I doubled back to the studios and parked in an empty space at the curb across the street from the main entrance. Twenty minutes later Felix's old junker of a car pulled up behind me, and a second after that, a big black SUV stopped behind him. I raised an eyebrow. He'd brought friends?
I got out of my car and greeted Felix on the sidewalk. My head still ached, and my calf throbbed as I put pressure on it.
Felix took one look at me and pulled me into a bear hug. I didn't resist. In fact, I had to fight the urge to cry into his big, warm shoulder that was probably the most comforting thing I'd ever experienced. Or at least it felt like it in that moment.
Finally he pulled back, giving me a visual once-over. "Let me see that leg." He knelt down. "It doesn't need stitches, but it's still pretty deep. You're filthy," he said with confusion as he stood back up.
I looked down at myself and cringed. I was covered with potting soil and dirt from the broken flowerpots, plus some greasy stains from the ground outside the studio that I didn't want to try to identify. "It's a long story," I said.
"I've got a first-aid kit in the SUV. I'll grab it," a second voice said.
I looked behind Felix and spotted Calvin Dean. Cal was a private bodyguard that Felix sometimes employed when things got a little hairy at the tabloid. Most celebs had a love-hate relationship with our paper, but once in a while one of them would get threatening, and it was nice peace of mind to know Cal was around. There was a rumor he was seeing Tina, but I didn't hold that against him.
"I'm fine. Really," I protested in vain as Cal jogged back to the SUV.
When Felix and I were alone again, he gave me a hard stare. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"Do I have a choice?" I asked, suddenly feeling very foolish.
"Nope," Felix said.
I sighed as Cal came back with the first-aid kit. Reluctantly, I told them all about my brilliant (insert sarcasm) plan to break into Bobby's trailer and how the bad guy with the tattoo had thwarted that plan.
When I was finished, Cal had neatly bandaged up my leg, and Felix was running his hands through his hair in a frustrated gesture until it stood on end.
"What were you thinking?" he asked. "You could have been killed."
"I was thinking there's a reason Bobby was killed, and I want to find out what it is. You know, so you have something to print."
"Don't you dare put this on me, Quick," Felix said, pointing a finger my way.
He was right. That was kind of childish. But I didn't like the accusation in his tone. Maybe it hadn't been my best plan ever, but it wasn't my fault some goon had had the same idea.
"What do you think Bobby had in his trailer?" Cal asked, his demeanor much more calm, almost Zen-like. Then again, I guessed he was used to situations like this.
I shrugged. "His wife said he kept a laptop there. I was hoping to get a look at his notes."
Felix and Cal exchanged a look. Then Cal asked, "Did the guy who attacked you take it?"
"I…" I paused, thinking back. It had been dark. I'd barely been able to make out the shape of the man. "I don't know. It was dark. I did see a tattoo on his wrist that went up the back of his forearm. It was a snake wrapped around a dead tree."
Cal looked across the street at the studio gates. "You said you thought a security guard was already on the scene?"
I nodded. "He spooked the guy with the tattoo off of me."
Felix's jaw seemed to clench a little tighter.
"Well, I guess we could go find out if the laptop is still there," Cal suggested.
I let out a bark of laughter. "Yeah, like the guard is just going to let us saunter in and check."
Cal grinned. "Who's on duty at the shack tonight?" he asked, gesturing to the guardhouse.
"A guy named Alfredo," I answered.
He nodded, smiled, and then stepped off the curb and jogged across the street.
I sent a questioning look to Felix. He shrugged.
We quickly crossed the street to follow Cal and caught up to him just in time to hear the tail end of a conversation with Alfredo.
"…good to see you again too, man," the guard said.
"Hey, say hi to Mona for me, okay?" Cal told him as the security gates opened for us.
"Will do. You gotta come over soon. We'll barbeque."
"Consider it done," Cal said. Then he turned to us and winked before leading the way through the gates.
Felix and I quickly followed.
"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Baxter." Alfredo waved as we scuttled through.
"Mrs. Baxter?" Felix whispered to me.
"It's a long story," I mumbled. Then as a clever (or not-so-clever) conversation changer, I turned to Cal. "You know the guard?"
He nodded. "The security community is small," he said nonchalantly as we all hopped into a golf cart. "Alfredo and I did security together on the last Brad Pitt movie."
"You know Brad Pitt?" I had to admit, I was impressed.
"We're like that." Cal held up two intertwined fingers.
"Where's the Bobby Tells All soundstage?" Felix asked. He looked less impressed with Cal's celeb friends than I was.
"To the left," I directed. "28B."
Felix made a left then slowed to a halt a few paces down from Bobby's studio. Three other golf carts were already parked in front of 28B, security guards standing near them. They'd discovered the break-in alright.
"Wait here," Cal told us. "I'll see what I can find out."
That was fine by me. I had no interest in being anywhere near Bobby's trailer again. Just being on the lot again was spooking me more than I liked to admit.
From where we sat, I could just make out Bobby's trailer through the now open warehouse doors. The lights were on inside, and I could see silhouettes of security through the windows. A potted palm lay on its side, the pot shattered and dirt scattered along the ground. I shuddered and tried not to think of my aching calf.
We watched Cal approach one of the security guards standing on the steps of the trailer. They did a complicated handshake that clearly said Cal knew this guy too.
"Glad I brought him along," Felix said beside me.
I nodded. "Thanks for coming."
"Where else would I be?"
I turned to look at him. "I don't know. But you've been awfully busy lately," I said, the word coming out more accusatory than I'd hoped.
Felix raised an eyebrow at me. "I do believe you were the one who was busy tonight." He waved his hand toward the trailer.
Touché.
I was saved from responding by Cal jogging back toward us.
"Well?" I asked. "Did they find the guy?"
He shook his head. "Unfortunately, no one got a look at the perp." He paused. "Except you, that is."
Gee, lucky me. "And the laptop?" I asked.
"Gone."
I felt my heart sink.
"Sorry," Cal said. "Jameson, that's the head of night security there," he continued, pointing out the man he'd been chatting with on the steps. "He said the back room looked like it had been ransacked. Papers tossed, cupboards ripped open, the whole deal."
"Was anything else taken?" Felix jumped in.
Cal shrugged. "Too early to tell. Jameson said he'd have to get an inventory of what Bobby usually kept in there. But he said the place was cleaned out of any electronic equipment."
"So all of Bobby's notes are gone," I said, feeling the weight of the night suddenly settle on me. I fought hard not to tear up as my head started to pound again.
"Sorry, kid," Cal said, sending a sympathetic look my way.
"Come on. Let's get you home," Felix said, eyeing the bandage on my leg.
I looked down and noticed blood starting to stain the bandage. While I hated leaving empty-handed, there wasn't anything more to find out here anyway. And my head was killing me. I nodded docilely and got back into the golf cart.
We left the studio, and Felix helped me into my car. "Are you sure you'll be all right? Do you want me to drive you home?" he asked through the driver side window.
I bit my lip. I desperately wanted to say yes. After nearly being killed, the comfort of being in Felix's arms sounded like heaven. But while I wasn't sure I was totally alright, pride was stronger. The last thing I wanted was a pity overnight.
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced. "Let me at least follow you home. Make sure you get in alright."
"It's late. It's been a long day, and I'm a big girl. I can manage to get home," I told him. I halfway wished I'd shut up and just accept his offer.
He sighed. "If you're sure?"
No. "Yes."
"Okay, I guess I'll see you at the office in the morning."
"Yep!" I said with way more fake perk than the situation called for.
A soon as he stepped back, I hit the gas before I could change my mind. I looked in the rearview mirror. Felix was watching me. I turned the corner and pressed down on the accelerator.
When I got home, I tossed my trashed shoes into the corner, fed Mr. Fluffykins, and trudged to the shower, dropping my filthy clothing in the hallway along the way. The hot water rolled over me. I watched the dirt and grime slide off my body and swirl down the drain. I wished my uncertainty about Felix would wash down the drain along with the stench of the day. If the only way Felix wanted to come up to my place was for a pity party, it was clear he and I were going nowhere and fast.