Not Suspicious in Hollywood: Not in Hollywood Book 5 (9 page)

“You’ve never been tempted?” queried
Travis.

I looked at him sourly. “Of course I
haven’t. I’m with Griffin. I’m not going to throw that away on some meaningless
encounter.”

“Aah, loyalty. I know it exists, I just
never get to see it in action,” Travis grinned.

“That is the saddest thing that you have
ever said to me. How can you live your life with that level of cynicism?”

Travis shrugged. “I’m not exactly in an
industry that sees the finest in human nature. I find it amazing that you work
in a similar environment but you are not just as cynical as I am.”

I smiled. “I may not have the best examples
of humanity in my work life but I have the best this world has to offer in my
personal life. Maybe you should look at that.”

Travis looked uncomfortable. “Back to the
subject at hand, do you think that Ash might have gone too far with an
experience with Jolena?”

I shook my head. “Ash is pretty controlled
about what he does. I don’t see him accidentally killing Jolena.”

“What if it wasn’t an accident? Maybe it
could have been one of those things that Ash wanted to experience before he
meets his legendary end.”

“You mean a thrill killing?”

I wasn’t overly fond of Ash but I couldn’t
really see him doing that.

“It happens,” Travis said. “This guy has
got pretty much everything that money could buy and a perceived time limit.
This usually turns people from buying things to having experiences. Murder for
some people is just another experience.”

“Did you know that Jolena was Ramos’s
girlfriend?” I asked.

That pulled Travis up short. “No, I hadn’t
been told that.”

“You need to remember that. Whatever you
find out is going to have a direct impact on her. You might want to be
sensitive when it comes to your theories.”

Travis nodded. “Thanks, Trudie. I’ll keep
that in mind.”

“I hope you do. Ramos is in a lot of pain
at the moment. First, Jolena dies. Then she finds out that she was cheating on
her. No matter how strong a person is, that is going to have an effect.”

“I understand. Anything else you have that
might help me with looking into this.”

I shook my head. “The whole thing seemed so
random. There was no indication that something like this was going to happen.
As far as assignments go, this one has been relatively easy. Because the band
is in lockdown there hasn’t been many of the usual chances for things to go as
badly as they usually do when dealing with celebrities. At least we haven’t had
problems with paparazzi for a change.”

“Any tried to get on the property?”

I shook my head. “In the beginning we had a
few camped out the front, waiting for the band to hit the town or to see
whether any famous women turned up for the parties. But the guys have been smart.
Generally, the women who get invited aren’t well known. It keeps everything a
lot more low key than it usually would.”

“Sounds very well thought out and cozy,”
Travis said.

“Crispy Spider’s last album didn’t do as
well as was expected. Their antics on their latest tour kind of took away from
the music. The sales were good but they weren’t great. The management company
stepped in and laid down the law. This business is ruthless. You don’t produce
amazing sales, there is always someone else nipping at your heels. Luckily, the
guys heard what was being said and that’s why this little retreat was
organized. We keep them as cloistered as possible and give them the chance to
create with as few distractions as we possibly can.”

Travis looked skeptical. “Parties with hot
women every night does not exactly sound very cloistered to me.”

I recognized the truth in that statement.
“For these guys it was the best compromise we could come up with. The idea is
that if it is kept in-house then security can deal with any issues that may
eventuate. It keeps the situation from getting messy.”

“Didn’t exactly go to plan, did it?”

“No,” I said, “it didn’t.”

“I’m going to need you to take me through
everything that happened that morning,” Travis said as he stood up. “If I can walk
through what you did and what you saw, I may get a better handle on it.”

I stood up and absentmindedly brush at some
more of the goat hair that was stubbornly refusing to leave me. “Not a problem.
Just do me a favor and try not to antagonize Griffin.”

Travis gave me his trademark grin. “Of
course, Trudie. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

That just filled me with confidence.

I
followed Travis through the door. I
wasn’t surprised to find Griffin waiting for us.

“Griffin,” Travis nodded.

“Cooper,” Griffin replied.

I waited a second as both of them eyed each
other.

“Seriously, guys. We’re doing this now?”

Griffin broke eye contact first.

“No, you’re right. We need to act
professional. Cooper and I have worked together before…”

“And wasn’t that just a special experience?”
Travis interrupted.

I rolled my eyes. I seriously could not
believe that I had to put up with this. It was like two irritating puppies
fighting for dominance.

“We have a job to do and we all need to
work together, nicely,” I said through gritted teeth. I was very much looking
forward to the end of this day.

Griffin at least had the ability to look a
little shamefaced. “Sorry, instinctive reaction.”

“You need to work on those,” I muttered.

“Still can’t believe you got a job here,”
pointed out Travis.

“You’re not the only one,” Griffin said
tightly.

I shot a worried look in his direction. “Is
everything okay?”

Griffin nodded. “The lawyer is not happy
that I’m here but he was overruled by management. Seems Monique has a lot of say
when she wants it.”

I nodded. We were all just lucky that
Monique used her powers for good rather than evil. If she ever went to the dark
side, the world could be in real trouble.

“So, what are you two doing now?” asked
Griffin suspiciously.

“I’m walking Travis through what I did the
other morning when I found Jolena’s body.”

“Do you mind if I tag along?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Don’t you have work you’re supposed to be
doing?” queried Travis.

Griffin shrugged. “Nobody seems to have any
idea what to do with me. I have been given strict instructions to stay away
from the band. Seems the lawyer doesn’t trust me not to bust them on a drugs
charge or something.”

To be perfectly honest, neither did I.

“Monique wanted me to stay close to you and
be there if Jorge needs help, so that is what I’m going to do,” Griffin said
with a smile on his face.

I couldn’t really say that I found that
smile to be comforting at all.

“Is Trudie in danger?” interrupted Travis.

I was touched by the concern in his voice.
Griffin obviously heard it as well because he frowned at his former partner.

“Some of us are just a little worried about
Trudie.”

“That would be a full-time job,” muttered
Travis.

“Hey,” I said. “I’m fine if you insist on
taking pot shots at Griffin here but could we please keep me out of the line of
fire.”

Travis grinned widely.

“Don’t try looking innocent with me. I know
you too well for that to work,” I warned.

Travis shrugged. “So, what were you doing
when you first got to work that morning?”

“Well, when I got to the mansion I went to
check on Buddy because he’s been causing problems for us lately. I just wanted
to make sure he was contained.”

Travis looked startled as he followed me
through the house with Griffin trailing behind.

“Who is Buddy and why exactly does he need
to be contained?”

“Hasn’t anyone told you about Buddy yet?” I
asked.

Travis shook his head.

“Oh, Travis, you are in for a treat.”

“I really don’t think you mean that in the
way I’m hoping you mean that,” Travis said wryly.

I laughed as I led the two men to Buddy’s
pen, grateful that, for once, the goat was exactly where he was supposed to be.

“This is Buddy,” I said with a flourish.

Buddy glared at me. I wish I knew what I
had done to make this goat hate me so much. It might have to do with the fact
that my job description seemed to be to thwart him at every turn.

“It’s a goat,” Travis said.

“Yes, it’s a goat. He’s Vale’s pet.
Unfortunately he is a bit of an escape artist and on the day Jolena died he had
managed to get out of his pen. That’s the reason I was down near the lake. I
had looked through the house and the grounds and I found him there.”

Travis and Griffin followed me as I headed
to the lake. I was surprised to see Vale there and indicated to the others to
stay back.

“Are you okay, Vale?” I asked tentatively
as I stood next to him.

Vale looked startled. “Trudie, I didn’t
know whether you’d be back here. I thought everything that happened might have
scared you away.”

I shook my head. “It generally takes a lot
more than that to chase me away from a job. I survived the first week with you
guys so I figure that I can pretty much get through anything.”

Vale gave me a tight smile. “I’m sorry we
were so painful. I should have realized from the start that you didn’t deserve
to be treated like that. I think we were just so annoyed that we were being
locked down like we were that you were the easiest target.”

“Not the first time it’s happened,” I said.
“Although I have to say it was close. I think I still have the resignation
letter on file that I started. It wasn’t very complimentary to you guys.”

Vale gave me a half smile. “I’m sure it
wasn’t. I’m also sure that we deserved everything that you said. I’m glad you
decided to stay.”

‘Thanks,” I said. “I’m glad I stayed as
well. What are you doing out here?”

Vale looked sadly across the lake. “Just
seems to be a huge waste. Sometimes I wonder what I’m even doing here. I always
thought that I was going to change the world and leave it a better place. I
don’t quite think that I’m accomplishing that goal.”

“You’re definitely making an impact on it,”
I said gently. “Have you thought about using the influence that you now have
for a cause you are interested in? You have the opportunity to really make a
difference if that is what you want to do.”

Vale nodded. “I think you might be right.
We got so caught up in making it as a band that I think we may have lost part
of ourselves.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way.”

I wondered where this sudden introspection
was coming from. It looked like the events of the last few days were starting
to take a toll on Vale. There was nothing like a murder to start you
questioning your place in the world.

“I think you’re right.” Vale paused as if
gathering his thoughts. “You know that you are very easy to talk to?”

“I’ve been told that often,” I said wryly.

“I don’t think you realize what a gift that
is,” he said reflectively. He looked out across the lake again. “What are you
doing down here anyway, Trudie?”

I motioned towards Travis and Griffin who
were standing a relatively respectful distance behind us. “We have new security
people and we were just going over the issues from the last couple of days.”

Vale frowned. “Isn’t that your boyfriend?”
he asked, with a slightly accusing tone.

“Yes, he is. He was available for security
work and my boss thought he would be helpful.”

Vale looked skeptical. I wasn’t going to
argue with him. I still had my doubts about this arrangement. Now that I’d had
Travis thrown into the mix, I was just going to keep my head down until this
entire job was finished.

Vale grabbed my elbow and pulled me aside
to where he thought that the two men wouldn’t be able to hear us. I didn’t have
the heart to tell him I knew for a fact that Griffin had the hearing of a bat.

“I don’t think that is entirely
appropriate,” Vale said quietly.

I looked down pointedly at the way Vale was
still gripping my elbow.

“Sorry,” he muttered as he let go.

“It’s all been approved by management.” I
was a little confused by the annoyance I could see on Vale’s face.

“I think I need to have a little talk to
them about that.”

I stayed silent. I didn’t really see Vale’s
reasoned argument beating Monique’s powers of persuasion but I wasn’t going to
try to stop him.

Vale smiled at me as if trying to hide his
annoyance. “I’m really glad you came back,” he said, before turning and walking
away.

I watched him worriedly as he walked
towards the mansion. I kept watching him as I heard Griffin and Travis step up
behind me.

“He likes you,” Griffin said accusingly.

I tried to control my impatience before turning
to face the two of them.

“Of course he likes me. Unlike you, I’m a
very likable person.”

“You know what I mean.”

I took a deep breath. “I know that you have
this belief that just because you find me irresistible that every other man in
the world must feel the same way. Here’s a newsflash for you. They don’t. Vale
is just being nice to me. New concept amongst my clients but the law of
averages said I had to hit one sooner or later.”

“Griffin’s right,” Travis decided to
interfere. “I think he does like you.”

I turned around to face the newest attack.
“You might want to think on what you just said. I never thought that I would
hear you say the words ‘Griffin is right’ without you choking on it or at least
a threat of imminent death.”

Travis grimaced. “I know. Believe me they
were just as unpleasant for me to say as they were for you to hear. Doesn’t
stop them from being the truth.”

I shrugged, giving up. One thing I had
learned very quickly about the people I seemed to attract into my life, they
were not easily swayed when they had an opinion.

“This was where I found Buddy. I was
talking to Crystal on the phone when I spotted him.”

“Why were you talking to Crystal?” Travis
asked curiously.

“We were discussing how ridiculous my life
had become when I was required to spend my working hours hunting down a goat
who, as we’ve already seen, does not like me.”

“Okay.” Travis drawled, attempting to be
understanding.

“I got off the phone with Crystal and I was
trying to reason with Buddy.”

“We’re still talking about the goat?”
Travis queried.

“Yes, we are still talking about the goat.
I was not going to be able to drag him all the way back to his pen on my own so
I was trying to discuss the matter calmly with him. He wasn’t exactly
responding to my reasoned arguments and I looked out over the lake because I
was feeling a little frustrated with the situation.” I paused for a moment as I
remembered that morning. “I saw some fabric in the lake, a lot of fabric. I
ditched my phone and went in to see what it was.”

“Why?” asked Travis.

“Why, what?” I replied.

“You see fabric in a lake. Why did you
decide to jump fully clothed in a lake when all you’d seen was fabric?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just got a bad
feeling. I guess I reacted without thinking. I swam out to it and grabbed hold.
It was only then that I knew that it was a person. I dragged her to the shore
and tried doing CPR. I started screaming for someone to come and help me. Jorge
heard me and came running. When he got there he realized that there was nothing
that we could do to help her so he stopped me. I was a bit of a mess so Jorge
took over from there. He organized everyone and called 911.”

“Why were you so upset?” Travis asked
curiously.

“I’d just pulled a dead body out of the
water,” I replied, wondering why I had thought that for once Travis would show
some sensitivity.

“I understand that but it wasn’t exactly
your first time finding a dead body. You’re usually pretty good with dealing
with it. What made this one different?”

“I’d met Jolena the day before at a
barbecue for some of the cops from the station. When I pulled her out of the
lake I knew who she was. I knew what this was going to do to Ramos.”

“So why was Jolena here?” asked Travis.

“She was here a few nights earlier,” I
offered.

“Yes, I heard about the incident. I’ve
already spoken to Ash. He claims that she was nothing more than some random fan
that he didn’t even know or care about.”

That was Ash. Classy to the end.

“How much did Ramos know about Jolena and
her extracurricular activities?” Travis asked.

I looked at Griffin who cleared his throat.

“Trudie told me about Jolena when we got
home after the barbecue. I was planning on telling Ramos.”

“Brave man,” Travis commented.

Griffin raised an eyebrow.

Travis grimaced. “As the man who regularly
gets to tell people that their significant other is cheating on them, believe
me when I say that it is not a job for the faint of heart. People have a
tendency to react badly and as the messenger you are the first in the line of
fire.”