Chapter 10
Determined to get some answers, Sonya went to Yolanda’s bungalow, knocked once then entered without waiting for a response. The girl seemed to have an uncanny way of knowing things and Sonya was certain she knew about this as well.
“We need to talk,” she called out, then stopped suddenly when she saw Yolanda in the kitchenette, crying.
Still in her costume, her makeup streaked with tears, she was leaning back against the counter, a tissue to her eyes.
She looked up at Sonya, stopped crying for a surprised moment, then resumed.
“Oh, honey,” Sonya said, immediately filled with the maternal need to console her. “Sit down. Come on, sit down. I’ll fix you some tea.”
Yolanda allowed Sonya to guide her to the bed in the living area and accepted the fresh tissue Sonya handed her.
“Stop crying, dear. Everything will be alright.” Sonya poured water into a small pot and set it on the single burner that sat on the counter.
“I just can’t believe it,” Yolanda said through heavy sobs. “I can’t believe he’s gone. Eddie. Oh, I know not many people liked him, but... Oh. It’s just so horrible.”
She rambled on and Sonya tried to keep her calm.
“I know. It’s such a shame.” The water came to a boil, and she poured it into a small cup and tossed in a teabag.
“You don’t understand,” Yolanda said.
“Here you go.”
Yolanda took the cup. “Thank you.” She looked up at Sonya. “Eddie was more than just another cast member. More than just a co-star. He was a friend.”
Surprised, Sonya pulled a chair from the dinette table and sat across for Yolanda. “I have to admit, I’m a little surprised to hear that. Eddie seemed so aloof. He didn’t really mingle with the cast. I think he’s barely spoken to me at all since this production began.”
“Yes. He seemed aloof. Thing is, despite being an actor, Eddie was actually quite shy... introverted. He liked to keep to himself. That and the fact that he really did immerse himself in his role.”
“Then how were you two friends?”
Yolanda took a sip of tea then carefully set the cup down on the nightstand. “He saw me once... with Zwick.”
“Oh. He knew about you two?”
She nodded. “Even though I never said anything to him about it... about Zwick, he saw how uncomfortable I was with the situation, and he tried to intervene.”
“How?”
She looked squarely at Sonya. “He went to Zwick. He told him what an old fart he was. He told him to find someone his own age and to leave me alone.”
“I take it Zwick didn’t appreciate that very much.”
“He was furious. When I next saw him, he raged. How dare some nothing of an actor tell him what to do. Despite the tight filming schedule we had, and the important role Eddie had, Zwick threatened to have him replaced. ‘Everyone is replaceable,’ he said.”
So, Eddie was getting in Zwick’s way. He’d become a problem. Sonya looked at the young woman, wondering if they were thinking the same thing. But she didn’t want to say aloud what she really thought.
And Marion? Was Yolanda aware of that death as well?
She pressed a friendly smile. “Your makeup is all runny.”
Yolanda smiled back as she wiped her cheek.
“You do a very good job with your makeup.”
“I do my best. I don’t have all the equipment and all the powders and stuff, but...”
“Why don’t you just go and get your makeup done by Marion? She’s paid to do it, and...” Sonya pointed to her own bird face. “The woman is a miracle worker.”
Yolanda smiled, more broadly this time. “Yes. I know. She really is quite talented, but...”
“But, what?”
“For all her talent, she’s got a short fuse.”
“Marion? I never saw her get upset. Not even when she was being rushed by Betty.”
“That’s probably because you’re the big star of the show and she wouldn’t dare raise her voice to you. But me?”
“What happened?”
Yolanda shrugged and took another sip of tea.
“I’m not even sure. Something I did must have upset her because she was just mad at me for no reason.
I walked into the makeup room yesterday and sat down.
I don’t know. Maybe I said something that she didn’t like.
But all of a sudden she was telling me to get out, that if I didn’t like it I could do my own makeup and see if I could do a better job.
I don’t know. Maybe she’s having her period or something. ”
“I know she was, uh, she is a bit of a perfectionist. She likes to do things her way. I’ve seen the way she can turn a regular man into a monster with a variety of prosthetics. And her way with colors for this bird makeup is unbelievable.”
Yolanda bit her bottom lip. “Yes. But she’s also a very jealous woman.”
“Jealous?” Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. Why didn’t you say that to begin with?
“I think she might have seen me with Zwick.”
“And what of it?”
“She had a thing going with him, too.”
Sonya sat silent for a shocked moment. “Wow. This Zwick guy really gets around, doesn’t he?”
Yolanda nodded as she dabbed away the final tears that streaked her face.
“But Marion? I didn’t see that one coming.”
“Who do you think did it? Eddie, I mean.”
“I don’t know, but I want to find out.” Sonya sat back in her chair. “Do you think Zwick did it? Do you think he could be that mad at him for interfering in his relationship with you?”
It seemed a reasonable assumption. Zwick was everywhere, hiding in the shadows, coming out of nowhere.
He was sleazy and certainly had the profile of a man who did away with anyone who got in his way.
He’d known Detective Baker was an FBI agent and now she’s gone.
He’d openly threatened Eddie, and he was two-timing Marion with Yolanda.
And now they were both gone. Yes. He had every reason to kill both Marion and Eddie. Who was next?
“I’d like to help you,” Yolanda said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to help find Eddie’s killer.”
Sonya considered her offer for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I think you could help. How would you like to try to get a confession out of him?”
“Sure. I think I could do that. He trusts me. He seems to open up to me quite easily. And I’m meeting him tonight.”
“Perfect. But I want you to be careful.”
“I always am.”
“I’m serious, Yolanda. Something is going on here and we all need to be on our guard.”
“Yes, big sister.”
Sonya hesitated. How could she make the young woman understand the degree of danger that lurked out there? Yolanda hadn’t seen Eddie’s body. She hadn’t seen how he’d been drained of blood.
“What’s wrong?” Yolanda said as Sonya remained silent.
“There’s more to this story than you know.”
“Like what?”
“There’s a... there’s something running around out there that is hurting people.”
“What do you mean by something?”
“A creature. An inhuman creature.” She paused, afraid to put the words out in the open.
“What are you not telling me, Sonya?” Yolanda said with innocent curiosity.
“A bat.”
“Huh?”
“There’s a bat-like creature roaming the streets around the studio.”
Yolanda let out a bright and loud laugh. “Oh, Sonya! You’re a hoot. Really?”
“I’m serious, Yolanda. Something strange is going on. This bat. It’s dangerous and... I know it sounds unbelievable, but...”
“Oh, Sonya. Don’t tell me you believe in all that stuff. It’s just folklore. It’s just silly horror stories. Bats? Are you implying it’s a vampire?”
Sonya simply looked at her.
“Oh, Sonya. You don’t believe in that stuff, do you? An intelligent and sophisticated woman like yourself.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s more than just folklore. I’ve seen it, Yolanda. I’ve seen this bat, and I’ve seen what it’s capable of.”
Yolanda looked skeptically at her.
“Please. Even if you don’t believe me, be careful. From what I can see, Hollywood has become the hunting ground for one of these creatures. I would think the hunting is easy out here; so many hopefuls willing to do anything and everything to make it big... even sell their souls.”
“Yeah,” Yolanda said, her gaze suddenly distant. “They’ll do anything.” She remained quiet for a long moment, lost in her thoughts. “Tell you what I’ll do,” she finally said. “I’ll be the bait for this bat of yours.”
Sonya wanted to argue. It was far too dangerous. Yolanda didn’t take her seriously, adding to the danger.
“If this thing is real, let it come after me,” she insisted. “We could all use a good laugh these days. I’d like to meet this bat of yours.”
Sonya didn’t know what more to say to convince her.
Yolanda laughed, amused by her own take on the matter. “And with that, do you still want me to meet with Zwick? Or should I go out onto the streets to get this bat to bite?”
“Meet with Zwick, but not at his office,” Sonya said, thinking everything out as she spoke. “Tell him you want to meet him at the bar instead. After the day you’ve had you need a few drinks and a good time.”
“Sounds good. He’ll believe that.”
“Good. It’s really best if you meet him in a public place... just in case he doesn’t take the news well.”
“What news?”
“That you quit. That you’ll no longer be his plaything. And then, once he’s absorbed that, tell him you know all about Marion.”
“Got it.”
“And when you get to the bar, act a little drunk. Show everyone how upset you are about Eddie. When you’re done with Zwick, leave the bar and walk back to your bungalow.
I’ll be there, in the shadows, out of sight; every step of the way, I’ll be looking out for you. And when that bat pounces on you...”
Yolanda suddenly looked concerned. “This bat of yours, Sonya. If this thing really is real, and if it’s as deadly as you seem to believe.
..” She shook her head and looked at Sonya.
“You’re so tiny, and you almost seem, well, frail.
What can you possibly do to save me? I mean, do you think you’ll be able to kill this thing? ”
“I’ll certainly try,” Sonya said. “Don’t just judge me on my stature. I’m stronger than I appear.”
“And what if you can’t do it? What will happen to me if it gets me?”
“So, you’re starting to believe me now. You’re starting to think that this thing might be real after all.”
Yolanda let out a loud and overly confident laugh. “Hell, no. I just want to humor you. Don’t worry. I’ll go along with this little plan. We’re sisters after all. What could go wrong?”