by M. Z. Kelly
Mo turned to me and said, “I think you just created a monster.”
SIXTY-SEVEN
I agreed to go to lunch with my friends at the Denny’s Restaurant on Sunset to celebrate our victory after we all went by the hospital to check on Bernie. My furry partner had perked up and was especially happy to see Natalie. While I knew he had weeks of recovery ahead, Noah felt that with lots of physical therapy, he’d be able to eventually work again.
After settling in at the restaurant and ordering lunch, I told my friends that we should have invited our attorney to join us.
“Last I heard, he was meetin’ with Mean Gene,” Mo said. “He said something ‘bout maybe becoming a partner in his law firm.”
“Maybe Krump will become one of them mad dog attorneys,” Natalie suggested. “He might even end up on TV, if he doesn’t wet his pants.”
“I can’t imagine Hermes Krump working for Mean Gene,” I said. “But then I’m still in a state of shock that he won our case.”
“I think I’m gonna celebrate by sunbathing by the pool in the nude this afternoon,” Natalie said.
Mo smiled. “Maybe you wanna invite Maude Finch to join you, baby sis.”
I warned Natalie against talking to Finch, adding, “I think we’ve had enough drama for a while. Let’s try and keep a low profile and our pants on.”
Natalie then changed the subject, asking me how things were going with Noah. My friends knew all about the earlier conversation I’d had with him. “I think Noah’s been deeply impacted by almost losing his life during the war and then losing his fiancée. I’m not sure where that leaves us.”
“Maybe he’s still in love with the girl,” Natalie suggested. “It could be on some level he’s hoping someday they’ll get back together.”
“I doubt that. From what he knows, she’s married and has a daughter.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s gotten past it,” Mo said. “I seen girls that continued to chase after guys who kicked them to the curb years ago. Same thing can happen to guys.”
I thought about what she’d said and knew it was possible, especially given the trauma of Noah’s injuries and breakup. I sighed. “All I know is our relationship is in limbo. I’m not sure how, or if, we’re going to move forward.”
Natalie sipped her iced tea, then said, “Maybe it’s time to take another ride in the cowboy’s saddle.”
I laughed. “That relationship has ridden off into the sunset. We’re just friends, and I never date coworkers.”
Mo exchanged glances with Natalie. “Famous last words.”
I felt the need to move the conversation in a different direction and asked them about their recent visit to the Platinum Theater.
“We saw that billionaire bloke who tried to shoot you,” Natalie said. “He met up with a bunch of people and went inside.”
“Are you sure it was Collin Russell?”
Mo nodded. “I think it was some kinda secret meeting.” She regarded me with one eye. “You still gonna talk to Oz ‘bout what he knows?”
“I’m going by the station later and asking him for a few days off. I thought I would talk to him then.”
Natalie clapped her hands. “Speakin’ of that. Mo and me think we got our trip worked out.”
Mo brushed a hand through her red wig and said, “I thought we could spend a week over at the Mission Bell.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s in the hills above Malibu. They used to send the celebs there to detox years ago. It’s been revamped and they’re gettin’ ready to reopen the place as an upscale hotel and spa.”
“I probably can’t afford it.”
“Mo and me got us a deal on rooms,” Natalie said, “‘cause we did some security work for one of the owners. It’s just a few minutes from Hollywood, so you can still go by and check on Bernie while he recovers.”
My phone was ringing as I agreed to what they proposed. I saw the call was from Leo and told him we won our case, before he could say anything.
“That’s nice,” Leo said. “But, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. I just got a call that Oz suffered a heart attack. He’s in the hospital.”
***
I ran half a dozen red lights and broke every speed limit making my way to the hospital in downtown Los Angeles. When I got there, I met up with Leo in the parking lot.
“It doesn’t sound good,” Leo said. “Apparently, he was in full cardiac arrest when the ambulance arrived. Not sure if he’s going to make it.”
“Damn,” I said, as we rushed into the building. There were tears in my eyes as I said, “I had no idea he had heart problems.”
“Ozzie always wanted people to think he was healthy as an ox, kept it to himself.”
We checked in with the desk staff and learned that Oz was in intensive care. Leo used some influence, telling the nurse that we were family. We were sent up to the seventh floor, where the on duty nurse told us Oz was resting comfortably and gave us five minutes.
Before we got to his room, Leo took me aside. “I think you need to ask him about the photograph.”
“I don’t want to upset him, make things any worse.”
“I understand, but you might not have another chance. You need to talk to him.”
I nodded. “Okay. Let’s see how it goes.”
We found the lieutenant hooked up to a half dozen machines. He looked small and fragile, but immediately recognized us. His voice was weak as he held out a hand and said, “Hell of a way…to spend…your day, huh?”
We made small talk for several minutes, holding Oz’s hand and talking about how our case in Arizona had ended. I also mentioned Bernie, telling him that he was doing better.
Leo then reached over and hugged his old friend. There were tears in his eyes as he said, “I’m just going down the hall for a few, Ozzie. Be right back.” He nodded at me as he left.
I took a breath, released Oz’s hand, and removed the photo from my purse. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this.” I showed him the photograph. “I found it in Jean Winslow’s house. From what Winslow’s niece knows about it, the photo was taken…”
“It was a few days before…before Jean’s thirtieth…birthday. Your dad asked me…” He took a moment, trying to catch his breath. “…to come along with him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
His eyes held on me for a long moment as he drew in a couple of ragged breaths. “I made…I made a promise to your dad…if anything happened…he didn’t want me to say anything…to anyone.”
“You mean, about the photo?”
He nodded. “That, and…” His gaze drifted off and he didn’t go on. I had the impression he was in pain.
I gave him some time, then said, “And what else?”
His eyes rolled back in his head, but he went on. “There was a guy. His name was Dallas Walberg.”
I remembered the name because Brie had told me she’d done his autopsy. He had jumped from a three story building a few years back, but she’d felt his death might not have been a suicide, something that Leo had also suggested.
“He was the financial controller for Wallace Studios,” I said. “He worked for Donald Regis.”
“He knew too much and was…your dad thought Ryland…and some of the others had him killed.”
I remembered that Regis had also recently committed suicide, but under suspicious circumstances. “The others?”
“Ryland and…maybe Russell. I’m not sure. It was all about the money.”
“You mean, they had him killed because he knew they were skimming from the studios.”
“Probably, but we’ll…we’ll never know for sure.”
The nurse came in and told me my time was up. “Can I have just one more minute?” I asked her. She nodded and left.
I turned back to Oz. “What else? What else haven’t you told me?”
Oz drew in a ragged breath and shook his head. “I’m not the person…to say.”
&
nbsp; “What does that mean?”
“Your dad…he wanted all this kept quiet. He was afraid the truth could…it could get you killed.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I can take care of myself. And, my dad was murdered by Ryan Cooper and the others. I need to know who else was involved.”
“All I know is…there was money involved…a lot of money. A decision was made…to protect you from that.”
“Who made that decision? Was it my father?”
He moaned and his words became more ragged. “There…it was a cover-up…but it was done...” He gasped for air. “To save a life—your life.”
“And my father. He ordered the cover-up?”
“Yes…but I’m…not talking about John…I’m talking about your biological father. He’s the one…”
An alarm sounded and he didn’t go on. Medical staff came rushing into the room and asked me to leave. I waited in the hallway, hearing someone say, “We’ve got a code blue.”
“What’s going on?” Leo asked, coming over to me.
“I think he went into cardiac arrest.”
Leo brushed tears from his eyes. He and Oz had been friends, going back over thirty years, and I knew this was devastating for both of us. Tears sprang from my own eyes as I said, “I’m sorry.”
He nodded, trying to regain some control. “What…what did he say?”
More hospital staff rushed into Oz’s room as I said, “Just that I need to talk to my dad about everything.”
“Did he…did he tell you who…?”
I shook my head and took a breath. “No.”
Twenty minutes later, a nurse came over and gave us the news that we’d dreaded hearing. “I’m sorry. Your friend didn’t make it.”
Leo and I broke down crying. We held onto one another, feeling the loss of a good man who was not only our friend, but our colleague.
Several minutes later, when we’d managed to regain some control, the nurse came back over to us, asking how we were doing. After we assured her that we would be okay, she said, “I don’t know what, if anything, it means, but your friend—I think he said someone’s name before he died.”
I brushed my tears, trying to focus. “A name?”
“Yes. I hope this makes some sense. He said something about someone…I think the name was Pearl.”
THE END
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More by This Author:
The Hollywood Alphabet Thriller Series, with Detective Kate Sexton and her canine partner Bernie:
•Hollywood Assassin
•Hollywood Blood
•Hollywood Crazy
•Hollywood Dirty
•Hollywood Enemy
•Hollywood Forbidden
•Hollywood Games
•Hollywood Homicide
•Hollywood Intrigue
•Hollywood Jury
•Hollywood Killer
•Hollywood Lust
•Hollywood Murder
COMING SOON: Hollywood Outlaw
Copyright © 2016 by MZ Kelly
Published by Kingston Roads Press, L.L.C.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, businesses, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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