Chapter 26 - Paradise Rock
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Paradise Rock
“Paradise Rock FM! It’s Anna Banana in the house!
And you just heard ‘Scary People’ by Nightstalker!
Hey Clint, ever since yesterday, I can’t shake the feeling that you might be one of those ‘Scary People.’ What happened, man?
I mean, you’re such a huge fan of the band and have known them since the start.
Shouldn’t you have realized that topic needed a heads-up? ”
“Hello, Anna! Well, I don’t even know what to say about that. Guilty as charged? If only it were that simple.”
“Then fill us in.”
“My source from Vegas hit me up just thirty minutes before the broadcast and confirmed the story with newspaper articles. I know it wasn’t the best way to handle things, but there just wasn’t enough time to talk it over with Tristan James beforehand.
Plus, it was the only interview the band had scheduled before the tour.
I couldn’t miss the chance to report on it.
I mean, it was also about giving Tristan the chance to comment, which is still better than dropping the story without any input. ”
“But was his reaction unpredictable?”
“I’ve known the guys for a long time now, and I was the first to interview them back in the day.
Even though it seems like I know Tristan well because of that, I have to admit, the man’s a mystery.
He’s a puzzle you can only solve by digging persistently.
But as we saw yesterday, he’s also a real gold mine. ”
“A gold mine? Clint!”
“Oh, sorry, that might sound wrong. I don’t mean it like … The story doesn’t make me any money. By ‘gold mine,’ I mean there’s so much more to the man than people might think.”
“Like the murder of his parents twenty years ago?”
“If you’re listening, Tristan, I’m really sorry. I never meant to expose you or bring up unresolved memories. Especially with the situation with your brother still fresh. I should have taken the time to talk it over with you beforehand.”
“I wonder if that was the last interview they’ll let you do with the band.”
“Please, no! I really hope that one day I’ll get the chance to apologize to James in person.”
“From what I’ve heard—and seen—there was also a physical altercation afterward. For our listeners … Clint has a nice shiner on his left eye.”
“Yeah, after Andrej Novak made sure the interview got cut short, Eliot Parker showed up and punched me shortly after.”
“What? Leaf was there? Are you saying he’s the reason for your black eye?”
“The guy can throw a punch, I’ll give him that.”
“What was he doing there? He wasn’t even part of the interview?”
“I think James called him during the second break. He must have sensed something.”
“Okay … Let’s rewind and revisit the story that’s been dominating the news channels and tabloids since yesterday. Tristan James’s parents were murdered twenty years ago. Could you please fill us in again on what you’ve discovered?”
“The incident happened on Halloween. Two drug addicts broke into the house looking for cash and jewelry. They were surprised that the parents were at home. According to police reports, the mother took the kids to the basement, thinking it was safe. Sadly, the burglars brought the parents down too, and that’s where they brutally killed them.
The children witnessed everything. A neighbor walking his dog called the cops in the middle of the night.
The front door was open, lights on. They found the two boys—dressed as Native Americans—hiding in a closet, faces painted with blood.
The burglars saw the kids but didn’t hurt them anymore. ”
“Were the burglars caught?”
“Yes, they’ve been in prison ever since.”
“Damn … That’s really … heavy stuff. Wait—the incident in the bar when Tristan James attacked Frank Chelsea. It had something to do with his parents?”
“Yes, Anna, with the Native Americans. I’m starting to think it’s tied to that old story James hasn’t fully come to terms with yet. Wouldn’t shock me if Chelsea threw shade at Native Americans to get under his skin. And all this, right after his brother’s passing …”
“The poor boy! Could it be that Leaf knew what it was about? If James called him, he must have dropped everything, or he wouldn’t have been there so quickly.”
“I think Eliot Parker knew as well. Which, considering the rumors of a romantic relationship between them, doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me more is that Andrej Novak and their manager Carol Davis seemed clueless.”
“Well, you don’t just spread those kinds of stuff around. Besides, I think Andrej Novak handled it pretty decently. He defended Tristan, while you, Clint, put him on blast across all of California.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Yes, it was. No one hurts my Tristan James.”
“I thought you were into Leaf?”
“And you clearly don’t get how fangirls tick, Clint. But let’s refocus on Andrej Novak. He’s the bassist of Nightstalker. All I know is he’s into surfing. What else can you share about him?”
“Novak’s grandparents came from Poland originally.
If I’m correct, Andrej also grew up bilingual.
And get this—he studied business administration and mathematics.
He actually paused his master’s thesis when he joined Nightstalker.
At twenty-five, he’s the youngest in the band.
Some sources say he’s the most ambitious, while others say he just works incredibly hard to keep up with Tristan and Leaf. ”
“He seems very professional to me.”
“Yes, you have to give him that. He’s always very polite and has a strong sense of fairness.”
“Like yesterday when he cut the interview short?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, folks! Tomorrow, we’re diving into José Martinez. And look at that, the week is moving along! Nightstalker’s gig at the Whisky on Saturday is almost here. Just two more days until showtime! And remember, we still have those three tickets up for grabs. Stay tuned, we’ll be right back.”