LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, ALEXIS MULLINS, WIDOW AND ALLEGED MURDERER OF CHARACTER ACTOR JAKE MULLINS, ANNOUNCED FROM HER JAIL CELL THIS WEEK THAT SHE’LL BE PENNING A BOOK ABOUT ACTORS WHO HAVE DIED YOUNG. WHEN ASKED WHERE SHE GOT THE IDEA, THE FORMER CHILD STAR CLAIMED, “IT JUST CAME TO ME ONE DAY.” SOURCES REPORT A MOVIE DEAL IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS.
I sat back, rereading my column one last time before emailing it to the boss. Feeling pretty darn proud of myself for getting it in early even, I clicked open my inbox to check for leads on tomorrow’s column. Fifteen messages, ranging from what-was-she-thinking? outfits on Melrose to celebrity fights overheard at this week’s hottest club. I scanned through each one, loving my network of loyal informants.
Bender!
I jumped up to find Felix’s head popping out from his office.
Yeah, boss?
Your column?
One step ahead of you. Just sent it in.
Good. Cam just got a hot tip. Actor Trace Brody? His girlfriend’s wearing a fat diamond on her left hand today.
I raised one eyebrow. They get engaged last night?
That’s what I want you to find out. Cam’s down on Rodeo canvassing jewelry stores.
I grabbed my Strawberry Shortcake purse, notepad, and ballpoint. I’m on it, chief, I promised.
And, Bender, he called after me.
I spun around. Yeah?
Don’t come back until you’ve got a headline that’s gonna make me drool, readers blush, and Trace’s publicist cry.
I grinned.
God, I loved Hollywood.
Acknowledgments
I want to send a huge thank you out to my fabulous critique partner, Eden Bradley, who tirelessly reads every single thing I ever write, and never forgets to put encouraging smilies at all the funny parts.
Thanks to the Crit Wits for their continued support and inspiration. If I ever had a thought of giving up, I’m sure they’d beat it out of me.
I want to thank the Romance Divas for giving me a place to celebrate every victory, whine about every bad day, and gossip about everything in between.
And last but never least, a huge thank you to my extraordinarily talented editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, without whom this book would not be. She’s a good friend, a great editor, and a kindred spirit who understands the inescapable draw of TMZ (to which I am now completely addicted).
About the Author
