Hollywood Blood: A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller by M.Z. Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

the living room as the SID technicians arrived and set up. I waved at Bob Woodley and saw that he was again with his youthful assistant who wore her standard black outfit.
    “Maybe one of us should notify Karma before the press gets on this,” Pearl suggested. “We’re going to need her alibi and statement, anyway.”
    “If Skully allows it,” I said.
    As if on cue, the police captain came rushing through the door. He didn’t acknowledge any of us, but headed straight upstairs to the crime scene. Ten minutes later, he joined us in the living room.
    “So, this looks like it’s somehow tied to the Nordquist killing,” Skully said.
    “You oughta be a detective or a psychic, in stead of an idiot.” Okay, I just thought it, didn’t say it.
    “Anyone have any ideas about the messages the killer is leaving?” Skully asked, looking from Pearl to Charlie, and then finally, probably reluctantly, to me.
    “It could be lyrics,” I suggested, remembering what I’d contemplated as I drove to the crime scene.
    “What?”
    “Lines from a song. Maybe something Love Dawg or Karma wrote.”
    “Could we be more professional about this, Detective?” Skully asked. “Call the victim by his given name, Trevon Jackson.”
    “Sure and I’ll call you, Elmer.” I’d said the word sure, but bit my tongue before going on.
    “Anybody ask Karma about this lyric angle yesterday, based on what was written on the other card?” Skully asked.
    “Nordquist was seen as the intended victim, yesterday,” I said. “We had a different focus.” Thanks to you, asshole.
    “Then you fuck ed up,” he said. His steely eyes then swung over to Charlie and Pearl. “You all fucked up. You should have contacted Jackson yesterday and interviewed him. If we’d done some basic police work, maybe none of this would have happened.”
    “Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” I said. “Yesterday it took a lot of convincing for you to let the uniforms come by the estate and try to talk to him.”
    A skinny, yellow-nailed finger came up and wagged at me. “Watch what you’re saying. We already have a leak to the press. I don’t think you want to add insubordination to your indiscretions.”
    I felt my blood pressure rising; no, boiling. “Are you saying that I had something to do with talking to the press?”
    Skully pursed his thin lips together, opened them. “Time will tell, won’t it?” He turned to Charlie and Pearl. “You two can do the notifications and talk to the girlfriend.” His gray eyes swiveled back in my direction. He gave me a yellow smile. “You have exactly two hours before Detective Sexton makes a statement to the press.”
    “What are you talking about?” I asked.
    Skully motioned to the window. I saw there were several cars on the street now, including some press vans. “The commander of media relations is on vacation. I’ve been authorized to talk to the press, but I’m delegating that duty to you since somebody’s already tipped the press off…somebody who likes to talk…somebody who can’t keep secrets. Since you like to talk, I’m going to let you make a statement to the press, but…”
    “I won’t…”
    “You will,” he said, cutting me off. “And that’s a direct order. However, you will not give any details about this case, that includes telling the press about tarot cards, song lyrics, writing in blood, masked assailants, and the fact that someone cut off the vic’s dick.”
    At that point, I stomped into the kitchen, opened a drawer, got out a carving knife, and chased Skully around the room until he screamed and ended up with the anatomy of a girl.
    Okay, so my fantasy life was starting to get the best of me. It was either that or me saying something that would get me suspended like, “You’re out of your mind, motherfucker.”
    While I waited for Charlie and Pearl to make their notifications, I tried to stay away from Skully. I spent the time with Bob Woodley and his assistant.
    While on my