text Jessie, see if her friend at Machinist can get her an interview with anyone that worked with H, like Charlie Roy, head of Machinist Records, who “discovered” her
talk to any other associates of H, want to know what people close to her think—do they think she’s capable of murder? Do they know anything about her recent relationship with Colton?
text Amelia, see if there’s any way she can get more info from colleagues or get me in touch with Sam Brixton (H + C manager)
Naomi looks at the list and takes a deep breath before opening her phone to tackle the easier items. First, she googles “Colton Scott funeral” and quickly learns it’s to be held this Sunday in his home state, Maine. The bottom of the article claims it’s a private event for family and friends only, no press or media. Naomi crosses her arms, unsurprised. She’ll have to come up with a plan to sneak in. At least she has a date and rough location; she can figure out the rest later.
She texts Leo next, not even bothering to beat around the bush.
Hey! Thanks so much again for helping me out earlier, I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate what you did. I feel horrible asking so soon, but before I see you later, is there any way you can help me with even one of these highlighted bullet points? I’m a bit stuck again and really could do with some more info. Obviously don’t do anything that will get you in trouble, but even if you’re able to ask around and get some intel that would be SUPER helpful. I’ll get you the finest wine you can find later, I promise!
She adds a smiley face before sending the message along with a photo of her bulleted list, things for him highlighted.
Next up is Jessie, Naomi’s friend who works for a popular music magazine. They met while they were both waitressing part-time during college, and Jessie quickly became the go-to party friend, often helping Naomi with Faye on nights out. Faye had a habit of picking fights after drinking too much, or sometimes she’d pass out on the bathroom toilet, and when Jessie was there, she would always help Naomi get her home or play damage control with the bouncers.
Jessie! How the hell are you? I’m back in NY covering the Harlow story and really want to meet with someone from Machinist Records, ideally someone who has worked with her for a long time like Charlie Roy or a producer. Any way you can get me in touch with someone who knows someone? P.S. let’s do drinks soon! Here until at least next week.
Naomi watches as the dots pulse, heart racing in excitement as Jessie’s response comes through within seconds.
Ahh you’re back! 1. Yes, let’s! I’m away this weekend, but how about next Tuesday? 2. I think it’s going to be impossible to get Charlie based on experience, but I could link you up with the producer of her first two albums, Bobby Park? He’s super nice, you’ll love him.
Naomi deflates a little at not getting the chance to talk to Charlie. But she knows it was a long shot anyway. She does a quick search of Bobby, clicking into a profile piece fromMusic Journal. She skims it, impressed by his credits and experience working with Harlow, and asks Jessie to set up a meeting.
Next, she texts Amelia to see if she can get her in with Sam. But, as expected, the answer is no.Sorry hun, Tabby says Sam isn’t speaking to any press since one of his biggest clients is in jail and his other is dead xx
Dejected but not surprised, Naomi goes back to her list, crossing off the relevant items before reassessing. She sighs, knowing this isn’t going to be easy. Getting first-hand information from family and friends of lesser-known celebrities for smaller scandals is hard enough. She can only imagine how difficult it will be to get confidants of A-listers like Colton and Harlow to talk about a murder investigation. They aren’t going to just open up to Naomi Barnes from C*Leb News.
However, Jade’s family and friends might.
Naomi tries to imagine how she’d feel in their shoes. If all of a sudden she discovered that Faye had potentially been murdered. The thought makes her queasy, instantly distressed. She wouldn’t want to keep quiet; she’d do the opposite. She’d be so desperate for the truth that she’d talk to anyone who would listen in hopes it would result in someone coming forward with more information.
She pulls up Jade’s Instagram account on her phone, her chest tightening with sadness as she views the photos. Jade looks so young, so happy. Oblivious of her fate. She selects Jade’s “tagged in” photos, a quick way to see who Jade’s closest acquaintances were so she can contact them, and selects the top post from @Emily_Dutton. It’s a selection of photos, captioned:Missing my @JadeJoanDuttonnn extra today. Happy birthday in heaven little sis xoxo.
The queasiness Naomi felt moments ago returns in full force, her heart aching for Jade’s sister, and also for herself. She googles Emily and sees that she’s a social worker living in Millbrook, New York, only a two-hour drive north. She could potentially stop there on her way to Colton’s funeral in Maine this weekend, if Emily is free. And happy to speak to her.
She takes a few deep breaths before sending a message.
Hi Emily, my name is Naomi and I work for C*Leb News. I’d love to buy you coffee sometime soon and ask a few questions about your sister Jade if possible. A lot of the media covering the case are focused on Colton, but I want to make sure Jade’s story is heard too (I lost my sister a few years back as well for what it’s worth).
She feels kind of low, using Faye as a tool to hook Emily, but if she has to deal with the shit that comes with losing a sister, she might as well use it to her advantage. She knows Faye would approve anyway. She was always encouraging Naomi to be more brazen to get what she wanted.
I don’t understand what you feel bad about, she imagines her saying.You’re just telling the truth. Plus, you genuinely care. Stop being so noble.
Naomi wonders if she should try reaching out to Jade’s parents, but decides against it for now. She has a feeling she’ll have better luck with Emily—sisters and friends usually know more than the parents do anyway.
Emily messages back almost instantly and Naomi fumbles as she opens the app, breathing a sigh of relief when she sees that Emily is happy to meet her.Sure, I’m free Saturday evening if that works for you?
That’s great!Naomi responds.How’s 6 p.m. at the Millbrook Diner?She figures this should give her plenty of time to talk to Emily and still make it to Maine before midnight.
After Emily agrees, Naomi wonders if there are any other stops worth making on her way up north, trying to avoid the obvious answer: Home.
Millbrook is less than a half hour from where she grew up. She thinks of her high school friends, but the only ones she still keeps in touch with have moved—Kim to Connecticut, Justine to Colorado, and Dee to Charleston. Their hometown isn’t somewhere people stay if they can help it. Naomi thinks of Faye, her body rotting away in a graveyard there, and winces. If she felt up to it, she could visit her. Maybe with Aunt Mary, who still lives nearby.
The only remaining relative she has some sort of relationship with, Aunt Mary was Naomi’s mom’s only sibling, younger by five years. Naomi wasn’t sure if it was the age gap or different interests, but for some reason or another, Lucy and Mary were never that close, not like Naomi and Faye. In fact, Naomi can count only a handful of times when they’d actually seen Aunt Mary growing up, usually at funerals or weddings. But she was always kind to the girls, especially after their mom died, helping them with the funeral arrangements and the wake. Always making sure they knew they were invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But Naomi and Faye decided to start their own traditions instead, going on a different road trip every holiday, staying in grotty motels on the way and making some of her favorite memories. It always surprises her when other people aren’t close with their siblings. It makes her feel both incredibly lucky and unlucky to have had that bond with her sister.
It’s because you’re a Capricorn and I’m a Pisces. That’s why we get along so well. I’m the dreamer and you’re the logical one—perfect pair. Naomi shakes her head, smirking at some of the absurd things Faye used to say.
As much as Naomi would like to skip the visit to her hometown, not wanting to face the onslaught of emotion and memories it would no doubt unearth, she decides to suck it up. Naomi would be mortified if Aunt Mary found out she was in town and chose not to stop by. Up until now, she’s always rejected her polite invitations with the excuse of being too far. But with Millbrook only a half hour away, she doesn’t have that excuse anymore.
