The Missing Juliet Read online

  “Yes, but my solicitor checked you out,” Austin said. He read from his phone. “I sent her your phone number. Your name is Robin McGee, you run a website advocating for LGTBQ rights, and you have no arrest record. You were in the drama club, debate club, vegetarian club, and Honor Society. You’ve been in the Fisher Key newspaper twice for helping solve some local crimes. Really?”

  “I wasn’t working alone,” Robin said, because those were Steven and Denny’s cases. “Wait, what’s a solicitor?”

  “Lawyer.” Austin squinted at his phone. “This also says you’re going to study media at the University of Miami. This’ll be good for your resume.”

  Robin thought about it for a half mile. They were stuck behind a big red tour bus, with tourists snapping pictures of Old Town’s houses and landmarks. “Why aren’t you supposed to be on the set?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Do you want the job or not?”

  “What’s the salary?”

  “The chance to work in show biz,” Austin said. “Consider it the best unpaid internship of your life.”

  *

  “So let me get this straight,” Lina said, hours later, as she and Toni ate Chinese food at their kitchen counter. “Liam Norcott hired you as his assistant?”

  “Not exactly,” Robin said. Millie the cat rubbed up against her leg, and she bent down to scratch her ears. The smell of veggie rolls made her stomach growl, but she was waiting for Karen’s call about dinner and didn’t want to spoil her appetite. “He already has an assistant.”

  Toni used chopsticks to lift shrimp from a carton. “So what are you?”

  Robin had to speak very carefully, because otherwise she’d be betraying Liam and Austin both. “I’m kind of like a special assistant. Special project assistant.”

  Lina chewed thoughtfully. “Can you get me his autograph?”

  “I thought you weren’t impressed by movie stars,” Robin said.

  “Doesn’t mean other people aren’t,” Lina replied.

  Toni suggested, “We could sell it on eBay. Do you think he’s really gay?”

  Robin thought of him and Austin in the hospital. Of Austin naked in Liam’s bed. “If he is, he doesn’t want anyone to know.”

  “He should be brave enough to show it,” Lina said.

  Robin thought about Denny Anderson, who had hid his true feelings for years and years, convinced it would keep him out of the Coast Guard Academy. It wasn’t until Brian Vandermark had come along that he’d found the courage to come out to friends and family.

  “Maybe it’s his own business,” Robin said.

  Lina poked her in the arm. “You’re the one always pushing other people to be honest about their sexuality. Why not him?”

  “I’m not always pushing,” Robin argued. “I wouldn’t out someone who really didn’t want it.”

  “But you’d nag them,” Lina predicted.

  Robin didn’t think she nagged anyone. She raised awareness. She encouraged.

  Toni opened a fortune cookie. “It says you will soon get a celebrity autograph you can auction off to pay for your fabulous girl hormones. How fortuitous is that?”

  After dinner, Robin took her phone out to the balcony. The sun was still high, two hours to go until sunset. Several adults and kids were splashing in the pool below. For the umpteenth time, she checked that Karen hadn’t called. Nothing. She was probably still tied up with that business with the studio heads. Robin took a deep breath and phoned Mrs. Anderson to explain why she was staying in Key West.

  “I’m really sorry,” Robin said, after a hasty explanation. “But it’s a chance to work on a movie set. Will you forgive me?”

  Mrs. Anderson didn’t sound happy. “It’s Pirate Days, Robin. You know how busy we’ll be.”

  “I’ll work a whole week for free. Please don’t fire me.”

  A sigh. “We’ll talk about it when you come back. Sean’s going to kill you for making him keep working with Lewis.”

  Robin called her parents next. They were delighted to hear she had an internship, which made her feel better. Her third call was to Steven Anderson, who sounded like he was at a restaurant with loud music and clanking silverware in the background.

  “No, I haven’t figured out who your sister’s secret admirer is,” he said. “But I’ve narrowed it down to someone at her day camp.”

  Robin was not impressed. “I could have told you that. She doesn’t go anywhere else during the day. What else?”

  “It’s been twenty-four hours,” he reminded her. “Cut me a break.”

  Robin’s fourth call was to Sean, who sounded equally jealous and incredulous.

  “How did you get an internship?” he demanded. “What happened to Liam? Where’s the video you were going to send me?”

  Robin wanted to bang her head on the iron balcony railing. “Slow down. It’s a long story—”

  “Do you know Lewis is walking around wearing a surgical mask? He says he doesn’t want to get anyone’s germs. He’s gone through half a gallon of antibacterial gel. He’s a neurotic hypochondriac mess and I blame your DNA for it.”

  “He’s a cousin by marriage only.” Robin’s phone beeped with an unknown number. Karen, no doubt. “I’ll call you back, okay?”

  She hung up on Sean and eagerly switched over to Karen. “Hello?”

  “Robin, hi,” Molly Walker said.

  Robin had almost forgotten that they’d swapped phone numbers. “Oh, hi.”

  “I wanted to check on Mr. Saunders,” Molly said tentatively. “Did that all work out?”

  Saunders. Austin. Robin said, “Yes, it’s okay.” She paused, hearing some kind of alt-rock music in the background. “Where are you?”

  “A coffee house on Eaton Street. Do you want to come down? Some of the crew’s here.”

  Robin glanced back at the living room, where Toni and Lina were cuddling on the sofa. Their big plan for the night was to watch a foreign movie. Robin was grateful they were letting her crash on the sofa again, but she didn’t think she could stand watching them be cute with each other all night. Her day had been filled with enough couple affection already, and none of it for Robin herself.

  She supposed she could hang out with Molly until Karen called.

  That wasn’t cheating or anything.

  “I’ll be right over,” Robin said.

  The coffee house was near the downtown movie theater. It had big sofas, hippie décor, and a blackboard menu board filled with dozens of different kinds of drinks. Molly and some other production assistants were hanging out in the corner, each of them either texting or surfing while talking and drinking coffee. Molly’s smile when she saw Robin was bright and welcoming.

  “This is Lou, Tierra, and Charlie,” Molly said. “Guys, this is Robin. She knows Karen Francine.”

  “Our newest leading lady,” Lou drawled, barely looking up. He was wearing a New York Yankees ball cap. “I can’t believe they can make that work.”

  Tierra poked her straw into her drink. She was tall and willowy, with cornrows in her dark hair. “It’s a science fiction film. They can make anything happen.”

  “Make what happen?” Robin asked, confused.

  “They’re putting Karen into the movie,” Molly said. “She’s taking over Juliet’s role.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Robin couldn’t stop herself. “That’s crazy.”

  , it’s brilliant,” said Charlie, who was playing some kind of action game on his phone. He scratched his sunburned face. “They’re turning the character into a shapeshifter.”

  Molly said, “It’ll get the movie back on schedule and it’s a great advertising angle.”

  “Besides,” Lou said, “they can always film more scenes later in a reshoot. That’s what they did on that Channing Tatum blockbuster.”

  They shared more gossip about the film, including speculation about the stunt coordinator who’d been fired and about Liam Norcott, who had holed up in his trailer after returning from the hospital. />
  “I hear he’s going to sue,” Charlie said, still playing his game.

  “I’d sue,” Tierra said. “Pain and suffering. At least get a raise.”

  “We’re going to be lucky if this film ever gets finished and released,” Lou said gloomily.

  When Charlie’s game finished he said, “Let’s get some beers,” which was fine for the three of them. They were all legally old enough to drink. Robin had always refused to get a fake I.D. on principle alone. Besides, alcohol was bad for your brain, your body, your reputation, and your safety. Molly had a fake license, she said, but she wasn’t in the mood.

  “Catch you later, gators,” Tierra said with a wink.

  Robin checked her phone. No call from Karen. Her stomach growled, and she pushed her hand against it. She looked at the blackboard menu for something to ease her hunger pangs.

  “You want to go for a walk?” Molly asked. “I was hoping to see the sunset.”

  “Okay,” Robin said.

  They left the air-conditioned shop and walked in the muggy evening air toward Mallory Square and Sunset Pier. Although the celebration had been going on nightly ever since Robin could remember, she wasn’t quite sure why it persisted or what the allure was. Okay, it was kind of funky, with magicians and mimes and the guy who had his trained cats jump through hoops. The booths and carts sold New Age trinkets, or colorful scarves and tie-dye shirts. But it had always seemed goofy to stare out at the waves and applaud the sun’s disappearance beyond the horizon.

  Or at least it had seemed that way before tonight. Strolling the pier with an attractive girl was different from drifting around with high school friends. Robin couldn’t hold out any longer for food and offered to buy Molly an ice cream cone. Molly got butter pecan and Robin ordered frozen chocolate chip soy yogurt.

  The hot air smelled like incense and fish and the funky tropical odor of jungle, but the breeze off the ocean was cooling, and they found a spot to sit together.

  Molly said, “I like the small town vibe of it, even if everyone is a stranger. We don’t have anything like this at home.”

  “Back in California?” Robin asked.

  “Oh, no, I’m local. Miami, that is. Most of the crew is. We were hired through the Film Bureau.”

  The breeze ruffled Molly’s hair. Robin liked the color and glossiness of it. She wanted to run her fingers through it. She asked, “Is this your first movie?”

  “No, my first movie was a period drama. We all had to wear big hoop skirts and bonnets—antebellum stuff. I was so hot I thought I’d die. Since then I’ve worked on three cop shows and a Justin Bieber concert film.”

  “You started young,” Robin said.

  “I was sixteen.” Molly licked ice cream dripping down the waffle cone. “My dad’s a TV director. Local commercials, mostly. Anything with a car salesman in it, he probably made it. So I tell people I have show business in my blood. What about you? What do you do?”

  Robin was sure she didn’t want to announce that she hadn’t even started college yet.

  “As of tomorrow, I’m working on the set,” she said. “Sort of an assistant to Mr. Saunders.”

  Molly stared at her. “That’s great! Congratulations. He seems super nice. Okay, maybe not today, but fame does that to you.”

  “I still don’t know who he really is,” Robin confessed.

  “Sure you don’t,” Molly laughed.

  Robin shrugged.

  Molly’s stare grew more incredulous. “You don’t? How can you not know who Alex Austin is?”

  Another shrug, because Robin still didn’t recognize the name.

  “You obviously don’t follow pop music.” Molly grinned and opened a Web page on her phone. “For five years, he was part of that huge boy band, New Indirection. Then he walked from it all. Quit, said adios, and dropped off the radar.”

  “Pop music makes me want to vomit,” Robin said, staring at the picture of a much younger Austin in dark, hip clothes and a slick hairdo. “How old was he when he quit?”

  “Seventeen or eighteen. Can you imagine? Giving up all your fame and record contracts to hole up in some Buddhist monastery somewhere. Or maybe it was the Hare Krishnas. No one ever said for sure.” Molly took her phone back. “I can’t believe I’m sworn to secrecy. He and Liam must be a big thing to each other, huh?”

  Uncomfortably, Robin said, “I don’t know. Maybe they’re business partners or something.”

  “Or something.” Molly smiled. “I think they’d be cute together.”

  Time to change the subject. Robin looked out at the ocean. The orange ball of the sun had touched the horizon. It looked immense, although that was just a trick of the eye. She asked, “Do you know someone on the crew named Jake? Dark hair, very tanned?”

  “Jake?” Molly’s nose scrunched up. “You mean Jake the Mermaid?”

  “Mermaid?”

  “He’s got this big mermaid tattoo on his back. He’s a big fan of boats, jet skis, anything on the water.”

  “You’ve known him for a while?”

  Molly shrugged. “No, hardly at all. They put most of us in the worst motel on the island, but he’s got a room in town. No one knows much about him.”

  “What does he do?”

  “Technically? Production assistant like me.” Molly took a bite from her cone. “But mostly he stands around. Or disappears for hours. The assistant director leaves him alone so he must be some bigwig’s nephew.”

  A thin line of butter pecan ice cream dotted Molly’s upper lip. Robin thought it looked adorable. She handed her a napkin and said, “You have a mustache.”

  “Thanks.” Molly dotted her mouth and then tilted her head up. “Better?”

  Robin tried not to stare at her small, pretty lips. And her freckles. And the fringe of her bangs on her forehead. If Molly had gone to Fisher Key High, Robin’s years of romantic loneliness might have ended a lot differently.

  They might even end tonight, if Robin was assessing the situation correctly.

  But there was Karen to think of. Karen, with her golden hair and sweetheart face and her new starring role in her sister’s movie. Karen, who hadn’t called.

  Molly said, “You’re staring at me.”

  “You missed a spot.” Robin gestured. Then, recklessly, she reached over to dab at the ice cream with her thumb.

  Molly’s cheeks turned pink. Afraid she’d been too bold, Robin pulled her hand away. Molly caught her hand, though, and gazed directly into her eyes. Although hundreds of people surrounded them on the pier, Robin felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

  “I think you’re really cute,” Molly said, “but I’m kind of seeing someone. It’s not serious or anything, not yet, but I don’t want to be untrue to her.”

  Robin felt like she’d just swallowed ice cubes. But she forced out a smile, or what tried to be a smile.

  “Okay,” she heard herself say. “Thanks. I’m glad you told me.”

  Molly looked rueful. “It won’t last. She’s totally out of my league. But, you know. Hope springs eternal.”

  Robin asked, “Who could be out of your league?” Because Molly was cute and funny and smart, and it seemed impossible she didn’t know that about herself.

  “You know her,” Molly said. “Karen.”

  For a moment, Robin could only gape. “You’re dating Karen Francine?”

  “I know. Totally crazy, huh?”

  Robin shut her mouth so hard she could hear her teeth click.

  “We’re still friends, right?” Molly asked worriedly. “You won’t avoid me on the set tomorrow and I won’t avoid you and things won’t be awkward?”

  The crowd behind them burst into cheers. The sun had gone down in a fiery display of red.

  “Absolutely no awkwardness,” Robin said. “I promise.”

  *

  The crew motel was on the north end of the island, not far from Lina’s condo, and Robin offered her a ride home. As they walked back toward Robin’s car, Molly
talked about Then Again Christine and John while Robin checked her phone. Her mind was still whirling with shock. Karen hadn’t called. Karen was dating Molly. Karen and Molly were dating each other.

  “—and I don’t know how, but they’re going to shoot around Liam’s injury or write it into the script somehow. You know, John is injured and Christine the shapeshifter comes to his aid,” Molly was saying. “Michael Lake says it’s science fiction so anything is possible, but to me it sounds like a big mess.”

  Robin asked, “How long?”

  “Huh?” Molly asked.

  “How long have you been dating Karen?”

  “Just a couple of weeks.” Molly gave her a curious look. “You’re okay with it? I mean, you two must be friends, because she okayed your pass and everything.”

  “Yes, sure,” Robin said.

  The sidewalk crowds were thick tonight. The carnival atmosphere from Sunset Pier had spilled over to the outdoor bars and sidewalk tables. Pretty girls in low-cut shirts served up pitchers of beer to rowdy groups of Pride Week celebrants.

  “There’s Tierra and the guys,” Molly said, pointing at a knot of people around an open doorway.

  Across the street, on the corner, stood a New Age gift shop with windows full of crystals, magnets, dream catchers, and books. A side stairwell led up to a fortune-teller named Madame Esme. Madame Esme was a celebrity in Key West, known for her eccentric clothing, colorful personality, and popular blog.

  Robin’s attention was drawn to a slim, pretty woman standing on the stairs with a man beside her. She was wearing a floppy hat and sundress and might have been any tourist. Except Robin knew her. Had fallen asleep to her picture every night in high school.

  “Do you see that?” Robin asked.

  Molly tilted her head and squinted. “See what?”

  “On the stairs. With that guy.”

  “Oh,” Molly said. “Is that Juliet? She must be over her flu.”

  Unaware of the scrutiny, Juliet turned slightly. The guy she was with turned as well. Robin instantly recognized the dark hair and muscular arms.

  “That’s the PA you were asking about,” Molly said. “Jake.”