The Soap Opera Slaughters by Marvin Kaye

Author:Marvin Kaye [Kaye, Marvin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784086411
Publisher: Head of Zeus Ltd
Published: 2012-11-01T16:49:00+00:00

I WAITED A WHILE, but nobody came out of the sound stage door. Lack of sleep was catching up with me, and I began to nod on my feet, but a sudden sharp voice at my elbow brought me awake.

“Well, well, how all occasions do inform...

No mistaking that tart timbre. I turned and saw Hilary standing near me in the hall, hair tied behind in that tight knot which was generally a signal that she was in a no-nonsense mood. The lines of her light gray suit were as severe as her expression.

“Well, well, how all occasions do inform...

“Maybe.”

“My God,” she muttered, “you sure work fast.”

“Look,” I told her, unwilling to involve myself in our customary verbal fisticuffs, “I’m going to pretend I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

An angelic smile. “How traditional, Gene.”

I counted silently before responding. “Hilary, the only reason I’m here is to investigate Ed Niven’s death.” It was not without calculation; it reminded her who had the license.

“I’m impressed. The Great Brain, Frank Butler, is so successful that he’s opening a New York office, too!”

I told her my boss had nothing to do with my being at WBS. “I’m doing a friend a favor.”

“A friend? Whom?”

Just then, the sound stage door opened. Lara emerged, saw me and Hilary and froze. After an awkward silence more damning than speech, Hilary, acting as though she’d noticed nothing, addressed her cousin in a brisk tone.

“Jess Brass just called. She still wants to interview you. Should I tell her to go to hell?”

“No, she’s too powerful to cross. Set it up.”

“When and where? She says she’ll come to the studio whenever—”

Lara shook her head. “No way. After the column she wrote this morning, she’d better stay far clear of Ames.”

“Why?” I asked. “What did Brass write?”

“The truth. That Ed didn’t hand in a new ‘Bible’ on time. That we’re going to run out of storyline soon and Ames can’t hire a new head writer fast enough. That our ratings will slip badly.”

“You’ve got a spy on staff,” Hilary observed.

“Afraid so. That’s why Ames is livid. He wants to find out who the informer is.”

“Well,” said Hilary, “Florence McKinley is the only cast member well known to be in Brass’ good graces.”

Lara and I exchanged a look.

“All right,” Hilary said, “I’ll try to set up a lunch interview with her tomorrow. Okay?”

“Yes.”

With a curt nod of her head, Hilary turned sharply and departed. I watched her till she rounded a corner and disappeared from view.

“She’s in one sweet mood,” I remarked.

“Her way of coping, Gene. Would you prefer histrionics?” Lara glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back on set. You’re cleared, so come on. By the way, where did you disappear to?”

“Took a walk with Joanne Carpenter.”

Lara shot me a sharp glance. “Oh?” A single chilly syllable.

“A prime suspect, remember?”

“Yes. Sorry.” She promptly looked sheepish, for which I gave her points over Hilary. ‘It’s not like me to play Jennie Jealous. But Joanne’s a very horny lady.”

“A very lonely one, anyway.

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