CHAPTER 4
Pizzazz sat in her brand new Lamborghini with tears of sadness in her eyes. It was a welcome home gift from her father after a week-long evaluation in a mental ward, followed by a month-long stint at Betty Ford for substance abuse. The doctors at the mental facility concluded that her hallucinations were the result of her anger issues, exacerbated by her drug use.
The Misfit's anger problems all began with her mother walking out on her and her father. While a successful businessman, Harvey Gabor had no clue how to raise a child and left Pizzazz in the care of nannies. Growing up, Pizzazz felt isolated from her father and would act out as it was the only way to get his attention. His daughter's behavior frustrated him and pushed him further away from her. To keep Pizzazz happy, or so he thought, Harvey gave into anything she demanded from him. Unfortunately, this only shifted Pizzazz' inherent anger towards her parents to other people, especially Jerrica, Jem and the Holograms.
Once in rehab, however, the doctors were properly able to diagnose her issues and give her the proper treatment she needed. After her stay, the future looked optimistic for the former Misfit. While her band was no more, her father promised to help her get back on her feet once she was ready to re-enter the music scene. On top of that, she had met a gorgeous, up and coming actor while in rehab. Riot had finally become a distant memory. Things were starting to look positive for Pizzazz until she received a call from the police department's detective unit. Now, Pizzazz sat in her yellow sports car, parked outside of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.
"I guess I better do this," she mumbled to herself, wiping away the tears in her eyes and checking her makeup before getting out of her car.
As Pizzazz entered the lobby, she was promptly greeted by an older woman sitting behind a desk. With it being a Saturday morning, there was hardly anyone in the office. "May I help you?" the woman asked, examining the rock star's uber-eclectic style.
"I was asked by a detective named Mitchell Reynolds to come down to identify someone," Pizzazz hesitantly answered, fighting back the tears.
"Your name?" the woman asked.
"Phyllis Gabor," she replied.
"Come this way, please," the woman instructed Pizzazz to follow her down the hallway and through a couple of security-enforced doors. Before they could enter another room, the woman was called away. "You can wait here until I get back," the woman directed her towards an empty desk in the hallway.
"You're not going to leave me alone here, are you?" a creeped out Pizzazz asked.
"I won't be long," the woman reassured her.
"But wait!" Pizzazz pleaded. However, it was too late, the woman quickly disappeared into another room. "Great, just great," the Misfit murmured to herself, taking a seat at the empty desk while she waited for the woman to return.
The room was brightly lit, but the thought of what was behind all those doors along the long hallway didn't sit well with her. Apprehensive, Pizzazz began to tap her foot on the linoleum to end the eerie silence. Trying hard not to think about where she sat, alone, she began to hum Outta My Way. It was the Misfits' first hit single under Eric Raymond's management.
While her relationship with her former manager was at times volatile, she cared for him more than she would ever dare to admit. Pizzazz began to realize that Eric had become more than just her manager. He was her rock in her unstable life. He gave her the one things she loved most – music. Although they used each other to pursue their own fame and fortune, they were allies in an otherwise nasty world. He had always been there to save her when she needed help the most – not Stormer, not Roxie, and certainly not Jetta. And now, he was gone. She has lost her only true friend. Engulfed in a sudden feeling of grief, Pizzazz began to cry once more, oblivious to the footsteps down the hallway.
"Miss me?" an old familiar voice called out to her from behind.
Startled, Pizzazz jumped from the chair. "Eric!" She gasped once she realized who it was.
"The one and only," he smirked.
