"I went to London," Ashley said. "My father enrolled me in a college over there. We left here the morning after our graduation."
"I tried every way I could think of to reach you. The detectives thought I might know where you were. They were looking for you because you and Jim Cleary were going together."
Ashley said slowly, "The detectives?"
"Yes. The ones investigating the murder."
Ashley felt the blood drain from her face. "What... murder?".
Florence was staring at her. "My God! You don't know?"
"Know what?" Ashley demanded fiercely. "What are you talking about?"
"The day after the graduation party, Jim's parents came back and found his body. He had been stabbed to death and... castrated."
The room started to spin. Ashley held on to the edge of the table. Florence grabbed her arm.
"I'm - I'm sorry, Ashley. I thought you would have read about it, but of course... you had left for London."
Ashley squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She saw herself sneaking out of the house that night, heading toward Jim Cleary's house. But she had turned and gone back home to wait for him in the morning. If only I had gone to him, Ashley thought miserably, he would still be alive. And all these years I've hated him. Oh, my God. Who could have killed him? Who - ?
She could hear her father's voice, "You keep your goddamned hands off my daughter, do you understand? ... If I ever see you around here again, I'll break every bone in your body."
She got to her feet. "You'll have to excuse me, Florence. I - I'm not feeling very well." And Ashley fled.
The detectives. They must have gotten in touch with her father. Why didn't he tell me?
She took the first plane back to California. It was early in the morning before she could fall asleep. She had a nightmare. A figure standing in the dark was stabbing Jim and screaming at him. The figure stepped into the light.
It was her father.
Chapter Five
The next few months were misery for Ashley. The image of Jim Cleary's bloody, mutilated body kept going through her mind. She thought of seeing Dr. Speakman again, but she knew she dare not discuss this with anyone. She felt guilty even thinking that her father might have done such a terrible thing. She pushed the thought away and tried to concentrate on her work. It was impossible. She looked down in dismay at a logo she had just botched.
Shane Miller was watching her, concerned. "Are you all right, Ashley?" She forced a smile. "I'm fine."
"I really am sorry about your friend." She had told him about Jim. "I'll - I'll get over it."
"What about dinner tonight?"
"Thanks, Shane. I - I'm not up to it just yet. Next week."
"Right. If there's anything I can do - "
"I appreciate it. There's nothing anyone can do."
Toni said to Alette, "Miss Tight Ass has a problem. Well, she can get stuffed."
"I feel dispiace - sorry for her. She is troubled."
"Sod her. We all have our problems, don't we, luv?"
As Ashley was leaving on a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, Dennis Tibble stopped her. "Hey, babe. I need a favor."
"I'm sorry, Dennis, I - "
"Come on. Lighten up!" He took Ashley's arm. "I need some advice from a woman's point of view."
"Dennis, I'm not in the - "
"I've fallen in love with somebody, and I want to marry her, but there are problems. Will you help me?"
Ashley hesitated. She did not like Dennis Tibble, but she could see no harm in trying to help him. "Can this wait until tomorrow?"
"I need to talk to you now. It's really urgent." Ashley took a deep breath. "All right."
"Can we go to your apartment?" She shook her head. "No." She would never be able to make him leave. "Will you stop by my place?" Ashley hesitated. "Very well." That way I can leave when I want to. If I can help him get the woman he's in love with, maybe he'll leave me alone.
* * *
Toni said to Alette, "God! Goody Two-shoes is going to the twerp's apartment. Can you believe she could be that stupid? Where's her sodding brains?"
"She's just trying to help him. There's nothing wrong with - "
"Oh, come on, Alette. When are you going to grow up? The man wants to bonk her."
"Non va. Non si fa cosi."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
Dennis Tibble's apartment was furnished in neonightmare. Posters of old horror movies hung from the walls, next to pinups of naked models and wild animals feeding. Tiny erotic wood carvings were spread out on tables.
It's the apartment of a madman, Ashley thought. She could not wait to get out of there.
"Hey, I'm glad you could come, baby. I really appreciate this. If - "
"I can't stay long, Dennis." Ashley warned him. "Tell me about this woman you're in love with."
"She's really something." He held out a cigarette. "Cigarette?"
"I don't smoke." She watched him light up. "How about a drink?"
"I don't drink."
He grinned. "You don't smoke, you don't drink. That leaves an interesting activity, doesn't it?" She said to him sharply, "Dennis, if you don't - "
"Only kidding." He walked over to the bar and poured some wine. "Have a little wine. That can't hurt you." He handed her the glass. She took a sip of wine. "Tell me about Miss Right." Dennis Tibble sat down on the couch next to Ashley. "I've never met anybody like her. She's sexy like you and - "