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

talent.” Jordan opened one of the bags. “Now get out of that shabby wear, it’s hurting my eyes.”
    I folded my arms tighter and stared back. What did they have against normal clothes?
    “Hel, stop.” Sonia gave me the hurry up wave. “You can’t go like that.”
    “Relax, we’re all girls here. I fitted that size fourteen so I’ve seen worse.” He sat on the edge of the Jacuzzi tub that fit four, legs crossed in a very prim way I couldn’t have pulled off in my secondhand prom dress.
    I tugged my T-shirt over my head and pulled off the black boots. Finally I unbuttoned the jeans and slid them off. Down to a black bra and matching hi-cut cotton panties, I removed my watch. Looking from Sonia to Jordan, I tried not to smile.
    I wasn’t a size ten from flab. It was just my hourglass body type. I felt comfortable with my size, shape, and ability to kick the ass of anyone who didn’t like it.
    “Nice muscle definition. You do work out a lot.” Jordan nodded approvingly. “All that karate does a body good.”
    “Muscle looks bulky on camera.” Sonia gave me a model pout.
    Jordan rolled his eyes. “Sonia, honey, you don’t have to be a toothpick to be hot. JLo, Queen Latifah, Beyonce, and Eva Mendes are all smoking! They get the hottest men and they’ve got curves.”
    “But Hel’s white,” Sonia said matter-of-factly.
    Jordan reflected. “You’ve got a point. White girls can’t be curvaceous here unless they’re Dolly Parton. Even she had to build Dollywood. Damn! The world just isn’t fair. There is that bass singer and some models are breaking in.”
    I nearly busted out laughing at their serious analysis of how I’d fit in or not.
    “I don’t care about my curves. I don’t want to be a model or an actress. I need an appropriate dress so I can stick near Sonia, that’s all. I’m protection so I need to blend in.”
    “A Hollywood ninja. Love the attitude!” Jordan gushed and seemed to relax around me. He pulled open a different garment bag. “The legs and arms are so toned. I’ve got just the dress!”
    It was sleeveless, not strapless, thank God! My curves didn’t sit well in strapless, especially if there was a chance I’d need to fight. The dress was shorter than I normally wore with a nice square neckline and classic cut in a shimmery black fabric. Overall, I didn’t hate it.
    “Try it on.” Jordan handed it to me.
    “I expected something more out there. Like Sonia’s fashions.” I slipped it over my head and tried to ignore the price tag of over ten grand and the designer label. It fit, a little snug in spots, but good enough.
    “Sonia gets photographed and followed. She must always be cutting edge. You...odds are no one will notice you. It’s a nice black dress, and you can add a colorful wrap for a change of looks. Just don’t wear it to the same place twice. I’ll leave the others in case you need them. They’ve got no use for them at the studio.” Jordan adjusted my cleavage so more showed and nodded.
    “I’m not here to party.” I looked at myself in the mirror and wasn’t scared, despite the amount of skin showing. The price tag made me a little nervous about spilling anything but I had to fit in a little.
    “You need some makeup and hair, but it’ll do,” Jordan said.
    “Help me with jewelry, Jordan!” Sonia opened her box of accessories yet again.
    “Helena is so pale. Can’t you get her an appointment for a spray tan?” Jordan whispered, like I couldn’t hear him.
    “No tan,” I cut in.
    I’d tried fake tanning once for a friend’s wedding. Some girls weren’t meant to tan, at least not me. I came out orange even following all the directions.
    Sonia ignored me and talked to Jordan. “Why didn’t you think of that when she showed up?”
    “I’m here to take care of this and go home!” Weren’t they listening at all?
    Jordan turned to me and flipped the topic. “So you’ve got an ex. FBI yummy like Mulder?”
    “He’s attractive.” I