Chapter Three: Marissa
"Well, I'm almost speechless."
Rory Llewelyn set down the newspaper, casting his companion an amused
smile. "Am I to presume, Rapture, that you had something to do with this
morning's little tabloid splash?"
"Possibly. Not having read it, I couldn't tell you." Phoebe offered her
friend an innocent grin. "Which splash would this be?"
"Rumour has it that Jewel's darling little drummer has vanished." Rory
pushed the paper across his desk. "Totally and completely in the dead of
night. It's a complete mystery. Nobody knows where she's gone or how it happened."
His eyes twinkled. "Nobody, that is, except you, perhaps?"
"Perhaps." Phoebe's eyes glinted with mischief. "Oh, it was the easiest
thing in the world, Riot. Really, not even worth breaking a sweat over.
Copper has an obsessive fan, that's all...all I did was encourage that fan
to spend a little more personal time with his sweetheart."
Rory chuckled.
"Am I to presume, then, that Copper's disappearance last night has something
to do with this fan's desire for personal time?"
"Something like that." Phoebe examined her nails. "I convinced the little
idiot that I was Copper's business manager and that she was being oppressed
by the Pelligrini family and forced into marrying Aaron. He bought it.
I promised to arrange for him to meet her, and lo and behold, he has." She
shrugged. "He's a little wimp and I doubt he has it in him to hurt her, but
it sure messes Jewel's schedule about if she's not there to play the drums,
doesn't it?"
"That it does, and I can't complain about having them struck silent for
a change." Rory pursed his lips. Phoebe shrugged.
"And I have my revenge on that bitch girl and her mother for the little
charade at the Reunion show." She responded silkily. "So it's all even for
us this time, Riot. The Stingers come out on top again."
"What about the...liability?"
"No liability at all." Phoebe laughed. "Trust me. That aspect of things
is also well in hand."
"Good." Rory sounded approving. "I presume none of this can be traced
back to you?"
"No...I don't expect it to be." Phoebe shook her head. "The admirer -
Jason or whatever his silly name is - he could probably pick me out of a
line-up, but then I was careful to dress the part when we met and nobody
would believe his stupid tale about me being Copper's business manager.
Besides, since nobody can find him, either..."
She trailed off, amusement clear in her tone. "A plan with few drawbacks,
Rory, considering the initial risks involved."
"Well, we could use you in Los Angeles more often, that's for sure."
Rory told her. Phoebe shook her head.
"No, I don't think you need me here." She said with a grin. "After all,
Jewel's little stray might not come back, mightn't she? If she doesn't come
back the forced bride of a madman - and trust me, that's what the
twerp had in mind - she might just come back in a wooden box. You never
know with these stalker types. Jewel might yet be out of the running for
some time to come. You never know."
"Well, I won't cry for them if that's the outcome." Rory shrugged. "Risks
of war - and the music business is a war."
He indicated the paper. "This has made my morning, however I have several
other things to do before my meeting at two. If I were you I'd make sure
you're well out of things now - possibly even out of Los Angeles, if you
catch my drift. Speak to Sophie, see what she thinks. You have some time."
He eyed her with some amusement.
"After all, there's no reason to connect any of this with us, is there?"
"None whatsoever." Phoebe shook her head. "And you can always rely on
me, Rory, to keep it that way."
In the corridor outside the office, a figure froze, darting into an empty
storecupboard as she heard footsteps moving towards the office door. Hardly
daring to breathe, she watched as the slim form of the ex-Stinger exited,
a waft of perfume following her down the corridor towards the lift. The door
of the office once more clicked shut, and there was silence.
From her hiding place, the figure took a deep breath, her mind whirling
with all she'd heard. Clutching her manuscript papers tightly in her hands,
she pushed open the door of the storecupboard, fleeing down the stairs two
at a time as she hurried to get away from what she had just witnessed.
"Mari?" At the door to the studio she almost ran headlong into Luca, who
eyed her strangely, noting her expression with some confusion. "Hey, kid,
something wrong? Did Rory not like your scoring or what?"
"He...had a meeting." Marissa shook her head, as if trying to clear it.
"Oh Luca, if you only knew what just happened..."
"Well, tell me." Luca put a strong arm around her shoulders, leading
her out to his car. "It's a twenty minute drive home and I'm all ears -
did something happen upstairs?"
He patted his pocket. "I found my strings, by the way - they were under
the unit, just like you said."
"I'm glad you got them." Marissa said absently. "And that we're going
home. Oh, I don't want to even be here! Not now I...but I don't know what
I can do about it?"
"About what?" Now Luca was serious. "Mari, you're acting very strange,
you know. Are you feeling sick? Is this a hypoglycaemic fit or something
else?"
"No, I'm fine. At least, my blood sugar is fine." Marissa shook her head,
clambering into the passenger seat of Luca's car and dumping her paperwork
down on the backseat with an uncharacteristic lack of care. She fastened
her seatbelt. "It was just...something in Rory's office, that's all. He wasn't
alone...and I didn't feel I was welcome to stay."
"Did he say something to you?" Luca put the key in the ignition, casting
her a sidelong glance. Marissa shook her head again.
"No. I didn't go in. Like I said, he had company. That creepy Rapture
woman was there and she gives me the chills." She said. "But..." She faltered,
biting her lip. "Luca, is Stef still at home, do you suppose?"
"Well, on recent evidence who knows?" Luca shrugged his shoulders. "Why?
You're changing the subject - are you not going to tell me what happened
in Rory's office to make you run around the corridors like a scared rabbit?"
He grinned. "Next you'll be telling me he had someone's dead body over
his desk! Come on, is our Mr Llewelyn really Dracula in disguise?"
"Don't joke, Luca." Marissa snapped. "It isn't funny. I need to speak
to Steffi - I'm worried and I need...I need her advice."
"Mari, I know you're worried." Luca dropped his teasing tone. "But won't
my advice do? Why Steffi's?"
"Because she...she knows Rory better than any of us." Marissa faltered.
"Luca, stop asking me questions, please! I can't answer them because I don't
know the answer! I might be totally mistaken, it's just..."
She shook her head as if to clear it once more, and Luca frowned.
"All right, but I hope my sister is home." He said at length. "Because
I don't like you getting yourself worked up, Mari. It isn't good for you."
Marissa sat back in her seat, staring out of the window unseeingly at
the passing houses. As she replayed the conversation in her head, fear gripped
her young heart.
"When the news broke on the radio this morning that Copper was missing,
it didn't even occur to me that Rory and that weird friend of his might
be involved." She told herself. "And now that I know that they are I should
tell the police, except...except..." She swallowed hard. "Except Stef has
been spending a lot of time with that Phoebe woman. And we know that Stef
hates Copper...what if she's involved too? She almost got banged up
by the FBI once in the last twelve months - and that was for something she
did to Jewel, too! I know better than most that she's erratic when she's
stoned. What if she is a part of this?"
"Phoebe didn't mention her in the office." A little voice seemed to whisper,
but Marissa shook her head, impatient.
"With Stef at the moment, who's to know what she did or didn't do?" She
asked herself. "And I don't want Copper in trouble or hurt, but I don't
want Stef to be in trouble either. I don't know what to do - but I must
speak to Steffi before I do anything else! Oh, but I hope she isn't tied
up in all of this! I really hope she isn't!"
At that moment Luca drew his car up outside the Diablo Estate and, before
he could ask any further questions, Marissa was gone, grabbing her manuscripts
and haring into the house at top speed. After dumping her folder in her room,
she swallowed hard, gathering her courage and then making her way down the
corridor to her friend's bedroom.
Resolutely she knocked on the door, half-hoping that her bandmate would
not be there, but inwardly knowing that it was better this was dealt with
soon. There was a moment's pause, then,
"What?"
"Stef, it's me, Mari. Can I come in?"
"I suppose so." There was a sigh, then, "The door ain't locked."
Marissa turned the handle, pushing open the door and slipping into the
room, shutting it behind her. She leant up against it's wood panelling, casting
her friend an anxious look.
Stefana was curled up on the end of her bed, reading a magazine, but she
flipped it closed at Marissa's entrance, meeting her friend's gaze with a
questioning one of her own.
"Well? Whose cat died?" She demanded. "You look ready to go to a funeral."
"Stef, I need to talk to you." Marissa said quietly, coming to sit on
the bed. "And...and before I do, you...you know that I'm your best friend,
right? That you...you can trust me? That...you know...if there was anything
you wanted to tell me about, you could?"
"So you always keep telling me." Stefana's expression became suspicious
and wary. "But I don't know why you're telling me it now. What's up, Mari?
Spit it out."
"I was just at Rebel Records." Marissa said slowly. "Stef...have you read
this morning's press? Do you...you are aware that Copper has disappeared?"
"Aware of it? I'm throwing a party." A dry-humoured smile touched Stefana's
pale lips. "It doesn't bother me if that bitch has taken off and quit Los
Angeles. Maybe she got cold feet - I've told you before, Aaron can do way
better."
Marissa grasped her friend's hand.
"Stef, please, tell me you weren't involved in this?" She begged, her
blue eyes pleading. Shock flashed into Stefana's expression, followed by
anger, and she pulled her hand away.
"So everything bad that happens to Jewel must involve me?" She demanded.
"Is that it? What, do you think I stole over there in the dead of night,
tossed her over the back of my car and made off with her? Is that what you
think? Any idiot could have grabbed her. Or she could've just taken off,
like I said."
"I know that she didn't just take off." Marissa shook her head, her expression
troubled. "Oh Stef...it was so awful. I was at Rebel Records, I wanted to
show Rory the scripts for the new album tracks, only that horrible Phoebe
woman was there with him. They were talking about Copper, and...and I heard
everything they said. Stef, Phoebe engineered Copper's disappearance. She...she
got some guy to abduct her and carry her off and...and she pretty much said
that if he killed her, well, too bad. It's all her doing, and you've been
spending so much time with her...I was worried."
"Well, I didn't abduct Copper." Stefana said flatly. "If that's what you
want to know. I'll swear it in blood if I have to - I don't know where she
is or where the moron took her. Okay?"
Marissa sighed.
"I'm sorry I accused you." She said at length. "Only, well, I didn't want
you in trouble again. And I know you...you don't always think so clearly
when you're high."
"There's nothing wrong with my judgement." Stefana snapped. "Now or any
other time. I know what I'm doing."
"Well, what I'm doing is going to the police." Marissa got to her feet.
"If Copper's life is at stake here, well, I can't just let it go."
"Are you mad?" Stefana's eyes opened wide and Marissa thought she saw
a glint of fear somewhere in their depths. "Copper's nothing to do with us!"
"No, but she's a human being and her family and friends must be going
frantic about her." Marissa responded. "Think of Aaron, Stef - you're his
friend, think about what he must be going through right now! You know I
can't just sit back and not do anything!"
"I don't see why not." Stefana folded her arms. "It's not like the guy
is going to hurt her."
Marissa shot her friend a startled glance, which soon became one of horror
as she realised the implications of Stefana's words. She cursed, sitting
back down.
"I don't believe you." She murmured. "You lied to me! You swore..."
"Excuse me?" Stefana stared. "I don't think I lied to you...what are you
talking about now?"
"You said you had nothing to do with Copper's abduction!"
"I didn't!"
"I wish I believed you. If you didn't, why don't you want me to go to
the police?"
"Because it's nothing to do with us!" Stefana repeated. "It's Jewel's
problem and that fat cat Phyllis Gabor will soon get her spies on the case.
Let it go, Mari! Diablo have LA to ourselves for a bit!"
Marissa eyed her companion carefully for a moment, then she grabbed her
by the wrists, pulling her to her feet.
"You're gonna tell me exactly what you know, right here and right now."
She said darkly. "If you don't, I'll go to the police regardless, and if
you get into trouble, well, it'll be your own fault. I want to know, Stef...so
don't lie to me, huh? What do you know about Copper's abduction?"
"Nothing!"
"That's a lie."
"It's not a lie! Why don't you believe me?"
"Because it's not true!"
Stefana narrowed her gaze, eying her friend for some time. Then she grimaced.
"It is so true." She muttered. "I didn't know anything about Copper's
abduction. Still don't. I know as much as you know and that's the truth
of it. I don't know where he took her, and I don't know what he plans to
do with her. I didn't even know that she would be abducted until the news
broke this morning. That's the honest truth of it, whether you believe me
or not. I don't know where the goddamn bitch is!"
"But you aren't as surprised as me that Phoebe is involved, and you have
spent a lot of time with her this last couple of weeks." Marissa was unmoved.
"Further, you seem pretty damn sure that this guy who abducted Copper won't
hurt her. How can you possibly know that, when even Phoebe and Rory don't
know?"
"Rory isn't anything to do with it." Stefana snapped. "And you'd do better
not asking questions, Mari!"
Marissa sighed.
"Why do you always let us down like this?" She asked sadly. "And why do
I always insist on covering for you, regardless?"
Stefana shot her a surprised glance.
"I thought you were going to rat." She said. "Aren't you?"
"I want to know what you're involved in before I do anything else." Marissa
said darkly. "I have to tell someone what I overheard - Copper's life could
be in peril and I'd hate myself if anything happened because I kept quiet.
But dammit, I don't want you in trouble. God only knows why when maybe it'd
knock some common sense into you, but I don't. We're friends and we don't
rat on each other. Now stop messing me around, will you? I want to know exactly
what you're involved in and how much you know! And if I don't get it from
you, I'll go get it out of Rory, because whatever you think he's in this
as much as your precious Phoebe - up to his eyeballs and beyond!"
Stefana paled.
"She promised Rory wasn't involved in this." She said softly. "It was
just...her and me."
"Phoebe?"
"Yes." Stefana nodded. "But I swear, Mari, this whole kidnap thing is
none of my doing. I cut out of it the other night. Cut my losses and that
was that. It all got too close for comfort."
Marissa pursed her lips.
"How so?" She asked, then, "When you came in the other night, all scratched
and scared - is that something to do with this?"
"Sort of." Stefana glanced at her hands. "You swear you ain't gonna rat
on me?"
"I swear." Marissa sighed. "How was it involved?"
Slowly Stefana outlined her involvement in Phoebe's plan, and Marissa
listened in silence. She bit her lip.
"Oh Steffi." She said, her tone troubled. "Why?"
"Why? Because I needed the money." Stefana retorted. "Rory's stingy and
I owed someone. It was the only way to keep it in hand."
"You could have come to me. I'd have lent you the money."
"Yeah, well, I don't like borrowing. I have pride, you know." Stefana
snapped.
"You won't borrow, but you don't mind stealing?" Marissa asked gently.
Stefana dismissed it with an impatient gesture.
"It wasn't proper stealing. It was just a means to an end."
"An end which might yet get Copper hurt." Marissa reminded her. Stefana
shrugged.
"I don't care about Copper." She said, though her tone belied her words.
"I told you what I know. That's it. There's nothing else. As far as I knew,
Phoebe was going to use the letters I'd sent and the stuff I got to get
this guy on Copper's back. Harass her a bit. Embarrass her. Cause her some
negative press. It's the honest truth that I didn't know this would happen."
"And you've no idea where he might take her?"
"None. I'm not psychic. But he was a weed, Mari. He won't hurt her. Sure,
scare her a bit and get her wound up...but that's it."
"I hope you're right." Marissa looked troubled. "And now I'm going to
the Starlight Mansion. If I can't betray you then I can't really betray
Phoebe or Rory, much as I'd like to...but I'll think of something. I can't
just sit back when Copper's life might be at stake."
Chapter One: Where Is Copper?
Chapter Two: Nancy Finds
A Clue
Chapter Three: Marissa
Chapter Four: A Faint Lead
Chapter Five: Undercover
Chapter Six: A Reluctant
Witness
Chapter Seven: Cynthia
Takes A Gamble
Chapter Eight: A Play For
Freedom
Chapter Nine: Aaron Decides
Chapter Ten: Midnight Flight
Chapter Eleven: The Race Is On
Chapter Twelve: Nemesis
Chapter Thirteen: Aftermath
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE
Copper, Nancy, Sylva, Anna, Blade, Raesha, Sirena,
Topaz, Aaron, Sophie, Justin, Elliot, Rosita, Luis and any other
characters in this fiction which do not appear in the animated Jem
series are copyrighted to me (E.A Woolley) as of January 2002 <unless
otherwise specified> and are not to be reproduced without permission
ANYWHERE. Jetta, Pizzazz, Stormer, Roxy, Raya and all other original
Jem characters are the copyright of Hasbro Inc, Sunbow, Christy Marx
and the other writers of the Jem series. The future world of Pizzazz,
Raya, Jetta, Roxy, Stormer, Clash, Synergy, the fate of Jem and her memorial
are all copyrighted to me. The future world of Kimber and Shana is copyrighted
jointly to myself and Gemma Dawn.
The concept of 'Jewel' is entirely my own, and
any apparent link with any fictional or actual person or persons
of this name is entirely coincidental. Equally the characters in
this fiction are not based on any real life individual.
The concept behind the future world of Danse,
Aja and Craig, the idea behind Jerrica's futureworld and the split
of the Holograms is copyrighted to Gemma Dawn, whose Teenangel
Outsiders fiction is directly twinned with Just a Dream. The character
Sammi and any of the other Teenangel Outsider characters mentioned
in this fiction are entirely copyright to Gemma Dawn and appear here
only with her permission.
Pay her page a visit!