Hollywood Kids

by Jackie Collins

He was used to a more positive reaction from women, but she seemed distracted, in a hurry.

  'I think Rosa might have mentioned you to me,' he added, determined to attract her attention. 'She tried to set us up on a date.'

  Kennedy turned back to him with an amused expression. 'Ah, Rosa and her set-ups. She's always trying to fix me up, and I'm always saying no. Did she do the same to you?'

  He scratched his chin. 'Yeah, as a matter of fact she did.'

  'Hmm... Rosa has a dating obsession - take no notice.'

  'I didn't. But now that we've met, I would like to discuss the murders with you.'

  Finally he had her attention. 'Do you have information?' she asked, regarding him with serious green eyes.

  'I used to be a detective in New York. Worked a couple of serial killer cases over the years. Maybe we can have a drink later and talk about it.'

  'I'm on my way home.'

  'Another time?'

  'If you have anything to add - yes. Rosa has my number.'

  'OK, Michael, it's show time,' said his production assistant. 'They're waiting.'

  'I'll get your number from Rosa,' he said, allowing himself to be led away. 'And I'll call you - soon.'

  She nodded and watched as he was escorted down the corridor. For once Rosa was right, Michael Scorsini was a great-looking guy. But she was not in the market for great-looking guys. She was not in the market for anybody.

  All the same, she found herself lingering in the Green Room waiting to watch his interview.

  He came across as sincere and sympathetic. Once she heard his story she felt genuinely sorry for him. What a nightmare situation not knowing where your child was.

  When he came back to the Green Room she was still there. 'Changed my mind,' she said casually. 'I think I will have a drink.'

  He smiled ruefully. 'Feeling sorry for me, huh?'

  Her eyes met his. 'Exactly.'

  'Is there a Michael Scorsini here?' somebody yelled from one of the offices.

  That's me.'

  'You have a phone call. Press extension three and pick up.'

  He hurried over to the phone sitting on a corner table. 'Yeah?'

  A muffled female voice. 'Michael Scorsini?'

  That's right.'

  'I saw you on TV.'

  'Yes?'

  'I can help you find your kid, but it'll cost.'

  'Who is this?' he asked urgently.

  'It doesn't matter who I am. Listen good - I know where your kid is, an' if you want to see her again you'd better come up with ten thousand in cash. I'll be in touch.'

  'No, wait a minute! We can talk about the money, but first I need proof she's alive.'

  'Try this for proof.'

  He heard a scrambling on the other end of the line, and then a child's voice. 'Daddy! Daddy!'

  Oh, Jesus, it was just like the last time - he was almost positive it was Bella.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  They sat in a bar across the street from the TV station. Kennedy sipped a vodka martini and Michael had his usual non-alcoholic beer in front of him, although right now he yearned for something stronger.

  'I'm not the greatest company in the world tonight,' he admitted, rubbing his stubbled chin, thinking to himself that he was incredibly attracted to this woman. It wasn't so surprising - she was coolly beautiful, with a subtle sex appeal.

  'You don't have to be,' Kennedy said, wondering why she felt so drawn to this man she hardly knew. Was she merely sorry for him? Or was there a genuine attraction? 'If I were in your position I'd be insane by now.'

  'It's the not knowing that's such a bitch. I think of Bella all the time. It's like a constant ache. I think about where she is, what she's doing, or even worse, if she's dead. Because if she is, it would almost be better knowing.'

  'The strain must be unbearable.'

  'It is. No leads. Nothing on who killed my ex-wife and her boyfriend. I call the detectives working the case every day - they're understanding, but they've got nothing to go on. And then I get a call like this, and I imagine I hear her voice...'

  Impulsively Kennedy placed her hand over his. 'You can't be sure it was her on the phone. It could be somebody trying to get money out of you.'

  'Yeah, fine chance! Where would I come up with ten thousand bucks?'

  'I don't know what to say, Michael.'

  'Hey,' he paused. 'It's enough that we're here talking. It makes a difference. Quincy, my partner, he's away right now.' Another pause. 'Besides, you're great to talk to.'

  She moved her hand away and smiled. 'I missed my vocation. Maybe I should have been a bartender.' She picked up her drink and sipped it slowly. 'Where's your family, Michael?'

  'New York. I got one brother - a real loser. And my mother has problems of her own.'

  'How about your father?'

  'He took off when I was a kid. My stepfather brought me up. Eddie Kowlinski - a real jewel of an asshole.'

  'Do you see them often?'

  He laughed drily. 'Not if I can help it.'

  'Hardly Little House on the Prairie, huh?'

  'Hey, you're pretty good at this.'

  'What?'

  'Asking questions. Getting things out of me.'

  'It's my job.'

  'Do you mind if I smoke?'

  'As long as you don't blow it in my face.'

  He lit a cigarette and squinted. 'I noticed your ring. You married, Kennedy?'

  'My husband died,' she said quietly.

  'I'm sorry.'

  'He was a great guy.'

  'If he was married to you I bet he was,' he said, regarding her seriously for a moment. 'So here we are, sitting in a bar, and the funny thing is I don't even drink.'

  'Never?'

  'I used to be a crazy man. AA saved me. I've been dry for several years now.'

  'Me, I'm a social drinker,' she said. 'If there's a glass of wine I'll drink it - if it's not around I don't miss it.'

  'You're lucky. One drink puts me over the edge.'

  'I'm glad you're not over the edge, Michael.'

  'And I'm glad we're sitting here having a drink together.'

  She smiled. 'Wouldn't Rosa be surprised?'

  He smiled back. 'It's hardly a date, but I guess she'd be pleased, huh?'

  'Ecstatic! Let's not tell her.'

  'You got it.'

  He took a pull on his cigarette. 'So, how did you get involved in this murder investigation?'

  'I was deciding what to write for the magazine I work for. My father was sick, and a woman was murdered near the hospital. One of the things my father said to me before he died was, "Why don't you write about ordinary people instead of the rich and famous?" And you know something, he was right. So I started to investigate the first murder, and discovered there were others that might be connected. The police weren't interested, so Rosa talked me into appearing on TV to see if we could light a fire.'

  'She's good at that.'

  'You mentioned you worked on a couple of serial killer cases in New York. What do you make of this one?'

  What was he supposed to say? That he knew who was committing the murders. That right now he couldn't do anything about it. Jeez, she'd really respect him for that.

  'To tell you the truth, I haven't been following it,' he said, avoiding her eyes.

  'Maybe you should. I'd appreciate your input.'

  He waved for the cheque. 'Y'know, it's late. I gotta go, I'm working on a case. There's this rich girl who's being stalked...'

  'Really? Sounds like another story for me.'

  'I'll let you know.'

  'Do that, Michael.'

  'How about we try this again?'

  She laughed wryly. 'What - tell each other our troubles?'

  'I could buy you dinner tomorrow night.'

  'I'm busy tomorrow.'

  'Then can I call you?'

  She looked at him very directly. 'I think I'd like that.'

  * * *

  Bobby awoke Tuesday morning regretting that he'
d agreed to have lunch with Barbara Barr.

  When he'd arrived home from location the night before, she'd been waiting in his bed, incense burning, a mound of caviar piled in a glass dish, and a matching mound of cocaine on the bedside table.

  He'd been furious. 'How did you get into my house?' he'd demanded angrily.

  'I broke in,' she'd giggled, jumping out of bed stark-naked and throwing her arms around him. 'I knew you'd be hungry so I brought you caviar. It's a gift from me to you. So's the coke.'

  'I don't do drugs, Barbara,' he'd said, trying to extract himself from her clinging embrace.

  'You don't? Why not?'

  'Cause it screws up your head. So put on your clothes, take your coke and get out of my house.'

  'Sorry,' she'd said, with a sarcastic twist to her mouth. 'I didn't realize I was dealing with Mister Clean.'

  'I don't appreciate your breaking in, Barbara.'

  Her eyes had glittered dangerously. 'I could suck you off, Bobby. Or I could fuck you good. How about it?'

  The way she'd said it scared him. There was something way off about Ms Barbara Barr.

  'We'll have lunch tomorrow and talk,' he'd said, trying to stay calm. 'Right now I'm going to sleep.'

  Somehow he'd managed to get her out of his house and into her car.

  Now he was on his way to lunch, and because she was about to star in his movie he was caught in a trap. He'd had Beth check her out and she'd come up with a pile of lurid headlines from the tabloids. Bobby felt foolish, he should have known that Barbara Barr was trouble about to happen.

  Over lunch she regaled him with stories of her exploits. 'I've got this reputation for being out of my head,' she said, with an uncontrollable giggle. 'Queen of the rags! I don't know why. If somebody insults me like this tramp did the other night outside a club, I smash 'em in the face. Wouldn't you?'

  'No, Barbara, that's how you get sued.'

  'Nobody's going to sue me, I can assure you of that,' she said boldly. 'I have two brothers who'll break their fucking balls one at a time.'

  'Oh, shit!

  'Can we have dinner tonight?' she asked, playing with a silver crucifix hanging around her neck on a long black cord.

  'No.'

  She crinkled her forehead. 'What do you mean, no?'

  'It's not a good idea.'

  'Why not?' she demanded, pouting.

  'Barbara, back off.'

  'Back off?' she said, her voice rising. 'Back off? What's with you, Bobby? I'm not the kind of girl you can fuck and then run. You'd better remember that.'

  'I didn't say you were.'

  'Good.' Her eyes glittered dangerously. 'As long as we understand each other.'

  After lunch he couldn't wait to get away. He knew that casting her as Sienna was a grave mistake, and there was only one answer.

  He had to figure out a way to get them out of the commitment and Barbara off the movie before it was too late.

  * * *

  Luca Carlotti flew to California with two of his henchmen - Reno Luchessi and Bosco (the Pig) Nanni. Both good guys. Both men he could trust.

  Trust and loyalty meant everything to Luca. As far as he was concerned, without trust and loyalty you were deader than a dog in a ditch.

  Reno Luchessi was Luca's prince-in-waiting. At thirty-nine, Reno was tall and manly looking, with light brown hair that fell casually on to his forehead, long sweeping eyelashes and an innocent expression. His expression belied his true personality.

  Reno was a killer - there was nothing he liked better than beating a man to death.

  Bosco (the Pig) Nanni was a short, rotund man with pop eyes, hairy hands and no chin. He was nicknamed the Pig because of his excesses with women. Bosco could never get enough pussy, and because of his less than perfect appearance he tried harder in bed. It worked every time. Most of the women he slept with claimed he was the best lover they'd ever had.

  They made an odd trio, but as far as Luca was concerned the three of them were totally compatible.

  The flight to Los Angeles was uneventful, although Bosco managed to screw one of the stewardesses in the cramped toilet. 'Whaddaya want from me?' he shrugged, returning to his seat with a sly smile. 'She's a neighbourhood girl. I owed her a favour.'

  They arrived shortly before noon on Tuesday. A limousine and hand-picked driver met them at the airport and drove them directly to the St James's Hotel, where Luca had arranged three separate suites.

  As soon as Luca was settled he requested a manicure, a pedicure and a massage. It wasn't until he'd had all three that he called Mac, reaching him at home. 'I suggest we meet,' he said. 'It's been too long. Drop by the hotel.'

  'If you think it's necessary,' Mac replied stiffly.

  Luca was not happy with his response. We agreed you was gonna live your life,' he said. 'But sometimes - I gotta tell you - your attitude surprises me.'

  'I'm not a kid, Luca,' Mac said hotly, feeling like one. 'Don't speak to me like I'm a goddamn kid.'

  'Be here at four o'clock.'

  Bosco was already on the line in the living room of Luca's suite, busy finding out where the action was. 'LA's got the best-looking hookers in the world,' he informed Luca. 'Better than Vegas.'

  'Vegas hookers are shit,' Luca commented, inspecting his manicure. 'They got no class.'

  'Not in my opinion,' Bosco answered, ready for a lengthy discussion. 'I almost married a Vegas dancer once. She gave the greatest head I ever had.'

  'You wouldn't know a good hooker if she sat on your face,' Reno snickered, picking up a handful of nuts and tossing them in his mouth one by one.

  Bosco threw him a disgusted look.

  'Me - I've never had to pay for it,' Reno boasted, brushing out a crease in his pants. He aspired to be as sartorial as Luca, but didn't quite cut it.

  Then you don't know what you're missin',' Bosco said, with a wink in Luca's direction. 'You get a classy lookin' broad, pay her to do whatever you want, an' the best thing is she don't give you no grief. You don't even havta buy her nothin', not even dinner, not even a friggin' drink! She just fucks the shit outta you an' goes home.'

  Reno shook his head. 'I've never paid for it,' he repeated. 'Never have. Never will. Never needed to.'

  Luca started to laugh. Reno and Bosco were about as opposite as two people could get. Watching them together was like having his own entertainment channel.

  'I found out there's a new place runnin' the best call girls in town,' Bosco announced. 'Primo pussy. You want I should order one for you, Luca?'

  Luca considered the question. If he was going to deal with Zane he would certainly feel horny. Violence always made him horny. 'Yeah,' he said. 'Why not? Get me a short one, big tits, red hair and a nurse's uniform.'

  'A nurse's uniform?' Reno said. 'What're you - sick?'

  'Didn't I tell you about the time I was in the hospital when I was sixteen?' Luca said. 'Some crazy bastard busted my leg with a baseball bat. There was this nurse took care of me - a real looker - gave head like she was suckin' the chrome off a 1969 Cadillac! Yeah, get me a fuckin' nurse.'

  They all laughed.

  * * *

  Sitting out by the pool reading Variety, Jordanna stopped at Army Archerd's column because she spotted Jordan's name. She read the few lines quickly and her heart jumped.

  Friends of Jordan Levitt's will be pleased to know the abdominal pains he suffered recently were nothing serious, and after an over-nighter in Cedar's he's now home.

  She read it twice, furious that no one had called her. Then she realized how could they? Neither Jordan nor Kim knew where she was.

  The time had come to make her peace. What if anything had happened to him?

  Since she'd moved out of Charlie's and started working she felt pretty good about herself. Good enough to forget about her differences with Kim and make peace. Yes, she decided, it was definitely time to resolve matters with Jordan - time to let go. Whatever Jordan had done in the past, it was his life and now she'd finally realized i
t. So Kim used to be a call girl. Big deal. At least she was making Jordan happy. Maybe that's all that counted.

  She drove over to her father's house, zooming her Porsche up the driveway. She knew he was home because his Bentley was parked outside.

  Jumping out of her car she ran up to the front door. 'Hi,' she said to the Filipino houseman who let her in. 'Is my father around?'

  'He's in his study, Miss Levitt,' the man said.

  Thanks,' she said, entering the house and heading for Jordan's study. 'Surprise!' she exclaimed, flinging open the door.

  He glanced up from behind his desk. 'Where the hell have you been?' he said gruffly.

  She wrinkled her nose. 'That's a nice greeting. And I thought you were supposed to be sick.'

  'I'm serious, Jordanna,' he said sternly. 'Where have you been? Don't you think I worry about you? You take your things, run out of here leaving no forwarding address. I don't appreciate that kind of thoughtless behaviour.'

  'I'm not a little girl, Daddy.'

  'You behave like one.'

  Oh, God, were they destined to fight straight off?

  'Look,' she said sensibly. 'I came here today because I wanted to tell you that I have a job, I'm looking for an apartment, and I don't need your money any more - I'm making it on my own. I hoped you'd be proud of me.'

  He continued to frown.

  'Are you proud of me?' she persisted.

  'I've heard all kinds of rumours,' he grumbled. 'I even heard you were living with Charlie Dollar, but I knew that couldn't be true, he's the same age as me for chrissakes.'

  'Of course I'm not living with him,' she said, adding a silent, 'Any more.'

  He stood up. 'At least I'm relieved.'

  'So am I!' she said. 'I read you were in the hospital.'

  'Gas.'

  'Charming!'

  'One fart and they let me out.'

  'You're disgusting!'

  'Merely truthful, my dear.'

  She giggled. 'Anyway,' she said warmly. 'I came to congratulate you - I heard about the baby.'

  'Who told you?'

  'Kim did when I collected my things. I'm really happy for both of you.'