It’s hard to look dignified when you’re wearing yesterday’s eye makeup and holding a sexy stormtrooper costume. Working actresses in Los Angeles don’t get to be picky about the jobs they take. Competition is brutal, and you do what you can to make ends meet. But Star Wars Burlesque finally broke me.
It started when the air conditioning fizzled out before my tap-dance-in-fishnets-and-plastic-war-mask routine. It must have been ninety degrees inside the theater, and I felt like my head was stuck in a microwave. Sweat poured down my face, and my mask slipped. I kept tapping away, even though I could barely see, and shimmied right into Sexy Chewbacca. Together we crashed onto the wood floor. As my stomach slammed into him, the wind rushed out of my lungs. I lay there, trying to breath, while the crowd cheered. I guess they thought it was part of the act.
I’ve had bad stage nights before, and I can handle embarrassment. But after the show, I walked up to Sexy Chewy and tried to apologize. He let out a low-pitched Wookie moan, leaned over, and gently bit me on the shoulder. Just hard enough to leave a little pink welt. That’s what did it.
I slapped him on his furry cheek, and fled the theater, swearing I’d never go back. When I woke up this morning after passing out on my friend’s couch, I remembered that the costume doesn’t belong to me.
So here I am, back at the theater, returning my sweaty getup and explaining to the irate director that I draw the line at unwanted love bites from intergalactic monkeys. The door slams behind me, and I can still hear him cursing. Whatever.
The truth is, I’ve known for a while that my acting days are numbered. There’s an acceptance letter from UC Riverside’s School of Social Work sitting on my nightstand. I’ve read it a dozen times, feeling an overwhelming mix of joy and sadness. Going back to school would mean giving up acting. I’ve been vacillating for days – not sure if I’m ready to take the plunge. The heat of Chewy’s slimy gums on my shoulder felt like a sign.
It wasn’t the perils of acting that led me to apply to UC Riverside. It was my brother Jacob. He’s always had an addictive personality. But when he started fooling around with meth, everything changed. We used to be inseparable. Growing up, Jacob would drag me along on reckless adventures – sledding down the mountain on trash can lids, or breaking into the high school to toilet paper the principal’s office.
Now, the fun times are gone. Jacob never answers his phone, but sometimes he calls at weird hours, sounding paranoid. The last time we talked, he was convinced someone was out to get him. I don’t know what to do to help my brother, but I’m going to research treatments and learn everything I can. And if I ever find out who got my brother into this mess, I’ll kill them.
Burn this Night
Genre: Private Investigator Mystery
Release: November 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
Told in alternating timelines, this gripping mystery about a PI and her quest for answers is full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of Allison Brennan and Gytha Lodge.
Struggling private investigator Kate Myles is shattered to learn her late father isn’t her biological dad. She’s still reeling when she discovers that an unknown distant relative is the prime suspect in a decades-old murder investigation. Trying to convince her to take on the case for free, an old colleague recommends her as an investigator for a recent arson murder in the same small town.
After giving up on a failed acting career, Abby Coburn is starting over as a promising social work student. With her life on the right track, she’s determined to help her brother, Jacob, whose meth addiction triggered a psychotic break and descent into crime. But when Abby dies in a fire that kills two other people and destroys part of the town, the police immediately suspect Jacob.
As the Coburn family grapples with the tragedy, Kate begins unraveling the cold case but finds herself caught in the middle of an emotional minefield. Pretty soon, she discovers that this town is full of dark secrets, and as she comes closer and closer to figuring out the truth, Kate must solve both murders before she becomes the next victim.
About the author
Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter. Her first novel, WHAT MEETS THE EYE, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Her second novel, BURN THIS NIGHT, was released November 12, 2024. Alex lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and giant schnauzer, Zelda.