Undying Laughter

“That’s crazy!”

“That’s the law,” she told him with a sad smile. “Basically, this lunatic has to hurt me before the police can do anything.”

“Maybe it’s different here in South Carolina.”

“I doubt it.”

Wesley reached over and snatched the phone from its cradle. He punched numbers in stiff, irate succession. “Hello.”

“Shelby, Wesley. Is Dylan around?”

“He’s at the office. Why?”

“Destiny got another delivery.”

“More flowers?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what?”

“A doll.”

“Why does a doll have you so upset?”

Wesley turned his back on Destiny and cupped his hand over the receiver. “It wasn’t the doll, really. It was what he did to the doll.”

“Which was?”

“He painted the face to look like hers. There was a gardenia stuck onto one of the hands.”

“Sounds sick,” Shelby commented.

“My thoughts exactly.” Wesley took a deep breath. “He left it at the villa. It’s obvious he’s watching her.”

He heard Destiny’s sharp intake of breath and instantly regretted voicing his suspicions aloud.

* * *

“DID YOU TOUCH IT?” Dylan asked as he squatted in front of the ghastly little trinket.

“No,” she answered as her eyes sought Wesley. “I haven’t played with dolls since I was a kid. And I’m not all that keen on playing with that one.”

“Now can we call the cops?” Wesley asked his friend.

“We can, but it won’t accomplish much,” Dylan admitted, with an apologetic smile to Destiny.

“How can that be?”

Dylan shrugged as he rose. “Local law requires a definitive threat.”

“What the hell does that look like to you?” Wes retorted.

“It’s a doll, Doctor,” Destiny explained in a soft voice. “Not a particularly flattering doll, but a doll, nonetheless. At best, the police will probably think it’s nothing more than a tasteless gift from a fan.”

“She’s right,” Dylan said as he placed a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “The best we can do is alert them to the problem, arrange for Destiny to stay someplace safe and have someone with her twenty-four hours a day.”

“Hold on,” she interrupted, feeling ignored by the two men. “I can’t just go into hiding. I have responsibilities, a club date. If I do as you suggest, this bozo wins. What kind of solution is that?”

Wesley and Dylan stared at her in obvious shock. Wesley spoke first. “You can’t just pretend this isn’t happening.”

“Oh, yes, I can,” Destiny assured him with a forced smile. “I won’t allow anyone to jerk my chain like this.”

“Be reasonable,” Wesley cautioned. “While I can respect your need to retain some control over your life, it would be foolish to go on as if this wasn’t happening.”

Blinking, Destiny looked up into his eyes and silently wondered if he knew what he was asking of her. It simply wasn’t possible. “It isn’t just about me,” Destiny explained. “If I go into hiding, what happens to Gina and David? Not to mention the fact that I don’t have much more than a few weeks’ worth of savings.”

“This isn’t about money,” Wesley countered.

“Really?” she asked as she lifted her hand and began counting off on her fingers. “I have to pay Gina and David, as well as my own living expenses. My father’s fines, court costs and requests for handouts come on a regular basis. My sister doesn’t think a thing of borrowing money from me, so don’t tell me it isn’t about money. I have responsibilities. People that depend on me.”

“They won’t be able to depend on you if something happens,” Wes argued.

Frustration swelled in her veins, bringing with it a surge of suppressed anger. “Nothing will happen to me,” she insisted. “I’ve never done anything in my life that would make someone want to harm me.”

“Apparently your admirer has a different opinion.”

“Why are you doing this?” she implored, looking up into his troubled blue eyes.

“I’m not the one doing this,” he explained in that even, calm tone that set her teeth on edge. “I’m only trying to make you realize that it doesn’t make sense to assign rational motives to an irrational individual.”

“You sound like a textbook again,” she observed.

“But he’s right,” Dylan argued. “There’s not much any of us can do for you until this guy shows his hand. Until then, it’s probably a smart move for you to take precautionary measures.”

“Precautionary measures for what?”

The sound of David’s voice in her ear made her jump. So did the fact that she hadn’t even heard him approach.

“And what’s that?” her manager asked, pointing to the partially covered doll.

“A gift,” Destiny informed him as she forced a smile to her lips. “It seems my creepy fan has discovered my hideout.”

“Don’t joke, Destiny,” David warned as he rubbed his hand over the bristling growth of his beard. “How could this have happened?”

“Who knows?” Destiny answered vaguely.

“The villa is rented in the name of Tiffany Glass. How did he find you?”

“Wait a minute.” Wesley jumped in. “If the villa is rented under an alias—”

“Tiffany Glass is the name Gina used when she wanted to hide during her modeling days,” Destiny clarified. “Gina simply suggested we use that name in case the guy tried to send me flowers at home.”

“How long ago did you make the reservations?” Dylan asked.

“Not until the day before we arrived,” Destiny answered. “There was some...discussion about where we’d be staying.”

Dylan and Wesley exchanged confirmatory nods.

“What?” she asked.

“I think we’d better go back inside,” Dylan suggested as he held open the door.

The group flowed into the cool interior. Destiny felt frazzled and out of control. The feelings reminded her of all those years she’d tried to be all things to all people. Dylan made a phone call while she filled the ice bucket and set out a tray of ice tea and glasses.

Destiny took a seat on the sofa. Wesley, who’d been standing over by the patio doors, came over and took the seat next to her. She caught the scent of his cologne and felt the gravitational pull as his large body settled next to hers. The resulting imbalance made her list toward him.

“Where’s Annie Oakley?” Dylan asked.

“She’s taking care of an errand for me,” Destiny answered, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

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