"You were willing to risk everything you have to make this happen? Go for broke? Why?"
"Because my family is worth the risk."
"How will taking over his company help your family?"
"I don't know if we actually even need to take it over. We just have to make him think we're going to. If he loses the company, he loses the movie. I want to give him something to focus on besides threatening the people I love." I have that unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. Even though I'm scared of my own plan, I know I have to see it through. "I want my life back, Grandpa. I'm tired of people telling me what I should do."
"Tell you what, why don't I get my old cronies together and have some fun with this. Seems to me you have enough on your plate."
"Are you serious? Ohmigosh, Grandpa, thank you. But before you agree, there's one more thing."
"What's that?"
"I need it, like, yesterday."
"Ain't no roots ever grow under these feet. It'll take some initial investigation, but I already have plenty of shell corporations we can use. This isn't my first rodeo, hotshot."
"I have some information. Who his investors are, their initial investments, Vincent's personal balance sheet. The guy told me this stuff was hard to get because it's a privately held company and not public record."
"Bullshit. You just have to know who to ask. Send me the information and I'll get my guys to confirm. That will give us a head start. I think we could be ready to fire the first shot across the bow by early next week."
"Really? That's amazing. I'll call Sam right now and have him send you the money. I'm short what I think it will cost, but I have some real estate I can sell. I'll put it on the market, take a loss, and get you the rest."
"Hotshot, you let me worry about the money. You worry about keeping yourself safe. I suffered all the way through that Victoria's Secret fashion show, wanting to see what all the fuss over this movie was about. After seeing the trailer, I suspect Vincent is as fidgety as a whore in church."
"I want him to know what it feels like to lose control of his life."
"I wondered how long it would take for you to fight back," Grandpa says. "Glad to see I taught you well. Just remember, any idiot can poke a rattlesnake with a stick, but a wise man knows exactly how long that stick is."
"Thanks, Grandpa. I'll keep that in mind."
I hang up, pull into the airport parking lot, pull on a wig of chestnut curls, and turn toward Cooper. "I'm really glad you decided to come with me."
"There's no way I'd let you go alone. And I know you would have."
"Yeah, but I may have just figured out a plan that you'll approve of."
"What does it involve?"
"A flashy entrance and a stealth exit. I think I know exactly how long my stick is."
Cooper looks amused. "I don't know how long your stick is, but I will admit, you've grown a big set of balls."
That makes me laugh and also feel a little proud of myself.
Once we're in the air, I turn to Cooper and say, "So, we have homework to do."
"We?"
"Yeah. We're going to watch A Day at the Lake. I've never really studied the plot."
"Is there a plot?" Cooper laughs. "I've never seen the movie, but from what I understand, people only watch it because of all the now-famous actors that got their start in it."
"That's true. But what we have to figure out is why Vincent loves it. There must be something more than her running around in a bikini and screaming that caught his attention."
Cooper shakes his head and chuckles some more. "If he fell in love with her as a teenager, that's exactly what caught his attention."
"So you won't mind watching it?"
"Tough job."
As we watch the movie, I stop it often, rewinding, re-watching, and writing down plot points.
A Day at the Lake INTRODUCTION - MEET OUR CHARACTERS AND SEE THEM IN THEIR NORMAL LIVES.
* We meet college students, Lacy (Mom) and her hot frat boyfriend, Matt. They are with a group of friends, planning a weekend getaway at a friend's lake house.
* Lacy and Matt seem to be the perfect couple until they argue about her doing a semester abroad to study archeology. (This scene leaves you wondering if their relationship is just superficial. I mean, he should support her, right? It's her dream.) RISING ACTION - WHERE COMPLICATIONS IN THE STORY START TO APPEAR.
* They arrive at the lake house, which is a huge spread in the middle of nowhere. A few people have cell phones, but they have no service. No problem though. The house has a phone line. (Desolate location? Check.) * The party kicks into gear. Drinks are made. Many are consumed. Music blares. A great time is had by all.
* Shot of Lacy walking out of the lake, blowing a kiss to Matt. (The money shot, so to speak.) * Matt and Lacy are making out in the lake when a raft bumps into Lacy's arm. She opens her eyes and screams as she sees Dead Partier #1.
* Everyone is drunk and freaking out. Girls are crying. It's at this point that they discover the house phone is dead. And the boat, although it had been pulling wake boarders all afternoon, suddenly won't start. They are stuck there.
* Drunk boys decide to keep partying, as that's what Dead Partier #1 would have wanted them to do, and figure they can fix the boat tomorrow.
* Matt sends Lacy, who is still in her bikini, to grab a couple more beers. Lacy screams as she discovers Dead Partier #2, a boy who "fell" down the stairs. (Must have been a small wardrobe budget. They didn't even give her a cover-up!) * Drunk partiers decide to be more careful. (Do your friends typically die when you're partying, or are they just accident prone?) * Drama ensues as two party girls fight over a boy. Bikini-clad Lacy shows up to save the day, giving them a brief girl-power speech and pouring them tequila shooters. (Hello, Lacy?! Maybe you should be handing out bottles of water and shotguns instead?) * Now bffs again, Bikini-Clad Lacy and the girls head back to join the party, but all scream when they discover Dead Partier #3. She's dead on the bathroom floor, blood oozing from a head wound. Drunk boys surmise Dead Partier #3 must have hit her head on the sink. Someone suggests walking to get help, but is told there are no neighbors for 10 miles. (And it's dark now.) * Remaining partiers decide to sober up-for about two seconds-until Matt makes a poignant speech about their fallen comrades and they all drink to their friends. Partying ensues. (This scene should be included in a public service announcement about underage drinking.) * Matt is all over Bikini-Clad Lacy, things quickly getting hot and heavy between them. (I will admit, they have good onscreen chemistry and I'm hoping they survive. I'm also starting to scan the remaining partiers trying to determine who is the killer.) Matt, in the wake of the deaths, tells Lacy that they need to embrace life. (And, apparently, that means a quick shag in the lake.) * Now, Wet-Bikini-Clad Lacy needs to use the restroom. (She can have sex in the lake, but is apparently too much of a lady to pee in it.) * Lacy goes into the dark house, flips a light switch, and discovers that the power is out. (OMG!) * But she must really have to pee, so she creeps up the dark stairs because, obviously, she doesn't want to use the bathroom where Dead Partier #3's body still is. (Don't. Go. Up. The. Stairs!) * While Lacy is peeing, she hears a noise, gets scared, and rushes out of the bathroom without bothering to flush. (I've heard people play drinking games while watching this movie. You drink every time: Lacy screams, Matt says sweet, or when a dead partier is found. Meaning we'd all be drunk by now.) * Lacy tells the boy whose house this is that the power is out. He says, "Happens all the time on the island. Must be a storm." Lacy agrees with him. (Even though there's not a cloud in the sky?!) CLIMAX - A TURNING POINT IN THE STORY, WHERE MUCH OF THE PLOT IS REVEALED.
* It's at this point that viewers realize they don't know anything about House Boy. He's cute, but seems quiet, and doesn't appear to be drunk.
But when Lacy says, Vince, do you have some candles? I about fall out of my seat.
"Ohmigawd," Cooper and I mutter at the same time.
"Is that it?" Cooper asks. "Is it because they share the same name?"
"No. Vincent's real name is Thaddeus Samuel Kingston."
"So where did Vincent Sharpe come from?"
I look at the movie paused on the screen. "I'm pretty sure we know now where the name Vincent came from. But his grandmother was the actress, Viviane Sharpe. I'm not sure when he started going by Vincent Sharpe, but it's the name he uses professionally."
"I'm not a big movie buff, but I know who Viviane Sharpe was. I suppose that name helped him get ahead in the industry."
I nod. "Yeah, probably. Still, it's weird though. Do you think Vince is the killer in the movie? Or the guy she ends up with?"
"I don't know," Cooper says, then rewinds the part we just missed.
We watch as Vince puts his hand gently on Lacy's shoulder.
Are you freaked out by everyone dying? he asks as he hands her a box of candles.
A little, she admits. You?
She holds out a candle and he lights it.
(The cinematography on this scene is gorgeous. Dark room, only lit by moonlight. Vince and Lacy's faces suddenly glowing in the candlelight. Mom looks angelically beautiful. And I can see why a boy who thought his mom was a whore fell in love right then and there.) Vince touches Lacy's hand and says, "Don't worry. I'd never let anything happen to you."
Lacy places the taper into a candlestick and sets it on the kitchen table.
Then she does what she's famous for. The corners of her mouth form a little smirk, which slowly spreads into her famous megawatt smile.
Thanks, Vince, she says sweetly, blushing.
And you feel it. Something between them. A little spark.
Cooper pauses the movie. "Does it freak you out, watching this?"
"Um, no. Why?"
"That smirk that builds to the big smile. It's like I'm watching you."
I'm flattered, which makes me smile.
"See, you just did it. When you first met Vincent, you were in a bikini, right?"
"Yeah, and in the picture that was missing from Mom's set trailer."
Cooper nods and presses play. "Vince likes her, don't you think?"
"For sure. What you can't tell is if Lacy likes him back or if she's just being nice."
"Let's keep going."
I heard you might not be coming to Egypt. You shouldn't let him hold you back, you know.
I know, Lacy says softly. But I love him.
He's an asshole.
We've had this conversation before, Vincey.
"Vincey? Does my mom not see the parallels between this movie and life?"
"I think this explains why she was planning to leave Tommy," Cooper states. "But she's looking at it from her perspective. I'd say your Brooklyn is in more danger than Tommy."
"Shit." I knead my forehead. "I hope Vincent shows up and thinks I'm back. I need to keep B safe. And I'm so grateful my grandpa is handling the takeover."
"Are you in love with Aiden or Brooklyn?" Cooper randomly asks.
I frown at his question.
"I'm not trying to interfere in your love life, but . . ."
"Anyone I love will be in danger."
"Exactly."
"That's why I didn't want to be at Eastbrooke while we did this."
Have you made a decision?
Yes. I'm not going. I'm sorry. I know you'll have an amazing time without me.
Vince's eyes smolder as he says, Just answer me this. If he wasn't in the picture, you'd go, right?
Tears gather in her eyes. Yeah, probably.
Vince takes the candles out of her hands, sets them on the table, and pulls her into a hug.
She gives him a sad little smile and then says, I better get back out there.
* Not long after this, Still-Bikini-Clad Lacy screams again as Dead Partier #4 is found. It's the girl who was upset earlier. Apparently, she and Lacy were close, because Lacy starts crying, and Matt pulls her into a hug. After dead body #4 is found, the four remaining partiers finally sober up.
This is getting creepy, Still-Alive Party Girl #5 says.
"I agree," Cooper says.
I'm starting to think these weren't accidents, Matt deduces brilliantly.
I think you're right, Lacy agrees. She takes a band from her wrist and pulls her hair up into a high, tight ponytail.
I pause the movie and stare at the screen, feeling like I'm looking in a mirror.
The captain announces our decent and asks us to buckle up.
"We'll watch the rest on the way back," I tell Cooper, shutting off my laptop and stowing it.
We fly into Van Nuys Airport, which is closest to Malibu, easy to get in and out of, and one of the only airports in the Los Angeles area that has no hourly restrictions regarding when flights can take off. We don't have the time to airport-hop, so I did something else to shield our identity. I opened a fractional ownership under Cooper's name and bought a chunk of hours. I figure Cooper Steele kind of sounds like an actor, and he kind of looks like he could be one, too. With my darker hair and our comfortable relationship, we'll easily pass as brother and sister.
Our pre-arranged driver picks us up and shuttles us to Malibu, dropping us off at the Malibu Lumberyard.
"We have time for some fish tacos," I say, suddenly craving them.
"As long as you keep the wig on, I'm fine with it. I'm hungry. Besides, we need to go over your plan for tonight in detail."
The restaurant is crowded, so we sit at the bar. Cooper picks a spot close to the doors to the kitchen. I notice he chooses a seat with his back to the wall, facing the crowd. I sit down next to him.