The Mystery Writer

A drop of sweat trickled down Darcy Wren's face. She was just beginning to feel the burn in her legs due to the early morning workout. Only the first few minutes had been a struggle as she combated her low motivation. It had been several weeks since her last workout as work had kept her busy and very frustrated. Now she was determined to kill that frustration and stress at the tiny, closet-like sized gym that her apartment complex provided for its tenants. When she found her rhythm on the outdated treadmill, she felt the smallest vibration against her wrist. Her off-brand, and frankly cheap, fitness tracker indicated that she was receiving a phone call. After a quick glance at the caller ID her frustration quickly began to grow once again. She wasn't due at work for hours so why were they calling her now? “Darcy speaking.” Darcy spoke, nearly growling, into her phone after tapping it ferociously. She huffed and tried to turn her focus back onto her workout. “Darcy, you are needed to start work as soon as possible. We've just received word that Leo James will attend the 31st Global Orphans Foundation charity concert. You need to start coverage as soon as possible.” She remained silent for some time after listening to her boss, Matthias Scott, shout demands at her through the phone. She detested her new assignment already. She was a reporter for Channel 4 News, and lately she had detested every assignment she was given. Mostly because all of her assignments involved one celebrity or another. She preferred to work on subjects of her own choosing, such as homicides or other crimes that ran rampant throughout San Diego or, better yet, the entire United States. She could only hope that her recent application to Mystery Writers United to become their junior author would finally be accepted. Then she could finally quit this stepping stone as a reporter on celebrity news. “Sir, I just had a thought. What if I cover news on just the charity event and its importance in our society?” This wasn't her first time suggesting an alternate assignment and she sure as hell knew it wasn't going to be her last. “Nonsense! You're our best celebrity reporter we have. Now, you have one hour to get over to Leo James' residence.” “YOU WANT ME TO GO TO HIS HOUSE?” Darcy felt a sense of outrage rise and spill out into her response to her boss. Her voice rose several octaves as she could feel her blood pressure rising. “That is his current location, so yes. I want you tracking his every move for the remainder of the day.” A tone of annoyance toned through Matthias' voice. “I'm not a paparazzi nor do I want to be. I should only be reporting on breaking or headlining news; not following celebrities through their private events.” “Come on now, D.W. Where is your sense of curiosity? Everyone wants to know what it is like to be a celebrity. Leo James is currently the celebrity everyone wants to know more about.” 'Not when you've been following them through their entire career!' Darcy bit her tongue, knowing she'd receive a scolding for such a comment. “One hour, D.W.” The line then went dead but she took another moment to lower her cell as she gripped it so tightly that her hand began to turn red. She thought about disobeying and ignoring Matthias' demands, but they would dock her pay and force her to become an understudy of a junior reporter. She had no interest in either of those things happening. She simply couldn't afford it to happen. Darcy then tapped the 'stop' button on the machine, letting the treadmill slow to a stop. The gym was several blocks from her studio apartment and she would need all the time she could get to shower and get across town before her hour was up. Her source of exercise would have to be limited to a run back to her apartment. Silence stretched across the large, open living room though classical music did drift out of one of the bedrooms from down the hallway. Unfiltered sunlight brightened the room along with some of the hallways and kitchen. It allowed the whole house to be illuminated and show off all the fantastic features added onto the house. The largest flat screen TV nearly engulfed an entire wall; three luxury sofas stood resolute in the center of the room and the very old, but sturdy, grand piano was placed on a small elevated platform. The entrance to the balcony stood just behind the piano. In the large house, a lone figure sat on one of the sofas; his eyes were closed and legs crossed as he twirled a pen through his fingers. The man was mostly tall, toned legs with an upper body to match. His dirty blonde hair was tussled lazily though everything else suggested he was ready to walk a red carpet at any moment. “Leo?” The call was from one of his friends and more importantly his manager. It didn't surprise him so he waited for the current song to finish before opening his eyes in response. His eyebrows raised inquisitively, waiting for Malakai Lee, his manager, to say whatever was on his mind. “It seems as though your attendance at the charity event has been leaked.” The smaller, but well built man looked slightly nervous while standing in front of Leo. Malakai was certain that this news would send the celebrity into an angry rampage. Leo uncrossed his legs and lifted himself from the sofa. His head then swiveled in the direction of the large floor-to-ceiling windows. “I know.” “You do?” There was a silence between them for a moment as Leo stared outside, towards his balcony. His eyes narrowed. “I've heard the reporters outside for the past half hour.” Malakai crossed the room in record speed, throwing the balcony doors open which allowed a cool breeze to start flowing inside. A few moments passed before Malakai reentered the living room, just a passing flash of anger crossed his face. “Let's get ready to leave, Malakai. We will stop at the salon before the event.” Leo ran a hand through his hair, pushing the longer strands away from his face. “Are you sure? It will take a miracle to get out of here now.” Leo turned light gray eyes onto Malakai. All the confidence he felt was displayed across his features. After he fit a sports cap over his head, Leo and Malakai headed for the front door. In an instant they were fighting their way through the crowd of reporters, their staff and the usual few fans that always seemed to hang around his doorstep. It was as if a swarm of bees were after some honey. Cameras flashed around them at the same time questions were asked on top of each other and the noise circled around them. “Leo James why are you interested in tonight's charity event?” “Leo James, a moment to answer questions, please!” “Is it true that you are performing at tonight's event?” Ignoring all the questions, Leo did his best to ignore everyone around him as well. He cleared the crowd of reporters along with Malakai and they made a bee-line for the event van that Malakai usually drove and was in charge of. Malakai parted his side to head for the drivers seat. Leo rounded the van to get in the back seat as quickly as possible. He glanced behind him to see how far away the reporters were when he collided with a young woman. He remained on his feet while the woman fell backwards. Everything she had been carrying now spread through the almost empty parking lot. There was only one other car than his van and it looked as though it wouldn't make it another fifty miles. “Sorry! Sorry!” The brunette spoke as she tried to pull herself together. Leo offered her his hand, pulling her up quickly. “I should be the one apologizing. I was the one who wasn't paying attention to where I was walking.” Leo murmured almost too quietly as he touched the rim of his ball cap to check that it was still in place. He watched as the woman limped around the small parking lot, gathering every item that had become scattered. He quickly realized that she didn't complain even though it was obvious she was in a bit of pain. “Le-” Leo held up a hand to stop Malakai from calling him by name. His manager glanced between him and the woman from the driver seat with a curious look. “We will be late.” “Excuse me, are you going to be ok? I mean, maybe I should take you to see a doctor?” “Huh? Oh no, I'll be fine!” The young woman responded to Leo who tilted his head towards her. He was surprised at himself that he was taking an interest in her. He snapped out of his small daze when he heard the oncoming storm of reporters and other crew members. When he returned his attention back to the woman in front of him, she had finally managed to gather all of her belongings and was now blatantly staring at him. “You're Leo James, aren't you?” Leo stared at her, inspecting the woman once more. Now that she was finally facing him, he knew it was only a matter of time before she recognized him. His eyes dropped to the camera in her hands and the badge hanging from her neck. His eyes narrowed. “You're a reporter. I should have known.” She had set this up. He was determined to believe this. He snapped his head up, expecting to find her cameraman close by. The camera would be focusing on them and recording their entire interaction. “I have to go.” With nothing left to say and anger beginning to burn inside of him, he rushed to enter the back seat of his van. He didn't hesitate even after the woman's soft command of 'wait' reached his ears. “What was that all about?” Malakai asked him, turning in the driver's seat to inspect his charge. Leo stared out of the dark, tinted window and only shook his head in reply to the question. As soon as the van was out of the parking lot limits, Leo glanced back at the line of media trucks and the vehicles that he assumed belonged to his fans. They all seemed to follow at an unsafe distance. He had been through several accidents due to their careless and reckless driving habits. “Malakai, find out who leaked my appearance to the press.” Leo turned his head in the direction of his manager. “I also want the name of that reporter I just ran into and the company she works for.” “You got it, boss. You'll have both before the end of the night.” They met eyes through the rear view mirror and Leo knew he could trust his manager to get the job done correctly.