Read Serial Date: A Leine Basso Thriller for Free Online Page A

thought. She'd forgotten what L.A. creative types were like. You never knew where you stood, primarily because most of them didn't know, either.
    Tina had been hanging out, watching them from the other side of the set, and chose that moment to approach. Her face appeared frozen in time, like a statue. Leine wondered if the young woman used Botox. They certainly started early, she thought.
    “You're the new security guard, right?”
    Leine nodded. “And you're Tina?”
    Tina smiled. Her cheeks barely moved. “That's right.” She slid onto the director's chair. Leine's eyes watered from the onslaught of her perfume.
    “Do you think they'll catch the guy soon?”
    “They seem to think they're close.”
    “It's really hard on the other girls.”
    “I can imagine. There's plenty of security on you guys, though. It'll be over soon.”
    “It's not that. It's hard for us to not say anything to the press. They're everywhere, and offering a lot of money. A bunch of us have boyfriends and they're wondering why we aren't allowed to see them. Naomi's boyfriend already threatened to break it off with her. He thinks she's lying to him, seeing one of the bachelors on the side.”
    “Well, it's pretty important to the case that they know where the contestants are at all times. I'm sure the boyfriend will come around once the killer is caught and she can explain it to him.”
    Tina looked away and chewed on her lower lip. She turned back to Leine.
    “One of us might have let something slip,” she said, her eyes cutting to the side.
    “Oh? Like what?”
    “Like telling someone about the-the missing body parts. I think they even paid for the information.”
    Nice, Leine thought. Won't be long now before the press picks that up. “I'll have to let the detectives know. It's going to impact the case.”
    Tina's kohl-lined eyes widened and she reached over and touched Leine's arm. “You didn't hear this from me. The rest of the girls would rip me apart if they found out.”
    Heather and Tina were the top two contenders on the show. Leine figured the information was Tina's way of eliminating the competition. Leine didn't plan on naming anyone, except maybe Tina.
    “How many people outside the show know?”
    Tina hesitated a moment. “Not more than three, I think.”
    “I'll be sure to let the police know.” Leine got up to leave.
    Tina looked disappointed. “Aren't you going to ask me who they are?”
    “If the police want more information, I'll tell them who told me.” Leine had a pretty good idea which contestants Tina would single out as leaks.
    “Do you think the killer will try again?”
    “They're doing all they can to prevent that.”
    Almost to herself Tina said, “I wonder why he chose Mandy and not me?” She held up a well-toned arm for Leine to see. “I work out, too. She definitely wasn't the most cut, by far.”
    Leine took a deep breath. Wow . “I'm sure he had his reasons.”
    Tina nodded. Leine couldn't be sure, but it looked like a frown struggled to make its appearance.
    “Great piece today, by the way.”
    “Hmm?”
    “The confession Billy just shot. That was some good acting.”
    Tina smiled, evidently flattered. “You think so? I've been taking classes.”
    “It shows.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    The arrest of Charles Graber didn't go exactly as planned. Once word reached the Chief that the bloody towel had Graber's DNA on it, Putnam, Jensen and two uniformed backup units were given the go ahead and descended on his West Hollywood home. The Los Angeles Sheriff Department was all too happy to allow the LAPD to step in and make the arrest, even though it was their jurisdiction.
    Putnam assigned Felix Ditterand and his partner to cover the rear of the small Craftsman-style home, in case anyone escaped. The suspect burst through the back door at full throttle and Ditterand pursued on foot. Graber cut down an alley, heading for Santa Monica Boulevard and the rookie fired