Sucker Punch Read online

  He clapped a hand on Laurence’s shoulder and murmured reassuringly. It was clear Manwaring was telling his client that everything was fine, Laurence was not to worry, that he—Geoffrey—would take care of everything.

  With Laurence under control again, Vonetta put an arm around Serena’s shoulders and led her toward the door that opened into the shop area.

  When they disappeared, Dylan let out a low whistle. “Well that was interesting.”

  “To say the least,” I agreed.

  “What do you think that was all about?”

  I shrugged and pulled my gaze away from the door. “Which part? The music is missing part, or the Laurence accusing Serena part?”

  “Oh. My. God.” Richie bounced to a stop in front of us, his eyes wide with excitement. “Can you believe what just happened?”

  “I’d have to understand it to believe it,” Dylan said.

  “We must have missed something,” I told Richie. “Why did Laurence accuse Serena of taking his music?”

  “I don’t know. Nobody does.” Richie glanced over his shoulder to make sure nothing was happening without him. “Vonetta’s fit to be tied. I thought she was going to kill Laurence for accusing Serena, but then when Serena said that to Laurence . . .”

  “It didn’t sound like Serena,” I mused. “Did it?”

  Dylan shook his head. “Sorry. I don’t know her. I can’t say.”

  “Vonetta’s royally pissed at her,” Richie said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “That’s all I know. And I can’t say I blame her. I mean, she almost single-handedly destroyed the whole production.”

  I grabbed the hem of his sweater in an attempt to stop the bouncing. “I think that’s a bit harsh, don’t you? Things are bad enough. Let’s not make them worse by spreading all sorts of gossip.”

  Richie scowled and the skin between his eyes formed an accordion wrinkle. “Well, ex-cuse me. I thought you’d want to know what was going on.”

  He knew me too well. “I do,” I said, lowering my voice a notch. “I just don’t want to make things worse for Vonetta. There’s going to be enough speculation as it is.” For the first time in a while, I remembered Colleen and looked around to see where she’d gone. I found her standing a few feet away, watching Laurence closely and wearing a deep scowl. From where I stood, her expression looked a lot like jealousy. I had no idea whether she and Laurence were lovers, but I was pretty sure they were more than professional colleagues.

  Vonetta reappeared in the doorway and waved Colleen over. She spoke briefly to her, punctuating the conversation with a gesture here, a nod toward Laurence or Alexander there, then disappeared again.

  Colleen took charge at once. “All right people, calm down. We’ll sort out what happened to the sheet music, but in the meantime maybe we can convince Laurence to play something else for us. What do you say, Laurence? Will you play for us?”

  For one fleeting second, Laurence’s displeasure showed clearly on his face. In the next moment, his professionalism took over and a broad smile replaced his irritation. He bowed deeply in Colleen’s direction and sat on the piano bench. Music we all recognized drifted into the room and the conversations around me hushed. One by one, people began to sing along. Those who didn’t sing stopped chattering to listen. Two young women battled for position beside the piano while he played, apparently hoping that he’d take notice of them. Nearby, a heavyset woman of about forty alternated between glaring at the two young hopefuls and gazing adoringly at the object of everyone’s desire.

  Laurence seemed delighted by the attention, and the crumbs he tossed each of the women were just enough to keep them hanging on. For sheer entertainment value, it was the best thing I’d seen in a long time.

  Vonetta returned to the rehearsal hall a few minutes later, smiling as if nothing unusual had happened. She gave cast and crew a brief rundown of the schedule for the next two weeks, glancing my way once or twice to see if I was grasping how little the schedule would impact my work schedule.

  I did my best not to make eye contact. Not because I didn’t want to be involved, because I did. The excitement of the theater, along with its pure craziness, was working on me almost like an aphrodisiac.

  I don’t know how long I’d been standing there when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye and saw Serena leaving her mother’s office and turning down the long corridor that led to the dressing rooms at the far end of the building.

  Caught up in the drama of the night, I slipped out of the meeting and followed her. Curiosity has always been a weakness of mine, and I was dying to know why she’d reacted to Laurence the way she had when everyone else in the building would have traded their firstborn for one smile.

  Instead of going into a dressing room, she turned the corner at the end of the hall and let herself into the adjoining ladies’ room. She was already inside one of the three stalls by the time I let myself in, so I killed some time checking my reflection, noting that it was about time for a haircut, and wondering when I’d developed those crow’s-feet around my eyes.

  I was still frowning over my newly discovered wrinkles when I heard a flush and the stall door opened. Serena smiled when she saw me, but there was something self-conscious about the way she looked away as she came toward the short bank of sinks.

  I tried to pretend that I hadn’t purposely cornered her in the bathroom. “Hey, Serena. I didn’t realize you were back in town. How long have you been here?”

  She met my gaze in the mirror. I thought she looked relieved that I hadn’t asked about the confrontation with Laurence. Under the relief lurked a sadness so deep it made me ache. I wondered what had happened to cause it, but I wasn’t crass enough to ask. I have my limits.

  “I’ve been back a couple of months,” she said, turning on the faucet and pumping soap into her palm. “I just haven’t gotten out much.”

  “I know how that is,” I said. “It took me forever to get settled when I moved back. Where are you living?”

  Her soft brown eyes met mine again, but only for an instant. “I’m staying with Mom right now, but just until I find a place of my own. She keeps trying to talk me into making it permanent, but . . . well, you know.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, I know firsthand. I’m sure it’s hard enough to move back after just a couple of years, but after twenty?” I gave a mock shudder and checked for a dry spot on the counter so I could lean against it. “What made you decide to come back?”

  “Oh, you know. This and that.” She shook the water from her hands and moved around me to reach for a towel. “I got tired of the city, for one thing.”

  “You were somewhere on the East Coast, right?”

  She nodded. “I was in Virginia for a few years, and then I moved to Atlanta.” Crumpling the paper towel in her hand, she tossed it into the trash. “You might as well ask what you really want to know. You’re wondering why I snapped at Laurence Nichols.”

  I thought about denying it, but no doubt she’d see right through me. “The question did cross my mind.”

  A tight smile curved her lips. “Yours and everybody else’s, I’m sure. The answer is simple. He’s a complete ass-hole.”

  A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “Well, that’s clear enough, I guess. I take it you two know each other?”

  Her gaze danced up to meet mine, then skittered away. “Not exactly.”

  I waited for her to go on.

  She didn’t, but that might have been because the door burst open and we both jumped back to avoid being hit. Vonetta loomed in the opening and split a disapproving glance over the two of us. “What’s going on?”

  I felt fifteen again. Young and uncertain and afraid of getting into trouble. “I was just saying hello to Serena,” I said. “I didn’t realize she was back in town.”

  “She’s been back for several weeks now.” Vonetta stretched out one arm toward her daughter—a mother hen movement that clearly said come here right now—and the years seemed to melt away for
Serena, too. Ducking her head, she scurried out of the ladies’ room like a kid who’d just been sent to time-out.

  “Hold on,” I said, and started after her.

  Vonetta’s arm swept down in front of me, blocking my exit. “I’d rather you didn’t, Abby. Serena hasn’t been feeling well lately. I think it would be best if you leave her alone just now.”

  Was she kidding? Did she really think I’d buy that lame excuse? Something was going on here, and I was dying to know the whole story. “I’m not going to bother her,” I said with an innocent smile. “We were just catching up.”

  “I’m sure you were, but I really must insist. Now, if you’ll excuse us . . .”

  She turned around and followed Serena into the hall. By the time I got there, they were halfway to the front of the building, one of Vonetta’s arms wrapped protectively around Serena’s shoulders.

  Chapter 7

  Still reeling from my encounter with Vonetta, I turned in the other direction and made my way through the shop area toward the rehearsal hall. I’d never seen that side of Vonetta before, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Obviously, she wanted to keep me from talking to Serena about Laurence, but why? What did they have to hide, and how long did she think she could keep Serena from talking about it?

  She’d piqued my curiosity, but I decided to leave it alone—at least for tonight. Serena would be on guard, and Vonetta would be watching. Besides, it was late and I was tired, and I still hadn’t eaten dinner. Interesting as things were here at the Playhouse, it was time for me to rescue Max and get back to the real world.

  When I opened the door to the box office a few minutes later, Max greeted me with a flurry of grateful doggy kisses. That’s both the best and the worst thing about dogs. Whether you go outside to check the mail or leave for an entire day, they’re always excited to see you when you get back. But they can also dish out guilt. I think it’s the expectation and trust in those big, sad, puppy dog eyes that does it. The How could you leave me? look they give as you’re closing the door. It gets me every time.

  Before Max came to live with me, he’d been the constant companion of a friend who owned a clothing store. When Brandon was murdered, Max became my dog. Alas, unlike his previous owner, I couldn’t take the dog to work with me at the candy store—health regulations don’t allow it—and Max wasn’t happy with the change. His adjustment to long days spent on his own had taken a toll on my wardrobe and my apartment.

  Tonight, as he slathered me with kisses and wagged his nubby tail in excitement, I felt like a jerk for leaving him alone so long. I sat beside him on the floor and indulged in a scratch-fest to make up for my neglect. Max forgave me immediately. He’s far more understanding than most people. But I didn’t get up right away. I had a lot to make up for.

  I think Max would have indulged me for hours if we hadn’t been interrupted by the sound of strident voices coming our way. Max got to his feet and tilted his head to listen. Even before I could make out what they were saying, I could tell that another situation had exploded.

  What was going on around here?

  While Max and I inched out of sight, Laurence Nichols strode into the lobby. Vonetta followed close on his heels. Her voice was low, but her anger was unmistakable. “I mean it, Laurence. Get the hell out of my theater.”

  Ooo-kay. That was a switch.

  Intrigued by Vonetta’s sudden change of heart, I nudged Max further into the darkened box office. This abrupt about-face must have something to do with Serena. Naturally, that made my curiosity shift into high gear.

  Laurence glanced over his shoulder, a thin smile on his handsome face. “That’s a helluva thing to say, Vonetta. Especially since you practically begged me to take this job.”

  “That was then. This is now.”

  Laurence’s smile grew a bit wider. Unlike Vonetta, who looked angry enough to hurt someone, Laurence seemed to be enjoying himself. “You’re hysterical, Vonetta. You’re not thinking clearly.”

  “I’m thinking clearly for the first time in years. There’s nothing further to discuss, Laurence. You’re a despicable man. You don’t care who you hurt, and I don’t work that way. You’re through here. I’ll find another musical director.”

  He shifted his whole body to face her. That charming smile still stretched across his face, but the expression in his eyes had turned to ice. “Don’t be a fool. How easy do you think it will be to find someone Alexander Pastorelli will be willing to work with? Especially on such short notice.”

  “I’ll take my chances.” I’d never seen Vonetta so angry. Until tonight, I hadn’t even known she could get angry.

  Laurence barked a disbelieving laugh. “You’d rather let the production fail than have me around? That’s a bit melodramatic, isn’t it?”

  “Think what you want,” Vonetta snarled. “If I’d known the truth about you, I never would have hired you.”

  What truth? I edged forward a fraction of an inch so I could see them more clearly.

  I was pretty sure her comments had hit their mark, but Laurence hid his anger well. Smirking, he leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “Oh come on, Vonetta. Lighten up. You’re making a mountain out of a mole-hill.”

  “How dare you.” The words ground out of her throat, and she drew back her arm as if she intended to strike him.

  Laurence caught her hand and barked another laugh, but his expression changed in the blink of an eye, and I saw something cold and calculating beneath his handsome exterior. “I’d be careful if I were you. Once you get up on a high horse like that, the only way off is down. Maybe it’s slipped your mind, but we have a legally binding contract. If you want out, take me to court. Otherwise, I have a job to do. I suggest you stay out of my way while I do it.”

  Vonetta jerked her hand out of his grasp and massaged her wrist. “You’re the one who’d better be careful,” she snarled. “Stay away from my daughter. Stay away from the cast. Stay away from the crew. And don’t do anything to jeopardize this production or I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

  She pivoted away and a second later I heard the door to her office shutting behind her. Laurence watched her go, an odd expression on his face. After a moment, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and strode into the auditorium, whistling as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  I stayed in the shadows of the box office, my mind whirling as I replayed the argument I’d just witnessed and thought back over everything else that had happened tonight.

  What would Vonetta do next? There was no way she could take Laurence to court and win. If nothing else, he’d just keep spending money on delays until her bank accounts all ran dry. Even if she won, the publicity involved would destroy her reputation. A man like Laurence Nichols would win hands down in the court of public opinion. But neither could I see Vonetta just backing down and letting Laurence stay.

  One thing for sure, Vonetta had been right the other day. Life in the theater was never dull.

  “I have four more orders for one-pound mixes, three for chocolate caramels, and five more for chocolate-covered strawberries,” Liberty announced as she strode into the kitchen at Divinity the next morning. We’d only been open an hour, but we’d had a steady flow of customers into the store since we unlocked the doors, and the phone had been ringing off the hook.

  At this rate, I wouldn’t have time to miss Jawarski or envy those who were in the play, and that was fine with me. In the space of twenty-four hours, I’d managed to misplace my last bottle of cinnamon flavor oil and I’d already wasted half an hour looking for it. I didn’t need any distractions.

  I stepped off the stool I’d been standing on and brushed past a hanging heart to take the order forms from Liberty. “All of these came in during the last hour?”

  Liberty nodded, and the black and blond hair she’d piled loosely on top of her head threatened to escape its clip. “Can you believe it? The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since I walked through the door.”

&
nbsp; I was happy to see the brisk sales, but a little worried about my ability to keep up with them. Swallowing my rising panic, I forced a smile. “I’ve noticed. You haven’t been promising exact dates for delivery, have you?”

  Liberty gave her head another shake. “By the fourteenth, just like you said.”

  Gratified, I pulled in a calming breath and reminded myself that Elizabeth, my sister-in-law, would be here next weekend to help. So would Dana and Danielle. All I had to do was keep my head above water until then.

  After scanning the orders briefly for special requests, I handed them back to Liberty. She crossed to the area we’d designated as control central and began sorting the slips into piles. “I heard you were at the theater last night. Are you thinking of auditioning after all?”

  Word always travels fast in Paradise, but sometimes the speed of our grapevine still surprises me. “Where did you hear that?”

  Liberty shrugged and plunked another sheet into place. “A friend of mine was there to audition. She said she saw you.” Grinning over her shoulder as if she’d caught me trying to hide something, Liberty said, “I guess Vonetta got to you, huh?”

  Her smile made me edgy, but only because I’d been trying so hard not to think about last night’s excitement. “I’m not auditioning,” I said, sounding like a broken record. I wasn’t even sure which of us I was trying hardest to convince. “I ran into Richie Bellieu and Dylan Wagstaff on their way to a meeting and decided to tag along to see how things were going.”

  Liberty shrugged and turned back to work. “Hey, if you want to be in the play, I say go for it.”

  “With all of these orders waiting to be filled?” I shook my head and climbed back onto the stool to search for the flavor oil. “It’s not going to happen.”

  “If you say so. I heard that somebody stole some music from Laurence Nichols. Is that true?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know if it was stolen, but it was missing.”