Dark Angel 03: Broken Dream by Eden Maguire

she needed protection but they totally didn’t listen.’
    Orlando took me quietly to one side while Macy went on telling Charlie and Gwen what had happened in the car park. ‘This stalker guy – are you still thinking he might … the dark angel connection, you know?’
    I nodded. ‘But I don’t want to talk about it here. Later.’
    Orlando picked up our role switch and gave a wry grin. ‘OK. So was Macy with you when it happened?’
    ‘No, but I’m glad she showed up when she did. She stepped out of the elevator and scared the crap out of him.’
    ‘Excellent.’
    ‘Macy’s cool.’ I glanced her way and saw that she was fully into retelling the story of our underground adventure. ‘I’m thinking maybe I’ll invite her to Bitterroot to spend Christmas.’
    Orlando raised his eyebrows.
    ‘She has nowhere else to go,’ I explained.
    ‘… and the knife was this big!’ Macy was exclaiming. ‘The kind a deer hunter would carry to butcher his kill. He was one scary guy!’

    Things moved on pretty quickly from there. It had started snowing so the kids – Adam, Phoebe and little Charlie – clamoured to build a snowman, which meant Charlie and Gwen had to help them. Gwen dragged Orlando in, and soon grown-ups and kids had their full attention on building the biggest snowman in New York.
    ‘When he’s finished, I’ll go to the wardrobe section and find a hat and scarf for him,’ Gwen promised.
    ‘A pink hat!’ Phoebe clamoured. ‘Our snowman is a girl.’
    ‘That would make her a snowlady,’ Adam, the child-adult pointed out.
    ‘Mom, we’re making a snowlady!’ Phoebe called to Natalia, who had emerged from the trailer to see what was going on.
    ‘More snow,’ she sighed, stretching out her palm to catch flakes. ‘I just know they’re going to keep the airports closed.’ Seeing me standing with Macy, she joined us. ‘We’re scheduled to fly out of LaGuardia Monday.’
    The snow fell and I introduced Macy to Natalia Linton, who was dressed today the way a screen goddess should dress, in a full-length cream wool coat with a white fur collar and big Russian hat to match. Beneath the hat her porcelain face was flawlessly made up.
    For once Macy was so overawed that she was tongue-tied. She left the talking to me. ‘Thanks for getting Orlando some work on set,’ I told Natalia. ‘You’ve no idea how much this means.’
    ‘Orlando is a sweetheart,’ she replied. ‘I wanted to give him the chance to let his talent shine through.’
    Glancing across at the busy snowlady builders, I saw Gwen take time out to scoop up a handful of snow, pack it into a ball and throw it at Orlando. She made a direct hit and pretty soon he’d launched his own missile back at Gwen. The snowball knocked off her suede hat, which Charlie picked up and threatened to put on his own head. Phoebe and little Charlie giggled while Adam stayed out of the fun and games, doggedly packing more snow on to the snowlady’s body.
    ‘Let’s help Adam,’ Natalia suggested to Macy and me.
    But we didn’t have the chance before the trailer door opened again and Jack Kane came out.
    OK, Macy, you’re in for a shock, I thought grimly. Instead of glamour, think grunge. For charm, try sleaze.
    ‘Frickin’ snow!’ Jack grumbled, pulling his jacket across his chest as he looked up at the grey sky and the whirling flakes. ‘This weather is going to give Larry a coronary.’ He almost slipped on the icy step then regained his balance.
    ‘Larry King – he’s directing this movie,’ Natalia explained. ‘They didn’t forecast more snow; it’ll throw the schedule.’
    After his small skid on the step, Jack didn’t stagger or blunder into anything, I noticed. He was clean-shaven and alert, so maybe he was sober. Major transformation.
    Beside me Macy held her breath big time.
    Natalia called him across. ‘Jack, you remember Tania? She was here yesterday. And this is her friend Macy.’
    ‘Hey, Tania, sure I remember you.’