At The
Warners Lot
'Randy Nephew?' said the tall, muscular handshake of the dark,
handsome stranger. He was the English actor Roly Leonard. Randy'd
learned he was a serious Shakespearean actor, had played Othello;
other stuff... but who was the other character here, this rangy
woman?
'I'd like you to meet Connie Desplatt. She's French, but we don't
hold it against her.'
'You're an actor?' Randy asked her.
'Nothing like that. I'm a producer of sorts. I look after the
interests of a number of our European investors who put up the money
for films.'
'Did you know California Grey?'
'Yes. And I 'ave to tell you something about her.'
Well
quelle courage,
thought
Randy, could
this be a suspect?
'Let's all take a walk, get some coffee,' the powerful baritone of
the Brit was saying.
They took a walk.
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'You wanted to speak with me regarding California Grey?' Randy
pressed her, once a flunkey had been dispatched to fetch coffee for
the striking, sultry Frenchwoman and tea for her companion.
She brushed her brown tousled hair out of her face and pouted. 'You.
You're Randy Nephew. You were a friend of the late Bill Stickers?'
'Yes. I was working for him.'
'As was the girl, California. But what I 'ave to say to you concerns
'er as much as your friend.'
'Do go on.'
'Bill Stickers was my friend too. Don't ask me 'ow. But you know that
Bill was found dead in 'is office yesterday afternoon.'
'Yes, I'm aware.'
'You will be planning to go there to make investigations, of course?
Don't bother. The place is crawling with cops. I stopped by to see
Bill on my way here this morning. That was when I 'eard the news. I
also overheard the policemen talking - They do not believe that 'is
death was an accident. I 'eard your name mentioned.'
'My name? Why?'
'The officer in charge of the investigation is a man named Adrian
Marcato. I've run into him before. I don't trust 'im. When Roly told
me this morning that you're investigating the California Grey murder
I put two and two together. I wanted to warn you.'
'You think that Marcato's planning to put me away because he doesn't
want me to dig up the truth in the Grey case. But I already know
that.'
She looked stunned.
' 'Ow did you know?'
'I can't tell you right now. But maybe you can still help me. You
went to speak with Bill? What for?'
She shrugged. 'I 'appen to know there was a break-in at 'is office
only the day before he was murdered. Do you think the two things
could be related?'
'Frankly, yes. It would help to know if any unfamiliar faces visited
Bill in the days before he was killed.'
'You mean casing the joint? C'est possible. Like someone was trying
to find something that was in his possession, and when they couldn't
do that they took drastic action.'
'It's too early to say, although that is a possibility. But what
would they be looking for?'
'I couldn't say. But it's possible that Bill Stickers' girls had some
association with certain clients I represent. Those people would
reward you for keeping their names out of the press if that was so,
you understand?'
'I think so. So far no one associated with the girl exactly seems to
be covering themselves in glory. I can see why they might want to be
kept out of it. Of course, if one of your friends had anything to do
with her death I couldn't protect them. But I'll do what you ask, if
only because there might be a time in the future when I need to ask
for a favour from you.'
'Just name it.'
'I'm still in the dark about who killed the girl. It's true she was
working for Bill?'
'Yes. But she also worked at a place called the Purple Flamingo. I
'appen to know that one of the patrons there is a certain Maria
Seville.'
'Thank you. You've been more than helpful.'
Something was stirring over by the entrance to the massive
hanger-like warehouse, into which they had wandered, that served as a
sound stage here on the movie lot.
'Oh no,' said Randy, 'Hector.'
The Mexican was shouting at a girl with a clip-board who had gone
over to see what was going on. Randy could see his bald head from
here. He looked like a dog right before it gets beaten.
Despite the crazed appearance, it seemed likely that the security at
the gate would only detain him for so long. Hector was already
brandishing his mobile phone, no doubt barking about who his master
was.
Randy didn't know how much sway the name of the senator had down
here.
'Do you know the man?' Roly Leonard asked him.
'Unfortunately yes. He's the guy who was sent to abduct me.'
'Come on,' said Roly, 'I've got some costumes in my dressing room.
You can slip out without anyone spotting you.'
'Thanks. You know, there are a lot of occupational hazards to being a
private detective.'
'What fun! How long have you been a private dick?'
'Just about twenty-four hours. I'm hoping to last another
twenty-four.'