Figured out why I hate him.
Took a while, but driving in traffic reminded me. Maybe it was the heat, or the noise, or the guy giving me the finger as he drove past… but it suddenly hit me. He reminded me of Gabe. Of course he looks nothing like him, but it goes further than that… the same persona that the public sees. Mr. Cool. And on the inside, Mr. Explosive-punch-your-face.
I know, I know. Not cool to judge him and compare to Gabe without knowing, but… that’s the distinct feeling I had when he waltzed onto the crime scene. Hopefully I’m wrong, since I’d hate to have to put up with another asshole. I just… hope I’m wrong about him, since there’s also that little niggling in the back of my mind that tells me that he might just be a great guy.
Too bad I’m so far below him to ever find out for sure. 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2
Standing still while a crewmember adjusted the harness around his torso, Kyle ran though the scene in his mind. It was an easy stunt, one that he had practiced more than a dozen times. 3
“Too tight?” the woman asked.4
“Perfect,” Kyle replied, then took the jacket she offered him. Stepping back, he slipped the rest of his character’s outfit on, and waited while she smoothed down the fabric, and rearranged a few of the harness lines so they wouldn’t bunch under the jacket.5
“Run it through,” she said as she lifted the right side of the jacket back and repositioned a strap.6
“On the mark, I jump, then by the two count I’m running, dodging laser fire,” Kyle said as she smoothed the jacket again. “By seven, I should be at Sabine, and grabbing her from the bomb. At the ten count, it explodes and the harness yanks us both back into the pads,” he paused for a moment as she lifted the left side and readjusted the strap on that side. “Then, we kiss, fade to black, and live happily ever after… until the next movie, where she’ll probably be killed off.” 7
Rolling her eyes at his droll phrasing, the crewmember took a step back and eyed him expertly. Motioning with her finger for him to turn around, she studied his outfit of brown pants, white shirt and a military looking jacket emblazoned on the back and arms with a comet in flight. 8
“All right, Captain Saturn,” she said, “you’re ready to rock. Good luck.”9
“Right back atcha,” Kyle said, now in character. He walked away, his normal gait transformed in to an arrogant swagger that caught more than a few lust filled gazes from those watching. Although it was considered a closed set, it also happened to be filming in a local park, so there was more than the usual number of onlookers. Pausing long enough for make-up to correct a few issues with hair and a checking of his bright blue contact lenses, he then made his way to the ‘cliff’ he would be jumping off of at the start of his ‘run’.10
Stopping again while another crew member attached a thin line to the harness he wore, he stood still while he was hoisted ten feet through the air to land on the platform that would be magically transformed into a cliff thanks to the wonders of digital manipulation. 11
Closing his eyes, he exhaled, then opened his eyes and looked at the director. Giving a nod, everything went silent as he watched for his cue. A slice of the hand through the air from the director, and Kyle’s head snapped up at a scream that echoed through the park. 12
Looking for the source, he immediately centered on his ‘love interest’ in the movie as she was surrounded by a hoard of aliens. Jumping off the ‘cliff’, and hoping that the wires attached would bring him safely to the ground, he landed in an elegant crouch. 13
Standing dramatically, he slowly removed the weapon from his holster, then set off at a run across the grass. 14
“Shaylee!” he yelled to her character, holding a weapon that was shooting at the aliens in one hand, and a small blinking ball in the other.15
She looked, crying in happiness at seeing him, and held her hand to his as the aliens attacked. Their hands locked at the same time he tossed the small ball into the group of aliens. Pulling Shaylee free, he turned and ran with her, mentally counting in his mind. In the movie, that small ball would be exploding, killing the aliens, and sending the stars flying. As scripted, Shaylee tripped, and he turned to grab her, the signal that he was about to be yanked into a padded wall. 16
Pausing, he looked at Shaylee, then they both looked to the side when nothing happened. Standing with an annoyed sigh, Kyle faced the director, who was looking past the actors and at the person who was suppose to be in charge of special effects. 17
“Cut!” Matt, the director yelled. “What happened?!”18
“It’s not getting a signal,” came the yelled reply. “Going to have to shoot the scene later.”19
Sighing, Shaylee/Sabine walked past Kyle. “I’m going for a cigarette,” she said. “Someone come get me when this low-budget flick gets on track.” 20
“Low budget?” Kyle echoed with a whisper. “Oh, yeah, your ass is definitely dust in the next movie.” 21
Deciding that nothing more could be done until things were fixed, Kyle waited while the wire was unhooked from his harness, and headed off so that he wouldn’t have to hear the director arguing with stunt again. Honestly, if one was constantly being pissed off by science-fiction action, then why would one even direct the genre?22
“I’m going for a coffee,” Kyle said, pausing to wave at a group of onlookers that was hovering around one security gate. Spotting Sabine near the gate, he decided to push a few buttons with her since she actually pissed him off a great deal. 23
A few b-rated movies under her belt, and suddenly she thought she was the be all and end all of the red carpet crowd. He’d give her two years, tops, before she was on a season of the Surreal Life, whining about how unfair life was. 24
Chatting up a few fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures, Kyle smiled sweetly at Sabine as she sauntered over the moment he started talking to someone with a microphone and camera. She may have been vacant, but she wasn’t one to let a good photo opportunity get by unnoticed. 25
Gracious enough to share a spontaneous interview, Kyle figured that if it looked like they got along, it would translate into more people watching the movie, which meant a larger paycheck for him. 26
Looking up as the director called for all players to the set, he gently touched Sabine’s arm as she was in the middle of some inane story, and motioned with his head. She gave him a dirty look, recovering almost instantly when she remembered she was on some entertainment show’s cameras. 27
Both turned to walk back to the set, and back to characters that were madly in love with each other. A surprised cry made both look, and Sabine screamed as a car crashed through the barricade, barely missing the fans and camera crew that were still taping them walking away. 28
Moving on instinct alone, Kyle jumped at Sabine, grabbing and spinning her out of the way just before the car passed through the area she had been. His momentum carried both into a prefabricated wall, and then crashing through and to the ground. 29
Sabine thumped onto his chest, and air left him in one forced exhale as he stared at the sky above him in a daze. He could feel Sabine moving on his body, and let go of her as she tried to sit up. The set’s medical team surrounded both, asking questions and checking bodies over. 30
“Kyle?” one asked as a light was shone in his eyes. “Can you hear me?”31
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~32
Staring at the computer screen, Detective Isobel ‘Izzy’ Grant clicked through from interview to interview. “God,” she hissed. “Just how many interview can one guy give?”33
Her partner shrugged as he looked over a report on his desk. “Probably lots while filming a movie.” He glanced up. “Ever see them?”34
“See what?” she asked, reading the screen.35
“The Continuing Adventures Of Geoff Saturn.”36
She looked at him. “Uh, no. I’m not into B-Rated science fiction trash.”37
“They’re actually really good movies,” Gio clarified for her. “Kind of an homage to the classic space movies, but with a definite twenty-first century feel.” 38
“If you say so,” she muttered. “It’s cheesy crud with an equally smarmy star doing nothing more than showing off just how good he looks in a uniform.”39
“Thought you never saw the movies?” Gio teased.40
She motioned to the computer screen. “Publicity stills.”41
“You should rent the series,” he said.42
“Series? There’s only two of them. He’s making the third movie now.”43
Rolling his eyes, Gio went back to the reports on his desk. Moving a few papers to the side, he looked at her. “You got the Ryders’ interview?”44
“Which one?” she asked drolly. 45
“The police one. It’s not with the others.”46
“Uh.” Leaning back in her chair, Izzy took a quick look at her own desk. “I was looking at it earlier, and then… I put it back with the others on your desk.”47
“Damn. Hope it’s just misplaced, and not ready to appear in some trash magazine.”48
Izzy sighed. “On the plus side, it wasn’t very forthcoming. He wasn’t home, which can be confirmed, and claims that he hadn’t seen the vic in years, which can’t be confirmed.”49
“On the bad side, Captain’s gonna kill both of us if that report ends up in print.”50
“This is true.” Standing, Izzy started walking around the crowded precinct. Any misplaced reports usually ended up in one spot when found, and that would be with the desk sergeant. Checking through the small pile on the specific desk, and not coming across the color code that identified the file as hers or Gio’s, Izzy checked the break room, woman’s washroom, and even the top of the coffee machine. 51
Coming back empty handed, she shrugged to Gio as he talked on the phone. Holding his hand up, she rolled her eyes as he held the file she had been off searching for. 52
“You coulda told me you found it,” she mouthed as she sat in her chair. 53
Gio covered the phone mouthpiece for a moment. “Could have, but didn’t.” He went back to the call before she could reply. “We gotta go,” Gio said as he hung the phone up. Standing, he grabbed his suit coat from the back of his chair. 54
“Where, and why?” Izzy asked, pausing long enough to grab her blazer from her seat. 55
“Seems our golden boy has attracted some unwanted attention at an on-location shoot.” 56
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~57
“Dude, are you all right?”58
Kyle looked up from the blanket he was sitting on and sighed as Liam came across the park, the ‘Mother hen’ act in full bloom. “Fine. What are you doing here?”59
“I’m your emergency contact number, dumbass,” Liam said. “Tell me what happened.”60
Kyle shrugged. “Someone decided to detour through the set.”61
“Little more detail,” Liam said, crouching down at the end of the makeshift bed.62
“Car blasted through the barricade, nearly hit Sabine, and I got to go backwards through a fake wall.” Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck at the event, he shrugged. “Happened so fast that the car managed to drive on through the other side.”63
“They’re saying you saved Sabine’s life.” 64
“Who’s saying?”65
“There’s a clip already on CNN’s Breaking news,” Liam told him. “Shows the car, you saving Sabine, and then crashing through the wall.”66
“Great,” Kyle said, dragging the word out. “All I need is more unwanted publicity.”67
A thoughtful look crossed Liam’s face at that remark. “You rest,” he said. “I’m gonna go talk to someone.” 68
Kyle watched as his friend walked away. Shifting his body so he could lay down, he stared at the sky overhead. “Shit,” he whispered, still not really believing what had happened.69
Waving away a medic that was hovering nearby, he closed his eyes and tried to put the sensation out of his mind. After finally being able to breathe again, he had remained on the ground while being checked over, and had even gone with the suggestion of visiting the film crew’s doctor for a once over. 70
Given a clean bill of health, but strict orders to go to a hospital if he later felt dizzy or strange, Kyle hung around with all intentions of finishing the scene. Sabine, however, was a little more freaked out than he was, and decided to hide out in her trailer until she calmed down. 71
Not that he blamed her, since it had been her that the car almost hit. People had taken to remarking how brave and fast acting Kyle had been, both in saving Sabine, and in maneuvering so that she wouldn’t be the one to hit the fake wall, but he immediately waved off accolades. The entertainment shows were already singing his praises… which, even though he didn’t really want his private life pried in to, it would be a great change of pace from the conspiracy theories they were currently weaving regarding the death on his property.72
“That’s a wrap for today!” a voice called out, making him jerk in surprise. 73
Opening his eyes, Kyle realized that he’d actually fallen asleep. Sitting up, he scrubbed his face with his hands as the director approached. 74
“Take a day off, and we’ll continue with the next scene day after tomorrow,” he told Kyle. “Shoot this one again next week after things calm down.” 75
Nodding, Kyle stood slowly, rotating his shoulder to work out stiffness that had crept in during his impromptu snooze. “Sounds good.” He glanced over as Liam approached, and frowned at the look that was on his friend’s face. “What?”76
Liam shrugged. “Nothing. Just wondering about this car and who was driving.”77
“Leave that for the cops,” Matt said, then nodded to the barricades. “Speaking of which.” He walked away to greet the set’s newest arrivals, which happened to be the detective team of Giovanni and Grant.78
“Aw, sweet Jesus,” Kyle moaned lightly as he saw the duo. “Who the hell called Detective Bitch?”79
Raising an eyebrow at the choice of words, Liam shook his head. His friend only swore when he was ultra-annoyed, and it looked like Detective Grant was a major annoyance for Kyle. “The director called her, I think,” Liam told him. “Seems that she’s already talked to him about you.”80
Staring, Kyle wasn’t sure if Liam was joking or not. “Seriously?” Growling as she approached, he didn’t even bother to work up enough energy to be polite. 81
“What happened?” she asked.82
“Fine,” Kyle replied. “Thanks for asking. The other person involved is fine too, in case you’re wondering.” 83
Izzy blinked in annoyance. “What happened?” she repeated, once again cursing her luck for getting stuck with a Prima Donna actor and his issues. 84
Kyle shrugged. “Car tried to hit and run.”85
“Wonder if it’s related to Laine’s death,” Liam volunteered, then shut up as Kyle glared. 86
“Apparently it’s all over CNN,” Kyle said. “All I noticed was the car, and Sabine in the way. I didn’t notice a make, model, who was driving, or even a color.” He shrugged. “Sorry.”87
Izzy nodded, trying to get a sense of sympathy for him. So far it wasn’t working. Looking at Liam instead, she studied him. “Why would you connect this to the victim?”88
“Instinct,” Liam said, squelching at smile at the annoyance that crossed her face.89
“The instinct of a security guard?” she asked crisply.90
“Yeah,” Liam said. “That, and the time spent at Quantico.” 91
That got her attention more than a slap in the face would. “Marines? Drug Enforcement? FBI?”92
“FBI,” Liam confirmed. “Four years, until I got sick of the bureaucratic bullshit. When Kyle offered me a job, I literally caught the next plane out.” 93
Working this into the information gathered, Izzy decided to dig deeper into not only Kyle Ryders’ past, but those of his friends. Until now, it had only been a cursory search for similar incidents or complaints, but now she had to wonder. Someone knowing the intricacies of the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have the clout or knowledge to hide something if a friend was responsible for the murder.94
As if sensing her thoughts, Liam titled his head slightly. “I had nothing to do with the murder,” he said in a quiet tone. “Any other questions, or may we leave?”95
“Free to go,” Izzy said, making a mental note to try to connect all this together. If the four men on the property were clean, then the likelihood that the two events were connect was a huge possibility. “Wait,” she said.96
“Yes?” Kyle sighed, nearly out of patience. 97
“What scene were you shooting today?” 98
“Basic last scene,” Kyle said slowly, wondering if she was just another person that wanted to know the inside scoop. “I rescue the lady love, and we seal the deal with a kiss and implied sex.” 99
Interesting. Keeping thought from her face, Izzy took a step back. 100
“We’re out of here,” Liam said. “You want to stop by the hospital on the way home?”101
“I keep telling everyone that I’m fine.”102
“Just making sure you’re okay for tonight,” Liam said.103
“Tonight?” Kyle asked, blinking.104
“Yes, tonight,” Liam said slowly. “Tell me you didn’t forget about Davy’s birthday party?” 105
Rubbing hands over his face, Kyle sighed. “Totally slipped my mind, actually.” He looked at the floor briefly. “Suppose it’s too late to cancel?”106
“Not really,” Liam said. “But a lot of people are coming to the city for the party.” He looked at Izzy. “Most of those that were at the previous party will be here tonight. Probably your best bet at observing up close and personal.” He ignored the glare that Kyle was hurling at him. “You and your partner should come.”107
“What makes you think the perp will be back?”108
“A party hosted by Kyle Ryders is a must have ticket event,” Liam said. “And if he scoped out Laine at the party, then he’ll be back to check out others.” 109
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~110
“Party?” Detective Giovanni asked, perking slightly as he drove through traffic. “Party, party, party!” 111
“Wow, Gio,” Izzy said dryly. “Something tells me that you’re excited about this party.” 112
“I happen to like parties,” he said in a slightly defensive tone. “It was my ex-wife who hated them.” 113
“Which is why you’re divorced.”114
He nodded. “Well, that, and the pool man she was banging, anyway, what kind of party is this?”115
Blinking at the abrupt sentence change, Izzy shrugged. “Someone’s birthday. Uh, the Davy one, I think.”116
“The blonde?”117
“I think so.”118
Gio shrugged. “Whatever. What are you going to wear?”119
“Probably what I’m already wearing.” Izzy frowned as the car pulled over to the curb and Gio looked at her. “What?”120
“Stop it,” he said, his soft, yet firm.121
“Stop what?”122
“Stop trying to play the bad ass cop whose out to prove something to the movie star,” he said. “It’s getting annoying.”123
“I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone.”124
“No?” he asked. “Then why are you so hot to prove that Kyle Ryders had anything to do with Laine Carmichael’s murder?”125
“Besides the fact that it happened on his property?”126
“While he wasn’t home.”127
“He’s got the money to buy someone to do it for him.”128
Gio stared for a few moments, alternating between annoyance and disappointment for his partner. “Just because he makes more than you and I will most likely ever see in our lives, does not give you the right to try to bring his ass down to street level,” he said in an even tone. 129
“Everyone is equal in the law.”130
“That’s pure bullshit, and you know it. A cop does something wrong, and we get our asses spanked harder because we should know better. A hooker fucks up, and we all say how pathetic her life was and have pity that she turned to the streets to make a couple grand by fucking pervs that should just go jack off with their wives. Politicians break the law every day and we keep electing them back.” 131
Turning away, he pulled back into traffic. “So please, spare me the sanctimonious bullshit about everyone being equal in the eyes of the law, and just tell me why he pisses you off so much.”132
Staring out the passenger window as she tossed his words around, Izzy tapped her fingers against the armrest. She hated it when Gio was able to see through her, and hated it even more when she realized that there might be a glimmer of truth to his words. 133
“I don’t know why he pisses me off,” she finally said. 134
“Fair enough,” Gio replied. “As long as you acknowledge that he does.” 135
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~136
“They’re here,” Liam said, his tone low enough so that only Kyle heard. 137
Excusing himself from a throng of giggling females, Kyle made his way to the front door so he could lay down a few ground rules to the visiting detectives. His steps faltered when he saw that Detective Giovanni looked nothing like a police detective. Dressed in casual clothing, he more than fit in with the surroundings. Satisfied that this one wouldn’t be drawing unwarranted suspicion, Kyle nodded a greeting. 138
Kyle’s eyes looked beyond him, and stopped at the sight of Detective Grant. Dressed in tight black jeans tucked into black knee-high boots with a three-inch heel, a loose sweater slid down one arm to display a spaghetti strap. Her hair and make up pulled her far above and beyond all other females that were there.139
Snapping out of his staring, Kyle motioned to the room behind him. “According to Davy, nearly everyone is here from that night. Of course some couldn’t make it, and some stayed away because of the reporters still camped outside, but on the whole it’s-“ he broke off as the door opened to admit more guests. 140
Izzy watched as he played to part of the gracious host, and wondered just how much of his behavior was Kyle, and how much was actor. His laugh pulled her attention away from musing, and she couldn’t help but notice how his face lit up when he laughed. 141
Shaking her head, she moved off with her partner and tried to relax enough to blend in with what she had always considered as vapid, empty people who had nothing better to do with their lives than waste it partying.142
“Look at all the vacant air-headed tramps,” she muttered under her breath.143
“I’m lookin’,” Gio said, smiling as his eyes traveled over all the flesh that was on display. 144
Gasping in annoyance, Izzy elbowed him lightly. “Libido’s going to have to get put away tonight. We’re working, remember?”145
“All work and no play makes Gio walk funny,” he said, trying not to laugh at the way she rolled her eyes at him. 146
Glad that they were comfortable enough with each other to joke back and forth, Izzy looked out over the crowd that was in attendance. Her eyes tracked over the large room, which was probably bigger than her whole house, and continued on to the patio doors that were wide open. 147
“Excuse me?”148
Both turned to find Kyle, Greg, Liam and Davy standing behind them. “Yes?” 149
“What do we call you?” Kyle asked. “Can’t go around saying detective all night. That would rather ruin your reason for being here dressed like,” his eyes raked over her in a manner designed to prompt the biggest annoyance reaction. 150
It worked. 151
“Gio’s fine,” Detective Giovanni said. He nodded towards his partner. “She’s Izzy.” 152
“Thank you,” Kyle said with a smile. “Please.” Motioning with his hand, he waited while they walked into the living room with all the other guests. Then he turned to Liam. “Security?”153
“Extra cameras on all fence walls, front gate is buzz in only, rental cops to keep people from getting farther than the pool, and I’ve rigged sensor lights past the main property.”154
“Good.” Kyle turned to walk away, but paused. “Anything even remotely suspicious happens, let the cops know.”155
”I can handle this,” Liam replied.156
“I know you can,” Kyle said. “But if there’s a killer here tonight, I’d rather one of the cops face whoever it is.”157
Considering the possibilities of coming face to face with someone that kills, Liam had to admit his friend had a point. “Since you put it that way,” he said, then strolled off to check a few things before joining the already thrumming party. 158
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~159
She was having fun. Too much of it, really. Liam had been correct, a party of Kyle’s was a must have ticket event. Standing across the room talking to people she didn’t know, Izzy kept an eye out for anyone that looked suspicious… which was about ninety-eight percent of those here. 160
Her partner, Gio, had taken up residence outside near the pool, and she could hear laughter, talking and music filter in through the open patio doors. So far, no one had prompted her ‘suspicion radar’, although more people seemed to be arriving every minute. 161
She’d already taken a casual stroll through the property, pleased when she was stopped by a ‘rent-a-cop’ just past the pool area. That meant the rest of the property was off limits to guests, which made hers and Gio’s jobs that much easier. 162
Seeking out one of the property’s occupants, she found that it wasn’t overly hard to locate Kyle Ryders. All she had to do was look for the largest conglomeration of females, and he would be directly in the middle of that fawning crowd. 163
Leaning against a far wall while listening to someone play the piano, Kyle had an air to him that just oozed relaxation. Although surrounded by the obligatory gaggle of females, he wasn’t making himself the center of attention, and made sure that the whole evening was about the birthday boy, Davy.164
She watched as Liam approached, and handed him a telephone, then stood straight at the annoyed expression that crossed Kyle’s face. He looked around discretely to make sure no one was watching, smiled as he made an excuse, then he casually strolled out of the living room. 165
Making an apology, Izzy excused herself from the small group she was in, and set off the same direction Kyle had gone. It could have been nothing, but her inner sense was telling her that if it was an important enough phone call to ditch the party for, then it was important enough for her to follow. 166
“Christ sake,” Kyle’s voice filtered from a slightly opened door. “Can’t you stop this?” Apparently not pleased with the response, he growled lightly and ran a free hand over his face. “Is it money he wants?” 167
Izzy watched as Kyle started to pace the room, and inched a little closer to hear what was being said. “He what?” Kyle asked. “No. No.” His voice had a definite scared quality to it that prompted Izzy to push the door open to see what was going on. Kyle’s back was to her, and by the body language, he was extremely pissed off. 168
“Fix this,” he finally ordered into the phone. “I don’t care how, but I don’t want him anywhere near me.” Slamming the phone shut, he turned, coming up short when he realized he wasn’t alone. Anger crossed his featured when he also realized that his conversation had had an audience. 169
“Damn it,” he said in a tired voice. “Is there no where I can go to have some privacy?”170
“What was that about?” Izzy demanded, her police instincts on high alert. 171
“It was about none of your business.” 172
“Sounded threatening,” she said. 173
“It has nothing to do with you,” he said, walking past her. Stopping when she maneuvered into his path, he glared. 174
“I’ll be the judge of what has to do with me.” 175
“It’s personal,” he said, wishing she would drop it. He should have known better than to talk in a full house where any guest could have overheard. The mere fact was that the news from his agent had surprised him enough to push all security concerns from his mind.176
“I’m not a reporter,” she said. “What you tell me goes no further if I decide it has nothing to do with this investigation.” 177
Realizing that she wasn’t going to let this drop, he crossed his arms over his chest in a defensive pose. “Last year, I had relatives who I never knew existed, going on Larry King talking about what a selfish bastard I was for not giving them millions,” he paused for a moment. “And Doctor Phil calling my agent wanting to set up a show to talk about why I wouldn’t share.”178
“Okay,” she said slowly, wondering what he was getting at. She recalled having seen that particular Larry King show, and at the time had thought the ‘relatives’ looked like they were only after money. “The phone call was about that?”179
Kyle shook his head, wishing she would just go away. “I was seven before I realized that not every family had a belligerent, drunk wife-beater for a father.” He shook his head again, this time in anger. “And now a man I haven’t seen since I was nine is on the cover of the Enquirer, selling stories about my childhood.”180
“Oh,” she said, feeling a strange pity at the anger and sorrow that crossed his face. 181
“Everyone wants something.” Giving her an impolite once over, he opened his arms wide. “So, the question is, which part of me are you going to want to exploit?”182
Surprise was her first emotion, quickly followed by an anger aimed at his assumption that she was going to use him. “Exploitation isn’t my thing, Mr. Ryders.”183
“No?” he asked, his tone showing that he didn’t believe her. “That why you’re at a party dressed like a... what did you call it… vacant air-headed tramp?”184
Too shocked to stop him as he pushed by her, all she could do was glare at his back as he walked down the hall. Turning to catch he reflection in the large screen television that hung on one wall, she stared at herself until calm enough to rejoin the party. 185
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~186
“Something wrong?” Davy asked as Kyle approached. He extracted himself from a buxom blonde that was sucking on his neck. 187
“No,” Kyle replied. “Why?”188
Davy shrugged as he placed a hand on Kyle’s elbow and led him away from prying ears. “Oh, no reason… ‘cept that you look ready to beat the shit out of someone.” He glanced behind his friend, realization dawning when he saw the female detective exit the hall. “Ahh,” he said knowingly. “She not fall for your charms?”189
Shooting him a dangerous look, Kyle completely ignored Izzy as she walked up to him. “I’m going to step out for a while,” he said. 190
“It’s my birthday party,” Davy pointed out, hurt in his voice. 191
“I’ll bring you back a stripper,” Kyle promised, walking away from both Davy and Izzy.192
“Make it a brunette!” Davy called after him, then turned to glare at Izzy. “Kyle had nothing to do with why you’re here,” he said. “So how about leaving him alone?”193
Izzy’s reply was cut off as Davy turned and went back to the blonde that greeted him with a kiss worthy enough to belong in a porn movie. 194
“Alienating leads?” her partner, Gio said as he strolled up. Reaching past her to grab a bottle of beer from the counter, he popped the top off.195
“You’re drinking?” she asked.196
“No one here knows me,” he said as he took a small drink. “And they’re not going to talk to a guy unless he looks like he’s here for a party… regardless how amazingly handsome he is.”197
Rolling her eyes at his words, even though they were true, Izzy couldn’t help but scoff. “You’re starting to sound like one of them,” she said. “Stuck on your looks and thinking that it will get you everything you ever need.”198
Lowering the bottle before he could take another drink, Gio sighed. “Who’d you piss off this time?” 199
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~200
“Kyle!”201
Smiling at the woman that cried his name, he waved across the crowded club. Making his way through throngs of people who didn’t give a damn who he was, he arrived near the stage and held a hand out to help the woman off the small platform. 202
“Hey, Kitten,” he said. “What’s shaking?”203
Giving a quick shimmy that set off her skimpy outfit, she smirked. “Anything you want to, handsome.” 204
Laughing at the relaxed tone and feeling of the place, Kyle motioned to the side so they could get away from the stage. “Got a favor,” he whispered in her ear.205
“For you?” she said, green eyes twinkling. “Anything.”206
“It’s Davy’s birthday…”207
“I’m off in thirty minutes,” she said, not needing to hear any more. 208
“Thanks, Kitten,” Kyle replied. 209
She ran a finger over his crotch, smiling as he hardened. “And later?”210
Taking a step back to remove him self from the biggest temptation he had ever known, Kyle gave her a good once over. Dressed in an outfit that she would soon strip out of, she was hovering just over the forty-year mark, but looked no more than thirty. 211
Kitten, or Katherine, had met Kyle and his ‘boys’ earlier on in their Hollywood stay when Kyle and Davy had gotten jobs as bouncers at the strip club. She’d helped them find an apartment that wasn’t a dive, and even ran through lines with Kyle when he needed someone.212
“Not tonight, darlin’,” he said. “I plan on coming down with a headache later.” 213
Laughing at the line she’d used on him the first and only time he suggested that they could be ‘more’ than friends, she shook her head. “Ah, Kyle. If I’d known ten years ago what I know now, I’d have given you the ride of your life.”214
“Of that I have no doubt,” he said, the hardness in his midsection lessening slightly. “Want me to wait around for your end shift?” 215
“Not afraid of the tabloids catching you in here?”216
He scoffed. “Working at this strip club early in my career paid off,” he told her. “They don’t really give a damn now if I come here or not since they think I’m just visiting old friends.” 217
“I have one more show, then I’ll be good to leave.” Giving him a tired, but warm smile, she moved back to the stage area to get ready for the next show. 218
Kyle started to leave, but slowed as he neared the exit. Kitten’s routine was always interesting and hot. Deciding to wait around for her, he leaned against the bar to chat with the one bartender that had predated even him in the club. 219
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~220
Waiting had never been a strong suit of Izzy Grant’s. She was more of an ‘in your face, get it done’ type person, and the basic runaround that accompanied the Hollywood scene annoyed her. 221
Stepping in front of Liam as he walked past, she stared. “He going to be gone long?”222
Liam shrugged. “No idea.”223
“Can you call him and find out?”224
“Probably,” came the reply. “But he’s thirty-three and doesn’t exactly have a curfew.”225
“Can I call him?” 226
“Sure.”227
Staring, Izzy dug her phone out and held it up. “Dial it for me,” she ordered, more than slightly annoyed at having to play games to get anything done. She waited while it was dialed for her, then Liam passed her phone over and casually walked away.228
“Hello?” Kyle’s voice came over the phone.229
“This is Detective Grant,” Izzy said, then gasped in surprised annoyance as the call was disconnected. Jumping slightly as her phone rang in her hand, she answered it. “Hello?”230
“What do you want?” Kyle asked. 231
“Why’d you hang up on me?”232
”I felt like it,” he said. “What do you want?”233
“A little respect when you address me would be nice for starters.”234
Laughter came over the phone. “You’ll get respect once you stop looking at me like I’m some brain-dead fuck just because I chose acting as a career.”235
Stomping down on the reply she wanted to give, Izzy exhaled lightly. “I was only wondering when you’d be returning to the party that you are hosting. I need to ask a few questions.” 236
Silence greeted her, prompting Izzy to think that maybe he’d disconnected the call again. “Mr. Ryders?” she asked, then frowned when she heard the click that showed he actually did hang up on her. “What’s his problem?” she asked.237
Gio shrugged, then went back to surveying the crowd. “See that woman standing by the fireplace?” he asked in a low tone. “Red see-through shirt, black lace bra.”238
Turning casually, Izzy sought out the person mentioned, then continued looking past her so that it wouldn’t spook the woman Gio was referring to. “What about her?” she asked, looking at the painting on the wall just over the fireplace. 239
“She’s been here for about an hour,” he said. “Hasn’t talked to anyone for more than a few words, and she’s been nursing the same drink she took when she arrived.”240
“Maybe she’s shy.”241
“Or maybe she’s looking for someone that isn’t here,” he said. “Say, someone that took off a couple hours ago…”242
Stopping Greg as he walked past, Izzy pointed to the painting. “The woman just under this, red shirt, black bra. Who is she?” 243
Turning to look at the painting, Greg also raised his arm, then pointed to the painting on the other wall. “No idea,” he said. “Probably one of Davy’s lays. Might want to check with him.”244
“Great,” Izzy muttered as he walked away. “I think Davy is well past drunk by now.” Pulling her cell phone out again, she raised it to take a picture, stopping when Gio touched her arm. “Damn, no pictures allowed,” she remembered, then shrugged. “Cop over-rules absent movie star.”245
Wincing at the small click that indicated a picture being taken, Gio frowned. “Alienating that particular movie star isn’t something we should be doing,” he said mildly. “You know the way this world plays… it’s so much easier not to piss them off. That only ends up with things getting dragged through courts, gossip magazines, and that pesky reporter that decides to troll through your past and air it all on Nancy Grace.” 246
“Gio,” she said with a sigh.247
“No,” he insisted. “Listen to me on this one, Izzy. I’ve been there, and it’s not fun. That reporter who decided to dig into my past after I arrested…” he paused, “… you know who, a couple years back made my life hell. She even talked to my high school girlfriend and made a big deal of me dumping her.” 248
“Gio.”249
“Everyone forgot the reason for the arrest, and instead focused on me,” he sighed. “Don’t make it possible for that to happen to you, Iz. Trust me.”250
“All right, all right,” she said, holding her hands up in defeat. “I’ll tread softly on Mr. Ryders’ head.”251
”Thank you,” he said wryly at her phrasing. Glancing to the fireplace again, he straightened. “Shit. Where’d she go?”252
Eyes running over the crowd, Izzy frowned. “I’ll check with Liam,” she said. “You check the patio.” 253
“On it,” he said, walking away. Although the woman had done nothing out of the ordinary, Gio’s hunches about people were usually bang on, and worth following up. 254
Making her way through the living room, and past the hall where the bathrooms were, Izzy continued on to a small room she had seen Liam enter after he’d dialed Kyle’s number for her. Knocking lightly on the door, and belatedly hoping it wasn’t a ‘love nest’, she waited for it to be answered. 255
The door opened and Liam looked at her. “What?”256
“Need to see some security footage,” she said. 257
He sighed, then moved to the side, allowing her entrance to what she recognized as a rather well equipped security booth. “Nice,” she commented. 258
“I like it,” Liam said, sitting back in the chair in front of a monitor. “What’re you looking for?”259
“Front gate,” she said, going with the hunch that the woman may have noticed she was being observed, and had decided to leave. 260
“Who are we looking for?”261
“Female, late twenties, early thirties, wavy black hair, pretty, around five foot ten, wearing a red see-through shirt over a black bra, tight black Capri’s and two inch black strap sandals.”262
“Haven’t seen her.”263
“You sure?”264
“You don’t think I’d remember someone dressed like that?” Giving her ‘come on’ look, he went back to the cameras. “Kyle talk to you?”265
“Hung up on me, actually. Twice.” She studied one security camera while he looked at another. Spotting Gio as he casually made his way around the pool area, she sighed. “What’s his problem, anyway?”266
“Whose?”267
“Kyle Ryders.”268
Liam had planned on ignoring the question, but knew that it would only prompt more questions that he really wouldn’t want to answer. “Kyle likes his privacy,” he said. “Loves the fans, hates the media.” 269
“In case he hasn’t noticed, I’m not either one of those.”270
“Couple years back,” Liam said. “We were all out celebrating Davy’s birthday. Some guy took offence with his girlfriend staring at Kyle all night, and decided to start something.” He paused for a moment. “This was just after the first Geoff Saturn movie hit the theatres, and after Kyle’s People’s Choice Award for TV guest spot in a drama series, so his face was fairly well known.”271
“What happened?” Izzy asked, her eyes on the screen.272
“Big fight, basically.” Liam shrugged. “Lots of cops, even more reporters, and instead of hauling away the guy that started it, everyone centered on Kyle. Police reports leaked to the press and it just caused a big, massive mess.”273
“Police reports were leaked?” she asked, pulling her eyes away to stare in disbelief. 274
Liam nodded. “That’s why we have Davy’s birthday parties here now. Less hassle since everyone tends to get rather piss drunk.” He glanced at her. “Kyle’s a good guy. He’s just the type of actor that prefers the craft and perks over the publicity.”275
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Comments
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Another great chapter
My new favorite series. Although come to think of it, this is my first favorite series. Great characters. I love the movie within a story thing. Someone mentioned entourage in reviewing the first chapter, and although I can see where it may appear to go in that direction, this has is as different a story as you can get. Besides, a guy hits it big and has friends lovingly mooch off of him, not the most original plot-line (referring to entourage obviously).
My computer didn't care for a few words but I'm assuming it's the spelling issue of US v. the rest of the world. A few things did stick out for me though, I do admit I'm not a qualified editor jsut noting things that struck me as odd.
Anger crossed his featured when he also realized that his conversation had had an audience. 169 -should be a 'face' in there, I think.
Turning to catch he reflection in the 185 - should be 'her' not 'he'.
See, nothing a simple once over wouldn't fix.
Also, niggling. I think maybe you mean nagging? Since niggling, atleast in the context it's being used doesn't really fit, according to synonyms and it's definition.
Anyways back to the story - loved it. Or I guess, loving it since it's technically not over. I love the back and forth between Izzy and Gio and the fact that there is no sexual tension between them like (almost) all partner stories tend to have. They remind me of Benson and Stabler (Law&Order SVU) w/o the sexual assault.
I could visualize every scene, truly great job.
Jack
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Thanks again! Long comments are always welcome, and pointing out my errors is appreciated. I read it so much that I miss simple things. (I may just have to get my behind in gear and finish this 'novel'... 
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