Hollywood Confessions (25 page)

I shook my head. “That’s not so fine when you’re spending three.”

“
No way.”

“
Way.” I showed him my file.

“
So the company is losing cash,” Gary said. “I guess that puts your pretty boy as suspect numero uno again, huh?”

“
He’s not
mine
. And he’s not a pretty boy,” I shot back. Though I had to admit it did paint a little more suspicion into Alec’s corner. But it didn’t exactly scream “smoking gun.” A fact I pointed out to Gary. “You know, if Barker was getting desperate for cash, he might have made some desperate programming decisions.”

“
Such as?”

“
Such as revealing Deb’s affair after all. I mean, he needed a big season opener, right? What if it came to light that America’s homemaker had been cheating all along?”

“
What about her books? Her career?”

I shrugged. “Maybe Barker wasn’t worried about longevity of the show anymore. Maybe he was worried about a big bang and a big payoff, now. Or,” I said, wheels turning in earnest, “what if he planned on cutting some of the big salaries in his other shows? We know Lowel was on the chopping block, but what if he was getting chopped sooner rather than later? Or maybe Barker was getting rid of the other big name judges too? I’d say this spells more motive all around.”

“
Swell,” Gary said, closing the file and using the folder to fan himself. “What do you say you take me back to my air-conditioned car now? It’s five o’clock. I need a beer and a shower, and not necessarily in that order.”

* * *

I dropped Gary off at his car. Then, as much as a shower and a beer sounded tempting, I pointed my car toward the
Informer
’s offices. I was doing a bang-up job of avoiding fallout from my Disaster Night, even if I did say so myself, but the fact remained that I had a column to turn in.

So I reluctantly parked in the
Informer
lot, threw my pants back on and, holding my head up high, rode the elevator up to the offices. The second the door slid open, my eyes shot to Felix’s office.

He was sitting at his desk, Bluetooth in one ear. As if feeling my eyes on him, he looked up, locked eyes with me for a brief second. Then spun in his chair so his back was facing me.

He didn’t want to see me any more than I did him.

An odd sensation washed over me. Ninety percent relief, ten percent disappointment. One hundred percent uncomfortable in a way I was way too tired to examine at the moment.

I quickly walked to my cube, turned my back to him, and transferred the notes and raw footage of Don from my laptop to PC, then typed up an article on my interview with Deb, Don’s alibi, and the fact that a “reliable source” had informed me RL Productions might not have been the cash cow everyone thought.

I sat back and reread my copy. It wasn’t my best work, I knew. It was scattered. Unfocused. Without any clear conclusions about anything. Tons of suspects, tons of scandalous fodder for the tabloid, but no clear murderer. No hard facts. No impressive investigative journalism to make the
L.A. Times
break down my door with employment offer in hand.

I sighed, hit send and shut down my monitor. I glanced at my desk clock: 5:45. If I left now I might be get out of here before Felix read my crap copy. I quickly grabbed my purse and stood up to make for the elevator.

Only I froze as I turned toward the silver doors.

Because someone was getting off. Blond hair, long legs, short skirt, killer high heels. She crossed the office with a confidence few women ever grew into, making me simultaneously hate and want to be her.

I watched as she strutted straight toward Felix’s office. She gave a quick knock on the door but didn’t wait for a response before entering. Felix looked up, and I watched his face break into a huge, genuine smile. I swallowed, forcing down some lump of emotion I was not in the mood to identity as I watched him jump up from his chair, cross the room, and envelop the woman in a full-body hug.

The way he greeted her, she could have just been a good friend. Maybe a family member. An old schoolmate from years past.

But I knew she wasn’t just any of those things.

She was Maddie Springer. And Felix was in love with her.

Chapter Sixteen

Remember that woman Felix was gaga over back when I first met him? The one who ran off and married someone else, leaving Felix so dejected that he rebounded with yours truly?

Maddie Springer.

I stood lamely in my cube, purse in hand, watching through the glass as Maddie laughed, smiled, said something so incredibly funny that Felix burst out laughing too.

I looked at the elevator doors. I could easily slip out now. Felix was totally preoccupied. He wouldn’t even notice.

But instead, I sat back down at my chair.

Felix had placed my cube right near his office, ostensibly because with me being the new girl, he wanted easy access to lend a helping hand as I learned the ropes. It was also within perfect earshot of his office.

I turned my computer screen on, pulled up my email program and pretended to read as I focused on the noises coming from Felix’s office behind me.

“—
so good to see you!” Maddie said. God, even her voice was perfect. Soft and feminine, but still strong and confident.

Felix replied with a, “It’s been too long since—”

I strained, trying to make out what it had been too long since for Felix’s taste, but a passing car on the street below blocked it out. When I caught up with the conversation again, it was Maddie who was speaking.

“—
so glad to get your call. It was out of the blue, but I’ve been meaning to get in touch. I—”

Dammit, why did cars have to keep driving by!?

“—
me too.” Felix agreed to something. “Glad you’re free this evening. I’ve been dying to try Mangia, and as luck would have it they happened to have a cancellation tonight.”

I bit my lip. He was taking Maddie Springer to Mangia. I had a vision of them laughing, talking, having easy, intimate conversation over a chilled bucket of champagne.

“
I can’t wait to tell you my news, but let’s chat on the way. I don’t want them to give our table away,” Maddie said.

I heard footsteps behind me and feigned inordinate interest in my screen as I felt the two of them walk out of his office and toward the elevator. I snuck a peek out of the corner of my vision at the pair. Felix had one arm around her, steering her toward the elevators. Maddie had her right hand on his shoulder, leaning in to whisper something in his ear, her left dangling loosely at her side.

I felt my breath hitch in my throat as I looked at that left hand.

No wedding band.

What did you want to bet the “news” she was giving Felix was that she was newly single and out for a good time?

One I’m sure Felix would enjoy.

I clenched my teeth together, telling myself I didn’t care. It was none of my business what Felix did, or who he did it with. Last night had been a mistake. I’d found myself in a vulnerable moment, again, and I’d turned to him for comfort. Again.

But that was it. That was all it was. One night of comfort. I mean, that was clearly all it had been to Felix, or else he wouldn’t have gone home and immediately called up his old flame, right? Clearly I was nothing more than a stopover on the way to someone he really cared about. Which was fine. This relationship was purely professional from here on out. And God and the
L.A. Times
willing, not even that for much longer.

I was still pounding that mantra into my head, watching the two of them wait for the elevator, when my cell rang from my purse.

“
What!”

“
Uh, hi. Allie?” Alec Davies.

I closed my eyes, did a Zen breath. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“
No problem. I’m acquainted with the type. Listen, my assistant said you stopped by earlier.”

My eyes shot open. Shit. “Uh, he did?”

“
Yeah. He said you were here looking for me?”

“
Uh, yeah. Right. I was.” I paused, trying to come up with a reason why I might have been looking for him. “I just, um, wanted to thank you again for that footage you gave me. It did confirm Don’s alibi,” I said.

“
Good. I’m glad it was helpful. Listen, I was just about to knock off for the day. You interested in grabbing dinner with me?” he asked.

“
Me? Oh, well, I…” I trailed off. As much as part of me wanted to say yes, the other part was kind of full up on uncomfortable emotions for the day. Alec was hot, funny, smart, charming. Pretty much every girl’s dream. Pretty easy to fall for. In all honestly, I’d been a hair’s breath from falling right into his arms last night. I blame the champagne, but that fact still remained I was kind of tired of my emotions (and libido) leading my brain around like a stupid puppy.

“
Gee, I’m not really sure. I mean, I…”

“
You know what? That’s okay,” Alec said. “I mean, it’s last minute, and I shouldn’t have assumed you didn’t have other plans already.”

I glanced up at the elevator. The doors were just opening, allowing Felix and Maddie entry. He gently guided her in with a hand at the small of her back. She turned, flashed him a brilliant smile then leaned in close just as the door slid shut.

“
I’d love to!”

“
You would?”

“
Yes,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’d love to have dinner with you tonight,” I told Alec.

“
Oh. Great! I mean, that’s perfect. Tell you what, let me just finish up here and I’ll meet you in about an hour?”

“
Perfect,” I said, then wrote down the restaurant’s address before hanging up.

* * *

Two hours and one appetizer platter of calamari and cream sauce later, I was definitely not regretting my decision to dine out. Alec had showered, shaved, and smelled like something woodsy and expensive. He was in a black blazer over a white button-down today, the colorless contrast highlighting his brilliant smile and warm eyes. As soon as he’d picked me up, he’d commented on how nice my little black mini-dress was, had called my cat “darling” and then held the door of his Lexus open for me as I climbed in. All the things a guy should do when he’s into you. And after the day I’d had, with the guys I’d had it with, I was really in the mood to appreciate a man who adhered to all the niceties he should.

“
So,” he asked, leaning across the table of a quaint French bistro on Melrose, “how’s your story on Barker coming along?”

“
Ugh!” I scoffed, sipping (yes, only sipping this time) from my wine glass. “Don’t ask!”

“
That good, huh?” He shot me a crooked smile with dimples and everything. “So, I take it you don’t have any suspects?”

“
Oh, I have suspects in spades. The problem is, everyone seems to have an alibi. Tons of motive, tons of secrets…but unshakable alibis.”

Alec grabbed a breadstick and broke it open, buttering half. “Like what? Maybe I can help you shake one down.”

I grinned. “That sounded so Humphry Bogart.”

“
But it made you smile.”

“
True. Okay, one point for you.” I shifted in my chair, taking another sip of the wine, letting it warm my insides as I relaxed into the flirtatious banter. “All right, let’s start with Don Davenport. He was caught on tape by your camera crew—thank you again, by the way.”

He raised his glass to me. “You’re welcome.”

“
He was caught watching pay-per-view porn, the recorded times giving him an iron-clad alibi.”

Alec chuckled. “Not often that getting caught watching porn is a good thing.”

“
No. It’s not. Oh, but his wife has an even better alibi. She was busy doing her yoga instructor.”

Alec raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re kidding?”

“
I wish I was.”

“
That’s priceless.”

“
Not as priceless as Lowel’s alibi.”

Alec leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table. “Oh, I can hardly wait.”

“
He was taking dance lessons. Fandango, to be precise. Turns out, Lowel can’t even dance!”

Alec grinned at me. “Well, that one I already knew.”

I paused. “Wait, you did?”

He leaned back in his chair and took a bite of his buttered breadstick. “Of course. Who do you think pays for his dance lessons?”

I cocked my head to the side. “So you knew his whole act on TV was a sham?”

“
There’s a big difference between a documentary show and reality TV,” he said, chewing. “In reality TV you take real people, put them in manipulated situations, edit the hell out of it and, if you’re lucky, you get a story at the end. If you’re
really
lucky, a story that contains enough drama to keep the voyeuristic viewing public tuning in. ‘Reality’ doesn’t often actually enter into the equation.”