A missing actress... a secret cult... a warm body... and a cold one.
When Hollywood private eye Nick Shaw is hired to find a missing actress, a simple case of disappearance becomes a maze of conspiracy and murder.
From Theatre Row to society parties, from tarot parlors to kinky cults, he follows cold leads and hot ladies, searching for truth in the city of lies.
Fans of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett will love this noir crime novel of action and suspense featuring hard-boiled private detective Nick Shaw.
EXCERPT:
The door opened wide, replaced by a set of ruby-painted toenails, pale feet, olive-colored shorts, green-apple blouse, and cleavage. From somewhere above all that came a voice.
“Looking for someone?”
She brushed from her face a strand of black hair. Her face was friendly with a light summer tan. She had a nose so perky it must have come with a price tag. Thin wrinkles supported her big, heavy eyes. Her irises were purple. They watched me watching her and didn’t seem to mind. I didn’t mind that they didn’t mind.
“You Caroline Myers?” I said.
“That’s right.”
“Nick Shaw. I’m looking for Stella Burke.”
“She’s not here.”
“That’s why I’m looking for her. She’s been reported missing.”
“By whom?” Grammar. Cute.
“Edward Grant,” I said. “Theater producer. You know him?”
“You a cop?”
“No, but I played one on TV. Actually, that’s a lie. My scene was cut. I’m a private investigator.”
“Maybe I’ve seen your work.”
“You’re seeing it now.”
I showed her my state license and gave her my card.
She crossed her arms and stared at me curiously. “You look familiar,” she said.
“I’ve been in some plays.”
“I’m more of a movie buff. Stella’s the theater girl.” She cocked her head and teased me with a smile. Not the full thing, just a little taste. “I meant familiar like maybe we went out sometime. Drinks or something. Ever do any online dating?”
“Not if I can avoid it.”
“That’s no answer.”
“All I’ve got are questions,” I said.
“You carry a gun, Detective?”
“Not usually. I have a license to carry and a gun under lock and key but I only bring it out on special occasions. This is just a routine inquiry, Miss Myers. Stella’s your roommate, is that correct?”
“I don’t like guns,” she said.
“Neither do I. Mostly, I just ask questions. Guns get messy. It’s not the way I like to work.”
She looked me over. Didn’t complain. “Would you like to work indoors?”
“It’s my specialty,” I said, and followed her in.
When Hollywood private eye Nick Shaw is hired to find a missing actress, a simple case of disappearance becomes a maze of conspiracy and murder.
From Theatre Row to society parties, from tarot parlors to kinky cults, he follows cold leads and hot ladies, searching for truth in the city of lies.
Fans of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett will love this noir crime novel of action and suspense featuring hard-boiled private detective Nick Shaw.
EXCERPT:
The door opened wide, replaced by a set of ruby-painted toenails, pale feet, olive-colored shorts, green-apple blouse, and cleavage. From somewhere above all that came a voice.
“Looking for someone?”
She brushed from her face a strand of black hair. Her face was friendly with a light summer tan. She had a nose so perky it must have come with a price tag. Thin wrinkles supported her big, heavy eyes. Her irises were purple. They watched me watching her and didn’t seem to mind. I didn’t mind that they didn’t mind.
“You Caroline Myers?” I said.
“That’s right.”
“Nick Shaw. I’m looking for Stella Burke.”
“She’s not here.”
“That’s why I’m looking for her. She’s been reported missing.”
“By whom?” Grammar. Cute.
“Edward Grant,” I said. “Theater producer. You know him?”
“You a cop?”
“No, but I played one on TV. Actually, that’s a lie. My scene was cut. I’m a private investigator.”
“Maybe I’ve seen your work.”
“You’re seeing it now.”
I showed her my state license and gave her my card.
She crossed her arms and stared at me curiously. “You look familiar,” she said.
“I’ve been in some plays.”
“I’m more of a movie buff. Stella’s the theater girl.” She cocked her head and teased me with a smile. Not the full thing, just a little taste. “I meant familiar like maybe we went out sometime. Drinks or something. Ever do any online dating?”
“Not if I can avoid it.”
“That’s no answer.”
“All I’ve got are questions,” I said.
“You carry a gun, Detective?”
“Not usually. I have a license to carry and a gun under lock and key but I only bring it out on special occasions. This is just a routine inquiry, Miss Myers. Stella’s your roommate, is that correct?”
“I don’t like guns,” she said.
“Neither do I. Mostly, I just ask questions. Guns get messy. It’s not the way I like to work.”
She looked me over. Didn’t complain. “Would you like to work indoors?”
“It’s my specialty,” I said, and followed her in.
