“In an exclusive interview, KPTB entertainment reporter Monica Martell has a story to beat all others. Monica?”
Cassie recognized the blonde from Ken’s premiere who’d interviewed Rhett right after their little restroom tryst. It hurt like hell to think about him teasing, telling the reporter about Cassie’s hot legs only a week ago.
“Good evening, Mark,” she said breathlessly with a toss of her well-coifed mane. “I’m here with breaking news about the King of Hollywood. That’s right, folks, Rhett Corrigan.”
She gripped the remote. No, it couldn’t be. No one from the funeral would spill to the media what Rhett had said. They were all close friends or Zak’s agent and he would know to keep his mouth shut. Everyone knew Rhett didn’t mean what he said in the heat of the moment.
Then the camera panned across from Monica and there sat a living nightmare. Zak’s cousin, looking even more rumpled than he did this morning.
“I’m here with Kenny Paulson, a cousin and close friend of Zak Mercury. Many of you will remember KPTB’s breaking news regarding Zak’s suicide on Christmas night, only days ago.”
The reporter fluttered her lashes coyly at her companion. “So, Kenny, what is the story? Tell me about you and Zak Mercury and how Rhett Corrigan figures into all of this.”
Kenny grinned broadly at the camera. Cassie thought from his glazed eyes he was either drunk or high. Probably both. “Zak and me grew up together. Our moms were close ‘n all, and Zak and me did like everything together. You know, steal magazines from Walgreens, toke up, hot-wire cars and do a little joyriding. Fun stuff.”
Monica’s eyes widened. “Seems as if there was more to Zak than his funny bone.”
Kenny laughed. “Zak was a crazy SOB. His dad ran off and his mom beat the bleep out of him for nothin’ most days. Then his mom died in a car wreck. Zak went into foster care after that. We didn’t see too much of each other then. He got shuffled around a lot.”
The reporter nodded sympathetically. “I’m sure it’s hard for children to stay in touch in that situation. Tell me about Zak’s funeral, Kenny. What happened during it this morning?” She leaned in, the camera picking up a nice shot of cleavage.
Cassie stood and moved closer to the set. She wished she could mute Kenny Paulson because she was afraid whatever came out of his mouth would be considered the gospel truth. He was on the news and people tended to believe whatever they heard on TV.
“It was awful hearing about Zak killing himself and all. We’d just gotten back in touch. That guy was going places. He looked like a freakin’ ghost in that coffin. You could still see the scars under the makeup job they did. Not that it wasn’t good but, hell, you crash a car going ninety miles an hour, you don’t come out lookin’ like yourself, you know?”
Cassie threw the remote across the kitchen. “It was a closed casket,” she screamed at the screen. “Why are you giving this creep air time?”
The reporter rested a hand on her subject’s. “I’m sure that must have been terrible. How did Rhett Corrigan handle it? I know they’re very close. My sources tell me Rhett paid for Zak’s burial.”
Kenny sniffed and wiped his nose with a sleeve. “I figure Rhett went off the deep end on this one. He could barely string two words together for the eulogy, all cryin’ and blubberin’ and junk. He didn’t make much sense so I guess he had to get drunk just to get up there and say somethin’ nice about Zak.”
“Liar!” Her hands balled into fists, wanting to punch the idiot. What would these untruths do to Rhett’s reputation?
“I’m sure Rhett was emotional. I’ve heard he really nurtured Zak’s career from the beginning. And you said he spoke about his own?”
Kenny’s laugh sounded like a sick hyena. “He ain’t got no career now.”
Monica’s brows rose. “What do you mean, Kenny?”
“Right in the middle of everything, he just lost it. Man, I’ve never seen anyone melt down like Rhett Corrigan. He was screaming obscenities and cryin’ and shakin’ his fist like a madman. And then he said he was fed up with Hollywood and quittin’ for good.”
“Quitting? Quitting show business? Are you sure that’s what he said, Kenny?”
Kenny nodded. “He said nobody really cared about people like him and Zak and he told everyone to go to hell. Anyway, he called everyone jackals and said he was walking away. For good.”
The camera zeroed in on a supposedly surprised Monica Martell. “Astounding news—and you heard it first on KPTB. Of course, our viewers will remember the very unusual situation between these two Hollywood titans less than ten days ago. Rhett Corrigan beat Zak Mercury to within an inch of his life at an after-party of Ken Cameron’s first feature film, supposedly over a confrontation involving ‘Ponytail Girl’ Cassie Carroll. This woman prompted the break-up between Rhett and top model Randal James and then she came between Rhett Corrigan and rising comic Zak Mercury.
“And now, it seems Rhett Corrigan is sacrificing his acting career, distraught over the suicide of his closest friend, Zak Mercury. Let’s hope Rhett isn’t suicidal himself—unless ‘Ponytail Girl’ drives him over the brink. This is Monica Martell reporting exclusively for KPTB entertainment news. Thanks to our special guest, Kenny Paulson, for sharing his wonderful insight. Back to you, Mark.”
Cassie numbly turned off the TV. Her legs began to shake, trembling so violently that she sank to the floor to keep from collapsing. Shep came and placed his head in her lap, whining softly.
She had just witnessed the destruction of Rhett’s career. This story would be picked up by every wire service, replayed on national TV over and over, dissected in entertainment magazines, and gossiped about in offices and chatrooms across the world. People would speculate on Rhett’s sanity, his sobriety, and whatever other dirty little insinuations they could make.
Her cell phone rang and she scrambled to answer. Her quivering fingers dropped it and she grabbed at it, willing Rhett not to hang up before she could answer.
“Rhett? Oh, God, I’ve been so worried—”
“Cassie, it’s Becky Bloss. What the hell is going on with Rhett? I come in from out of town and turn on the TV and see a train wreck happening. Has Rhett really had some kind of breakdown? I thought him beating the living daylights out of Zak and putting him in the hospital was bad enough. What—”
“Becky, shut up.” Cassie needed the constant barrage of the publicist’s words to cease.
“Well, excuse me. I’m simply trying to do my job. Rhett is a client but he’s also a friend.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m worried about Rhett.”
“And I’m not? What happened at Zak’s funeral? Rhett was drunk? I’ve never seen him—”
“You actually think Rhett would go drunk to a funeral and try to deliver a eulogy? Becky, you know Rhett. He would never do that. That creep lied through his teeth to get his fifteen minutes of fame.”
“Rhett’s not leaving the industry?”
Cassie didn’t know how to answer Becky’s question.
“He was very upset. The creep you saw on TV starting taking pictures to sell to the tabloids, right in the middle of Rhett’s eulogy. And yes, Rhett yelled at him. The security team confiscated Kenny’s phone and threw him out of the service. Rhett said he was fed up with everything being about getting a picture and he would rather walk away.”