Helena Goes to Hollywood: A Helena Morris Mystery (9 page)

“See, I’m taking the heat off. You look anorexic compared to me.” I patted Sonia’s knee.

The only drawback to the pictures was that everyone who saw them knew who I was and why I was here. Goodbye, element of surprise!

“It gets better. There are comments.” Emmy clicked on a link.

That name—Dr. Brian—caught my eye and sent a chill through me as I wondered who was behind it. The fan mail Sonia had kept from her smart admirer. Double creepy!

I pointed it out. “Click on that one.”

Emmy did and the comment popped up.
Nice to see family looking out for each other. Helena Morris for sister of the year!

Sonia smiled. “See, I told you Brian is sweet. He’s harmless and likes you.”

“I’ll comment back.” Emmy typed with her long nails:
We love her too!

“Thanks, I guess.” I read Brian’s comment again. It was pointless and harmless, so why did it give me the creeps?

I pulled out my cell as Emmy soaked my feet for the pedicure. I used my smartphone and searched on the address on the envelope of good fan mail Sonia got from Brian. I got the last name Conners. Brian Conners was a new search and I got a few quick hits. Sorting through them, I found one that fit. Doctor referred to a Ph.D. who worked at UCLA. A literature professor. The link had no pictures but lots of credentials.

I’d get my FBI ex to run Brian’s background just in case. I really didn’t like that he knew my face when I had no visual on him. Glancing at the very public website with me on it, the entire world had that advantage. Fame had some serious drawbacks.

W
hen we got back to the house I pulled out my sister’s cell phone and found a pad of paper in a kitchen drawer. The smell of dinner made my stomach growl. I sat at the table, finding it already set and Fluffy in her place with her own bowl and napkin tucked in her collar. She even had a wine glass just like Sonia’s. I bit my tongue because the weirdness would only keep topping itself.

I wrote down the names of everyone I wanted to run by my ex in the morning and scrolled through Sonia’s calls to determine what numbers were suspicious and listed those as well. Brian remained at the top of the freaky fan list.

“I’m starving!” Sonia sat down and took a long drink of wine while I stuck with the water.

A short middle-aged Latina woman hustled out of the pantry area and set a salad and vinaigrette-looking dressing on the table.

“Hel, this is Lupe. If you need anything just let her know.” Sonia dug into the salad.

“Hi Lupe,” I nodded, not quite sure how to handle the whole housekeeper thing. My full knowledge of that job came from TV shows.

“I saw you have some bags. Clothes?” Lupe asked.

“Yeah, some new clothes. And some I wore today. I’ll put them away later.” I waved it off.

“No, I’ll put them away and take the dirty stuff to the cleaners tomorrow.” Lupe headed back into the kitchen before I could argue.

In a few seconds Lupe was back with a platter of herb crusted chicken breasts and a bowl of risotto. “Eat up.”

“Lupe, really you don’t have to take anything to the cleaners. My clothes are all machine wash, so just point me at the machines and I can do my own laundry. I don’t want to be any trouble.” I stabbed a piece of chicken and put it on my plate and then dished out several spoonfuls of risotto.

My sister shot me a look and got her own piece of chicken. “Let Lupe do her job,” she said flatly.

Lupe ducked back into the kitchen and returned with butter and a basket of rolls that smelled homemade to me. “Okay, I’ll wash them here then. I’ll put the new clothes away while you’re eating, but call if you need something.”

“Thanks.” I buttered a roll and bit into it as Lupe disappeared upstairs.

“I stopped by to see Danny today.” I watched my sister for a reaction.

She rolled her eyes trying to cover up the fact that she teared up a little.

“I had to, Sonia. You know I did.” I flipped to a fresh page. “Has he ever threatened you?”

She shook her head. “It’s not Danny.”

“He said he tried to get back together with you. Is that true?” I pressed.

She nodded.

“You completely refused that idea?” I needed to confirm Danny’s story. There were two sides to everything in a divorce, sometimes more.

Sonia slammed her fork against the plate. “Of course. He cheated.”

I didn’t blame her for being mad. “I understand and that is a big strike against him. But six months ago you were saying how in love you still were after over ten years of marriage. That’s got to be like twenty in Hollywood years.”

She didn’t get the joke. “No, no forgiving. You wouldn’t, Mom couldn’t, so how could I?”

“Wait, Todd never cheated on me. You know I asked for the divorce because I needed to build my career and not follow him around all my life. And why would you think that about Mom?” I wasn’t
that
out of the family loop.

“Mom never said anything. I just always thought Dad must’ve cheated on her while she was pregnant with me and she kicked him out.” Sonia stabbed the salad on her plate. “You two never tell me anything so I just made up stories. Maybe that’s where I learned to be an actress. I’d pick a different scenario and play it out like it was real. Feel those emotions. Better than a phantom father.”

I knew she’d do this. “I’m trying to get rid of a damn stalker and you’re having daddy issues. Look Sonia, I’m sorry it bugs you but I was a kid too.”

“You were ten. You remember.”

“I remember what I saw and heard, yes. I was still a kid. Do you think they tell a kid everything? Come on. Mom’s protecting us both. Don’t open old wounds when she put it behind her years ago. She did the best she could.”

Mostly Sonia was in the dark but the tiny apartment we lived in had little soundproofing. I’d heard enough of it. Sonia didn’t need to know that. The less info she had, the better.

“She’s protecting us from some history and it’s dumb. I deserve to know the truth.” Sonia put down the fork and folded her arms.

“Know that Dad was a jerk that never paid a dime in child support and he never came to visit you. Never sent a card on your birthdays or a single Christmas present. That’s enough for me.” I needed her to focus on herself, not Dad.

“What if he was killed? What if he’s in jail?” she asked.

I shook my head. “He’s not dead or in jail.”

My ex kept tabs on Dad for me. If he got a speeding ticket I’d hear about it. I didn’t want the details of where he lived, if he was remarried, or if he’d had more kids. I just needed to make sure he didn’t go anywhere near Mom or Sonia—ever. Todd took care of it because he knew there was always a chance I’d lose my temper and go after Dad for some payback. Some things I was better off never knowing. The sperm donor wasn’t screwing up my life anymore.

As far as I knew Dad was somewhere in the Carolinas. Bottom of the ocean would make me happier. A classic abuser, he was a great guy to work with or pal around with. Not even a hint of a criminal record, but at home he was a terror. The proper and politically correct term would be rage-aholic. Everything was a disease now but that didn’t make it better.

“You know things and you won’t tell me!” She slapped the table.

“Don’t bruise your skin, TV star.” I mocked her in hopes of changing the subject. A fight I could take but I wasn’t giving up Dad info.

“Shut up. You know,” she accused.

“He’s not dead because Todd would have notified me. The government channels are good. I’ve still got connections. He’s not worth our time and Dad clearly
never
thought we were worth his.” Tough love sucked but I had to do it since we were getting nowhere on the real issue.

She stormed away from the table. “You sound like my shrink.”

“Try listening to one of us.”

I finished my chicken and risotto. Her tantrums were classic, started at two years old and never really stopped. Drama and attention were her drugs of choice and the daddy issue fueled her drama.

The second Sonia was gone Fluffy jumped up on the table and lapped up the wine out of all the glasses. The dog was an alcoholic! How did one doggie proof a liquor cabinet?

I wished I had more to go on. Tomorrow I’d call the cops and see if they’d gotten anything on the garage. Then I’d call my ex and have him do some info gathering for me.

I took my empty plate and my sister’s half full one into the kitchen and set them in the sink. Sonia stomped through the kitchen and locked herself in the home gym. Exercise would help her work off the frustration but it wouldn’t solve the case. I headed upstairs to get in bed with my laptop and see what else the web could tell me about Sonia’s friends, frenemies and other persons of interest.

At least my sister was getting out of victim mode a bit and starting to get angry. It was the only way to survive.

T
he next morning I woke early, and once Lupe was in the house I went for a run. The neighborhood was beyond nice. Lots of big mansions and gated yards. A stalker’s paradise with so many trees and shrubs around to give cover. Some homes had gates and dogs in the yard.

The rich and famous wanted privacy, but I wanted witnesses!

I paid attention to who had dogs. Who had alarm systems on their homes. There were a few security companies whose signs were displayed in the yard. I made a mental note to get one out to Sonia’s mansion today.

Returning to the house, I slipped in and up the stairs without anyone noticing. Entering my room, I realized Lupe had been there. My bed was made with fresh towels set out on the end, and a newspaper as well. I wanted to keep Lupe!

Half an hour later I was presentable. Taking my notepad and purse, I wandered downstairs to the kitchen and found Lupe feeding Fluffy.

“Good morning.” I grabbed a banana from a bowl of fruit conveniently placed on the island and dropped into a chair.

“Good morning. If you’d like some breakfast I can fix you something. Just go into the dining room.” She pointed in case I’d forgotten.

I smiled. “Relax Lupe, I’m not high maintenance. I put my dirty clothes in the hamper. I’ll play nice. But it’s breakfast, not the queen coming to dinner. Okay?”

She nodded. “Would you like anything else?”

“No thanks, but I have one question. Did you see anyone here the day the note was put in the garage?”

“No, no one came to the door. No one was in the back that I saw, but I go grocery shopping that day so it might’ve been while I was out. I also walk Fluffy morning, noon, and evening. If that dog didn’t drink so much it’d be less.”

So it was someone who knew the routine or watched the house long enough to figure it out. “Are you in all day today?” I asked.

“Today, yes,” she shrugged.

“I’m going to have a security company come out, hopefully today, and look the place over for an estimate. We’re going to have a system installed so make sure they see every door and window is secure. Got it?”

“Yes, of course.” She nodded. “Okay, I’m going to walk Fluffy now. Good?”

“Great.”

I’d wait until the day was started and we were on set before I bugged my ex. Then I heard Sonia coming down the stairs.

“Morning,” I said.

“Did I hear something about a security system?” she asked.

“Yeah, a lot of your neighbors have them and you should too. I’ll call around and get a guy out here today.”

“Were you planning on asking me about that?” She tapped her bare foot with the bright pink polish on the toes. “This is my house and you don’t make the rules.”

The
I’m a star and you’re not
attitude didn’t impress me. “It’s for your own safety. Especially with Danny not living here anymore—it’s just estimates.”

“I have a dog.” Sonia’s defenses were still up.

I could tell today would be one of those horrible sisters-not-wanting-to-be-around-each-other days.

“That little toilet brush couldn’t hurt a squirrel. With all this expensive furniture, clothes, jewelry, and stuff...you need a system. It’s for your own good.” I stopped when I heard Mom’s voice coming out of me.

“So you’re buying this for me?” Now she wanted to play the money card. She had it, I didn’t—at least not Brentwood money.

“A normal house I’d treat, but in this mansion— it’s all yours. Just don’t buy a new purse or pair of shoes this month and you’ll have it covered.” I looked at my watch. “What time to do you have to be there?”

“Let’s go now. L.A. traffic can be unpredictable or just hell.” She gave me the evil glare of her inner brat.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got stuff to do. I won’t bug you today.”

Twenty minutes later we were on set. Sonia went in one direction, I went in another but somehow the director tracked me down.

“I need your help.” He found me at the pastry table.

“What for?” I asked.

“Our tech consultant informed me he is going to be on that movie for weeks and you seem to be available.”

“I’m protecting my sister because of the stalker issue. Don’t tell me she didn’t inform you.” Seriously, the girl was clueless sometimes.

“No, we know about it. Security is increased but we’re trying to act as normal as possible. That’s what she wants. Since you’re around here a lot anyway, how do you feel about being our part time tech? Showing them how to hold their guns and rehearse the fight scenes.”

“I’m not FBI. I was just married to one for ten years.” So maybe I had more insight than some.

“I ran your credentials and saw you on the gossip sites. You’re exactly what we need. We have FBI procedure down for the writers but the martial arts are essential too. The pay is good and I can refer you to other shows or movies if you want more work—once you’ve caught the stalker.” He gave me a sheepish grin.

If he was flirting he wasn’t very good. It felt like he wanted to keep me around Hollywood. “The plan is to go back to Vegas as soon as I’m done here. But thanks, I’ll take the part time gig as long as I can stick near Sonia.”

“Good! I’ll get an assistant to take you to get the paperwork done and give you a tour. First we need your help on this gun thing.” He put his arm around my shoulders and led me to the set.