The Love Resort (39 page)

‘I’ve never seen these before,’ Lily said, examining them.

‘Nor have I. I’m going to see Security now. If anyone knows anything about these keys, they will.’ He smiled, and desperately tried to convey some hope. They were close now, he knew that, really close. They would get the guests back and then that part of the nightmare would be over.

Lined up in front of Ed in his office were six security men. They were like an army unit, albeit a small one, with the head of security at the front. Their uniforms were immaculate and their faces sombre. He expected them to start marching and saluting any minute.

‘Thank you for coming. Now, I have found some keys, and I desperately need to find out what they’re for. So, if you could have a good look at them, and see if you recognise them, then I’d be really grateful.’ Ed handed the keys over.

The men examined the keys, very carefully, taking their time, before passing them on. Each shook his head.

‘Nothing?’

‘Mr Smith, I’ve never seen them before. They don’t belong to any buildings in the resort. I’m sure of that.’

‘Right. So, what now?’ Ed’s heart sank; the police would soon be his only option. Then the media would be involved. The scandal would be enormous. He shook his head; he couldn’t think about that.

‘There are four guards off today. They’ll be in tomorrow, shall I call them?’ asked the man in charge.

‘It’s unlikely that they’ll know anything. But give me their numbers, please, just in case.’ He didn’t hold out hope. He wanted to, but he felt despondent.

He didn’t want to go back to the house empty-handed. He could imagine Harriet’s icy glare and David’s hot-headedness, and he couldn’t yet face that. He dialled the four numbers. The first three men he spoke to didn’t know anything, and on the last call there was no answer. He left a message, asking the guard to call in urgently. Then he put his head on the desk and decided to have a bit of a rest before he faced them again. He wasn’t sure how long it would be before it all fell apart on him. Or had it done so already?

*

‘Bernie, Bernie, calm down a minute.’

‘Harriet, give me one good reason. They’re missing, he nearly got blackmailed and there are quite a few people who know they’re not for real. More than should know. This is not a situation that makes me feel calm.’

‘Or me. Listen, one of the people who knows is bonkers. The others will keep quiet, but we do have a very real problem. Firstly, we don’t know where they are; secondly, if we call the police the media are going to get wind of it. Thirdly, I’m not sure about the state of the marriage after the incident, on either side. But I think they’re safe, thankfully, because we found keys. We just don’t know what they’re for.’

‘Are you on drugs? Is that what this is all about?’

‘No, Bernie, I’m not on drugs.’

‘What do you suggest?’ he growled.

Lily raised an eyebrow; she could only hear half the conversation and actually felt sorry for Harriet. She remembered what it was like dealing with these power-crazed bullies, only too well.

‘OK. Keep the police out of it for the next twenty-four hours. If we haven’t found them within that time, we get the police and you send over a team of top private detectives. We release the story to the press before they get it, putting our own spin on it. Owner of The Love Resort goes mad, kidnaps guests and locks them up somewhere. Todd realises that although he loves Katie, he’s actually gay. Katie helped him come to terms with his sexuality despite the fact that she loves him, because she wants him to be happy. They get an annulment but are still going to work together on the film, but Todd will just direct and some other hunk will star.’

‘You’re a genius. But why should I give Todd his directing job after this?’

‘The press attention surrounding it will ensure it’s a monster hit.’

‘Harriet, no police and no press. Not until they’re back here and we can mastermind it.’

‘Sure, Bernie.’

‘And keep me informed.’

As Harriet hung up, Lily smiled; she was impressed.

*

‘I’m sorry.’ Returning to the house, Ed felt personally responsible for the fact that they still didn’t know where the keys were for. Just why, he wasn’t sure.

‘Fucking hell. This is ridiculous. There must be something on this resort that uses those keys.’ David clenched his fists; Ed willed him to keep calm.

‘No. Not that I know of.’

‘It could be a shed or something.’

‘It could be. But we have had the grounds searched.’

‘Ed, let’s go ourselves, just to be sure, and we’ll take the keys.’ David stood up looking like he meant business, and Ed meekly followed him outside.

‘Someone knows something,’ Mary said suddenly, startling Harriet and Lily, as she laid the table for supper.

‘Really?’

‘She didn’t do this herself. Well, even if she did it herself, someone else must have known about the keys or the place where they are. They might not know much but they know something.’ Mary was speaking with authority, as if this were fact, not just her opinion.

‘But who?’

‘I don’t know. But I know someone else knows.’

‘Maybe that security man Ed was talking about.’

‘Let’s hope so.’

‘So what’s the story with you and David?’ Lily asked Harriet, as they tried to eat supper. Mary was staring at them both suspiciously, as if they would find Katie and not tell her. Lily still thought she was amazing, but she was also a little scary.

‘No story. He’s Todd’s brother, and therefore, by default, had to be here. They’re really close, and I thought Todd could use the support when we find him.’

‘He’s pretty cute.’

‘What?’

‘And he’s straight.’

‘Yes, Lily, he’s straight. But I’m working.’

‘I am glad there is one person here who has that attitude,’ Mary cut in, glaring at Lily.

‘Yeah, but you wouldn’t kick him out of bed, right?’ Lily teased, enjoying her theme.

Harriet blushed scarlet. ‘I told you, I haven’t had time to think about anyone like that.’

*

‘So what’s the story with you and Harriet?’ Ed asked, trying to keep David’s mind occupied as they admitted defeat with the search.

‘She’s my brother’s publicist.’

‘And?’

‘And she doesn’t seem to have a personality. She’s married to her job and seems to be willing to die for the Studio.’

‘She’s very attractive.’

David looked at Ed and smiled. ‘Yeah, I guess in a corporate-bitch-from-hell kind of way.’

Ed laughed. ‘Do you like women?’

‘Yes, Ed, I like women. I’m not gay.’

‘So, what’s stopping you?’

‘If you don’t mind I’d rather you concentrate on finding my brother than finding me a girlfriend.’

‘Understood.’

*

‘Anyway, this place is all about relationships but they cause nothing but trouble, it seems,’ Mary said, warming to her theme.

‘What do you mean?’

Lily and Harriet were on the receiving end of a lecture. ‘You and Ed, there you are running around like a couple of teenagers while his wife becomes a loony.’

‘Mary, that’s a bit unfair.’

‘No, it’s true. And then her publisher, Abigail, is running around with a boy young enough to be her son, which tips Anne-Marie over the loony edge. Then there’s your Todd, who sleeps with a man and nearly gets blackmailed. Not to mention the competition winners. So, really, my Katie is the only blameless one here.’

‘Christ, it’s pretty unbelievable, but I think she might actually be right,’ Harriet concurred.

‘Well, Mary, if I promise that Ed and I won’t run around like teenagers any more, would that make you happy?’

‘No, because I know that it won’t work. I know you can’t help it. And don’t get me wrong, Lily, I think that you deserve each other. Anne-Marie was a bad woman to him, and I don’t think you are.’

‘Does that mean we have your blessing?’

‘I suppose so. But I still think there is too much trouble here.’

*

Dinner had been pretty awful but they’d eaten, because they were all hungry. Apart from Tim, who was still only drinking water.

‘There’s no more food,’ Todd pointed out.

‘Then we have to get out of here,’ Jimmy said.

‘Maybe she was planning on letting us out tomorrow anyway, you know. She might feel sorry for us by then.’

‘She might think we’ve learnt our lessons.’

‘Christ, listen to us. I know we behaved badly but this is ridiculous.’

‘Let’s hope she lets us out—let’s really hope so.’

Katie and Todd were sleeping in with Tim again. The others were confined to the living room. Lee was holding Emily as they slept; Thea, Jimmy and Carla huddled together. It wasn’t cold but they all felt cold, or they just wanted the comfort that without a blanket or a sheet, they lacked. Jimmy made a pillow with his trousers and Thea’s shorts, and Carla rested her head on his chest. They weren’t very comfortable but they soon fell asleep, tiredness getting the better of them.

*

‘Get the fuck away from me. Oh my God, get them off me, get them off me!’ Tim’s screams rang out and woke everyone. Immediately Thea rushed to the bedroom, with Jimmy and Carla on her heels. Emily shoved Lee to get him up, and followed.

Tears streamed down Thea’s face. Tim stood there, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, highlighting his too-thin frame, his eyes wide with fright. How had she let this happen? Todd and Katie were trying to get to him, but he was manically waving his arms around.

‘Get them off me; they’re crawling all over me. Please, please, please. Get them off.’

‘What off? Get what off?’ Todd asked as gently as he could.

‘The spiders, they’re everywhere.’ Tim fell to his knees. He was trying to brush the imaginary spiders off his body, and he was sobbing.

‘Let me, Tim, let me get them.’ Katie stepped forward gently. ‘Todd, get me the bucket so we can put them in and make sure they never come back.’ Todd did as she asked. ‘Stay still, Tim, please stay still, and I’ll get them off you,’ she promised. He finally obeyed and Katie pretended to pick them off, putting them in the bucket that Todd held. ‘Tim, honey, I think they’re all gone now. Do you want to check?’ Tim looked at her, and at his body, and at Todd, who was covering the top of the bucket. He nodded, and slumped back down.

‘Thea, I never liked spiders, did I?’

‘No, Tim, you didn’t. But they’re gone now. Todd has taken them away and they won’t come back.’

‘Will you stay with me, just in case?’

‘Of course I will. And Katie will too.’

‘Good. I don’t like them.’ He sounded so much like a child, as he drifted off to sleep.

‘Katie, we have to get him out of here,’ Thea whispered.

‘I know. Thea, it’s going to be all right,’ Katie said.

Thea hoped she was right, but she had to admit it didn’t look good. She was worried, really worried.

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘I’m going to pay for him to have rehab when we get out of here. I know the best place.’

‘Todd said you would. It’s really kind but—’

‘No buts, no objections. It’s what’s best for him.’

‘I know, it’s just that I think I should be doing it.’

‘Look, Thea, you will always be his friend, but this I can do easily, and you can’t. I can make the decision based on what I’ve seen. He might beg us not to send him, and what happens then?’

‘I give in to him.’

‘Exactly. Thea, let me help. I’m not shutting you out or anything like that. He’s going to need you so much, but let me help you, please.’

‘I need to ask for help as much as he does.’

‘Yes, and you know if you’re going to help him you have to let go a bit.’

‘That’s what my friends say.’

‘Well then, they sound very wise to me.’

‘Katie, you’re so nice, all that stuff they say...’

‘Is all true. But somehow, I managed to find my nice side. It was always there, just a bit buried underneath Hollywood crap. Thea, if you get an audition in LA, and you get a part—which, by the way is no guarantee even with Todd on your side—then never lose yourself, never believe what people tell you about yourself. It’s awful, really bad.’

‘I’ll remember. Katie, I’m glad that you’re you now.’

‘So am I. I really am.’

30

Security

For your peace of mind, we would like to assure you that The Love Resort is the safest place that you could ever visit.* Not only do we have the best security people working here, but this is also a very low-crime island.

Our security guards are always on patrol and they are the most alert, highly trained individuals that you could hope to find.

So please, enjoy your stay with us, knowing that you, your loved one and your belongings are totally safe.

Guest
Handbook

*If a crime occurs when you are outside the resort, on the island, The Love Resort is not liable.

*

Ed woke up in a tiny bed with Lily to hear banging on the door. He got up, still fully clothed, as the others stirred. He opened the door, to find a terrified-looking security man standing the other side.

‘Hello, you got my message?’ Ed asked, as the rest of the group got up and made their way over.

‘Where’s Anne-Marie?’ The security man looked as if he was expecting to be questioned by the Gestapo.

Ed knew that he knew something about the guests’ disappearance. The guilt was written all over his face.

‘Please come in. My wife is ill, and she doesn’t remember anything. Not even me. So you see my problem.’ He looked at the others and gestured for them to stay where they were, while he led the security guard to the kitchen so he could find out what he knew in private.

‘I don’t know anything.’

‘I think you do.’

‘Well, I do, but I don’t know why she wanted the keys.’

‘But you gave them to her?’

‘Yes.’

‘But they’re not for anywhere in the resort.’

‘No.’

‘Can you tell me what they’re for?’

‘Am I in trouble?’

‘No. Not if you tell me. Look, I’m sure that my wife demanded the keys and you gave them to her and that’s all.’