“Fuck! That’s really bright, dude. I’m not going to hurt you, ok? I’m trying to help you. Just relax!”
This tiny creature in front of me looked more like a ragdoll than a potential threat. Torn up stockings stuck up out of black combat boots, a short black dress draped over her small frame, and she was looking at me like I was the crazy person in this scenario.
“Who are you,” I demanded, then felt something crunch in my mouth. Was that a tooth? I spit onto the ground and shone the flashlight on the blood and-yes! That was a tooth. ”Son of a beehive,” I spit out. The girl in front of me laughed.
“I’d be using a helluvalot stronger words if I’d just had the shit kicked out of me.” I put the light back on her and she cringed, covering her face a bit.
“Would you get that thing out of my eyes and let me help you?”
“Why do you have a bat?” I shouted, noticing what she was brandishing. I felt for my weapon, knowing at the same time I wouldn’t find it.
“Because I’m a chick traveling at night. Duh. Now put that down. I’m not going to hurt you, you big lug!” She dropped her bat and walked toward me. I stepped back.
“DUDE! I am not going to fucking hurt you! The guys who did this just took off, all right? I’m just going to look at your head, ok? You’re bleeding.”
She stepped cautiously towards me. I kept the flashlight on her, still not trusting her. Her tiny hand touched my shoulder as she stepped behind me. She was so small, I might have mistaken her for a young teenager, but on closer examination, I could see faint lines around her mouth. She had huge brown eyes with dark brows that were furrowed with concern. Her touch wasn’t light. She’d obviously been in situations like this before. I could feel her touching the back of my head and I cried out.
“They hit me with something. I went to get out of my car and they rushed me. I got hit in the head, and then I don’t know… Whoa, what is that smell?”
“You almost became your own private Burning Man festival.”
“I, what?” She finished walking around me and tried to take the flashlight from me. I yanked my arm away and she calmly stepped back.
“It’s gasoline. They were going to-”
“Whoa,” was all I could say. I pulled the Velcro off my vest, grateful they hadn’t gotten it off of me as it protected me somewhat from their blows, although my thigh and butt were stinging like the knife one of them had connected. My whole body screamed as I pulled my shirt off over my head.
“I’ve got first aid stuff and a phone in my car. You need help, dude. You’re bleeding back here,” she said as she gently pressed the back of my head, “and your pants are ripped—”
“They got in a couple of cuts.” I looked around the area to see if they’d left anything but it was all gone. ”Crumb! They got everything. My belt, my keys, my badge.” Gasoline. Holy Mother, they were going to burn me alive…
“Come on, Officer. Let me get you to my car.” She’d somehow managed to catch my weight and was guiding me over to the passenger side of her car. I started to panic, but then she was talking and her voice instantly calmed me.
“My name is Abra Moore. I’m not going to hurt you. Let’s just sit you down and then you can tell me who to call, ok?” Her voice was so sweet. It allowed me to let some of the tension go, but then I got the shakes so bad she had to support me almost completely. Somehow she got me to her car, although she barely came up to my shoulder. She got the door open and helped me maneuver into the low seat, using her other hand to guide my head in so I wouldn’t smack it. Then she leaned across me and grabbed her phone off the console.
“Who should I call, Officer-”
“Graham. Kelly Graham. I guess just call 9-1-1. The CHP will hopefully respond. Do you know where we are?” She dialed the phone and shook her head, her dark hair grazing her pale shoulders.
“Yes, my name is Abra Moore and I am here with an officer who has been injured… We’re at a rest stop on Highway 5… I don’t think we are in danger. I think they left… Yes, I will stay with him… He’s bleeding from the back of his head. He said they hit him… Yes, he is able to move and walk… Breathing is labored but normal… Ok… Thank you…” She hung up the phone and stepped closer. It was so dark I could only make out her silhouette from the distant bathroom lights.
“Thank God you pulled in,” I said quietly. “I can’t—”
“Yeah. No, I’m glad, too. Were you on duty?”
“No. I left work at ten and hit the road. I can’t believe—”
“Where are you from,” she said, squatting down in front of me. She wrapped her arms around her knees and looked up at me, worry creasing her forehead. The light was hitting her just right so I could get a good look at her face. She was absolutely gorgeous. Not my usual type, I guess. I don’t know that I had one, but she was definitely not a woman that would have caught my eye normally. Heavily tattooed, small-boned… Her face was angelic, but like a dark angel. I blinked hard a couple of times, starting to wonder if I was...
Want more? How about more Maggie’s Bones!
Fated – A Haunted Novel
September 2012
Sammara Gunderson
Hollywood, Los Angeles
When news first came out that Maggie’s Bones were working on a follow up album to their smash from last year, I begged my editor to let me do a feature on them. As a reporter for Feedback Magazine, the premier Rock magazine in the U.S., I followed their career since the beginning and loved their music. Then, when tragedy struck and they lost their manager in a freak accident, I became even more intrigued. The guys had put on a brave front for a bit, then their lead guitarist, D, disappeared. The next thing everyone knew, they were all back in New Orleans writing their follow up album, tentatively titled Haunted. The Rock world was dying for news on what was happening to them. I was in contact with their manager, Sherry Jordan, and she assured me she would ask the guys to do the interview. I could barely contain my excitement. There was something about their music that called to me, and though I knew I needed to remain objective, I couldn’t wait to meet them and experience their magic in person.
That was four months ago. The next thing I heard was that they were back in L.A. with Scott Cross, an amazing producer who had given several bands their masterpieces. I figured I’d never get access while they were recording, but I was hoping for a break. Luckily I ran into Sherry at the Formosa Cafe on a random September afternoon.
“Sammara! How are you, girl?” We hugged and Sherry invited me to sit with her and the two women she was dining with. ”Sammara, this is Mackenzie McGowan and Jaylene Charles. Ladies, this is Sammara Gunderson, reporter extraordinaire from Feedback magazine.”
I scoffed at her introduction. ”Extraordinaire? Please! How do you do,” I said as I slid into the booth next to her. The restaurant had a cool spot in the back that looked like an old railroad dining car. I loved the mix of food here and the service was tepid as all of the servers were bored locals. I’d had several meetings here in the past and loved the atmosphere of feigned disinterest.
“Jaylene and Mackenzie snuck out here to visit the guys while mixing is going on and I promised I would show them the town. What brings you to Hollywood?”
I tucked some hair behind my ear. ”I had a meeting with Patricia Gordon about interviewing Blackened. They are about to head into the studio as well and I was hoping to catch them before that.” Sherry and her friend all sighed at the prospect.
“Have you met them before?” Mackenzie asked. When I nodded, she exclaimed, “Oh my hell, Danny Black is so friggin’ hot!” Sherry laughed at Mackenzie and Jaylene rolled her eyes and sipped her soda.
“I have interviewed them before. If you can get past his gruff exterior, he’s pretty damn funny. He’s just kind of a dick when you first meet him,” I said with a laugh. My first piece on Blackened cemented my position as a features writer with the magazine and since then Danny only wanted to deal with me. I was grateful for that!
“Really? That would be…Thank you, Sherry! I would love to work with them! When were you thinking?”
Sherry opened up her calendar on her phone and chuckled. ”They have tonight free, or Saturday. I think it would be perfect if you came out to the house they’re staying in. It’s totally them.”
I checked my own calendar and frowned. I was supposed to attend a work function tonight and Saturday I was supposed to see a show at the Whisky. ”I can do either. You tell me and I’ll make it work.” My managing editor would let me out of my commitment tonight for this and I could catch the other band at another venue. I wasn’t going to miss my chance to interview Maggie’s Bones! For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I knew in my heart I had to do this, that the repercussions of this interview would be massive in my life. I needed massive repercussions to combat the stagnation I had felt for so long.
“Why don’t you come by tonight then? You’re always bound to get them at their goofiest at night. They’re so serious during the day.”
I opened the GPS app on my phone. ”Where should I meet them?”
Sherry and the other women laughed. ”Uh, they’re staying at the Los Feliz Murder Mansion.”
My phone clattered onto the table. ”Say what? I thought the owners wouldn’t let anyone in that place?” The mansion had one of the creepiest histories in Hollywood history. I was definitely intrigued.
Sherry laughed. ”It just so happens that one of their kids is a huge fan of Maggie’s Bones and she talked her parents into letting the band use the place after they initially refused. They cleaned it all up, only leaving a couple of the rooms untouched. The owners hadn’t changed anything since the night in 1959 when the dude killed his wife. Mage was all excited about it. He thought it would be an inspirational place for them to stay while they were in the studio.”
Sherry shuddered and Mackenzie barked out a laugh. ”That guy is obsessed, I’m tellin’ ya! You should have seen the creepy ass house he wanted to buy in New Orleans. He’s even convinced the guys to go ahead and purchase the St. Germaine in the French Quarter and turn it into a club! Club Haunt, he wants to call it.”
Jaylene swirled her straw around in her glass and smiled fondly at the mention of Mage’s name. ”Poor guy. He swears the building was haunted, but nothing happened while I was there.”
Sherry laughed and turned to me. ”Jaylene stayed with the boys while they were writing for the album. She’s a tattoo artist.”
Jaylene raised an eyebrow in surprise. ”It’s fine, Jay,” Sherry laughed. “The guys are going to give her complete access so she’ll find out anyway. Don’t worry.” Jaylene relaxed noticeably. Her eyes darted between her two friends, then her phone started buzzing. She picked it up and her cheeks turned rosy.
“Is that loverboy,” Mackenzie said, peeking over her shoulder. Both of their eyes went wide. ”O-kay! I didn’t need to see that… Or maybe I did. Bring that back up!” Jaylene was trying to respond, her bottom lip between her teeth, while trying to block Mackenzie’s view. ”Damn he’s got a fine-”
“Kenz! He’ll be so embarrassed if he knows you saw that, now stop!”
Mackenzie winked at Sherry, then frowned. ”How come mine doesn’t send me hot pics like- WHOA!” It was Mackenzie’s turn to blush at whatever had just buzzed her phone.
Jaylene peeked over her shoulder and gasped. ”He wants you to do THAT?” Mackenzie got a dreamy look.
“Ahhhh, I always dreamed I’d find a man brave enough. Sherry? When does their tour start?”
Sherry laughed nervously. ”Why? You aren’t thinking of… Let me see that picture!”
Mackenzie held the phone to her ample bust. ”I promise he will be okay to play! Scouts honor!”
Jaylene snorted. ”Yeah, you’re just lucky he hasn’t yanked out his nipple rings while playing yet!”
“That was so much fun,” Mackenzie sighed. I thought I was picking up the gist of what this conversation was about. Mackenzie showed Sherry the phone across the table and as much as the reporter in me wanted to be nosy, I really didn’t want to be tempted to print something this salacious.
Sherry looked horrified and intrigued at the same time. ”How do you even do that? Can’t that cause permanent damage?”
Mackenzie shook her head. ”Not if you do it right, and I’ve done plenty. Yes, ma’am, there are plenty of dudes walking around New Orleans with these babies!”
Okay, that was too much temptation for me. “So you do body modification?”
Mackenzie smiled wickedly. She swirled a lock of her teal hair around a manicured finger with polish in a matching shade of teal. ”Give me a needle and I can pierce anything,” she said with a wink.
I shivered. I had my ears pierced three times on each side and had considered piercing my navel for about five minutes, but anything lower… “Gotcha. Why do people want to pierce their, um, their—”
“Dicks? Adds sexual pleasure. I have yet to actually get to experience it, though. Sadly. I’ve provided pleasure for hundreds of other women.” She sighed and her face relaxed into a dreamy expression. She clasped her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands. ”But now… I just might—”
“Kenz,” Jaylene interrupted by throwing an elbow into Mackenzie’s boob. “You do know she’s a reporter? You really want Star’s business about his business out there?” Jaylene’s eyes bugged out. “Oh God. You won’t report that, will you?”
I laughed and shook my head. ”I’m off the clock right now, don’t worry! I can’t say I’m not intrigued, though. So you tattoo them and Mackenzie—”
“Only Star has been brave enough to let me go to work on him. Jaylene’s tattooed them, but for some reason they’re afraid of little ole me!” Mackenzie tried to do her best to look demure, but she didn’t fool me. ”If you’re ever in New Orleans, you could come see my portfolio,” Mackenzie purred, wiggling her eyebrows. ”Maybe you might want a little something yourself.”
I gulped. As a reporter for Feedback, I’d worked really hard to overcome my naivete about the more worldly world of rock n’ roll, but there was still a lot out there that shocked me. I’d had quite an education since moving to Hollywood from a bedroom community in the East Bay after attending UCLA’s school of journalism. Luckily, I had a good poker face when faced with something a little ‘out there.’
“Then it’s settled,” Sherry said while working her phone frantically. ”Sammara, you’ll meet the band out at the house tonight. I’ve texted you the address. Let me know if you need anything further.”
Jaylene frowned as Sherry packed up her things to go. ”But aren’t you coming, Sherry?”
The usually poised and self-assured manager for the band looked flustered. “I’m going to pass I think. I’m not in the mood for a certain person. He’s been texting me all week and I just don’t want to hear it.”
I wondered who she was talking about but didn’t want to butt in if Sherry didn’t want to share. We’d been friends since college and had confided in each other many times. It was obvious this was a detail she’d decided to keep from me. I wasn’t upset. She didn’t always tell me who she was seeing. Unfortunately, the ones she kept from me in the past were ones who hurt her really bad. I hoped that wasn’t the case this time.
“But he really wants to fix things with you,” Jaylene pleaded gently. ”He’s been such a good boy since New Orleans, I swear! I’m not asking you to do anything other than talk to him.” Jaylene seemed like such a caretaker. She was guarded, or maybe just quiet. I couldn’t tell for sure yet, but I could tell she didn’t know how much she could trust me no matter what Sherry said by the way her eyes darted to me with every topic of conversation.
Sherry exhaled loudly. ”I’ll think about it. Let’s get you t
wo back to the house before Devon starts blowing up my phone looking for you. I swear, it’s like you’re his security blanket or something!” Jaylene blushed, Mackenzie laughed and Sherry winked.
I was already thinking of questions I wanted to ask tonight. “I’m really glad I ran into you, Sherry. I’ll see you all tonight. About what time?”
Sherry checked her watch. ”Come over around 8:00. They should be back from the studio, fed, and will have had time to snuggle up with their ladies for a bit.” Jaylene and Mackenzie groaned and laughed.
“No problem,” I said. I wanted the women to feel comfortable around me. ”And don’t worry. I know they’ve had a rough year. I won’t push.”
Sherry’s smile dropped. ”Thanks, Sammara. I reassured them that you would take good care of them.” I was grateful for Sherry’s confidence. It was hard to earn respect in this crazy business.
Sherry stood from the table and said, “Now, I need to get my lovely guests to the spa-”
“Oh Sherry! Can we skip the spa and go to that Hollywood History Museum? Devon said they are finished for the day and wants to meet up there. He says there’s a replica of Hannibal Lecter’s cell in the basement!”
Sherry’s expression was priceless. ”You and your horror movie fascination! You guys are creeps!” She shuddered and shook her hands out like she’d just seen a big hairy spider in her bathroom. Jaylene just smiled innocently and bounced on her toes.
Sherry rolled her eyes. “Fine, sure. No problem. Sammara we’ll see you tonight, ok?” I waved good-bye and gathered my sweater and purse. I had a night with Maggie’s Bones to look forward to. Whoa.
Stay Tuned for more Rock ‘n’ Romance!
Table of Contents
Dedication
Teacher: The Final Act
Prologue
Chapter - One
Chapter - Two
Chapter - Three
Chapter - Four
Chapter - Five
Teacher: The Final Act (A Hollywood Rock n' Romance Trilogy #3) Page 21
