Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
She glanced over to see what Josh would do. A seventy-two-hour hold would make anyone think, especially when it wouldn’t be somewhere nice and high-end. It would be nasty and dark. It could be a nice punishment for a man interested in such things.
“I would like to talk to him first,” Josh said, his face grim. “Let’s see if we can settle this without wrecking his life.”
The officers shook their heads like they’d known what was going to happen, and then Hernandez nodded toward Declan. “Bring him in.”
Kayla sat down on the couch beside him. “Do you think talking to him is a good idea? If he’s a stalker, then you’re rewarding his behavior. You’re giving him attention, and that’s what he wants.”
“I know the psychology behind a stalker,” he replied. He’d relaxed, but she would bet it was all an act for the cops’ sakes. So calm and peaceful when only moments before she would have sworn he’d been on the edge.
“Yeah, you did that film,” Hernandez said, slapping his buddy’s arm. “What was it? The one you liked so much?”
“Deep Midnight,” Keller replied with a nod her way. “Josh there played a psychologist who specialized in serial killers. His character was working with the local PD on a series of murders, but it turns out he actually had a split personality and he was responsible for all the killings himself.”
“Hey, spoilers,” Josh said with a grin.
She waved it off. “I saw that one. I still don’t see how that makes you an expert in stalking.”
“I took three months and sank myself into the profiling world,” he explained. “I actually have enough classroom time to qualify for a BA in psych, if I wanted one. I learn everything I can about a role. It’s important for me to get as much as I can right.”
“He’s a fucking Renaissance man,” Keller said. “I swear, he knows more about police procedure than I do.”
“That’s ’cause you’re lazy as fuck,” Hernandez replied. “But seriously, Josh is a genius.”
And it looked like he wasn’t as much of a recluse as she’d pegged him for. The officers seemed friendly with him.
“I still don’t see how that makes you an expert,” she pointed out as she heard the door open.
“I have been stalked over the years by numerous people, some amateur, but a couple of real pros. This guy…he’s not stalking me. He’s pissed at me and I would like to know what set him off.” Josh relaxed back as though this was an everyday occurrence.
Perhaps it was and that was why she was here.
Shane and Dec came into the house. Shane still had the man by the elbow, but his gun was back in its holster. The man he’d caught shuffled along. The bottom half of his slacks were wet, as though he’d been in the surf, which he likely had at this time of night.
The man’s head came up and he practically snarled Josh’s way. “You fucking cheating bastard.”
And there was the stench of vodka and regret. Or maybe it was whiskey. She wasn’t close enough to tell, but the regret was certainly going to be in there tomorrow. Their suspect was definitely over the legal limit.
“Allen. It’s Allen, right?” Josh stood up, his whole demeanor calm and patient.
That seemed to catch the guy off guard, but he straightened up, his face flushing with anger. “Yeah, I’m Allen. You know exactly who I am. Allen Houston. I’m the man who’s going to sue you. If you think for a second I’ll let you get away with this, you don’t know who you’re dealing with.” He turned his eyes up to the officer to his right. “He’s the thief. I want you to arrest him.”
“Sure, buddy,” Keller said. “What exactly did he steal? Your sobriety?”
That got Hernandez to chuckle.
Allen’s hands made fists at his sides and Kay prepared to take him down if she had to. “My story. He stole my story. I was at a bar earlier tonight in LA and I overheard this guy talking about Joshua Hunt’s brand-new movie. Did you think I wouldn’t find out? I’m going to sue you, you ass. You can’t get away with this. I can’t let you.”
Josh gave Allen his full attention. “Which movie are you talking about? I have three in various stages of pre-production.”
“You know which one I’m talking about because I gave you the script,” Allen ground out. He started to pace, but Shane got in his way and he was forced to stand, fairly vibrating with rage. “I was stupid and handed it over to you. I should have known someone like you would steal it and put his own name on it.”
Josh shook his head. “There’s not a single movie I’m working on where I take script credit.”
The writer waved him off as though he’d expected an excuse like that. “So you gave it to one of your buddies.”