A Stranger in the Mirror by Sidney Sheldon Page A

the magical moment, his entrance into the big time. Clifton Lawrence was off in Europe somewhere, making deals for has-been clients when he should have been here making this deal. Well, Lawrence would have a real surprise in store for him when he returned. Toby leaned forward and said, smiling engagingly, "I'm listening, Al." "Millie loves you."
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    Toby blinked, sure that he had missed something. The man was watching him, his eyes twinkling. "I -- I'm sorry," Toby said, in confusion. "What did you i" Al Caruso smiled warmly. "Millie loves you. She told
    Millie? Could that be Caruso's wife? His daughter? Toby ted to speak, but Al Caruso interrupted. "She's a great kid. I been keepin' her for three, four �." He turned to the other two men. "Four years?" They nodded. Al Caruso turned back to Toby. "I love that girl, Toby. really crazy about her." Toby could feel the blood beginning to drain from his t "Mr. Caruso--" Al Caruso said, "Millie and me got a deal. I don't cheat icr except with my wife, and she don't cheat on me unless tdls me." He beamed at Toby, and this time Toby saw ething beyond the cherubic smile that turned his blood e. "Mr. Caruso--" "You know something', Toby? You're the first guy she ^cheated on me with." He turned to the two men at the fc "Is that the honest truth?" They nodded. When Toby spoke, his voice was trembling. "I -- I swear tod I didn't know Millie was your girlfriend. If I had even wied it, I wouldn't have touched her. I wouldn't have e within a mile of her, Mr. Caruso --" The Santa Claus beamed at him. "Al. Call me Al." t"Al." It came out as a croak. Toby could feel the per- ation running down under his arms. "Look, Al," he said. I-- I'll never see her again. Ever. Believe me, I --" Caruso was staring at him. "Hey! I don't think you were fang to me." Toby swallowed. "Yes. Yes, I was. I heard every word said. And you don't ever have to worry about --" "I said the kid loves you. If she wants you, then I want to have you. I want her to be happy. Understand?" down Toby's back. But it was all right. Caruso was beaming and saying, "You were great tonight, Toby, really great." Toby began to relax. "It was a good audience." Caruso's brown eyes twinkled and he said, "You made them a good audience, Toby. I told you -- you got talent." "Thanks, Al." He wished they would all leave, so he could be on his way. "You work hard," Al Caruso said. He turned to his two lieutenants. "Did I say I never seen nobody work so hard?" The two men nodded. Caruso turned back to Toby. "Hey--Millie was kinda upset you didn't call her. I told her it was because you was workin' so hard." "That's right," Toby said quickly. "I'm glad you understand. Al." Al smiled benignly. "Sure. But you know what I don't understand? You didn't call to find out what time the wedding is." "I was going to call in the morning." Al Caruso laughed and said chidingly, "From L.A.?" Toby felt a small pang of anxiety. "What are you talking about, Al?" Caruso regarded him reproachfully. "You got your suitcases all packed in there." He pinched Toby's cheek playfully. "I told you I'd kill anyone who hurt Millie." "Wait a minute! Honest to God, I wasn't--" "You're a good kid, but you're stupid, Toby. I guess that's part of being' a genius, huh?" Toby stared at the chubby, beaming countenance, not knowing what to say. "You gotta believe me," Al Caruso said warmly, "I'm your friend. I wanna make sure nofhin' bad happens to you. For Millie's sake. But if you won't listen to me, what can I do? You know how you get a mule to pay attention?" Toby shook his head dumbly. "First, you hit it over the head with a two-by-four." Toby felt fear rising in his throat. "Which is your good arm?" Caruso asked.
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    'My -- my right one," Toby mumbled. Caruso nodded genially and fumed to the two men. "Break e said. From out of nowhere, a tire iron appeared in the hands ie of the men. The two of them began closing in on . The river of fear became a sudden flood that made hole