She Died Famous

by Kyle Rutkin

  Contents

  INTRODUCTION

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  CNN - Murder of a Hollywood Princess

  Huffington Post - Pay Me, Alice Hits #1

  Huffington Post - Kelly’s Secret “Tell All” Interview

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  Huffington Post - Death of Hollywood Hitmaker

  Press Release

  TMZ- Kellys Entourage Spotted at Police Station

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  ACT I

  ACT II

  Three Months After Kelly’s Death

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, real brands, or real places are used fictitiously, or are products of the author’s imagination.

  Copyright © 2019 by Kyle Rutkin.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  Published by Greater Path LLC

  Cover design by Anamaria Stefan

  ISBN: 978-0-9836833-2-2 (Hardback)

  ISBN: 978-0-9836833-3-9 (Paperback)

  ISBN: 978-0-9836833-4-6 (E-book)

  To my wife, Mo.

  “The public perception is that I’m young, naive, and thoughtless, and these performances are part of some rebellious chapter in my life. But I don’t give a shit about public opinion. There’s always a bigger purpose. Always.”

  —Kelly Trozzo, TheInsideJuice.com interview, 2019

  INTRODUCTION

  On July 15, superstar Kelly Trozzo and her manager, Barry Monroe, were found dead at Trozzo’s Hollywood mansion. In the days that followed, the LAPD turned its attention to best-selling author Kaleb Reed as the primary suspect in the murders. What follows is an account of the events leading up to and following that infamous night.

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  July 19th 2019

  I am a “person of interest”—the first stop on the road to “prime suspect,” if not already the latter. I’m a little tipsy right now. Maybe I shouldn’t be writing. Or, I’m sorry, blogging. I can hear the bloodsuckers outside my apartment. Paparazzi. Gossip vacuums, waiting like hungry zombies. They make me restless. Angry.

  It’s 2:34 a.m. Another sleepless night spent in the company of online trolls. Blame. Death threats. Disgust. I don’t know why I keep reading. Maybe I relish my new title. The most despised man in America, certainly on Twitter. In this bizarre world of celebrity fixation, I can feel the enthrallment and intrigue beneath your disgust.

  You want more of me.

  Soon enough, I will be charged with murder. It feels good to say it. Get that off my chest. I’m irrational, violent, obsessive, and destructive. I’m a monster. #Monster. Better? At least that one is true. I’ve done bad things, yes. Evil things, one could say. I’m responsible for the death of your leader. Your beloved princess. You need justice. Don’t we all?

  If you’re scanning for a quick confession, you’ve come to the wrong place. I wish it were that simple. You see, I’ve always been more of a “gray area” kind of guy. I like to understand the history of things. The motivations. The stuff that can’t be answered by a simple yes or no. I have a flair for the dramatic. I am a writer by profession. I tell stories. And this story…it deserves more. More than two hundred and eighty characters.

  I digress.

  I have just returned from a three-day detainment at the Los Angeles Police Department. It was a lively interrogation with Detective Donaldson, scrutinizing my relationship with Kelly. Recalling my account of that infamous night. I certainly have motive. Jealous lover. Besotted fame junkie. A history of irrational violence . . . I could go on. But in the end, no charges were filed. With a case this big, there can be no doubt. No errors in procedure. There are still things the detective and his friends must uncover.

  Including a murder weapon.

  As a result, I walked out of the police station as a free man, wearing a borrowed hoodie and oversized jeans. The bloody clothes I came in with are now property of the state. I was greeted on the front steps by a swarm of fans, reporters, and TV cameras. Their stares and anger were like a vice tightening around my neck. There is remorse. There is always remorse.

  I don’t deserve it, but I ask that you hold off judgment. At least for now. There are things I must tell you. Truths I must reveal.

  Stay tuned for the next act. I promise I won’t disappoint.

  Murder of a Hollywood Princess: The Final Days of Kelly Trozzo

  Tomorrow at 8/7 Central

  She was one of the biggest child stars the world has ever seen. As the quirky, fun-loving Zoe Claireborn on the sitcom Zoe Loves, Kelly Trozzo fostered an unstoppable brand that captured the hearts of tweens and teenagers alike. From multiplatinum albums to box office smash hits, best-selling books, and sold-out arena tours, everything Kelly touched turned to gold, including her award-winning performance in the animated feature Castle Heart, a role that earned her the title of “America’s Princess” and secured her place among Hollywood’s elite.

  And then it all came crashing down.

  Where did it all go wrong for Kelly Trozzo? With tales of sex and drugs and scandalous headlines circulating this past year, how did America’s Princess end up dead outside her Hollywood mansion? Tonight, we talk to Jez Bransen, an inside source close to Trozzo, who believes negative influences brought her to this fate. We discuss Trozzo’s successful comeback, and all her hopes for the future. We analyze the last days leading up to her murder, and the controversy that surrounded her.

  Will there be justice for Kelly Trozzo? Tune in tonight at 8/7 Central.

  Pay Me, Alice Hits #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List

  July 20, 2019

  Amid rumors and allegations of author Kaleb Reed’s involvement in the deaths of Kelly Trozzo and her manager, Barry Monroe, the author’s book sales have soared in the last two days. Reed’s novel, Pay Me, Alice, will land at the top spot of this week’s New York Times Best Sellers list.

  Although the book debuted in 2017, it first hit the list in July 2018 after Trozzo endorsed it, stating, “This is not only a once-in-a-generation masterpiece, it’s one of those rare books that transformed my life. It will make you believe in love.” While the book peaked at number five in the year following the endorsement, Trozzo’s death—as well as Reed’s role as a suspect in the case, and reports of a copy of the novel being found at the crime scene—has propelled Pay Me, Alice to the number-one spot.

  Rumors that Kaleb Reed was more than an innocent bystander in the July 15 murders have been swirling since that night. Reed, who has a history of drug abuse and violence, has been connected to several incidents involving Kelly this past year, including an attack on a fan after a concert, as well as a reporter during a red-carpet event. Moreover, sources say that Reed assaulted Barry Monroe backstage at Trozzo’s last concert in Los Angeles, though no charges were filed. Numerous sources also say the author’s behavior and relationship with Kelly was erratic and obsessive.

  The eerie final scene of Pay Me, Alice has set the stage for speculations about the author, as well as questions about Trozzo’s fascination with the controversial novel.

  As the mystery continues to grow, so does the author’s fame. Only time will tell how much of the novel is fiction and how much is actually true.

  Kelly’s Secret Tell-All Interview

  July 20, 2019

  Celebrity gossip site TheInsideJuice.com has confirmed rumors of a shocking unpublished tell-all interview with fallen superstar Kelly Trozzo. Inside sources at the site revealed that last week, its team was secretly invited to Trozzo’s Hollywood mansion to conduct the first sit-down interview with the pop star sin
ce her comeback.

  The website finally responded to the rumors with a series of tweets:

  @theinsidejuice

  Yes, our team had the privilege of speaking with @KellyTrozzo three days before her tragic death. Kelly divulged extremely personal details about her life, including specifics about her relationship with @KalebReedAuthor, and her sensational return to showbiz.

  @theinsidejuice

  The interview will answer many of the public’s questions, as well as provide insight into Kelly’s volatile mental state prior to her murder. Her words will leave you in disbelief. @KTroops.

  @theinsidejuice

  The full interview will be released on our website on Wednesday, July 24.

  Kelly’s fans are abuzz about the mysterious interview. What spurred Kelly to arrange this secret meeting only three days before her murder? Did she know that her life was in danger? Did she provide information that could identify her killer?

  TheInsideJuice.com declined to comment further for this story.

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  July 20th, 2019

  In all the hoopla, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kaleb Reed. Bestselling author. Convicted felon. Addict. Public enemy #1. In a past life, I’ve carried other titles. The son of a governor. A big brother. Struggling writer. I’m 6’1”, with broad shoulders and a cleft chin. My green eyes are from my mother. My rage, demons, and build are from my father. I have the Serenity Prayer tattooed on my right forearm. I’ve loved two women in my life.

  One of them is still alive.

  At times, I have been sober. I have been strong. Most importantly, I have been faithful to the people I love. To my role as a protector.

  I’m not blogging from my home, in case you were wondering. I’m typing this from a highway rest stop, a hundred miles east. It’s nice to be away. The small-town server refilled my coffee and dropped off my check with a smile. She has no idea who I am, or that my face is plastered on every television in America.

  I won’t be a free man much longer.

  Detective Donaldson won’t rest until I’m back in handcuffs. Even now, I imagine he’s fantasizing about his big speech on the podium. He’ll stand there with a self-righteous grin, addressing the public in his best suit. We got him, folks. We got him. I enjoy that his bushy white caterpillar eyebrows have become pseudo-celebrities, even translated to GIF form on BuzzFeed’s “The 22 Eyebrows of Detective Donaldson.”

  So, there you have it, America. The next time you’ll see me? I’m not quite sure. Perhaps I’ll go out in a blaze of glory. Frankly, I don’t feel like surrendering. Not yet. I have places to be, drugs to take, work to do. I’m heading deeper into the abyss. A place that’s very near and dear to my heart.

  I need solitude to finish Kelly’s masterpiece.

  A while back, I started an interesting project. Some of it involved writing. Some of it, not so much. It’s rather complicated. Let’s call it He’s Coming for Me: The Final Act of Kelly Trozzo. Not a bad title. I’m sure my publisher would have agreed. Not so long ago, they would have paid a large sum of money for this book. Now they wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole.

  They leave me no choice.

  Against my lawyer’s wishes, I’d like to share my story on my least favorite platform. The fucking Internet. You deserve to know what happened to your leader. The truth. Not the version you want. Not the warm and fuzzy plot where light overcomes darkness and heroes prevail.

  This is Hollywood. Your princess is cunning. Prince Charming is evil. Dragons, demons, and darkness are hidden in us all. There are no bluebirds, no fairy godmothers. No shortage of monsters. We must save ourselves. Yes, I will tell you what I did to her. What we all did to her. And maybe, what she did to me.

  What she did to us…

  The Death of a Hollywood Hitmaker

  July 20, 2019

  In the wake of the media frenzy surrounding Kelly Trozzo’s death, there is another victim that has been an afterthought in the press, Kelly’s legendary manager, Barry Monroe, a man whose hulking stature and signature yellow framed sunglasses were a symbol of the Hollywood machine.

  While the official cause of death has not been announced, inside sources claim that the mogul was shot down in the foyer of Trozzo’s mansion. Police pronounced both Monroe and Trozzo dead upon arrival.

  And while the country mourns for the fallen popstar, there is little fanfare for Monroe, who many consider the mastermind behind scores of child stars and boy bands in the past decade. This might have something to do with the scandal that surrounded him—at the time of his death, Barry Monroe had fifteen pending lawsuits, with the majority of plaintiffs being under the age of thirty. Allegations of his wrongdoings range from extortion, embezzlement, fraud, even assault, with detailed reports of the mogul using physical force to coerce young artists and their guardians into signing unlawful contracts.

  On a Dateline episode last year, five former child stars spoke out about their time under Monroe’s tutelage, claiming that they lived in a constant state of fear of their former manager. All five said they were subjected to physical and verbal abuse, stating that Barry had fits of rage where he threatened to destroy their careers if they didn’t adhere to his rules, which included mandatory attendance at wild Hollywood parties with prostitutes and drugs.

  In spite of the controversy, Barry Monroe’s legacy as a skilled manager and producer cannot be questioned. As the CEO and founder of Monroe INT, he created a thriving media conglomerate with an astonishing track record for finding, developing, and launching new talent.

  One of those stars included Kelly Trozzo, whom Monroe first discovered in an audition room a decade ago. Since that day, Trozzo had been fiercely loyal to her formidable manager, even speaking out publicly in support of him when allegations first rose to the surface.

  For insiders, the star’s allegiance didn’t come as a surprise. In the same Dateline expose, singer Nate Conley of the former teen hitmakers, Blue Rockers, claimed that Trozzo was “in on the scheme” and was “just as manipulative and controlling as Monroe himself.” Conley went as far as to say that Kelly was a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” who convinced him to sign the contract that would ultimately leave him penniless.

  With so many enemies, and accusations of fraud and conspiracy, is it possible that Barry and Kelly’s death came at the hand of a jilted client or business associate? As wild fan theories circulate on the web, there should be no shortage of new suspects with the strongest motive of them all—revenge.

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  PAY ME, ALICE: A NOVEL

  AUGUST 2017

  To AJ Daniels, Alice Summers has always been the perfect girl. The only girl. He gets a summer internship to be closer to her. He accepts a job at the law firm where she works so they become cubicle-mates, and then he buys a three-bedroom home with their future in mind.

  The only problem? Alice’s tough and tattooed husband doesn’t agree with AJ’s sentiments, nor does he treat his wife nearly as well as her would-be suitor thinks she deserves. First, there are bruises. Then cuts. Then broken bones. And then, one day, Alice disappears. Shortly after, AJ follows suit.

  In a twisted tale of obsession and love, AJ decides to embrace the darker side of romance, the side requiring true sacrifice and suffering. In the end, the question isn’t whether or not he can find Alice and save her from her terrible marriage, but whether or not he can save both of them from their own destructive impulses. How far would you go for the woman you love?

  Pay Me, Alice will be released on September 15, 2017.

  Kelly Trozzo’s Entourage Spotted at Police Station!

  July 20, 2019

  Will Kelly’s inner circle be sporting orange jumpsuits soon? Check out these candid photos of Kelly’s closest friends strolling into the Los Angeles police station for questioning!

  First on the scene, Lizzy Anne Michaels—Kelly’s self-proclaimed best friend, who all-too-quickly stole the leading role on Kelly’s
show after her mental breakdown last year. That doesn’t seem very bestie-like, does it? From this picture, Lizzy looks like she hasn’t slept in weeks. Guilty conscience, anyone?

  Next to arrive, Jez Branson—Kelly’s fanatical assistant who has been posting pictures with the pop star on Instagram incessantly, including three #throwbackthursday photos from her wild make-out session with Kelly at the VMAs. Obsessed much? Jilted lover does seem like a good motive.

  Lead detective on the case Charles Donaldson refused to comment on the matter. Business as usual. We’ll have to wait and see which of these girls leaves the station in handcuffs!

  The Blog of Kaleb Reed

  July 21, 2019

  I check into a motel this morning, pay cash. You should see this lobby. Flies buzz around spoiled fruit. There are holes in the windows. The front desk attendant doesn’t look up from his cartoons. Not even for the Most Wanted Man in America. Tsk. Tsk.