#1 Fan: Obsession

Chapter 1-Evan

I’m done. My career is officially over , Evan thought as he sat on the couch nervously cradling his distraught wife in his arms. He tried to shield her from the horrific scene in the next room. There were two dead bodies lying on the bed. The white hotel room sheets were covered in their blood with a knife wrapped in a napkin from the room service tray.

The sudden knock on the door startled them. Thoughts of hotel security or the police coming to check out a guest complaint of noise entered Evan’s mind. The panicked look in Sara’s eyes told Evan she had the same thoughts.

Mr. Taylor, open up, a man’s voice whispered through the hotel room door. Kat sent us.

Evan jumped up from the couch and hurried to greet the fixers Kat contacted to save his ass. He opened the door and checked to make sure no one was in the hall watching them. Two men entered the room wearing blue jeans, black long sleeved shirts, and black gloves.

Hey, did Kat tell you what happened?

We don’t ask questions; it’s better that way. Are they in there? One of the men pointed to the half-opened bedroom door.

Evan slid through the opening with the two men following closely behind him. What can you do to help?

The men turned to each other and huddled together in a whisper. They surveyed the room before glancing back at Evan. Here’s what you are going to do, the shorter of the two men said. You and you’re wife are to leave here immediately; go some place where you will both be seen so you can have a lot of alibis.

How are we getting out of here without the cameras catching us? I’m sure we were seen half a dozen times just getting to the room.

You don’t need to worry about it, the taller man replied. My associate will walk you down to your cars. I suggest you take one car. If anyone asks why you came to the hotel, your wife was meeting you here and you took one car.

But, what about this shit? Evan’s voice was a little louder than he anticipated. He winced when he saw the angry look in the eyes of the men sent to help him.

We’ll worry about this, and you concentrate on forgetting everything that you saw this morning. You and your wife will go about your lives as if nothing happened.

That’s easier said than done, Evan replied. Did you see her sitting on the couch? She can barely function.

Then, I suggest you do something to snap her out of it before she fucks up and says something that would make either of you look suspicious.

I get it. I’ll figure something out.

You better, the man replied. He nodded to his associate. Take them down to their car. Make sure no one sees you.

Got it.

Evan walked back to the other room, flanked by one of the men assigned to clean up his mess. Evan knew it was his fault. He was the one messing around behind his wife’s back. When she walked into the hotel room and caught him, he chose not to be a man and admit what he had done. Instead, he set Mr. Waters and Audrey up to be caught in bed together so Evan could claim he was innocent. He didn’t think what it would do to his wife. Sara must have snapped when she entered the room. Evan waited outside the room, giving Sara enough time to catch the pair in the act. He walked through the door, thinking he would pretend to be innocent, but he entered to see the horrific scene of his wife covered in the blood Evan’s agent and publicist.

Sara...Sara...baby, we need to move.

She looked at him with a tear streaked face and bloodshot eyes. She refused to say a word, but meekly nodded. Evan took her by the hand and helped Sara to her feet.

Okay, let’s go.

The man opened the door and checked the hall to make sure the coast was clear. He waved them to follow him into the hall. They walked down the long corridor to the other side of the floor until they found a door leading to the stairwell. They cautiously descended to the main level and tiptoed their way outside to Evan’s car.

Wait, where are you going? he asked the man as he turned to go back inside the building.

I need to clean up the room, unless of course you want to have the cops breathing down your necks.

Okay, I get it. You guys know how to handle situations like these.

Glad you understand. Now, get the fuck out of here before someone recognizes you and you lose your alibis.

The man left without another word, leaving Evan and Sara alone in the parking lot. Come on; we should get going, Evan said. He took a few steps, but realized his wife was not following him. Sara, we need to move before someone sees us. He grabbed her arm, pulling her towards his car. He opened the passenger side door and helped her inside.

Evan ran around the back of the car and jumped in the driver’s seat. He wanted to peel out of the parking lot, never to look back, but knew that would make him look suspicious. He needed to be careful if they wanted to ensure the deaths of Chris Waters and Audrey Stone weren’t pinned on him.

He cautiously checked around as he drove out of the lot and onto the highway. I think the best place for us to go is to the movie set. There are plenty of people there that can vouch for us. Sara refused to speak or to look at Evan as they drove. She sat staring out the passenger window. Did you hear me? Sara let out a little grunt. What the hell is wrong? You can’t sit here acting like this when we get to the set.

I don’t wanna go to the set, Evan, she finally snapped. I just killed two people. I should be going to jail right now. Instead, you called some random people to clean up our mess as if nothing happened.

Yeah, I called them; so you don’t go to prison.

How do you even know people like that?

I don’t know who those guys are; I didn’t call them.

Then, who did?

I reached out to Kat for help. She knows a lot of powerful people, and she called in a favor to get us out of this mess.

Why would she stick her neck out on the line for you? Is there something going on I should know about?

If you’re insinuating I’m having an affair with her, the answer is no. We’ve never been anything more than friends and business associates.

But you fucked your publicist, right?

What the hell are you talking about?

I saw you, Evan. I saw you fucking her in that hotel room.

I never touched Audrey. It was a blatant lie, but one that Evan was going to stand by unless someone had concrete proof. Was that why you killed them? Did you think that I was having sex with Audrey?

Yes, and I know you were, I caught you red-handed.

When?

Last night!

It couldn’t have been me. I was in the weight room and then went for a dip in the hotel pool. I met up with Waters in the lobby coming from the elevator when I was heading back up to my room. Audrey was already in bed asleep when I got in.

So you weren’t in your room last night?

Not until ten maybe ten-thirty.

Swear to me?

I promise, baby, I never had sex with Audrey.

There were tears in Sara’s eyes. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. I’m so sorry.

It’s okay. We’ll face this together. You and I just need to get our stories straight before we reach the studio.

How can you wanna help me, knowing I went to your room to kill you thinking you were cheating on me?

Because I know you weren’t thinking clearly. For whatever reason, you thought Waters was me. But it wasn’t me, and you would never do anything to hurt me.

No, I’m so sorry.

Evan pulled to the side of the road and wrapped his arm around Sara, pulling her closer. We’ll get through this together. I love you.

She looked up at Evan with her tear soaked face and kissed him gently. I love you too.

They pulled up to the studio a half hour later. Evan snuck Sara past security and showed her around the set. He followed the advice of the two men and introduced her to everyone he knew.

Having thirty or forty alibis should be enough to keep our names out of the investigators’ mouths, Evan thought.

He remained on set for over an hour, staying visible to as many people as he could. It was all part of the plan. He just hoped Kat and her men were able to get rid of any evidence from the hotel linking him and Sara to the murders.

As they watched a few scenes from the movie play out in front of them, Sara leaned in and whispered, What are we gonna do when we leave here?

Evan nearly toppled over the side of his chair trying to put distance between him and his wife. He grabbed Sara’s wrist and dragged her to an empty trailer. He checked to make sure no one was around before closing the door.

What the hell, Sara?

It was a simple question.

No, it’s not.

All I asked was-

I know what you were asking, but we can’t discuss anything about what happened back at the hotel.

I just meant were we going out somewhere or do you have another place we could stay at for the night.

Evan shook his head and breathed a sigh of relief. I figured we can go out with a few of the cast or crew members to lengthen the time with our alibis before going back to the hotel. He snapped his fingers as the light bulb in his head turned on. Where are you staying?

I figured I would’ve been in your room, but I don’t really think that’s an option anymore.

No, but we can book you a reservation somewhere else and stay there until the news breaks.

Don’t you think that’ll be a little suspicious.

Yes, but not as much as me being the one to find the bodies and report their deaths to the police.

Then what do you suggest?

We could always file a noise complaint, Evan suggested.

Yeah, like that’s a good idea considering there won’t be any noise being made from the room.

Then what do you suggest?

I think you need to call Kat and see what our next move should be.

Chapter 2-Sara

Sara sat on the couch in the trailer while Evan stood in the corner talking on the phone. She asked him to call his friend Kat. After all, she was the one who ordered the two men to clean up her mess back at the hotel, but neither she nor Evan knew what to do next. She tried to wait patiently, but every second they wasted on deliberation brought the police closer to their doorstep.

The moment Sara saw Evan hang up the phone; she jumped up from the couch. What did she say?

Mostly, you need to calm down and that we need to get our story straight before the cops start asking questions.

What do you mean? I thought Kat was handling everything?

Her men took care of the evidence linking you to the crime, but that doesn’t mean the police won’t be buzzing around. They were murdered in my hotel room. Someone is bound to put two and two together and label me as a potential suspect.

No, that can’t happen.

There’s no way to stop it. The front desk will have it on record of Audrey and me staying together. If she’s missing, or worse, the police find her body, they’re going to check with the hotel.

Maybe we can leave town and say that you left this morning.

There are too many people here that saw us. They are our alibis. We can’t start changing the story because you’re scared.

Sara collapsed onto the couch in defeat. Then what am I supposed to do? I don’t wanna sit here all day wondering when the police are coming to question us.

You’re not, Evan replied. Kat’s still in town and coming to pick you up in a half hour. You’ll be staying with her for the rest of the day. She’s booking you on a flight back to New York tonight.

Are you sure that won’t look a little suspicious?

Maybe, but Kat assured me she has a plan.

You’re putting a lot of faith in someone that worked for a man I killed. I mean, how do we know she has our back?

Kat has been helping me since Waters put me on tour. Yeah, she worked for him, but she’s had a lot of issues with him too.

Sara cupped her hands to her face shielding her eyes. What are you gonna tell the cops?

You flew into town to surprise me and I met you at the hotel. I brought you to the set to introduce you to everyone and asked my friend Kat to pick you up because I had some work to take care of.

Yeah, but I got in last night. If they check into when I arrived-

I doubt they will, but if they do, we’ll tell the police you stayed with Kat when you got into town and spoke to me this morning.

And you really think they’ll buy it?

We have no choice but to have faith in this plan.

Sara sat there letting the worst case scenario run through her head. Thoughts of the police pulling up to the set and arresting them both before Kat had a chance to show up, or worse, that Kat turned them into the cops.

A knock on the door tore Sara from her thoughts. She watched Evan answer it as a tall gorgeous blonde entered the trailer. It wasn’t the first time they met, but Kat’s beauty was breathtaking. She captured everyone’s attention when she entered a room, including women. She was dressed in a black pants suit that clung to her body.

Damn, this woman even makes a pants suit look hot.

Sara stared at Kat with a look of jealousy and awe as she slowly stood up. She brushed her hair aside and plastered a fake smile on her face.

Sara, how are you holding up? Kat asked.

How did she think I felt? I’m fine, Sara lied. She was anything but fine. She was nervous the police were on their way, worried they wouldn’t believe anything she said, and petrified Evan or Kat would turn on her after learning she was there to kill him.

You don’t look it, Kat replied.

What should we do? Evan asked.

I think it’ll be best if Sara comes back with me. We can play it off as you had work to do at the set and asked me to pick her up and show her L.A. for a bit. In the meantime, I can call in a few favors and have her on a flight back to New York in a few hours.

You sure that won’t look suspicious? I mean, she just got here and she’s leaving the same day my publicist and agent are murdered.

Don’t worry about it. My men have ensured neither body will be found until tonight.

"Who the fuck are you?" Sara snapped.

I’m your new best friend. Now, I suggest you stop asking questions and do what I say.

What am I supposed to do? Evan asked.

Keep yourself busy around the set. I want you to stay in sight of as many people as possible to make your alibi stronger. She grabbed Sara by the wrist and directed her to the trailer door. We should get going. The longer we stay here, the harder it will be to get her out of here before the bodies are discovered.

Sara followed Kat through the set back to her car. Once they were locked inside, away from possible eavesdroppers, Sara decided it was time to open the flood gates of questions that she had been dying to ask.

Why are you doing this...I mean, why are you helping us?

Evan is a good man. He’s worked hard to get where he is and something like this could ruin his career.

So, you’re only helping me to help him save his career?

Not exactly. Kat kept her eyes on the road, refusing to glance at Sara for even a second. I like you, Sara. I don’t know why this happened or what snapped inside your head that made you kill them, but I’m sure you have your reasons.

I thought it was Evan, Sara mumbled.

Excuse me?

I flew into town last night to surprise him. When I got to his hotel room, I saw two people having sex in the bed.

And you thought it was Evan.

I was a hundred percent sure it was him. I planned on going back to New York today, but he texted me to meet him back at his room.

How did he know you were in town?

I don’t know. We never had a chance to talk. When I got to his room, I found two people having sex. I thought he was trying to have one more fuck before I got there.

Say no more, Kat interrupted. I think I can figure out the rest from here. She paused while taking another turn. Did you book your flight back to New York already?

Yeah, I arranged it last night.

Good, what time?

It leaves at three.

I think that should give us enough time for me to book my flight.

Wait, where are you going?

Back to New York with you. Did you really think I’m letting you jeopardize this by freaking out on the plane or blabbing to one of your friends?

I can handle this myself.

No, you can’t, but that’s why I’m going to help you through this.

How can you be so calm about it? And how do you know those guys that came to the room this morning?

I can’t answer either of those questions. Let’s just say; I know a lot of people that wield a lot of power.

Do you have dirt on these people or something?

Something like that. Let’s just say I align myself with the right kind of people who owe me.

Sara didn’t know what else to ask. She didn’t know who Kat really was or what she did after helping her and Evan. She was grateful for prolonging the police and cleaning up the crime scene, but Sara didn’t know who she was dealing with anymore.

Sara was glued to the T.V. all day while Kat booked her flight to New York. She waited to hear something on the news about the hotel finding two dead bodies. Her heart skipped a beat every minute with anticipation of breaking news.

Snap out of it, Kat said. You can’t be this obvious.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just watching T.V.

No, you’re waiting for them to break-in with a report about finding the two of them. You need to stop looking guilty and start walking around like nothing happened.

How can I do that when we both know what I did?

You need to forget what happened.

I can’t.

Well, you better learn, or you and your husband will be in jail for a long time.

Is that a threat?

No, it’s the truth. The only ones who can fuck this up are you and Evan. I don’t think he’s going to slip up, but you look like you’ll crack at the sound of their names.

You try killing someone, let alone two people, and see how you handle the situation.

Maybe I have, Kat snapped. You don’t know anything about me or what I’ve done. Who are you to think I haven’t done something like this in my past?

Sara thought back to Kat admitting she knew a lot of powerful people and wondered if one of them helped her cover up a similar crime once before.

Okay, help me.

I will, but first we need to get you out of here. The sooner you’re out of California, the better.

Chapter 3-Evan

Evan spent most of the day on set wondering if Sara made it back to New York or if her departure would raise suspicion with the police once the bodies were found. He knew it was a matter of time before shit hit the fan, but the anticipation was weighing heavily on his mind throughout the day.

Hey, come quick, one of the production assistants said as they rushed onto the set. The kid didn’t seem to know his place as he grabbed Evan by the arm and dragged him towards a television broadcasting the news.

Evan didn’t listen to anchor’s words. The camera only showed the outside of his hotel, but that was enough to let him know the bodies were found. They announced two were dead, but the cause was unknown.

How could they not know what caused their deaths? Sara used a knife on both of them and they bled out. That was something only a person viewing the crime scene would have noticed, unless Kat’s men set it up to appear different.

Evan stood there trying his best to look like he was in shock as the news delivered the names of the deceased to the public.

Are you okay? the assistant asked.

I-I don’t know. He kept his head low as he slowly walked away. Others attempted to talk to him, but he ignored them and did his best to keep up the charade of being caught off guard by the shocking news.

The set was silent as Evan walked by. He didn’t know if they were doing it out of mourning the loss of Chris Waters and Audrey Stone, or if they were staring at him to see if he would crack. The person he needed to be concerned with was his wife. He didn’t know if she was okay or if she was sitting somewhere freaking out.

Evan was slow to return to his trailer, trying to be cautious enough to ensure no one nearby as he pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Sara, believing it would seem less suspicious than making Kat his first call.

Hey, where are you? he asked.

We landed at JFK about an hour ago and are in a cab going back to our house.

Who are you with?

Kat. She came back with me.

Evan was slightly relieved to hear Sara wasn’t alone. She was with the only other person he trusted. Kat knew their secret and would help Sara deal with the situation safely