Not Talented in Hollywood: Not in Hollywood Book 3 (3 page)

I wish I could say that those words did not keep me up that
night. I really wish I could say that it was my worrying about Edwin that
caused me to get up really early the next morning after giving up on trying to
get a decent night’s sleep. By that time I had convinced myself of a lot of
things. Top of my list was that Edwin was going to be fine and second on my
list was that I had made the right decision with Griffin. If the man could
cause this much chaos to my psyche just by looking at me, then it was better
that I kept as far away from him as possible. Of course answering my door and
finding the one person in this world I wanted to keep my distance from, didn’t
help me in my hopes for a peaceful day. Standing in the doorway was Detective
Jake Griffin looking just as tired as I felt. Of course that didn’t detract
from the fact that he still looked good.

“Planning on inviting me in?” he asked as I stood there
gaping like an idiot.

“Oh, of course” I said, years of my mother’s etiquette
training coming to the fore.

I tugged on my shirt as I closed the door, painfully aware
that I was wearing my combination of clothes which while very comfortable, left
a great deal to be desired in the style stakes. I followed Griffin into the
living area to find him pacing the floor. Never having seen him as anything
other than totally in control of his environment, I was surprised.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He stopped. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

Alrighty then, straight to the heart of the matter.

“We talked about this” I said as gently as I could. “We’re
just not right for each other.”

“No, I remember pretty clearly that you said that my job
meant more to me than you could and you walked away and disappeared for a few
months. We never actually got a chance to talk about it, because I have a few
things to say.”

I clasped my hands together and waited. He was right, I did
bolt without giving him a chance to have closure.

Griffin resumed pacing, his hand raking through his dark
hair as he pinned me in place with that green eyed stare of his.

“I was really angry with you until I realized that this is
your problem not mine” he said.

Wait a second, this didn’t sound like closure and I opened
my mouth to argue.

“No,” he said holding a hand up, “my turn remember. You are
so messed up by your ex fiancé that you are not willing to give anyone else
another chance.”

I opened my mouth.

“Still my turn” he said holding a finger up as if to
emphasize the point.

“See, you act practical and calm. It fools people into
believing you are in complete control of your emotions. You could tell that
there was something real happening between us so you grabbed onto the first
excuse to run away from it.”

“You finished?” I asked starting to get annoyed at the
character assassination.

“Not by a long shot honey” he said and I could see his eyes
sparking with the excitement of a challenge.

“What is between us is real and I am not going to let you
throw it away because you’re too scared to grab onto a good thing.”

He stalked towards me and I could see his eyes sparking with
something else now and despite my best intentions I backed away from him, not
stopping until I felt the wall at my back. He dipped his head and softly
touched his lips to mine. I moaned at the contact. I had missed this so much.
Even when I was telling myself he was no good for me, I would remember how it
felt to have him holding and kissing me. I had never felt this before and I was
very afraid that I would never feel it again.

“See” he whispered against my lips. “This is what’s between
us. You can’t deny it and I don’t want to deny it. I have spent three months in
agony missing you” he said hoarsely and despite the strength in his words I
could see that letting himself be this vulnerable was costing him. But he was
doing it, and in that moment I crumbled. I sought out his lips and poured all
the feelings that I had been burying for the last few months into that kiss. It
was his turn to groan and he took over the kiss, deepening it. Feeling his arms
wrap around me, I felt at peace and on fire all at the same time. I started to
lose track of everything but those lips caressing mine.

“Oh my God.” I heard Crystal’s voice as Griffin pulled away
from me. Sure enough there was Crystal standing at the door, her eyes wide and
yes, there was the beginning of a smile.

Griffin looked down at me and I noticed that even though he
had pulled away from the kiss his arms were still wrapped around me, seemingly
unwilling to let me go.

“This discussion isn’t finished” he pitched his voice low as
he gave me a squeeze before letting go.

Watching him walk out the door I was finally able to acknowledge
that I was in a lot of trouble when it came to Jake Griffin. When he was out of
sight Crystal looked back at me, taking in my obviously swollen lips and messed
up clothing.

“Way to take one for the team” she said grinning. “Last
night I figured there was no chance but here I find you sacrificing yourself
for your friends.”

“You quite finished?” I asked dryly.

“Oh, I don’t think I’m ever going to let you forget about
this moment” she grinned.

“It’s not what you’re thinking” I said.

“I don’t know. I walked in here and there you are about to
climb Mount Griffin if I don’t miss my guess.”

“That reminds me” I said, “I want my key back.”

“You gave it to me” she said smiling.

“For emergency situations” I stressed.

“This was an emergency” she said, still with that grin in
her face.

“In the strictest definition of the term?” I queried.

“Okay maybe not an emergency as such.”

I stood there looking at her, not saying a word.

“I went to Edwin’s place to talk and he’s not there, I
thought he might have come over here for breakfast.”

“No, as you can see I’m quite alone.”

Now it was Crystal’s turn to look at me with an amused
expression on her face.

“Well I was alone until Griffin showed up.” And kissed me in
a way that I was never going to get over.

“I’m worried about him” Crystal slumped on my couch.

“We’re all worried about him” I said.

“He looked so lost last night, as if he didn’t know what to
do next. Did Griffin say anything about the case?” she asked hopefully.

“No, I hadn’t got to the interrogation part of your evil
plan” I said.

“Maybe next time” said Crystal. “Don’t give me that look
because believe me there is going to be a next time.”

I dropped my head as I walked away because she was right.

“Where are you going” she called out as I went in my
bedroom.

“I’m getting dressed, I’m assuming you want to go and look
for Edwin.”

“Good plan. Do you have anything for breakfast? I’ve run out
of food at my place.”

Crystal was always running out of food at her place. Between
her, Sean and Edwin my grocery bills were at least triple what they should be.
I was amazed they hadn’t starved while I was away.

Once Crystal had been fed and I finally looked like I could
be seen in public, we went looking for Edwin. We found Miss Betsy working in
the garden as usual.

“Have you seen Edwin today?” Crystal asked.

Miss Betsy straightened up, took off her hat and wiped her
forehead.

“Oh yes, he took Sean surfing this morning. Those boys were
up at the crack of dawn.”

I wasn’t surprised. Sean and Edwin had bonded over their
mutual love of the sport. I liked the fact Sean had managed to find a decent
male role model after the disaster of a boyfriend that his mother had brought
home.

Heading for the beach, Crystal and I found Edwin sitting on
the sand looking out at the ocean. Each of us sat on either side of him.

“Where’s Sean?” I asked looking out over the water.

“He’s still out there” Edwin said waving his hand in the
general direction of the ocean.

“I think he met a girl and he’s out there surfing with her.
Seems I was cramping his style.”

Crystal and I smiled. Sean had the hormones of any sixteen
year old boy and he was always meeting girls. His goofy sense of humor, red
hair and freckles seemed to appeal to teenage girls and he was learning to
capitalize on it.

Crystal nudged Edwin with her shoulder. “So are you going to
tell us what’s going on or are we going to have to play twenty questions?”

“Just trying to work out what I want to do with my life.”

Crystal frowned, “I thought you wanted to be an actor.”

Edwin sighed heavily. “I don’t know if I ever really wanted
to be an actor. I started off modeling when I was seventeen. Made money early
so I didn’t bother going to school. Next thing I find I’m completely bored with
modeling, but I don’t have much of an education. Acting seemed to be the next
logical step. Now I’m looking at it and I suck at acting and I really don’t
want to go back to posing in front of a camera.”

I looked at him worriedly. The poor guy actually looked
really down.

“How about sucking it up and dealing with it.”

My head dropped. I loved Crystal but she really didn’t do
sympathy well.

“So you finally realized that acting isn’t your thing, at
least you worked it out now rather than twenty years’ time. Now is the time for
you to man up and work out what you want to do with the rest of life. Sitting
around looking at the ocean isn’t going to get you anywhere.”

Keeping in mind that this was the man that only twelve hours
previously Crystal had confessed to loving, I was a bit surprised at the
tirade. I could tell that Edwin was a little shocked too.

“You want to kick the boot in a bit harder” he said through
tightly clenched teeth as he got up from the sand.

“Where are you going?” I called out as he stalked off.

“Obviously nowhere” said Edwin. “Give Sean a ride home will
you.”

With that he turned around and left us in the sand.

“What the hell are you trying to do?” I asked Crystal
incredulously.

“He needed some motivation” she said calmly.

“Motivation, yes. A kick in the teeth, not so much.”

“He’ll be fine, trust me. I know Edwin. If we let him wallow
he’ll do it for ages. This way he gets a kick in the pants and he’ll work out
what he needs to do that much quicker. I need him to work it out so he can
realize that I’m the woman for him and he can get started on achieving that
goal.”

“All part of the master plan” I said.

“Well if I left everything to him he’d never get around to
asking me out.”

Good point, she was probably right. Crystal’s eyes widened
and I felt drops of water on my back.

“Would you mind backing away a bit Sean” I said as I turned
around.

“You’re sitting on my towel” he said giving me an evil grin
before shaking his head and spraying the two of us with water.

We jumped up and backed away from the spray.

“What did you say that scared Edwin away?” he asked as he
grabbed the towel and started to dry off.

“What makes you think we said anything?” I asked.

Sean stopped and looked at me as if I was an idiot, an expression
he’d taken with me quite a lot lately.

“You turned up and he left. It wasn’t me that scared him
off.”

“He just needs to work some things out. Where’s the girl
Edwin said you were talking to?” I asked.

“Her boyfriend showed up” Sean said morosely.

I looked behind him and sure enough there was a teenage girl
giggling inanely to something the musclebound guy with her was saying.

“Better luck next time” I said

Getting back to the apartment complex we found Miss Betsy
standing at the front, a worried look on her face.

“Thank goodness you’re here” she said twisting her hands
together.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“That policeman who has been to see you sometimes, he came
and took Edwin away.”

“He did what?” I exploded.

“He and that pretty woman who comes with him, they arrested
Edwin and took him away” Miss Betsy repeated.

“Get back in the car Crystal” I said as she started to get
out.

“What about me?” asked Sean.

“You stay here with Miss Betsy, we’ll find out what’s
happening with Edwin.”

“What’s going on?” asked a bewildered Crystal as I pulled
out of the parking area.

“Griffin arrested Edwin.”

“He did what?”

Oh that didn’t sound good. Crystal was going with her calm
voice. Bad things had a tendency to happen when Crystal used her calm voice in
an emotional situation.

“Call your lawyer and get him to meet us at the station” I
said, desperately trying to head off an explosion.

Walking into the station I refused to dwell on the number of
times that I seemed to be finding myself in this particular building. At least
this time I wasn’t going to end up in the interrogation room, or at least I
hoped not. Crystal stormed up to the front desk and caught the attention of the
officer.

“I demand to see Detective Griffin” she announced and I
winced.

I love Crystal but every now and then the spoiled Hollywood
princess comes out in her. Those of us who are her friends deal with it and can
laugh it off. I didn’t think that the officer behind the desk was in a laughing
mood. To his credit though he restrained himself from telling Crystal exactly
what she could do with her demand and very politely asked her to take a seat
while he fetched Griffin. He also called her ma’am repeatedly after the first
one elicited a tightening of her features. Couldn’t really blame the guy for
getting in his digs when he could. Sitting with Crystal in the waiting area was
interesting. Being relatively early in the day we were obviously not being
treated to the full experience that only a police station at night can offer.
As the time dragged on I could see that Crystal was beginning to lose her
patience. As she started to get up again to harangue the poor desk sergeant I
put a hand on her arm.

“Not going to help” I said. I had noticed the smirk on the
officer’s face as he saw her movement.

Nope, Crystal hadn’t made any friends there. The lawyer that
Crystal had contacted came in and after speaking with Crystal was led into the
back area to his client.

“What is taking so long?” she said through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know” I said looking anxiously towards the door.

“They’ve got the wrong person, Edwin could never hurt
anyone.”

“I know that, and you know that. Griffin will work that out.
He’s not an idiot and he’ll work out that there is no way that Edwin could have
done this.”

“I need to get some air” said Crystal.

“I’ll come with you.” I started to stand up.

“No, I just need some time on my own to clear my head. Can
you wait here and let me know immediately if Edwin comes out.”

“Of course” I said as I sat back down.

A few minutes later I started wondering whether I should
have gone out with her. The door to the station flew open and half a dozen cops
were struggling to drag in a well-dressed woman who was screaming and yelling
abuse at the top of her lungs. I was surprised to see Travis Cooper, private
investigator to the rich and famous following her. Looking startled when he
spotted me, he left the struggling cops and made his way over, taking a seat
next to me.

“Interesting entrance” I motioned in the direction of the
woman. “What happened there?”

“Client of mine, found out her husband was cheating on her
with the housekeeper.”

“Classy, if a bit unoriginal” I said.

“I only ever deal with the best” he smiled.

“Obviously there is another part to this story because she
does not look like a satisfied client.”

“Yes, she didn’t take it too well and went after her husband
with a set of gardening shears.”

I grimaced at the image that crossed my mind.

“Luckily, or unluckily, whichever the case may be, I was
there so was able to stop the impending bloodbath and called the cops.”

“On your own client. Hope you weren’t still expecting to get
paid” I said.

“There’s a reason why I always get paid up front. Won’t be
getting a bonus this time though.”

I laughed at the morose look on his face.

“So what are you doing here, another client die
mysteriously?”

“I have never lost a client” I said defensively.

“No, of course not, just the people around them start
dropping like flies.”

“I could be here to pay a parking fine.”

“You’re here to pay a parking fine.” He looked at me
skeptically.

“Well no, but I could be here for that reason. You shouldn’t
automatically assume someone’s died just because I’m in a police station.”

Travis continued to study me without saying a word.

“Fine, Catarina Badal was killed last night at a theater and
I was at the after party. My friend Edwin is being questioned by Griffin at the
moment.”

“See, was that so hard?” Travis asked.

“You just can’t assume that I’d be here because of a murder”
I said trying to get my point across.

“And yet that’s exactly the reason why you’re here.”

“I don’t like you very much” I said sullenly. “Don’t you
have a client to send to jail?”

“Oh sweetheart, that hurts, got me right here” he said
pointing to his heart with a comical look on his face. I burst out laughing at
the absurdity of the situation.

Travis glanced behind me. “I think we’re in trouble” he said,
a wide grin splitting his face.

I turned around and almost groaned when I looked into the
more than slightly annoyed face of one Detective Jake Griffin. Luckily I was
saved from having to come up with anything to say because at that moment
Crystal walked in and stormed up to Griffin.

“It’s about time, where is he and what have you done to
him?”

“Miss Bronstein” he said. “Mr Litchfield is currently
providing some samples to assist us with our inquiries. If you could please
take a seat and show some patience he will be out soon. However if you choose
not to take those options we will be forced to remove you.”

Tact and diplomacy, not really Griffin’s strong points. The
sergeant who had been subjected to Crystal when she first came in, seemed to
appreciate it though. He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms and enjoyed
the show. Crystal opened her mouth and I braced myself waiting for what came
next, but she obviously thought better of it and closed it again.

“Miss Eyre, could I speak to you please?”

And we were back to Miss Eyre. A woman could get whiplash
trying to deal with the moods of a man like this.

“Looks like you’re in trouble” Travis said in a low voice.

“Like that’s new” I whispered back.

“See you around” he smiled.

I nodded and followed Griffin to the back, once again into
an interrogation room. So much for thinking I wouldn’t be ending up back in
here. He closed the door and I turned to face him.

“So did you want to tell me why you arrested my friend not
long after coming to see me and…”

I waved my hand rather than talking about the session at my
apartment.

“And what?” he asked.

“You know perfectly well what” I said.

“Yes, but I’d kind of be interested in hearing you say it.”

“Despite what you may believe, I am not here for your
entertainment” I said. “You know perfectly well that Edwin is not capable of
murdering somebody.”

“Actually I don’t know that, I don’t know him at all. As far
as I know at this stage it is something he is perfectly capable of doing. He
was the last person to see Catarina alive so he had the opportunity. She’d just
humiliated him so he had the motive. The knife was one that was in her office
as a decoration so he had the means.”

“Please tell me that isn’t all you’re basing your case on” I
said.

Griffin looked at me sourly. “Of course it isn’t, but I have
to do my job and he is a viable suspect.”

“Of course, your job” I said.

“Don’t” Griffin growled.

“Don’t what?”

“I am not going to let you use this to try to shove me away
again. I will do my job because that is who I am but you were right. Previously
I’ve used you to get information for cases. I won’t be doing that this time. In
fact I don’t want you anywhere near this case. When we are together we won’t be
discussing it at all.”

“That’s going to be a bit difficult when you arrested one of
my closest friends.”

“But that is how we are going to do it.”

I looked at him inquiringly. “I don’t know how it works for
you but I’m really not the kind of person who can just sit around while my
innocent friend gets accused of something he didn’t do.”

“Well this time that is exactly what you are going to do.
You have walked into the middle of my cases twice already and both times you’ve
almost got yourself killed. I’m not willing to take the chance of that
happening again” Griffin said.

“You know, I love how you are making these sweeping
statements as if you actually have a say in what I do.”

“You get involved in this case and I’m going to arrest you
for interfering in my investigation.” Griffin’s scowl deepened.

“I don’t know where you get your dating advice from but a
little hint, threatening a woman with arrest is a really bad step in a
courtship.”

Griffin’s mood changed instantly from annoyed to seducing. I
could see the change come over him as his eyes took on a lazy warm look. He
stepped closer to me and I stepped back hitting the door.

“Stop it” I said imperiously putting both hands out in front
of me. “We are not doing this up against another wall.”

“Honey, I am all for getting horizontal with you if that’s
what you’d prefer.”

He leaned in and gave me a soft feathery kiss against my
neck, in that spot just below my ear which was guaranteed to start me thinking
very happy thoughts. I tilted my head slightly and he groaned.

“You have no idea how much I want to continue this” he said
quietly, “but this is not the place and next time I get you in this position I
want a lot of time and no chance of us being interrupted.”

He gave me another kiss and stepped back smiling wolfishly,
as he saw the glazed look on my face. It took me a couple of seconds to realize
our moment was over and that once again he had quite successfully distracted
me.

I looked at him seriously. “Edwin couldn’t have done this, I
know him and he is just not capable of doing something so terrible.”

Griffin looked at me regretfully. “I know you believe that”
he said, “and I wish I could take that into account, but I’ve been at this job
a long time and everyone is capable of doing terrible things. I have to follow
the evidence, wherever it leads. Please tell me you understand that.”

I nodded. “I understand, but you are wrong and I won’t be
able to keep out of this if you insist on accusing Edwin. He didn’t do this.”

Griffin sighed. “I admire your loyalty to him but just keep
in mind that people can disappoint you sometimes.”

I nodded. “Are we done?”

“For now, but you need to remember that I want you to stay
out of this.”

I nodded again, it’s easier to misinterpret a nod than it is
a direct answer. In this case my nod meant that I knew he wanted me to stay out
of this but I was still going to do what I thought was right. From the
tightening of Griffin’s face I got the feeling that he knew exactly what my nod
meant. Before he could try to talk me out of it I surprised him by giving him a
quick kiss on the cheek.

“Bye” I said, turned around, opened the door and stepped out
quickly.

Getting to the front desk I was in time to see Edwin walk
out. Crystal jumped up with a cry and threw herself at him. Edwin wrapped his
arms around her and started stroking her back as he murmured into her ear. I
stopped and let them have their moment. If any good was coming out of this
situation it was that two people who meant a lot to me were finally working out
that they meant the world to each other.

“You guys ready to go?” I asked.

Crystal turned to me, surreptitiously wiping her eyes. “I
think so.”

I looked inquiringly at Edwin.

“I’m done” he said curtly his eyes drifting past me and I
knew that Griffin had followed me out.

“See you later Travis” I said as I hustled the two of them
out.

He grinned. “With your track record, I’m betting I’ll see
you soon.”

I grimaced. “Just be careful of your next client.”

Travis’s booming laughter followed us out of the station.