Triple Threat by Jeffery Deaver

Author:Jeffery Deaver [Deaver, Jeffery]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery & Detective, Short Stories (Single Author), Fiction, Fiction / Thrillers, Fiction / Mystery & Detective - Short Stories, Thrillers, Fiction / Short Stories (Single Author), Short Stories
ISBN: 9781455526826
Google: y3zXt-_pyeYC
Amazon: B0092XN9O0
Barnesnoble: B0092XN9O0
Publisher: Hachette Digital, Inc.
Published: 2013-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

13

FROM THE WINGS, Mr. Traver cleared his throat to get Nick’s attention and tapped the face of his watch.

“Looks like we have time for one last question.” Nick glanced at Holly, sitting on the auditorium stage next to him in a molded-plastic chair identical to the one he occupied, for confirmation. She shrugged and nodded her head as if to say, Go ahead. This one’s all yours. He surveyed the sea of shining, eager faces and raised hands in his former teacher’s Intro to Drama class, finally settling on a skinny boy with an unfortunate cowlick who looked like a blond Harry Potter.

“Third row. Blue shirt. Glasses.”

“Me?” the boy squeaked.

“Yes. What’s your name?”

“It’s Kevin, sir.”

“And what’s your question, Kevin?”

“I wanted to know...” He tugged at his collar. “The way you’ve described it, your role in this play is, like, so different from your movies. And from you, unless, I mean, assuming you’re not, like, a wife-beater or anything.”

The class tittered and one boy in the back row not so discreetly coughed “loser” into his hand. Mr. Traver poked his head out from behind one of the curtain legs, but Nick waved him off. “I think I know where you’re going with this, Kevin. But I’d like to hear the rest of your question, if it’s all right with the peanut gallery.”

The cougher squirmed in his seat, and a beaming Kevin continued, “How do you, like, identify with a character who’s such a scumbag?”

“So, basically, how much does it suck being the bad guy after years of playing the hero?” The class laughed again, this time with Nick instead of at Kevin. “In all seriousness, that’s a good question, one it took me a long time to figure out. Every actor’s process is different. For me, it’s about digging deep, finding something redeeming about the character beneath the ugly surface. No one’s black-and-white, all good or all bad. Although I’ll admit the good’s buried deeper in some than others.”

Like Holly’s ex. And his father.

“How about you, Ms. Ryan?” a girl piped up from behind Kevin. “Why’d you write about domestic violence?”

Shit. Nick figured the last thing Holly wanted to talk about was how close to home this play hit for her. “Sorry, but I think we’re out of time, guys. Thanks for—”

“It’s okay,” Holly said, surprising him. He was even more shocked to see her on the edge of her chair, light dancing in her green eyes and looking almost giddy with anticipation. “The Lesser Vessel isn’t just about spousal abuse. It’s about making what you think is the right choice—the safe choice—and having it turn out horribly wrong. It’s about having the judgment to recognize you’ve made a mistake and the courage to make it right. And I think that’s something we all experience at some point in our lives.”

“Kind of like pulling a U-ie?” a smart-ass in a red hoodie yelled.

Holly found the boy slinking in his seat and nailed him with her gaze. He slumped even farther and pulled his hood down over his face.

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