Simply To Die For

Chapter 5

“I ’m sorry, honey. Didn’t mean to run into you young girls.” Evie wobbled on her cane looking at the pretty young woman with the spiked hair. She smiled, then glanced toward the wall reaching out for support. The bitch goes natural and gets better looking. How in the hell does she do it? “I’m looking for a friend and may have gotten off on the wrong floor.” She patted her gray hair.

“Do you want me to help you to the nurse’s station to find your friend’s room?” The tall redhead in fitted jeans and cowboy boots reached out to steady her teetering.

What is her name? She looks familiar in an old Hollywood kind of way. I can picture her in an old time western. Hmm. She’ll be one to keep my eye on as well.

Evie stayed bent over, giving the appearance of suffering from osteoporosis or arthritis. She smiled sweetly, her aged wrinkles crinkling around eyes darting back and forth, reflecting none of her thoughts.

“Thank you, but I prefer to stay independent, miss. Keeps me sharp as a tack.” She patted the cowgirl’s hand cupping an elbow, wishing she could steal away the beauty the woman probably took for granted. Her own mother had been drop-dead gorgeous in a Marilyn Monroe way, but Evelyn Dagmyer had been blessed with her father’s classic 1930’s mobster looks. He would have fit in Warner Brother’s murderer’s row perfectly. Sal DeLuca was not Pretty Boy Floyd by any stretch of the imagination, but he always got even with his enemies.

What had been omitted from her gene pool in the looks department, thanks to Daddy Dearest, Evie made up for in her craftiness, talent, and determination. She could teach the CAS makeup department a thing or two if they’d asked her. Of course they hadn’t, that wasn’t her function, she was just supposed to answer the phones. She’d learned to deal with beauties like these in her teen years. She’d gotten her share of men at bar time when dressed the part—sexy clothes, false eyelashes, makeup, wigs—a bit of deception in the wee hours of the night coupled with too many cocktails and she’d be twisted in their sheets.

Sex was sex after all. Love and acceptance—they were something totally different. Entities foreign to Evie as getting the credit she was due. Well, her time in the spotlight was coming.

Even though she longed to be recognized for her intelligence, talent, sexuality, and her inner beauty no one seemed interested. No, she’d been passed over for the lack of it her entire life. Humph! Fat chance of it changing as long as worthless women like Clar Turner and her friend continued to tempt the men she so desperately wanted. She should have known when she’d talked to the slut this morning that she’d come a running. Loyal little Clar, beloved by her CAS family, all but one of course.

Men like Dylan Cameron had sung her praises.

He’d all but laughed in her face when she approached him with an idea for a new film, sort of a beauty and the beast in reverse where she’d come out a goddess. Of course, the stars would have been the two of them. Dylan insisted he wasn’t into “charity” cases, and mercy fucks.

Much as she’d been tempted to, she hadn’t played her ace in the hole card. She was too smart for that. Daddy Dearest had made it perfectly clear when he shipped her to the west coast, she was to remain silent about who she was or she’d lose her allowance, the lush apartment, and the meager trinkets he sent on her birthday and holidays.

Hell, even Levi turned Evie down flat. Granted, he was gay, but he didn’t even want to do a film with her even though she’d begged. The memory of that was so humiliating. Said he just wasn’t into women. Well, hells bells, if he could fake it with a female co-star why couldn’t he with her? Why couldn’t he give her that glimmer of fame? Of hope? Well, she’d gotten her justice after all.

“Miss Jackson Wolfe, are you coming or not?” Clar flashed a smile, then went off down the hallway signaling for her companion to follow. The sight of hips swaying followed by the looks from the hospital staff as they passed them sent her stomach lurching. She glared at the bitches walking down the hall, supremely confident, sure of themselves, in a way she never would be. Clar Turner, aka Kandi Kyses. Her mere name crossing her mind churned her blood into a boiling frenzy. Sooner or later, the queen of smut would get what was coming to her. Fate would make it so just like it had for Levi. She was just like her daddy, her enemies always paid. She couldn’t wait for it to happen. She lived for that day. The sooner the better as far as she was concerned.

“Stupid girls.” Evie brushed away the warmth Jackson Wolfe’s hand had left behind on her skin, gloating as she processed the information. She’d heard the former PI was in town helping Clar with Levi. Too bad the piss ant Levi hadn’t died right there on the studio floor along with the rest of them. It would have been one less thorn in her side.

Lingering a moment, she slipped closer to the ajar door to Levi’s room, hoping to listen in on the hunk and Jimmy O’Brien, gathering information. Nobody passing by as much as glanced at her, why should they, no one ever noticed her.

“I know what you’re thinking Jimmy. Reed Cameron is Dylan Cameron’s uncle....”

Icy fear spread through her like frostbite at the words. Oh my god, why hadn’t she put his connection with Dylan together before now? A chill went through her. Detective Reed Cameron had been one of her father’s many henchmen. This couldn’t be good. He’d been the one who’d followed Sal DeLuca’s orders to stash Evie and her mother—former lounge singer Belle Anderson—far from Chicago. He’d planted them in a small northern Wisconsin town where life was unforgiving for an ugly girl and her mother whom everyone knew was a mobster’s girl. Oh sure, daddy dear had made sure they had plenty of food, money, clothes, but not one ounce of love for his “ugly duckling” daughter.

Being so obsessed with Levi she’d not put Dylan and the detective together. She thought the cop was in LA to keep an eye on her. Now it could be otherwise. She wobbled down the hall to the elevators, ducking into the bathroom to ditch the old lady getup.

***

R EED CAMERON STEPPED into the crowded elevator staring at the door as it closed. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with morons and their sniffling. He had a victim to check on and questions to get the answers to after Clar Turner walked out on him in the middle of questioning. It boiled his blood remembering the snickering of the officers when she and the redhead took a hike. He had no real reason to hold her and it pissed him off that she wasn’t intimidated by him in the least. He’d need that edge to get anything done in this town.

Since his rookie days, he’d witnessed a lot of deaths patrolling the streets of Chicago. Including those he’d turned a blind eye to as a detective. Those days were behind him the moment his sister’s son had been brutally murdered. He’d fulfill the promise he’d made to her as they placed Dylan into the ground.

He’d find the killer and serve justice the only way he knew how...with a Glock.

The deal Cameron had made with Sal was that he’d watch out for his LA investments, if he was released of his Chicago duties to the DeLuca family. So, he packed up his life and moved to the west coast after landing a position at the LAPD. While California had the beaches and sunshine, the crime in the streets wasn’t much different. Brutal. Deadly. Senseless. Tragic.

Cameron smoothed the permanent wrinkles of his suit and ran a hand through his thinning gray hair. The elevator slid to a stop and he stepped onto the floor as a non-descript woman bustled into a car going down. Evelyn Dagmyer, the receptionist? What in the hell would she be doing here? She’d been damned near hysterical this morning at CAS. Nah, it can’t be her , he told himself as the door whooshed closed.

He pushed the woman from his mind and swaggered down the hall to Levi’s room keeping his eyes on his surroundings. While he certainly didn’t agree with the victim’s lifestyle, he needed to keep him alive to find out what he remembered in the studio. Any little tidbit of information could lead him to the killer now being dubbed the Porn Star Slayer by the local press. Personally, he’d just as soon toss all the reporters into the ocean with an anchor wrapped around their necks. He’d gotten rid of O’Brien once, he could do it again, if he had to.

Cameron slid open the door to Levi Andres’ room and stopped cold. Jimmy O’Brien and a guy he didn’t recognize gathered at the end of the hospital bed; their voices barely audible.

“What the hell, O’Brien,” Cameron hissed, curbing his desire to throw Jimmy and the lean, dangerous looking shield of a man out the door. “How’d you get in here? And who the hell are you?” He glared at the second man. “And where’s the protection detail I assigned?” He waited, mulling over how he could use these two to his advantage. “Never mind, I would bet that Clar Turner and the redhead have something to do with you being here.” He’d been looking for an excuse to haul her in and this was a beauty.

Jimmy’s lip curled up, sending Cameron’s blood pressure to an all new high. It wasn’t enough that he had to deal with a murder that may be connected to his nephew. Unlike the Chicago incident years ago, he couldn’t threaten the reporter with a reliable witness present. Instead, now he had to play all titty-finger nice, or better yet, smart. Maybe the time had come for him to start working with rather than against O’Brien. O’Brien’s investigative skills, while a bit rusty, were the best he’d ever seen; he could be a valued asset.

“Detective, nice to see you too.” Jimmy turned from Reed dismissively. “This is Clint Mason. He’s been hired by Jackson Wolfe to watch over Levi until Clar can get him out of here, and far from this cancerous city. As for your protection detail, it seems they never showed up.”

What the fuck? Fury went through him as he thought of his direct orders being ignored. The local cops didn’t hold him in high esteem so he’d guess he shouldn’t be surprised but it still pissed him off. Hell, maybe he needed these two clowns. Cameron sized up the hired bodyguard, assessing him from his unwavering gaze to the way he held his ground. “Former cop, Mason?”

“Yes, sir. Texas Ranger to be exact.” Clint moved closer to Levi’s bed, his protective stance sending a clear message—don’t try it or you’re dead. “I know who you are, Detective Reed Cameron, and your connection to the Chicago DeLuca Family.”

“Humph, didn’t realize it wasn’t common knowledge all law enforcement had some kind of relationship with criminals in our city,” Cameron snickered, slithering closer to Levi’s bed and the man guarding him. “Is that all it takes to be a big Texas Ranger; a bit of common knowledge?” He sensed there was more there, for a man his age to be a former anything spoke of a murky past. And it seemed that he and O’Brien were pals a bit interesting.

“There’s a difference between working with a criminal that’s a snitch and being on a crime boss’s payroll.” The former cowboy cop reached him within seconds, his jaw clinched so tight he thought he could hear him grinding his teeth. Cameron glanced down and smiled at the balled fist twitching at Mason’s side. He’d hit paydirt. Maybe he hadn’t lost his touch after all.

“Clint, speaking from experience, this scum bag isn’t worth the effort.” Jimmy stepped between Cameron and Mason, cutting the slight thread of intimidation Cameron wove between them.

“Hey, Houston! We have a problem here.” Dangling from Clar Turner’s hands were a disheveled grey wig and a rickety walking cane. “We found these in the women’s bathroom just down the hall. They were shoved into the trash can.”

Cameron knew in an instant. It was Evie who’d slipped into the elevator.

***

“C LAR.”

“Shhh, everyone, be quiet a moment!” Clar looked around the room until her gaze swept onto Levi. Leaning over Levi, her ear mere inches from his lips, Clar could have sworn she heard her name.

“Clar.” His breath a light whisper that only a butterfly would feel.

Tears streamed down her face as she clung to his hand. She pulled up a chair, leaning in closer to Levi and pressed the call button. “Shhh, you need your strength.”

Levi licked his parched lips, a tiny bit of a smile edging them. “You are my strength.”

“Clear the area, please. I need to check his vitals.” The doctor strolled through the door, his words gentle and commanding at the same time. “I’ll let you know when you can come back in.”

Clar smiled, squeezing his hand again, then gently kissed his forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

“You’re a very lucky man, Mr. Andres.”

Clar and the rest of them left the room to allow the doctor to do his job. Levi was alive! In her mind, the biggest hurdle had just been crossed. Fate was not going to take another person she loved and cared for, not this time, not while there was breath in her body.

“As soon as the doctor comes back out, I’m going in there to question him.” Cameron pulled out a small notebook and pen, his warning glance sweeping over them as they huddled in the hallway. “I want no interference at all. I want you all to stay out here. I don’t want anyone influencing his words.”

“If you think for one minute I’m letting you alone with him you are absolutely out of your mind!” Clar hissed, her back facing Levi’s room, guarding it from the dragon waiting to light it on fire.

“Clar,” Jacki touched her arm, and she jerked it away, “let’s wait and see what the doctor has to say. It might just be that no one can go in there at all. Levi might be off limits even to you.”

“No, I’m all the family he has.” Clar’s heart sank into the rolling of her stomach.

“We all know that, but the medical staff doesn’t.” Jimmy’s voice sent soothing calmness over the fear and rage trying to take over. She fell into his waiting arms, allowing his strength to protect her. It wasn’t until Levi said her name that it hit her how much pain he must have endured. How much punishment had been delivered to his mind and body.

The doctor stepped out into the hall. “He’s doing well with all things considered. At this point it doesn’t appear as if there’s been any brain damage, but the emotional damage may take months, years even, to repair.” The doctor turned to Clar, a smile on his face. “Ms. Turner, Levi is asking for you.”

Clar took a step toward the door with Cameron hot on her heels. “I’m sorry, I’ll only allow Ms. Turner in at this time.”

“I need to question the victim as to what he remembers. It’s vital to the case.”

“I understand that, but it’s not going to happen today.” The doctor’s warning left no room for argument.

“Alright, I’ll do it your way.” Cameron reached into his pocket, pulling out a small tape player holding it out to Clar. “Ms. Turner, get what you can out of him. I’ll talk with you when you’re finished.”

“No promises. It’ll depend on Levi.” Clar took the small recorder with no intention of using it, and stole cautiously into the room.

“Levi?” Clar pulled a chair next to the bed, taking a hold of his hand. He looked so weak, and helpless. Like a sick child she supposed. And like a mother she wanted to protect him.

“Clar.” His eyes fluttered for a moment, then opened, a smile seeping on his lips. “Dead on me. Filming. Kicking me.”

“Shhh.” His words sparked an idea. Clar didn’t begin to fight the tears spilling down her cheeks. “There’s plenty of time for all that. You are alive, that’s all that matters. Quiet now and get some rest, we’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Levi squeezed her hand with a force she didn’t expect. “Wrappers. Kandi Kisses.” Levi’s eyes fluttered closed.

Clar kissed his forehead then walked into the hall. She wrapped herself in Jimmy’s arms, shaking with what Levi had told her. Taking a deep breath, she looked over at Cameron weighing her next words.

“There is something that needs to be checked out. It may be nothing, but important enough for Levi to say it before he fell asleep.” She faced Cameron holding Jimmy’s hand. Jacki and Clint flanked them, enforcing her defense.

“And that would be, Ms. Turner?”

“I have a condition first, and one that I know goes against the right way to investigate. But then you’ve never been one to do it the honest way anyhow, have you?”

“That was a long time ago, in a life I’ve left behind.”

“I’m not so sure, but at any rate here’s my condition. After I tell you what Levi said, you have to take us on any of your investigations. Deal?”

Cameron shifted for a moment. “It’s that important to you to break the law for?”

“Yes.”

“Deal.”

Clar sighed with relief, then took a step toward Cameron. “Levi only said words. Words that I feel are important enough to check out. We need to get our hands on that film from the day of the murders. If it was running, we’ll have more than enough to figure out who is behind this.”