Page 25 of Obsession

When he returned to Justin, he held up the key. “Got it.”

This time he turned it all the way, and the trunk opened.

The space inside was empty.

“I don’t see it,” Justin said.

“It’s under the carpet, on top of the spare. I was worried someone might break in and steal it.”

“Oh. Good thinking. Some people will do just about anything these days.”

“Too true. Can you pull the corner up?” Matthew pointed at where he meant. “That’s the easiest way to get underneath.”

Justin reached into the trunk, his smile wide in anticipation. As soon as Matthew had a clear shot, he shoved the needle into the man’s neck and pushed the plunger.

Justin spun around. “What the—” Before he could get another word out, he staggered against the bumper. “Whaa...”

“Don’t fight it.”

Justin’s eyelids fluttered as he tried but failed to focus on Matthew.

Matthew grabbed him and eased him down so that he sat on the rim of the trunk. “There you go.”

Justin blinked again, his eyes shutting longer each time.

“Everything’s going to be all right.” It wasn’t a lie, at least not in regards to Matthew.

Justin’s lids drooped until they closed again, this time for good.

Matthew eased him onto his side and rolled him into the trunk. Nice and neat.

After he shut the top, he looked around to make sure they were still alone. He needn’t have worried. He’d parked on a deserted side street, next to a tall chain-link fence overgrown with ivy. On the other side of the road was thewindowless wall of a plumbing supply business. No one had seen him.

He returned casually to the street corner where the fans were gathered and watched the crew film the last two shots of the day. He then made his way to the street where the production cars were parked.

It was time.

17

Back on the set, Stacy knocked on Adriene’s trailer door. “Ready whenever you are.”

“Coming,” Adriene called from inside.

Stacy crossed to Tessa’s trailer and repeated the process.

A few moments later, the two actresses stepped outside, wearing the street clothes they’d come to the set in that morning.

Tessa put one arm around Adriene’s back and the other around Stacy’s. “I was thinking seafood tonight. How does that sound?”

Adriene’s eyes lit up. “I am definitely in.”

Tessa looked at Stacy. “Okay with you?”

“More than okay.” Stacy wasn’t sure she would ever get used to the fact that she was not only working with the famous Tessa Tweed and rising star Adriene Adele, but was also becoming fast friends with them.

“Let’s give ourselves forty-five minutes to freshen up once we get back to the hotel, then meet in the lobby.”

They headed down the block where they’d been shooting that day to a hidden pathway that wound between buildings to the road where Stacy’s production van was parked.

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