Wesleyput his hands on his hips.“Fuck,” he said viciously.“It really islike kissing a codfish.A dead one.”
Baileygiggled.Laurie gave him a shove to shut him up, but he'd learnedbetter than to rush to the defence of injured womanhood on thisset.Nicole clearly had no need of him anyway.She wiped herscarlet mouth on the back of her hand.Then she pulled a miniaturebottle of mouthwash out of a concealed pocket, swirled it one inchfrom Wesley's nose, and took a deep swig.Neatly, elaborately,making sure that everyone could see, she spat on theground.
Laurieturned away.He sidestepped Bailey.He'd lifted the ban since hisarrival in the desert two days before, too lonely and miserable todo without him, but just at the moment he couldn't bear themonkeys' cage.The location setup was less elaborate by far thanthe Hollywood base.Here at least he could walk twenty yardsthrough the cameras, gantries and booms and find an openspace.
Spacethat went on forever.It always took Laurie aback.He stopped atthe top of a ridge and stared out across the blazing emptiness.Violet hills were melting in the heat-haze miles away.Spread outbefore him was a plain of golden rocks and dust, the onlyvegetation clumps of saffron-coloured tumbleweed.
Sashawould have loved it here.He'd choose a museum over a hike throughthe hills any day, but he had a lively taste for open country too,for new scenes and far horizons.The fact was that he just loved totravel—provided he had Laurie at his side.Laurie had unlocked theworld for him, Sasha had said.
“Mr Fitzroy?”
Laurieflinched.Tramping up the slope behind him were Douglas Brett andBailey.Laurie contemplated a run, but the trouble with infinitespace was the lack of cover.Of any place to hide.He turned andstood resignedly, waiting.
“I've had an idea, Mr Fitzroy.”Brett came to a beaming halt,mopping sweat off his brow.“Valentine Frost and Carmen have beenreunited at last.”
“Yes, I saw.It was very romantic.”
“And my idea is, if Carmen has repressed feelings for DevlinSteele, this reunion would bring them out.Carmen's devoted toValentine in real life, of course, but in her dreams...”Brettsketched out a dream-filled rectangular screen with his hands, andLaurie's heart sank.“In her dreams, she's intimate with Devlin.Iwant to film that scene next.”
“Me and Nicole?”
“That's right.Hurry along to makeup, Fitzroy.Wesley's goinginto Bakersfield for the afternoon, and there's no need to tell himabout this for now.”
“What about Bailey here?Is Carmen dreaming about himtoo?”
It had been a joke, a weary protest against yet another twistinBlood Moon'stortured plot, but Laurie could see Brett considering it, wonderingif he'd get away with a three-way in a PG-13 film.“No,” he said atlength.“Mr Price is part of my idea, though.When Valentinediscovers Carmen's dawning attraction to Devlin, he and Devlinfight.Now, I notice you and Mr Price have become friends aroundthe set here.You're natural together.Let's use that—let's haveCalvin rush to Devlin's rescue.Let's have Valentine kill him.”Brett nodded amiably.He glanced at the pocket where Bailey kepthis tequila flask.Today he hadn't bothered to conceal it and thetop was sticking out.“I think, given all the circumstances, that'sgonna be our best option.Don't you?”
Laurieand Bailey watched him walk off.“Wow,” Bailey said.“You get toboogie with the ice queen.Good luck.”
“Bailey, he...Did he just write you out?Fire you?”
“Sounds that way, doesn't it?”
“Well, go after him.”Laurie looked into Bailey's face, palebeneath its tan and way too calm.Laurie had never given him backhis pills, ashamed of the six or seven that were now missing, buthe guessed Bailey had other supplies.“Or I will.He can't dothis.”
“You would, wouldn't you?Have a go at him for me?”
“Hell, yes.What about your contract?”
“I...might not’ve been as clean as I'd have liked to have beenwhen I signed that.”
“Oh, Bailey.”
Baileyput a hand on his shoulder.It wasn't his usual playful,semi-seductive little pat, but a surprisingly firm grip—the touchof a friend, and Laurie turned to him, surprised.“Never mind mefor a minute.You've looked sick of your life ever since we got outhere.Did you find my little gift?”
Lauriehunched his shoulders in embarrassment.“If you mean that bottle ofdowners you left on my couch...”
“Yeah.It was flaky of me to do that.You're an addictive type,Fitz—just like me, which is why you rightly tried to push me away.Now, what's eating you up—Doug Brett?That psycho bastardWes?”
Laurietried to formulate a way to tell Bailey that he wasn't an addictivetype.That he wasn't any type at all that Bailey could possiblyknow about.Then misery swept over him, cold and raw.“No.I had afight with my boyfriend before I left home.”
“Oh.Right.Who won?”
“I did, I thought.Then I realised all I'd done was...”Lauriepaused.His throat was sore, unshed tears pressing at the backs ofhis eyes.“All I'd done was make someone who's worth a hundred ofme give in.Because I bloody well bullied him into it.”
“You Brits are so cute when you saybloody.I can't imagine you bullyinganyone.”
“Well, I did.I—”
