Scandal Sheet aka Hollywood Scandals

– THE RECIPIENT OF A NUMBER OF CHILDISH THREATS-

There, that was better. I smirked as my fingers continued typing.

– CHILDISH THREATS FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. THIS SOURCE PROMISED THAT IF I DIDN’T STOP PRINTING ARTICLES ABOUT HIM OR HER, I WOULD END UP DEAD. WELL GUESS WHAT, MYSTERY STALKER? THIS IS ONE REPORTER WHO IS A LITTLE CLEVERER THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR. I KNOW YOUR IDENTITY. AND IF YOU DON’T TURN YOURSELF IN TODAY, I’LL BE PRINTING IT IN TOMORROW’S PAPER. HOW’S THAT FOR A THREAT?

“What is that?”

I spun around to find Cam reading over my shoulder.

“It’s my column for tomorrow.”

Her blonde brows puckered in concern. “Are you sure that’s wise? You’re kind of taunting a killer here, Tina.”

I looked back at the screen. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” Which was the biggest load of false bravado ever, but I wasn’t about to back down now.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

“Yes.” No. “The only problem is going to be getting this past Felix. There’s no way he’ll print it.”

“Felix is a smart man.”

I chose to ignore that comment.

“What we need is a distraction. Final copy has to be in to the printer by six. If I can find a way to distract Felix and slip this in at the last minute, it might work.”

Cam shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I like my job here. No way am I going behind Felix’s back with something like this.”

I felt my shoulders sag. I’d actually secretly been counting on Cam to help me out.

“Please?” I begged.

But the resolved look in her eyes told me no amount of pleading was going to change her mind. “Sorry, Tina, but you’re on your own with this one. Look, just submit it to him, and see what he says. Maybe he’s feeling generous today.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Hello? Have you met Felix?”

She gave me a sympathetic shrug. “Sorry.” Then added as she turned to go, “And be careful, Tina, okay?”

I nodded. Really, I couldn’t blame her. A week ago keeping my boss happy would have been at the top of my priority list, too. And I’d already gotten her in hot water over the whole lookout at Katie Briggs’s incident.

Unfortunately, that left me still distraction-less. I let my gaze wander over the newsroom for another possible ally. Max, Cece…Allie.

I froze. If ever someone had distraction written all over her, it was Allie.

I clenched my jaw. I stood up. I sucked in a deep breath. And prepared to make a deal with the devil to save my skin.

“You’re nuts, you know that?”

I nodded.

Allie shook her head at me, her blonde locks falling over her shoulder. “You’re really going to call this guy out?”

I nodded again. “Look, I need you to distract Felix. Just for a second.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And what’s in it for me?”

I bit my lip. “That satisfaction of helping a coworker?”

Her eyes narrowed further until they looked like a cat’s.

Okay, so she was into satisfaction.

“Look, I’ll…I’ll introduce you to some of my contacts around town.”

Her lip curled. And she shook her head. “Not good enough.”

I threw my hands up. “Okay, fine. What do you want?”

“I want this story.”

I blinked at her. “What story?”

“The story of the Informer reporter who’s being stalked by a murderer, threatens to expose him, then ends up getting herself killed.”

I raised an eyebrow at her.

She shrugged. “It’s one possible ending.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Do we have a deal?”

I ground my teeth together. The last thing I wanted to do was give Barbie an exclusive on my life story. On the other hand, if I didn’t, said story was likely to be a whole lot shorter and have a much less pleasant ending.

Begrudgingly, I stuck my hand out. “Deal.”

Allie shook it, the most evil grin I’d ever seen spreading across her cute little face.

I involuntarily shuddered.

“So, you’re on Felix, then?”

She nodded. Then fluffed up her boobs. “Come six o’clock, he’s all mine.”

For a moment, I almost felt sorry for the boss.

Crisis One taken care of for the day, I made my way back to my desk, avoiding looking directly at Felix as I passed his office, lest he see the glint of guilt in my eyes.

As soon as I sat down, my cell rang.

“Tina Bender?” I answered.

“Tina, dahling,” Marco cooed on the other end. “How are we this fine morning?”

Oh, boy. Loaded question. But I figured the short version would suffice. “Fine.”

“Fab. Listen, hon, is it true that you’ve been talking to the police?”

Shit. My worst fears were confirmed. Word was spreading through my network of informants that Tina Bender and the cops were like that.

“Um, sorta.”

Marco made a tsking sound. “Sweetie, that’s not good. You know loose lips aren’t gonna wag your way like that.”

I nodded at my cubicle. “I know. Look, it’s just…temporary,” I hedged, not willing to air all my dirty laundry for Beverly Hills’s biggest gossip.

“Let’s hope. For your sake, dahling.”

“Thanks.”

“In the meantime, I’m not a fair-weather friend, and has mama got some good d-i-s-h for you, girl.”

I leaned forward. “I could use some good dish today. Lay it on me, Marco.”

“Guess who came into the salon yesterday?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he didn’t give me a chance.

“Duke Donovan.”

I drew a blank. “Who?”

“Duke Donovan! Ohmigod, girl, don’t tell me you don’t watch Massexachusetts?”

I had to admit, I didn’t. But the name was starting to ring a bell. “He did that paranormal alien show for a while, right?”

“Yes! Gawd, I miss that show. Anyhoo, while Gia was doing his highlights I overheard him on his cell saying that he was slated to star in that new action film with the mondo budget. And, get this, his co-star-Tom Cruise!”

I raised an eyebrow. That was big news. If I remembered correctly, the last movie Donovan worked on had been…well, I couldn’t actually remember the last movie he’d worked on. Then again, Donovan’s sister had been murdered last spring, catapulting his name back into the spotlight and earning him that all important Hollywood sympathy vote.

Amazing how one little murder could make a hasbeen a household name again.