KASSIE #2
I suffered through all the tests, not surprised when the doctor informed me I was fine aside from the stiffness and bruising.
I understood the insurance company wanting affirmation.
I was an expensive commodity, and they needed to protect their investment.
I was glad to be done, and I headed to the lobby, waiting for the car to return and take me back to Richton.
I was restless and edgy, and I headed outside.
I sat on the bench carefully, waiting for my ride.
A few moments later, I got the same prickle at the back of my neck.
I glanced up and froze at the sight of the man sitting across the road from me.
He had his ankle crossed over his knee, a camera balancing on it.
He smirked at me, lifting the lens to his eye and clicking the shutter repeatedly.
I had to lock myself down and force the rage that flowed through me not to burst out.
I wanted to rush across the street and punch him.
Smash the camera he was aiming so gleefully at me.
Instead, I turned my head, counting slowly to try to remain calm.
He shouldn’t be here. He was breaking the restraining order I had against him.
I needed to call my lawyer and Annie. Most importantly, though, I needed to remain calm.
He stood and sauntered over. I carefully turned on my phone mic and hit record.
“How’s the ass, Hart?” he asked as a greeting.
“Better than yours will be when the cops kick it to jail for breaking the restraining order, Flynn,” I replied, my fist tightening in my pocket.
How did he know about my injury?
He chuckled. “It’s for the continental US,” he said with a smarmy grin. “Doesn’t include this country.”
That news made me even angrier. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “I heard there was a good story involving my old friend Oliver Hart. Had to come and check it out.”
I shrugged. “No story here, Flynn. Shooting an indie film. Closed set. Nothing to see. So be a good little pap and fuck off.”
I saw the car rounding the corner, and I stood, refusing to let him see that it hurt when I did so.
He was a short little man. Wide. Ugly as hell.
Dishonest and a schemer. He twisted words, faked photos, created false quotes, anything to get his name in print.
He and I had clashed so often, my file against him at the law office had a drawer of its own.
I didn’t want him anywhere near the set, the town, and especially Kassie. Just the thought of that made me ill.
“Why don’t you make me?” he murmured, shoving a piece of gum into his mouth. “Take a swing the way you enjoy.”
I laughed bitterly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
I’m past that, Flynn. You and your sordid little pictures don’t scare me anymore.
I have nothing to hide. You’ll get bored soon enough.
” I towered over him, my words clear. “Leave me alone. Leave the set alone. Whatever crumb you think you found is nothing.”
He chuckled, the sound infuriating and grating. “My source is pretty solid,” he mused.
I was going to lose it. I could feel it.
I brushed past him, accidentally pushing him away. “Oops, sorry. I slipped.”
He held out his arms. “An accident. Those happen, don’t they, Mr. Big Shot? In life, on set…” He trailed off. “Things happen. People get hurt.”
And he turned away, whistling. “See you around, film star.”
I climbed into the car, pulling out my phone. “Get me back to Richton. Fast.”
Hours later, I sat across from Davis, with Annie and my lawyer on Zoom between us.
“How did he find me?” I demanded. “And who is this source?” I looked at Davis. “Who all knew about the fall?”
“Everyone on set,” he replied. “The owners of the ranch, extras. Someone might have talked in town, but how Flynn got involved or why, I have no idea.” Davis shook his head. “I hate that piece of trash.”
I looked at Annie. “I need him gone. He’ll fuck everything up here. You know he will.”
She looked toward Malcolm, my lawyer. “Can you get the restraining order expanded?”
He shook his head. “Not easily. It would take days—weeks, even. It would have to be handled there, and he hasn’t done anything.”
None of us said it, but we all thought it.
Yet.
I stood and paced. “Why? Why is he doing this? What has he got to gain? What kind of story is me falling off a horse during a shoot? It’s nothing! Are the rags that desperate?”
Annie was vaping so much, swirls of the mist encircled her head like a halo. But her expression was anything but angelic. “It could be a coincidence. He could be there for something else. Saw you and decided to push your buttons. Spew a bunch of shit and see where it got him.”
“He knew about my injury.”
Davis half chuckled. “Anyone looking at you knows about your injury, Oliver. You walk like you have a pole stuck up your ass.”
Even I smiled at that one. I had been teased all day about it. Except Sheri—she had barely glanced my way, which was fine in my books.
“Let’s not decide on the worst quite yet, but let’s be proactive,” Davis offered.
“I’ll make some calls and see if I can find anything,” Annie announced. “If it’s about you, you know he’ll twist it. You were drunk and fell. Something.”
Davis shook his head. “Easily disputed. But Oliver’s right. I don’t like this.”
I sat down, dropping my head and pulling on my neck. “I felt as if I were being watched the other day. Here. Outside the drugstore. I told myself it was my imagination.” I shot up out of my seat, ignoring the blast of pain. “I felt it again at Kassie’s. Fuck.”
“Calm down,” Annie warned. “We don’t know anything.”
“But we can be prepared. Get ahead of it. Maybe I’ll do a quick interview, talking about the film.
One of the networks has been pestering me.
Share a funny anecdote about you falling off the horse.
Talk about what a great cast it is. Water down whatever angles he’s going to use,” Davis offered.
“I can call in a favor and get it aired tomorrow.”
Annie nodded. “Good idea. Go on the offensive before he has a chance.”
We all agreed and ended the Zoom. I looked at Davis. “Sorry about this.”
He waved me off. “Not on you. I want to know who alerted him here if that is the case.”
I scrubbed my face. “I want to know why.”
“In the meantime, watch your back. Let me get you a driver—”
I cut him off. “I’m fine. He’s a little weasel. He won’t attack me. He’ll try to pick at me until I go after him, but I know better. What is he going to take pictures of? Me grocery shopping? Working?”
“You and Kassie together,” he interjected. “I doubt she’s prepared for something like that.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’ll talk to her tonight. Ask her to stay away from the set. I’ll use the tub at the Y. We know he’s here now, so we can be careful. Warn her what to do if he approaches her.”
“Good plan.”
“I’ll get security for her if needed.”
Davis studied me. “You’re very protective of her.”
“She needs protection. At least in this case. I’m used to the lowlifes that pass themselves off as press. Kassie didn’t sign up for shit like this. I brought this to her door, so I have to fix it.”
“Let’s hope it’s all a coincidence.”
I ran a hand through my hair.
Somehow, I already knew it wasn’t.
Kassie listened as I told her what had happened.
“Why does he hate you so much?” she asked.
“Because I fought against him and won. He is the lowest of lows. He picks and pulls at a person, finding a thread to make them unravel. He was a friend of Ed’s.
Always blamed me for his downfall. Started his revenge not long after I signed with Annie.
He followed me incessantly, to the point I almost had a breakdown.
He invaded my private space. He’d alert all the paps to where I was, and I’d be mobbed by them or overzealous fans.
He’d chase me into parking garages and alleys, cornering me with his camera while his fellow paps were behind him, snapping away as well.
My name was splashed all over the rags for a while.
Then Annie had enough, and we launched a suit and actually won since she had him followed and could prove it.
I got a restraining order against him and his whole rag.
Then I made myself boring as hell, and the rest of them got tired. ”
She grasped my hands. “Olly, I’m so sorry.”
“I need you to step away for a bit.”
She blanched. “What does that mean?”
“Don’t come to the set. When I get home, I’ll head right upstairs. I won’t come here. If I see you, I’ll wave but nothing else.”
“So I can’t see you? I’m just your landlady?”
I shook my head. “You’ve never been that, and you never will be. But I can’t let him get to you, if he is here for me. He will rip your life apart. Everything will come out.” I met her eyes. “Everything. Our past. Your past. I can’t risk that for you.”
I felt her pull away emotionally. “So, strangers. I can’t look after your back or sleep beside you. Feed you.” Her lip quivered. “It’s over faster than I thought.”
“No!” I snapped. “It’s not over. We have to be careful.
We’ll figure it out.” I lifted our hands to my forehead, pressing it against our clasped knuckles.
“I can’t let him destroy you. And if he figures out what you mean to me, he will.
I couldn’t bear that. Tearing your life apart for the second time. ”
She was quiet for a moment. “Okay. I get it. I hate it, but I get it.” She glanced at the windows. “That’s why you asked me to close the blinds before you got here.”
“Yes.”
“And if nothing comes of it?”
“I’ll be relieved. Grateful.”
“And if something does?”
I huffed out a long exhale of air. “Then I will fight as dirty as he does.”
She squeezed my hands. “I’ll be right beside you.”
I pulled her into my arms, my heart aching a little at the thought of not being able to do so every day. Having to act as though she was just another nice person in Richton. Nothing else.
I wasn’t sure I was that good an actor.