Jesse sighed.
“Do the best you can, Marty,” he said.
“Don’t hold your breath on this one, Jesse. Arraignment’s at noon.”
“Fast.”
“Money talks.”
“You need me there?”
“You’d only make things worse.”
“Gee, thanks,” Jesse said.
“I’ll call you,” Reagan said.
6
Sarah Fine’s office,” the voice on the other end of the line said.
“Hi, Karen. It’s Marisol.”
“Hi, Ms. Hinton. Let me see if I have her.”
After several seconds, Karen came back on the line.
“You’re on with Sarah,” she said.
“Hi, honey,” Sarah said.
“I’ll do it,” Marisol said.
“I knew you would.”
“It’s a good script.”
“Eric’s still working on it. He’s doing a dialogue pass especially for you.”
“I was going to ask about that.”
“He’s already ahead of you. Oh, and they’re shooting digital.”
“Digital?”
“Not on film.”
“I hate digital. It makes everything look like the evening news.”
“It’s the new standard, however.”
“Yes, but how will it make me look?”
“Mahvelous, dahling. You’ll look mahvelous.”
“I’m not kidding, Sarah. I hear nightmare tales about digital. Mary Beth George walked off a Disney project because she thought she looked old and wrinkled.”
“Leo Stribling is shooting it.”
“Leo? I love Leo.”
“Leo loves you. He’ll make you look sensational.”
“I hope so, Sarah. Don’t forget I’ve got these fucking bruises on my face.”
Sarah didn’t say anything.
“I blame myself. I should have thrown him out sooner.”
“Try not to torture yourself. It’s not your fault.”
Marisol didn’t say anything.
“I’m thrilled that you like the script,” Sarah said.
“What about the revisions?”
“What about them?”
“I have lots of ideas.”
“I’m sure you do, honey. But for now, I’d leave Eric alone if I were you.”
“But I hope he’s open to my thoughts.”
“I think you should keep your thoughts to yourself. We’ve been down that road before.”
“I don’t know . . .”
“Marisol, listen to me. I’m your agent and your friend. The last time you worked for Eric, there was friction. This time, leave it alone. Don’t piss anyone off.”
Marisol didn’t say anything.
“I mean it.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Get some sun. Get some rest. I’ll holler when they’re ready for fittings.”
“Maybe they’ll want to see some of my own clothes.”
“Let them decide that. Be a good soldier, Marisol. This is an important job for you. You need it. Keep that in mind.”
“So what you’re saying is, ‘Shut the fuck up.’”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
7
Jesse was sitting in his office, drinking coffee.
Molly walked in and planted herself in the visitor’s chair opposite his desk.
“So how obnoxious was Carter Hansen about this movie business,” she said.
“He was on his best behavior.”
“He get all gooey about Marisol Hinton?”
“Like she was Angelina Jolie.”
“This movie business will drive us all crazy, you know.”
“I know.”
“I’m hoping it doesn’t make me nuts.”
“I’ll keep on the lookout for any telltale signs.”
He grinned at her.
“Well, wasn’t this conversation a big waste of my time,” Molly said as she stood. “You had a call from Belva Radford, by the way.”
“What could she possibly want?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
“She’ll keep me on the phone for an hour.”
“You got something better to do?”
Molly stood, stretched, and left the office.
Jesse called after her, “What’s her number?”
“You could look it up,” she said.
—
Jesse dialed the number. An ancient spinster and a local busybody, Belva Radford believed it her birthright to bring her every complaint directly to the chief of police. She had done it to Tom Carson, Jesse’s predecessor, and now it was Jesse’s turn.
“How can I help you today, Belva,” Jesse said, holding the phone slightly away from his ear.
“Has there been some sort of increase in the Paradise utility rates,” she said.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Well, my water bill’s higher.”
“Are you using more water?”
“No.”
“How do you know it’s higher?”
“Every month I write down what I pay Paradise Water and Power, and every month I compare it to what I paid them a year ago.”
“That’s very efficient, Belva.”
“Don’t condescend to me, young man. Just ’cause I’m old doesn’t mean I need to have my cheeks tweaked by the chief of police.”
Jesse didn’t say anything.
“Don’t go all quiet on me, Jesse.”
“I’m sorry, Belva. I wasn’t aware I was being condescending.”
“Then pay closer attention. In any event, my water bills for the months of August and September were higher than they were a year ago.”
“And you’re certain you weren’t using more water?”
“I checked the meter readings.”
“And?”
“They were the same as they were a year ago.”
“But it cost you more?”
“Yes.”
“Did you receive a notification of a rate increase?”
“No. Did you?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” he said.
“So what are you going to do about it,” she said.
“Let me ask around.”
“About other people’s water bills?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. But I don’t want you shunting me aside ’cause I’m old. I want answers.”
“If you’ll let me get off the phone, I’ll try to get you some.”
“Don’t be fresh, Jesse.”
“I’ll get back to you, Belva.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she said, and hung up the phone.
Jesse put down the receiver and stared out the window for a while.
Paradise is a small town, he thought.
Then he called out to Molly, who was leaning in the doorway, one hand on her hip.
“What?”
“Are you aware of any recent increases in W and P water rates?”
“Why?”
“Belva Radford says her bills are higher.”
“Belva Radford’s a head case.”
“That may be so, but she’s still entitled to an answer.”
“Then you’ll have to give her one.”
“I’m aware of that. That’s why I’m asking you. Could you call over to W and P and ask whether there have been any recent rate hikes?”
“I’ll have to check my schedule,” she said.
“Quit giving me a hard time, Molly. Just call and find out, will you, please?”
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
Then she walked back to her desk.
Jesse watched her.
This is going to be a long day, he thought.
8
After a rash of disappointing meetings with a handful of assistant casting directors, Ryan returned to the mansion he shared with Marisol.
Things had slowed considerably for him, and he thought that if he could at least get the assistants talking about him, perhaps they might be more successful in finding him work. But it was fruitless. Although it remained unspoken, Ryan was aware that people knew he and Marisol were having issues and they wanted to wait until things resolved themselves before they risked antagonizing her by casting him.