Helena Goes to Hollywood: A Helena Morris Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

small jar of eye cream and tossed it from hand to hand. While I wanted her under house arrest, it simply wasn’t practical.
    Her perfectly sculptured eyebrow arched at me in the mirror. “That jar is a thousand dollars.”
    “For this? You’re crazy.” I awkwardly grabbed it out of the air and carefully set it down.
    “I have to look good. Don’t worry about your clothes, because Jordan will bring something. He’ll fix everything.” She pulled a few sets of large flat earrings out of a box. “Which ones?”
    This was way beyond me. I’d dressed up for plenty of FBI dinners and weddings to look presentable but cutting edge fashion was a different level. I’d watched enough Sex and the City to know designer names but couldn’t tell Gucci from Dolce.
    There was a dark pink pair with silver on the edges. Big silver dangling ones. And red beaded ones that would hang down to her shoulder.
    “I think I’m going to dig the bullets out of the garden,” I said.
    “No, never mind that. Lupe will get them tomorrow. I’ll wait for Jordan on the earrings.” Her hands fluttered like nervous butterflies. “It’ll be okay, but just please wear whatever he has and don’t argue.”
    “Why would I argue?”
    “You always argue.” She stomped her heel.
    I didn’t this time and changed the subject instead. I needed to know who had access to the house.
    “Is Lupe the new housekeeper?”
    “Of course, I sent her home today. I couldn’t let her see me this down. She acts like a mother, but she’ll be in tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, she’s from an approved agency. Why are you so suspicious?” Sonia added a layer of gloss to her lips.
    I pulled her off the stool to stand and face me and held her by those bony shoulders. “Why? Wake up! Sonia, you’ve got a stalker. Someone is trying to scare you, hurt you, or possibly even kill you. That is more important than a party. More important than a divorce. Than a show. Than your career. Do you understand me?”
    She looked down. “So hide out and let them win?”
    “No, but don’t make their job easy either. Listen to me and use your head. You texted me, you want my help. Try to do it my way, because self-defense is my area.”
    She nodded but frowned at the floor.
    “What?” I asked.
    “You need some new shoes. Bet you need a pedicure too.” She grabbed my left hand. “Definitely need a manicure.”
    “Stop changing the subject. No one cares what I look like.” I tried to pull my hand away when the doorbell rang. Sonia let go and dashed off.
    “Jordan!” She ran down the stairs and threw open the door.
    I stifled my lecture on peephole usage for another day. Jordan obviously lived very close, which could come in handy. I’d have to check on Danny and someone had to watch Sonia. Jordan seemed the safest choice.
    He lugged several garment bags up the stairs. “Ready? Fashion show time!”
    I was in real trouble.
    “I just need one dress.” Where did all these come from? Jordan was effeminate but didn’t strike me as a drag queen. He was too tall anyway; I’d never fit into anything of his.
    “These will let us find one great one for you,” Jordan grinned. “Trust me.”
    “I just don’t have anything a size ten.” Sonia shrugged.
    “I’ve got plenty. Since they fired that supporting actress for gaining forty pounds, I’ve got it all.” Jordan hustled the two of us into the bathroom and hung them on the mega shower.
    “They can fire people for that?” I asked.
    Feeling like a freak, I folded my arms over my C-cup chest. At least I didn’t have to buy boobs. Jordan being in the wardrobe department meant he had access to clothes. I hoped they were nothing too out there.
    “Sweetie, it’s a TV show. Your sister is a four, max. The new supporting girl is a six. Bernadette is a zero. The camera does add pounds. This former star blew up to a fourteen. Can you imagine? Size can absolutely be in the contract. Actors are hired for image as well as