"Bennett, Cherie - Sunset Island 009 - Sunset Scandal" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bennett Cherie)

yond the dunes. "And those housesЧI noticed that the people who own the one next to the Lawrences' use it maybe one weekend a month. All that stuff in there, and they hardly use it. Meanwhile, people on this island are homeless." He looked back at Emma. "Can you make any sense out of that?"
"But there have always been rich people and poor people," Emma said, struggling with her own thoughts. "This is America. Everything isn't equal."
"It sure isn't," Kurt said bitterly. He gave Emma a strange look. "Listen, I need to be alone for a while. I'm going to take a walk down the beach."
"By yourself?" Emma said. She felt as though she was about to cry. How could everything have changed so suddenly? Why did she and Kurt always seem to end up fighting about money?
"Oh, Em, it's not you, it's me," Kurt said, putting his arms around her and kissing her softly. "I'll meet you back at Howie's later."
"No," Emma said, pulling away. "If you go, don't bother to come back to find me." A voice inside Emma cried, That isn't what
you mean at all! Just tell him that you're hurt!
"If that's how you want it," Kurt said. He sounded more tired than angry. "For what it's worth, Fm sorry," he added, then walked off down the beach.
/ can't believe he left me here by myself! Emma thought. One part of her wanted to call out to him, but another part knew she should let him be. Why does love have to be so damned complicated?
Emma bit her lower lip, willing herself not to cry. She turned around to head back to the party. Lost in thought, she stared at her footprints in the sand. It feels like he's punishing me for being rich, she thought desolately.
When she got back to the party, it was in full swing and the noise was deafening.
"Hey, you are not looking like a party animal," Sam yelled over the music when she saw Emma.
"I don't want to talk about it," Emma said. "Can I have a ride home?"
Sam's eyebrows shot up. "Where's Kurt?" Then the look on Emma's face registered. "Oh, I guess that's what you don't want to
talk about." She put her hand on Emma's arm. "It's okay, Em. You can talk when you're ready, okay?"
Emma just nodded, too choked up to speak.
"You ready, darh'n'?" Pres said, coming up next to Sam.
Sam looked at Emma. "We were just going to leave, anyway. Come on."
"Thanks," Emma said gratefully. She didn't want to see anyone or talk to anyone, so she made a beeline for the front door with her head down. But a high-pitched laugh and a glint of a diamond tennis bracelet caught her eye just as she reached the door. Then she heard Diana De Witt's unmistake-able voice.
"Really, Austin, you can't see through this dress unless I get it wet!"
Emma looked up just in time to see Diana moving into the arms of her mother's fiance, Austin Payne. She looked away quickly, hoping they hadn't seen her. She pushed out the front door and ran out to Pres's car.
Pres and Sam drove Emma back to the Hewitts' in silence, since it was obvious she didnt want to talk.
"I'll call you," Sam said quietly when Emma got out of the car.
"Thanks," Emma managed, shutting the car door.
She ran upstairs and angrily tore off her clothes, then got into bed and pulled the covers over her head.
/ hate my life, was her final thought as she fell into a deep and troubled sleep.
In her nightmare, a naked Diana and an equally naked Kurt were kissing on a water-bed. Then Kurt's face turned into Austin's, and Diana started laughing, a mad cackle that turned into an incessant ring. Finally Emma opened her eyes, realizing that the telephone was really ringing.
She squinted at the luminous hands of the clock by her bed as she threw off the covers. It was five o'clock in the morning!
"Hello?" she answered groggily when she reached the phone.
"Emma? It's me," came Kurt's voice through the receiver.
"Are you crazy?" Emma whispered hoarsely. "It's not even dawn!"
"Emma! Please listen!" Kurt cried. "I'm in jail."
<л> ins<"*'y- 'You're
for armed robbery.
"What?" she cried into the phone. "You're where?"
"In jail," Kurt repeated in a desperate voice. "You know the house next door to the Lawrences' that we walked by last night? Well, somebody robbed them. A lot of valuable jewelry was taken," he continued.
"Oh, God, that's horrible!" Emma cried. "But why do they think it was you?"
"Someone gave the cops a description of the robber, and they described me," he said grimly, "right down to the clothes I was wearing last night."
"How . . . how can that be?" Emma's voice faltered.
"Emma! I didn't do it!" Kurt cried. "I don't know how it can be!"
"I believe you! Of course I believe you!" Emma insisted.
"Look, please, you've got to get me out of here," Kurt said in a low voice.
What can I do? she thought. Would Jane help? Emma's employer was a lawyer, after all.
"Emma? Come on! This is my one phone call! Emma?" Kurt asked, a note of near-panic in his voice.
"Listen, Kurt," Emma replied, "I'm going to wake Jane and tell her what happened. She'll know what to do. Where exactly are you?"
"In the holding tank at the police station," Kurt replied. "There's some drunk guy in here who's trying to throw up on me. My arraignment, whatever that means, is set for nine this morning," he added grimly.
"I'm going to get Jane now," Emma assured Kurt. "Don't worry. We'll be right down."
"Thanks," Kurt said gratefully.
Emma hung up the phone. Did I really have that conversation, or am I still in the middle of that nightmare? she wondered.
Emma pulled on her robe, intending to head over to Jane and Jeff Hewitt's bedroom. But before she even opened her bedroom door, she heard a knock on it. Jane Hewitt, dressed in her pajamas, poked her head inside.