Jill had Tom record her statement and then drove home in a trance.
She was barely able to think straight, too many things were running through her head.Thank God Mrs. Atkins appeared to be busy or not at home, and she reached her flat unseen.Completely distraught, she collapsed onto the couch and sat motionless, thinking about what Walter had told her.So Craig was innocent, fortunately. She was immensely relieved, the thought that he might be involved in this sordid business had hurt her a lot.Still, a bitter aftertaste lingered, she thought of his face when he turned back at the door to the hall last night. He'd been hurt, hurt that she'd thought he'd worked things out with Harriet.She would probably have been just as disappointed if she had been in his place, but what else was she supposed to believe? It had all fitted together too well, and Harriet's phrase about Craig holding her had seemed so unequivocal.Jill still couldn't undersJill's heart began to pound. Did she really hear that right? Was he really serious? Or was he making fun of her to get back at her for the arrest and everything else? She looked at him doubtfully, expecting to see a mocking smile. But his face was serious and there was so much tenderness and longing in his eyes that it hit her deep in the heart. All her feelings for him swept over her like a tidal wave, and she wanted to throw herself into his arms. But there were still the things she'd done behind his back that she couldn't possibly hide from him. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Craig, I have something to confess to you and after that you won't value me," she said softly. “I… I was snooping around on your laptop the night I was waiting for you in your room. I did it because of my assignment, but I don't want to make that excuse. You gave me your key and trusted me and I betrayed your trust. Also, I overheard a phone call from you in Aspen, at least part
It was time for the morning meeting. Walter Abbott, the head of the special investigation team, entered the room and rounded everyone up. The investigators gathered around a group of desks, pulled up a couple of chairs, and the meeting began.First the current cases were discussed, then Walter made a serious face.»As you may know, casting for the next season of this show 'The Super Model' will take place in the coming days. Last year in Bartonville, a girl mysteriously disappeared and has not been found to this day. The case was put on hold because no concrete evidence could be found anywhere. Now that the new season is starting, and since it's taking place here in Lakeside this time, we've got it on the table. We're to reopen the investigation and try to prevent anything like this from happening again.”Walter Abbott, affectionately known as “Walt” by the investigators, paused for a moment and they looked at him intently.&nb
The next morning she sat down at the PC and gathered all the information she could find about the Super Model crew. It was almost noon when she had gathered everything that seemed important to her. She snuggled down on the couch with her notes and went through each person.First up, of course, was the label's head judge and producer, Harriet Grumb. She had been a very successful model herself, but at thirty-four she was well past her prime. Now she was taking advantage of the girls' inexperience and naivety to make a fortune. Allegedly, she wasn't particularly gentle with either the models or her employees. There were enough reports describing how she used to bully people.At her side and also on the jury were two men, Michael Fairgate and Craig Peters.Michael Fairgate, just called "Mick" by everyone, was the owner of one of the leading modeling agencies. The winner of each season received a two-year modeling contract from him in addition to a $500,
Jill stood transfixed, trying to see something, but the glare blinded her too much. The room was completely dark, only the catwalk in front of her was bathed in a whitish light from the headlights."Run!" hissed a voice behind her, and she took a few unsteady steps forward."Will something happen today?" a woman's voice shrilled from somewhere in front of her from the blackness of the room, drowning out the low hum of the cameras. "Are you going to put down roots there?"Helpless, Jill began to move again, stumbling forward with little grace on the stilettos with the unusually high heels. She tried hard not to slip, which was not an easy task given the mirror-smooth floor.She staggered menacingly a few times, but eventually she managed to reach the bottom of the podium. Relieved, she stopped, blinked hard into the darkness."A bit old, isn't it?" she heard a man's voice.The woman screamed again. "Now don't just stan
A week later, the second selection broadcast took place, and with a stomach ache, Jill made her way to the town hall. The closer she came, the more hesitant her steps became, she wanted to turn on her heel.This time there were far fewer girls, most of them had already been eliminated at the first casting, but the rush in the changing room was no less than last time. She spotted Mandy in a corner. Compared to the other girls, she had seemed relatively calm and reasonable, and relieved she steered towards them."Hi," Mandy smiled at her, "Nice to see you, at least one familiar face."Jill nodded. "Yes, I feel the same. – Do you have any idea how things are going here today?”“Well, if I got that right, there are three rounds. One in normal clothes, one in evening wear, and one in a bikini.”“Bikini,” Jill repeated, disturbed, and the thought of being stared at by a number of onlookers so scanti
Of course, the colleagues had all watched the program, apparently they had met for a cozy "men's night" and enjoyed Jill's brilliant performance together.And like last time, she was greeted with whistles, jeers and salacious comments when she came to the headquarters a day later.Almost in tears, she fled to Walter's office."I'm not going out there anymore," she said firmly instead of a greeting.Walt grinned. »Come on girl, don't be so wild. You've done well and I'm sure the boys will settle down in the next few days,' he comforted her. "The main thing is that it worked, what are some stupid jokes about?""You don't have to listen to that," Jill said, frustrated.'It's going away. You're going to be in this model mansion for a while now, and by the time you get back the co-workers will have something else to talk about.”“Or not,” Jill murmured, annoyed, realizing the men were get
The next afternoon, with a heavy heart, Jill lugged her suitcase to the town hall. There was the meeting point, they would all be picked up by a bus and brought to the villa.A few of the other nine girls were already there when she arrived, and a camera crew was there to film the departure from Lakeside and arrival at the villa.One by one the rest of the girls trundled in. To her delight, Jill spotted Mandy among the stragglers, and she immediately came up to her and gave her a happily hug."Glad you're here too, I don't feel so alone," she said, and Jill nodded."Yes, I'm happy too."They stood there in silence and waited for the bus to arrive. Jill, meanwhile, let her gaze wander over the other girls, who were dancing around, chattering excitedly."Well, that could be something," Jill sighed to herself, already annoyed. She fervently hoped there wouldn't be shared rooms, she couldn't stand a whole flock of those affected geese.Fi
After they had calmly unpacked their things and stowed their suitcases under the bed, they went out onto the balcony and sat down in the two sun loungers. They shook their heads as they watched the rest of the girls splash around in the pool, squeaking and screaming like they'd never seen a pool in their lives. Harriet and Mick were lying in two sun loungers a little way from the pool and were talking. It was immediately clear to Jill why the girls were so excited again, of course they tried to put themselves in the right light in front of the two judges."Oh my god, what a monkey business," Jill murmured in consternation, and Mandy smiled. "But we'll have to godownstairs at some point, unless you're starving."I don't do the theater voluntarily. – Speaking of which, what do you think if we go shopping together tomorrow?”Mandy nodded. “Yes, of course, okay.”They enjoyed the sun in silence, lost in thou