Page 3 of Max

“Yeah?”

“What’s security like at these studios?”

“I’m not sure which one you’re on, but the one Sullivan worked at, security was shit. No measures were in place to offer any real protection. They had tons of cameras, but the guards were not trained to actually defend worth a shit.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“His home wasn’t any better. Mason had to go install a decent security system for him.”

“I’ll call you once I get all the details from Shay and let you know if we have a case or not. You might need to pull some bodyguards for her. Security here is fucking useless, from what I’ve seen so far.”

“I’ll check assignments when I get into the office. I’ve got to go and help Sara feed the twins before she throws the hair dryer at me.”

Max laughed and said his goodbyes. He knew Sara Kincaid quite well, so he knew it wasn’t an idle threat. Not that she’d hit Viktor with it. The woman had come from an abusive marriage and would never willingly hurt someone even in jest.

More and more people rolled into the already full parking lot. He was a little surprised there were so many up and about this early in the morning. It was only a little past five. He knew the news stations were usually in by four because he’d worked a case for them, but he’d assumed a film studio wouldn’t be working until at least seven or eight.

A golf cart came speeding around the edge of the parking lot. The guy driving it was dressed in khakis and a red polo. His blond hair was styled smartly, and the sunglasses he wore hid his eyes. He was dressed for LA, not New York. Fucking preppy asshole.

He might not be an ass, but Max didn’t like him. The guy just rubbed him the wrong way. Appearances spoke a thousand words, and this guy just gave him an asshole vibe.

He stopped the golf cart and hopped out, keeping his sunglasses on. See? Asshole.

“Are you Mr. Sheridan?”

“I am.” Max didn’t bother reaching out his hand for a shake. He doubted the prissy ass would know what to do with it.

“I’m Kevin, Shay’s assistant. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to hair and makeup. She’s getting ready to start filming.”

“This early?”

“Yes.” Kevin gestured toward the golf cart, and Max got in. The thing didn’t fit him very well. While he wasn’t as massive as some of the guys at KSI, he wasn’t small either. He had some bulk to go along with his five-eleven frame. Not quite six feet, but he was imposing all the same.

When he wasn’t flirting. He wasn’t the broody one of the KSI team. He enjoyed having fun and teasing everyone around him.

When it wasn’t five in the fucking morning and he was running on an hour’s worth of sleep. He was a grumpy pants when that happened.

“Do they let just anyone through these gates?” he asked as they passed through the open gates in the wall he’d assumed led to the back filming areas. There was a guard there, but he didn’t stop them for credentials on their way through.

“Yes. They do a lot of tours, and people are coming and going all day.”

“No one’s even asked for ID?”

“They have to provide that to get through the main gate,” Kevin explained as he navigated the very crowded area behind the gates. “Once you’re in, that’s about it.”

“So, no real security behind these gates, then.” Max said it more to himself than to the assistant. This place was a security nightmare. No wonder Viktor sounded so disgusted on the phone.

“We have security roaming through the sets, of course, and they’ve also ramped it up around Shay as well after the break-in at her apartment.”

“I thought it was a house?” Desi had specifically said house.

“No, it’s an apartment here in New York. I think she has a house in Virginia where she grew up, but she’s rarely there.”

He filed that little nugget of information away and settled back to watch the area as Kevin drove him to meet the soap opera diva.

Shayna Moore idly scrolled through Instagram as she waited for Jay to finish her hair. She always insisted on makeup first. It was how her mama taught her to do it, and it was how she did it at home. Work should be no different. Most of the actors didn’t care one way or the other, but she did. It was a quirk that helped to earn her a diva status.

She was as far from a diva as you could get, though. She didn’t make too many demands and did everything she could for the crew if they needed something.

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