Fatal Identity Read Free Page B

the color scheme of her bedroom. Perhaps he wasn’t watching her after all.
    With each mile Mercedes traveled away from the house, she’d felt a little calmer. She knew that most people who wrote threatening letters never dreamed of actually carrying out their threats. This man was probably nothing more than a harmless neurotic who got his kicks by scaring people. Still, it couldn’t hurt to take a few precautions, like buying a handgun and learning how to use it. And while she was at it, she’d order a new security system. The one she had was over ten years old.
    It turned out that buying a handgun in California was a frustrating experience. Although her life had been threatened, and she had a legitimate reason for wanting to arm herself, there was still a mandatory waiting period before she could take her new Lady Smith revolver home. Rules were rules in California, where the anti-gun lobby was strong. Crooks could buy guns immediately through illegal means, but honest citizens had to wait and hope that they’d still be alive at the end of the waiting period.
    Mercedes had walked away from the gun store shaking her head. She was probably overreacting, but she had to take precautions, just in case. She’d stopped at a pay phone to call a home security service, and she’d hired an armed guard to patrol the grounds until her new state-of-the-art security system was installed. Then she’d arranged to have her room redecorated in a lovely shade of sea green. That would please Brad. Green was his favorite color. Brad hadn’t liked her red bedroom. He’d said it was like sleeping inside a catsup bottle. She’s laughed at his joke, but she’d been planning on changing the color scheme anyway.
    That night, when Brad had come home and found the security guard, he’d told her he thought she’d done exactly the right thing. The letter was scary. And while it was true that Mercedes probably wouldn’t hear from this particular man again, she was a big star and there were lots of crazy fans out there. Then he’d hugged her and told her he wished he could always be home to protect her. Unfortunately, his investment business demanded a lot of traveling. He’d certainly rest much easier after the new security system was installed. It would give him peace of mind, knowing that Mercedes and the twins were safe behind locked gates.
    The second threatening letter had arrived a week later. Luckily, the security guard was on duty when Mercedes had taken it out of the envelope, and she hadn’t panicked. Her crazy fan was still out there, but at least she now knew what he wanted.

    I am still with you, watching and waiting. No one can protect you. You must do exactly as I say.
    Give your husband twenty thousand dollars in a backpack. Tell him to go to the phone booth on the corner of Sunset and Gower at noon tomorrow. I will call him and tell him where to leave the money.
    I love you. You belong to me. I have no wish to cause you pain.
    Jimmy

    When Brad had read the letter, he’d urged her to call the police. Naturally, Mercedes had refused. The police could do nothing, and there were bound to be leaks to the press. The studio wouldn’t like that kind of publicity, and this whole thing was probably just a crazy prank.
    Exactly a week later, the third letter had arrived. It was almost identical to the second, except that the sum of money had doubled, and there was one additional postscript after the signature . Your security guard cannot protect you. If you continue to ignore me, perhaps your death will not be as merciful as I planned.
    When Brad read the letter, he was convinced that they had to take action. While he agreed that he didn’t believe in giving way to threats, he’d suggested that perhaps they should pretend to do what the crazy fan wanted. He’d go to the phone booth, get the instructions, and deliver the money. And then he’d stake out the