The detective nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I figured, but I had to ask.  Do you recognize the shoes, Ms. Parker?”

“I had a pair just like them, but they disappeared from my condo two days ago.  I thought the stalker took them.”

“Did you report the stalker and/or the theft to the police in Los Angeles?”

Jess closed her eyes.  How was she going to get this Overland Park, Kansas cop to understand her reasoning?  “No.  At first, he was just leaving notes for me at the places where I had personal appearances or interviews.  So, there was nothing to report really.  It’s not unusual for fans to do things like that.  Some of the notes were almost sweet, but some were pretty vicious.  Then two days ago, I returned from doing an interview and found a note on my bed.  That’s why I came home.  It should have been safe here.  But completely by accident, there were paparazzi at the airport and they got photos of me and Joey getting on the plane. Then the paparazzi showed up here, I suppose that’s how the stalker found out where I was.”

“But that still doesn’t tell me why you didn’t report anything to the police in Los Angeles, especially after the break-in.”

“Detective Hunter, I’m not a well-known or established actress.  These roles in Harts in Time are the opportunity of a lifetime for a young actress like me.  It can make my career.  It’s not uncommon for even a big star to be replaced in a movie at this stage.  We don’t start principal filming until late next month.  I didn’t want the producers to think I’m too much trouble.  I guess that ship’s sailed after the incident today though.  In fact I’m surprised my agent isn’t already blowing up my phone.”

As if talking about Jeremy Comstead had conjured him, Jess’s cell phone rang.  She looked at Detective Hunter.  “I really should answer this.  You know and just get it over with.”  She knew she was going to be fired, and it was like taking bad tasting medicine.  You should do it fast and all at once, then chase it with something good like pudding or ice cream.  But don’t ever crush it up and put it in pudding, because all you’ve done then is ruin perfectly good pudding.

Chapter 21

that makes no sense at all

She stood and walked away from the table where Detective Hunter and Ben still sat.  “Jer?”

“Jess, holy crap.  Why didn’t you tell me you had your very own stalker?  My God, that puts you in the same class as Orlando, Alec, and Uma.  And why didn’t you ever tell me you could kick someone’s ass? That puts you with Angelina, Scarlett, and Jennifer.”

“I didn’t want the producers to fire me because of the stalker.  I guess kicking ass just never came up.  So, am I fired?”

“Fired?  No.  Not just no. Hell No! My God, you’re the hottest thing in L.A. right now.  Offers and scripts have been rolling in all day.  The producers are talking about sweetening the Harts deal to keep you exclusive until all three of the movies are in the can.  They’re even talking about filming all three of them at once, the way Lord of the Rings was done, so you can be free to pursue all of the other offers that are rolling in.  We seriously need to talk, when are you going to be back in L.A.?”

Offers and scripts were rolling in because of the scene in the parking garage? Huh, life was strange, and Hollywood life was even stranger. 

“There are some things here I need to do.  By the way, the stalker’s name is Clyde Benson and he was killed today.”  She glanced at Detective Hunter.  “I’ll come back Sunday night if the police will let me leave.  I’ll call you tomorrow with more details.”  She ended the call and walked back to the table.

She looked from Ben to the Detective. “Is there anything else, Detective or am I free to leave?”

“I need a formal statement.  I’ll get you a pad and pen.  Then just write it down and sign it.”  Adam left the room and Jess looked at Ben.

“Is this all normal?”

“Yeah, pretty much.  This is the way it goes.  What did your agent say?”

She laughed.  “It seems I’m the hottest thing in Hollywood right now.  He said scripts and offers are rolling in and the producers are talking about filming the whole three movie series at the same time.  That will probably mean more time in Europe than I’d originally planned, but I won’t know what’s going on until I get back there.”

Ben shook his head thinking, California is a totally different world. 

“So, that’s a good thing, right?  And the other good news is that we don’t need to stay at Uncle Sal’s.  I’m going to call your mother and let her know we can all go home.”

He stepped away from the table and pulled out his phone. He had left Lane with Jamie, knowing they were going to Jake’s house to wait for Jess and himself.

“Red?  We’re almost finished here.”  He realized they hadn’t talked about whether they’d live at his house or hers after the wedding.  His house was larger.  It made sense to him that they’d move in with him.  At least until the new house he was having built was finished.  He’d gotten plans drawn up before he’d proposed; and as soon as she’d said yes, he’d had the builder break ground.  He hadn’t told her about it; but to his way of thinking, they needed a lot more bedrooms than he had now.  That was especially true with the baby on the way.

“Let’s stay at my house for now.  Are you okay with that?”

Lane laughed.  “Ben, the boys and I were just talking about where we’d live.  Your house has twice the square footage.  It seems like a no brainer.  Jamie and I will meet you there.  I love you, we’ll see you soon.”

As promised, Detective Hunter returned with the legal pad and pen.  He smiled as he handed them to Jess. “If you could leave out the editorializing about me being stupid, I’d appreciate it.”

Jess smiled back.  “I never thought it was your fault.  I figure you were just being misled by Lila,” she said as she began writing her statement.

Ben called Pauli to find out how Joey was and to let him know that his family would be staying there.  He smiled.  His family. The Parkers were his family.  He wondered if that made him an honorary Parker, or if they were all Bellinis now.  Not that it mattered.  Either way, they were his.

“Pauli, you at the house or the hospital?”

“I’m just leaving the hospital.  Joey’s with me.  He was doing fine and they were going to release him tomorrow anyway.  He didn’t want to spend the night there.”

“Lane and Jamie are on their way to the house.  Jess and I will be there shortly.”

Ben was glad his house had five bedrooms.  They were going to need every one of them tonight.  He had spent a portion of the early evening arranging to have cars retrieved and delivered.  Joey and Jess had been driving Lane’s Escalade, which had been left at the mall, as had Pauli’s BMW.  He’d had Lane’s SUV towed to his house and Pauli’s BMW was delivered to the hospital.  The Escalade had Lane’s suitcase in it.  Crap, it also had Joey’s duffle and the packages from the stalker.  Joey hadn’t opened them.  Ben knew he was going to have to hand them over to Detective Hunter, but there was nothing to say that he couldn’t look them over first.

Jess finished writing her statement and handed the pad back to the Detective.

Adam took it and said, “We’ll have it printed up and ready for you to sign in the morning.”

Jess knew Ben was going to be in court tomorrow, she couldn’t imagine she needed a lawyer with her just to sign the statement.

Adam walked them to the lobby.  They left the building and got into Ben’s Lincoln Navigator.

“I can have Daniella go with you tomorrow.  Uncle Sal and I will be in court.  You shouldn’t need a lawyer, but I’d feel better if she is with you.  She doesn’t practice criminal law, but she’ll still keep them from doing anything stupid.”