‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it, honey,’ giggled Sarah, raising a butter-pecan spoon to the TV in a toast. This was definitely the best way to experience the Oscars. If she was there, she’d be worried about saying something stupid or fretting about Davie’s live performance. Not that she didn’t have faith in him to be brilliant, but that didn’t stop the nerves on his behalf. She watched as Davie worked the red carpet, worked the press, and worked the crowd, and so he should. He was back on top in this town. His talk show was a massive hit, American Stars was number one, and Beauty and the Beats, prior to Jizzo’s death, had been number three.

  Mirren, Zander and Hollie would be arriving on screen in about twenty minutes. Meeting Hollie had been an unexpected and very welcome bonus from last week. The two of them had clicked immediately, bonded by their similar situations. Sarah was in love with a star. Hollie worked for one. Although, Sarah did wonder when Hollie would realise that her feelings were more than professional. Her over-protectiveness made it blindingly obvious she cared about Zander in more than just a PA-boss capacity.

  Sarah had a hunch those feelings were reciprocated. Just a hunch. Although it was backed up by the fact that Zander had asked Hollie to walk the red carpet with him. After a long chat with Sarah, she’d eventually agreed, but she was leaving straight afterwards, skipping the after-parties. Like Sarah, she hated all the pretentious stuff. Too many celebrities, too much arse-kissing, too sore on the feet. She’d offered to come, kick off the heels and chill here with Sarah instead.

  That’s what new friends were for.

  When her boyfriend disappeared off the screen, Sarah turned her attention back to the work in front of her. She’d made up a chart, like a police investigation board, with Davie, Mirren and Zander’s names at the top. Feeding off each one, a list of the incidents that had occurred in the last month or so – a list that was all the more chilling now that Hollie had filled her in on the shit that had been happening to Zander.

  Davie: house fire, shots fired, blood thrown, car wrecked. Someone with a grudge?

  Zander: fight with Raymo, drug test, apartment break-in, accusations of sexual impropriety. Why?

  Mirren: possible sighting of her mother. No other attacks. Why?

  Her eyes went back and forward across it, trying to make connections, find loopholes, see how it all tied up. Nothing. Not a—Hang on.

  Raymo. The air hostess. What was her name? She searched her pile of notes. Wendy.

  Mark Bock had already spoken to Raymo, who had stuck to his story, while Wendy had disappeared off the face of the earth.

  Those were the links to whoever was doing this. The flight attendant she had no knowledge of – she could get on that one in the morning – but Raymo she knew. He was a nightly fixture on the club scene, someone she’d seen dozens of times before.

  Sarah closed her eyes, and – as if she was removing files from a filing cabinet, checking them, putting them back – rewound her memory, drawing up mental pictures of as many of the occasions she’d seen Raymo as possible. Eyes still closed, she worked through them one by one: where he was, what he was wearing, who he was with, who he was talking to.

  There were over a dozen files in her memory, checked, dismissed, checked, dismissed, when one night in LiX took front and centre in her mind.

  That’s when it came to her. The face she’d seen before. Out of context, she’d never have made the connection. But now she had. As she searched frantically for her phone, she realised that at least part of the truth had been out there the whole time.

  54

  ‘It’s a Wonderful Night for Oscar’ – Billy Crystal

  Live Report from The Academy Awards, Los Angeles

  ‘Here at the Oscars, I’m Myla Rivera, and we at CXY 5 are bringing you live team coverage of Hollywood’s biggest night. Right now, let’s look back at the Academy Awards themselves, and the most moving moment of the evening.

  ‘Mirren McLean, producer, director and writer of the Clansman series of books and movies, lost out on her nominations for Best Movie and Best Director, but she did pick up Best Original Screenplay for the latest record-breaking hit, Clansman: The Warrior Mist.

  ‘Mirren’s speech was incredibly moving, as she paid tribute to her daughter, Chloe, who sadly passed away recently, and also to a couple of friends who you might just recognize. Take a look…’

  Shot cuts to VT. On the Oscars stage, Mirren McLean is receiving her award from Robert DeNiro.

  Mirren steps forward, unable to speak as she is given the longest ovation of the night.

  Eventually, it subsides, she takes a deep breath, smiles…

  ‘I am so, so honoured to receive this award. Thank you to the Academy and to every single person who has supported the Clansman series by going to the movies or buying the books. Thank you, of course, to Lex Callaghan, my Clansman, and his beautiful wife, Cara, my friend.’

  Camera cuts to Lex and Cara in the audience, beaming smiles.

  Cara blows a kiss to the stage.

  ‘To my other friend, Lou Cole, for being smart, and beautiful, and woefully indiscreet, and always by my side.’

  That one gets a huge cheer of approval.

  Mirren pauses, another breath, composes herself, steels herself to go on.

  ‘I’d like to dedicate this to my daughter, Chloe. The world was a brighter place when she was in it and I will never stop missing her every moment of every day.’

  The camera pans to the audience. Nicole Kidman. Jennifer Garner. Lou Cole. Tears running down their cheeks.

  ‘I’d like to thank my son, Logan, for being just the coolest, best-looking guy on earth.’ Laughter through the tears now.

  ‘And finally, I’d like to thank my other family. The one I chose for myself. This is also for Davie Johnston and Zander Leith. I love you both.’

  55

  It’s time.

  I’m waiting.

  Right here.

  You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this.

  I’m ready.

  Are you?

  Because it’s time.

  56

  DAVIE

  ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ – Tears for Fears

  (Back Where We Started)

  The Lomax party was a blast.

  Everyone who mattered was there, and they all wanted five minutes with the trio at the centre of the room. Davie knew tonight had been special and he was buzzing.

  His performance on the show had been flawless and hilarious, and the camera cut to Clooney and Damon at exactly the right moment, just as the two of them were in peals of laughter at one of Davie’s lines.

  They’d both be getting calls tomorrow morning with invitations to come on Here’s Davie Johnston.

  He was almost disappointed when Mirren said she wanted to go. Almost.

  Most of the seriously big players had left, heading home when their publicists dictated, lest they get embroiled in something that could wipe out a carefully planned, beautifully executed publicity strategy. An outfit that InStyle claimed was divine, a perfect performance at the ceremony, being snapped mingling with all the right people, making some important connections… All is well and victorious until, oops, photographed on the way out, next to a dishevelled D-lister throwing up her caviar while flashing the fact that she isn’t wearing any knickers. Epic fail.

  This was why the biggest of the players, including their own little glittering trio, were now on the way home.

  The three of them finally reached the door, collecting their cell phones as they left. Wes Lomax had decreed that all phones and camera devices were banned inside to protect the privacy of the stars. Davie would have been happy to sign a disclaimer that said, ‘Snap away. Who needs privacy? And look, I’m talking to Cameron Diaz.’

  As soon as he switched it on, it beeped to alert him to outstanding messages, but before he could check them, Lex and Cara appeared.

  Davie’s Bentley slid round the corner and came to a stop in front of him.

  Right behind the Bentley, Mirren and Zander’s car slid into position.

  One of the valets stopped speaking into a walkie-talkie and sighed. ‘Mr Callaghan, I’m afraid your limo will be another ten minutes – it’s just manoeuvring out of the gridlock at the end of the drive.’

  ‘Told you we should have brought a horse,’ Lex quipped to the group.

  ‘Jump in with us and we’ll give you a lift,’ Mirren immediately offered.

  Lex put his hand up to protest, but Cara stopped him. ‘Callaghan, don’t you dare refuse. You’re not standing here in six-inch heels that have left you with no feeling in your feet for the last hour.’

  ‘But we’re heading north,’ Lex stated. ‘Opposite direction from you guys.’

  Davie stepped forward with the obvious solution, addressing Mirren and Zander. ‘Why don’t you two come with me and I’ll drop you home? If you behave, we’ll get drive-through,’ he joked, while actually thinking that it could work out perfectly. They could drop Mirren first, then Zander in Venice and then he could go visit Sarah in Marina del Rey. She was always saying he should come spend the night at her apartment, instead of her travelling to his house. Maybe tonight he would.

  Mirren nodded. ‘Sounds like a plan.’ She turned back to Lex and Cara. ‘And then you guys can just take our limo. Wes Lomax is paying for it, so be sure to clock up the miles.’

  ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Tijuana,’ Cara shrugged, laughing. Kisses, hugs and handshakes were exchanged, before Lex and Cara headed to the limo, while Mirren, Zander and Davie stepped towards the Bentley, thanking the valet, who had the doors open and waiting for them. Zander gestured to Mirren to take the front passenger seat.

  Lex and Cara entered the limo, and the doors closed. Davie joked about his new career as a chauffeur as he pulled on his seatbelt in the Bentley, then turned to eye them both.

  ‘Well, kids, we made it,’ he told the other two. They both knew exactly what he meant. No sign of Marilyn McLean. She’d obviously gone. Maybe she was never anywhere near them in the first place. Perhaps Mark and Brad would find her, perhaps not. He still wasn’t convinced that she even existed any more. It was far more likely that he’d just been the victim of a crazy fan. There were many out there.

  ‘We did,’ Mirren agreed.

  Zander laughed. ‘Yeah, but we still have to survive Davie’s driving.’

  The limo driver behind them restarted his engine.

  Davie put his foot on the gas, heard a cry, looked round. A woman running towards him, clutching a bag, pulling something from it.

  He froze.

  Neither car moved, yet there was an earth-trembling bang. A blinding flash. The ripping of metal. The screams. The world exploded.

  Then a deafening silence.

  57

  ‘Wrecking Ball’ – Miley Cyrus

  Live Report Breaking News – Los Angeles

  ‘I’m Myla Rivera, live here on CXY 5, as we bring you the horrific breaking news that there has been an explosion outside the Beverly Hills Heights Hotel. The incident happened as the stars celebrated at the Lomax Oscars after-party. Details are sketchy right now, but I can tell you that there are reports of casualties, and police are looking at the possibility of a terrorist attack, with claims that this could be the work of a suicide bomber.’

  Split screen right – camera on a scene of carnage outside the Lomax Oscars after-party. One vehicle destroyed, another badly damaged, detritus scattered across the road. Yellow-tape cordoned-off areas, investigators in white suits already at work, the whole landscape illuminated by the blue lights of emergency vehicles.

  Back on split screen left – Myla Rivera, putting in the Oscar performance of her life, eyes moist with tears, oozing sorrow and sympathy.

  ‘Early reports suggest that the vehicles involved were those of Davie Johnston, Mirren McLean and Zander Leith. It’s also thought that actor Lex Callaghan and his wife, Cara, may have been at the scene. Several people have now been taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. There is no word on the injuries or the status of the victims, however…’ She paused for effect, milking maximum emotional value, absolutely aware that this clip would be re-run for the next twenty-four hours and be syndicated across the country and possibly internationally. This had to be the ultimate, the pinnacle of her career – she broke the news the night there was an explosion at the Oscars. It didn’t get much better than that. But back to the update. OK, pause was long enough, time to deliver the sound bite, the climax, the line that would reverberate around the globe.

  ‘Unsubstantiated reports are claiming that there has been at least one fatality, but other reports from the scene suggest that two people may have lost their lives tonight.’

  58

  ‘Fear’ – Eminem

  Good Morning Hollywood

  Special Report by Clark Koban, Film Correspondent

  The Brutal Circle – 1989

  Camera 3 on Sam Mendoza, anchor.

  ‘Last night, Mirren McLean picked up the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. A couple of hours later, she was involved in a tragic incident after celebrating that win at the Lomax after-party. We will bring you further details as soon as we have them, but in the meantime, to honour this great lady, film correspondent Clark Koban takes a look at the movie that launched her career.’

  Cut to pre-recorded VT, Clark Koban, against a background screen of a dark Glasgow skyline, talks directly to camera.

  ‘Is it really almost twenty years ago that The Brutal Circle delivered a harrowing sucker punch to millions of American movie fans? Where were you the first time you watched this classic film, a cinematic game-changer that banked over $150 million at the box office and launched the careers of three Scots who were, incredibly, still teenagers when the script was developed by omnipotent producer Wes Lomax?

  ‘Mirren McLean. Zander Leith. Davie Johnston. Their journey from obscurity to Oscar is the stuff of legend.

  ‘The story, penned by McLean, was a dark, uncompromising piece of writing and Lomax famously claims he was sold by the end of the first page. Within a year, the movie was in production, with Davie Johnston and Zander Leith playing the title roles. It was Leith’s first acting role and never has a debut performance made a bigger impact. Rack up those movie clichés, because every one of them applied to the brooding maelstrom of talent. Enigmatic. Compelling. Movie gold. Explosive. There wasn’t an instant when he was on screen that he didn’t demand attention.

  ‘Right off the bat, Zander Leith was a star who had that priceless ability to hijack the viewer’s soul. And in that troubled role as a teenager fighting demons, he delivered a strangely prophetic premonition of the life ahead of him. A lifetime later, Leith remains one of Hollywood’s biggest names, but off-screen, the years have been a tangled wreck of troubles.

  ‘But back in 1989, the stars moved into alignment for The Brutal Circle. Mirren McLean wrote an incredible script; Davie Johnston and Zander Leith made it the biggest hit of a generation.

  ‘So does the movie live up to the hype? Has it stood the test of time?

  ‘Thirty seconds after the opening titles roll, you’ll have your answer.

  ‘Nothing else matters but the screen.

  ‘Glasgow. 1986. A cold, dark night. A young girl, Lizzy, sits smoking outside her home when a guy (Zac, played by Davie Johnston), wracked with the insecurities of teenage angst, approaches her.

  ‘Why is she out there?

  ‘Because her mother is inside with her boyfriend.

  ‘“But I see you here every night,” he counters.

  ‘Lizzy’s dead eyes lift to face him. “And every night she’s in there with him.”

  ‘A new arrival, Zander Leith’s character, Jay, son of the local hard guy, Sonny Cole – a boy who has grown up to detest his hard-drinking, wife-beating, psychopath of a father.

  ‘Three dysfunctional kids, bonded by poverty, neglect and the need to belong to something that doesn’t come with the risk of a slap or the vicious stab of the cruellest of words.

  ‘They form a family, one that balances on a seesaw of hope that they’ll escape and acceptance that they probably never will.

  ‘Lizzy and Zac fall in love; they hatch plans; they look beyond the mire of despair life has delivered to them until Sonny Cole delivers a different fate.

  ‘For years, he’s been betraying his wife, spending night after night with Lizzy’s mother.

  ‘But now he wants more. He wants Lizzy.

  ‘And what Sonny Cole wants, he takes.

  ‘But it’s the last thing he ever does. A betrayal too far. A horrific act of violence that is met with lethal retribution.

  ‘And when the screen fades to black, you know.

  ‘You know that you’ve just watched a creation of cinematic brilliance.

  ‘And you know how three twenty-something Scots ended up standing in front of the entire cast of Hollywood royalty, picking up an Oscar for one of the best movies that was ever made.’

  59

  MIRREN

  ‘Holding Back the Years’ – Simply Red

  Someone in the room. Someone there.

  A touch. Her hand. Someone

  Heart beating faster, can’t breathe. Oh god, no. No. No.

  ‘Mom? Mom?’

  Logan’s voice. Open your eyes. Her boy. Her boy was there. Smiling.

  Mirren forced her eyes to focus, to see him. ‘Hey,’ he said.

  Head. She couldn’t move her head. Her eyes scanned the room. A hospital room. She was in a hospital bed. Someone there, in the corner. Who? Coming towards her now. Brad Bernson.