Scandal Sheet aka Hollywood Scandals

Sorry, I mumbled. It’s been a long couple of days.

No kidding. Cal just filled me in.

He was here already? I asked, that bruised feeling hitting me again at the mention of his name.

Felix’s eyebrows drew together. Yeah. Just left. Why?

I shook the feeling off, telling myself it didn’t matter. The job was done. Cal was gone.

I cleared the lump of regret from my throat. No reason. So, um, I got your messages yesterday.

He narrowed his eyes at me. You know I oughtta fire you for that stunt you pulled.

I gulped. Yeah, about that…

But he didn’t let me finish, instead plowing ahead. But considering the story of the century Allie just showed me, I won’t.

I shut my mouth with a click. Oh. Good. Wow, saved by the blonde. Who’d a thunk it?

I must say, I’m incredibly impressed. And surprised. Turns out you’re one hell of an investigative reporter.

I couldn’t help it. A big goofy grin spread across my face. Really?

‘Really?’ Are you kidding? You’ve single-handedly solved two murders in the last week. Listen, how would you like a bump from gossip to real news? I could use someone as savvy as you on Hollywood’s front lines. He paused. Then winced only a little as he added, I could maybe even consider a small raise.

Wow. Felix talking raise was like the Grinch talking Christmas cookies. I took a moment to savor this rare occasion. However, as flattered as I was, I shook my head.

Thanks. But no thanks.

Felix opened his mouth to protest, but it was my turn to plow ahead. Hey, I’ll admit I rocked this story. There went that goofy smile again. But my love lies with gossip. My column is my baby. And I couldn’t imagine seeing her in anyone else’s hands. Besides, the celebs in this town trust me to rake, break, and make. I can’t let them down.

Felix shut his mouth, a rueful grin tugging the corner of his mouth. Okay. You win, Bender. Gossip it is.

Thanks. Oh, but I will take you up on that raise, I added.

Again the slight wince, but he covered it well. Done. And in celebration of my star gossip columnist not only still being alive, but also getting us a story that’s sure to boost circulation by at last 20 percent, I’m taking you to lunch.

Wow. Felix offering to shell out cash twice in a row? Had Hell frozen over? Seriously? As in, you’re buying?

He nodded. Absolutely. Then he crossed the newsroom, grabbed the Swear Pig from my desk, and turned it upside down, dumping a pile of quarters onto his desk. There’s got to be at least twenty bucks here. Where do you want to go?

I couldn’t help but laugh. Tell you what, I have somewhere to be today. How about a rain check? Cool? I asked.

Felix shrugged. Suit yourself.

I turned to go.

Hey, Bender? Felix called.

I spun around. Yeah?

Nice work.

I grinned. Thanks, boss. And he’d better believe that I was going to cash in on that free lunch that I’d paid for.

But not today.

Today, I had other plans.

Griffith Park covers more than ten square miles at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains. One of the largest parks in North America, it’s home to such attractions as the Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, and the famed Hollywood sign.

The merry-go-round was located near the Los Feliz entrance, close to the zoo. I found it easily by following the squeals and shouts of happy children carrying over the vast expanse of lawn. I walked around the perimeter, finding an empty bench on the south side, and sat down.

I jangled my knees up and down. I tapped my fingers on the armrest. I whistled off key along with the organ music being pumped in time with the twirling horses.

I looked down at my watch. 12:01. He was late. Okay, one minute late. Which was hardly anything. I decided to cut him some slack and waited.

I blew out a big breath, trying to calm my tightly wound nerves. I tried to tell myself this was nothing, that it would more than likely be a singularly awkward encounter, and we’d both be relieved to go home and forget about each other.

But I knew that was bullshit.

Black had become my best friend. My confidant. As screwed up as my feelings toward Cal were, they were just as screwy toward Black. I mean, how could you fall for someone inside a computer? You couldn’t. No more than you could fall for someone who was just doing his job, just looking out for you because he was being paid to, and then walked away as easily as anything when it was all over?

You couldn’t.

And I wasn’t.

I looked down at my watch. Black was still late.

I watched a kid fight with his sister over who got the gray mare. A couple of teenagers tried to share a horse, the girl falling off the back halfway through the ride, laughing. A guy selling ice cream from a little cart walked by, ringing a bell.

Twelve ten. Still no Black.

Well, hell. I’d been stood up.

Stood up by an internet loser.

Fabulous.

I was just about to take the walk of shame back to the parking lot and call a cab home when I felt a shadow fall over me from behind. I paused, something akin to hope fluttering in my belly.

Knock, knock.

My breath caught in my throat. Black.

My body suddenly froze, afraid to turn around and see the man attached to that voice. Instead, I made my own shaky voice answer, Who’s there?

Dewey.

Dewey who?

Dewey get to meet now?

Involuntarily, I let out a laugh, some of my built up tension escaping with it. I stood up and turned around to face him, hardly believing what my eyes were telling me.

And yet there he was. Finally real. So very real.

Hi, Cal said.

Hi. I shook my head, my brain not understanding what my heart was already singing at the top of its lungs. You’re ManInBlack72? I asked.

He nodded. Slowly.

But how?

He took a deep breath. Shifted from one foot to the other. God, was he actually nervous?

After we started chatting, I knew I wanted to meet you, but that you’d never agree. I knew from your profile that you worked at the Informer, so I went down to their offices to see you in person. I pretended I was there to see if they needed extra security in the building. Unfortunately, you were out, but Felix took my card. A few weeks later, he called me when you started getting threats.

So, you knew who I was all along? I asked.

He grinned. I’d be pretty crappy at my job if I couldn’t figure that out.

And, it was you I was typing with all this time?

Again, he slowly nodded his head. Disappointed? he asked, his voice low and gruff, as if the answer really meant something to him.

I bit my lip. And shook my head. No, I managed to get out, before my throat clogged with emotion. I would