CHAPTER 55
Jess took out her phone to scroll for Afric’s number. As if on cue, her phone rang. “It’s her!” She swiped quickly and put her on speaker.
“Jess?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you. I’m sorry I freaked out in the tunnel but I knew you’d get out okay.”
Jess rolled her eyes but said nothing.
“Anyway,” Afric continued, “I couldn’t risk calling Doug or any of the cast because the producers are there.”
“I know.” Jess’s tone was dry. “Where are you now?”
There was a loud sigh. “Still in the fucking wood. I can’t risk going anywhere else, can I?”
“No, not really,” Jess said, “not when you’re supposed to be in bed sick. Look, are you near the tunnel?”
“Forget it!” Afric’s voice hardened. “I’m not going back in there.”
“Afric? This is Adam Rourke.” He glanced at Jess. “I work for the Charleston Group. Can you wait beside the tunnel and I’ll come get you? I promise we’ll find you another way in. Just have your phone on.”
“Okay.” Afric sounded a bit uncertain. “I’ll wait.”
“I’m coming through the tunnel now – I won’t be long.”
Afric hung up and Jess looked at Adam. “We don’t have a plan to get her back inside.”
“Not yet.” He checked his watch. “We still have time.”
Jess sent Afric’s number to Adam’s phone. “Go and make sure she’s all right. And stay in touch – I’ll think of something.”
After Adam left, Jess cleaned herself up in the ensuite bathroom, before checking there was nobody outside the suite. She slipped out into the corridor, closed the door firmly behind her and called the lift, relieved when it went straight down without stopping off on the middle floor.
As she crossed the foyer, Emily came hurrying over from the direction of the Great Hall, wearing her housekeeper’s costume and screen makeup.
“I’m so sorry!” she began. “I didn’t mean to … oh, hi, Robert!”
Jess turned, battling a mess of emotions as Robert approached. It was crazy to suspect him of anything. But unless Emily had told anyone else, he was the only other person who’d known about the plan to get Afric back into the castle.
“Hello, Emily.” He stared at her for a moment before turning to Jess. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“We had to get Afric back in, remember?”
Robert frowned. “I’d forgotten about that.” He flicked Emily another look. “How did it go?”
Emily shrugged. “I was needed on set so Jess had to do it.”
A brief look of horror crossed his face, and Jess remembered she’d told him that she was claustrophobic.
“So, it went okay? Afric got in safely? You’re both okay?”
Jess managed a smile. “No problems.”
“Good, I’m glad. Anyway, must go.” His eyes slid away. “See you later, Jess.”
Jess felt a bit sick as she watched him leave.
“Everything cool between you two?” Emily asked, looking closely at her.
“Probably. I’m not sure.” Jess wet her lips. “Don’t say anything else to Robert, will you?”
“Crap, should I not have –”
“It’s fine. Just, the less people who know what’s happening the better.”
“But I don’t know what’s happening.”
“No, fair enough.” Focus, Jess. “Where are you supposed to be now?”
“I’m due back on set, but I can –”
“No, go do whatever you’re supposed to do. I don’t want people looking for you too.”
“Got it.” Still looking uncertain, Emily left.
What now? Jess jumped when her phone buzzed, taking a breath before she answered. “Adam, have you got Afric?”
“We’re around the far side of the wood, coming towards the back gates.” Adam’s voice was low and she strained to hear. “But there’s a handful of photographers at the gates. We’d need a major distraction to slip in.”
“She definitely won’t try the tunnel again?”
“Not a chance.”
“Okay.”
They were probably better off staying away from the tunnels anyway, now that she knew someone was trying to sabotage her efforts.
Robert? No, it couldn’t be. Although her nana had always said there was no smoke without fire.
No smoke without fire … unless there was …
it was a possibility … the only one she could think of.
Would it be enough? Maybe not. The paparazzi would be on high alert – they’d be bound to see Afric slipping through the gates – unless there was more than one distraction …
She doubled back across the foyer, bypassing the lift and taking the stairs down to the basement. Snuggles was in his bed in the small room just down the corridor from the kitchens. As soon as he saw her, he barked and jumped up. Gerry flushed red as he stuffed his phone quickly into his pocket.
“Hi, Gerry.” Jess flashed him a smile. “We need to borrow Snuggles for a little while.”
Gerry’s eyes widened. “But Mr Torres said –”
“Mr Torres is on set right now and can’t be disturbed.” Jess held her smile.
“Of course, ma’am.” As he clipped on the dog’s lead and muzzle, Jess told herself not to feel guilty. This was for a greater cause.
Snuggles thumped his tail on the floor as she took hold of the lead. You can do this, Jess. “Thanks, Gerry. Come on, boy.” She headed back upstairs, Snuggles bounding energetically by her side.
Back in the foyer, she looped the lead around the leg of the heavy reception desk and patted him carefully on the head, then rang Adam, willing him to pick up the phone. Dammit, why didn’t he? She ended the call abruptly and had started to message him when he rang her back.
“What’s wrong?”
“In a minute the fire alarm is going to go off. A few minutes later, I’m going to release Snuggles into the grounds at the rear of the castle. I’m hoping there’ll be enough distractions for you to slip Afric back in through the rear gates.”
“Here’s hoping.” Adam sounded tense. “There’s about half a dozen photographers here.”
“Just get ready for that distraction – you’ll have one chance.” Jess hung up, trying to calm her nerves as she looked down at Snuggles. “There’s about to be a really loud noise, okay?” She grinned as the big dog gave a single woof and wagged his tail again.
Hurrying to one of the Victorian fireplaces, she found a box of long matches on the mantelpiece.
Back in her office, she shoved her laptop in her desk drawer, then climbed up on a chair and lit a match beside the smoke alarm.
Shit! Why wasn’t this working? She lit another one, letting it burn for as long as she could.
There was a shrill ringing as the automatic evacuation system kicked in.
Outside in the foyer, Snuggles started to bark. Quickly, Jess climbed down off the chair and ran outside to him.
“Calm down, boy, we just need to hide for a few minutes.”