James Conway - In Cold Blonde

Syd said it matter of fact. No accusation in her tone, no indignation, no anger even. That surprised Ryan, he’d expected a scene of some sort. But, of course, Syd knew him better than he knew himself. She probably figured it out last night. Probably the instant she saw him.

“Yes, I fucked that greedy bitch. We can talk later about why. I’m not sure what it says about me, or about us, but I want you to know that it’s over, finally, completely, irrevocably.”

“I fucked over seven hundred men.”

“What?”

“And I killed two of them.”

Syd had decided if Ryan was going to level, so would she. In fact, she decided she’d never lie to Ryan again. “My stepfather abused me from the time I was fourteen years old. When I was seventeen, I killed him. I ran away from home and came to Hollywood, fell in love with a pimp who got me hooked on heroin and put me out on the street. Two years later I overdosed, was saved by a paramedic named Eric who helped me kick and get off the street. Eric was killed by my pimp, and I killed the pimp in self defense. Eric’s sister took me under her wing, helped me get through school and into the police academy. But when I was a hooker, I kept count for a while, how many men I’d slept with; I gave up at six hundred and seventy-one but didn’t get off the street until four months later. So seven hundred, give or take. And you fucked that greedy bitch, so the way I figure it, we’re even.”

Ryan laughed. “I always sensed there was more to Syd Curtis, but I had no idea…” Then he took Syd in his arms and hugged her.

Anne watched them from the ballroom doorway. The freckled face redhead looked ecstatic. Well, at least Anne knew she could destroy Syd’s career whenever she wanted.

Then Anne realized Syd wasn’t her enemy. Syd had done nothing wrong. Syd hadn’t stolen Ryan; Anne had lost him by lying. Anne knew that if she’d been honest with Ryan from the beginning, things might well have turned out differently. If she’d been honest with Ryan, it could very well be her in Ryan’s arms now.

So, Syd Curtis, Anne decided, you are getting a pass, for now.

“Excuse me,” Lieutenant Hanrahan said, brushing past Anne as he charged into the hallway. He spotted Ryan and Syd as they broke their embrace. “Cut that shit out,” he said joining them. “Or I’ll have to break up my best team.”

“You mean, you know?” Ryan asked.

“Please. Everyone knows. The way you two look at each other is downright combustible. So, play it cool in public and the LAPD’s most famous homicide detectives can remain partners.

“Now, I just got a call from our pal, Alex Cortez, in Newport Beach. Nick Wood is dead. He put a bullet through his brain.”

Ryan was shocked. “Grief?” wondered Ryan.

Hanrahan shrugged. “I don’t know.”

I do, thought Syd. And soon so would the whole world.

Not grief but justice.

Nick Wood was dead. Rest in peace, Alice. Rest in peace.

Alice Waterman’s funeral was a media free-for-all. Video crews from around the world descended on Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach. In a show of respect to the deceased, the FAA banned all air traffic over the cemetery to prevent the inevitable onslaught of helicopters from disrupting the ceremony.

The funeral was held a week after Alice’s death; but more importantly, just one day later, the LAPD released two videos: Alice’s gang rape and Alice’s courageous escape from Blake’s handcuffs, their ensuing battle and Alice eventually killing him. But it was a third video that got the most attention, the Lady in Red’s manifesto.

Syd found the cell phone video Friday morning when they finished cataloging the crime scene evidence and Syd thought to check Alice’s cell phone files. Syd was worried the D.A. would try to suppress the video so she sent it to a friend and it debuted on YouTube that night.

In a slightly distorted close-up the Lady in Red looks directly into the lens.

“My name is Alice Waterman. I was a rape victim. If I had been smarter, it never would have happened. If I had been braver I would have gone to the police. But I was weak and did nothing. The men who attacked me flourished while I suffered every day for years.

“Well, I got smart, got brave and did something. I killed the men who raped me and mutilated their precious cocks.

“Men everywhere are going to hear what I’ve done.

“Men everywhere will know it can happen to them.

“If I could do it, you can do it.

“Be brave, be smart, fight back.”

Simply put, those three videos transformed the Lady in Red from serial killer to folk hero. While the talking heads on FOX News, CNN and MSNBC debated Alice’s cold-blooded vengeance, every woman who watched Alice shoot Blake between the eyes was filled with grim satisfaction. Alice’s wish for inspiration and empowerment was realized.

And the lives of many people on the case were changed forever. The Watermans were deluged with offers for books and movies but were proceeding cautiously; they were determined to honor Alice’s memory.

Liz was interviewed by Bill O’Reilly and her blunt, irreverent personality made her an instant hit. She became a sought after TV commentator whenever a new murder case captured the nation’s imagination.

Lieutenant Hanrahan was bumped to Captain and offered a desk downtown. But Hanrahan liked Hollywood Homicide so he said thanks, but no thanks. However, his dental checkup was a disaster. The sugar from sucking so many Tootsie Roll Pops had ravaged his teeth. He had to have six cavities filled, gave up the candy and went back to sucking Marlboros.

Tony Ramirez was working harder than ever. Besides his job at SID, he spent every evening working on the launch of the first Mirabelle’s Meatballs restaurant — because the first thing Ryan did when he got his three point four million dollars from the California Lottery was to write Tony a check for two hundred thousand dollars to get his franchise dream started.

Ryan and Syd refused all requests for interviews. Ryan didn’t want to discuss having to kill the now beloved Lady in Red. And Syd’s quest for fame now seemed childish. A homicide cop’s business is other people’s tragedies, and to seek celebrity at their expense was just plain sleazy. Besides, with fame comes examination and Syd wasn’t particularly interested in people digging into her past. Some things are best left secret.

Thousands of people filled the cemetery as Father O’Malley read his eulogy over Alice’s open grave. Syd stood off to the side with Ryan. Her eyes traversed the faces; the friends, the family and the strangers who were so touched by Alice’s story they felt they had to be there to pay their respects. Syd finally settled on Betty Waterman. The woman whose heart ached the most.

Tears ran down Betty’s face. The depth of Betty’s grief touched Syd. And Syd couldn’t help compare Betty to her own mom. Did she cry when she realized Syd had run away? Did she ever cry now? Was she even alive?

Suddenly Syd felt an overpowering desire to know.

As Alice’s body was lowered into the earth, Syd whispered to Ryan that she’d be right back and she walked to a private spot on a tree-lined hill facing the Pacific.

Syd took out her cell phone, closed her eyes trying to remember her old phone number and dialed.

It rang.

Eleven years is a long time; odds were if her mother was still alive, she’d probably have moved.

It rang again.

And what would she say to her? Hi, mom, it’s me. How you doing?

It rang again.

And if she gets a machine, should she leave a message or call back?

It rang again.

Okay, Syd thought. Nobody’s home and no machine. Sorry, Mom, you missed your chance. She reached to hit End when the phone was answered.