At the edge of the red carpet, an encounter with an angry ex, weeks of fear and then death
LOS ANGELES - By early evening, the lobby of a swanky downtown hotel was awash in porn stars. Men in shiny suits and open-collared shirts, women in stilettos and see-through dresses, and even a couple connected by a dog collar were pouring into the Xbiz Awards, a sort of adult film industry Golden Globes with categories such as "Taboo-Themed Release of the Year" and "Best Sex Scene - Virtual Reality."
The red carpet that January night was a testament to the event's popularity, with dozens of photographers and hundreds of would-be subjects. It wasn't long before a line formed.
One of those waiting was Amie Harwick, a West Hollywood therapist who had received a free ticket for charity work she did for adult performers. A onetime model, the 38-year-old had told friends she was excited to have her picture taken, and had put on bright-red lipstick and a knee-length black dress that recalled
