Last issue Nate Hollis, a P.I., took the case of Theo Burnett a basketball star whose ex-wife turned up dead. Hollis’ was also mourning the anniversary of the death of his father. While “entertaining” a “friend” Hollis got a call from someone claiming to be Burnett. The call ended with what Hollis thought was a gunshot.
The issue begins with Hollis entering a dark house looking for Theo. Unfortunately for Hollis, inside the house are friends of some guys he beat up last issue. Unfortunately for them Hollis came prepared. Using a flare and a crowbar Hollis goes to work.
He’s stopped when Teddy Tedejekian, a local kingpin, turns on the light and offers to make Nate a deal. Then we go to Kristy, Hollis’ “friend.” She gets a call from one of her reporters Ronnie. Kristy promises Ronnie an interview with Burnett, if she finds out that Hollis finds him.
The next day Hollis visits with Monica Orozco, Burnett’s lawyer, who hired him. He tells Orozco about the deal Tedejekian offered him in return for handing Burnett over to him. Orozco reiterates that if Hollis wants answers he’s got to find Burnett.
Meanwhile Detective Regus, Hollis’ father’s partner on the force, investigates the apartment Burnett used for sex parties and finds a hidden camera but no tapes. He asks the landlady if anyone had been snooping around, and she describes Hollis. After he leaves she goes to her car and puts a box full of videotapes in her trunk. Fortunately Hollis sees her do it.
At a luncheon Orozco and D.A. Pope exchange words about the case, while across town at the L.A. Comets training facility bounty hunter Irma Deuce makes a deal with a cheerleader to split the reward if she helps Irma find Burnett.
The issue ends with Hollis reviewing the video tapes he took from the landlady’s trunk. Not only is she on the tape, but also in another scene Burnett and his ex-wife are on the tape. Also in that scene: Monica Orozco. To be continued.
Phillips has a great cast of characters. The story is so well developed and crafted that it’s a joy to read. All of these characters feel like they existed before this story, making them seem all the more real. This is shaping up to be one of the highlights of ’05.
Martinbrough can do wonders with the female form. He also makes Hollis very much a threat. His characters are full of emotion. The action is very fluid. And the tension that he shows in the scenes is very well done, particularly in the confrontation between Pope and Orozco.
