16 Millimeters

by Larissa Reinhart

In the Dixie Kreme Donut building, I climbed the donut-scented stairs with a heavy heart. I had a permit in my pocket, and my pink Smith & Wesson holstered on my hip. My burner phone rode in my back pocket. I wore jeans, a t-shirt, my somewhat sensible Golden Goose sneakers. And an Ottotredici scarf as a sling. I wanted to impress my seriousness on Nash. Although I wouldn't tell him the .38 Special wasn't loaded.

  From Mowry, I'd learned Alvin's killing spree started when he backhanded Stella Craven during an argument ensuing from his discovery of Cambria's film session. Stella had cracked her head against the leg of the bed. Billy, the filmmaker, and Orlando, acting as Cambria's boyfriend, took one look at Stella and ran. I showed up. Alvin freaked out. And the rest was history.

  Except the police were still dragging the lake. They’d found the camera Alvin had tossed. Just not Stella.

  "So it's kind of my fault?” I'd said to Ian between gulps of pulled pork. “If I hadn’t peeked in the window, Alvin might not have panicked.”

  "Don't ever say that." He'd leaned over to dab sauce off my chin. "You had good instincts. You knew something wasn't right. I just wish you'd called me first."

  I had called Nash first.

  I told Ian, "Next time," but in my mind, I thought, "You big fibber. You'd still call Nash."

  This weighed on me as I dragged my sneakers onto the landing, down the hall, and turned the old-timey doorknob of the Nash Security Solutions door.

  Inside, Lamar jerked his chair upright and greeted me. I hugged Lamar and pointed at the inner door.

  "He's in a meeting. I don't think you want to go in now. Jolene's here."

  "What's going on?" I said, glad I hadn't loaded the revolver. It might be tempting to accidentally shoot Jolene.

  "She's giving him hell, as usual." Lamar smiled. "Look at you, all dolled up for your first day back. You look like a real PI."

  A knock sounded on the glass door. I flinched. The door opened, and I sniffed, detecting something other than fried dough. My stomach danced sideways, and I sneezed. Chanel No. Five.

  Vicki breezed in, followed by Giulio.

  "Ciao." Giulio rushed forward to pluck a kiss from my lips, then both cheeks. "Darling, you look so down-home dangerous. It's fantastic." He leaned to whisper, "For this office. Don't wear it in public. That cute gun pulls your jeans down. Maybe an ankle strap is better?"

  "Maizie," said Vicki. "I've had one hundred and sixty-three texts and messages from you. I thought it best to see you in person. And Lord knows why, but I guessed you'd be here."

  "Where have you been? I was worried sick. And I was in the hospital. Almost killed several times. You'd think a mother would want to know that. And you." I turned to Giulio. "What in the hells happened to you?"

  "Darling, you are sweet to worry." He placed a hand on his chest. "I returned to my home country. The reason, this ache in my heart. It would not stop. I had to get away."

  "To Italy? Heartache? For me?"

  "Poor, darling Maizie." He trod across the dusty floor to Vicki's side. Paging through her phone, Vicki gave him the side-eye. Giulio swept her free hand into his and leaning over, he kissed the back of her hand. "My heart ached for this one."

  I placed my good hand on the .38. "Excuse me?"

  "Giulio took off to Italy because his role had been severely diminished when you quit the show." Vicki yanked her hand from Giulio's and continued her phone perusal. "Viewers love Giulio, so when I finally located him, I flew to Milan to convince him to rejoin the cast. Promises were made. I stayed longer than I intended. I manage Giulio now. After the Cambria disaster, I decided to keep management within the family. Now you know."

  "No." I watched as Giulio wrapped an arm around Vicki's waist. "I don't know. Lamar, are you understanding what you're seeing?"

  "Not rightly," said Lamar. "But it's better than daytime TV."

  "We're getting married," said Giulio. "You must be excited. I'll be your papa, my sweet Maizie."

  I clamped a hand over my mouth, wishing I hadn't eaten three homecoming donuts. "That's disgusting."

  Vicki's sea glass greens frosted. "I beg your pardon? That better not be an ageist remark."

  "He used to date me. I'm your daughter."

  She waved a hand. "That was for the show. This is for the show."

  "All is Albright is a reality show. I didn't know he was hired to date me at the time. I don't think Giulio does now."

  He shrugged. "Love is strange, cara mia."

  "We're going to need security for the wedding," said Vicki. "It'll be shown during Sweeps Week."

  "Oh my God." I shook my head. "No way. I don't care what you pay. We're not doing it."

  "Who said anything about you doing security?" Vicki's feline grin stretched and curved. "At the wedding, I need you to give me away. Perhaps make a speech at the reception. I haven't decided. Anyway, we're hiring the other half of your business for security. The one with the better office."

  "What other half?" Was Nash splitting our office so he wouldn't have to see me? I clutched my stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick."

  Vicki strode to the Nash's office door, pounded, and opened it. "Jolene. I'm done here. Let's get the details hammered out. But somewhere cleaner."

  Lamar and I exchanged a glance, then stole a look inside the office. Nash stood with his back to the door. Crossed arms, his Guns and Roses t-shirt tight across his shoulders. He stared at the ceiling. I followed the look to the brown water stain. Shaped like Florida. Of course.

  Jolene rose from a chair, dropped a folder on Nash's desk, and turned slowly. Her smile matched Vicki's. "Congratulations. I think it's so sweet—"

  "Spare me," said Vicki. "I've been gone too long, and I have a million things to do."

  Giulio swung Vicki's Fendi bag over his shoulder. "Ciao, Maizie. We'll have the family dinner soon, yes?"

  Jolene blew a kiss at Nash's back. "Wyatt, I'm sure we'll talk soon." She let her gaze roam over my t-shirt and jeans, then shook her head. "Thank the Lord, I don't do lunch. By the way, I heard your probation officer's interested in your last client. You're welcome." Chuckling, she sauntered out the door.

  I crossed my arms over my stomach and stared at Vicki. "You're really doing this? Why?"

  "I have to make a living, too, sweetheart." She crossed the room and touched my chin. "I think you forget that your career was mine. We all have to make do. You're doing it like this," she waved at my t-shirt and jeans, "and I'm doing it like that." She fluttered a hand at Giulio.

  Giulio strode across the room, gathered Vicki under his arm, and swept her from the office. He was always mindful of a healthy dramatic exit.

  I fell onto the couch. "Unbelievable. I guess I should be glad it's not Jerry."

  Hearing the door slam, Nash strode out, carrying Jolene's folder. "It's bad."

  Lamar studied him. "She's not going to sell?"

  "She set up her own damn office. On Palmetto. She plans to compete with us."

  I jerked. Theodore's fake office was on Palmetto. Craptastic.

  "Compete with you?" said Lamar. "But that's competing with her own business."

  "Jolene doesn't give two shits about the business. She's just punishing me." Nash parked his pacing before my spot on the couch and stared down at me. "She claims Leonard Shackleton's already been there. And our name is on a shade. Ours. As in mine and yours."

  I let my head thunk against the back of the couch.

  "I don't care," he said. "Not really. Just tell me this."

  I opened an eye.

  "Are you serious about being partners?"

  I nodded.

  Nash's smile curled and a dimple popped in one cheek. "Miss Albright, I'm going to teach you everything I know. We're going to beat Jolene at her own game. Together we'll break that she-devil. And when the two years is up…"

  My heart pattered. I straightened. Half-rose from my seat.

  "Watch out, kid." He whistled. "Because I'm selling. And then we're no longer partners. We'll give her so
mething to worry about." The band-aid rose with his eyebrow.

  Two years was a long time to go without lunch. But this was my armadillo's father.

  I shot him the JP finger gun. "Let's make it happen."

  Thank You for Reading 16 Millimeters

  Thank you for choosing Maizie Albright’s second case.

  If you enjoyed 16 MILLIMETERS, would you please leave others know? You can click her to leave a short review. Thank you so much! And if you let me know you reviewed -- by email or by social media message -- I'd love to send you a Cherry Tucker bookplate or other swag with my thanks.

  If you missed 15 MINUTES, Maizie Albright’s first case, click here to get it!

  And do sign up for my newsletter to get updates on new releases, discounts, giveaways, and events. All my newsletter subscribers get a free short story and are entered into subscriber-only giveaways, like to receive a signed advanced copy with each new release! I love my readers!

  <3!

  Larissa

  * * *

  On the Maizie Albright Series

  While I was in Japan, Georgia became the number one place to film movies, leaping past California, New York, and Canada. And thanks to Pinewood Studios building their American headquarters a few miles from my home, my hometown has become a mini-Hollywood. I’ve returned to Peachtree City, Georgia, and now have hipsters in my Kroger and movie stars working out in the local gym (not that I would know on the last one, but my BFF saw Thor doing pushups on her way to Zumba). There’s something called Vitality Bowl next to the Kroger. It claims to only make healthy food. And the quaint (old and dirty) BBQ joint I loved has disappeared.

  “Georgiawood.” This is what partly inspired the Maizie Albright series but with a heroine who’s about 180 personality degrees different from my other series’ heroine, Cherry Tucker.

  In the first book, 15 MINUTES, ex-teen TV and reality star, Maizie Albright, returns home to Black Pine, Georgia, determined to start a new career as a private investigator, modeled after her childhood starring role in Julie Pinkerton: Teen Detective. For a license in Georgia, she needs training and there’s only one gumshoe in Black Pine: Wyatt Nash of Nash Security Solutions. He’s got a hard body, Paul Newman eyes, and no interest in having an ex-actress for an apprentice. Unbeknownst to Maizie, the reality show cast of All is Albright and her stage-monster manager also follows her to Georgia.

  Maizie’s got a big learning curve to overcome — not only in private investigations but also in life as a non-celebrity — but an optimistic disposition, years of therapy, and donuts will help her become the independent thinker her manager always hoped she wouldn’t become.

  I truly believe with the right attitude and donuts, you can “make it happen” just like Maizie.

  xoxo

  Larissa

  Acknowledgments

  I owe Terri L. Austin, Dru Ann Love, Ritter Ames, Pat Wade, and Kim Killion a huge debt of thanks for their support and patience with me in getting 16 Millimeters published. I don’t know which of us was more surprised (maybe me) when my June release had to be pushed to October because of my family’s sudden move from Japan to Georgia. I couldn’t have done it without their help.

  I also need to thank my review team for their patience! Also thank you Minions for your continual cheering. Robin Coxon for being a good sport when I asked if she’d be okay with a not-so-nice role.

  My donut helpers on Facebook: your flavors live on in the “No Sleep Till” coffee shop.

  Thanks to Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Madison, and Senoia for their continual inspiration in “The Devil (Hollywood) Came Down to Georgia” theme for the Maizie Albright stories.

  Thank you to my friends and family for all your support, particularly Gina, Bill, Hailey and Lily! And as always, Trey and the girls. And Biscuit. xoxo

  Movies in 16 MILLIMETERS

  In references to or literally mentioned.

  All About Eve

  Beauty and the Beast

  Braveheart

  Cabin the the Woods

  CSI (not a movie and take your pick)

  Double Indemnity

  Dirty Harry

  Downton Abbey (not a movie, but maybe someday…)

  Jerry Maguire

  La Bohème (technically not a movie…)

  L.A. Confidential

  Friday the 13th

  Gaslight

  Harry Potter (any in spirit)

  Halloween

  Macbeth (not a movie but deserves the mention)

  Mighty Aphrodite

  Psycho

  Reality Bites

  Rear Window

  Selena

  Sesame Street (Also not a movie)

  Six Degrees of Separation

  Star Wars

  The Big Sleep

  The Bodyguard

  The Bourne Identity

  The Hangover

  The Maltese Falcon

  The Man Who Knew Too Much

  The Postman Always Rings Twice

  The Shining

  The Silence of the Lambs

  The Sixth Sense

  The Stepford Wives

  The Three Faces of Eve

  Titanic

  Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

  The Maizie Albright Star Detective Seires

  15 MINUTES

  #10Days

  #FindTheWoman

  #GetTheJob

  #DoNOTFallinLove

  "Child star and hilarious hot mess Maizie Albright trades Hollywood for the backwoods of Georgia and pure delight ensues. Maizie’s my new favorite escape from reality.”

  — Gretchen Archer, USA Today bestselling author of the Davis Way Crime Caper series

  15 MINUTES, Maizie Albright Star Detective #1

  * * *

  #WannaBeDetective When ex-teen star Maizie Albright returns to her Southern hometown of Black Pine, Georgia, she hoped to rid herself of Hollywood tabloid and reality show hell for a new career as a private investigator. Instead, Hollyweird follows her home. Maizie’s costar crushing, but now for her gumshoe boss. Her stage-monster mother still demands screen time. Her latest rival wants her kicked off the set, preferably back to a California prison.

  By entangling herself in a missing person's case, she must reprise her most famous role. The job will demand a performance of a lifetime. But this time, the stakes are real and may prove deadly.

  * * *

  16 MILLIMETERS

  #BabysitTheStarlet

  #FindTheBody

  #AvoidTheKiller

  #TryNotToFallInLove

  Body doubles, dead bodies, and hot bodies abound…Wait, what?

  “Fresh from Hollywood get ready to bubble along with Maizie Albright Star Detective. She’s #adorbs.” — Jena’s Books

  #StillAWannabeDetective In continuing her career-makeover quest as a for-real detective, ex-teen and reality star Maizie Albright has a big learning curve to overcome. A sleuthing background starring in a TV show — Julia Pinkerton, Teen Detective — does not cut the real life mustard. It doesn’t even buy her lunch, let alone extra condiments. Her chosen mentor, Wyatt Nash of Nash Security Solutions, is not a willing teacher. He’d rather stick Maizie with a safe desk job and handle the security solution-ing himself. But Maizie’s got other plans to help Nash. First, win Nash’s trust. Second, his heart.

  Wait, not his heart. His respect. His hearty respect.

  So when a major movie producer needs a babysitter for his hot mess starlet, Maizie eagerly takes the job. But when her starlet appears dead, and then not dead, Maizie’s got more than an actress to watch and a missing corpse to find. Body doubles, dead bodies, and hot bodies abound when the big screen, small screen, and silent screams collide. Maizie’s on the job, on the skids, and on thin ice, hunting a killer who may be a celebrity stalker. And Maizie just might be the next celebrity who gets snuffed.

  * * *

  Look for Maizie Albright’s third book, NC-17, in 2018. Maizie Albright also appears with Cherry Tucker in
the December 2017 novella, “A View to A Chill,” (for a limited time in the Christmas cozy mystery anthology, THE 12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS and later as a single).

  “View of a Chill” first appeared in The 12 Slays of Christmas (Dec. 2017 anthology)

  May your Days Be Cherry and Albright

  In this Rashomon-style Christmas mystery, while Cherry Tucker suffers from flu-induced visions of murder, Maizie Albright’s on the hunt for a missing granddaughter whose criminal stockings have long been filled with coal.

  When Halo's most notorious artist, Cherry Tucker, thinks she sees a crime through her bedroom window, her feverish claims are ignored by her family. Trapped in bed, influenza is the least of her problems. Deputy Luke Harper can't be found. She can’t tell fevered dream from reality. And a very bad Santa knows Cherry’s spotted his Christmas killing. It's going to take a Christmas miracle for Cherry to recover.

  Meanwhile, ex-celebrity and #WannabeDetective Maizie Albright’s determined to help an elderly woman find her missing granddaughter despite her private investigator boss (and not-so-secret crush) Wyatt Nash’s claims that the grandmother’s annual plea is nothing but a dangerously wild goose chase. This holiday, Maizie’s search takes her away from her family and Nash to Halo, Georgia, where a storm threatens her nerves and her quest. When a deviant elf learns Maizie’s looking for the granddaughter, they put Maizie on Santa’s naughty list. And this Santa gets his holly jollies from murder.

  A Sneak Peek of Portrait of a Dead Guy

  A Cherry Tucker Mystery #1

  In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge — but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival. As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.