“LOOK AT THIS.” Delphi shoved the New York Post toward Isobel. “Exactly what you’d expect.”
Isobel scanned Roman Fried’s column.
The Post has learned that Livingston Stage Company’s leading lady and former Miss New York Arden Claire has passed away. Her able young understudy, Isobel Spice, steps into Ms. Claire’s role as Jennie Sousa in “Sousacal,” the biographical tuner now playing at LSC. One must wonder if Ms. Spice has watched “All About Eve” one too many times, especially since it appears her former role as Sousa’s first love has been reassigned to her bosom friend, Delphi Kramer, who just happened to be in the audience opening night. Details of Ms. Claire’s death have not been released. Watch this space.
“He’s falling down on the job.” Isobel tossed the paper aside. “No mention of Thomas.”
“He wouldn’t have heard about that yet,” Sunil reminded her. “I’m sure he’ll be all over it when he does.”
Isobel pushed away from the kitchen table and made a show of pouring herself more coffee. “I don’t understand why he’s so interested in a production in Albany. ‘Watch this space’? Is there really nothing happening on Broadway? Or off, for that matter?”
“When you put it like that, it does seem strange,” Sunil said.
“What seems strange?” Talia asked from the doorway.
Sunil offered her the paper. “The New York Post seems unduly interested in our offstage drama.”
Talia took it with a shrug. “Not that strange. It’s a new property, starring a former Miss New York…”
“Very former,” Delphi said under her breath.
But Talia didn’t respond. She was frowning at the page.
“What is it?” Isobel asked.
Talia looked up, somewhat guiltily, it seemed to Isobel. “Nothing. I guess it is a little strange.”
Isobel took the paper from her and ran over the article again, but nothing new jumped out at her. She kept her eyes on the page as she spoke. “Chris seemed broken up about Arden, which I also thought was a little odd.”
“What’s so odd about that?” Talia asked.
Isobel looked up innocently. “I’d gotten the impression he was no more a fan of hers than the rest of us.”
Talia’s face reddened. “Speak for yourself. I thought Arden was okay. And she and Marissa were good friends.”
She stalked over to the fridge, opened it and stared blankly at the shelves.
Delphi cocked her head toward Talia’s back. Isobel cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive. I didn’t realize—”
Talia whirled around, tears glistening on her cheeks. “Didn’t realize what? That not everyone wanted Arden dead so they could play her part? And she and Chris were engaged once, but she called it off—so no, it’s not odd. The only thing odd about any of this is you!”
She slammed the refrigerator door and stormed out of the kitchen.
“I suppose you’re going to pretend your goal all along was to piss her off so she’d say something interesting,” Delphi said.
“People reveal a lot in anger,” Isobel said defensively. “And now we know Chris and Arden had a past. That’s unexpected, don’t you think?”
“It explains his contradictory feelings,” Sunil said. “He loved her, but she dumped him. He probably still loves her.”
“Isobel!”
She turned to see Hugh standing where Talia had been a moment ago, sadness spreading across his face, and realized with dismay that he thought Sunil was talking about them.
“Talia just told us Chris and Arden were engaged once,” she explained quickly. “We’ve been trying to get our heads around why he burned a photo of her but then mourned her death.”
Hugh blinked. “Ah.”
“That’s why we went back to the theater last night. To find the charred photo to give to the police. Which we did.”
She emphasized her final words to remind him that their actions last night had a measurable purpose. Somehow, she was more concerned about driving that point home than restoring equilibrium to her feelings about him.
“And you say Chris burned a photo of Arden?” Hugh asked.
“I saw him behind the theater opening night,” Sunil said. “Of course it doesn’t mean he wanted her dead, although it certainly makes him a suspect.”
“It also explains the call I just got,” Hugh said. “We’re having an understudy rehearsal for you today.”
Sunil’s eyes went wide. “Me?”
“Chris has been taken in for questioning. Kelly wants to make sure you’re on top of the part in case he’s not released in time for tonight’s performance.”
“But I—I—” Sunil stammered.
They all stared at him.
“Please tell me you’ve been learning the role,” Isobel pleaded.
“Yes, but I thought since I’m the second cover, it wasn’t a super top priority for me to have it down, at least not this early in the run.”
Isobel and Hugh exchanged a glance, united in their surprise.
Hugh recovered first. “What are you talking about? As far as I know, you’re the only cover.”
Sunil swallowed. “Um. I hope that’s not true.”
“Oh my God!” Isobel clapped her hand to her forehead. “I told you to work on it!”
“What made you think you were the second cover?” Hugh asked.
“Jethro told me after the first read-through.”
“If you’re not the first cover for Sousa, then who is?” Isobel demanded.
Sunil gave them a sheepish look. “Jethro.”
“What?” Delphi exclaimed.
“Impossible,” said Hugh.
“And it never occurred to you to check with Kelly or Ezra or Felicity, who’s the person who hired you?” Isobel asked.
“How was I supposed to know he was making it up?” Sunil’s voice rose angrily. “And maybe he wasn’t! Maybe he really is planning to go on.”
“He’ll have to, if you’re not prepared,” Delphi said.
“Which is probably what he was counting on,” Isobel said. “Except if that’s the case…”
“What?”
“It means he was expecting to have the opportunity.”
“You think Jethro framed Chris so he could go on as Sousa in his own lousy show? That makes less than no sense,” Delphi said.
“Especially since Chris burning the photo doesn’t have anything to do with Jethro,” Sunil said. “No, I think he just wanted to reserve the option. And by telling me and nobody else, it ensured that if something did happen to Chris, I’d be underprepared and he’d get to go on.”
“Not everyone would have taken Jethro’s unsubstantiated word on the subject as a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Isobel scolded him.
“Jethro is not going on as Sousa if I have anything to say about it,” Hugh said firmly. “He’s enough of a pain in the arse as the writer. I can’t imagine what he’d be like to conduct.”
“But I’m not ready,” Sunil protested.
Isobel yanked Sunil to his feet. “Then you’d better get cracking.”