Free Hollywood Notorious: A Hollywood Alphabet Thriller Series (A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller Book 14) by M.Z. Kelly Page A

shut, but said, “Why would you give up real police work to become an administrator?”
    The Chiclets went away and she glared at me. “Managing the department is real police work. It’s just that some people don’t realize that.”
    I sighed. “If you say so.”
    “You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”
    I played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “You’re angry because the department refused to give into your vendetta.”
    “Vendetta?”
    The glare and a stare came back. “It’s your personal mission to prove the department failed to properly investigate the death of Jean Winslow and your father. Everyone knows it.”
    What she said was complete nonsense, but gave further credence to my belief that she was out to sabotage my attempt to get to the truth and further her own political aspirations at the same time.
    It was my turn to glare at her. “Let’s get something straight. We might have to work together, but I have nothing to say to you about Jean Winslow, my father, or anything else in the known universe—ever!”
    “Are we a little touchy?”
    We turned into the neighborhood where Gloria Lacroix lived. “Do the world a favor. Keep your mouth shut and your idiotic opinions to yourself.”
    “Just so you know, Commander Miles will get a full report on what you said.”
    “Just so you know, I don’t give a shit.”
    Twenty minutes later, we met with Gloria Lacroix and her reporter friend in a small apartment near a commercial district just outside the Long Beach city limits. After exchanging hellos, we took a seat in her living room, where Carmine Feckle wasted no time raising our expectations.
    “Ms. Lacroix has no doubt that the girl shown in the Internet video is her daughter.” Feckle brought his hands together and wiggled his fingers like a nervous squirrel fingering some nuts. “She reported her daughter missing less than forty-eight hours ago.”
    “She is my baby,” Lacroix whimpered. “Who would do this?”
    “We were hoping you could tell us that,” Peters answered. “Is there anyone your daughter was having problems with lately, maybe someone who was angry with her?”
    “Surely you’re not suggesting something this disturbed was the work of someone the girl knew,” Feckle said, his gaze sliding over Peters, then his companion.
    Lacroix, who looked to be around forty and was heavyset, shook her head, then blew her nose. “My baby was a good girl. It makes no sense.”
    “It’s my understanding that you have a photo to show us,” Feckle said.
    Peters nodded and removed the photograph from her briefcase. I realized someone from the department must have tipped him off about the photo.
    “Is this your daughter?” she asked, showing Lacroix the picture.
    There was no verbal confirmation that it was Lacroix’s daughter, but we had no doubt that it was, based on the woman going into hysterics. It caused her reporter companion to scurry around like a rat trapped in a maze. Feckle got her a glass of water, more tissues, and even some cookies in an attempt to calm her down.
    A half hour later, when there was a moment of composure, Feckle pulled out his phone and said, “I’m going to bring my camera crew in.”
    I looked at Peters, back at him. “Any interviews need to be cleared with our Media Relations Section.”
    Feckle smiled, displaying small, sharp rodent teeth, and looked at Peters. “I believe we’re already cleared.”
    Peters nodded. “Let’s proceed.”
    I realized, at that moment, I’d been cut out of everything that was going on. Peters, or her boss, had told Feckle about the photograph beforehand and had agreed to do an interview if we got a positive ID.
    My face flushed with anger as I stood up and looked at Peters. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
    Peters also stood and called me over to a corner of the room. “This interview will be going out to all the media outlets and probably end up on national TV. I need your