She Cradled the Smoking Gun: Ch 4
Stone circles back to the site of the film premiere to see how much of an argument ensued
Click here for Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3
Paul Kaye had plenty of friends. Online research showed him interviewed by the glossy LA and Southern California lifestyle magazines featuring the most expensive pubs, cars, and other symbols of achievement. Paul was usually lost in a crowd of smiling faces.
Life looked good, obviously, and So Cal appeared to be a vibrant region of progress unless you or a family member was a murder victim. Then it sucked big time.
But Paul Kaye also had an enemy and piecing the puzzle together required discipline and the willingness to search for one clue at a time using phone records, retracing steps, and dissecting relationships.
Stone pulled up to the hotel lobby in Century City which he considered the name for an overpriced street of high rises and people who liked to pretend they were important. He parked off to one side in his Crown Vic.
The valet started to protest until Stone took out his badge and quieted the man. He walked beneath chandeliers through the expansive lobby and made his way to an open area that looked out over a courtyard below and the Hollywood Hills to the north.
Two men sat waiting on barstools.
A manager with the nametag Steve was peering through his thick glasses and hands rested on his round stomach. Next to him was the server with his trim build and actor-good looks who had overheard the trio of Morgan, Burman, and Kaye argue.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet,” said Stone, reaching into his pocket for his notepad and pen. “I’m developing a timeline of events so any information you provide is appreciated and will be considered. Anything stand out regarding Paul Kaye and the people he was around?”
“Not for me,” said Steve. “We do these events all the time. Entertainment, corporate, political events. In fact, as soon as you leave we’ve got to set up for some awards the city manager’s giving out. You got people with their made-up smiles and shaking hands with each other. You know it’s bullshit and they probably hate each other, but you never really hear any arguing.”
“You heard something this time?” asked Stone.
The manager motioned to the server. “Reggie.”
“Sorry about what happened.” Reggie looked pained. “The evening wasn’t too strange. Just that the guy who was with Paul Kaye and the woman, his wife or girlfriend — ?”
“Girlfriend,” said Stone.
“The guy was arguing with her. I was trying to leave and serve others, but the guy kept calling me back and stuffing his face with lobster rolls and sounded really annoying.”
“What was he saying?”
“Something about his ideas were better than hers and they were more profitable.”
The manager rolled his eyes. “That’s how it always is. Someone thinks they’re the guy with the bright ideas and they, somehow, have the magic formula that’s going to turn out some show or film that everyone’s going to watch. It’s all bullshit.”
“Any tempers flare?” Stone glanced between the manager and Reggie.
“No. They sounded goofy. Maybe jealous of each other,” said Reggie. “No outright threats. I came back around twice with appetizers and the little guy sounded more obnoxious and the lady was trying to shrug things off.”
“What else did you notice? Anyone else hanging around?”
“No, not really. Again, nothing unusual. Some people came up to Mr. Kaye, shook his hand, and chatted. I noticed what seemed like concern, though.”
“Concern?” asked Stone.
“Yeah, he’d pull out his phone and glance at it. Then put it back in his pocket.”
“People look at their phones all the time.” When going through Paul Kaye’s call history, he had noticed a text message sent that evening to Lisa Kaye, but it hadn’t been returned. Wanting to talk. Sent 8:33 pm. But another was more specific. Heard from the realtor. It was sent at 10:56 pm.
Reggie continued. “Right. It seemed quite normal. But, well, he looked concerned. That’s just my impression from serving hors d’oeuvres. I caught glimpses but there were lots of people.”
“Was anyone else hanging around him, that you could tell?”
“No.”
It was time to move on. Sounded like a normal night. But Stone figured something was on Paul Kaye’s mind because he was trying to contact Lisa but she wasn’t responding.
Videotape from the hotel security cameras didn’t reveal anything suspicious and Paul Kaye had headed to the car early with his girlfriend, Morgan. They walked side by side but weren’t holding hands and his arm wasn’t around her, which was quite a different picture than the event photos that had appeared online with huge smiles and arms entwined for dear life.
Photographs capture moments and Stone knew how those moments can change suddenly. Especially when passion is involved.
Chapter 5 will go live on Friday, March 1
Click here for Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3
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