Lights Out Tonight by Mary Jane Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

entire energy on converting the stage play for the screen.
    If this, the first stage production of Devil in the Details, was a hit, then Keith would be that much closer to getting the green light for a film version. But even if every reviewer raved about the show, it was far from a foregone conclusion that he could raise enough money to produce the film. For that, he needed Belinda Winthrop.
    At the end of last summer, when Victoria had let them both read the play for the first time, Belinda had been mad for the role of Valerie, the wife of Davis, a man with no conscience. Keith had sat right beside Belinda and listened while she called her agent and instructed him to make sure she would be available in July for rehearsals and the first two weeks of August for the play itself. When Keith had confided his dream, to take Devil in the Details to Hollywood, Belinda had told him to count her in. Now she was reneging, claiming the role of Valerie was too draining and there were other projects she wanted to pursue.
    Keith clenched his right hand into a fist and slammed it into the palm of his left. Belinda shouldn’t have given him permission to use her name as the presumptive leading lady of the movie unless she meant it. She shouldn’t have let him proceed, thinking that he could count on her. Keith had sunk his time, money, and reputation in this project, using her name as collateral to broker the financial backing for the film. Without Belinda Winthrop, the studio would pull the plug.
    But Keith still held out hope that he could make her change her mind.

 C H A P T E R 
15
    Who said good things never made the news? This morning’s newspaper was full of happy information.
    The autopsy reports on Amy and Tommy were in and showed marijuana in both their systems. The police were satisfied that the two Warrenstown Summer Playhouse apprentices had been under the influence of drugs when they catapulted off the road.
    With the police satisfied, that would be the end of any investigation. The only thing that could open it again would be that damned picture Amy had e-mailed to her friend.

    The killer went online, set up a bogus e-mail account that couldn’t be traced, and sent a carefully worded message.
DEAR FRIENDS OF AMY,
WE ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN HELP. WE APPRECIATE THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT WE ARE RECEIVING AT THIS HEARTBREAKING TIME.
IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT AMY WAS DOING RIGHT BEFORE SHE WAS TAKEN FROM US. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO SHARE, PLEASE LET US KNOW BY REPLY E-MAIL. AMY’S FATHER AND I ARE JUST TOO UPSET TO TAKE PHONE CALLS AT THIS TIME. WE KNOW YOU’LL UNDERSTAND.
SINCERELY,
AMY’S MOM
The killer sent the message to only one friend. Brightlights.

 C H A P T E R 
16
    With the leaves of the tall oaks beginning to block out the morning sun, Belinda followed the path into the woods. The deeper she went, the darker it got. She started to feel uneasy. Maybe Gus wasn’t even in here. And God knew what kinds of animals or snakes were slithering around. Belinda was about to turn back when she saw the empty golf cart.
    She began to call out Gus’s name but thought better of it. Something didn’t feel right. Belinda proceeded forward, trying not to make any noise. As she got closer to the cart, she noticedan opening in the ground. She stooped down to look inside. A ladder was propped against the wall of a hole about the width of a man’s outstretched arms.
    There was no way she was going down that thing alone.

    As he reached the top of the ladder and his head popped over the edge of the opening to the underground cave, Gus caught sight of Belinda’s back hurrying out of the woods.

    “I think I might have a problem with Gus,” Belinda said as she steered the Mercedes out of the driveway.
    “What do you mean?” Victoria asked.
    Belinda told her friend about the golf cart and the ladder and the hole in the ground.
    “Well, he’s