Down by the River (25 page)

“Thank you.” Grace wasn't sure what else to say.

He leaned closer to her and gave her a slow grin. “In my experience, strong women are very passionate in bed. I like thinking about that.”

“Jack Teague!” Grace looked around to see if anyone was listening. “Watch what you say! Are you always thinking about sex?”

“No. But it comes up a lot in my mind.” He gave her a wolfish smile. “Especially when I'm around you.”

She blushed. “We're supposed to be on a rescue mission, thinking foremost about your little girls.”

“I know. But you've given me a pleasant diversion. And something else to think about—instead of just letting my stomach churn up in knots with worry. I thank you for that.” He gave her another quick kiss and patted her on the leg, much too intimately and much too high on her thigh, his fingers trailing into the dip between her legs.

Grace felt herself respond to his touch, and pulled her legs together tightly. She saw Jack smile before he sat back in his seat.

Their whole flight was like that. They talked and shared about their past, and, in between, Jack made passes at her. Flattered her. Teased her with small intimacies. As darkness fell outside and the plane flew through the evening hours toward California, it seemed the sense of intimacy between them heightened.

Grace had thought she would spend six hours with a man torn up with anxiety and worry, talking constantly of the problems that might lie ahead. That she'd console him and comfort him, be his strength and try to calm his anger. It's what she'd always done with Charles when he got upset, she realized. He'd have worried himself all the way to California, imagining all the scenarios that might occur, being angry and annoyed over all the factors he couldn't control. Looking back at what he might have done to prevent the situation in the first place. Talking about how he'd handle things differently in the future. But here, Grace found herself in new waters. Jack was a very different man. And Grace found herself a very different woman when she was with him.

They were both quiet and resting now as the plane flew through its last leg toward the huge Los Angeles airport. Jack had let his arm drift off the armrest onto Grace's leg, and Grace had allowed herself to lean up against Jack's shoulder. They'd drifted into an hour's sleep like this. Back in Townsend, it was well after midnight now.

Grace sighed. “I hope Morgan and Meredith are all right.”

“We'll be there soon.” Jack breathed deeply.

“You won't be too hard on them, will you, Jack?”

He looked over at her with sleepy eyes. “You can't always know what you will do in a situation until you get there and see how the land lies, Grace.” Jack squeezed her hand. “Try to get some rest. We might have a long night ahead.”

Shortly before eleven p.m. Pacific time, they finally arrived in the Los Angeles airport. Grace regretted they couldn't look down on the city as they descended. All she could see from the plane window, when she leaned across Jack, was a sea of city lights.

They both were stiff when they stood up to depart. Grace watched Jack roll his shoulders and neck to get the kinks out. Her knees felt stiff and sore. Jack took her hand as they walked off the plane, and Grace thought it a sweet gesture. The airport was crowded with throngs of people everywhere as they made their way out of the arrival area.

A man separated himself from the crowd as they looked around and came toward them with a hand held out. He gave them a slight smile and a nod. “Cole Strader here, LAPD. You must be Jack Teague. Swofford Walker gave us a pretty good description.”

Jack took his hand in a strong grip. Grace watched them assess each other quickly as men often do. Detective Strader was tall, of medium build, balding a little on the top of his head. He wouldn't stand out in a crowd until you looked at his eyes—strong and compelling, revealing a depth and intelligence not evident at first glance.

Jack introduced her. “This is my neighbor, Grace Conley. She's very close to my girls. I thought we might need a woman's touch.” He grinned then. “Plus, the woman was determined to come with me.”

Cole let a small smile turn up the edges of his mouth. “Women can have a strong mind about things sometimes.”

It had been a long time since Grace had been in the Los Angeles airport. She'd forgotten how large it was—and how culturally diverse. Cole Strader led them through the airport with ease and efficiency to get their bags, and on to his car. It was waiting at the front of the airport, another officer driving. The officer was introduced as Officer Parks. He stood shorter and paunchier than Detective Strader, with a warmer, more congenial face.

“What have you learned?” Jack asked Detective Strader as soon as they got into the car.

The man frowned. “We've had some men watching the place, but they haven't seen any sign of children. Cars have been going into the place all evening. Report is that there is a big party or gathering going on of some kind. Lots of limousines and money. Lots of glitter and glamour. They can hear a band from outside. Celine Rosen is evidently having a big ‘to-do' tonight. It's Friday in Hollywood, after all.”

“No one has gone in yet to look for the girls?” Grace asked this.

“We've waited for you.” Detective Strader stated these words matter-of-factly as Officer Parks eased his way into the line of vehicles heading for the exit.

The detective turned around slightly to look at Grace and Jack in the backseat. “As I told Jack earlier—in case there is some kind of kidnapping plan going on or some attempt to try to keep the girls from you—our department thought it would be better to wait until you arrived before we approached Ms. Rosen. To the best of our knowledge she has the girls. We know they were picked up at the airport by one of her security people this morning, and we were able to find a witness who saw them driving into the gates at her place earlier today.”

“What do you plan to do?” Jack asked.

“We'll go in, now that you're here—you two, myself, and Officer Parks. Hopefully, we can locate Celine Rosen readily—and the girls. You have the legal right to take the girls if we find them there. And we'll stand behind you in doing that. If there is trouble, we still have backup outside the house. We can call in more support, if it should be needed. But I'm hoping this will go easily.”

He looked at Jack directly. “How long has it been since you've seen or had contact with your ex-wife, Mr. Teague?”

“Four or five years, at least. Ms. Rosen, then Mrs. Teague, left me and the girls when they were babies to come back to Hollywood. She wasn't much interested in being a wife or mother. Wanted another life. Wanted to try to become a big star.”

The detective nodded. “Looks like from the size of her place and what we've been able to learn about her, she made her wish good.”

They were quiet as the car made its way into the freeway traffic of a big city.

The detective took a call on his radio, and after a while he spoke again. “It's still my belief that maybe Ms. Rosen just wanted to get a look at the girls. And thought maybe you might not agree to their coming out here. Decided to take things into her own hands to see them.”

“I can't say, Detective.” Jack's reply was quiet, but Grace could feel his tension building now that they were here. He knew a confrontation lay ahead.

Detective Strader nodded. “Well, we can hope for the best. Parks here has got a nine-year-old girl, and neither of us likes to think of girls that young traveling so far on their own. It's dangerous. You can certainly file charges against Ms. Rosen for aiding and abetting that, Mr. Teague—even if she is a big movie star.”

“One thing at a time, Detective. Right now, let's just find my girls.”

J
ack was reminded of how much he hated big cities as their unmarked police car made its way along the congested freeway overpasses and underpasses leaving the airport. Everyone seemed to drive at lightning speed, and there was a hurrying, stressful, self-absorbed spirit that seemed to hang in the very air. An impersonality.

As they sped up the freeway in the dark, all Jack could see were buildings, lights, cars, and people. It was late, too—moving toward midnight. In Townsend, people would be in for the night. Here, it almost seemed as if people were just coming out.

Officer Parks swerved and honked at a car filled with teenagers that had strayed over into his lane. He grumbled. “Dang kids. Probably already doped or boozed up.”

Jack saw Grace grimace and then felt her lean toward him. He put a hand on her leg affectionately, but was too restless to leave it there, to enjoy the feeling. He was thinking ahead now to what he might find at Celine's.

They passed signs for Santa Monica, Hollywood, and UCLA before they finally turned off the San Diego Parkway toward Beverly Hills. Out the window, Jack could see palm trees along the streets, even in the dark.

“Been here before?” Detective Strader asked.

“A time or two,” Jack answered. “But not in a long time.”

“The motto for Beverly Hills is ‘the garden spot of the world.' ” Detective Strader turned around to offer a crooked grin at them as they turned off the main boulevard and started to wind down a posh suburban street where many of the homes sprawled on large properties tucked discreetly behind high fences and walls. “The median house price here is $2,613,000.”

Jack gave a fleeting thought to the Realtor's commission on a house like that.

The detective turned back around in his seat and made a radio call to the unit near Celine's house.

As their car rounded a corner and started down another street of wealthy estates, Officer Parks began to slow their vehicle. “There's our unit up ahead.” He gestured to a police car parked along the side of the road.

Detective Strader talked on the radio to one of the officers in the unit as Parks pulled up in front of them. Then the policemen all got out of their cars for a few moments to confer.

Jack recognized the street name they were on from the slip of notebook paper he'd found in the girls' treasure chest.

“I guess this is it.” Jack reached over to pat Grace's hand. “Do you still want to go in with us? You don't have to.”

Her steely look was answer enough.

Detective Strader and Officer Parks rejoined them in a few minutes, and then Parks pulled their car out from the curb to begin the approach to the security gate of the mansion where Celine lived. A high stucco wall surrounded the estate, and an ornate Spanish gate led into the driveway. Strader got out to talk to the security guards as Parks stopped at the gate. Jack saw Strader flash his badge and gesture to him and Grace in the back of the car. There was some nodding and conversation Jack couldn't hear.

“There's a big party going on,” Strader announced as he got back into the car. “There was some kind of awards event tonight in Hollywood for daytime television programs. Seemed a good time to host a celebration afterward, I guess.”

The gate swung open. Strader nodded at the burly security man as they passed through. “Another security officer will meet us at the front when we get to the house. He'll go with us to try to locate Ms. Rosen in all the crowd.” His gaze flicked to Grace. “These parties get a little risqué, Miz Conley. You can stay behind if you're not comfortable with it.”

“The girls may need me.” Grace's reply seemed answer enough, and Strader turned to watch their approach to the sprawling Spanish-style mansion at the end of the drive. There were cars everywhere, and the noise of laughter, talk, and the sounds of a band floated out to them on the night air.

A short time later a handsome, young security guard led them through throngs of people to help them locate Celine Rosen. The guard had shrugged when asked about where the girls might be. “I didn't know there were any kids here. I just came on tonight to help with Ms. Rosen's party. Takes a lot of us when she has a big event like this.”

He raised his eyebrows knowingly to the officers as if they understood exactly what he was talking about. “You're not here to bust anybody, are you?”

Strader frowned. “Not unless they become a hindrance to why we're here.”

They found Celine Rosen at last, out by a sumptuous kidney-shaped swimming pool set amid palms and exotic landscaping. She had on a long, slinky dress in shimmering silver with a deeply plunging back. Her red hair, piled on top of her head in a riot of curls, shone in the outdoor lights. Her laugh floated across to them even before they made their way around the patio to her.

In the pool were several scantily clad and naked people. In one dark corner of the water, it looked like one man was in the act with one of the women. No one seemed to even be noticing. A band blared from a tent set up at the other end of the pool, and couples writhed to the music there, many groping each other and sipping from drinks between their movements.

Jack felt embarrassed for Grace to see all this decadence. There were drunk and obviously drugged people everywhere. The mood was totally self-indulgent. At this late point in the night, all the music and the people were too loud, and Celine's guests long past the stage of being of sound mind.

Grace grabbed Jack's hand as a man flopped down onto a lounge chair by the pool and ran his hand right up the dress of a young woman. She giggled riotously while he groped her.

“Mercy, Jack. Where are the girls amidst all of this?”

Her words only echoed his thoughts. His anger grew as they approached Celine and her group of glittering friends.

She looked toward them in surprise as they approached, trying to place them. Her eyes settled on Jack and widened.

“Jack!” She moved forward to reach him and then leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Gracious, you're as handsome as ever—even after all these years.”

She made an effort to press herself closer to him, an arm moving around to slide up his back with affection.

Jack pulled away. “I'm here about the girls, Celine. Where are they?”

“Oh. The girls.” Her voice sounded flippant and annoyed. She paused, somewhat vaguely, to try to corral her thoughts. “Upstairs somewhere, darling. Probably gone to bed.”

She grinned at him, flashing familiar deep green eyes to his. “They've turned out very cute, Jack. And are really very sweet. I've enjoyed having them here.”

Strader stepped forward. “Miz Rosen, I'm Detective Strader with LAPD. It's my understanding that you didn't gain permission from Mr. Teague to have his girls fly out here to you. Is that true?”

Celine looked at Strader in surprise, her eyes then moving to Officer Parks. She turned dramatically pained eyes to Jack. “You've called the police, Jack? Really, darling. I'm surprised at that. Surely you know I wouldn't hurt the girls. This really wasn't necessary.”

Jack's expression hardened. “I couldn't even have gotten into this place tonight, Celine, without them. What did you expect?”

“Oh, well,” she replied on an airy note. “I meant to call you earlier—after the girls sort of let it slip that you didn't know they were here.” She giggled. “But I had the awards to go to. My hairdresser came, and Demetri had to dress me, of course. There was
so
much to do. And then all my friends began to arrive, and the time just slipped away.” She gave them all a charming smile.

“You really didn't need to come out here, Jack. I planned to call later, and everything would have been explained.” She waved a hand dismissively as if there were no problem at all with this logic.

A man came up to lean in and kiss her, offering her congratulations, before he moved on.

She gave them all a practiced, radiant smile then. “Our soap placed very well tonight. Won three awards. And I won one—for best supporting actress. Quite a coup!” She raised a toast toward them.

“I want to see the girls.” Jack's voice was harsh. He leaned forward and grasped Celine by the arm. “This is no place for nine-year-old girls to be, Celine. What were you thinking? Look around you! These girls are innocents.”

She glanced around the pool area with indifference. “Everyone's just having a good time, Jack. You know about good times.”

“Little girls don't need to see these things.” Grace stepped forward. “And it might be dangerous for them here. Some of these men are drunk—or drugged. Something might happen to the girls. How do you know someone hasn't tried to hurt them already? You don't even seem to know where they are. Or if they are safe.”

Celine seemed to notice Grace for the first time then. She ran her eyes down Grace slowly, as if assessing her. “Who are you?” she asked at last.

Jack answered. “This is Grace Conley, my neighbor and a close friend of the girls'. She came with me because she was concerned about them.”

“I see.” Celine shrugged casually and turned her glance away from Grace, as if dismissing her as someone of no consequence. It angered Jack.

“Where are the girls, Celine?” He moved closer to her, making eye contact with her. She had been drinking, that was a fact. She still held a wineglass in one hand. But her eyes were too glittery for only alcohol. She'd added a party drug to the mix.

In an airy way, she replied. “Well, I'm not sure, really. I gave them the west suite bedroom, the blue one at the top of the stairs and down the right hallway. Last door on the left near the end. The room has a lovely little balcony I thought the girls would enjoy.” She gave Jack a pouty look. “I wish you'd let them stay a little longer. I had hoped to enjoy them some more. It's been a long time since I've seen them, after all.”

Detective Strader took a step forward. “We'll be taking the girls with us tonight.” His voice was an authoritative, no-nonsense one. “Mr. Teague has legal custody, and he wants to take the girls back home.”

“Oh, so you've said before. No need to get disagreeable about it.” Celine waved a hand at him and puffed out a lower lip prettily. “None of you are any fun at all. This was a great adventure for the girls, coming out here to meet me. I don't see that there was anything wrong with my flying them out. They are my daughters after all. And they said they wanted to meet me.”

“You should have asked me first.” Jack's voice was steely.

Celine leaned toward him, rolling in her shoulders to display a long expanse of cleavage. “And would you have said yes if I had, Jackie?” It was an old pet name she'd called him long ago when she was coming on to him.

“No.” His answer was short and direct.

“Well, then.” She shrugged dramatically. “You see, I thought that might be your answer. And that's why I decided to wait and talk to you
after
the girls had arrived.” She gave them all a bright smile as if that explained everything.

“Mr. Teague could bring charges in this instance, Miz Rosen.” Detective Strader stepped closer to Celine. “And for several good reasons from what I've seen here tonight.”

Celine offered them another pouty look. “Would you do that, Jack? I only wanted to get a look at the girls. Surely you can understand that.”

Jack felt his anger flame.

Beside him, Grace moved up to put her hand on his arm. “Jack, we need to find the girls. That's the most important thing. They're not safe here.”

He nodded—checking himself, knowing Grace was right—and then spoke through clenched teeth. “Celine, why don't you take us up and help us find the girls?”

She shrugged indifferently and turned her eyes to the young security officer who had led them in. “Benny here will take you up.” She flashed a smile at him and ran a hand up the young man's arm suggestively. “He knows the house and where the bedrooms are.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Grace recoil—as though she had just seen a snake or a nasty spider. He shrugged. Perhaps she had.

“I'll take all of you right up.” Benny stood to attention and was rewarded by a brilliant smile from Celine.

“They'll be a little something extra in your paycheck, Benny, if you cooperate with the officers here in every way you can.” She flashed a smile at them all. “And, now, if you'll excuse me, I have guests I need to attend to. You know—the charming hostess and all that.”

She walked off from them then, as if they were just a few pesky fans whom she had now dispensed with. Jack felt his hands clench into fists. He took a step forward, but then felt Grace's hand tuck into his arm.

She caught his eye. “Let's go with Benny, Jack. We need to find the girls.”

Jack reluctantly conceded, while seething at letting Celine get away with playing that final scene as she had. It felt all too achingly familiar to countless past scenes Jack had once endured with Celine when they were married.

Grace's hand slipped into his, helping him to turn and follow along with Detective Strader and Officer Parks as they made their way back through the crowded rooms of the ground floor of the mansion to the grand stairway leading to the upper floors.

Bits of the party had flowed upward onto the second floor of Celine's house. A drunk sat against a wall in the upper hallway, passed out with his head slumped over. A group of glitzy, young starlets sat in a circle in one of the upstairs lounges, obviously passing around a joint among them. Behind several of the bedroom doors that Officer Parks opened, as they made their way down the west hall, couples were sprawled on the beds, taking pleasures or sleeping after.

Jack began to feel sick.

“I hate to say it, but this is real typical of Hollywood parties among a certain element of the rich and famous.” Detective Strader gave them an apologetic look. “Not much we can do about it, really. We can't just come in without cause onto their private grounds.”