And that was bad news.
I’d had a premonition earlier that day when I arrived at the studio. Now I knew my gut check had been right on. Grizzly must have given up waiting for me at the Hall of Justice and decided to drive over to the studio to watch for me until I arrived. I had to assume his brother had told him where I worked. He must’ve arrived at about the same time I had and seen me in my red raincoat.
Had Grizzly been lying in wait out there until he saw me leave the studio for the night? Had he mistaken Tish for me and attacked her with deadly force? I knew the answers to all of the above were yes.
Luckily, Tish had survived, but that just meant that Grizzly would try again.
Earlier, as we’d waited for the ambulance to arrive, Tish had regained consciousness briefly. Her eyelids had fluttered and she’d mumbled something incomprehensible.
“Thank God,” I’d murmured.
Derek had lifted her head up slightly. “Did you see who hurt you?”
“No,” she’d said in a weak whisper. “Hit me from behind. Couldn’t hear. The rain. I couldn’t see.”
She’d closed her eyes.
“Don’t push her,” I’d said, although I’d wanted to. I’d been so relieved that she was alive and I hoped that once she was feeling stronger, she might give us more details. It didn’t matter, though, because I knew who’d done it to her.
A half hour later, Derek was finished with his police interview. “Let’s go,” he said, reaching for my hand. We got as far as the studio door before Tom hurried over and blocked our escape route.
“Okay, I admit it,” he said in a rush. “You were right: we need more security. That stalker has gone too far this time. He’s not targeting just Randy now. He’s creating havoc with my people and I can’t pretend to ignore it any longer.” He rubbed both hands over his face, obviously upset. “I guess I figured Randy was just being a whiner, but this attack on Tish is too much. Can you get me the people I need?”
Derek and I exchanged glances. We’d agreed that Randy’s stalker, whoever it was, had not been the one who’d attacked Tish, but we kept silent. If Tom was willing to hire Derek’s security team to protect his staff and crew, I didn’t care what justification he used. All that mattered was that everyone in the studio would be safer.
“I’ll have two men and two women in place tomorrow,” Derek said, all business now. “They’ll be in plain clothing and you’ll introduce them as new production assistants. They’ll blend in—don’t worry. I’ll be here every day, too.”
“Okay.” Tom took a deep, shaky breath and let it out. “Okay. Sounds good.”
“A brief word of warning,” Derek added. “The fewer people who know why we’re here, the better it’ll be for everyone. Do I have your assurance that you’ll keep the reason for our presence under wraps?”
“Absolutely,” he said, nodding briskly. “Nobody will know except me and Walter.”
Derek suggested that he introduce Tom and Walter to the new security agents and they agreed on a time to meet the following day in my dressing room. Then the two men shook hands. “See you tomorrow.”
We left the studio and drove home together in Derek’s Bentley. I didn’t want to leave my car all night, but I was too tired to drive alone. Derek would come back to the studio tomorrow and stay with me all day, just as he’d promised. At some point, I would drive my own car home.
I couldn’t imagine anything more boring for Derek than sitting in my dressing room all day, so I was extra grateful that he meant to keep his word. He really was a hero.
? ? ?
The next morning we woke up to sunshine pouring through the windows. I was so glad the rain had passed—and not just because I didn’t have my red raincoat anymore. The memory of Tish lying on the wet tarmac with blood trailing down her face was so awful, I had to jump out of bed and start moving, just to distract myself.
A while later, over bacon, eggs, and scones, we chatted about today’s meeting with Derek’s security team. I was excited at the prospect of getting to know some of his people, though I hated the circumstances under which we were meeting.
I must have had some kind of telling look on my face, because Derek reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’re going to need a new coat, darling.”
“Are you reading my mind again?” I asked lightly.
“I just know you. I had a feeling it might be bothering you.”