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 noticed an 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 doing something out there, Belinda, but you can’t be sure at this point that it’s anything wrong. Want me to go check it out?”
Belinda considered the offer. “Maybe I should call the police,” she said.
“And what if the police come and find there’s a completely reasonable explanation? Then you’ve shown your caretaker that you don’t trust him,” said Victoria. “And you don’t want that, do you?”
“Look. When we get back later, pull out one of those maps of the property that Remington did and mark where the hole is. As soon as there’s some free time, I’ll go out there and take a look. Right now, you’ve got more important things to do,” Victoria said. “Your focus has to be on the play.”
The car traveled north along the winding two-lane road, reaching the Warrenstown traffic circle and bearing right. Belinda found a parking spot, and the two women got out and walked toward the brand-new theater building. As they reached the front steps, a pretty young blonde stood at the top holding the door open for them.
“Thanks, Langley,” said Belinda. Victoria said nothing until they were out of Langley’s earshot.
“I’m telling you, Belinda, that one wants to be you,” said Victoria. “It’s written all over her. She’s so damned obsequious. It’s disgusting.”
Belinda smiled. “Oh, give her a break, Victoria. Langley is just a kid.”
“A kid who watches your every move.”
“That’s because she’s my understudy.”
“No,” Victoria insisted. “That’s because she wants your life.”