Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“That’s one possibility,” Nash chimed in.
“But that doesn’t make any sense, does it? Because even if Voss killed Kit, aren’t there things like DNA and dental records and all kinds of other…”
“Sadly, it depends on the state of the remains,” Nash replied. “And Voss—or who SFPD believe to be Voss—was found in his own car, Voss’s car, and everything was very burned.”
“Everyone, you mean,” Ash said woodenly. “All three.”
“That’s the thing,” Owen said. “There was only one set of remains in the car.”
“Well, then that couldn’t have been Kit.” Ash exhaled, sounding relieved. “He had his writers with him.”
“Or,” I said, and Ash turned to me, “the writers were killed and left somewhere else and only Kit was placed in the car.”
He stared at me. I didn’t say anything, just letting his brain work.
“That’s horrible,” Ash whispered. “I can’t imagine being killed simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Collateral damage and nothing more.”
I moved closer, holding his hand in both of mine. “Listen, the FBI, SFPD, highway patrol, and most importantly, my boss, are all on this. They will figure out what happened.”
“The man they found, was he in Voss’s car or a rental?” Ash sounded robotic, and I understood. He wanted all the information we had at the moment.
“Voss’s car.”
Ash nodded. “So that’s why they assumed it was Voss.”
“That’s right.”
“But the remains were…they were burned.”
“The FBI crime lab is examining the remains,” Owen chimed in. “They will figure out precisely who died in the car.”
“But if they’re not sure yet, why would the police announce it was Voss?”
“For two reasons,” Owen said gently. “First, it’s a good assumption that it is Voss, given that it was his car. And second, if it isn’t Voss, and it is your friend instead, then Voss would be confident to try and get on a plane or drive to Mexico or do whatever it is that will get him safely out of the country.”
“And that way law enforcement would apprehend him.”
“Correct,” Owen replied.
“What happens now?”
“Now the search for Riggs—”
“For Voss, you mean,” Ash clarified, shivering.
“For whoever is alive, Riggs or Voss,” Owen apprised him. “The search will continue.”
“I don’t get this at all,” I rushed out. “How would Voss even make contact with an actor?”
“That’s easy,” Ash answered me. “Writers usually want to make sure their research is authentic, so they reach out to the subject.”
“But if they knowingly met with a fugitive, afterward they should have reported that contact to law enforcement. The police, the FBI, everyone is expending time and resources to bring this guy to justice. If the writers met with Voss and didn’t tell anyone, they could be charged with obstruction of justice.”
Ash grimaced.
“No? Not in Hollywood?”
“All I’m telling you is that in the name of getting the story right, I know more than one actor or writer who’ve met with someone they shouldn’t have. And when it was revealed to the press, it’s been treated like journalists with confidential sources.”
“Journalists go to jail for that,” I reminded him.
“Yes. True. But most journalists don’t have the same fanbase as an actor making fifteen million a film, nor their Instagram following.”
“That is some bullshit,” Nash grumbled.
“But it’s done over and over in the name of trying to get the story to be as credible and factual as possible, just like a news story.”
“Actors and journalists do not have the same job,” Nash made clear.
“No, but a writer’s job is similar,” I told him, understanding Ash’s point. “And while I can see a fugitive not wanting to meet with the person writing the screenplay, I could see them wanting to sit down with the person playing them in the movie. That would be a real thrill.”
“Star power,” Owen concluded.
“So then maybe Riggs wasn’t just dressed up for you that day,” I suggested to Ash. “I’m sure he wanted to impress you, show you how awesome he looked in the role, but maybe he was also planning to meet with Voss somewhere on the way to LA.”
Ash nodded slowly. “Yeah… First, he pitches to me, and then he goes to meet Voss, with his writers, so they can fact-check what they have.”
“Check for texts or emails about meeting times, places,” Nash said to Owen. “That all seems probable, but we need confirmation.”
“I don’t know their—”
“Dennis Ing and Bob Abernathy,” Ash answered.
“There’s no way they all just exchanged emails,” I threw out. “It will be more cloak and dagger.”
Owen began, “I have to wonder, did Voss plan it, or was it spur-of-the-moment?”
“You’re saying Voss planned to meet Riggs and the two writers to answer their questions, but then when they all got to the rendezvous point and he saw Riggs looking just like him, Voss saw an opportunity and took it?”
“I have no idea, but perhaps there’s something more to be found in their communication. I just have to do some additional digging.”