No One Will Hear You by Max Allan Collins & Matthew Clemens

Author:Max Allan Collins & Matthew Clemens [Collins, Max Allan & Clemens, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Suspense
ISBN: 0786021357
Amazon: B004IWR3B0
Goodreads: 10261843
Publisher: Pinnacle
Published: 2011-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

Don Juan had arranged to meet Gina Hannan at a bar in the Valley. She was (of course)an aspiring actress (these poor talentless, deluded kids—they don’t have a chance in this tough town!).

He had chosen this older, quieter hideaway for its seclusion and lack of security cameras—just the sort of anonymous spot where a Hollywood producer might arrange to meet an aspiring actress.

Tonight mirrored the previous conquest, and others he had lined up for the future.

He would arrange to “run into” a likely, preselected target, introduce himself as Louis St. James, independent film producer, with a website and IMDb listing by way of bona fides. This would be enough to fool them, whether bright bulbs or dim, blinded as they were by the lure of “making it.”

And he knew how hard it was out here. He was talented, wasn’t he? Gifted beyond reason? And wasn’t he having to take his career in his own hands?

The couple was sitting in a back booth. Her lips made a kiss as they plucked her appletini’s maraschino cherry from its stem. Then she chewed, swallowed, and leaned forward, saying, “You really think I’m right for this part?”

An old-fashioned air conditioner was chugging over the bar’s front door and a ball game was on behind the counter; but otherwise the place was quiet, the bartender and handful of customers keeping their own counsel. Chirpy blonde Gina in her low-cut, silky orange blouse and tight jeans, was the loudest person here.

“Certainly you’re right for it,” he said. “It’s a small but showy part.”

“But a kindergarten teacher …”

“My screenwriter has researched this, and says most kindergarten teachers are under thirty. You’re under thirty….”

“Way under thirty,” she said with a laugh that seemed a little brittle to his ears.

“… and we’ll just have to … play down your glamour some. That’s the only drawback—you’re so … lovely.”

She lowered her head and blushed.

Blushed? Really? Or is she actually that good an actress?

Then her dark blue eyes focused on him like lasers. “I loved what I saw of the script.”

“I wish I’d thought to bring it,” he said. “I haven’t even printed out the current draft yet— screenwriter just e-mailed it to me. I … well, after our first interview? I asked him to beef up the schoolteacher part a little.”

“You did?”

“When we get a chance, I’ll give you the new sides and you can read for me again. … Would you like another drink?”

“I shouldn’t. We haven’t even had dinner yet. I don’t want to overdo, in case we end up going back to your place. For me to read those new pages for you?”

“Sure. But I think I will have another, if you don’t mind. I’ll hold it to three, since I’m driving … but we’re kind of celebrating, aren’t we?”

“Are we?”

“You’re about to get a part in a movie, aren’t you?”

She beamed. “I guess one more appletini won’t kill me.”

Don Juan glanced toward the bar. “Bartender’s wrapped up in the game. I’ll get this….”

He collected his tumbler and her martini glass and left the booth.

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