Charming Memory by EL Bossert

Author:EL Bossert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two Boots Publishing
Published: 2018-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

THE CAR IN THE PARKING lot was rented by a paparazzi nicknamed Pops. At forty-nine, in what he called a young man’s game, Pops was considered old for a paparazzi. There were a few female paparazzi, but mostly it was a blood sport of young men with little or no compassion for others who wanted to make a quick buck. Hence, Pops stood out in the crowd of photographers who inevitably descended on celebrities or the victims of notorious crimes. He derived his nickname from the younger guys who couldn’t decide whether to look up to him like a father-figure or push him out of the way.

Pops had been a legitimate news photographer for years, but the layoffs from traditional newspapers and magazines made those jobs scarce. The expense of putting a kid through college and being nowhere near retirement age led Pops to forget his journalistic integrity and hit the streets. After a few lucky shots of a minor celebrity acting badly—throwing a couple of drunken punches at a security guard at a club—sold quickly and easily, he justified this dubious career move to his family and friends as, If I don’t do it, someone will. It might as well be me making the money.

Pops snapped pictures of Jamie at a couple of movie openings over the years. He liked Jamie because she played nice, posing for the photographers to take their shots. He also had been told that she was unavailable for the summer months, between projects and with no public appearances planned.

The news about Jamie’s son barely escaping death broke while he was on another assignment, causing him to miss attending the hasty news conference that was non-news anyway. This week he was in Fairfield to cover a concert tour when he saw Dani’s story about the dog rescuing Jamie’s niece. Smelling money, Pops added a day in Crestwood to his trip.

After searching public records, Pops used satellite maps to identify Jamie’s home. He drove by a couple of times to confirm his research and check out the terrain. He also befriended a local who was more than happy to gossip about the Jordans. That was where he first heard it was not Fred who saved the girls, but a mysterious stranger living with Jamie. The gossip confirmed recent speculation about Jamie having a new woman in her life. No pictures of this new girlfriend had surfaced yet, which meant money was there for the taking.

Lying in wait for Jamie and the mystery woman to appear in public might take several days. Pops decided to chart a course to get close enough to Jamie’s house to take pictures. Even with a long lens, he would have to be within a couple hundred yards to get a shot good enough to sell. That is, if there was a clear line of sight. The satellite view showed a clearing behind Jamie’s house. Although it would be tricky, Pops figured if he could make his way to the edge of the clearing, it should be close enough.

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