sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第38节
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er up by saying that Toby was not feeling well。 It was the worst thing he could have done。 When he picked up a copy of the Herald Examiner the next afternoon； there was a photograph of Mr。 and Mrs。 Toby Temple that had been taken at the Dodgers Stadium the night before。
Clifton Lawrence knew now that he was fighting for his life。 If Toby dropped him； there would be no one around to pick him up。 None of the big agencies would take him on； because he could bring them no clients； and he could not bear the thought of starting all over again on his own。 It was too late for that。 He had to find a way to make peace with Jill。 He telephoned Jill and told her he would like to e to the house to talk to her。
〃Of course；〃 she said。 〃I was telling Toby last night that we haven't seen enough of you lately。〃
〃I'll be over in fifteen minutes；〃 Clifton said。
He walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a double Scotch。 He had been doing too much of that lately。 It was a bad habit to drink during a working day； but who was he kidding？ What work？ Every day he received important offers for Toby； but he could not get the great man to sit down and even discuss them with him。 In the past； they had talked over everything。 He remembered all the wonderful times they had had； the trips they had taken； the parties and the laughs and the girls。 They had been as close as twins。 Toby had needed him； had counted on him。 And now。。。 Clifton poured another drink and was pleased to see his hands were not trembling so much。 When Clifton arrived at the Temples' house； Jill was seated on the terrace； having coffee。 She looked up and smiled as she saw him approach。 You're a salesman； Clifton told himself。 Sell her on you。
〃It's nice to see you。 Cliff。 Sit down。〃
〃Thanks； Jill。〃 He took a seat across from her at a large wrought…iron table and studied her。 She was wearing a white summer dress； and the contrast with her black hair and golden； tanned skin was stunning。 She looked younger； and … the only word he could think of somehow … innocent。 She was watching him with warm； friendly eyes。
〃Would you like some breakfast。 Cliff？〃
〃No； thanks。 I ate hours ago。〃
〃Toby isn't here。〃
〃I know。 I wanted to talk to you alone。〃
〃What can I do for you？〃
〃Accept my apology；〃 Clifton urged。 He had never begged anyone for anything in his life； but he was begging now。 〃We …I got off on the wrong foot。 Maybe it was my fault。 It probably was。 Toby's been my client and my friend for so long that I … I wanted to protect him。 Can you understand that？〃
Jill nodded； her brown eyes fixed on him； and said； 〃Of course。 Cliff。〃
He took a deep breath。 〃I don't know whether he ever told you the story； but I'm the one who got Toby started。 I knew he was going to be a big star the first time I saw him。〃 He saw that he had her full attention。 〃I handled a lot of important clients then； Jill。 I let them all go so that I could concentrate on Toby's career。〃
〃Toby's talked to me about how much you've done for him；〃 she said。
〃Has he？〃 He hated the eagerness in his voice。
Jill smiled。 〃He told me about the day he pretended that Sam Goldwyn telephoned you and how you went to see Toby anyway。 That was nice。〃
Clifton leaned forward and said； 〃I don't want anything to happen to the relationship that Toby and I have。 I need you in my corner。 I'm asking you to forget everything that happened between us。 I apologize for being out of line。 I thought I was protecting Toby。 Well； I was wrong。 I think you're going to be great for him。〃
〃I want to be。 Very much。〃
〃If Toby drops me； I I think it would kill me。 I'm not just talking about business。 He and I have he's been like a son to me。 I love him。〃 He despised himself for it； but he heard himself begging again。 〃Please； Jill； for God's sake。。。〃 He stopped； his voice choked。
She looked at him a long moment with those deep brown eyes and then held out her hand。 〃I don't hold grudges；〃 Jill said。 〃Can you e to dinner tomorrow night？〃
Clifton took a deep breath and then smiled happily and said； 〃Thanks。〃 He found that his eyes were suddenly misty。 〃I I won't forget this。 Ever。〃 The following morning； when Clifton arrived at his office； there was a registered letter notifying him that his services had been terminated and that he no longer had the authority to act as Toby Temple's agent。
Jill Castle Temple was the most exciting thing to hit Hollywood since Cinemascope。 In a pany town where everyone played the game of admiring the emperor's clothes； Jill used her tongue like a scythe。 In a city where flattery was the daily currency of conversation； Jill fearlessly spoke her mind。 She had Toby beside her and she brandished his power like a club； attacking all the important studio executives。 They had never experienced anything like it before。 They did not dare offend Jill； because they did not want to offend Toby。 He was Hollywood's most bankable star； and they wanted him； needed him。 Toby was bigger than ever。 His television show was still number one in the Nielsen Ratings every week； his movies were enormous money makers； and when Toby played Las Vegas； the casinos doubled their profits。 Toby was the hottest property in show business。 They wanted him for guest shots； record albums； personal appearances； merchandising； benefits； movies； they wanted they wanted they wanted。 The most important people in town fell all over themselves to please Toby。 They quickly learned that the way to please Toby was to please Jill。 She began to schedule all of Toby's appointments herself and to organize his life so that there was room in it only for those of whom she approved。 She put up an impenetrable barricade around him； and none but the rich and famous and the powerful were allowed to go through it。 She was the keeper of the flame。 The little Polish girl from Odessa； Texas； entertained and was entertained by governors； ambassadors； world…renowned artists and the President of the United States。 This town had done terrible things to her。 But it would never do them again。 Not as long as she had Toby Temple。
The people who were in real trouble were the ones on Jill's hate list。 She lay in bed with Toby and made sensuous love to him。 When Toby was relaxed and spent； she snuggled in his arms and said；
〃Darling； did I ever tell you about the time I was looking for an agent and I went to this woman … what was her name？ … oh； yes！ Rose Dunning。 She told me she had a part for me and she sat down on her bed to read with me。〃
Toby turned to look at her； his eyes narrowing。 〃What happened？〃
Jill smiled。 〃Stupid innocent that I was； while I was reading； I felt her hand go up my thigh。〃 Jill threw back her head and laughed。 〃I was frightened out of my wits。 I've never run so fast in my life。〃
Ten days later； Rose Dunning's agency license was permanently revoked by the City Licensing mission。
The following weekend； Toby and Jill were at their house in Palm Springs。 Toby was lying on a massage table in a patio； a heavy Turkish towel under him； while Jill gave him a long； relaxing massage。 Toby was on his back； cotton pads protecting his eyes against the strong rays of the sun。 Jill was working on his feet； using a soft creamy lotion。
〃You sure opened my eyes about Cliff；〃 Toby said。 〃He was nothing but a parasite； milking me。 I hear he's going around town trying to get himself a partnership deal。 No one wants him。 He can't get himself arrested without me。〃
Jill paused a moment and said； 〃I feel sorry for Cliff。〃
〃That's the god damned trouble with you； sweetheart。 You think with your heart instead of your head。 You've got to learn to be tougher。〃
Jill smiled quietly。 〃I can't help it。 I'm the way I am。〃 She started to work on Toby's legs； moving her hands slowly up toward his thighs with light； sensuous movements。 He began to have an erection。 〃Oh； Jesus；〃 he moaned。 Her hands were moving higher now； moving toward Toby's groin； and the hardness increased。 She slid her hands between his legs； underneath him； and slipped a creamy finger inside him。 His enormous penis was rock hard。 〃Quick； baby；〃 he said。 〃Get on top of me。〃
They were at the marina； on the fill； the large motorsailer Toby had bought for her。 Toby's first television show of the new season was to tape the following day。
〃This is the best vacation I've had in my whole life；〃 Toby said。 〃I hate to go back to work。〃
〃It's such a wonderful show；〃 Jill said。 〃I had fun doing it。 Everyone was so nice。〃 She paused a moment； then added lightly； 〃Almost everyone。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Toby's voice was sharp。 〃Who wasn't nice to you？〃
〃No one； darling。 I shouldn't have even mentioned it。〃 But she finally allowed Toby to worm it out of her； and the next day Eddie Berrigan； the casting director； was fired。
In the months that followed； Jill told Toby little fictions about other casting directors on her list； and one by one they disappeared。 Everyone who had ever used her was going to pay。 It was； she thought； like the rite of mating with the queen bee。 They had all had their pleasure； and now they had to be destroyed。
She went after Sam Winters； the man who had told Toby she had no t
