Teddy dropped the Porsche off at a body shop to get the front-end damage repaired.
The mechanic examined the crumpled fender and shook a gloomy head. “That ain’t good.”
“You should see the other guy,” Teddy told him.
Teddy took a cab back to Centurion and found Peter in his office. “We have a problem.”
“I’ll say.” Peter picked up a tabloid from his desk. “The gossip columnists won’t quit. This one hints that the reason Tessa Tweed had all her lines dubbed was because she was drunk on camera and slurring her words.”
“That’s low.”
“No kidding. Ben’s ripshit, and it’s all I can do to keep him from going after these guys.”
“The worst thing he could do,” Teddy said, “as I’m sure you told him.”
“You bet I did. If I could keep him from reading the tabloids, I would.”
“I’m afraid we’ve got more troubles than that.”
“Oh?”
“Yesterday a car followed me from the studio and tried to run me off the road.”
“Are you all right?”
“Aside from a dented fender.”
“You think they’ll try again?”
“He won’t. I don’t know who he worked for.”
“You have no idea who’s doing this?”
“No. I’m certainly going to make every effort to find out, but until I do Billy Barnett appears to be an endangered species. It occurs to me it might be a good time for him to go away on a location scout.”
“I was actually going to propose it,” Peter said.
“Oh? Why?”
“To make it easier for you to become Mark Weldon.”
“Mark Weldon isn’t in the picture.”
Peter smiled. “He is now.”
“What?”
“The public can’t get enough of the man they love to hate. You got a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. It makes no sense not to have you in my movie. I intended for you to take a break on this one, so it didn’t look like I’m working with a cadre of actors, what with Tessa already in it. But I realize that’s just bad business. You have to give the people what they want, and they seem to want bad boy Mark Weldon. So I’m offering you the featured role of the bad guy. I certainly hope you take it.”
“I don’t know,” Teddy said. “I’d hate to get a reputation for being typecast.”
Peter blinked, then grinned. “You had me for a moment. So, that works. Billy Barnett goes on a location scout, and Mark Weldon shows up to rehearse. I take it you can arrange to delegate your responsibilities?”
“Hey, it’s not my first rodeo. I’ll be fine. But I must point out, Mark Weldon doesn’t have a contract yet.”
“It’s all right,” Peter said. “I don’t pay Oscar nominees any less than other actors.”
“You’re all heart.”
Teddy went down the hall to his office. His secretary was typing a letter.
“Margaret, I’m going on a trip to scout locations and will be out of reach, if anyone asks. You know the drill.”
“How will I reach you?”
“I’ll get you a cell phone number, and I’ll check in from time to time.”
Margaret was accustomed to Teddy’s unorthodox style. She cocked her head and smiled. “You do know we’re making a movie?”
Teddy grinned. “Thanks for reminding me.”