Chosen by a Killer by Laurie Nave (read e book txt) 📗

are the first to truly make life difficult, especially if you are young and female.”

“That makes sense,” Celia agreed. “They probably figure you’re an easier target.”

“Exactly. And they can use their fake charm and flattery to take an inexperienced person off-guard. It’s a clever ploy, providing they don’t overestimate themselves.”

“Overestimate?”

“You’d be amazed at how many people will assume you are naïve simply because you are blonde and pretty.”

“Being a mousy brunette, I wouldn’t know,” Celia grinned.

“You are very attractive, so I have no doubt you have been underestimated as well.” Natasha shifted and smoked for a moment. “But there’s something about that blonde stereotype that amplifies it. People assume you’re a less intelligent Marlene Monroe character or the farmer's daughter.”

“Or, in your case, the immigrant daughter naïve in the ways of the world, with an overprotective father.”

“You understand.” Natasha crushed the cigarette. “His name was Paul, and he worked for one of those grocery checkout rags.”

“Paul Singleton?” Celia asked.

“Yes. You know him?”

“We both attended the same school. He was a few years older than I was and already working.”

“Well, he obviously lacked your talent. He was there, and you are here.” She waited for Celia to respond. When the reporter remained quiet, Natasha continued. “I had just finished filming my first movie. I had been successful as a model, but the jury was still out on my acting.”

“And Paul followed your career?”

“Apparently. He was flattering, but a bit of a pest. It became clear that he wanted to know how I had gotten such a big role so quickly.”

“I see.”

“Once I realized he was fishing for a scandal, I told him to leave me alone. Then my father told him to leave me alone. He ignored us both.”

Celia took notes and pictured a younger Paul hounding the young actress. He hadn’t seemed like that type, but he’d had some bad luck early in his career. And he certainly wasn’t a fan of Celia’s. “So what happened?”

“Well, he began to hound the casting director and one of the producers. He even went after one of their wives, assuming I had slept with her husband since he was a notorious philanderer.”

“And you didn’t sleep with the producer?”

“Not that one,” Natasha replied. “But he was becoming more than a nuisance. He was a problem.”

“I imagine so. Sounds relentless.”

“I knew he had an alcohol problem. He’d been arrested for drunk and disorderly and had a couple of DUI’s. He was on the brink of some real legal trouble, even prison time.” Natasha smiled. “So I invited him for a drink.”

“You did?”

“He probably thought I was going to proposition him to leave me alone. I let him think that as I filled him with good scotch. When I suggested we drive separately to my place, I knew he was intoxicated.”

“Ah, and did he get to your place?”

“He never made it. I called in a report of a blue Taurus driving erratically, and I gave the license plate. I knew another DUI would complicate his life the way he was complicating mine.”

Celia sat quietly as Natasha watched her, waiting. After a few seconds, it dawned on Celia, and she widened her eyes. “Was that the night of the accident?”

“It was,” Natasha replied. “He must have been very excited to get to my place. He drove too fast around a curve, and the road was wet.”

Paul Singleton had died in a single auto accident in 2005, running off the road and into a tree. His blood-alcohol level had been well above the legal limit.

“It was not exactly what I had planned, but he never bothered me again. The police did question me. People had seen us together.”

“And what did you say?”

“That I had agreed to meet him to do an interview, that he had been drinking heavily and ignored my pleading that he call a cab.”

The story was a little chilling, and Celia was shocked. But she was also fascinated. The actress’s plan was pretty clever, considering the circumstances. Still, it resulted in Paul’s death. Was Natasha responsible, though? It was clear he was an alcoholic who made some pretty bad choices.

The five-minute warning knock startled Celia a bit, and she directed her attention back to the actress. “Do you think that incident deterred other reporters? I mean, they couldn’t have known.”

“I don't know. The owner of the tabloid tried to ask me about that night, but I shut him down, citing trauma.” Natasha shrugged. “Mostly, it taught me to treat everyone holding a press card or camera with suspicion. I also found a very forceful attorney.”

Celia finished her note-taking and shut off the recorder. She offered Natasha one more cigarette. When Keith knocked, Celia was ready to leave. “I’ll see you next week.”

“I look forward to it,” Natasha replied. “I want to hear more about Bart.”

“We’ll see,” Celia laughed. “If he doesn’t give me some space, there may be nothing more to tell.”

Celia was still thinking about Paul when she got home. She hadn’t known him to drink that much in school, but then again, they weren’t close friends. He never got that one big break. Of course, had he won the internship over Celia, he might have had a successful career. Did that failure impact his drinking? She shook off the thought. All she did was win a contest. If Paul had been more confident in his writing, he wouldn’t have been so easy to rattle.

As she was washing her face, Celia heard the landline begin to ring. “Damn.” She picked up her toothbrush, determined to ignore her father’s call again. But it wasn’t her father’s voice on the phone.

“Your phone number is unlisted, but unlisted numbers aren’t that hard to find. Why didn’t you give it to me earlier? I’d like to get together this week. I was hoping the gala could be a new start. Call me.”

Oh my God, I knew that was a mistake.

Celia climbed into bed and turned off the light. First her father, now Bart. She was absolutely going to