Dreams and Schemes by J A Whiting

Author:J A Whiting [Whiting, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J A Whiting and Whitemark Publishing
Published: 2024-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

11

Hope thought the casting director sounded perfectly normal and accommodating. Yes, she could schedule the audition for a weekend so Cori would not miss any school. Fly in on a Friday night, stay close to the Disney property, and fly out on Sunday. It all sounded so matter of fact, but Hope knew the trip would be stressful for her and Cori. It was like trying out for the U.S. Olympic team. How could Cori guarantee that her voice would be pitch perfect for the audition?

Norrie.

Hope would have to pick Norrie’s brain for audition tips. Certainly, there were time-tested methods for insuring against failure. Practice was certainly part of the prep, but there were things Hope couldn’t know about. Although excited when the call ended, Hope was afraid also. Cori, a neophyte, would be auditioning against children who had been acting since birth. Well, that was a bit over the top, but certainly, most of the singers would have more experience than Cori. That couldn’t be helped.

Hope and Cori would have to accept whatever happened.

“Am I going?” Cori asked when Hope stepped into the teen’s bedroom.

“Of course, you’re going. We’re going together.”

“Yippee!” Cori jumped out of her chair and hugged Hope. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We’re not even on the plane. There’s work to be done.”

“I’m practicing really hard.”

“It’s not just practice. You have to talk to Norrie. I mean really talk to her. She knows about auditioning. She’ll be able to give you some important tips.”

“Roger that. She’ll give me good advice. She wants me to succeed.”

“I’m sure she will.”

Hope was on her lunch break the next day, when Detective Robinson called.

“What are you doing after school?” the detective asked.

“Taking Cori to her singing lesson and then fixing dinner, why?”

“If I bring pizza for dinner, will you take a ride with me. There’s a person of interest I want to question about the Gerald Pantini case.”

“I don’t see why not. Will it take long?”

“No, I don’t think so. I just need someone to help evaluate this guy.”

“Guy?”

“Name’s Rowdy Sherman. He has been known to make threats.”

“About Gerald?”

“Among others. He can be hard to handle, but I think he’ll be a bit subdued if a woman is there, especially someone like you.”

“Me? Why am I different?”

“You solve murders. That might make him a bit more leery.”

“Fair enough. Pepperoni and mushroom, that’s what Cori and I like.”

The detective laughed.

Rowdy lived in Shady Acres, a trailer park a mile outside Castle Park. Trailers and mobile homes were reasonably cheap in North Carolina and small communities dotted the rural countryside. The Acres, as it was called, was typical, consisting of some very well-kept trailers alongside trailers that needed more than a little work. The homes with children were the ones with toys in the yard. Space was always a consideration with a trailer, especially with kids involved. Unless there was some sort of storage shed included, the toys sat outside.

There were no toys outside the rusted trailer that faced Hope.

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