“Hey!” Serena protested. “A ladder fell!” she said quietly. She touched Emilio on the shoulder. She liked him a lot, and his dark eyes were so troubled. “Emilio, it’s all right, honestly!”
He looked at her, his eyes curiously guarded. “A big ladder, Serena. Someone could have been hurt badly.”
He was shaken himself, she could see. Scared.
“Don’t anyone else touch it,” Bill said firmly. He was staring at Emilio.
“Look! I’m telling you, I left that ladder secured to its safety hooks!” Emilio insisted.
“Maybe someone wants to ruin the show,” Jim observed glumly.
“And maybe the ladder just fell!” Serena said. “Maybe it was an accident.”
“That’s the second ‘accident’ in a week,” Conar said doubtfully.
“You should call forensics,” Liam said flatly. “That ladder should be dusted for prints.”
“Yeah, and you know what?” Emilio said. “You’ll find my prints—and Dayton’s. Whoever is doing all this is smart. You won’t find any prints other than ours.”
“We’ll take every precaution anyway.” Liam was gazing at Emilio as if the “whoever” had to be him. Finally he broke off the stare and looked around at the others. “Anyone see someone hanging around that wall where the ladder was?” Liam asked.
“Jeff was over there, after all the sarcophagus moving around,” Joe Penny said.
Serena instantly felt herself go on the defensive. “Jeff left a while ago.”
“Right. No one walked up to the ladder in front of all of us to unhook the hold pin,” Bill said quietly.
Serena thought desperately for a minute. “This is all ridiculous. Jay Braden was behind the camera with Vera and Hank, too, when we were setting up.” She winced inwardly. Here she was, trying to accuse Jay, just to divert suspicion from her brother-in-law. But they had all been on the floor for a while, watching the filming.
“So you think Vera might have fixed a ladder?” Liam asked politely. She didn’t like the way he was staring at her. As if she was speaking like a total fool.
“It’s not difficult to slip a hook,” she replied. “And yes, once again, it could have just fallen! If you all will excuse me, I really need to change,” she finished, determined.
“Serena—” Liam began, frowning.
“I’ll be very careful.”
She walked away, starting for the elevator. She thought that Liam was following her, and she turned around quickly. It was Conar. He looked grave.
“You’re really okay?”
“I’m absolutely fine. How about you? You hit the floor—and made a nice cushion for me.”
He smiled, for the first time since the ladder had fallen. He looked very earnest. “I’m fine. In fact, I was thinking about dinner. Together. It’s been a long day.”
“Dinner?” she said, frowning. ‘Tonight? Oh, you’re just trying to watch out for me.”
“The four of us. I’ll call Jennifer, you, me—and Liam.”
The four of them. Once upon a time it had been easy, doing anything together. Now, she was still completely off guard, with Liam back in her life again. On top of all that, she was scared. She was going to be walking around, looking over her shoulder all the time. It would be a good night to go home, close the doors, lock up. “Look, Conar, it’s really sweet of you to be concerned. But, you know, I’m really tired—”
His frown deepened; he seemed concerned. “Hey, Serena, I think it’s good for you to be with friends—”
“Conar, I want to live my life normally.”
“Be with friends while living your life normally. I’m shaken right now, aren’t you? Is there a problem? I thought you and Liam broke it off because you just had such different interests—”
“Oh, that’s true,” she murmured.
“I was trying to talk her into dinner,” Conar said. She realized he was talking to someone standing behind her just off the set.
Liam.
“Serena won’t want to go to dinner,” he said. He was distant. Tall, hard, remote. Black eyes not betraying a single emotion.
Guilt stirred within her. Liam’s quick action had saved both her and Conar from a nasty accident—no matter how the ladder had fallen. She would never admit it aloud, but she was definitely feeling a growing sense of unease. No, she should admit it to herself, at least. What she was feeling was fear.
“Don’t be silly. I’d love dinner,” she said. “And definitely on me. I mean, as long as you’re willing to have dinner with us. Thank you, Liam. Sincerely. I don’t believe I said that yet. Your quick thinking saved us.” She realized that she was sounding incredibly patronizing, but her words just weren’t coming out right. She turned from Liam to Conar and offered him her most brilliant smile. “Should I call Jen, or will you?”
“I’ll give her a ring; make sure it’s okay. Abby doesn’t have anything this week, so she’ll be happy to take Ian.”
“Great,” she murmured, and turned again to hurry to her dressing room.
She didn’t hear Liam behind her until he followed her onto the elevator. She hated being in the small, confined space with him.
“I don’t think that they mean you have to stick to me like glue,” she murmured.
“Yeah, well, at the moment it seems like the right thing to do,” he replied, watching the lights above the elevator door.
“That’s ridiculous. I thought you were investigating the ladder—”
His ebony eyes flashed to hers. “The police can investigate the ladder. And you know, you’re making my job hard for me, running off your mouth about that saucer.”
Her jaw dropped. Then her teeth clenched. “Running off my mouth—”
“Let’s just say that it wasn’t an accident, that someone wanted Jane—or you—dead. We’re talking about someone on this set, with a big grudge. Now what if that killer thinks that you are on to him because you told everybody in that meeting about finding that burned note in the saucer. Now the killer will really, truly want you dead. You opened your mouth and put your life at greater risk!”
She was going to defend herself, but the elevator door had opened. Jinx was standing just outside with a pile of scripts.
“Oh! I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, turning bright red. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to … to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding,” Serena shoved Liam’s shoulder. He backed away.
“Jinx, this is the ex-cop who’s watching over us all,” Serena said irritably.
“I—I—know,” Jinx stuttered. She struggled to balance her scripts and stretch out a hand to shake Liam’s.
“How do you do, Jinx?” Liam murmured politely.
Jinx turned a shade redder, but she smiled. “Better now. It’s great to have you here. I’ve heard such wonderful things about you … I feel so much safer. And less worried about Miss McCormack.”
“Thank you, Jinx,” Liam said.
“Yes, thanks, Jinx. We’ll just all sleep so much better, knowing that Liam Murphy is on the job.”
Serena knew she was a good actress, for the words had come popping out with enthusiasm. She smiled warmly at Jinx and passed on by her, hurrying down the hall. This was amazing. She hadn’t seen Liam in months, and it suddenly seemed that they had never been apart. They had split up arguing; and now they were arguing again.
She opened her dressing room and stepped in. The door didn’t close when she pushed it. Liam was behind her, coming in. She backed away from him uneasily.
“Look, thank you again for pushing me away from the ladder. But if you’ll excuse me, I think that I need some privacy—”
“You could have had a lot more privacy if you’d learn to use some good sense.” He was sounding really angry.
Gruff. The way he did when he was worried or concerned and determined not to show it.
“Look, Liam, I am aware of danger. But I didn’t hire you to be my keeper.”
“Right. You didn’t. The producers
did. If you weren’t in danger before, you are now. Two coincidences are one too many, in my book. I took this job, and I’m going to do it. So you can be as unpleasant as you want, we can skip dinner if you want, but I will be on your tail, day and night, until this is solved, one way or another. Do you understand?”
From the corner of her eye, she saw the single rose that still lay on the counter. She picked it up, waving the flower at him.
“Fine!” Her temper soared, despite her resolve. “You’ll stick to me, because that’s your job. But you know what? Don’t throw any courtesy into the mix, and don’t drop off ridiculous peace presents.”
She was surprised by the dark scowl that tensed his features.
“I didn’t give you any presents. What are you talking about?”
“This rose,” she snapped.
“I didn’t leave you a rose. I promise I didn’t,” he said.
She felt her cheeks flame. “It—wasn’t you?” Her voice faltered. The deep sense of unease filled her again.
“No, certainly not,” he said. “Give it to me.”
“It’s just a flower,” she faltered. “A flower. Not an attack on me. Are you really going to follow me—constantly?” she demanded, backing away to avoid his possible touch.
“For the most part, yes.”
“Great. Well, for your information, I don’t believe that my friends and coworkers are homicidal.” Was that the truth? What was the matter with her? She was afraid, and here was protection. But she was too unnerved to calm down enough to be reasonable. “And I have a life to lead,” she informed him. “I don’t intend to change a thing for your benefit.”
“Really?” he queried, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well, you needn’t worry. I wasn’t asking to get into bed with you.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you were.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to interrupt something?” he demanded. His eyes narrowed. “Have you asked the Hispanic types over already?”
“You asshole,” she spat at him.
“All right. Sorry, that was uncalled for,” he said softly. “But I want the rose.”
His hand wound around her wrist. The very simple touch of his fingers on her seemed like fire. She was going to start shaking and beg him to get away from her.
“Let go, please.”
He did so instantly. She meant to step back, to behave, but the crack he had made still hurt. “Don’t touch me again.” She hauled off and slapped him.
She stepped back quickly, horrified by what she had done. “Sorry—really. That was uncalled for,” she told him.
The bronze of his cheek was turning white, and the imprints of her fingers were very visible. She held her breath, praying that he didn’t come back at her.
“Serena, I will definitely follow that order.” The cold tone of his voice seemed far worse than a physical comeback. “Conar wants to go to dinner. If you really can’t handle it, go home. I’ll be in a car outside.”
“I said I’m sorry. I can handle dinner.”
“All right. You call the shots. All of them. I’ll do my best to oblige.”
He stepped out of the dressing room. Shaking and disconcerted, Serena nearly ripped her costume, Verona Valentine’s smock, pulling it over her head.
She saw something on the floor. The rose. She had dropped it; he had forgotten it. Clutching the cotton garment to her breasts, she bent to retrieve it just as the door opened again.
Liam. Startled this time as he looked at her. “Sorry, I just—the rose.”
She straightened. They stared at one another. Her lips were painfully dry; she couldn’t have spoken if she’d wanted to.
Black eyes hard and fathomless, he took the rose. “Lock yourself in,” he told her. “I’ll be back for you in about fifteen minutes.” He started to depart but turned, speaking again. “Don’t open your door until you hear me.”
“Liam, really—”
“Do it!”
Liam returned to the set, bearing the rose. Bill was standing in the center of the studio, while lab techs dusted the ladder for prints.
Liam approached Bill with the rose. “This was in Serena’s dressing room. Apparently no one knows where it came from.”
“From Serena’s dressing room?” Bill pulled an evidence bag from the pocket of his jacket. “Sure. Thanks,” he said gravely.
“It’s probably nothing,” Liam said, “but …”
“Hey, we have to follow up on all angles,” Bill agreed.
“Thanks,” Liam said.
He returned to the elevators, rising to the dressing room level. He glanced at his watch. He still had a few minutes. He followed the stars on the doors, finding the wooden astral design with the name Jay Braden. He tapped on the door, wondering if the actor would still be in.
“Yo!” Jay called. In another moment, he opened the door. Seeing Liam, his features tightened.
“Come in,” he said with a shrug, opening the door farther for Liam to enter.
The dressing rooms were a lot alike. Dressing tables with bright lighting. Sofas for relaxing. Small refrigerators for the actors to bring in their own food and drink. The coffee table in front of Jay’s sofa was piled with magazines.
He took a seat on the sofa. “You heard about the ladder?”
“Yep,” Jay said, pulling out the chair at his dressing table.
“Mind telling me what you did after the meeting?”
“I came back here. Ask Doug—he brought in a script change for me.”
“You watched some of the taping today.”
“I did. I came out to watch for a while. Why are you asking?”
“A ladder—just fell.”
“Oh. So you think someone pushed over the ladder?”
“Yeah,” Liam said.
“I was nowhere near the ladder,” Jay said.
“You know a lot about stagecraft and lighting.”
“I’ve never denied it.”
“What about your relationship with Jane Dunne?”
“I hated her guts,” Jay said cheerfully. He leaned closer to Liam suddenly. “But I think the world of Serena. You can ask anyone. You will, of course, right?”
Liam nodded. “What about Jeff?” he asked.
“Jeffrey Guelph?” Jay asked. Liam thought he looked a little uneasy.
“Yeah.”
“I like him okay. He’s not really one of us. But the advice he’s given has been helpful. I guess.”
“What about Jeff and Jane Dunne?”
Jay shrugged. “I can’t tell you anything about that.”
He was lying, Liam thought. Or being evasive. Had something happened between the two of them?
“You need to ask Jeff about his life,” Jay suggested, unnerved by Liam’s silence.
“Yep, thanks, I should.”
“You’re worried about Serena, right?”
“That appears to be a sensible concern,” Liam said.
“I guess. She was there when Jane … and then, now, the ladder …”
“Who do you think might dislike Serena?”
“No one,” Jay said flatly. “Except maybe some deranged fan. But a deranged fan couldn’t be on the set.” He was quiet for a minute, thinking. “Everyone disliked Jane. Maybe the ladder did just fall.”
“Maybe.” Liam stood and walked toward the door.
“Hey, Liam,” Jay said softly.
Liam paused.
“I did sleep with her.”
Liam turned, frowning, wondering at the tension in his grip on the door. “Pardon?”
“Jane Dunne. She was very friendly when she first got here. It wasn’t an affair. Just a few quickies. She just liked to prove she could suck people in and men … well, then spit them back out, I guess.”
“Thanks for the information.”
“You’ll be asking for more, right?”
“Yep.”
“I’m telling you, Serena has no enemies. Not in the cast. Of course she was married to Andy … bu
t Andy wants to remarry her—not kill her. He thinks it would be great if their characters remarried to coincide with a real remarriage. Now, there’s a soap plot for you.”
“Think Serena would agree to it?” Liam asked.
Jay laughed, honestly amused. “Not in this lifetime!”
Liam smiled tightly and left.
Gut feeling, no proof. The lighting guys were innocent, though. They were truly horrified by what had happened.
Was it someone obvious, or something he was missing entirely?
He had a feeling they’d only begun to scratch the surface.
Chapter 10
A TAP CAME ON SERENA’S door almost fifteen minutes to the second after Liam had left her.
“Serena?”
At the sound of his voice, she turned to exit her dressing room quickly, having changed to her street clothing and scrubbed away all stage makeup.
“Are the sunglasses really necessary?” Liam asked when she emerged out into the hallway.
She inched the glasses down her nose, staring at him over the rims. “We’re going out to eat. I’d just as soon do so privately.”
“Do people fall all over you every time you go somewhere?” he queried.
She counted to five, still staring at him. “No, they don’t. But I know how irritated you become every time a soap fan does come up.”
“No, I don’t find that irritating,” he replied, definitely irritated.
“Look, this is insane if we’re going to fight through the meal—”
“I wasn’t fighting; I was asking.”
“In a very negative tone of voice.”
“Sorry. I just find sunglasses ridiculous inside.”
“Then you shouldn’t wear them inside.”
“Let’s forget this. We’ll get Conar and go.”
There was a crowd at the restaurant, but no one approached them as they met Jennifer, who kissed Conar and told him that the baby was happy with Abby, her mother, and then told them that the host inside had assured her he would seat them as soon as her whole party arrived. She was anxious about the ladder, another accident on the set. They made light of it in front of Jennifer.