1
Unfortunately, there are times when the best-laid plans go awry, and no one does what they should do.
Everything would work so much better if scripts were made out and followed...2
Then, maybe Kyle Ryders could come with cheat sheets so that he could start to make sense to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~3
Walking out the front door, and heading for a vehicle that was parked in the driveway, Kyle was halfway into the limo before Greg caught up with him. 4
"Here." Shoving a slip of paper at Kyle, he took a step back. "I've told her that you'll be there at eight." Greg sighed as Kyle stared at the address on the paper. "It's Izzy's address, stupid."5
"Right," Kyle muttered as he got in and pulled the door shut behind him. 6
Greg waited until the window lowered. Kyle leaned forward and tapped on the window that separated the driver from the back seat. Passing the address to the driver after the partition opened, he leaned back.7
"Two things," Greg said. "One, Christopher Word just called. Matt wants you back on the set Monday morning at ten to reshoot the final scene... again."8
"Great," Kyle mouthed, annoyed at having to lock lips with Sabine again. "And the second thing?"9
"Would it have killed you to shave?" Greg asked.10
"Yeah, it would have," Kyle replied. "Fuck off." 11
The window went up as the limo started to drive, and Kyle settled into the seat. Running a hand over his chin, he suppressed the idea that maybe he should have shaved. Then again, the stubble might keep Izzy from trying to kiss him again, and until he got that potential headache sorted out, he preferred that she kept her lips to herself.12
It took less than twenty minutes to reach the moderate sized building that housed Izzy's condo. He could see her waiting just inside the glass front doors. Climbing out after the limo stopped, he closed the door and leaned against it as she approached. 13
Izzy felt like everyone was watching her as she walked to the limo... people stopped when they realized who the man was who was waiting for her. Pictures snapped, annoying her almost as much as the unimpressed look on Kyle's face. Walking up to him, she waited for him to open the door. 14
"Best get going," he said, pushing himself off and walking to the other side of the limo. 15
Izzy glared as he opened the door and got in. Glancing as the driver quickly got out and opened the door for her, she climbed in, positioned herself, and stared out the window as the door closed. 16
Annoyed as he seemed intent on ignoring her, she was about to tell him off when he leaned forwarded and tapped the back of the partition. 17
"Pull over," he ordered the driver, opening the door as soon as the limo stopped. Getting out, he looked down the sidewalk. "Kitten?!" he called.18
Looking out the back window as the door closed, Izzy could see his friend walking towards him. A few words were exchanged, and both walked back to the limo. Frowning as Kyle opened the door for Kitten, Izzy forced a smile to her face as the stripper entered the limo and sat opposite her. 19
Kyle said a few words to the driver, then climbed in, sitting on the same side as Kitten.20
"Thank you for the lift," Kitten said as she looked from Kyle to Izzy. "I love your hair."21
"Thank you," Izzy said, the first words she had spoken since being picked up. 22
Kyle gave her polite glance, then looked again. The dress had been the one he'd bought her a few days previous, and she had added a black choker that pulled attention to her face. Her hair was pulled up and back into a loose bun, allowing tendrils to escape to frame her delicate features. He hadn't really noticed how she looked while picking her up, but now he had to force himself from staring. 23
Kitten smiled slightly at the look on Kyle's face as he pulled his gaze away from his 'date'. "So," she said, "I'm surprised to see you two together again."24
"Business," Kyle muttered. 25
"Of course," Kitten replied. Glancing as the limo pulled over, she gave a wink to Izzy as Kyle got out of the vehicle and held the door for her. Climbing out, she leaned forward to whisper in his ear.26
Kyle turned a light shade of red at her words, and smiled as he shook his head. Laughing, Kitten waved a goodbye and headed into the club where she worked. 27
Izzy waited as Kyle got back in, and soon they were on their way to the movie premier. Back to ignoring her, Kyle stared out the window as he tried to keep himself from looking at the woman opposite him. The confusion he'd felt earlier came back full force, making him contemplate asking the driver to take him back home.28
"Why did you kiss me earlier?" Kyle asked suddenly.29
"Why did you kiss me back?" Izzy countered. 30
Looking at her, Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly. "Did you mean to kiss me, or Kyle Ryders?"31
"Aren't you one in the same?"32
Closing his eyes at her reply, he turned to look out the window. 33
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~34
"This is bad," Detective Giovanni said to himself as he looked over the report in front of him on the coffee table. Grabbing the beer he had on the floor by his feet, he took a drink, then went back to the information. 35
Glancing across his living room at the television that was muted, he checked to make sure that the entertainment portion of CNN wasn't on, then went back to what he was doing. He'd told Izzy that he would watch reports from the movie premier and see if he could spot Heather in the crowd. He wanted to be there, but she would probably bolt is she saw him, so watching from home was safer.36
The car that was registered to Heather had been found ten blocks from the studio, and was now in police custody while crime scene went over it. The make and model of the vehicle matched the same car that had made its way through the movie set not quite two weeks previous, which may have at least solved one aspect of what was a most perplexing case. 37
Heather was more than likely now the key suspect in the troubles surrounding Kyle Ryders, since she had acted violently when the notion of being brought in over Laine Carmichael's death. 38
The friend that had been mentioned as the one who always showed up at parties with Heather had been interviewed. By the reactions Sasha Eriksson had, Gio believed her when she said that she had no knowledge of Heather acting like she had. Any night they were going to any party, Sasha would pick up Heather from Maxwell Studios, and they would leave from there. 39
She had no idea where Heather currently lived, but at least been able to give the police a cell phone number. Unfortunately, the number traced to Heather's old address, which still left them at square one.40
"Unless..." trailing off, Gio picked up his phone and called the station. "This is Detective Giovanni," he said when it was answered. "Need a check on a possible new phone listing. Get all the California addresses for anything, land or mobile, for Heather Ryders. R, y, d, e, r, s." 41
Reaching for his beer, he took a few drinks while waiting for the information. "Yeah," he said when the officer came back on the line. Grabbing a pen he jotted down seven addresses. "That include the H. Ryders?" Copying down five more addresses, one including a 'K & H Ryders'. Hanging up the phone he turned for his laptop to pinpoint the addresses on a map, starting with the K & H Ryders, which to him, could stand for Kyle and Heather Ryders.42
Picking up his cell phone as it sounded, he looked at the computer screen. "Hello?" he answered, then stood. "Hold on." Grabbing for his home phone, he quickly dialed another number. "I need an immediate trace on a cell GPS."43
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~44
"That...bitch!"45
Glaring as Heather watched Kyle once again be a little more than friendly with the stripper, Heather debated whether to follow Kyle, or to have a talk with the woman and find out just what her intentions were with her man.46
After the earlier events, Heather had intended to approach Kyle and have him protect her from the police. She made it to his property just as the limousine pulled out of the gate and followed the limo, deciding to talk to him at the premier. She pulled over a half block away as the limo stopped in front of a residential building, and wondered why he was not gong where he should have been Watching as Kyle got out, she immediately recognized the woman he had been with on Rodeo Drive. Fuming as the woman had on a teal dress, Heather was pissed off until she saw the unconcerned way Kyle treated the woman. 47
He barely gave her a civil smile before walking away, and getting in the other side of the limo. That made Heather perk slightly, since it reaffirmed her previous thought that the woman was business only. 48
Following as the limo continued on, she couldn't believe it when it pulled over again, and this time a completely different Kyle emerged. Smiling and looking relaxed, he picked up the bitch from the strip club, and even held the door for her. Dropping the woman off a few blocks further, he got out, and Heather could make out the blush that crossed his face at something she suggested before she sashayed off. 49
Watching as the limo rounded the corner ahead, Heather sat behind the wheel of her rental car, and stared at the strip club. She wanted to confront the woman, but a part of her knew that Kyle would find out, and it would ruin the evening for him. Willing to wait a while, Heather suddenly thought of another avenue she could try to get information... and possibly get to see Kyle at the same time.50
Getting her cell phone out of her purse, she looked through the contact list until she came to a name, then selected the call function. 51
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~52
The sun was just setting as Liam placed both hands on the side of the pool and pulled himself out. Grabbing a towel off of a patio chair, he ran it over his face before sitting down. Every night, he did twenty laps of the large pool, and followed it up with going through the security reports for the day. Most times there was maybe a half a page of things for him to digest... but since the death on the grounds, that list had grown to more than two pages. 53
Reporters had once again tried to gain access to the grounds, while the perimeter alarm seemed to have a small glitch in it that kept sounding on the wall just past the small lake. Pausing as the sounds of Darth Vader saying 'I am your father', accompanied by a 'nooooo!', he put it out of his mind, sure that Davy would answer his cell phone. 54
When the distinctive ring sounded again, he glanced at the phone that was sitting on the other side of the patio table. "Davy!" Liam called. "Your cell's ringing!"55
"Answer it!" Davy replied as the sound of running could be heard coming from the area of the guesthouse.56
Reaching out, Liam grabbed the phone halfway through Darth Vader's voice, and flipped it open. "David Baxter's answering service," he said. "One moment and I'll connect you to him." Tossing the cell phone to an unimpressed looking Davy, Liam went back to the papers that were in front of him.57
"Hello?" Davy asked as he turned away, then stopped in his tracks. "How did you get this number?" he asked as he walked towards Liam, hitting the speaker function on his phone at the same time. He motioned for Liam to be silent.58
"From Kyle," Heather said. "He gave it to me."59
"Heather," Davy sighed, which prompted Liam to grab his own phone off the table and make a call as he walked a little to the side. "I'm having a hard time believing that Kyle knows you."60
"He does!" she insisted. "If I didn't know him, then how would I know his favorite color is teal?"61
"Magazine articles," Davy said as Liam approached with his cell phone held out so that the person on the other end could also hear the conversation.62
"I also know that he doesn't like to drive with passengers in the car," Heather said. "He'll be a passenger, but he won't drive others around."63
Davy and Liam exchanged glances... both hard pressed to explain how Heather would know something like that. "Where are you?"64
"I just need to know one thing," Heather said. "Who's the chick hanging around him?"65
"Izzy?" Davy asked, feigning surprise at her taking the bait. "What about her?"66
"How serious is it?"67
"Why don't you come over," Davy suggested. "We'll talk."68
"Not tonight," Heather said. "There's someone I have to take care of first."69
"Heather?" Davy said, grimacing as a small click sounded to show she had hung up. "Damn it, she hung up."70
"Hold on," Gio's voice came from Liam's cell phone, where he had been listening in. "They're still tracing her, and-" he paused for a moment as a muffled voice could be heard in the background, then he was back. "Her phone's GPS ballparked her about fifteen miles from here, but she must have turned it off because they lost her."71
Davy flipped the phone shut, and tossed it on the table. "She took the bait," he muttered. "What did she mean about having someone to take care of?"72
"What do you think?" Liam asked as he punched a few numbers on his cell phone. Going immediately through to the call answer, he groaned lightly and flipped the phone shut. "Where's Greg?"73
"Probably watching porn."74
Liam stood and ran his hands through wet hair. "I'm going to go get dressed. I have someplace I have to be."75
"What about Kyle?"76
"He's got a cop with him," Liam said. "Probably as safe as he can be."77
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~78
He was the perfect gentleman... a fact which pissed Izzy off completely.79
One moment Kyle was pointedly ignoring her, and the next, he was holding her hand, fingers linked, waving to fans as they walked along an actual red carpet. Stopping a few times to talk with reporters, Kyle fielded every question that came his way, deftly sidestepping any questions that asked about her. 80
She tried her best to relax, but the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vibe she was getting from Kyle made it hard. He seemed more like the man she had caught brief glimpses of when he didn't know she was around, and wondered if this was actually the real Kyle Ryders, and the persona he showed her was just an act designed to annoy. 81
Sensing something wrong with his 'date', Kyle paused for a moment as he waved to another adoring fan. "What's wrong?" he asked in a low tone, the smile not leaving his face.82
"Just overwhelmed," Izzy told him. 83
For a brief moment, the smile was replaced by a concerned look. "Did you want to leave?" he asked. 84
"I'm fine."85
"You sure?" The smile returned as she nodded, and he leaned forward to give her a brief kiss... which only succeeded in bringing far too many cameras in to her general area for comfort. Kyle gave her a wane smile, then gently pulled on her hand as he started walking again. 86
Making it to the relative safety of the theatre, Izzy breathed a sigh of relief as the reporters were forced to leave them alone. She steered Kyle towards a corner, then removed her hand from his. "What was that?" she asked.87
"The kiss?" Kyle said, guessing on what she was pissed off about. 88
"Yes."89
"Don't get your thong in a knot," he said. "Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss. And you looked like you could use one."90
Growling at him for using her earlier words to defend his actions, she sighed when she realized that he was enjoying her discomfort. "You're a jerk."91
"And you're actually a pretty good kisser," he said.92
That gave her pause, and she didn't quite know how to respond to such a skewered compliment.93
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~94
Securing her hair in a tight braid, Heather smoothed down any errant stands, and checked herself in the rest room mirror. A few women walked behind her, to enter stalls, but she ignored them as she rummaged through her purse for a spare makeup kit. 95
Her preferred kit was still in her locker at work, and since retrieving it was out of the question, she had to make due with what she had. Deftly applying mascara, shadow and blush, she checked out her handiwork before adding lipstick. 96
Staring back at her was someone that looked like an upgraded version of her self. Most times, she made due with minimal makeup, but since she'd noticed a lot on the bitch Kyle had been with, Heather decided to go all out to regain her man. 97
A small cheering sounded from outside the restroom, the noise getting louder for a brief moment as the door opened and closed. Knowing that the show must be starting, Heather gave one final check in the mirror, smiled, and turned for the door. 98
Walking into a wall of backs, she weaved her way through to the front of the crowd, scanning the faces for the one she was searching for. The lights dimmed in the crowd, but grew lighter on the stage area. Stopping as curtains parted, Heather could plainly see the woman she had come to talk with. 99
Music cascaded around her, bringing applause from the men in the crowd as the stripper's body became bathed in light.100
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~101
Rubbing his hands over his eyes as they slipped into the back of the limo after the movie premier, Kyle then lowered one hand to cover a yawn. "Damn, I’m tired."102
Izzy watched as he made himself comfortable and closed his eyes. She couldn’t understand how he could sleep. She was too pumped up on the events of the evening, and wanted to continue the experience. Not sure why, since she’d never been a party animal or into frivolous things like that before, she tried to relax. 103
The movie had been more than entertaining, and she had enjoyed it completely. Even the fact that Kyle had watched the movie with his arm slung around her shoulder could detract from the adventure that was on the screen. After the movie, they had stayed for a private party of about two hundred specific guests, and had met one famous person after another. Kyle had greeted each one with comradeship, making sure to include her in introductions and conversations. 104
"I had a great time," she said. 105
Kyle nodded while his eye closed. "So, your place or mine?"106
Staring at him, Izzy felt her cheeks flush and her anger rise. "Pardon?"107
"Do you want to be dropped off first, or after?" Kyle clarified. "What did you think I meant?"108
She could see a small smile on his lips and decided to not give him the satisfaction of answering. "Are most premiers like that?"109
"Usually," he said. "A bunch of no-talent hacks showing up for free food and publicity."110
"Why go, then?"111
"Why not?"112
"Well," she began, "you don’t seem to need the free food or publicity."113
"But I’m a no-talent hack?"114
"I didn’t say that."115
He shrugged. "It’s all part of the game. We show up, act all friendly to someone we’d rather kick the shit out of, and then smile for the camera." He opened his eyes again and straightened in the seat. "I’m hungry. You hungry?"116
"Uh," Izzy said, her whirling mind trying to slow down enough to catch where the topic had changed. "A little."117
Tapping on the window behind him, Kyle waited while it lowered slightly. "Find a McDonald’s Drive Thru," he said. 118
"McDonald’s?" Izzy asked.119
"Nothings too good for my pretend girlfriend," Kyle told her seriously. 120
"How charming."121
Rubbing his eyes again, he stared at her. "In case I didn’t tell you already," he said. "You look great tonight."122
This time, she couldn’t stop the blush that painted her cheeks.123
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~124
Phone records, personal identification, and even credit card purchases... all were searched through for the name of H. Ryders. More than a few hits came up, none jumping right out and grabbing Gio's attention as he looked through them. Clicking on another link on the computer page, he went through more information in the secured web site. 125
Pausing to grab his coffee mug, he took a large drink, then set it back down. What had started out as a planned night of chilling with a beer and work that he brought home had morphed into Gio having to head back to his desk so he could access certain information. 126
After considering that Heather might have adopted Kyle's last name as her own, Gio decided that a thorough check of the database was in order. Up until now they had been searching for Heather Woodrow, but since she held some fantasy about Kyle, it only seemed natural that she would pretend the whole way.127
An American Express card under the name of H. P. Ryders caught his attention. Looking at the info they had on Heather, and confirming that her middle name was Patricia, he looked at the recent purchases on the card. 128
The usual things were there; groceries, clothing, and a few major appliance purchases. The card was paid off every month or so, and really should not have raised any flags for him at all. But... a car rental for earlier that day still jumped out at him. 129
Checking the address of the rental place, he realized that it was not even four blocks from where she had last been seen at Maxwell Studios. The vehicle rented was a basic nondescript black sedan... one of virtually a thousand that could be found anywhere in Los Angeles. 130
Taking down the information of the car, Gio held off forwarding it to the traffic division until he could confirm that it was indeed Heather that had rented. The rental place was now closed, so he made note to head there with Izzy first thing in the morning to ask a few questions. 131
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~132
Weaving his way through the crowd, Liam smiled slightly when he realized that he had timed it so that his arrival coincided with Kitten's final routine. He stopped by the bar, one of the only free spots in the whole club, and watched as she sashayed her way out of an impossibly tight leather outfit. 133
Turning to order a beer, Liam quickly went back to watching the show unfold on the stage. Kitten's dance was always guaranteed to be erotic, and he wasn't immune to the effect that seemed to be hitting most those that were watching her. 134
A woman just to his left caught his attention for a moment, but he couldn't place where and why she looked vaguely familiar. Black hair was pulled back into a severe braid, and she held the look of someone who was trying to keep herself from being too conspicuous. 135
Not that it surprised him, though. A woman as pretty as she, was usually undulated with propositions from men in the crowd who wanted to work off some of the steam the strippers had left them with. The woman glanced at him, then quickly looked away. 136
That little action prompted his instincts to take a closer look. Turning slightly to place his beer on the bar behind him, and making his actions casual enough so that he wouldn't attract any attention, he turned back. A group of college students walked in front of him, blocking his view, and by the time they had passed, the woman was no where to be seen. 137
Highly doubting that it could have been Heather since she would have no real reason to be at Club Uncover, Liam logged the event in his mind as he casually scanned the crowd. Catching a glimpse of a braid as a woman walked into the washroom by the stage entrance, and shaking his head when he realized that the woman had more than likely left her spot just to use the facilities, he pulled his attention back to Kitten and her show.138
The show on the stage was winding down with Kitten hoisting herself onto a stripper's pole, and allowing her body to slowly circle to the stage, where she froze in one of the most provocative poses that Liam had ever had the pleasure of witnessing. 139
Taking the beer he had ordered, and draining the rest of it at once in an attempt to try to at least temper the heat he was feeling, Liam placed the bottle back on the bar, and made his way to the stage door. Pushing his way through the obligatory group of oglers and perverts, he gave his name to the security guy standing there, and was soon let through. 140
Kitten was just going into her dressing room when she saw him coming down the hallway. As the premier stripper and moneymaker for the club, the owners had given her a private changing room as incentive to remain a loyal employee. 141
Smiling at Liam, she motioned him in and closed the door behind them. 142
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~143
"Going to invite me up?" Kyle asked as the limo stopped just outside of Izzy's condo building.144
"Wasn't planning on it, no," Izzy replied.145
"Fine by me," Kyle said as he eyed the reporters that were waiting. "Come on... I'll at least walk you to the door."146
"You don't have to."147
Flashing her a charming smile, Kyle turned and opened the door on his side. Getting out to a few photographers, he ignored them as he walked over to Izzy side and opened the door for her. Holding his hand in to help her out, he smiled again as he saw the temptation to swat his hand away cross her face. 148
Taking his hand and graciously getting out of the limo, she cringed slightly as both flashes and questions assaulted her. Fighting the urge to pull out her badge and arrest the photographers for harassing her, she allowed Kyle to wrap an arm around her shoulder and guide her towards the front door of the building. 149
"Ignore them," he whispered in her ear.150
Izzy fished in her small purse for her keys to the front door, a feat made nearly impossible as her sight was assaulted by flashing lights. Finally getting them out, she fumbled with the lock slightly before getting the key in, and opening the door. 151
Kyle waited until she got in, and then slipped in behind her, pulling the door closed. Grabbing her hand as she stood there staring out the glass door at those still taking her picture, she let him pull her down the hallway and out of sight. 152
"Take the stairs," he said, heading for the stairwell.153
"Elevator's right there."154
"They don't need to see what floor you live on," he said, pulling her hand. "Come on." 155
Izzy followed, but stopped just inside the stairwell and leaned against the door. "Is it always like that?"156
"Usually."157
"How can you stand it?"158
"Rio del Mar, and Tae Kwon Do," he replied, turning to sit on the bottom step. 159
Suddenly, his 'escape place' in Rio del Mar made a whole lot more sense than it originally did. No wonder he took off for there every chance that he could. The Tae kwon do, however, piqued her interest. "Tae Kwon Do?"160
"I have an Ee Dan, or second degree black belt, in Tae kwon do," he admitted. "It started out as therapy after the accident, and I found that I enjoyed it."161
"Do you spar?"162
He shrugged. "I don’t keep up with my training as much as I should. I mostly just spar with Liam, and that usually ends with me moaning in pain on the mats." 163
"So, you can handle yourself in situations."164
"I could," he replied slowly. "But I prefer not too use it unless I need to. So far, it's never come up as a last resort."165
"I see."166
Sighing in annoyance, he stood from the step. "Stop reading assumptions into every thing I say."167
Not wanting to get dragged into another argument with him, Izzy pushed off from the door and started up the stairs. "Come on, Romeo," she said. "You can sleep on the couch."168
Author notes
computer died... I have no spell check... pointing out of errors appreciated. 
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Cool beans.
I so thought that was Heather calling Gio, well played.
A few things that caught my eye -
Looking at her, Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly. "Did you mean to kiss me, or Kyle Ryders?"31 - Does he mean to say Geoff Saturn?
but she would probably bolt 'is' she saw him, so watching from home was safer.36 - 'if'
Heather was more than likely now the key suspect in the troubles surrounding Kyle Ryders, since she had acted violently when the notion of being brought in over Laine Carmichael's death. 38 - feels unfinished for some reason
lived, but at least been able to give the police a cell phone number. - missing ‘had’? Not sure.
and wondered why he was not gong where he should have been Watching - missing a period
"Her phone's GPS ballparked her about fifteen miles from here, but she must have turned it off because they lost her."71 - ‘word’ wanted G.P.S. and ball parked but I think it’s a preference thing.
I like that we see that Gio isn't just a comic relief sidekick and actually has some detective skills of his own.
Now I must pester you until the next chapter is posted.
Yeah for slow work days!
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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I hope to have the next chapter restructured soon... and then typed up. (curses darn computer for crashing)...
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h
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This was AWESOME! Make it a book and I'd totally buy it.
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errr... I think you forgot to add the diary type entry thing to this one?
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Erk!
sorry! Forgot
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