Not Talented in Hollywood: Not in Hollywood Book 3

by Leonie Gant

  Lee snorted. “The way you attract trouble sweetheart, it was just a matter of time before you crossed Jake’s path.”

  I wanted to argue but really there are some truths which you can’t argue against.

  Finishing off his coffee Lee announced, “I’ve got errands to run and you’re coming with me.”

  “What if I’ve got stuff to do?” I asked.

  “Then we do that first” said Lee very calmly and I was reminded of the way Griffin was, calm and competent. Well that’s how he was when he wasn’t dealing with me.

  I shrugged knowing when I’d been beaten. “Where do you need to go?” I asked.

  “Drugstore” Lee muttered. “It’s lousy getting old, spend half your life in the drugstore.”

  Wandering through the drugstore waiting for Lee to do his shopping I ended up in an aisle of condoms. All of a sudden I started thinking. Griffin had given a strong indication that he wanted to have sex and considering the way I melted every time he touched me, I was obviously on board with the idea. It had been a long time since I’d had sex. I started panicking. As far as I knew we were going to be at my house. What if he didn’t have condoms? Maybe I should have some on hand. I started looking at the different brands and sizes. I grabbed a box and looked at it, then saw another one and pulled that down from the shelf as well. Just to be on the safe side I should get some, I decided. Now the question was which ones. All of the boxes seemed to promise some out of this world experience. I had no idea of sizes or which brand was best, what would Griffin prefer? Maybe I should just close my eyes and pick one.

  “I’m ready” said Lee as he walked up to me, “do you need to get anything?”

  You would think that the most embarrassing experience would be the moment you are looking at condoms and the father of the man you are planning on using those condoms with stands next to you and asks you what you are doing. It isn’t. The truly mortifying moment is three seconds later when he realizes what you’re looking at and why, clears his throat, mutters that he’ll wait for you outside and bolts for the closest exit. I was not going to be able to look Lee in the eyes for the rest of the day, maybe never. I grabbed the nearest box and took it to the counter. Paying for it I didn’t notice a gentleman in a suit standing by a side exit watching me intently until I nearly ran into him.

  “Sorry” I muttered as I tried to step around him still caught up in my humiliation.

  The man in the suit put a hand on my elbow and before I could wrench it away he said “Miss Eyre, Mr Caldwell would like to speak to you” in a low voice.

  No way was that going to happen. I’d already spent far more time with Mr Caldwell than I ever wanted to. I must have telegraphed my intentions because my captor’s grip tightened on my arm.

  “Miss Eyre, you will be coming with me. It is your choice how it happens but I really don’t think you want a repeat of yesterday do you?”

  I looked into his eyes. He was serious, this man was going to take me to Dominic Caldwell no matter what. I really didn’t want that meeting to begin with me being unconscious again. I looked around but he had grabbed me in a part of the store which couldn’t be seen from the front. Nobody was in this part of the store and I had been pulled in close as my captor tucked me into his side. We looked for all the world like a couple, except for the fact I could feel a gun in a shoulder holster against me. I went with him out the side door hoping that Dominic Caldwell still did not intend to kill me.

  Chapter Twenty

  Parked outside in a laneway was a limousine. My kidnapper opened the door and pushed me in, none too gently. I dropped my bag as I fell into the seat and the box of condoms rolled out. Dominic Caldwell leaned over and picked up the box and held them out for me.

  “For you and the good detective I presume” he said, a smile crossing his face.

  I snatched the box out of his hand and stuffed it in my handbag.

  “None of your business,” I snapped as I felt the blush work its way up my neck and across my face.

  Dominic laughed as I settled into my seat trying desperately to portray a casual, sophisticated demeanor. There’s a reason that look never works for me.

  “It’s good to see a woman who blushes for a change” he said. “The women I usually spend my time with are too worldly to ever blush.”

  “Lucky you” I said through gritted teeth as my face felt warmer.

  He traced a finger down my cheek. “I may be missing out” he said quietly.

  I froze. Of all the things I was expecting, I had to admit this was not one of them.

  “What do you want from me?” I croaked. You would think after being kidnapped for the second time in twenty four hours I could at least be a bit calmer about it.

  “We never got to finish our chat” said Dominic. “Unfortunately we kept getting interrupted.”

  “So you decided to kidnap me” I said.

  “I am not kidnapping you” Dominic sighed as if repeatedly having to explain things to a small child.

  “Actually” I said, “today really counts as a kidnapping. Thug with a gun and threats definitely equals kidnapping.”

  “I told Robert that I needed to speak to you. He may have got a little enthusiastic with the execution of that order.”

  I really wish Dominic hadn’t used the term execution.

  “I was with my boyfriend’s father in that drugstore” I warned. “The second he can’t find me you’re going to have the LAPD combing the streets looking for me.”

  “You do seem to excite extreme loyalty in people” Dominic said just as calmly. “It doesn’t matter, as soon as we’ve finished our discussion I will take you wherever you want to go. I wouldn’t dream of hurting you in any way.”

  “I don’t know why you want to talk to me” I said letting the frustration show. “I didn’t know Catarina at all.”

  “But you know about her” prompted Dominic, “and I’ve been looking into your past Trudie. You seem to make a habit of gaining information about people.

  “I’ve heard things” I admitted “but I don’t know how much of it is true.”

  “Tell me everything you know, or have heard” Dominic commanded.

  “Okay” I said deciding that being agreeable may actually get me home in time to use those condoms.

  “From what I’ve heard Catarina Badal used people. I spoke to someone from her high school and they said everything she did in life she got from cheating or conning someone, if not outright stealing. In college she seduced a professor and tricked him into marrying her by faking a pregnancy.”

  “She’s married?” Dominic asked.

  “Yes, she refused to divorce the guy because that would mean losing part of her money under California law. That and I’ve been told she got some sort of perverse pleasure out of preventing her husband from getting on with his life. I’ve been told that there are doubts that the films she won awards for were actually her work. According to the person I spoke to, she didn’t have an original thought in her head. My understanding is she was beautiful and full of personality. She made the most of those two attributes. Oh, and the only thing she seemed to actually care about was her cat” I said without taking a breath.

  Even though I had only known Dominic for a very short period of time, I knew he was a man who prided himself on his control. In this moment I saw him look angry and I was really afraid because I knew I was seeing the very bad and very dangerous man that Griffin had warned me about. I dropped my eyes with my hands clasped in my lap. I didn’t think he would be very impressed at me witnessing this loss of control. I tried picturing the funeral and anyone else that I had spoken to about Catarina and her death.

  “Wait a second.” A vague memory teased itself through my mind. “Do you have the picture of the necklace?”

  Dominic pulled a photo of the necklace from his jacket pocket and passed it over to me. Looking at it I got a picture in my head of the day of the funeral. All of a sudden the memory that had been twisting just out of
sight hit me.

  “Oh no” I said and Dominic straightened.

  “You know where the necklace is don’t you? You’ve remembered seeing it.”

  I gulped, wishing desperately that I wasn’t the one telling him this.

  “Well, where is it?”

  I dropped my head. “She turned it into a cat collar.”

  “What?” The deadly tone in Dominic’s voice made me wish very much that I didn’t have to be the one to tell him this.

  “This emerald and the two rubies on this necklace, they look exactly like the stones on the collar that Catarina’s cat had around her neck at the funeral. I thought they were rhinestones. I’ve never seen stones that big that were real. I figured it was one of those ostentatious cat collars people get that are more costume jewelry.”

  “Are you telling me that my mother’s priceless emerald and ruby necklace which has been in our family for generations has been pulled apart and turned into a cat collar?” Dominic’s voice seemed to increase in volume the further along in that sentence that he went.

  I nodded.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I guess it could be a copy?” I said hopefully.

  “But you don’t think so, do you” said Dominic.

  I shook my head. I really wish that I could say that it was something else and there was a part of me that rebelled at the thought. What kind of person would steal a priceless necklace and turn it into a cat collar? I could see that it was lucky that Catarina was dead already because if the look on Dominic’s face was anything to go by, she wouldn’t have been long for this world anyway.

  “So, can you drop me off now” I ventured.

  “Afraid not.” Dominic smiled. “So far you have been invaluable to me. I might just keep you for a little bit longer if you don’t mind.”

  “You really need to learn to understand the word no” I said seriously.

  “Maybe you’re right” he shrugged, “I just don’t often hear it.”

  “This is kidnapping” I said.

  “Were you dragged in here? Is there any evidence that you are here against your will?” he questioned.

  “The fact that I’m with you is evidence that I am here against my will, because there is no other reason for me to be breathing the same air that you are. I was dragged by your thug in here and he threatened to do what the guy yesterday did to me.”

  Dominic shrugged. “He may have been a little over enthusiastic in his interpretation of my request.”

  “Considering how often your people misinterpret your requests, I would really suggest that you take a course in communication because there may be people out there who are not as forgiving as I am.” I went through my purse and grabbed my cell.

  “What are you doing?” Dominic said silkily.

  “I’m calling Detective Griffin and letting him know where I am. If you don’t want this to be classified as a kidnapping I would suggest you just sit there and let me do what I want. If you don’t the second this door opens I will kick and scream at the top of my lungs so the situation will satisfy even your narrow interpretation of the word.”

  Dominic grimaced as I punched in Griffin’s number.

  “Where the hell are you?” So much for niceties, looked like Griffin really didn’t handle stress well. Everybody kept telling me about him having this ice cold, calm personality. Frankly I didn’t see it, or maybe more to the point, I didn’t inspire it.

  “Dominic Caldwell felt that we needed to finish the chat we were having when you interrupted us at the hospital.”

  “You’re with Dominic Caldwell?” Strangely Griffin sounded like he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.

  “Looks like it.”

  Dominic was smiling as he sat across from me.

  “Are you there willingly?” asked Griffin slowly as if trying to assimilate my change in circumstances.

  “We were just discussing that” I said. “We seem to have differing interpretations on what constitutes willing.

  “Where are you?” Griffin was starting to get that tone in his voice that I knew was a prelude to a blow up. “I’m coming to get you now.”

  “Could be a little bit of a problem, it seems my expertise is being requested.” I couldn’t help but feel a little bit smug.

  “Your expertise in what?” Griffin sounded doubtful. I chose not to be insulted.

  “I have no idea. Seems there is a missing necklace that Catarina stole from Dominic Caldwell and I may have an idea where it is. From my understanding of the situation I would say that we’re going looking for a cat.”

  I could almost hear Griffin grinding his teeth. “Just so we’re clear, you are currently in the company of a man who is, as we speak, on the radar of several law enforcement agencies and the two of you are searching for a cat.”

  That pretty much summed up my day. Hearing him say it so calmly I could see why he was having a bit of trouble getting his head around it.

  “I just wanted you to know that I’m safe and not to worry” I said.

  “Don’t worry” Griffin echoed. “Are you out of your mind? I want you to tell me where you are right now so I can get you.”

  I looked out the window of the car. “At the moment I’m in a limo heading down the freeway. I’m not entirely sure where we are headed.” I looked at Dominic expectantly and he just shrugged. “Looks like it is a mystery trip but Dominic assures me that as soon as we find the cat he will deliver me home.” Dominic shrugged again and I gave him a dirty look.

  “If I’m not home or don’t call you in an hour, come looking for me” I muttered and turned the phone off.

  “So” I said as I settled back in my seat. “We’re looking for a cat.”

  Dominic sighed in disgust as if suddenly realizing what a ridiculous situation he was in. “To be perfectly honest, we’re heading for the reading of Catarina’s will.”

  “Why?” I asked a little confused.

  “Ostensibly it is because, thanks to her gambling debts, I am considered a creditor to Catarina’s estate. I normally wouldn’t attend these things.”

  “Let me guess, you have colleagues who take care of them.”

  Dominic smiled faintly. “Yes, I do. However, this situation is different in that I was hoping to get a chance to find the necklace, so I planned to attend today’s reading myself. Of course after the debacle that occurred because I sent D’Angelo to find the necklace I am beginning to realize that I may be delegating too much to people who aren’t able to handle the responsibility.”

  I couldn’t help but agree with him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The lawyer’s offices were spacious, with more than enough room to handle a reading. It looked empty though with only Catarina’s assistant and husband in attendance. Peter started with surprise when he saw Dominic walk into the room and his brow furrowed with confusion at the sight of me coming in with him. I was right there with him. How I ended up in this drama was going to require a flow chart and a white board when Griffin demanded an explanation, which I knew he was going to do.

  Sitting down next to Dominic I could hear the low volume yowling. Looking around I saw the cat carrier sitting on the ground next to Peter’s chair. I should have realized that Peter had it because his skin had once again taken on that blotchy look it seemed to permanently have around Cleopatra. He was also sniffing and his eyes were running horribly. I elbowed Dominic and using my head indicated in the direction of the cat carrier. The lawyer entered the room and sat down at his desk. Clearing his throat he started talking.

  “As you are aware we are here today to discuss the final disposal of the estate of Catarina Badal. As executor of the will I have been tasked to finalize these matters. I won’t read the will, copies will be made available to you. Firstly I needed to address the matter of the creditors. Mr Caldwell has a sizable interest due to debts incurred by Miss Badal.”

  The lawyer shuffled some papers and his assistant passed them to Dominic. “As you ca
n see all debts are covered.”

  Dominic barely glanced at the papers. “This doesn’t address the necklace that was wrongly appropriated by Catarina” he said mildly.

  The lawyer cleared his throat, his nervousness apparent.

  “A thorough inventory has been made of Miss Badal’s holdings. The necklace you are speaking of has not been found anywhere.”

  Dominic was silent for a moment and I could see that everyone was becoming uncomfortable. “I have reason to believe that Catarina pulled the necklace apart and repurposed it.”

  The lawyer looked perplexed. “We found nothing in her jewelry that even looked similar” he said.

  Dominic sighed. “Did anyone bother to look at the cat collar?”

  The assistant looked horrified. See I wasn’t the only one. I know I can be accused of not being a cat lover but the thought of a precious necklace stolen and turned into a cat collar was ridiculous. I mean who did that? Everyone looked at the cat cage and as if she realized she had become the center of attention the cat kicked up the volume.

  Peter looked at the cage in distaste.

  “I’m going to need help to remove the collar” he said. “I can hold the cat but someone else will need to take it off.”

  I looked at Dominic in his very expensive suit. He shrugged at me. I didn’t see him volunteering in a hurry. I walked over to Peter.

  “Let’s get this over and done with” I muttered.

  With practiced movements, Peter undid the cage door, grabbed both front paws in one hand and the scruff of the cat in the other. Pulling her out, he clamped her body under his arm, all while sneezing helplessly with tears streaming from his eyes.

  “Get it now” he wheezed.

  Working quickly I reached up and undid the cat collar. Whipping it off I shouted “done” triumphantly and Peter shoved the cat back in the cage and closed the door. He then sat down heavily in his chair and pulled out a box of tissues. He started mopping up his eyes and nose, while his face started swelling to an alarming degree. I handed the collar over to Dominic who despite the fact he had got the gems from the necklace back, looked like he badly wanted to kill somebody. I didn’t blame him really. From the looks of it Catarina had pried the gems from their setting and glued them haphazardly on a relatively thick leather collar in a demented crafting exercise.