A Pacific Breeze Hotel (5 page)

Felicia rushed to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water, which she handed to her friend.

“Gee whiz, I burned my tongue!” screeched Lila. The words came out as “Thee witz, ah burn ma thung.”

Felicia covered her mouth, trying not to giggle.

“As I was about to say,” continued Lila. “I’m afraid your career is dead in the water.”

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Josie A. Okuly

Felicia sat down heavily in the chair as if she were plummeting back to reality. “Dead and buried,” she agreed.

“You were actually there when DeWarner bought it?”

“In the flesh.” Felicia shivered. “And I’d give anything to turn back the clock and never have set foot in his office in the first place.”

“Were you at the studio for an audition?”

Felicia rolled her eyes. “DeWarner called it one but he wanted more than I was willing to give.”

Lila sipped her coffee and winced. “Still too hot. Not to speak ill of the dead or anything, but DeWarner had a reputation as the most lecherous slime in the business. He had a sweet, grandfatherly aura about him, but his heart was pure Casanova.”

“I wish I’d known that about him.”

Lila dropped her gaze. “I thought everyone knew. I keep forgetting you’re new in town. I had to learn about him the hard way, too.”

Felicia leaned forward in the chair. “You mean, he...”

Lila nodded. Her expression darkened and her eyes hardened. “When I first came to Hollywood, I didn’t know there were men like him out here.

We had a wrestling match in his office, but I wasn’t as lucky as you. I didn’t get away.”

Felicia’s hands balled into fists. “That dirty old goat!”

“Whoever killed him did every actress in Hollywood a big favor. I had fantasies of killing him myself.” Lila’s voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. “But hey, let’s look on the bright side. DeWarner got what he deserved, and we can all rest easier tonight.”

Felicia stood up and walked to the sofa. She sat down beside Lila and put her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you report it to the police?”

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Pacific Breeze Hotel

Lila shook off Felicia’s arm. “Are you crazy? You know why I didn’t report it―because I wanted to work! Do you think I would’ve worked again if I had complained to the police? I’d be in the same situation as you!” Lila’s eyes widened in horror and she put a hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I guess I can’t go a day without putting my foot in my mouth.”

Felicia forced a grin. “Don’t worry about it; it’s a big club.”

They hugged each other and sat in silence. Felicia wondered how many powerful men like DeWarner were out there preying on naive young women.

Lila wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “On a different subject, Gina Gallo happened to be looking out her window yesterday afternoon, and saw a handsome guy in a suit follow you home. You hadn’t been in your apartment more than five minutes when you let out a scream that rocked the rafters. Before Gina could rush to your apartment, the handsome guy was already there. I’m assuming it was the Dana Andrews look-alike? He’s the one who kept making eyes at you.”

Felicia blushed. “Yes, well, Detective O’Rourke is staying with me because of the knife in the coffee table.”

“The what in the what?” Now it was Lila’s turn to lean forward. Her eyes were bright with excitement and barely contained curiosity.

Felicia explained everything that had happened since the unfortunate audition at DeWarner Studios. Lila’s eyes grew wide and wider still as she listened to the story.

When Felicia finished her story, Lila punched the threadbare pillow on the sofa. “I go shopping for a few hours and miss all the excitement.”

“It was a day I won’t forget.”

“Right about now, I’ll bet you wish you’d never left Arizona.”

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Josie A. Okuly

Felicia bit her lip and picked up Lila’s empty water glass. She carried it to the kitchen and made a pretense of washing, drying and putting it away. She turned to see Lila standing in the kitchen doorway.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that.” Lila studied her bright pink toenails, peeking out from pink strappy sandals. “Sometimes I wish I’d never left St. Louis myself. I should probably be married with five kids by now.”

Felicia grinned. “I’d like to see the man who could settle you down with five kids.”

“He would have to be someone special, that’s for sure.” Lila cocked her head to one side and her blond ringlets flopped in all different directions as if they had a mind of their own. She resembled a pink Medusa with a head full of silky, yellow snakes.

Lila grabbed an oatmeal cookie from the cookie jar on the counter. “I wouldn’t mind an introduction to the Alan Ladd look-alike. Hint, hint. I have a thing for blonds, you know. I could definitely see myself walking down the aisle with a blond.”

Felicia laughed. “Speaking of marriage, you’ll never guess who phoned me yesterday.” She told Lila about the conversation with Vance Morgan.

“You think he’s engaged?”

“He might be.” Felicia nibbled on her lower lip. “I can’t think what else it could be. He’s supposed to phone or come by today.”

Lila grabbed another cookie and then headed for the door. “It’s always good to keep a man waiting. How about we go out and do some shopping? There’s a sale on nylons at Woolworth’s.”

“I should wait here...”

“Leave a note on the door in case Vance comes by.”

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Pacific Breeze Hotel

As she wrote a note for Vance, Felicia wondered how the DeWarner investigation was proceeding. Most of all, she wondered where O’Rourke was at that very moment. The thought of him brought a smile to her face.

“I’ve seen that dreamy look before.” Lila rolled her eyes. “Are you sweet on that cop? Or perhaps you’re carrying a torch for Vance, the high school sweetheart?”

Felicia ignored her. “Are we going shopping or what?”

“Okay, okay, I’ll keep my big mouth shut.”

Lila’s car whizzed through traffic. As always, Felicia enjoyed riding in the pink 1939 Lincoln Convertible with the comfortable, white leather seats and ample leg room. The breeze blew across her face and the fresh air revived her spirits. People turned to stare as the outrageous pink car made its way down Hollywood Boulevard. Most of the locals knew Lila and forgave her eccentric taste in cars, clothes, and just about everything else.

The convertible slid comfortably into a parking space a block from Woolworth’s. Felicia decided after maneuvering her way through the crowded store, that every woman in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas must have heard of the sale. Lila grabbed a handful of nylons from a sales bin. Women were snatching pieces of merchandise as if Woolworth’s was the
Titanic
on its way to the bottom of the sea. Felicia decided the safest place to stand was near the front display windows where ravenous shoppers were not as numerous.

Felicia sensed someone watching her from across the street. For a split second, out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a man in an expensive suit staring back at her. Medium height, dark, slicked back hair. But then he was gone. Felicia’s gaze roamed up and down the crowded street, but no one looked in her direction. Moving away from the window, she went in search of Lila.

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Josie A. Okuly

After paying, Lila piled her purchases into the roomy trunk of the convertible and then slammed the trunk shut with a snap of her wrist. “I managed to nab over a dozen nylons.” Lila’s face wore a satisfied smile.

“They’re not on sale every day of the week you know.”

“Great job.”

“The great job was getting those pink heels. They match my pink angora sweater.”

“Angora makes me sneeze.” Felicia stared down at the street, wondering if she had imagined the stranger following her. “So where do you want to eat?”

“The Brown Derby?”

“Can you afford it?”

“Just got a part in an MGM musical.” Pride was evident in Lila’s voice. “Non-speaking, non-singing. They hired me to look good and smile for the camera.”

“Congratulations!” Felicia meant it, even though her heart twisted with bittersweet regret at the thought of her own now-defunct career.

“You could always do community theatre.” Lila checked her make-up in the rearview mirror. “Doesn’t pay as much, but...”

“We’ll see.” Felicia mimicked O’Rourke’s words. “Maybe it’ll be a nine days’ wonder and then things will get back to normal.”

Felicia didn’t believe it for a moment.

“I guess the Brown Derby isn’t such a good idea.” Lila turned the key in the ignition. “Too many show business types and reporters. This town is a fishbowl.”

“I was thinking of the Streetcar Diner,” Felicia said as they rolled away from the curb. “It’s off the beaten path.” Then a thought occurred to her. “Better yet, there’s this new place I just discovered. It’s called the Ring-Tailed Lemur.”

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Pacific Breeze Hotel

“That’s a cop hang out.”

“But they cook a fine burger.”

Lila arched an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Since when have you been crazy about burgers?”

Moments later, they pulled up to the Ring-Tailed Lemur. The parking lot was full so Lila parked the Convertible on the curb near the restaurant. As soon as Felicia stepped out of the car, the feeling of being watched hit her again. She frowned as she glanced up and down the street. This cat-and-mouse game was getting on her nerves. She scanned the neighborhood until something caught her eye. In the alley snaking between the buildings facing the Ring-Tailed Lemur, a man watched her from the shadows.

“Do you see that man?” Felicia pointed toward the alley.

He hurried down the alley before disappearing into one of the buildings.

“What man?” Lila squinted and then shook her head.

“He’s gone now.”
If he was ever there.
Felicia wondered if the shock of DeWarner’s death, not to mention the knife left in her coffee table, was causing her mind to come completely unhinged.

The Ring-Tailed Lemur was crowded with men in uniform, along with a few female patrons. Felicia spotted O’Rourke having lunch with his partner. She had known he would be there. As if sensing her scrutiny, O’Rourke looked up from his meal. Surprise, then pleasure crossed his face.

Felicia’s heart soared with anticipation at the sight of him. There was something about his attractive face and wide, honest eyes that made her breathe harder, faster, deeper.

“Hello, Felicia.” Gray eyes met green as O’Rourke held Felicia’s gaze.

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Josie A. Okuly

Felicia and O’Rourke introduced Lila and Nolan and then the two women joined them at the table. After a few moments of conversation, it was apparent Lila had taken a liking to the man she had described as “a dead ringer for Alan Ladd.” Detective Nolan was not only attractive, but he projected a quiet strength and integrity, qualities he shared with O’Rourke. These personality traits appealed to Felicia after her experience with actors, and she saw Lila felt the same way.

“Detective Nolan, how does your wife feel about your chosen profession?” Lila was outrageously unsubtle in her questioning.

“As a matter of fact, I don’t have a wife, ma’am.” A smile cracked Nolan’s face. “How about you?”

“I don’t have a wife, either.” Lila leaned toward Nolan with a mischievous smile. “Or husband or a sweetheart. So tell me about your job. It must be so dangerous.”

Felicia barely followed their conversation. She was more interested in studying O’Rourke, without him being aware of her attention. She saw that his apparently relaxed demeanor masked an intense alertness to the world around him. He frowned as his gaze traveled around the crowded restaurant.

Felicia leaned towards him and batted her eyes. “Tell me about your job, Detective O’Rourke. It must be so dangerous.”

O’Rourke threw back his head and laughed. The sound of his laughter soothed Felicia’s frazzled nerves.

“What’s so funny?” Nolan asked.

“You had to be there.” O’Rourke stirred sugar into his coffee.

“Must have been really funny,” Nolan said wryly. “It’s been ages since I’ve heard this old guy laugh.”

“I wouldn’t call him old,” Felicia objected. “I’d say he’s in the prime of life.”

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Pacific Breeze Hotel

O’Rourke’s gaze met and held Felicia’s. It was as if they were the only patrons in the crowded, noisy restaurant. Everyone and everything around them faded into the background.

“I can see we’re not needed here.” Lila’s words broke the spell. Felicia lowered her gaze. She couldn’t look at O’Rourke, didn’t want to get lost in his gray-eyed gaze again.

Felicia fumbled with the menu. “So what’s good for dessert?”

Lila smiled at her friend’s discomfiture, but offered no help. Instead, she turned her attention back to Nolan. “So what was your most interesting case?”

Thanks a lot, Lila.
Felicia gave her friend a sideways glare.

Felicia didn’t know how she made it through the meal. She couldn’t even remember what she had eaten or how it had tasted. All she could think about was the man who sat across from her in the crowded diner.

Why did he have to be so attractive? What was it about him that caused her pulse to race and her skin to blush whenever he turned those devastating gray eyes on her?

After lunch, O’Rourke and Nolan walked the two women back to the convertible. As soon as Felicia stepped out onto the sidewalk, she sensed someone lurked nearby, watching her from the shadows. With a mounting sense of urgency, she knew she must tell O’Rourke about the man in the expensive suit and slicked back hair.

“There’s something I need to tell you...” But before she could finish her sentence, O’Rourke slammed her to the ground. Instinctively, she covered her face with her hands as her body crashed into the hard pavement. O’Rourke pinned her to the sidewalk and then she heard the sharp report of gunfire. A bullet hit the trunk of the convertible.

“Stay down,” O’Rourke told her. He pulled out his gun from the shoulder holster, and then ran down the street.

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Josie A. Okuly