Murder by Numbers Read Online Free Page B

thought.
    Kevin hung up and Liza hit the speed-dial number for Markson Associates. Ysabel put her right through to Michelle, who listened in silence as Liza detailed the latest.
    â€œI hadn’t heard that Chissel was going out of town,” she muttered darkly. “Does he think he’s going to mess with one of my clients? And you say that Peter Hake is up there?”
    â€œYou know him?” Liza asked.
    â€œIf Mirage Productions had an honest organization chart, which it doesn’t, Hake would be vice president in charge of dirty tricks. He’s Chissel’s enforcer and facilitator. On his old scamming businesses as well as his new career in films. He makes Tony Soprano’s crew look like choirboys. Do you know how long he’s been up in Maiden’s Bay? I wouldn’t put it past him to arrange the accident that took Terence Hamblyn out of the picture.”
    â€œYou’re kidding!” When she didn’t hear an answer, Liza added, “Aren’t you?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe not. Liza, you know that The Business is all about ego.” When Michelle referred to “The Business,” she meant the film business. “It’s all about getting your way. Most big shots out here use money to throw their weight around. In the old days, they used to do more. When money didn’t work, the old studios had fixers. They didn’t care which side of the law they were playing on. They simply did what they had to do to get their way. Fixers were people like Peter Hake. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of him. He’s been making quite a name for himself. Oh wait…he’s a new name for you because he came into Mirage while you were busy soul searching up in Oregon. If you’d kept your nose to the grindstone, you’d be up on all the gossip.”
    â€œSorry,” Liza said, not really meaning it. But it paid to throw in the odd symbolic grovel for her boss.
    â€œHake’s worked as Chissel’s ‘special assistant’ for the past few months, but he’s been into nastier stuff than most Hollywood arm-twisters. Hake is nothing more than a thug with a three-hundred-dollar haircut—a stupid three-hundred-dollar haircut,” Michelle added angrily. “He was Chissel’s thug long before Ollie got stuck with Mirage.”
    â€œBut Chissel is running the show now,” Liza said.
    â€œThe question may be for how long,” Michelle replied. “One of the things Buck is looking into is Chissel’s financials.”
    â€œI have a hard time seeing him do that.” With his size, handsome but heavy features, and perpetual sunglasses, Buck Foreman’s appearance spelled C-O-P with a capital “intimidating.” If you wanted brains and muscle, Buck was your guy. But, in Liza’s mind, anyway, forensic accounting didn’t look like it would be one of his specialties.
    â€œWhen Buck investigates someone, he investigates ,” Michelle replied. “That includes bringing in any necessary professionals.”
    â€œBut you didn’t hear anything about Chissel coming up here—or why,” Liza pressed on.
    â€œNo,” Michelle said in a “heads will roll” tone of voice. Her Hollywood intelligence system could probably rival the KGB’s in its prime. Certainly, she used it as ruthlessly. “You can bet he’s not heading out to bestow good news on the crew, though.” She paused for a moment, and Liza heard the tickety-tack sound of computer keys in the background. She could just visualize Michelle leaning over the keyboard, calling up her calendar with one hand.
    â€œYsabel can cancel tomorrow’s meetings—I’m going up there.”
    â€œMe, too,” Michael’s voice chimed in. “It’ll be just like the good old days.”
    That’s what I’m afraid of , Liza thought.
    â€œSure—the more the merrier,” Liza said.