White Heat

by Paul D. Marks

  I followed a trail that led from L.A. to Calexico on the Mexican border to Reno and back to L.A. But I found him. And he found me, or at least I think he did. I think he killed Baron to scare me and get me off his trail. We had our scuffle at the Griffith Observatory and now he won’t be going after any more young starlets or killing any dogs or anyone else.

  Eventually I told Rita the truth about my involvement with The Weasel. My unwitting aid in helping him find her sister. She didn’t understand. She hated me at first, then the hate turned to indifference and she drifted out of my life and I haven’t been able to call her. Every time the phone rings there’s some faint hope that it might be her. But it never is. And every time I start to dial her, I hang up before punching in the last number.

  So Susan Karubian’s jumping from the Hollywood Sign somehow stirred these memories. I looked out the window at the sun glinting off the magnolia leaves, trying to peer up into the hills. I could almost see the Hollywood Sign from here—if I was on the street in front of my house, I could for sure. After two years, the smoke from the riots had cleared from the air—not so the bad feelings. Today, the smoke was clearing above the sign or was it just the fog? And it dawned on me, Susan Karubian jumped from the sign at the height of golden hour. A magical time for some, especially if you’re making movies. Not so magical for Ms. Karubian. Nor for Teddie Matson. Golden hour is when she died too. Things happen at golden hour.

  I stared down at the already-yellowing newspaper—definitely yellow, not golden. Oh yeah, I was famous alright.

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’d like to thank Eric Campbell, the force behind Down & out Books, for giving White Heat new life and paving the way for its sequel, Broken Windows. I also want to thank Lance Wright of D&O for all his good work, and all the other folks at Down & Out. Also, my wife, Amy, for everything she does. She reads my stuff, helps edit it, and mostly just puts up with the life of a writer.

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  Paul D. Marks has written three novels, co-edited two anthologies and written countless short stories. He’s won a Shamus Award, was voted #1 in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine’s 2016 Reader’s Choice Award and been nominated for Anthony and Macavity Awards. His story “Windward” was chosen for The Best American Mysteries of 2018. His short fiction has been published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Akashic’s Noir series (St. Louis), Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Crimestalker Casebook, Hardluck Stories, Hardboiled, and many others. Paul has served on the boards of the Los Angeles chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

  Visit his website at PaulDMarks.com.

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  BOOKS BY PAUL D. MARKS

  The Duke Rogers P.I. Thriller Series

  White Heat

  Broken Windows (*)

  Vortex

  L.A. Late @ Night

  Anthologies as Co-Editor

  Coast to Coast: Murder from Sea to Shining Sea

  Coast to Coast: Private Eyes from Sea to Shining Sea

  (*) Coming Soon

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