Hollywood Taken Read online

  “Why? What are you planning?”

  “You’ll see,” Natalie said, pushing the others out the door and smiling. She called back to me, “Just don’t be late.”

  After they all left, I went back into the sun room and asked Otto if he knew what was going on.

  “I’m not exactly sure, but I do believe there’s a measure of public nudity involved.”

  “Don’t tell me they’re going to march down Hollywood Boulevard in their birthday suits?”

  He took a breath and his shoulders went up. “Frankly, nothing would surprise me.”

  As he cleared the breakfast dishes, I said, “How did things go with you and Felix the other day?”

  He looked at me. “I’m not sure, but he asked me to come to one of his remodels to give him some input on a kitchen. I’m taking things slowly, if you get my drift.”

  “I think that’s wise.”

  He started to walk away, but hesitated. “There’s also the matter of Clara, or I should say Clark. We’ve been in communication and he may be visiting this area in the near future.”

  “Do you think you might get together?”

  He smiled. “Hope springs eternal.”

  Bernie and I went for a long walk in the neighborhood after breakfast. I then did some laundry, before heading for Hollywood Boulevard just before noon. I was surprised to see there was a large crowd, press vans, and several reporters on the sidewalk.

  I spotted Cynthia McFadden and went over to her. After we exchanged hugs, I said, “Do you know what’s going on here?”

  Cynthia, who was pretty, with long dark hair and features that reminded me of Jaqueline Kennedy, smiled. “I haven’t got a clue. All I know is that my editor said there’s going to be some kind of demonstration at noon to raise money for charity.”

  I decided not to tell her that my friends were involved. “I guess we’ll know soon enough.” I then mentioned my meeting with Harlee Ryland. “I want to thank you for talking to John Greer.

  “How did things go with your interview.”

  I took a couple minutes, filling her in, and asking that she keep what I said confidential. I then added, “If my brother, Daniel, has been taken by the Swarm, I’m worried he might not survive.”

  “I’m so sorry, but, maybe he’ll find a way...”

  “There’s something happening above us,” a woman said, interrupting Cynthia and pointing to the sky.

  Cynthia and I looked up, realizing there were several parachutes above us. Then we saw the bodies floating down toward the street. The horror of what was happening hit me at the same time someone shouted. “They’re all naked!”

  Cynthia looked at me, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe this.”

  I watched in a state of shock, as Natalie and Mo, followed by Nana, Fred, and Mattie all came floating down to the street wearing only what God had given them. There are some things in this world that are never meant to see the light of day and I was looking at them. The images, especially those of Nana, Fred, and Mattie, would forever be burned into my consciousness.

  “Aren’t they your friends?” Cynthia said, turning back to me as they landed.

  I shook my head. “I’ve never seen them before.”

  I walked away as the crowd gathered around the naked skydivers and the press also closed in. I looked down at Bernie. “I think I need a drink.”

  We were on the sidewalk near the Pig ‘n Whistle, a famous Hollywood restaurant and bar, when I saw there was a homeless man, huddled in some blankets nearby. I started to move past him when he called out.

  “It’s me.”

  I stopped and regarded him for a long moment. The man was wrapped from head to toe in blankets, but he seemed vaguely familiar. He then reached down and picked something up. I instinctively took a step back, my hand raking against the gun in my purse, at the same time Bernie went on alert. I then realized he was holding a video tape, just like the others Daniel had left me. I was so shocked that for an instant it felt like my heart had stopped beating.

  He spoke again. “I think we need to watch an old movie together.”

  All at once, my mind began to clear. The man I was looking at was in his late sixties. He had silver hair and a deep familiar voice.

  I took a step closer to him, thinking he was like a ghost that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I moved my lips, uttering a name, at the same time praying that my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.

  “Pearl?”

  THE END

  NEW MYSTERY SERIES - BROOKLYN BLUE: A Madison Knox Mystery – this new mystery series is now available on Amazon. You can grab a copy of Brooklyn Blue, the first book in the series, here!

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  MORE BY THIS AUTHOR:

  The Hollywood Alphabet Series, with Detective Kate Sexton and her canine partner, Bernie:

  •Hollywood Assassin

  •Hollywood Blood

  •Hollywood Crazy

  •Hollywood Dirty

  •Hollywood Enemy

  •Hollywood Forbidden

  •Hollywood Games

  •Hollywood Homicide

  •Hollywood Intrigue

  •Hollywood Jury

  •Hollywood Killer

  •Hollywood Lust

  •Hollywood Murder

  •Hollywood Notorious

  •Hollywood Outlaw

  •Hollywood Prisoner

  •Hollywood Quest

  •Hollywood Rage

  •Hollywood Scream

  COMING SOON: Hollywood Unbroken

  Copyright © 2017 by MZ Kelly

  Published by Kingston Roads Press, L.L.C.

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