A Hollywood shrine hides unholy deeds
The 1940s: Hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the private eye arrives too late, and the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest.
Now: The Black Box Cinema immortalizes Hollywoods Golden Age in its gallery of film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless. He walksand a young starlet dies a terrifying death.
Movie mogul Eddie Archers son is charged with the grisly murder. Eddie calls agent Sean Cameron, who specializes inirregular investigations. As part of an FBI paranormal forensics team, Cameron knows that nightmares arent limited to the silver screen.
Working with special-effects artist Madison Darvilwho has her own otherworldly giftsCameron delves into the malevolent force animating more than one movie monster.
Praise for the novels of Heather Graham
An incredible storyteller.
Los Angeles Daily News
Graham deftly weaves elements of mystery, the paranormal, and romance into a tight plot that keeps the reader guessing at the true nature of the killers evil.
Publishers Weekly on The Unseen
A fast-paced and suspenseful read that will give readers chills while keeping them guessing until the end.
RT Book Reviews on Ghost Moon
If you like mixing a bit of the creepy with a dash of sinister and spine-chilling reading with your romance, be sure to read Heather Grahams latest Graham does a great job of blending just a bit of paranormal with real, human evil.
Miami Herald on Unhallowed Ground
Eerie and atmospheric.
RT Book Reviews on Unhallowed Ground
The paranormal elements are integral to the unrelentingly suspenseful plot, the characters are likable, the romance convincing and, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Grahams atmospheric depiction of a lost city is especially poignant.
Booklist on Ghost Walk
Grahams rich, balanced thriller sizzles with equal parts suspense, romance and the paranormalall of it nail-biting.
Publishers Weekly on The Vision
Mystery, sex, paranormal events. Whats not to love?
Kirkus Reviews on The Death Dealer
The Unholy
Heather Graham
www.mirabooks.co.uk
Very especially and with love for and thanks to Michelle DeVille, a gifted artist and fabricator!
For Doug and Laurie Jones, talented beyond all measure, sweet and all-around incredible.
And for the Wexler family, Cindy, Bob, Dallas and Reese, for their great kindness and generosity to my family.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Excerpt
Prologue
So, you think you know the truth? Dianna Breen, femme fatale, demanded. She leaned on the desk in the P.I.s dingy office, skirt tight against her curvaceous form, eyes sultry as she stared at the hero, Sam Stone. The film was dark and shadowy, and sexual tension between the players was palpable.
Sam Stone made no pretense of looking away from Dianna Breens chest, modestly covered in frilly white cotton beneath the linen jacket of her suit. I do know the truth. I know youre a hussy and a thief, and I dont believe youd think twice before resorting to murder.
You know nothing! Dianna Breen leaned down to bring her face close to Sam Stones. She reached past him, drew a cigarette from a pack on the desk and continued to stare at him as he fumbled for his lighter, then lit the cigarette.
I know that youd do anything to own the Egyptian Museum, Dianna. Anything, he added softly.
She moved away from him at last, striding toward the window, her walk a study in slow sensuality. There, however, in what remained of the winter light, her face told the story; she was being wronged. She was not a murderess. She turned to him, hurt and passion in her eyes. You dont understand! You dont understand aboutthe museum, she said. She gazed back out on the Los Angeles street; beyond the window, day was dying. The citys shadows suited the ambience of the black-and-white film perfectly. It was never mineyou must understand. It was never mine. It was Fredericks, and it killed him, not I.
The sound of the old reels flipping through the projector suddenly seemed loud as Sam Stone watched Dianna Breen incredulously.
Sams thoughts were heard then. He was narrating as he stood and walked over to the gorgeous and seductive widow. I couldnt believe it. A museum didnt kill. But the way she was looking at me, those enormous blue eyes of hers brilliant with tears, a trembling in her lips
Hey!
Alistair Archer nearly jumped out of his seat; he barely managed to cut off the startled scream that threatened to escape him. Jenny Henderson had come running in, slipping her arms around him from behind, and nearly giving him a heart attack.
He was in lustif not lovewith Jenny. There was something about her, an aura of film noir seductress. She had Lana Turner dark brown hair that swept over her forehead, and she wore rich dark shades of lipstick. Today, she was in tight-fitting jeans and a cotton tailored shirt that reminded him of Marilyn Monroe.
Hey! he said, standing and allowing her to slide into his arms. His voice was a little tremulous, his muscles a little unsteady. How did you get in here? he asked, glancing back toward the door. Black Box Cinema was closed on Sundays; every other night of the week, a film noir movie played at 8:00 p.m. precisely. Or there might be more recent a movie influenced by the directors vision of film noir. The cinema was owned by Alistairs father, special effects whiz Eddie Archer, and stood just off Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz area. Eddie also owned the adjacent studio, and both buildings were situated on two acres surrounded by a very old cemetery.
Eddie Archer had bought the property twenty years ago when he started his special-effects business. For the previous five decades, the now-defunct Claymore Illusions had operated from the massive warehouse-style building in back. The company had been founded by the first Lucas Claymore and continued by his son, whod eventually sold the place. All Eddie had needed to do was update it to create Archers Wizardry and Effects. While his artists and artisans sometimes found the cinema next door a bit annoying, with tourists parking here and there and everywhere, Eddie was adamant that it would stay. He loved film noir, and having his own cinema meant he could watch his favorite old movies on the big screen to his hearts content. He made them available to the public as a way of sharing his passion, infecting others with his personal enthusiasm.
An underground tunnelnow a museum featuring posed mannequins in famous scenes from film noir and selected classic movies from the 40s and 50sconnected the cinema and the studio. But the main doors to the studio, which were next door and about fifty feet behind the parking lot, remained locked and guarded. During production, the studio often went into lockdown, as it was now.
Lockdown was for secrecy as well as security. No one wanted a big-budget movies effects and surprises out on the internet before the movie reached the screen. Archers Wizardry and Effectswas busy creating the costumes and creatures for The Unholy, the next remake to come to the silver screen.
The Unholy was actually an updated version of Sam Stone and the Curious Case of the Egyptian Museum. Unlike remakes that simply remade an old film, like Psycho, The Unholy used the same characters and situations, but cast them in a contemporary light.
Sam Stone now had a cell phone and a computer.
Alistair was happy that the studio had the momentous task of bringing the film up-to-date, and he knew the effects would be splendid, but he still wasnt sure about a remake. In his opinion, some things were better off left alone. Film noir didnt really fit with computers and cell phones.
What are you doing here? Alistair asked as the film wound on and the projector clicked, clicked, clicked. How did you get in? Alistair had keys to the studio, to the doors that separated the underground tunnel from the studio, and to the Black Box Cinema. His father trusted him completely.
He hated to betray that trust in any way. Even for Jenny. But hed brought Jenny in with him before. It wasnt unusual that shed come; it was unusual that shed been able to just slip in.
She touched his cheek and smiled seductively. At twenty-two, his senior by a year, she already had the movesas well as the appearanceof a femme fatale down pat. She eased away, flicking back the strands of hair that had hidden her eyes. You left the front door open, silly, she told him. I started to knock, butit was open. She grinned, and looked more like any other young Hollywood hopeful. The rest of the place is tight as a drum, but my dear, darling, responsible Alistair, believe it or not, you left the front door open. She paused to give him a charming pout. Ive been trying to call you. You didnt answer your cell.
He had to wonder what it was about one person that could turn the senses of another upside down. The senses and the sanity. Yes, Jenny was beautiful and perfect, butit was Hollywood. The stunning, the perfect and the beautiful all walked about, ever hopeful, some willing to do whatever it took to get where they wanted to go, others starry-eyed and naive. He was the son of one of the most respected men in the movie business, and he suspected Jenny hung on to him because of what she thought he could do for her.
Sorry, he said, and the tone of his voice was annoyingly husky. She knew she sent his libido off the charts, and he hated the pathetic puppy-dog tail-wagging demeanor he must put forth when she was around. I was watching the movie. Its my favorite. Sam Stone and the Curious Case of the Egyptian Museum. I really love the film, and the special effects for it were actually done here, when the place was still Claymore Illusions. That fact added to the pride his father took in securing the special-effects contract for The Unholy.
Jenny shook her head. Silly boy, living in the past! Except, of course
The production company was trying to keep the information about the Sam Stone remake quiet, but of course the rumor mill was already on the case. The company had neither rejected nor affirmed the claim. Rumors and anticipation could give a film a tremendous box-office advantage.
So, um, why are you here? Alistair asked.
Despite her imitation of classic Hollywood vamps, Jenny was not a fan of film noir, or any other old movies. She loved silly modern-day romances and adventure flicks, the kind with überbuff heroes who lived exciting adventures and saved the world.
She threw her head back and touched her hair again, one of her moves calculated to be uncalculatedly sexy.
I heard the studios locked down! she said breathlessly.
He nodded.
But not to the son of Eddie Archer!
He groaned aloud. Jenny, you know its not just my dad. Its the movie studio, the producers, the directorsthey dont want information on pictures or anything on costumes and effects getting out.
She gave him her pout again. She did it very well, making a little moue of hurt. Alistair, you know Id never tell a soul what Ive seen. Id never tell a soul I was even in there. But theyre still casting for extrasextras who might wind up with speaking roles. If I had a feel for what was going on, it would help me immensely. Please?
He hesitated. Jenny always did pay up. If he took her through the studio, hed be rewarded that night.
He was pretty sure shed learned her lovemaking from the moviesdirty ones, at that. She was vocal; she liked to crawl on top and twist around like a voodoo queen dancing around a pole.
You have a key to the studio, she said.
He groaned again. If I tried to go in with a guest, old Colin Bailey, whos on guard at the reception desk, would push his alarm button and every cop in the area would appear, he said. Colin Bailey had worked for his father for the full twenty years hed owned the studiowhich was most of Alistairs life. He was like a fixture, dedicated to the studio. And during lockdown, he was fierce.
She moved closer to him. I realize we cant go in by the front but we can sneak in because you have a key and the pass code to get there through the tunnel door. And Colin Bailey would never see us, because you know right where the cameras are so we can avoid them.
Almost involuntarily he felt his left pocket. He did have the keys. But hed told her the truth. Colin Bailey would report Alistair to his father without blinking an eye.
She shimmied up against him, her body pressed to his in just the right way to elicit an immediate response. Her perfect breastsalbeit made that way with some saline enhancementwere firm against his chest and her groin pushed against his.
He forgot his father completely. He also forgot the dangerand the fact that he was being used.
All right, he said. Now his voice was flat-out hoarse. Well go by the tunnel.
She smiled. She rose up on her toes and brought her lips to his and did things with her tongue that nearly made him climax on the spot. Then she stepped back. That was a little promise of things to come!
He nodded. He couldnt speak.