Chapter Nineteen

Bethany drove carefully to the castle set where she expected Seth to be filming. She parked a small distance away from the hustle and bustle of the first line of actors, extras, and assorted people. Walking down to the next row of seated people, she was aware of a sudden calm and quietness as they all concentrated on what was happening. She sat down on an empty chair, next to the last person on the nearest row, and watched as the scene played out some distance away.

The crew stood around the people acting. A tall woman in sneakers with lights in the sides of the thick soles periodically talked through some kind of headset so the actors stopped and started again.

Bethany realized the woman was the director and stared at her with interest. This was Catherine Lamont. She was tall and slender with a long braid of red hair swinging down her back. She wore jeans, a massive sheepskin coat to her knees, and those sneakers. Bethany smiled. They reminded her of Christmas because when she was six she had received a pair of Holly Hobby sneakers with those lights in the wide, white soles.

She looked for Seth amongst the fight scene which started up and was startled when he rose up from the group, brandishing his sword above his head. He had run up the ruined edge of the castle and now was at head height. He fought with another actor, who followed him up to what seemed to Bethany like a precarious perch.

Suddenly everything stopped after a shout from somewhere. Bethany couldn’t make out what was shouted, but it appeared to come from the director.

Bethany thought the filming was over as the actors looked around and began to talk to each other, Instead, they went back to their starting places, including Seth, who merged with the group so she couldn’t see him.

She was amused when the lights on the set dimmed and then re-ignited in a white glow. Rock music blasted across the set.

Bethany watched actors fight to the beat of the music. It looked like some ferocious dance and then Seth appeared—raised up, as the music built. He and the other actor swung their swords to the chorus of the song. Their swings slowed, giving them the appearance of flying.

Bethany smiled and without thinking commented to the person sitting next to her, “I didn’t think they put the soundtrack on during filming.”

The man whispered back, “This isn’t the soundtrack. This is just to make the actors move the way the director wants them to.”

Bethany nodded.

They ran through the scene again and an hour went by before Catherine Lamont was satisfied. By then, Bethany knew all the words to the rock song.

They were finally packing up and Bethany stood to approach Seth.

He was twenty yards away when he saw her and broke into a smile.

Bethany waited until he reached her. They stood a pace apart, looking affectionately at one another.

“I need to go back to wardrobe and leave this outfit,” he said softly.

Bethany felt as if he had said something much more intimate.

“I have a buggy. I’ll take you and I have news too.”

Right then a man came running up to Seth. “Mister Carbery—there’s been a call. Please go to the security office as soon as you can; they didn’t say why. Okay?”

Seth nodded. “Sure, I’ll do that.”

He turned to Bethany. “Let’s go then. Your news wouldn’t have anything to do with me getting called to see security, I suppose?”

They fell into step as Bethany led the way to the Jeep.

“Yes. We have the person who sent the threatening letters.”

They climbed into the jeep.

“Tell me who,” Seth asked, as Bethany started the engine.

She looked around. There was no one to hear.

“It’s Dianne. Jake caught her on video, delivering one to your trailer this evening just before dark. She’s been doing it so Tony would pay more attention to her.”

Bethany stopped talking as Seth made a sound of surprise.

“Really. I’d never have guessed at her. Since she sent them to herself too, that would have been to cover her tracks, huh?”

“Yes, it was. She spilled everything. They’re going to tell you and I think it might be up to you what happens to her.”

“Oh, no; really? Why? Why me? Aren’t there laws or something?” Seth asked, concerned.

They stopped at the wardrobe marquees.

“I’ll be two minutes,” he said.

As promised, he only took a couple of minutes and came striding out of the place in his own clothes. He jumped back in the Jeep and they set off again.

“I am a bit worried about this thing with Dianne. If it’s up to me what happens to her, I mean.”

Bethany took the buggy right up to the side of the security office trailer and parked. She looked at Seth.

“Just do what you feel is right.”

He nodded and got out of the car. Bethany followed him to the door, but was turned away by one of the security team as they went inside. They wanted to speak with Seth alone so she went back to sit in the Jeep.

* * * *

Seth came loping down the steps of the trailer about fifteen minutes later and slid into the passenger seat with a sigh.

“I told them I wasn’t interested in pressing harassment charges and felt sorry for Dianne when I heard the story. She will leave the site tomorrow morning. I think they are escorting her off. At least she gets to go home with Tony for the night—what remains of it.”