Noire: Detective of L.A.

Noire: Detective of L.A. Part 15

Noire: Detective of L.A.

Chapter 5: The Fallen Idol, Part 2

"Hello. Detective Noire, here to interview a Jessica Hamilton."

The nurse looked at the hospital registration list. "Jessica Hamilton... Oh yes- she's in the room behind you, Detective."

Noire thanked her and walked towards the room. He and Jackson opened the door slowly, and saw a young girl, fifteen years old at most. "Are you feeling better, Jessica?"

The girl held her head up with her hand. "A little... I still feel woozy."

"I see. My name is Mark Noire, I'm a policeman. I'd like to talk about your accident, is that okay?" asked Noire gently.

"Um... okay?..." she answered, uncertainly.

"Can you tell me what you remember about the crash?"

She frowned slightly. "It's all kind of fuzzy... I remember waking up here. Nothing happened yesterday." she added quickly.

"Tell the truth, Jessica. Why the big coverup?"

"I-I'm not lying to you..." she stammered. 

"Ms. Hamilton, we found your underwear in your handbag. You need to tell us what happened."

Jessica looked away ashamed. "The doctor told me what happened. I didn't want that... I just wanted to be a star- to be in the movies... I told Junie what happened, but she told me to toughen up. That it was the price of stardom."

"Did she now?" asked Jackson in disgust. "That cold-hearted bitch."

"It's not Junie's fault... It's not my first time. I had a boyfriend back home." she gave a half, shamefaced smile. "But, my father found out about him..."

Noire peered at her over his notepad. "Even if you consented, Jessica, you're still underage. We need to get in touch with your parents. To tell them what has happened."

"Oh, you don't need to worry them. They sent me along to stay with Aunty Junie. They trust her to take car of me."

"You're lying, Jessica. How are we going to make this right if you lie to us?" Noire asked.

"Oh please, Detective. Why would I lie to you?"

"Because you're a runaway, Jessica. You don't have your parents' permission to be here. We saw the letter your mother wrote. Now, are you gonna tell me what really happened?"

She scrunched up her face, trying to recall the memory. "Junie took me to this strange place. It's difficult to remember... Someone gave me a drink to calm my nerves, and then I felt faint. I think I passed out."

"How did you meet Mr. Bishop?"

"Well, Junie's a big movie star. You probably know that. She's doing a new movie."

"What's the story with Bishop and Mrs. McAfee? Why does he want both of you dead?"

"That can't be true. Mr. Bishop seemed very happy today. I mean... yesterday."

"And that's why he wedged a shrunken head against the accelerator pedal and punted the two of you over an escarpment?"

Jessica frowned. "Well... I heard Junie talking to him over the phone a couple of times, screaming really. She can be very hard sometimes. But they seemed okay yesterday... like they had worked it out."

Noire wrote all of this in his notepad.

"Jessica, I know what happened to you. Where exactly did it happen?"

Jessica seemed close to tears. "Please... It's scary. It's hard to think, of anything."

"Jessica, I really need you to help me here." Noire requested gently.

Jessica had a blank look on her face. She said nothing for a few minutes, then said, "I remember the mermaid..."

Noire was confused. "Was the mermaid in the movie too?"

"No, in the front of the building... We pulled up to the front of the mermaid..."

Noire closed his notepad. "Thank you, Jessica. You've been a big help. Here's my card. If you think of something or you need some help, just get in touch, okay?"

"Okay..." she whispered quietly.

"I think it's a good idea if you went home until you feel better, Jessica."

"Oh! I can't do that. What if I get the part and I'm not there?"

Noire walked out of the room, disgusted and shaken. "She's still worried about getting the part, Jackson. How could someone take advantage of a naive girl like that?"

"It's the tale of the town, Mark." Jackson explained sadly. "Lambs that go willingly to slaughter."

Out of the corner of his eye, Noire saw a man walking with June Ballard. "Who the hell is that?" Jackson asked.

"Must be her lawyer. Be certainly expedited her release."

"I don't like it, Noire. Why is she in such a hurry? We better follow her."