sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第37部分

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　She　hugged　him　tightly　and　said；　〃Oh；　yes；　Toby。〃　
　She　loved　him　and　she　was　going　to　marry　him。　And　it　was　not　until　hours　later　that　Jill　remembered　why　all　this　had　started　in　the　first　place。　She　had　wanted　Toby's　power。　She　had　wanted　to　pay　back　all　the　people　who　had　used　her；　hurt　her；　degraded　her。　She　had　wanted　vengeance。　Now　she　was　going　to　have　it。　
　
　Clifton　Lawrence　was　in　trouble。　In　a　way；　he　supposed；　it　was　his　own　fault　for　letting　things　get　this　far。　He　was　seated　at　Toby's　bar；　and　Toby　was　saying；　
　〃I　proposed　to　her　this　morning；　Cliff；　and　she　said　yes。　I　feel　like　a　sixteenyear…old　kid。〃　
　Clifton　tried　not　to　let　the　shock　show　on　his　face。　He　had　to　be　extremely　careful　about　the　way　he　handled　this。　He　knew　one　thing：　he　could　not　let　that　little　tramp　marry　Toby　Temple。　The　moment　the　wedding　announcement　was　made；　every　cocks　man　in　Hollywood　would　crawl　out　of　the　woodwork；　announcing　that　he　had　gotten　in　there　first。　It　was　a　miracle　that　Toby　had　not　found　out　about　Jill　before　now；　but　it　could　not　be　kept　from　him　forever。　When　he　learned　the　truth；　Toby　would　kill。　He　would　lash　out　at　everyone　around　him；　everyone　who　had　let　this　happen　to　him；　and　Clifton　Lawrence　would　be　the　first　to　feel　the　brunt　of　Toby's　rage。　No；　Clifton　could　not　let　this　marriage　take　place。　He　was　tempted　to　point　out　that　Toby　was　twenty　years　older　than　Jill；　but　he　checked　himself。　He　looked　over　at　Toby　and　said　cautiously；　
　〃It　might　be　a　mistake　to　rush　things。　It　takes　a　long　time　to　really　get　to　know　a　person。　You　might　change　your　〃　
　Toby　brushed　it　aside。　〃You're　gonna　be　my　best　man。　You　think　we　should　have　the　wedding　here　or　up　in　Vegas？〃　
　Clifton　knew　that　he　was　wasting　his　breath。　There　was　only　one　way　to　prevent　this　disaster　from　happening。　He　had　to　find　a　way　to　stop　Jill。　
　That　afternoon；　the　little　agent　telephoned　Jill　and　asked　her　to　e　to　his　office。　She　arrived　an　hour　late；　gave　him　a　cheek　to　kiss；　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　couch　and　said；　
　〃I　haven't　much　time。　I'm　meeting　Toby。〃　
　〃This　won't　take　long。〃　
　Clifton　studied　her。　It　was　a　different　Jill。　She　bore　almost　no　resemblance　to　the　girl　he　had　first　met　a　few　months　ago。　There　was　a　confidence　about　her　now；　an　assurance　that　she　had　not　had　earlier。　Well；　he　had　dealt　with　girls　like　her　before。　
　〃Jill；　I'm　going　to　lay　it　on　the　line；〃　Clifton　said。　〃You're　bad　for　Toby。　I　want　you　to　get　out　of　Hollywood。〃　He　took　a　white　envelope　out　of　a　drawer。　〃Here's　five　thousand　dollars　cash。　That's　enough　to　take　you　anywhere　you　want　to　go。〃　
　She　stared　at　him　a　moment；　a　surprised　expression　on　her　face；　then　leaned　back　on　the　couch　and　began　to　laugh。　
　〃I'm　not　joking；〃　Clifton　Lawrence　said。　〃Do　you　think　Toby　would　marry　you　if　he　found　out　you've　laid　everybody　in　town？〃　
　She　regarded　Clifton　for　a　long　moment。　She　wanted　to　tell　him　that　he　was　responsible　for　everything　that　had　happened　to　her。　He　and　all　the　other　people　in　power　who　had　refused　to　give　her　a　chance。　They　had　made　her　pay　with　her　body；　her　pride；　her　soul。　But　she　knew　there　was　no　way　she　could　ever　make　him　understand。　He　was　trying　to　bluff　her。　He　would　not　dare　tell　Toby　about　her；　it　would　be　Lawrence's　word　against　hers。　Jill　rose　to　her　feet　and　walked　out　of　the　office。　One　hour　later；　Clifton　received　a　call　from　Toby。　Clifton　had　never　heard　Toby　sound　so　excited。　
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　said　to　Jill；　pal；　but　I　have　to　hand　it　to　you　she　can't　wait。　We're　on　our　way　to　Las　Vegas　to　get　married！〃　
　
　
　The　Lear　jet　was　thirty…five　miles　from　the　Los　Angeles　International　Airport；　flying　at　250　knots。　David　Kenyon　made　contact　with　the　LAX　approach　control　and　gave　them　his　position。　David　was　exhilarated。　He　was　on　his　way　to　Jill。　Cissy　had　recovered　from　most　of　her　injuries　suffered　in　the　automobile　accident；　but　her　face　had　been　badly　lacerated。　David　had　sent　her　to　the　best　plastic　surgeon　in　the　world；　a　doctor　in　Brazil。　She　had　been　gone　for　six　weeks；　during　which　time　she　had　been　sending　him　glowing　reports　about　the　doctor。　Twenty…four　hours　ago；　David　had　received　a　telephone　call　from　Cissy；　saying　she　was　not　returning。　She　had　fallen　in　love。　David　could　not　believe　his　good　fortune。　
　〃That's　　that's　wonderful；〃　he　managed　to　slammer。　〃I　hope　you　and　the　doctor　will　be　happy。〃　
　〃Oh；　it's　not　the　doctor；〃　Cissy　replied。　〃It's　someone　who　owns　a　little　plantation　here。　He　looks　exactly　like　you；　David。　The　only　difference　is　that　he　loves　me。〃　
　The　crackling　of　the　radio　interrupted　his　thoughts。　
　〃Lear　Three　Alpha　Papa；　this　is　Los　Angeles　Approach　Control。　You're　clear　for　approach　to　Runway　Twenty…five　Left。　There　will　be　a　United　seven…oh…seven　behind　you。　When　you　land；　please　taxi　to　the　ramp　on　your　right。〃　
　〃Roger。〃　David　began　to　make　his　descent；　and　his　heart　started　to　pound。　He　was　on　his　way　to　find　Jill；　to　tell　her　he　still　loved　her；　to　ask　her　to　marry　him。　He　was　walking　through　the　terminal　when　he　passed　the　newsstand　and　saw　the　headline：　〃Toby　Temple　weds　actress〃。　He　read　the　story　twice　and　then　turned　and　went　into　the　airport　bar。　He　stayed　drunk　for　three　days　and　then　flew　back　to　Texas。　
　
　
　It　was　a　storybook　honeymoon。　Toby　and　Jill　flew　in　a　private　jet　to　Las　Hadas；　where　they　were　the　guests　of　the　Patinos　at　their　fairyland　resort　carved　out　of　the　Mexican　jungle　and　beach。　The　newlyweds　were　given　a　private　villa　surrounded　by　cacti；　hibiscus　and　brilliantly　colored　bouganvillea；　where　exotic　birds　serenaded　them　all　night。　They　spent　ten　days　exploring　and　yachting　and　being　partied。　They　ate　delicious　dinners　at　the　Legazpi　prepared　by　gourmet　chefs　and　swam　in　the　fresh…water　pools。　Jill　shopped　at　the　exquisite　boutiques　at　the　Plaza。　From　Mexico　they　flew　to　Biarritz　where　they　stayed　at　L'Hotel　du　Palais；　the　spectacular　palace　that　Napoleon　III　built　for　his　Empress　Eugenie。　The　honeymooners　gambled　at　the　casinos　and　went　to　the　bullfights　and　fished　and　made　love　all　night。　From　the　Cote　Basque　they　drove　east　to　Gistaad；　thirty…five　hundred　feet　above　sea　level　in　the　Bernese　Oberiand。　They　took　sightseeing　flights　among　the　peaks；　skimming　Mont　Blanc　and　the　Matterhom。　They　skied　the　dazzling　white　slopes　and　rode　dog　sleds　and　attended　fondue　parties　and　danced。　Toby　had　never　been　so　happy。　He　had　found　the　woman　to　make　his　life　plete。　He　was　no　longer　lonely。　
　Toby　could　have　continued　the　honeymoon　forever；　but　Jill　was　eager　to　get　home。　She　was　not　interested　in　any　of　these　places；　nor　in　any　of　these　people。　She　felt　like　a　newly　crowned　queen　who　was　being　kept　from　her　country。　Jill　Castle　was　burning　to　return　to　Hollywood。　Mrs。　Toby　Temple　had　scores　to　settle。　
　
BOOK　THREE
　There　is　a　smell　to　failure。　It　is　a　stench　that　clings　like　a　miasma。　Just　as　dogs　can　detect　the　odor　of　fear　in　a　human　being；　so　people　can　sense　when　a　man　is　on　his　way　down。　Particularly　in　Hollywood。　Everyone　in　the　Business　knew　that　Clifton　Lawrence　was　finished；　even　before　he　knew　it。　They　could　smell　it　in　the　air　around　him。　Clifton　had　not　heard　from　Toby　or　Jill　in　the　week　since　they　had　returned　from　their　honeymoon。　He　had　sent　an　expensive　gift　and　had　left　three　telephone　messages；　which　had　been　ignored。　Jill。　Somehow　she　had　managed　to　turn　Toby's　mind　against　him。　Clifton　knew　that　he　had　to　effect　a　truce。　He　and　Toby　meant　too　much　to　each　other　to　let　anyone　e　between　them。　
　Clifton　drove　out　to　the　house　on　a　morning　when　he　knew　Toby　would　be　at　the　studio。　Jill　saw　him　ing　up　the　driveway　and　opened　the　door　for　him。　She　looked　stunningly　beautiful；　and　he　said　so。　She　was　friendly。　They　sat　in　the　garden　and　had　coffee；　and　she　told　him　about　the　honeymoon　and　the　places　they　had　been。　She　said；　
　〃I'm　sorry　Toby　hasn't　returned　your　calls；　Cliff。　You　can't　believe　how　frantic　it's　been　around　here。〃　She　smiled　apologetically；　and　Clifton　knew　then　that　he　had　been　wrong　about　her。　She　was　not　his　enemy。　
　〃I'd　like　us　to　start　fresh　and　be　friends；〃　he　said。　
　〃Thank　you；　Cliff。　So　would　I。〃　
　Clifton　felt　an　immeasurable　sense　of　relief。　〃I　want　to　give　a　dinner　party　for　you　and　Toby。　I'll　take　over　the　private　room　at　the　Bistro。　A　week　from　Saturday。　Black　tie；　a　hundred　of　your　most　intimate　friends。　How　does　that　sound？〃　
　〃Lovely。　Toby　will　be　pleased。〃
　
　Jill　waited　until　the　afternoon　of　the　party　to　telephone　and　say；　
　〃I'm　so　sorry。　Cliff。　I'm　afraid　I'm　not　going　to　be　able　to　make　it　tonight。　I'm　a　little　tired。　Toby　thinks　I　should　stay　home　and　rest。〃　
　Clifton　managed　to　hide　his　feelings。　〃I'm　sorry　about　that；　Jill；　but　I　understand。　Toby　will　be　able　to　e；　won't　he？〃　
　He　heard　her　sigh　over　the　telephone。　〃I'm　afraid　not；　dear　boy。　He　won't　go　anywhere　without　me。　But　you　have　a　nice　party。〃　
　And　she　hung　up。　It　was　too　late　to　call　off　the　party。　The　bill　was　three　thousand　dollars。　But　it　cost　Clifton　much　more　than　that。　He　had　been　stood　up　by　the　guest　of　honor；　his　one　and　only　client；　and　everyone　there；　the　studios　heads；　the　stars；　the　directors　　all　the　people　who　mattered　in　Hollywood　　were　aware　of　it。　Clifton　tried　to　cover