Two down - By Nero Blanc Page 0,69
the engine was near empty when the tender was found—”
“Meaning it had been in use for two hours or so.”
Belle screwed her eyes up and stared hard at the broad stretch of sand. “If it was discovered this high above the high-water mark, then someone must have placed it here,” she said. “And whoever set the stage had to realize—amend that—had to ensure that the boat be found . . . It was part of the plan . . .”
She began to pace toward the ocean; Rosco followed close behind. “The fact that it was free of salt residue increases the probability that the criminal intended the discovery to indicate a kidnapping rather than an accident at sea: a gash clearly created on dry land. Whoever our criminal is would have been certain forensics tests would be run.”
“Not necessarily. Amateurs don’t think that far ahead. Plus—”
“Wait!” She suddenly turned in her tracks, and in doing so nearly collided with Rosco. “That’s it!” she almost shouted. “Staged! The entire thing’s been staged! Flack and Jamaica’s boy-toy betrayer—the wannnabe actor! Those two guys have orchestrated the entire scenario! Just like they did at Catalina!”
Rosco looked at the ocean and then at Belle. “All right,” he said slowly. “I’ll play along . . . Flack gets tired of earning peanuts from celebrity shots . . . He decides to go for the big bucks . . . But that’s assuming he could command a sizable ransom for Jamaica.”
Again, Belle pondered the situation. “Flack must have had prior knowledge that Genie would be involved. He must have counted on Tom paying whatever he asked.”
“Except that no demands have been made, cash or otherwise.”
Belle pursed her lips; her eyes squinted in concentration. “Okay, okay, okay! I’ve got a better idea. Maybe Jamaica instigated the entire deal. Maybe she’s the one calling the shots. A delayed ransom note would suit her sense of the dramatic—”
Rosco began to interrupt, but Belle overrode him. “Flack alluded to Jamaica’s previous participation, right? He said PR’s a two-way street—or words to that effect . . . Well, maybe Jamaica was worried about her career and trying to revitalize it . . . Maybe she contacted Flack . . . hired him to take those lurid pictures—”
“I love the way your brain works, Belle,” Rosco interjected. “But I’m afraid you’re way off the mark. Flack told me—”
“No, wait . . .let me finish. Flack might be lying through his teeth, you know—”
“What’s left of them.”
“Rosco, I’m not joking! Hear me out.”
Rosco put up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m silent. I’m silent.”
“Okay,” she grumbled. “But I’d like you to take my suggestions seriously.”
“I am.”
Belle shot him a glance, then continued. Her words and tone were thoughtful. “So, here’s my notion: Jamaica masterminds The Globe photo spread. Her ‘mysterious male companion’ is part of the deal—or not. That’s an unimportant detail because who knows where, or who he is . . . When said cruel pix are published, the actress appears outraged. Whines to her best buddy, Genie, and furiously decamps the L.A. scene—only to tragically disappear at sea during a yachting ‘accident’ aboard said best friend’s chartered boat.”
“You’ve lost me again, Belle . . . What’s the purpose of this hoax?”
In the waning light, Belle’s gray eyes burned like smoldering coal. “How much publicity has Jamaica gotten out of this situation already?” The speech flew ahead without waiting for a response. “A lot! And what happens when the media learns the dinghy didn’t sustain damage in the ocean? Where will speculation lead, then?” Again, Belle didn’t pause for an answer. “Everyone will assume it’s a kidnapping, Rosco! Beloved actress hideously abducted . . . Fans of Crescent Heights and Jamaica’s character will start tearing the tabloids off the shelves. When she reappears, shaken but unscathed, she’ll be reinstalled as a star in the Hollywood pantheon.”
“Okay . . .” Rosco said. “Supposing you’re right . . . Just supposing . . . What’s Genie’s role?”
“She’s giving her friend every bit of help she can. Think about it—a solid citizen is abducted as well. It’s perfect. Who would suspect a hoax?”
Rosco was silent, mulling over the suggestions. “I don’t know, Belle. This is pretty outlandish—”
“No, it’s not. It’s dramatic. It’s Hollywood! And that’s what we’re looking at. A drama created by an actress. Two, if you want to be specific about it—”
“Where does Tom fit in? According to this . . . this theory of yours?”
Belle gestured toward the darkening waves as if