed her things, moving mechanically. What happened now was beyond her control. She was in Travis’s hands, his dependant, even perhaps his victim.
The thought should have troubled her but it didn’t. Stronger than anything was the feeling of having landed safely in the middle of a storm.
CHAPTER FIVE
WHEN Travis returned Charlene was ready with everything packed.
‘We have to decide on the PR,’ he said. ‘It’s part of living in Los Angeles. PR gets hard-wired into you. You decide what you’re actually doing, and then decide what you want the world to think you’re doing. They’re not usually the same thing.’
‘Right,’ she said, in the voice of someone trying to hang in there. ‘How do we decide?’
‘We must consider whether we want to be seen together. Last night we were, and it was great, but your priority is still Lee, so let’s be discreet until that situation is sorted. It’s best if nobody sees us leave together, so we’ll go down the back stairs.’
‘But my bill-’
‘That’s sorted. Just take my hand.’
It felt inevitable to put her hand in his and feel him clasp it in a firm, comforting grip. Looking back afterwards, she had the feeling that this moment had shone a light on the path ahead. From now on she would go where he led.
Quietly they descended, to find Rick waiting halfway down. He seized her suitcase and hurried ahead. By the time they reached the door he was there with the car. Nobody saw them get inside and settle in the back as the car glided out of the hotel’s rear car park into Sunset Boulevard.
It was still early in the day and the sun was rising high. Already the street was busy and she looked out at it with fascination.
‘I looked it up online before I came out here,’ she said in wonder, ‘but nothing really prepares you.’
‘That’s true. I grew up here but it still makes me think-
Next moment he’d seized her, drawing her close so that her head was against his shoulder, everything about him radiating alarm.
‘There was someone I knew,’ he said from above her head. ‘I don’t think they saw your face, but let’s keep it hidden and not take chances. Sorry to grab you like that. I hope I didn’t hurt you.’
‘No, I’m fine,’ she managed to say.
She could feel one of his hands on her hair while the other lay gently over her face, just enough to conceal her features from anyone who happened to be close.
‘Sorry about this,’ he said. ‘I’ll release you as soon as it’s safe.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m quite comfortable.’
She felt him move so that he leaned down over her, concealing his own face as much as possible.
‘Get into the back streets as soon as possible, Rick,’ he called.
