Home.
Finally.
It may be a beautiful coming back from Rio del Mar, but I scarcely noticed the scenery as I drove. It had been an interesting couple of days, and I think I came away from it with a whole new outlook on Kyle Ryders.
Where the gossip magazines and various interviews had painted him as a secretive individual, to me he came off more as a plain person… albeit a slightly arrogant one. He knew he was good at what he did (the verdict from me was still out on that), and knew that people adored him. But… he never once played the ‘do you know who I am’ card with me, or anywhere in Rio del Mar. Although, I bet his extended family would quash any ego trips that he would try to pull.
This little retrieval to brig him back to Los Angeles had given me a lot to think about…. And made me despise him a little less than I originally had on the drive up to get him. 1
At least I didn’t feel like kicking him in the ass any longer. 2
Okay... maybe one kick. 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~4
Leaning back as the car stopped, Kyle stared at his house. It had been a long drive from Rio del Mar, and he’d been blissfully alone with his thoughts. Both he and Izzy had stopped a few times along the way, mainly at gas stations, but on the whole, they’d only exchanged a handful of words. 5
Even though he hated to admit it, Christopher had been right in saying that things would make sense when he was sober. Kyle didn’t want to think about the prospects of having a stalker that was willing to take such extreme actions to get close to him, and had to actually admit that it worried him somewhat. 6
Not that he was overly convinced of there actually being a stalker, but he could see the correlation between the events. Michelle showing up after nearly nine years, with a completely new look and name, and then being killed on his property, and Sabine nearly being run down by a stolen car bearing plates that were too similar to a set that he himself had signed out. 7
“Fuck,” he whispered with a sigh. Finally getting out of his black 2009 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible, he grabbed his small overnight bag from the passenger seat and headed for his house. A quick shower, and then he’d have to get his ass to the studio for what would hopefully be one of two final scenes to shoot.
He’d just slipped the key in the lock to the door when it was pulled open, making him jump slightly. “Fuck, Greg,” he hissed. “Don’t do that.”
“Sorry,” Greg said, his tone not the least bit apologetic. “You’re running late, bro, and I’m going to make sure your ass is on set in time.”8
”I’m never late,” Kyle said, insult tinging his words. Walking past Greg, he tossed his overnight bag into a corner of the small foyer, and headed for the stairs. “I’m just going to shower, shave, and then I’m leaving for the studio.”9
”Good.” Following, Greg continued talking. “I’ll drop you off there, since we have a lot to go over.” He banged into Kyle’s back as the other man stopped walking. 10
“Like what?” Kyle asked, taking his foot off the first step and turning.
“Like the National Enquirer artcle for starters,” he replied. “I’ve had at least forty calls from other places requesting a statement, interview or a rebuttal.”
“Fuck ‘em,” Kyle said.
“You read it?”
“Nope. Don’t plan on, either.”
“All right then.” Taking a step back, Greg motioned to the upstairs area. “You got twenty minutes to get ready. Take any longer and I’ll drag your ass out of the shower myself.”
“You nag worse than Liam, you know that?”11
”Oh, that hurt,” Greg replied in a fake whine. 12
Laughing as he turned back and headed up the stairs, Kyle went straight to his bedroom. Peeling off his clothes, he left them in a small pile and went straight to the bathroom. 13
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~14
He was home! Finally! Not holding back her glee, the woman watched as his Mustang drove through the security gate. She wondered where he had spent the past few days, and needed to know whom he had been with. Hopefully, it wasn’t the slut from the party, or the one from the park. 15
Glancing in her rearview mirror as a police car pulled in behind her, she contemplated driving away. That was put aside when an officer climbed out of the car and slowly approached. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, she quickly dug her cell phone out of her purse and held it in her hand. 16
Jumping as a tap sounded on her window, she looked startled, then exhaled in fake relief when she realized that it was a police officer. Lowering the window, she looked at him expectantly.17
“License and registration, please,” the officer said. 18
“Of course,” she replied with a smile. How different the police were in this area when compared to the ones that patrolled her part of the city. If she were on her home street, she’d probably already be dragged out of the car, spread eagle on the ground and cuffed. How sweet the rich and famous had it.19
Passing her information over, she made a show of placing her cell phone on the dash in front of her. “I’m sorry to cause problems,” she said. “I just don’t like to talk on the cell and drive at the same time.”20
“Wise choice,” the officer said while copying down her information. “Stay here, please,” he said, then walked back to the cruiser. 21
Watching through the rearview mirror, she saw as he got back in, and stared at his dashboard. Figuring he was running her plates and identification, she was glad she hadn’t used the license plate she’d stolen from the studios on her own car… that would earn her a trip to the police station faster than anything. 22
No, that little keepsake was safely at home, in a frame, amidst her Kyle Ryders collection. Watching as the officer came back, she tried not to panic as he stared at her. 23
“Heather Woodrow?”24
“That’s me,” she said.25
“Mind if I ask what you’re doing in this neighborhood?”26
“I was supposed to meet a friend at Nicholas Canyon, but I think I took a wrong turn,” she said. “I was trying to reach him for directions, but he’s not home.” She gave a helpless look. 27
“I appreciate you pulling over to use your cell phone,” he said, passing her back the identification she’d given him. “But you should know that you’re in Nichols Canyon, not Nicholas Canyon.”28
“What?” she asked, looking confused. 29
“Nicholas Canyon Beach is in Malibu.”30
“Oh.” Looking completely embarrassed, Heather gave a sheepish look. “Thank you for telling me,” she said. “I’ve been driving around here for a half hour looking for a beach.”31
Giving a smile, the officer stepped back. “You know how to get to Malibu from here?” 32
“Yes, sir,” she said. “And once again, thanks.”33
Giving a nod, the officer went back to his car, and waited while the other drove away. 34
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~35
Sitting in traffic had never been any highlight of Kyle’s life; especially when tired. And especially with Greg chattering on and on about things while driving. 36
“- gave Christopher hell for setting this up,” Greg was saying. “Tried, but I don’t think he’s going to pull his card from wanting this.”37
“S’okay,” Kyle replied as traffic started moving again. “I can sort of see the logic in this.”38
“You can?”39
”Well, I was drunk when he told me, so,” Kyle shrugged. “I don’t really believe there’s a stalker, or at least I hope not. But I don’t want someone else hurt because of me.”40
Greg was silent for a few blocks. “So, does this Detective Grant get access to the house?”41
”I’d prefer she didn’t,” Kyle replied. “She can be there when I’m there, but if I’m not, then she’s going to have to warrant herself in.”42
“I’ll pass that on to Liam.”43
“Appreciate it.” Running fingers through his hair as they pulled up to the studio gates, Kyle sighed as he spotted a group of photographers. “I’m really starting to hate those bastards.”44
“At least they’re not hanging around the house any longer.”45
“They’ll be back.” Turning to his friend, he hesitated, then spoke. “See if Liam has any old bureau friends that can give him the inside info on this investigation. I hate not knowing what’s going on.”46
“I’ll ask, but you know how he is about abusing things like that.”47
Kyle nodded, then opened the door. “Thanks for the lift, dude,” Kyle said, as he started to get out of the car. 48
“No prob,” Greg replied. “So, about this cop?”49
Kyle was half out of the car, but slid back in. “What about her?”50
”You actually going to pretend to date her?” he asked, needing confirmation in case Kyle’s agent called to bother him over it.51
”Apparently so.”52
“She’s cute.”53
Kyle gave him a side-glance. “When all of this is over, feel free to ask her out.”54
“Won’t that be a little uncomfortable?”55
Kyle shook his head. “I’m only pretending to like her,” he said, getting out of the car again. He leaned on the roof and peered through the window. “She’s far too acerbic for my taste. I’ll put in a good word for you.”56
“Perfect.” Greg paused, then decided to get the rest of the ‘unfinished business’ out of the way. “Any response to the Enquirer article?”57
Anger flashed through Kyle’s eyes. “None that I want printed.”58
“Avoiding it won’t-“59
“I know, I know.” Glancing behind him, Kyle sighed as the usual band of reporters that hung around finally noticed him. “Work something up and I’ll look it over later,” he said, pushing off from the car. 60
Steadying himself as Greg drove away, Kyle started walking, intent on heading clear through the crowd that was coming towards him. 61
“Kyle! Any comments about he National Enquirer article?”62
“No.”63
“Is it true that your father has been trying to reach you?”64
Zeroing in on the reported that asked the question he’d been dreading, Kyle stared for a brief moment. “No,” he said once the urge to verbally blast the man had passed. “And for the article, I haven’t read it, and I doubt I ever will.”65
“Is it true that-“66
“I haven’t read it,” Kyle repeated, then turned and strode into the studio lot. Fighting the desire to turn and give two middle fingers up to the reporters, he continued straight to wardrobe. 67
“Morning, Mr. Ryders,” a woman said. 68
“Hey!” he said, smiling. “How’s it look today?”69
“We were able to recreate an indoor scene for the final, so we won’t have to worry about people driving through the shot.”70
“Excellent,” he said. “Anything else?”71
“Matt’s looking for you.”72
Glancing around, Kyle looked for the director. “Oh.” Great. “If you see him, tell him I’ll be in wardrobe.”73
“Yes, Mr. Ryders.” 74
Continuing on his way, Kyle quickly made it to wardrobe, where he dressed in the uniform of Geoff Saturn. Reaching for the jacket he always wore, he came up empty handed. 75
“Jacket?” he asked out loud, bringing a few eyes to him. “Anyone seen it?”76
“Did you return it before your break?” someone asked.77
“No,” Kyle replied, more sarcastic than intended. “I kept it and sold it on eBay. That’s why I’m asking if anyone saw it. Of course I returned it.”78
“I’ll get another one from storage, then.” 79
“Thank you.” Going to make up, he sat in the chair and stared at himself in the mirror while his blue contact lenses were applied, along with the correcting of skin tone to reduce glare from the lights. He knew he should apologize for snapping, but a part of him wanted to keep hold of the annoyance he had.80
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~81
Watching out of the corner of his eye as Izzy walked up to their joined desks in the precinct, Detective Giovanni held all his comments until she sat and made herself comfortable. 82
Sighing, Izzy leaned back. “All right,” she said. “Enough with the not noticing that I’m here. Just say it.”83
“Have a great vacation?” he asked, a little too innocent for her taste.84
“I went up, and brought him back.”85
“Took you nearly three days to drive six hours up the coast?”86
“He wanted to stay.”87
”I bet.”88
Stopping as she was reaching for a report, she pulled her hand back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”89
Gio shrugged. “Nothing.”90
“Good.” Reaching for the file again, Izzy read it over. “Besides, you’re the one that told me not to alienate him,” she said without looking up. “And I’m fairly certain that slapping cuffs on him and hauling his ass back to L.A. just might alienate him.”91
“If you say so,” he replied, checking over a few reports on the computer in front of him. 92
“Gio?”93
“Izzy?”94
“Shut the fuck up.”95
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, smirking. He paused as he looked through recent traffic reports. “Hmm?”96
“What?” Izzy asked, their bantering forgotten.97
“What time did you get back?”98
“Little over an hour ago. Why?”99
“I’ve got any reports from Nichols Canyon on immediate red flag,” Gio told her. “Anything out of the ordinary within a two block radius gets sent to me.”100
“Okay.”101
“Traffic stop,” he said. “Sort of. Car parked a few addresses down from Ryders’ house. Traffic cop states that it was a woman who was looking for Nicholas Canyon,” he paused to read the screen. “A… Heather Woodrow … license came back squeaky clean; not even a speeding ticket.”102
“Pull up the license,” Izzy said, scooting her chair over so she could see. A few clicks of the mouse and Heather Woodrow’s license appeared on the screen, prompting the detectives to exchange glances.103
“That looks like her,” Gio said. 104
“It does,” Izzy agreed, grabbing a pen and jotting down the address listed on the screen. “Wish patrol would have pulled her in.”105
”For what?” Gio asked. “She had a plausible explanation, no record, and didn’t seem more nervous than most that are approached by a cop.”106
Standing, Izzy grabbed the piece of paper. “Time to pay Ms. Woodrow a visit.”107
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Catching sight in the mirror of his spare uniform jacket being brought in, Kyle stood as soon as his hair was ‘artfully mused’ enough to fit with character. Standing while the jacket was placed on him, and then rearranged to specifications, he could feel the calm anticipation that always accompanied him when he neared the end of a movie. 109
“Get a lot for it on eBay?” the woman asked as she stepped back to cast an expert eye over him. Reaching out, she brought up a small pair of scissors and snipped a stray thread off of the comet emblem on the left sleeve. 110
“Couple mill,” Kyle said, willing to play along. Giving a brief smile, he turned to walk away, then stopped at a thought. Shaking his head, he starting walking again, then sighed and strode to where his personal things were stored while on set. Pulling his cell phone out, he turned it on, then flicked through to the newest addition in his address book. 111
Looking up as someone approached, and expecting it to be a summons to the set for filming, he closed the phone as Sabine came towards him. There was one person he couldn’t wait to get away from once the movie and follow-up press timetable ended. Sabine pissed him off completely, and was one of the biggest witches he’d ever met… and in a profession full of catty bitches, that said a lot. Hell, not even Izzy annoyed him that much, and she was trying to pin a murder rap on him. 112
Giving Kyle a brief look that said she held him in about the same regard, Sabine headed for the door.113
“Three minutes!” a voice yelled from across the film area. “Three minutes!”114
“Whoa,” Kyle said as Sabine walked past. “We’re scheduled in a few minutes. Where you going?” 115
“Wardrobe,” she said. “I don’t like this color on me.”116
Kyle looked her over. “It looks fine.”117
“I think a lavender would be better.”118
Exhaling, Kyle turned away, then stopped. The reporters had tapped into a bad mood, which was heightened by the disappearance of part of his uniform… although he was trying to keep his cool… and Sabine just managed to tip the iceberg into the water. “Matt!” he called, beckoning the director over. 119
“We’re shooting in two minutes,” Matt said as he approached. “You two should be on mark.”120
“Just heading there,” Kyle said. “Sabine, however, feels a change of outfit would better suit her.121
Matt glanced at her. “The dress stays.”122
”No,” Sabine said, trying to force her own agenda. “I look better in lavender.”123
“Fine,” Matt sighed, his limits of dealing with her demands close to being met.124
“What?” Kyle asked, unimpressed. “Wait, wait. There’s a specific reason for the color of the dress. Am I the only one that read the effing script?”125
Surprised at the uncharacteristic outburst form Kyle, Matt could only stare. 126
“As for you, Sabine,” Kyle said, his tone precise. “Get your ass over to the mark, now.”127
“I-“128
“Now!” Kyle said, raising his voice. Turning, he stormed away. “Call for action, Matt, or I’m going home.”129
Impressed, Matt turned to Sabine. “Get on your mark, now.”130
“But-“131
“Now, Miss Valance.” 132
Looking from Matt to where Kyle was standing calmly on his mark, Sabine raised her head and swept by Matt. Reaching Kyle, she glared at him. “You’re an ass.”133
“Don’t push it,” he warned, his tone dark enough to make her stop. “This is nearly the last scene, and the sooner done, the sooner you can take your fifteen minutes of fame and run away with them.”134
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~135
The address wasn’t too far from the movie studio, although it was a fair distance from Nichols Canyon. Parking on a residential street lined with lower-middle income houses and apartment buildings, Gio locked the doors to the car, then followed Izzy as she started up the walkway to a house that looked similar to all the others, its only identifying feature being the blue trim on the two steps leading to the front door.136
Knocking, Izzy took a step back and waited. She’d just step forward to knock again when a blonde woman who was definitely not Heather Woodrow opened the door. 137
“What?” she asked, frowning when police identification was produced. 138
“Is this Heather Woodrow’s address?” Izzy asked. 139
“Was,” the woman admitted. “She moved out about three weeks ago.”140
“Do you have a forwarding address?”141
“Nope.” She eyed them. “She in trouble?”142
“No,” Gio answered. “But she may have witnessed something.”143
“Well, if you find her, tell her to come back for the rest of her trash, or it’s out on the curb.”144
“She left a few things here?” Izzy asked. “May we see them?”145
“Nope.” The woman stepped back, turned, and then faced them again while holding a large box. “You can have them. Save me the trouble of putting it with the trash.”146
Gio stepped forward and took the box from the woman. “Write her a receipt for the box,” he said to Izzy as he turned back for the car. 147
Pulling out a small case, Izzy took one of her business cards out, wrote a few lines on the back, and handed it to the woman. “In case she comes back,” she said as the woman stared. “It’ll keep you from getting into trouble if she decides to contest you handing it over.” 148
The woman took the card, and went to close the door, stopping when Izzy took a step forward.149
“If you don’t mind my asking,” Izzy said. “Why did Ms. Woodrow move out?”150
“Said she was getting married,” the woman replied. “Never saw the boyfriend, but she always talked about some guy named Kyle.”151
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“And… cut!”153
Stepping back from his embrace with Sabine, Kyle gave a genuine smile at Matt’s words. Finally, the filming was done, and baring any reshoots or changes, he was finally rid of Sabine Valance and her bitchy attitude. Now, he could take a small break and do absolutely nothing before the whirlwind talk show and premier circuit began in a couple months. 154
“Somebody stick a fork in me, I am done,” Kyle said, then glanced at Sabine. “I was speaking metaphorically, so don’t be getting any ideas of forking me.”155
”Trust me, Kyle,” she replied. “Forking you is one thing I would never do.” 156
“Good.” He nodded once. “And as a going away present, I gift you with these immortal words… ‘right back atcha.’” 157
“Prick.”158
“Bitch.”159
“Asshole.”160
“Nasty cun- Matt!” Kyle said, smiling as the director approached. 161
He gave them both a scowl. “Until this movie is showing on the screens, I want you both to play nice,” Matt ordered. “Consider yourselves the best of friends until at least three weeks after the premier.”162
”I was merely complimenting Sabine on her hygiene,” Kyle said innocently. Snickering at the look his costar gave him he then promptly ignored her. “So, what’s up, director of mine? Cast party? News junket? Keys to your Porsche?”163
“Yes, yes, and not on your life.” Matt motioned to the other end of the film studio. “We’re setting up a small party, and you’re both required to attend.”164
“I can’t,” Sabine said. 165
“It would be my pleasure,” Kyle replied. 166
“Stop trying to upstage me,” Sabine hissed.167
“Then stop being so upstageable.” 168
“That is not a word.”169
“Sure it is.” 170
“Prick.”171
“Bitch,” Kyle said, then walked away. 172
Matt looked from his retreating back, to Sabine’s angry face. “Word of advice, Sabine,” he said. “Never piss off the actor that plays the character that the movie franchise is named after.” Matt turned. “I expect to see you in a few minutes at the wrap party.”173
Sabine gaped as he too walked away.174
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~175
Slipping on a pair of clear gloves, Izzy waited while Gio took a few pictures of the box, then places a letter opener under the tape and slit through. Lifting the lid, he peered inside, then placed the lid on the evidence table. 176
A few more pictures of the contents while still in the box, then he gently started removing things. “Shouldn’t crime scene be doing this?” he asked as he took a photo out. 177
“Heather Woodrow really hasn’t done anything,” Izzy said.178
“Yet,” Gio replied, then looked at her. “But I think I’m starting to see a pattern here.”179
Izzy looked as he tilted a frame for her to see. In the image set inside a pewter border, Heather Woodrow smiled, her arms around a man standing next to her. The male’s body was honed to perfection, but instead of his face, an image of Kyle Ryders’ head had been glued over top.180
“Oh, yeah,” Izzy said. “Definite pattern.”181
More images were removed, each one with either Kyle’s head added, or Heather’s head added over the woman Kyle had been with in publicity photos. In a few, she had even photo-shopped her and Kyle together to make it look like they were standing next to each other, despite the obvious differences in the backgrounds. 182
“Okay,” Gio said. “Seems obvious that she’s in love with Kyle Ryders. But why leave these pictures behind?”183
Izzy shrugged. “Maybe she got better at digital manipulation, and these were a reminder that her fantasy was fake?”184
“Maybe,” Gio said slowly. “Or maybe she decided to go for the real thing, and left the fantasy behind.”185
“But why kill Laine Carmichael?”186
“If she did.”187
“If she didn’t, then we’ve got not only a stalker, but a murderer on the loose.” Stepping back from the disturbing photos, Izzy took her gloves off. “Think we have enough to get a warrant?”188
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Comments
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Awesome! This is getting so good! I love Kyle finally snapping at Sabine. Their little back and forth was hilarious. I was curious if you were going to fill the reader in on the 'stalker'/'possible-murderer'. The transition to following three character as oppose to two was done very well.
typos and stuff -
In the intro It may be a beautiful coming back - I think it's missing 'day'.
This little retrieval to brig him - bring.
"Like the National Enquirer "artcle" for starters. -Just missing the 'i'
para. 62 "...about he National Enquirer..." - should be 'the'
para. 65 "Zeroing in on the 'reported' that asked..." -reporter
para. 157 "I gift you with these immortal" - This may just be a phrase I'm unfamiliar with, but I stumbled when I came across it. Again, probably just me.
Sorry if it seems like I'm being anal but I hate to not mention things like this, especially typos that could be so easily fixed and are obviously a case of hands and brain on two different speeds.
Upstageable. I love it.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Never worry about pointing out errors!! I read the chapters so much that my brain gets tricked into reading the correct word when it's not there.
(I kinda liked Kyle and Sabine's exchange, too )
Guess I better hurry and write...
I'm working on chapter eight, nine, ten, and of course i have the final scene done, but I have to work on them to finish... Kids go back to school on Thursday, so I'll be able to think)
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