Helena Goes to Hollywood: A Helena Morris Mystery (7 page)

The calculated move only took seconds but the gasp from my people watching said it all.

“I think I won.” Releasing his foot, I went back offstage and grabbed my coffee.

“Well then, the last tech consultant we had sucked. He told me to stand tall and straight, that I looked better. The lines of my suit hung nice.”

“Was that the tech guy or Jordan?” I asked.

Giggles came from the staff.

Sonia huffed. “Hel, stop. We appreciate your help but there are always problems getting a new show off the ground. Rob has to look good on TV and fight authentically.”

“Yes, you’re good at the kicking but no one will put
you
on television.” Bernadette and her thick British accent stepped into the stage area.

“I don’t want to be on TV. I just want my sister’s program to be accurate and a hit.” I tried but failed to resist. “Are you legal? Because I dated a guy at the INS for a while and we can check that out.”

Sam gave me a look that said he was laughing on the inside. Jordan snickered. Rob got off the floor and dusted his tight buns. Sonia grabbed my arm, steering me away with a grin only I could see.

“Be nice. I have to work with these people,” Sonia whispered.

“Relax. The director is cool. It’s just a tech tip. If you guys need someone I’m going to be here anyway with you. I can help out, I don’t mind.” I rolled my shoulders. “Felt good to spar a bit again. I usually teach classes six days a week so I get antsy without a little kicking and punching.”

“You need a sex life. You always talk about these guys you dated. Are you dating anyone now?” she asked.

“No, I’m between guys. Do battery operated devices count?”

“Ew, Hel. Call Todd or something. I don’t like you being alone. Both of us at the same time is not good.” She squeezed my hand so predictably it almost felt like a scripted scene. Her face went hard which was the only way you could tell she got serious. Yet she didn’t have even a hint of a wrinkle.

“Just because I’m single doesn’t mean I’m defective or vulnerable. Okay? Men don’t equal safety. It’s not the end of the world to get a divorce so just worry about yourself. Todd and I are still friends but I’m not running to him for protection,” I said firmly.

If she’d ever met Dad she’d know why I was in no rush to settle down again. She had daddy abandonment issues while I had trust issues. I hadn’t seen my dad in over thirty years but he was out there.

“You need to be more social. Get out there.” Sonia wanted the normal happy family she didn’t have as a kid. All she knew was Mom and me with visits from Grandma. Then a step dad entered the picture. Let Sonia dream. I had to deal with reality.

The tension hung thick and I had to break it. “It’s Hollywood. Guys don’t go for girls who aren’t a size zero or smaller. My getting a sex life will have to wait until I’m back in Vegas.”

“Fine. Be a smart ass. Make fun of me for being a size four.” She huffed back to the chairs where Jordan and I had been sitting and flopped into mine.

Right on my half a cheese Danish.

“Yuck!” she screeched. “Jordan!”

He raced to her after helping Rob dust off his expensively suited ass. “We’re fine. I’ve got a backup.”

I couldn’t resist. “Look where you’re sitting, Sis.”

She’d never be a star to me. I pulled out my cell phone to track down Danny, the soon-to-be ex. I’d had enough of playing around a Hollywood set for now. I had a real job to do.

A
s I walked out to the parking lot I began to wonder if I was being too easy on Sonia. It wouldn’t help her if I babied her; part of it was just my nature. Being ten when Sonia was born, I remembered every detail of her growing up. I wanted her to be safe but maybe a hired bodyguard would make more of an impression.

Mom wanted Sonia protected and I didn’t want to let either of them down. Watching Mom being smacked around and getting my share had been enough trauma. She’d been hurt enough. Someone had been looking out for us—when Mom got pregnant with Sonia, Dad insisted
it
wasn’t his and left.

I’d never forget that day. It was like Christmas and my birthday with the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy coming to visit.

Of course the fear that he’d return haunted us for a while. That prompted Mom’s “
protect the baby and don’t tell her anything about the time before she was born
” rule. My gut said this stalking could be our father looking for money or trying to blackmail his successful daughter. But if Dad entered California I’d have been notified.

Pulling out of the studio lot, I needed to talk to Danny and see how he reacted first. He wasn’t completely stupid, but he was the jealous type. If Sonia thought he cheated he probably had. His ego bruised easily and there was no doubt in my mind he wanted to get back at her. Cheating was his revenge for her career triumph. The odds of him being the stalker were better than average.

Plugging the address into my old GPS unit, I wanted my cell phone free just in case. Not a technophobe, I still didn’t need to juggle devices while driving. I let it bring up the map while I made my way to the freeway. I had a great sense of direction from moving around so much. Still, I couldn’t afford to be distracted hunting down an address with a stalker on the loose. I focused on the task at hand. None of the threats had been violent or direct. So far.

According to my sister’s divorce lawyer Danny had rented a home in Santa Monica. The GPS guided me and I parked on the street. The single floor dwelling looked modest for the area. Danny, now out of a job, didn’t have much money apparently. He’d asked for alimony as part of the divorce, but Sonia’s lawyer wasn’t worried. Probably a ploy to ask for something in return. Danny had earned money modeling and acting before the marriage and I knew he wouldn’t starve. But a better settlement certainly was motivation for him to intimidate her.

His bright yellow Hummer sat in the driveway. I walked around the outside of the house discretely. The strategic shrubs and palm trees gave me plenty of cover from the neighbors and everything seemed quiet and ordinary. Rounding back to the front door, I rang the bell.

“Coming,” Danny shouted from inside.

I smiled so I made a good impression when he opened the door. I’d known him for years and while he wasn’t the best actor or the smartest guy, I’d never questioned my sister’s safety with him. If he was the stalker I’d bet it was all about money and the divorce. He didn’t really want to hurt her. If that was the case then I’d beat him senseless and dump him in Area 51 I had an ex-boyfriend there too. I’d dated around during my eight years of single adulthood.

The door swung open and Danny’s face froze. “I thought you were the pizza.”

“Nope, just popping in to say hi.” I stepped inside. “Can I come in?”

He stepped back. “Didn’t know you were in town. You know Sonia and I—”

“I know about the divorce. Sorry things didn’t work out.” I scanned the living room. Brown leather couches, all functional and manly. “Nice place.”

“That’s why you’re here?” He frowned. “My agent got me this place as a rental. Her husband bought and rehabbed a bunch of homes when the market tanked. Better for my image than some crap apartment.”

The former model didn’t have a line on his face. Sonia told me he’d had a little work done around the eyes. Women getting some nips and tucks didn’t seem nearly as weird as men having Botox parties. In Chicago men watched sports and drank beer...caring about their looks generally stopped at avoiding pot bellies and baldness. Todd was a real hottie there. My sister’s taste in men was different. Danny was pretty and pure Hollywood.

“I’m here for my sister.” I walked back toward the kitchen and saw pretty flowered towels and a pink centerpiece on the wooden table.

“She wants me to back off? This is a divorce, lawyers negotiate. She can’t send in the big guns to intimidate me.” Danny stepped back.

The doorbell rang and he ran to get the pizza. He set the large pie out on the counter.

“Want a slice?” he offered.

I peered suspiciously at the big name chain that made generic pizza. “No thanks. Carbs? You?” Mocking him was half the fun of being the sister-in-law.

“I’m out of a job so I’m stress eating.” He grabbed a slice, folded it, and started chewing.

“Well, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just concerned for my sister.”

“I could call my lawyer and tell him you’re trying to pressure me in the settlement. Community property is the law so he says I get half.” Danny didn’t make a move for his cell phone lying on the kitchen table. Instead he went for slice number two.

“I’m not a lawyer or here about the settlement. Honestly I don’t care how you two divide up your mansion contents. Marriages don’t always work—people change and they grow apart.”

It’s what the teachers told me when my dad walked out. I broke down in tears one day at school. The funniest part was I wasn’t upset, I was really relieved. But I let them think what they wanted.

Fear and anger were emotions I’d learned to channel by then. The absence of fear freaked me out for a little while. My sister would not live in fear if I could help it.

“You don’t hurt her, I won’t hurt you,” I said.

“So why are you here?” He dropped a half-eaten slice back into the cardboard box. “I told her I wouldn’t bother her anymore. I tried, okay, but I’m done. I swear.”

Was there something my sister hadn’t told me? I got that tingle of sisterly secrets. “What? What were you bothering her about?”

“Getting back together—I tried it a few times. I screwed up, okay? Her career got so big and I was stalled. Everyone loves her. So I got drunk and stupid one night at a buddy’s party.” Danny grabbed a bottle of beer from his fridge and chugged it.

“So you’re the stalker,” I smiled.

It added up. He knew about the side door on the garage. When I left Vegas I’d hoped this would be a one or two day job rather than something that dragged on and on like most of my sister’s drama.

“What? Stalker? No!” He slammed the bottle down. “What’s going on?”

“She’s received some disturbing threats. Nothing physical yet, but if you’re behind it—you’ll pay. I don’t care what the lawyers, LAPD, or anyone says. You’ll answer to me.” I stepped into his personal space and glared. “And I don’t care about consequences. There’s no I’d answer to that my ex can’t get to and smooth over. So you’re in danger of me putting you in the hospital.”

Danny swallowed hard. He knew I’d make good on any threats. His character on the soap tried karate once and I’d shown him a few moves. He knew exactly what I could do without a gun.

“I’m not threatening her. I wanted her back, not hurt or scared.”

My gaze stayed locked on his and damn it, I believed him.

“People get crazy in divorces and your career is suffering. Are you sure your agent or lawyer didn’t hire someone to mess with her for your benefit? Your career and hers aren’t hurt by all the tabloid ink.” I had to be sure.

He shook his head. “I haven’t seen the stalker thing in the press.”

“I meant the divorce. We’re trying to keep the stalker out of the news so I can find the criminal quick and quiet. But your divorce just started. Maybe you’re getting what you want out of this. The news won’t hurt your prospects and I can’t completely stop the news.”

He shook his head. “You’re jumping to a lot of conclusions, Helena.”

“I’m following a lead, so prove me wrong. Check with your agent and lawyer to make sure no one is orchestrating a Hollywood stunt to help you.”

Danny’s eyes narrowed. “You really think I’d let that happen?”

“I think your agent or lawyer could pull the strings behind your back. No physical harm but a few threats. Plant a few notes and she’s spooked. It gets press and keeps your divorce story alive. You can put your hand on a Bible and swear you knew nothing about it but you’re part of the story. That lines their pockets too. Relax, Danny, I just want to make sure I’m covering all my bases. If this turns out to be the source, good. She’s not in real danger and I can fix it fast.”

I took a look down a hall under the guise of pacing off my frustration. There were girly clothes hanging in his bathroom.

“Who is she?” I folded my arms.

He sighed. “None of your business, but she has a small part on the soap. I’m supposed to be a monk? Sonia and I are separated.”

“I’m just asking. She got a name?” He’d tell me. He still acted like we were family.

“Faith Louis. And no, she’s not stalking Sonia. Faith has nothing against Sonia, she even said I shouldn’t go after any money. Just a clean divorce. I’m not good at being alone.”

“I’m not judging. If you’re as concerned about my sister as you claim, you’ll help me. I warned you when you married her—I’m on
her
side no matter what. I’ve been taking care of her a lot longer than you have. You’re a nice guy, Danny. I liked you, but I’m only concerned with her.” This wasn’t a time for divided loyalties. He shouldn’t doubt what side I was on.

He nodded. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine.” Sort of a lie.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a pen from the counter, and wrote my cell number on the magnetic notepad on the fridge. “Call me when you’ve talked to your lawyer and agent. Make sure they’re not screwing with my sister because if I need to talk to them, I will. You won’t like how I handle them so it’s best if you get the truth. Anything they’re doing to upset my sister, I’m going to take that out on
you
. Got it?” I gave him the unwavering stare of confidence that I could keep up for hours.

His eyes narrowed. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. Not while we were together and not now. You never trusted me, did you? Sonia said you were like that—you never trusted any of the men she or your mom dated. You’ve never stayed with a guy longer than a few months since your divorce. Who messed you up, Helena? Todd was a good guy.”

I hated being around people who knew me so well. When I didn’t answer he just shook his head. Danny couldn’t hurt a fly. I’d hoped it was simple but even now, faced with accusations, he was more hurt than angry.