Star Crossed (Starlight #3) (14 page)

The man turns, the phone still held to his ear. And then I feel my pocket vibrating.

Shit! My mobile phone!

I’d set it to vibrate, rather than ring, so I wouldn’t be disturbed composing. But in this deadly quiet patch of trees, the vibrate sounds impossibly loud.

I reach slowly in my pocket, trying not to lose my grip, or rustle any branches.

‘Wait,’ I hear the man say. ‘I think I hear something.’

My hands close on my phone, turning it desperate for the button which mutes
the vibrate.

My fingers reach the button and flick it, just as the man takes the phone away from his ear.

He stands a long moment, listening for a sound.

I don’t dare take a breath. My hold is precarious now, since I’m one-handed on the tree. The muscles in my arm are screaming, but I can’t risk moving for a better grip.

The man’s head sweeps left and right. Then, after what feels like a lifetime he returns the phone slowly to his ear.

‘
It was nothing,’ he says, sounding annoyed.

He waits for the reply, and issues a short hollow laugh.

‘I’ll find her,’ he promises. ‘Summer Evans won’t be performing this week. You have my word.’

At the sound of my name, my blood runs cold.

The man vanishes into the undergrowth, back out in the direction of the heath. And I realise my heart is threatening to pound out of my chest.

He said my name. He was looking for me. He’s going to stop me appearing in the show.

After I’m sure he’s out of earshot, I adjust my grip to sit more comfortably up in the tree. I’m too spooked to come down any time soon. Instead I assess my next course of action.

How long should I wait until I risk climbing down? Twenty minutes? An hour?

I’m frightened the man might return for a closer search of the copse, once he realises I’m not on the heath.

I pull out my phone to check the current time.

There’s a mess of missed calls and messages from Adam on the display.

In the shock of what’s just happened, I didn’t think to call Adam.

I toy with the idea for a minute, thinking of how he’ll react.

But much as I hate the idea of having him come rescue me,
I know when I’m beat. It would be categorically stupid of me to risk coming down by myself.

I close my eyes, turning over the idea of slipping out of the tree, and returning home
without help. I could tell Adam what happened in my own way, without the indignity of being found clinging to a tree in Hampstead Heath.

I sigh
and punch a message to Adam.

On Hampstead Heath.
Some drama, but nothing to worry about. Could you come get me?

Letting go the last of my pride I send the message.

Within seconds the phone flashes silently in my hand. Adam is calling me. I guess he’s not going to be satisfied with a conversation by text.

Anxiously I glance around the forest, but the man has definitely left the area.

‘Hello?’ I whisper, pressing to answer the call.

‘
Summer!’ The fear in Adam’s voice almost launches me straight out of the branches. ‘I’m only a minute away,’ he continues, ‘tell me where you are. What happened?’

Whoa.
Looks like Adam has gone straight to caveman protector role.

‘
Um,’ I search for the words. My earlier fear has been mostly replaced with a surge of embarrassment.

‘
I’m in a tree,’ I say, forcing the words out. ‘In a copse of trees near where the heath backs onto your road.’

‘
You’re in a tree? What the hell happened? Are you ok?’

‘
I’m fine,’ I reassure him. ‘Just a bit shaken up is all. There was a guy following me. He’s gone now. But I guess I wouldn’t mind an escort home.’

There’s a pause as Adam takes this in.

‘Ok,’ he says after a moment. ‘I think I know where you mean. I’ll be right there.’

He hangs up, and I shuffle around, trying to make my hiding place marginally less humiliating.

One thing I am grateful for, Adam didn’t ask too many questions. Though I guess I have that to look forward to later.

I hold tight, scanning the woodland for anyone approaching. And it only seems like seconds later that I hear a crashing through the branches.

I still my muscles, looking down anxiously. It’s surely too quick for Adam to have made it here.

A surge of fear rises up.

Has the man come back for me?

Then I hear Adam’s voice sailing through the trees.

‘Summer? Summer!’

‘
I’m here!’ I call back gratefully.

I hadn’t realised quite how tense and frightened I was. But now Adam is here,
relief floods through me. I begin to slip down out of the branches. Terrifying as this experience was, I still have my pride. The idea of him finding me hiding in a tree is just too embarrassing for words.

I’m making down into the lower branches as Adam breaks into the clearing where I’m hiding.

‘Summer!’ he rushes towards me, and lifts me down from the lower part of the tree. He hugs me so tight I think he might crush me.

‘
Hey! Ow!’ I laugh. ‘It’s good to see you too.’

Adam releases me slightly and examines my face.

‘You ok?’ he sounds desperately worried.

‘
Yes. I’m fine. Just working on my cameo for The Hunger Games,’ I add, glancing back at the tree.

It takes Adam a moment to get the joke.
Then he half laughs.

‘
I didn’t know you could climb trees,’ he says.

‘
Hidden talent,’ I say, relishing the warmth of his arms.

‘
Come on,’ says Adam. ‘Let’s get you home safe, and you can tell me what happened.’

Chapter 16

To my relief Adam doesn’t make a big deal of saying ‘I told you so’. He doesn’t refer to his earlier warning at all, but concentrates on getting the facts of what happened.

After Adam has grilled me, he calls the police. And within half an hour, t
wo bored-looking police officers arrive at Adam’s house. A tall man and a short woman with blonde hair.

They introduce themselves as
Officers David Weight and Sally Egbert. And I get the impression that working in a rich part of London, has numbed their minds to the notion of real crime. They seem utterly uninterested by the circumstances of me being followed. As though they simply can’t accept that anything serious would make its way onto their beat.

I explain to them both what happened and they take notes. But Sally in particular seems extremely sceptical. Like she thinks I’m making it up.

‘He referred to you by name? You’re sure?’ she asks, referring back to her notes.

‘
Yes,’ I repeat patiently. ‘He said my name, and that I wouldn’t be performing on this week’s show.’

‘
Ok,’ says Sally. ‘We get a lot of these kind of reports.’

My eyes widen.

‘You do?’ I ask.

She nods.
‘In Hampstead Heath? You’d better believe it. Celebrities get a lot of attention. They tend to get paranoid about the actual risks involved. For the most part it’s just harmless fans.’

I stare back at her, feeling insulted.

‘It wasn’t a fan,’ I say. ‘I heard him speaking into his phone. Someone had given him instructions to follow me.’

Sally looks unconvinced.

‘You’re on Sing-Win aren’t you?’ she asks.

I nod, wondering how this is relevant.

‘And you’re quite new to being famous?’ she adds.

I nod again, wondering where she’s leading with this.

‘You should be careful,’ says Sally, ‘that you don’t see things like this as a way to get press attention.’

I feel my face growing hot.

‘Are you implying I’m making this up, for a press story?’ I say.

Sally shakes her head.

‘No,’ she replies. ‘I’m just saying that when people are new to fame, they sometimes see threats that don’t exist.’

I am open-mouthed.

‘This really happened!’ I protest. ‘I’m not in the habit of over dramatising things.’

S
ally closes her notebook.

‘
We’ll do a sweep of the area for anyone behaving suspiciously,’ she says. ‘Then we’ll cross reference for any other reports filed today.’

Her eyes settle on me.

‘For the most part we never find these people, and they’re never heard from again,’ she says.

I nod dumbly, feeling humiliated. Neither of them
believe me.

The officers leave and I watch them go silently. Adam returns to the room.

‘What happened?’ he asks anxiously, ‘are they out searching for the guy?’

‘
Not exactly,’ I say. ‘They said they’d make a sweep of the area. But they didn’t ask me for much of a description. I don’t think they’re taking it too seriously.’ I add.

Adam’s expression is unreadable. But I think there’s a dark fury bubbling beneath the surface.

‘They’re not taking it seriously?’ he says.

‘
I don’t think they believed me,’ I reply. ‘To them I’m just another little starlet who claims she’s being stalked.’

Rage flashes in Adam’s face and then it’s gone again. He considers for a moment.

‘I suppose that’s to be expected,’ he says after a moment. ‘I don’t think much crime happens in this area. I guess the police are complacent.’

Adam frowns.

‘I’ll hire a private security firm,’ he decides.

‘
Is that really necessary?’ I ask.

After the police’s reaction I’m starting to doubt whether I’ve even remember
ed things right. Maybe I heard wrong. But I know I didn’t. I know I heard him say my name, clear as day.

‘
Of course it’s necessary,’ says Adam. ‘Do you think I’d let this drop? Just because the police in Hampstead Heath are overloaded with celebrities?’

I shake my head slowly, feeling grateful to him.

Adam rubs his chin thoughtfully. ‘This is no lone stalker Summer. Someone hired this man.’

The earlier fear floods back. Without realising, I’d been in a kind of denial with the police visit. Whilst I didn’t like them not believing me, their laissez
-faire attitude at least helped me believe this wasn’t serious.

Adam’s reaction leaves me in no doubt.

A man was hired to follow me. And stop me performing this Saturday.

‘
Who on earth could have hired him?’ I ask, scared of the answer.

‘
That’s what we’re going to find out,’ says Adam. ‘Someone involved with the show might have paid him to scare you. To try and make you quit.’

He pauses for a long moment.

‘At least, we can only hope that’s what they hired him for.’

‘
You think it might have been for some other reason?’ I ask.

Images of kidnap and worse are floating through my brain now.

‘Could have been,’ says Adam. ‘But I don’t want to think about that Summer. If I start to think about that, my mind won’t work properly and I won’t be able to protect you.’

His face is dark. I feel a rush of guilt and sympathy for him.

‘Adam don’t worry,’ I say, taking his face in my hands. ‘Please. I hate seeing you like this.’

He looks at me distractedly.

‘Please,’ I say. ‘Let the police handle it.’

Adam is shaking his head.

‘Someone wants to stop you winning the show,’ he says. ‘It’s my job to find out who.’

He pauses, considering this. I think it over too.

‘Don’t you think it’s a little strange,’ he says, ‘that someone gave your old contract to the network? And then this?’

‘
I don’t know,’ I say truthfully. ‘Are you saying you think they’re linked?’

This is a lot to take in.

‘I’m not sure,’ says Adam, running his hands through his dark hair. ‘But it seems like something of a coincidence.’

He hesitates.

‘It would have to be someone on the show,’ he says. ‘Can you think of someone who could want to sabotage you?’

‘
I guess there’s quite a long list,’ I say tentatively. ‘Of people who wouldn’t want me to perform.’

I’m turning over the people with motives in my mind.

‘Scandelous,’ I point out, ‘Deven. Dez could still bear a grudge.’

‘
It’s not Dez,’ says Adam. ‘You can rule him out. I told you Summer. I dealt with your ex-boyfriend. I can read people, and he is no longer a threat.’

Adam sighs aloud.

‘Dev.as.station as a live wire,’ he says. ‘They might feel slighted to be voted off. One of their members could be out for revenge.’

Whilst Adam is speaking I feel my phone vibrate. I pull it out of my pocket glad of the distraction.

Tammy’s name is flashing on the display.

‘
Let me take this,’ I say, showing it to Adam.

He nods and I click to answer.

‘Hey Tams,’ I say, trying not to let my current state of mind sound in my voice.

‘
Hey Summer,’ she says. ‘Look, I know this is last minute. But remember that magazine shoot with George I told you about?’

I force my mind back.

‘The wedding one?’ I reply. ‘Yeah I remember.’

‘
Can you make it now?’ asks Tammy. ‘The magazine had a last minute slot with their photographer. They can fit us in later in the week, but it would help me out
a lot
to go now.’

‘
As in right now?’ I say, thinking this is absolutely the last thing I want to do.

‘
Yeah,’ Tammy sounds apologetic. ‘If you can’t do it, no worries…’ she begins.

I cut her off.

‘No I can do it,’ I say. ‘Where is it?’

‘
Piccadilly,’ she says.

‘
Ok. Give me twenty minutes to get a cab,’ I promise. ‘Text me the address and I’ll see you there.’

I hang up to Adam’s incredulous expression.

‘It’s a magazine shoot,’ I explain. ‘For George. The magazine had a last minute cancellation and it’s easier for Tammy to fit it in now.’

‘
Did you not think to explain to Tammy, that you were just followed?’ says Adam.

‘
I guess not,’ I say.

Adam is staring at me.

‘What?’ I ask, disconcerted.

‘
Had you thought Tammy could be behind it?’ he asks. ‘Or George?’

‘
What?’ I virtually scream the words. ‘You’re suggesting my best friend has hired some… some
goon
to frighten me off the show?’

I can hardly believe what he’s
just said.

‘
It seems a little strange that you get a call right at this moment,’ he says, ‘for a last minute shoot.’

‘
You sound insane,’ I say. ‘They’re my best friends. The magazine thing is just a coincidence.’

My voice is rising dangerously. I won’t take anyone speaking ill of Tammy and George.

‘Summer, calm down,’ he says gently. ‘I’m just making sure we look at all the possibilities. They both have motives.’

‘
No,’ I say firmly. ‘We’re not even going there. Those girls are my friends.’

‘
Ok,’ he says, dropping the subject. ‘But I don’t want you going on this shoot right now? First we need to figure out who’s behind this threat. To protect you.’

‘
I can’t think of anywhere safer for me,’ I point out. ‘I’ll be in full public view with a photographer. I can’t hide away,’ I add. ‘Then whoever is behind this will have won.’

Adam considers this.

‘Think about it,’ I persist. ‘I heard the guy say he wanted to stop me appearing on the show. Probably it’s just a scare tactic. I’m not going to succumb to it,’ I conclude, my arms folded.

‘
I’m not sure it’s a good idea,’ replies Adam.

‘
But I just agreed to it,’ I say lamely, waving my phone. ‘I don’t want to let them down.’

Adam breathes out a long sigh.
He can tell my mind is made up.

‘
What am I going to do with you?’ he says eventually. ‘Can’t you put yourself first for once?’

‘
I’ll feel bad if I don’t go,’ I say.

There’s a pause whilst he thinks this over. I can tell that he’d like to put his foot down and say I can’t go.

‘Have you thought about how you’re going to get there?’ he asks eventually.

‘
Taxi,’ I say.

‘
No way. If you’re going, then I’m taking you there.’

‘
Ok,’ I agree, thinking this is an easy compromise.

‘
And I’ll come with you into the magazine studios,’ says Adam. The tone of his voice suggests there’s no room for argument.

‘
Fine,’ I say, defeated. I guess there’s no point in trying to talk him around.

‘
I’ll drop you off at the shoot,’ he concludes, ‘then I can start looking into investigating this man who followed you.’