Page 118 of The Sun Sister

‘You mean in the media?’

‘Yeah, because you can be damned sure that there will already be speculation about why I’ve pulled out of shoots and where I’ve been.’

‘Did your agent put out a statement?’

‘She probably said something about going on a holiday because I was suffering from exhaustion. Maybe there’s already been stuff in the papers, but I was thinking that if I’m going to get involved in the drop-in centre that I told you about, it might help if I did share my story.’

‘That’s your decision, Electra, and the power lies within your hands. Try not to think about it now; it’s enough that you have to face your life again at the end of the week. Take things one day at a time, remember?’

‘Yeah, of course.’

‘Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. Keep safe,’ Fi said as I left the room.

When I got my cell and laptop back that evening, I went into the Serenity Garden and placed my first call in a month to the outside world.

‘Electra! How the hell are you?’ Casey, my business manager and accountant, answered after the second ring.

‘I’m good, Casey, very good.’

‘Well, I’m sure pleased to hear that.’

I thought he sounded relieved, which made me suspicious that he knew where I was.

‘What can I do for you?’ he said.

‘I’d like to set up a meeting with you when I’m back in town next week. I’m thinking of buying a property.’

‘Okay. It’s definitely a good time to buy; the market is as flat as the proverbial pancake right now. You could get a steal on a new-build in the city that the construction company and their backer need to shift. The bad news is, the Dow Jones has been hit hard.’

‘Right,’ I said, deciding I needed to find out what words like ‘Dow Jones’ actuallymeant.‘But I’m not thinking about anything in New York right now. I’ve seen a ranch down here in Arizona.’

‘Okay, can you give me some figures?’

‘Not at this moment, but I’ll find out as soon as I’m back.’

‘Well, most of your wealth is tied up in bonds, which are down in value because of the market, but we can certainly liquidate whatever you need to buy the property.’

‘Up to how much?’

‘I’d have to check on the numbers, but as you know, you’re a very rich young lady.’

I wanted to ask him how rich ‘rich’ actually was, but then I just felt embarrassed because he’d know I hadn’t read anything he’d sent me.

‘Listen, does next Monday morning work for you? I’ll come to your office and we can go through some stuff, because there’s something else I want to talk to you about.’

‘Sure, Electra, I’d be delighted. Shall we say eleven o’clock?’

‘Great, see you then. Bye.’

That wasn’t too painful, I thought as I ended the call and saw the cell was covered in the sweat from my palms. I sat there dreaming about the Hacienda Orchídea and how I could spend all my downtime – which I was determined to carve out of any schedule that Susie presented me with – there. I could make my own trail to run on, get a maid to take care of the house, and a ranch hand to look after the horses I was going to buy. Maybe Manuel might even sell me Hector...

I went back to my dorm and sat down on the bed, thinking it was time to sleep, but I was feeling too pumped. I looked across the room and saw Vanessa’s bed was empty. I sniffed and a weird metallic smell filled my nostrils as I turned and saw that there was red liquid seeping out from under the bathroom door.

‘Shit!’ I screamed, then pressed the emergency call bell as I gathered my courage and pushed the door open. Vanessa was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Her eyes were closed and I could see she had deep cuts along her splayed inner arms.

‘Help!’ I ran out into the deserted corridor. ‘Somebody help!’ As no one responded, I remembered I still had my cell and went back to pick it up from my bed to dial 911.

As an operator answered, I gave the address of The Ranch and tried to respond to their questions. Mercy, the night nurse on duty, came into the room, her eyes widening in horror as I pointed to the bathroom.