Crown Jewel Read Free Page A

You wanna go, I’ll stop by and pick you up. I just got a call saying they canceled the stunt for tomorrow. We’re in a holding pattern until they get a part for the race car. Probably the day after tomorrow. So, do you want to go or not?”
    Cancellation meant he didn’t have to get up at four-thirty to be at the studio for makeup at five. Did he want to go? Did he want to stand around making nice so Philly wouldn’t chew his ass out? “Yeah, sure,” was his response. “What time?”
    â€œEight. Let’s do the town afterward. Let’s take in the Ozone Club and do a little partying. We both deserve a night out, Ricky. This flick kicked both our asses big-time.”
    â€œSure.” What the hell, it would beat sitting around with Philly praying to God he didn’t say the wrong thing or make a mistake. “Philly’s in town, you know.”
    â€œYeah. Yeah, I heard. So you make nice for ten minutes, and we split. I wish to hell you’d get over that inferiority thing you have with your brother. He’s what he is because of you, and don’t you ever forget it. Without your money, he’d be working in some cubicle managing other people’s money. Go easy on yourself, okay?”
    â€œOkay, I will. I’ll see you at eight.”
    As he hung up Ricky wondered if everyone thought he was a wuss where his brother was concerned.
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    The minute the gates to Ricky’s estate closed behind Ted’s Jaguar, the phone inside the mansion rang. The caller left a message. “The part for the car just arrived. The shoot’s back on. Be at the studio by five-thirty tomorrow morning.” The same message was left at Ted Lymen’s home.
    The wrap party was like every other one Ricky had attended. Food, liquor, flowers, the women teary-eyed, the guys looking macho as they tried not to worry about whether there was another movie down the road. They all promised to stay in touch knowing full well they wouldn’t, unless somehow, some way, they needed a favor and they had your personal unlisted telephone number. In Hollywood, like almost everywhere else, it wasn’t what you knew, it was who you knew.
    â€œHow are you, Philly?” Ricky said, slapping his brother lightly on the back in a friendly gesture.
    â€œGood. Real good. You’re looking fit, little brother. I hear you’re coming down to the islands.”
    â€œI’m in the thinking stages,” Ricky lied. He’d picked up his airline tickets yesterday. “Enjoy yourself,” Ricky said, preparing to walk away.
    â€œDidn’t you forget something, Ricky?”
    Ricky turned and faced his brother. “No, I didn’t forget. I just wanted to make you ask for it.” He reached inside his jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope that he literally slapped into his brother’s hand. Seeing the sudden look of embarrassment on Philly’s face was worth all the angst he’d gone through that day. This time he did walk away.
    â€œDamn, that felt good,” he said to Ted.
    â€œHow in hell can handing over fifteen million bucks to your brother make you feel good?”
    â€œI made him ask for it, and I stared him down at the same time. I never did that before. Don’t ask me why I had to do it today of all days because I don’t know.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œYeah, oh. You said something about partying…”
    â€œI did, didn’t I?”
    Philip Lam watched his brother walk away. He felt a sudden urge to run after him and give him a big bear hug. He squelched the desire. One soft move on his part, and Ricky would go back to square one. He raised his eyes upward. “I’m doing my best, Mom,” he murmured.
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    Ricky Lam woke, his head pounding. He remembered instantly that he had fallen off the wagon last night to the tune of at least four bottles of champagne. His eyes wild, he looked around to see if anyone was sharing