Lights, Camera, Bones, page 10
“I know you’ve been taking photos for that journalist friend of yours, Cece Dee Falcon. If you share this, I will sue.”
“Cece has only given you good publicity,” I said. I had planned to share the script with Cece and Millie.
“It’s not good or bad publicity that concerns me. Marlon has been emphatic that no one sees the script or knows the twists and turns he has planned. Of course, I had to have the outline to get financial backing, but Marlon wants a more organic approach. I’m going to let you have this, but you are honor bound not to reveal any of it. Do you get it?”
“We do,” Tinkie said, taking the envelope. “You have our word.”
“Have you found any leads as to where Marlon might be?” Her abrasiveness gave way to worry.
“No,” I said. “Have you heard anything from the sheriff or any of the search crews?” There were boatloads of volunteers searching downriver and all along the shores of Lake Ferguson.
“Your boyfriend spotted the shark while he was in the river.” She said it like she was saying the coffee was good.
“What?” I was ready to jump out of the car. “Did they catch it? Did it hurt anyone?”
“Catch it?” She laughed out loud. “Catch it and do what with it?”
“Release it back into the Gulf,” Tinkie said. “It’s not the shark’s fault it’s here.”
“Tell it to Jules Valiant and his family. The DNA matched. The foot belongs to Jules and the local coroner has ruled him dead. How would you like to plan a funeral for a foot?”
I blocked a burst of laughter with a snort and quickly turned my face away to hide my expression. I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t funny at all. Not at all. But it was the way she said it and the grisly image of a solitary foot in a coffin that was nearly my undoing. I struggled for control.
“That must be terrible for the family,” Tinkie said, covering for my awfulness. She put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t cry, Sarah Booth. We’re doing all we can to bring justice for Jules.”
I leaned on my arm on the steering wheel. My face was hidden, and my shoulders shuddered, as if I were crying. Only it wasn’t tears.
“Well,” Ana said, backing off a little. “I’m counting on you to be discreet with this foot—I mean script.”
It was nearly too much. I boo-hooed to cover my inappropriate behavior.
“We should leave,” Tinkie said.
I pressed the gas and sped off. When I turned a corner and was out of sight, Tinkie whipped off her shoe and hit me with it. “You are a horrible person, Sarah Booth. Really! That. Was. Inexcusable.”
I pulled to the curb and stopped the car before she knocked me unconscious. I looked at her and she bent over double, laughing. “See,” I said. “It isn’t funny but it’s impossible not to laugh.”
She wiped her eyes. “We are not nice people.”
“I won’t argue that.”
“God is going to punish us.”
“No, she won’t,” I countered. “It was spontaneous laughter. Sort of like spontaneous combustion but not so messy to clean up.”
Tinkie hit me with her shoe again. “Just drive,” she said. “I worry that your lack of social etiquette is going to wear off on me. Then it’s a downhill slide into wearing my underwear on the outside of my clothes.”
“I don’t do that,” I protested.
“Not yet, anyway.” She pointed down the road and I put the car in motion. “Where are we going?”
“Let’s head to an office printing store. We can copy that script so we each have one, then we can go home and read it. I hate to say it but we are striking out on every front.” She bit her bottom lip, a sign she was frustrated or manipulating a man. This time it was frustration. “Marlon may be somewhere slowly dying, and we can’t even find a lead,” she said. “And we are horrible people. I need some Maylin affection to counteract laughing about a funeral for a—”
“Don’t say it. You’ll set me off again.”
“Just drive.” She leaned back in the seat and tilted her head. “You exhaust me, Sarah Booth. There are days when I think about Loulane dealing with you during that awful time when your parents died. You were a handful.”
“That’s an understatement.” I was an awful delinquent. I slipped out of the house at night, disappeared, skipped school, and basically nearly killed Aunt Loulane with worry. She was never anything but kind and loving. “She should have tanned my hide.”
“She knew how wounded you were. She didn’t want to break your spirit. Conformity is overrated, as you well know.” She turned to me. “But don’t laugh about a foot funeral!”
I’d gotten myself under control. “I promise.”
“Good. Now let’s get this copied and get home.”
15
By the time I’d finished the script, Coleman was home. A mist of rain had begun to fall, a precursor to bad weather waiting to pounce.
I built a small fire in the parlor, eased Coleman onto the sofa, and handed him a drink. He looked worn and discouraged.
I tried not to lead the conversation with questions about his shark sighting, but I couldn’t help myself. “Did you really see that shark?”
He shook his head in amazement. “News travels fast.”
“You had to be pretty close to see it in that murky river water.”
“Too close for comfort.”
I checked my first response of worry. I didn’t want Coleman to lie to me, but I hated to be afraid for him. “What happened?” I swallowed half of my neat Jack Daniel’s. I had a feeling I was going to need some liquid courage to hear what came out of his mouth.
“I was in the water with a team of divers. We were exploring the cage I told you about. The river is dense, so it’s hard to see anything, and the shark is dark on top and light on the bottom, so it has pretty good camouflage.”
I gulped the rest of my drink and felt the fire hit my belly. “Is it big?”
“Yes. And smart.”
Coleman loved animals and often said animals were far superior to humans because only humans had worked so hard to destroy the planet that gave them life. “Are you going to have to kill it?”
“Maybe,” he said. “Public safety comes first, but I didn’t have a weapon when I saw it. We were working on lifting that cage from the bottom of the river. The shark was just suddenly there. Watching us. Almost like it was treading water, though I know sharks can’t do that. Creeped the hell out of me.”
“Damn.” I didn’t want to say too much because I might fly off the handle and spew my fear all over Coleman. Restraint. That was what Tinkie had been harping about. “Mary Dayle says the shark is dangerous. Really dangerous.” I said it calmly.
“That’s what she told Sheriff Nelson. She also offered to help us capture it if we agreed to return it to the Gulf.”
That was news. “She did?”
“I happen to agree with her. I’d love to save it if we can.”
“How close did it get to you?”
“Close enough that it could have caught me if it had been hunting.”
“That isn’t comforting, Coleman.”
“I know. People in Greenville are getting riled up. They’re demanding that something be done about it. The weather is warming up and folks want to be on the water for recreation. The searches for Marlon haven’t yielded anything, and Jules Valiant’s family will be here tomorrow, demanding action, I’m sure. There’s a lot of pressure to kill the shark and be done with it.”
“Can you open the cage thing and draw the fish in there?”
“Maybe. I want to try.”
I refilled our glasses and sank onto the sofa so I could lean against him. His strength was a comfort. Coleman had evaded being a shark’s lunch today, and he acted like nothing had happened. “Bilbo and Mary Dayle shut down the movie. Something about permits and all of that.” My news wasn’t as exciting as a shark encounter, but it might help him and the sheriff.
“Those fools claim Marlon is going to make the rich people of the Delta look to be murderers.”
“I just read the script.” I pointed to it on the coffee table. “There’s no indication of that. It’s pretty much what Marlon said all along, an action thriller. He’s the hero. Happy ending.”
Coleman picked it up. “Then why doesn’t Ana just distribute the screenplay so people can see for themselves?”
“It has something to do with the authenticity of the actors. Marlon likes to put them in a position where they react. Real reaction; not manufactured. That’s how Ana explained it.”
“And he’s shut down because of that.” Coleman finished his drink and drew me closer, kissing my neck and ear.
“That’s not entirely fair. The movie is shuttered because the star, director, and screenwriter have disappeared.”
“I can’t believe his absence is voluntary,” Coleman said. “I’ll bet the insurance company pulls the plug any minute. I suspect Bilbo will win by default.”
“They haven’t removed all of the equipment yet,” I said. “Since the equipment was leased and Marlon missed a payment, the rental company got cold feet and took some of the lighting. But there’s plenty of equipment to continue work. Tomorrow, I’ll see if Ana can bring in enough crew to start filming something if she has those permits. Better to put up a solid front and show that she isn’t going to quit without a fight.”
Coleman’s nibbling on my neck and ear became more insistent. “Tomorrow is another day,” he whispered.
I gave in to the sensations he created, the building desire. Tomorrow was indeed another day.
* * *
The next morning, I dropped the pets at Tinkie’s and picked her up. Coleman had gone an hour earlier. He intended to bait the cage with chum and see if he could lure the shark inside. I had to stay busy, or I would drive myself crazy with worry.
We headed to the movie set and knocked on the door of the trailer where Ana worked. She opened the door with a frazzled expression. “Any word on Marlon?”
“No.” I hated to say it, but it was true. “You?”
“Nothing. Not one clue. And the Valiants will be here today. It’s going to be bloody awful.”
“I think you should keep filming.” I just said it. “If Bilbo and Mary Dayle think they’ve cowed you into submission, they won’t give up. We have to find those permits, Ana. You have to keep filming if you want to save the movie.”
She looked at me like I had two heads. “And how will I pay the cast and crew?”
“The promise that money will come if the film is saved. You can do set shots of the area, crowd shots of the fake town you built—before-the-flood shots. I know you can’t flood the set or pay any of the bigger name actors, but a lot of locals would act for nothing.”
“That should be interesting,” she said sarcastically. “Maybe I could give acting lessons while I’m here.”
Tinkie stood to her full five-foot-two height. “If you’d been raised a Daddy’s Girl, meaning a woman with breeding and class, you would know that appearances are everything. You must keep up the appearance that the movie will be made. If you fold your tents and leave, you’ll never get this project started again and it could easily taint your reputation for other projects.”
I almost stepped back from the blast of Tinkie’s anger. She’d taken this case to heart. “What Tinkie means is that you’ll kill the movie before we have a chance to really hunt for Marlon if you give up so quickly. We can’t give up.”
“What about the permits?” Ana asked. “They aren’t in the office here.”
“You said Marlon had all the paperwork. We’ll search his room and see if we can turn them up. You call back the cast and crew and just explain things to them. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised who’s willing to work and who isn’t.”
“Do you really think we can fight this? I’ve never been in a situation where the town didn’t want us. Most places are in love with the movies and the money we bring to local merchants.”
“I believe the majority of folks in Greenville support you. The problem is just two big blowhards with an axe to grind,” Tinkie said in a much friendlier tone. “Look, I was just trying to stiffen your spine. I can’t believe a California woman would let a couple of bumpkins run over her.”
“I agree with Tinkie. If you truly care about this movie, and Marlon said you did, then stand up for it. Fight.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll help. I’m pretty sure law enforcement will be on your side, once you get the permit situation fixed. The townspeople we’ve talked to are delighted you’re here, and Marlon has a legion of fans who would be willing to help, I’m sure.”
She inhaled and nodded vigorously. “You’re right. I just got depressed and let Bilbo intimidate me.”
“Did he threaten you?” Tinkie asked.
“Not in so many words, but he implied bad things would happen if I didn’t pack up and leave. I’m responsible for all of these people. Look what happened to Jules. Nothing like that can occur again. The guilt will kill me.”
I understood how she felt, and I also understood her desire to pack up and quit. Thank goodness Tinkie had stepped in and put a little starch in her underwear. “Okay, we’ll check Marlon’s room for the paperwork and report back. If the insurance company calls, don’t answer.”
“I can get by with that for a day, but they’ll send someone here if I don’t talk to them tomorrow.”
“Maybe by tomorrow we’ll have the permits in place and a lead on Marlon.”
“Have you talked to RoDa about Marlon’s hangouts? They were close.”
“We will. Thank you,” Tinkie said.
“Please find those papers and bring them back. You’re right. We have to fight.”
I gave her a thumbs-up.
* * *
We were familiar with Marlon’s suite at the B and B. It didn’t take us long to go through the bedroom, sitting room, and bathroom. We found nothing—until I thought to check with the owner to see if Marlon had left any paperwork or packages.
“That sweet young man, he asked me to hold on to this messenger bag for him.” Nancy Aldren reached under the front desk counter and pulled out a handsome leather bag. “I’m so worried about him. Where could he have gone?”
“We’re searching for him,” I said, trying not to show the depth of my worry. “The company insuring the movie has hired us to find him, but in the meantime the movie needs to keep filming and we need those permits if you have them.”
She was about to hand over the bag when she reconsidered. “He told me to keep this and not to let anyone else have it.”
“We can get Ana McCants, his producer, to come over and ask for it, but that will just slow her down. We’ll take it straight to her. You’ve probably heard there are people who want to shut the movie down. The papers in that bag could help save the movie.”
“Really?” Nancy said. “I want to help. I do.” She put a hand over her mouth as she considered her options. “I just don’t know what the right thing is.”
Tinkie put a hand on top of Nancy’s hand. “The right thing is to help Ana keep the movie going so that when we find Marlon, he can get right back to work. If the set is closed down, the movie will die and likely never get resuscitated.”
Tinkie wasn’t lying. “She’s right, Mrs. Aldren. Help us help Marlon. We’re on his side.”
“Who is on the other side?” she asked cagily.
“Lamar Bilbo.” I put it out there. No prevaricating.
She pushed the bag toward Tinkie. “Take it. If I’m doing the wrong thing, then I’ll face that when Marlon is found. And he will be found alive. My heart tells me that.” She put her hand on Tinkie’s shoulder. “Please find him. Please. He’s a wonderful young man. Reminds me of my grandson, so full of energy and ideas.”
I was itching to get my hands on the bag and see what was in it but snatching it away from her probably wouldn’t be the right move. Tinkie must have read my mind because she stepped between us and gently took the bag.
“Thank you, Mrs. Aldren.”
“Call me Nancy, please.”
“Thank you, Nancy. You may have played a major role in saving the movie.”
Before she could reconsider, we rushed out the door and drove away.
“Whew,” I said as we pulled into the parking lot at Bluebeard’s. Before we gave Ana the bag, I wanted to know what was in it.
Tinkie had the bag and she pulled out a leather folder and files. “I think this is it,” she said.
I tamped down my impatience and watched as Tinkie opened the first two files. “Here!” she said when she dug into the third. “These are the permits.”
I started the car and we drove straight to the set where Ana was marshalling the cinematography team and some actors in costume. She’d taken on the chore of directing a few of the scenes.
“We have the permits,” Tinkie said, waving them as we hurried to the set.
“You are lifesavers,” Ana said. “Would you mind taking them to Sheriff Nelson? Better yet, make a copy in the trailer so I have my own set of permits.”
We happily obliged with a set of papers for Ana, for us, and for the sheriff. I was happy to deliver them to Nelson. That would give me a chance to check on the dive team and Coleman. He wasn’t the only person in the water with a predator, but he was my person. Hopefully, there would be some good news about Marlon, too.
16
Sheriff Nelson was out with Coleman and two other divers, still on the lake. We left the papers for him at his office and drove down to the boat ramp to wait for the searchers to return. Being so close to the water, knowing that Coleman shared the underwater space with a bull shark, made me even more antsy.
The rescue boats were visible. I could make out the sheriff and two other men, but Coleman was obviously in the water.
I paced and stared into the glare of the water.
“Want me to get some coffee?” Tinkie asked. “I hesitate to offer caffeine when you’re already revved up, but it might help pass the time.”
