Sinners by Jackie Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

to the airport and back.
    He wondered who he would be driving tonight. The previous week had been very dull, just old married couples. He liked to get single actors with their dates. They were the interesting ones. They were the ones that kept you waiting outside the girl’s house or apartment at the end of the evening while they screwed her. Once he had managed to watch; the girl lived on a deserted hill in a big glass house, and she and her date had gone inside and started right at it in the middle of the floor. Herbert had crawled to the bottom of a glass pane and seen the whole thing. He wrote to that girl regularly once a week.
    The bus arrived and he climbed aboard. It was a hot sweaty ride and he was pleased to get off. He hurried to his place of work, posting the letter on the way.
    ‘Hello, Jefferson.’ The man behind the desk nodded to him. ‘Tonight you’re driving Sunday Simmons. She’s to be picked up at the Château Marmont at eight and taken to a party at Jack Milan’s. You know his house in Bel Air?’
    Herbert nodded.
    ‘You’re to wait. Take the number four black Caddy. It needs gas and a wash.’
    He nodded again, pleased with his assignment. He had read about Sunday Simmons. She was the one who wouldn’t show her tits or something. Now he would have a chance to look her over and see if she was worth writing to.

 

Chapter Eight
    Charlie got back to his hotel just after three. Natalie Allen was waiting in the lobby.
    ‘Sorry, love,’ he said. ‘You know the Elephant at lunchtime, it’s like a meeting of Equity. Come on up.’
    Natalie had been to the hairdressers, and her short dark hair hugged her head like a cap. She was wearing a yellow linen suit, and Charlie couldn’t help thinking how attractive she was. Clay was a lucky fellow.
    ‘You must have heaps to do before you go,’ she remarked.
    ‘Not really. I’m all set. George will pack everything.’
    ‘Oh yes, the trusty George. Are you taking him with you?’
    ‘Of course. I don’t know what I’d do without him.’
    ‘Lorna didn’t like him, you know.’
    ‘Didn’t she?’ He looked surprised. What was there not to like about George? And Lorna had never said anything to him about disliking George.
    ‘Yes, she was jealous. I mean he’s more like your closest friend than a servant.’
    He winced at the word servant. He didn’t like it. As far as he was concerned George worked for him because he wanted to, not because he had to.
    ‘Do you want some tea or a drink or what?’
    They were in the suite, and Natalie took off her jacket and sat on the couch. ‘A drink, I think. A Pernod with masses of ice.’ She leaned back. ‘Do you know this is the first time we’ve been alone together since that party?’
    He had not been aware of that fact, but was embarrassed thinking about it. Clay and Natalie had had a fight, and Clay had gone off in a fury. Then Charlie had tried to console her, and ended up kissing her. Fortunately, Clay had come back, but Charlie felt badly about the whole thing. You didn’t go around grabbing other people’s wives, especially your best friend’s.
    ‘I’m sorry about that night,’ he said, ‘let’s just forget about it. I was drunk, and so were you.’
    She smiled thinly. ‘But I don’t want to forget it. I enjoyed it, didn’t you?’
    ‘Of course I did. But you know, love, it’s a bit tricky, Clay’s my friend, and I want it to stay that way.’ Charlie was disturbed at the direction the conversation was taking. He had thought Natalie was going to talk about Lorna.
    ‘Clay’s a shit,’ Natalie said firmly. ‘A lousy, egotistical shit! I know all about the little girls he bangs. Why shouldn’t I have some fun? You do fancy me, don’t you, Charlie? Well, of course, I know you do.’ She got up slowly and came towards him.
    He backed away warily.
    She wound her arms around his neck and started to kiss him.
    How the hell did he get out of this?
    ‘I’ve always liked you,’ she