sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第14部分
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ou're a headliner but to a headliner； are you a headliner？〃 He stood up。 〃I have to catch a plane to New York。 I'm flying to London tomorrow。〃
〃London？ When will you be back？〃
〃In a few weeks。〃 Clifton leaned forward and said； 〃Listen to me； dear boy。 You have two more weeks here。 Treat it like a school。 Every night you're up on that stage； I want you to figure out how you can be better。 I've persuaded O'Hanlon and Rainger not to leave。 They're willing to work with you day and night。 Use them。 Landry will e back weekends to see how everything is going。〃
〃Right；〃 Toby said。 〃Thanks； Cliff。〃
〃Oh； I almost forgot；〃 Clifton Lawrence said casually。 He pulled a small package from his pocket and handed it to Toby。 Inside was a pair of beautiful diamond cufflinks。 They were in the shape of a star。
Whenever Toby had some free time； he relaxed around the large swimming pool at the back of the hotel。 There were twenty…five girls in the show and there were always a dozen or so from the chorus line in bathing suits； sunning themselves。 They appeared in the hot noon air like late…blooming flowers； one more beautiful than the next。 Toby had never had trouble getting girls； but what happened to him now was a totally new experience。 The showgirls had never heard of Toby Temple before； but his name was up in lights on the marquee。 That was enough。 He was a Star； and they fought each other for the privilege of going to bed with him。
The next two weeks were marvelous for Toby。 He would wake up around noon； have breakfast in the dining room ere he was kept busy signing autographs and then rehearse an hour or two。 Afterward； he would pick one or two the long…legged beauties around the pool and they would up to his suite for an afternoon romp in bed。 And Toby learned something new。 Because of the tiny costumes the girls wore； they had to get rid of their pubic hair。 But they waxed it in such a way that only a curly wip of hair was left in the center of the mound； making the ：ning more available。
〃It's like an aphrodisiac；〃 one of the girls confided to by。 〃A few hours in a pair of tight pants and a girl bees having nymphomaniac。〃
Toby did not bother to learn any of their names。 They were all 〃baby〃 or 〃honey〃； and they became a marvelous； sensuous blur of thighs and lips and eager bodies。
During the final week of Toby's engagement at the Oasis； he had a visitor。 Toby had finished the first show and was in his dressing room； creaming off his makeup； when dining room captain opened the door and said in hushed tones； 〃Mr。 Al Caruso would like you to join his table。〃
Al Caruso was one of the big names in Las Vegas。 He owned one hotel outright； and it was rumored that he had shares in two or three others。 It was also rumored that he had bad connections； bur that was no concern of Toby's。 What was important was that if Al Caruso liked him； Toby would get bookings in Las Vegas for the rest of his life。 He hurriedly finished dressing and went into the dining room to meet Caruso。
Al Caruso was a short man in his fifties with gray hair； nkling； soft brown eyes and a little paunch。 He reminded by of a miniature Santa Claus。 As Toby came up to the tabIe； Caruso rose； held out his hand； smiled warmly and said；
〃Al Caruso。 Just wanted to tell you what I think of you； Toby。 Pull up a chair。〃
There were two other men at Caruso's table； dressed in dark suits。 They were both burly； sipped Coca…Colas and did not say a word during the entire meeting。 Toby never learned their names。 Toby usually had his dinner after the first show and was ravenous now； but Caruso had obviously just finished eating； and Toby did not want to appear to be more interested in food than in his meeting with the great man。
〃I'm impressed with you； kid；〃 Caruso said。 〃Real impressed。〃 And he beamed at Toby with those mischievous brown eyes。
〃Thanks； Mr。 Caruso；〃 Toby said happily。 〃That means a lot to me。〃
〃Call me Al。〃
〃Yes； sirAl。〃
〃You got a future； Toby。 I've seen 'em e and I've seen 'em go。 But the ones with talent last a long time。 You got talent。〃
Toby could feel a pleasant warmth suffusing his body。 He fleetingly debated whether to tell Al Caruso to discuss business with Clifton Lawrence； but Toby decided it might be better if he made the deal himself。 If Caruso is this excited about me； Toby thought； I can make a better deal than Cliff。 Toby decided he would let Al Caruso make the first offer and then he would do some hard bargaining。
〃I almost wet my pants；〃 Caruso was telling him。 〃That monkey routine of yours is the runniest thing I ever heard。〃
〃ing from you； that's a real pliment；〃 Toby said with sincerity。 The little Santa Claus eyes were filled with tears of laughter。 He took out a white silk handkerchief and wiped them away。 He turned to his two escorts。 〃Did I say he's a funny man？〃 The two men nodded。 Al Caruso turned back to Toby。
〃Tell you why I came to see you； Toby。〃
This was the magical moment； his entrance into the big time。 Clifton Lawrence was off in Europe somewhere； making deals for has…been clients when he should have been here making this deal。 Well； Lawrence would have a real surprise in store for him when he returned。 Toby leaned forward and said； smiling engagingly；
〃I'm listening； Al。〃
〃Millie loves you。〃
Toby blinked； sure that he had missed something。 The man was watching him； his eyes twinkling。
〃I I'm sorry；〃 Toby said； in confusion。 〃What did you say？〃
Al Caruso smiled warmly。 〃Millie loves you。 She told me〃。
Millie？ Could that be Caruso's wife？ His daughter？ Toby started to speak； but Al Caruso interrupted。
〃She's a great kid。 I been keepin' her for three； four years。〃 He turned to the other two men。 〃Four years？〃 They nodded。 Al Caruso turned back to Toby。
〃I love that girl； Toby。 really crazy about her。〃 Toby could feel the blood beginning to drain from his face。
〃Mr。 Caruso〃
Al Caruso said； 〃Millie and me got a deal。 I don't cheat her except with my wife； and she don't cheat on me unless tells me。〃
He beamed at Toby； and this time Toby saw something beyond the cherubic smile that turned his blood cold。
〃Mr。 Caruso〃
〃You know something； Toby？ You're the first guy she cheated on me with。〃 He turned to the two men at the table 〃Is that the honest truth？〃 They nodded。 When Toby spoke； his voice was trembling。
〃I I swear to you I didn't know Millie was your girlfriend。 If I had even guess it； I wouldn't have touched her。 I wouldn't have me within a mile of her； Mr。 Caruso 〃
The Santa Claus beamed at him。 〃Al。 Call me Al。〃
〃Al。〃 It came out as a croak。 Toby could feel the perspiration running down under his arms。
〃Look； Al；〃 he said。 I I'll never see her again。 Never。 Believe me； I 〃
Caruso was staring at him。 〃Hey！ I don't think you were faking to me。〃
Toby swallowed。 〃Yes。 Yes； I was。 I heard every word said。 And you don't ever have to worry about 〃
〃I said the kid loves you。 If she wants you； then I want to have you。 I want her to be happy。 Understand？〃
Drops were creeping down Toby's back。 But it was all right。 Caruso was beaming and saying；
〃You were great tonight； Toby； really great。〃 Toby began to relax。 〃It was a good audience。〃 Caruso's brown eyes twinkled and he said； 〃You made them a good audience； Toby。 I told you you got talent。〃 〃Thanks； Al。〃 He wished they would all leave； so he could be on his way。 〃You work hard；〃 Al Caruso said。 He turned to his two lieutenants。 〃Did I say I never seen nobody work so hard？〃 The two men nodded。 Caruso turned back to Toby。 〃HeyMillie was kinda upset you didn't call her。 I told her it was because you was workin' so hard。〃
〃That's right；〃 Toby said quickly。 〃I'm glad you understand。 Al。〃
Al smiled benignly。 〃Sure。 But you know what I don't understand？ You didn't call to find out what time the wedding is。〃
〃I was going to call in the morning。〃 Al Caruso laughed and said chidingly； 〃From L。A。？〃
Toby felt a small pang of anxiety。 〃What are you talking about； Al？〃
Caruso regarded him reproachfully。 〃You got your suitcases all packed in there。〃 He pinched Toby's cheek playfully。 〃I told you I'd kill anyone who hurt Millie。〃
〃Wait a minute！ Honest to God； I wasn't〃
〃You're a good kid； but you're stupid； Toby。 I guess that's part of being a genius； huh？〃
Toby stared at the chubby； beaming countenance； not knowing what to say。
〃You gotta believe me；〃 Al Caruso said warmly； 〃I'm your friend。 I wanna make sure nothing bad happens to you。 For Millie's sake。 But if you won't listen to me； what can I do？ You know how you get a mule to pay attention？〃 Toby shook his head dumbly。 〃First； you hit it over the head with a two…by…four。〃 Toby felt fear rising in his throat。 〃Which is your good arm？〃 Caruso asked。
'My my right one；〃 Toby mumbled。 Caruso nodded genially and fumed to the two men。
〃Break it〃 he said。
From out of nowhere； a tire iron appeared in the hands ie of the men。 The two of them began closing in on 。 The river of fear became a sudden flood that made whole body shake。
''For Christ's sake；〃 Toby heard himself say； insanely。 ''You can't do this。〃
One of the men hit him hard in the stomach。 In the next second； Toby felt excruciating pain as the tire iron slammed against his right arm； shattering bones。 He fell to the flooring in an unbearable agony。 He tried to scream； but he could not catch his breath。 Through tear…filled eyes； he looked and saw Al Caruso standing over him； smiling。
〃Have I got your attention？〃 Caruso asked softly。
Toby nodded； in torment。
〃Good；〃 Caruso said。 He turned to one of the men。 〃Turn up his pants。〃
The man leaned down and unzipped Toby's fly。 He took tire iron and flicked out Toby's penis。 Caruso stood Acre a moment； looking down at it。
〃You're weak man； Toby。 You're really hung。〃
Toby was filled with a dread such as he had never known。
''O God 。。。 please 。。。 don't。。。 don't do it to me；〃 he gasped。
〃I wouldn't hurt you；〃 Caruso told him 〃As long as you're good to Millie； you're my friend。 If she ever tells me you did anything to hurt heranythingyou understand 〃 He nudged Toby's broken arm with the toe of his shoe。 Toby screamed alo
