Five

Ike opened the door. “Ms. Carmichael, we need you in the study for a run-through.”

“As they say, the show must go on.” Luna turned toward me, quickly averting her gaze. But not soon enough. I saw what Luna was trying to hide. Distrust. “Bring the rodent.”

I did the only thing possible at the moment, followed her.

With the camera, lights, camera crew, director, and scene participants, there was no space for me in the study. It was tight. Barely enough room for air for all of us to breath. The space not filled with people was taken by a massive desk and bookcases filled with family photos and decorative books. There were photos of Luna and Garrison Tyler, the actor playing the hero of the movie and photos of younger versions of the pair. I was amazed the production crew was able to find photos of a little boy who I imagined was what a young Garrison looked like. There was even a photo of a mother and young child that could pass off as Luna and Garrison. Whoever was in charge of setting up the scene was incredible. It must’ve taken them days to find that photograph or create one from old photos of Luna and Garrison.

“Hopefully, after one quick run-through we can get everything in place to shoot the scene after lunch,” Edward said, shooing out everyone who wasn’t necessary.

I leaned against the wall, keeping myself and Ebenezer out of the way of the mass exodus. The room seemed to expand once some of the people filtered out. On the mantle was the wood pallet sign I made with the words “Family, Home, Cherish.” The theme of the movie was the intricacies of family that not only create lasting memories but angst and end with murder. A little bit of a downer for a Christmas movie, but it was a murder mystery.

Luna sighed. “Why can’t we just do it now? I don’t need a trial run. I can complete this monologue scene in one take. I am a professional.” She flickered a hand toward me and Ebenezer. “My new pet is here. I’m sure his mom would appreciate getting this scene done so she can work on everything needed for tomorrow’s set.”

I schooled my features into a pleasant expression, masking my worry. An image of Marie, holding two Yeti cups, popped into my head. The threats against Luna. Marie was driving Luna’s car. What if the fire was a warning? I drew in a deep breath. Had someone tampered with the car and killed Marie instead?

Multiple gazes turned to stare at me. I coughed a bit and patted my chest. Luna’s gaze bore into me. A thoughtful and distrustful expression on her face.

“Is there a problem?” Ike asked.

“Allergies,” I croaked out.

I had to talk to the police, let them know about the Yeti cup I found. The cup I had put in the box with the Christmas decorations I delivered. If Luna needed protection, they were the best people to know as she didn’t trust the sheriff, and he lied about the scene of the accident. Besides, Carol Lake’s police department was close by.

Where was Luna’s cup? Marie had both. I flipped through my memory, trying to conjure up the console of the BMW. I couldn’t envision it.

“I’ll take the pet.” Luna held out her arms. “We should get acquainted with each other since we’re inseparable in a few scenes.”

A member of the sound crew walked over to Luna, holding a small mic and a battery pack in their hand. “Garrison is mic’d up and ready to go.”

“Garrison?” Luna turned, nearly colliding herself and Ebenezer into the sound guy. “He isn’t in this scene.”

I stepped forward, readying to save Ebenezer, who was looking rather interested in the battery pack being hooked onto Luna’s sweater. Please, don’t nibble on Luna’s clothes, I silently begged. Ebenezer might have the shortest role in a movie ever. Well, besides the cat who disappeared before his debut.

“Our original suspect for this scene sustained a slight injury hanging up some of the outdoor lights and is at urgent care. Garrison agreed to fill in,” Edward said. “It’s just the back of him and his voice that’s in the scene. He’ll change it up a bit. No one will know that the sleuth’s best friend and one of the suspects is one and the same.”

Garrison stepped into the room, mic’d up and ready for filming.

Luna tapped her lip for a couple minutes, tilting her head to the side as she studied Garrison. She shifted Ebenezer in her grasp and grinned. “That’s a perfect idea. The sleuth’s best friend being one of the major suspects. Maybe even change it up where he is the guilty party. It’ll be fabulous.”

“I didn’t agree to a role as a villain.” A dark expression crossed Garrison’s face.

“Come on now, dear, it’s common knowledge that during a family dispute it’s usually a trusted family member who does in the victim. And you’re the only one I trust.” There was some malice in the smile she fixed on Garrison. “My character specifically requested her nephew because of the threats she was receiving. Wouldn’t it be intriguing if the very person she wanted to save her is the one intent on killing her.”

“There’s no time for this nonsense,” Edward said.

“Shouldn’t take any time at all.” Luna’s predatory grin was now on Edward. “Just a few changes in dialogue here and there. The climax scene will work just as well with exchanging Garrison’s character for the current murderer.”

“That’s a lot of changes for the cast to memorize,” Edward placed a hand on Ebenezer’s back.

Ebenezer shrieked and tried biting him. Edward drew back quickly.

“Edward is the third person he’s tried to bite.” Ike evil-eyed my buddy. “He’s a menace. Has there been any luck in finding the cat?”

“I’m so sorry. He can be a little skittish. He’s not much of a people person,” I said.

“Then we should get along fabulously.” Luna drew Ebenezer toward her. “Because neither am I.”

“Truer words never spoken,” Garrison muttered.

“I’m sure the animal is a little out of sorts being dragged here then carried around like an accessory,” Edward said. “Let’s just get the scene done as previously written. Any other changes can be discussed later.”

“Fine.” Luna settled herself onto the edge of the desk, placing Ebenezer in her lap. “I’m ready to get this scene over with before I attack someone.”

I left, closing the door behind me and fighting back a bit of jealously wiggling its way through me. I should be happy Ebenezer took to Luna Carmichael. A shrieking guinea pig, his usual reaction to displeasure, would have the director on the search for another pet.

There was a noise coming from the dressing room. Either the stylist returned and was putting away items, or the soon-to-be ex was rummaging around in Luna’s things. There was one way to find out, and since I had left Ebenezer’s travel carrier in the room, I had a valid reason to walk in there. Quietly.

Placing one hand on the door and another on the knob, I eased it open and peered inside the room. Katrina was rummaging through the drawers of the vanity. There was a clink of bottles. She had a small cylinder shaped item in her hand and dropped it back inside the drawer. She closed the drawer and opened another one, finding nothing in there, she dumped out items from a small red purse. Items scattered all over the vanity, some tumbled onto the floor. One object nestled into the carpet.

Voices from downstairs carried into the hallway. Katrina spun toward the door. Shock then anger flashed across her face. I forced a smile on my face.

“What are you doing in here?” She asked, gritting her teeth.

“There it is,” I said louder than necessary and walked over to Ebenezer’s carrier and snagged the strap. “I couldn’t remember where I left it. It’ll be hard to get my critter home without it. The little guy is an escape artist.”

“Now that you found it, you can go.” Katrina knelt and started picking up the items from the carpet.

I paused for a moment, gaze lingering on the items on the vanity. “Looking for something?”

“Nothing for you to know.” Katrina shoved the items in her hands back into the purse. “Luna would not like you in her private dressing room. You should leave before she finds out. I don’t want to get into trouble because you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be, and she thinks I allowed you in here.”

I had a feeling Luna’s irritation would be over the fact that Katrina was rifling through her belongings. I just met Luna and I already knew she was a woman who preferred people remain a safe distance from her and her items. “I’ll tell her you didn’t grant me permission. What are you searching for?” I crossed my arms and fixed a hard stare on her.

Sweat dotted Katrina’s brow. The woman was up to something. Was she having a major stalker-fan-girl moment and was looking for a memento?

“Getting something for Luna.” Her tone had too much of a questioning lilt to it for me to buy it.

“What? I don’t recall her asking you for anything, and right now she’s filming a scene.”

“You’re the crafter, not her assistant. There’s no need for you to know.”

Everything about her tone and the way she held her arms tight against her body said Katrina was lying. It was like she was preparing for a physical altercation or was stopping herself from grabbing something. I studied the room, trying to find what she was interested in. All I saw was clothing, makeup, and a framed photo on the vanity that was almost hidden behind the makeup and hair products.

The door banged open. A furious Luna glared at us.

“What are you doing in my private dressing room?” Luna stressed the word private.

“Wanted to get Ebenezer’s home away from home.” I snagged the strap of the carrier and held it up. “He isn’t easy to carry as escaping is his favorite pastime. I knew I left it in here. Katrina, your assistant, didn’t invite me in. I didn’t think it was big deal to quickly grab it from the room.”

Luna fixed an icy gaze on her assistant. “And what are you doing in here?”

Katrina trembled and backed up a few paces. The first few words Katrina mumbled under her breath; I doubted Luna heard them either. She swallowed hard then spoke again, louder this time. “I’m your assistant. I help you.”

“Helping me by entering into my private quarters without my permission? The dressing room and bedroom are off-limits unless I give specific permission. Which I did not.”

“I brought your coffee earlier.” Katrina gazed at the ground.

“Because I told you to bring the coffee in here. Unless I tell you to enter, you don’t come in. Ever.”

I felt sorry for Katrina and wondered how Marie put up with the demanding woman. How did Luna expect her assistant to do her job properly if she wasn’t allowed where Luna was without being told she could come in?

“I wasn’t aware of that,” Katrina said. “Ike said my main role was making your life easier. Putting things back in their proper place. Making sure no one disturbed you. Making sure no one was where they shouldn’t be.” She flicked a gaze in my direction.

I pressed my mouth close, not wanting to make matters worse for her by saying Katrina was in the room before me.

“We’ll have lunch together later, and I’ll fill you in on my rules.” Luna smiled. It wasn’t an entirely happy gesture but also not a sneer. She took the carrier from me and shoved it into Katrina’s arms. “Why don’t you put the pet back into his carrier and take him downstairs. I’d like to speak with his mom here for a moment.”

Katrina’s face brightened at the prospect of having lunch with her employer. She nodded and scurried out the door, likely before Luna changed her mind.

Once Katrina vacated the room, Luna shut the door and leaned against it, tapping her nails against her folded arms. “Now that she’s gone, it’s time for a little chat. What is the sheriff hiding from me? Don’t say nothing. I noticed the quick glances back and forth between you two. You know something he’s hiding from me.”

Do or don’t I tell her? I only debated briefly in my head before I went with the truth. It had a little something to do with the fact I had some questions for her. “I found Marie’s car and some of the details he mentioned are different than from what I know them to be.”

Her eyes widened. “Why would he do that?”

That was a good question. I ran through some answers in my brain. There was only one reason that made sense—the accident wasn’t really an accident and the sheriff didn’t want anyone knowing. Someone could’ve taken the items from Marie and then moved her body. I had only noticed flattened grass for one set of footprints.

“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem to be,” I said.

Her eyes narrowed. “And what do you mean by that?”

“Maybe the sheriff doesn’t think Marie’s accident is an accident and he doesn’t want that knowledge out. Did Marie usually have two phones with her?”

Her eyes widened for a moment before she schooled her features into a well-practiced boredom. “Yes. I instructed her to only carry her work cell with her when she was on duty. I don’t appreciate my employees wasting time on personal calls when they’re on the clock. But Marie wasn’t one to comply with unnecessary rules. Since her private life never interfered in her duties, I let it slide.”

Why had Marie walked away instead of calling for help? She had a back-up phone. Why not use the other one? I didn’t know, but I was going to find out. The first thing I had to do was find the phone or get the records from Luna.

Luna frowned and stepped closer to her vanity. “What is this?”

Before I said don’t touch whatever it is, Luna picked up the small framed photograph tucked behind the hair gel and hair spray. The picture was a baby, an infant, dressed in a snowsuit. It was hard to know if it was a boy or girl. Dark wisps of hair peeked out from the hood tied tightly around the baby’s head.

She dropped the picture into the trash can. The frame pinged against the lip of the metal trash can. “No props are needed in my dressing room.”

“Do you pay for Marie’s work phone?”

Luna tilted her head to the side and studied me. “Why ever would you ask that?”

“I’m just trying to figure out why Marie left the car and didn’t call for help. Her personal phone was broken, so why didn’t she use her work phone to call for help. It doesn’t make sense.”

“And you’re not the type who doesn’t like when things don’t make sense.”

“Not in a situation like this.”

“Maybe it was broken as well,” Luna said. “Or no one answered.”

“Had you received a call from Marie?”

Luna let out a bark of a laugh. “Needing a ride isn’t something she’d call me about.”

“Who would she call?”

“I’m not her secretary.” A tinge of anger grew in her voice. “I wouldn’t know.”

“The phone records would show if she called someone. The records would also help me find the numbers to the other crafters you interviewed.” I pulled out the list from my back pocket. “I’m assuming the Katrina listed on here is now your assistant. So that leaves three—”

She snatched the list from my hand. Her eyes widened for a second before she blinked furiously like she was trying to cover up the involuntary reaction. The paper crinkled as her grip tightened. “The crafters. Of course.”

I forced back a frown. It almost sounded like she was asking a question. Had Luna not known Marie was the one talking with the crafters? “Ike told me you and Marie were the ones who interviewed the crafters for the movie. He mentioned Marie said one was close by so I thought she might be interested in helping me remake the items that were destroyed.”

“Marie gave you this list?”

“No, it was in her car. She had offered it and I went with her to the car to get it. Garrison had wanted to talk with her, and Marie said she didn’t have time. She left before she gave me the list.”

“Did he now?” A hardness entered her gaze. “It would be a good idea if I found out who Marie has been talking with the last few days. She had been quite distracted lately.”

“Was she arguing with anyone?”

“Besides me?” Luna’s lips tilted up and amusement danced in her eyes. “You’re not that hard to read, Merry. If you plan on keeping secrets, work on our poker face. Sharon Zimmerman is the local person and has a social media account with her business number. Apparently, she wasn’t happy with my brush off, as Marie called it. My opinion is once you know someone doesn’t fit, you move on.”