"NANCY!" BESS CRIED, awkwardly trying to disentangle herself from rick's embrace.

Nancy looked from a blushing Bess to Rick and back, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but-"

"It's not what you think!" Bess said, interrupting her as she tossed her blond hair over her shoulder and straightened her collar. "Rick just asked me to help him rehea.r.s.e, that's all."

"She's very talented," Rick said, putting his arm around Bess's waist and drawing her closer.

"Well, I just came to tell you that Pappas closed the set to all visitors," Nancy said, looking at Bess.

But Bess wasn't about to let anything ruin her day. "Nancy, you'll never guess what Rick has offered to do!"

"It's really nothing," Rick said, protesting.

"Nothing?" Bess replied, her eyes dancing with excitement. "You call taking me all over the city in a limousine nothing?"

"Well, I already have the limousine." Rick shrugged modestly.

"He's going to give me a personal tour of the city on Sat.u.r.day! Would you believe he's never been on top of the Empire State Building?"

"How can you live in New York and not visit the Empire State Building?" Nancy asked.

"Actually, a lot of New Yorkers have never been there," he explained. "We always say we're going to go someday, but somehow we never get around to it. It'll be a real treat for me."

Bess continued to gaze at the handsome TV star. Nancy couldn't help worrying that her friend might be getting in over her head.

"Bess, aren't you forgetting that Rick might be in danger? I don't know if it's such a great idea for you to be alone with him, you know."

"Don't be silly!" Rick laughed, wiping his makeup off with a thick cloth. "I can take care of both of us. Listen, I've got an even better idea-why don't you come, too? I'm sure I could round up a friend for you."

"That's great!" Bess cried happily, turning to Nancy.

"Okay, count me in," Nancy agreed. Spending the day with Rick was one way to keep an eye on him. And on Bess.

"Come on, Bess," she said, taking her friend by the elbow. "We'd better leave the set. Nice meeting you, Rick." Nancy turned to the door, but Bess wasn't quite finished talking to Rick.

"Well, I'm sorry we have to go so soon, but we're definitely on for Sat.u.r.day, aren't we?" she asked.

"I can hardly wait, love," he replied, blowing her a kiss. "Till then, 'Parting is such sweet sorrow.'"

As soon as she closed the door, Bess stood stock-still for a moment. Then she leaned on the wall in a daze. "Did you hear? He called me 'love.'"

"I heard," Nancy replied uneasily.

"Oh, Nancy," Bess cooed, "he's so wonderful! Not at all conceited like some big stars probably are. Just think, I have a date with the the Rick Arlen. Me-Bess Marvin, regular person! Do you know how many girls would kill for a date with the star of 'Danner's Dream'?" Rick Arlen. Me-Bess Marvin, regular person! Do you know how many girls would kill for a date with the star of 'Danner's Dream'?"

"Yeah-" Nancy said, only half paying attention. She was wondering who was trying to kill Rick Arlen-and why?

"We were standing there, watching this intense scene. I mean, it was so quiet you could hear your heart beating!" Bess was going over the whole day as Nancy's aunt emptied a package of white mushrooms into her food processor. "And then, well, the light just snapped! Right in front of our eyes! Right, Nancy?"

Nancy looked up from the microwave, where she was getting ready to bake three potatoes. "Uh-huh," she agreed.

"And Nancy saved the day. You should have seen her," Bess said, continuing. "I don't know how she reacted so fast. The light only missed him by a few inches. And Rick is amazing. He wasn't even afraid! He said it was all in a day's work. Can you believe it?"

Eloise's eyes clouded over with worry. "I'm not sure I want you two poking around in a place where they have accidents like that," she said, shaking her head.

Nancy looked over at Bess and put her finger on her lips, but Bess didn't pick up on it.

"Oh, no!" Bess went on. "It wasn't wasn't an accident! Nancy found the evidence-somebody tampered with the light!" an accident! Nancy found the evidence-somebody tampered with the light!"

"Nancy!" Aunt Eloise exclaimed. "Do you mean to say Mattie was right to suspect something was wrong? Oh, dear, please be careful! I don't want you getting hurt."

Bess laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry, Rick says it's just some crazy fan trying to scare him. Now that they've closed the set, I'm sure there won't be any more trouble."

Just then the phone rang.

"h.e.l.lo?" Eloise answered. "Oh, yes, Mattie, we're here. Come on up." Replacing the receiver, she said, "I hope it's all right if Mattie joins us. I should have asked you first."

"It's fine with me!" Bess cried happily.

Nancy went to the vegetable bin and took out another potato. After rinsing it, she popped it into the microwave.

"That's it," Eloise said. "Dinner in ten minutes."

In a few minutes there was a knock on the door, and Nancy went to open it.

"Hi, everybody!" Mattie called as she breezed into the apartment with a bouquet of spring flowers. Nancy was amazed at how carefree Mattie seemed. "Oh, I'm so happy you're on the case," she cried, embracing Nancy warmly. "I know nothing bad can happen to Rick now."

Nancy frowned slightly. Everyone seemed to think Rick Arlen was safe, including Rick himself. She wasn't at all convinced.

"Did you hear about your niece, this morning's heroine?" Mattie said, going over to kiss Eloise and hand her the flowers. "You weren't exaggerating when you told me how brave she was."

Eloise reddened and looked over at Nancy. "Don't get the wrong idea," she warned. "I'm proud of you, but that doesn't mean I approve of your taking unnecessary risks. Please be careful."

"I will," Nancy promised.

Dinner was ready, and the four of them gathered around the large oak table in the dining area.

"Marinated steak. Smells great, and I don't mind saying so myself," Eloise remarked. "I may not be the greatest cook, but every once in a while I do all right."

"I can testify personally that she's a fantastic cook," Mattie said with a laugh. After they ate and chatted for a while, Mattie turned more serious and asked, "So, Nancy, what do you think? Was it someone from the tour group who tampered with the light?"

"Well, some people seem to think that," Nancy answered. "But from what I can tell, his fans aren't the only ones who're angry at Rick. There are other people-people who see him every day. Pappas, for instance. Or Lillian Weiss. Maybe others, too."

"Hah! You don't know the half of it," Mattie said. "There isn't a person on that set who Rick hasn't alienated at one time or another."

"Really? Why?" Nancy wondered.

"Oh, Rick's just- He's talented, handsome, and rich. Some people would hate him just for that, but he's also walked over a lot of people to get where he is. He's used a lot of people, broken a lot of hearts-" She sighed deeply.

Was one of those broken hearts Mattie's? Nancy wondered. The actress seemed so fragile and sad when she talked about Rick.

"I wish I could point to just one person and say, That's the one,' but Rick has made a lot of enemies." Mattie shook her head and reached for her gla.s.s of mineral water.

"People resent his success," Bess commented. "He was telling me about that today, about how jealous people are of him. How they all want something from him."

"Oh," Mattie said, turning to face Bess. "You two were talking together?"

"Uh-huh!" Bess said happily. "We found out we have a lot in common."

"I see," Mattie said, looking down at her plate.

"Wait a minute," Bess said slowly. "You two aren't going out or anything, are you?"

"Oh, no," Mattie quickly replied. "That is, not anymore."

So, Mattie was was one of those broken hearts! Nancy thought. one of those broken hearts! Nancy thought.

"Oh, phew." Bess breathed a sigh of relief. "I wouldn't want to steal somebody else's boyfriend or anything. You see, he's asked me out for Sat.u.r.day."

"He-he asked you out?" Mattie whispered. Her eyes grew incredibly wide, and her mouth fell open.

"Yes," Nancy interjected soothingly. "And I'm going along, too. It's perfect, don't you think? That way I can keep an eye on Rick."

"I see." Mattie looked somewhat calmed by Nancy's explanation. Still, she turned to Bess with a sudden, compelling stare. "Just be careful, please," she said, warning her. "You don't know Rick the way I do-you don't know how dangerous he can be."

Chapter Six.

"LISTEN, BESS-" MATTIE relaxed her stare a bit, trying hard not to look so severe. "I really don't want to upset you, but, honestly, Rick can really love them and leave them. Maybe it's because deep down inside, he's very unsure of himself. Or maybe he's become too successful too fast, and- Sometimes I wonder if he can really handle it."

"Rick? Unsure of himself?" Bess shook her head, in disbelief. "I'm sorry, Mattie. I don't think you know the real Rick."

"Maybe not, but I've known him a long time. We did summer stock together years ago. He was different then, warm and sincere. In the past few years, he's really changed. He can be so cold now, even cruel."

"Well, maybe he just hasn't met the right girl yet," Bess suggested.

"Wait a minute," Nancy interrupted. "Mattie, why are you so concerned about a man you've just told us is cold, cruel, and steps on people?"

"Oh, I don't know," Mattie answered softly. "I guess I still think of him as a friend, even if it didn't work out between us." Looking over at Nancy imploringly, she added, "Rick would never admit it, but I'm sure that way down deep he's scared. I'd just feel so much better if you were on the set tomorrow."

Bess rolled her eyes and got up from the table. Nancy watched her go. She hoped Bess knew what she was doing where Rick was concerned.

"I'd like to be there myself," Nancy replied, turning back to Mattie. "But now that the set's closed to visitors-"

"Wait a minute!" Mattie cried. Her eyes shimmered with excitement. "I just got a brilliant idea! We're shooting a hospital scene tomorrow, and I'll bet I could get you and Bess jobs as extras! What do you think? Will you do it?"

Across the kitchen, Bess couldn't help jumping up and down with excitement. "That would be fantastic!"

Nancy thought for a moment. "Are you sure you could do it?"

"Almost sure. Here, let me call the casting director. Eloise, do you have a phone book handy?"

Nancy's aunt brought the book over as Bess loaded the dishwasher. "Just imagine, Nancy, appearing oh my favorite soap!"

"We're in luck!" Mattie announced, hanging up the phone a few minutes later. "She says you two can be nurses. Just report to the studio at seven sharp, and go straight to the costume room as soon as you get there."

"But what if people recognize us?" Nancy wondered out loud.

"Oh, they won't recognize you." Mattie laughed and stood up to leave. "No one ever looks at the extras. Besides, when you're on camera you'll probably have wigs and uniforms on. You probably won't even recognize yourselves."

"You know, Nancy," Bess said after Mattie had gone. "No matter what anyone says, I've read that a lot of big stars started out as extras. You never know-this could be my lucky break!"

Bess and Nancy had reported to the studio at seven the next morning. After the dry blocking, in which they learned what they were to do, they reported to makeup and wardrobe. Now, standing on pedestals as two wardrobe people finished their final fittings for the dress rehearsal, Bess and Nancy couldn't help giggling.

"You're really a knockout as a brunette, Nancy!" Bess said.

Nancy looked over at her friend, who was wearing an identical uniform. She had a white nurse's cap over her bright red wig, and Nancy had never seen her look more excited.

"Your dress rehearsal will be third, ladies," a production a.s.sistant told them. "After the big love scene, which is the second, report to Lillian. You know where to stand and what to do from the first rehearsal. So, break a leg. Oh, if you want to catch Rick and Mattie in rehearsal, you can. Rory and Serena are going to have a big scene. It's supposed to be pretty hot stuff."

Bess immediately dashed down the corridor to the set, determined not to miss a word of Mattie and Rick's scene. It was all Nancy could do to keep up with her.

Watching the cast and crew gather around the set of Serena Livingstone's living room, Nancy could feel their edginess. The near-disaster of the day before had obviously gotten to everyone. Even though the set was closed to outsiders, Nancy could tell that n.o.body felt truly safe.

The only person who seemed at ease was Rick. Flashing a smile at Bess as he walked onto the set, he looked as if he were on top of the world.

He took his place in the middle of the set, and slowly Rick Arlen seemed to fade away. When the director finally called "Action," he had become Rory Danner.

In the scene, Rory was supposed to tell Serena that he'd be hers forever, if she would have him. Even though it was an intense scene, Nancy noticed that Rick was reading nearly all his lines from the teleprompter. But then, with all the excitement the day before, she reasoned, he probably hadn't had time to memorize them.

Mattie was having trouble with her lines, too. She had excused herself early the night before to go home and work, but obviously she didn't remember much. Although she was really throwing herself into the scene, Nancy noticed that she, too, kept glancing over at her teleprompter to check her lines.

"Should I leave, Serena? Is that what you want?" Rick asked, pacing in front of Mattie nervously.