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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“I’d better get back to my cabin,” Cleo finally said.

“Why?” Dirk asked. They were sitting next to each other on the couch. “Aren’t you having a good time?”

More than a good time, Cleo thought. So good I don’t know what to think. She smiled. “If I weren’t enjoying myself, do you think I would have stayed this long?”

“Let’s finish this wine first,” Dirk said, emptying the bottle. “Then I promise I’ll let you go.” He smiled. “But only until tomorrow morning.”

76

I don’t know or care if this is a wild goose chase,” Regan said as she and Jack got in the car, “but we have to check out the log cabin camp we passed down the road.”

“I noticed it, too,” Jack said as he started the engine.

“Daisy said Cleo liked camping. The landscaper just called and said Cleo loved the book she was reading about a pioneer family living in a log cabin. We have to follow any lead we get.”

“I’m with you, Regan.” He turned the car around, drove out to the winding rural road, and made a left. “As I recall it’s about eight or ten miles from here,” he said.

They kept a careful watch. The road was so dark. Finally they spotted the sign for the camp.

“There it is!” Regan said.

The camp was about a quarter mile off the main road. When Jack turned in to the parking lot, lights were visible from the main office.

They parked next to a white SUV with California plates. “I hope this is Cleo’s car,” Regan said as they got out and hurried toward the office.

The sign on the door indicated it was open until ten o’clock. A woman who appeared to be in her sixties was the only one inside.

“May I help you?” she asked.

“I hope so. My name is Regan Reilly. I’m a private investigator. This is my husband, Jack, who is with the NYPD.” They both showed their I.D.s.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“We’re looking for the actress Cleo Paradise. Her parents hired me. For various reasons we thought she might have decided to spend time here.”

The woman shook her head. “We don’t have anyone here by that name. She’s an actress?”

“Yes. She’s only twenty-four but was nominated for an Academy Award.”

“My word. I don’t know who’s who in Hollywood anymore. But Robert Redford is my favorite. I also liked Paul Newman, too, may he rest in peace.”

“Maybe Cleo registered under a different name,” Regan said hurriedly. “She drives a white SUV with California plates. We saw one outside. Who does that belong to?”

“Oh, I think that car belongs to Connie Long.”

“Connie Long?” Regan asked.

“Yes. She’s here writing a book. Let me go back and check the files.”

77