No, Paul said emphatically. We never actually did anything so theres nothing to trace. Besides, I put her in your shower with the water running. Any physical evidence will be washed away. By the time shes found, there will be nothing to collect. And if you have your maids clean up the place as soon as shes discovered, then that will compromise the crime scene.

How am I supposed to justify doing that when the cops come? Jasper hissed.

I dont know. Just say you couldnt have a dead body in your bathroomthat it was too much for you. The police around here arent going to push you, of all people, too hard.

Its too risky, Jasper persisted.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Somehow, he knew what was coming.

You know what was risky? Paul said coldly. Putting my career on the line for you. Do I have to remind you about that party where I found you with that girl? Do you remember how I convinced her mom not to go to the cops by giving her a producer credit on my movie? Do you remem?

Okay, okay. I get it, Jasper said. You dont have to go there. Well get this done.

But now, three days later, it still wasnt done. He was barely holding off the cops. Paul was still holed up in his home. And the possibility that his own proclivities might come to light was still frighteningly real.

He had to convince Paul that it was time to go. Oscar-winning matinee idols didnt just drop off the grid for days on end anymore. He was going to be missed soon. And if he was still at Otis Estate when questions started getting asked, the consequences would be bad for everyone, especially him.

So instead of going back to his wing to ponder, he went to see Paul.

*

Jessie had never been a Paul Gilliard fan.

Of course shed seen some of his movies. He was one of the biggest movie stars in the world. She knew she was in the minority, but she always thought he projected a slightly smarmy vibe that was reinforced by his over-tanned skin, over-sculpted hair, and over-ripped muscles.

But shed never had cause to think of him beyond that surface level. Now that she was diving deeper, she discovered that her instincts had been right on. The guy had never formally been charged with any crimes but hed come close several times.

When I worked West L.A. division, Karen said, I heard multiple stories from patrol officers about neighbors calling, concerned about screaming fights coming from his place. They never found any obvious evidence of violence when they did welfare checks, and none of his girlfriends ever filed complaints. But I was told that sometimes they looked scared. It was never enough to act on. And it was so long ago that I forgot about it until now.