Final Cut (The Kate & Jay series Book 4)

by Lynn Ames

  “I didn’t mean to open a can of worms,” Dara said.

  Both Kate and Jay blinked, as if they had forgotten that they weren’t alone.

  Kate recovered first. “You didn’t. We’re actually grateful. You’ve brought some clarity here. I must be out of practice. These types of considerations used to be second nature to me. I can’t believe I hadn’t played this out already.”

  “In 1987, I wrote a cover story about Kate for Time. She had just saved many lives during a series of explosions at the New York State Capitol. I should have recused myself from the story or at least informed my editor that Kate and I had a personal relationship—that we knew each other. I didn’t.” Jay hung her head.

  Dara held up a hand. “You don’t have to expl—”

  “No. I might as well say it now, since it will probably come out in the next round or two of stories.” Jay fidgeted in her seat. “Time’s publisher suspended me over my lapse of judgment. It was public knowledge, so it’s only a matter of time before that resurfaces. When it does—”

  “If it does,” Kate corrected.

  “If and when it does,” Jay countered, “the media will say I have a history of being dishonest, a verifiable track record of deceit. They’ll attack my credibility.”

  “You were exonerated at the time,” Kate pointed out. “You wrote a balanced piece. It wasn’t your credibility that was questioned, it was your judgment. That’s different.”

  “You’re splitting hairs.”

  Kate waved away Jay’s contention. “I’m going to point out here that you were the one who exposed the Hyland plot and you risked your life in the process. That’s a fact. If it hadn’t been for you and your exclusive, the world might never have known the truth.”

  “If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have had any facts to tell,” Jay said. “You were the only one who knew the whole story. Besides, the world only read the part of the truth the administration was comfortable with us telling, and therein lies the problem.”

  Rebecca cleared her throat. “If I may be so bold as to ask a question here, is your new book fiction or non-fiction, Jay?”

  “It’s fiction, based on truth.”

  Rebecca smiled. “I always taught my students that the very best fiction has a basis in truth. But it is fiction, right?”

  “It is,” Jay agreed.

  “Well, it seems to me that you have nothing to worry about. If the plot and main characters are fictitious, then you haven’t revealed any state secrets and all this is a moot point.”

  Dara picked up the thread. “What advantage would there be to you to leak the documents in question? And why would you have waited all this time to do it?”

  “Publicity and buzz for the book,” Jay said.

  “Isn’t the publication date far in the future? By the time the book came out, all of this would’ve died down, wouldn’t it?”

  “Possibly,” Kate agreed, “unless the situation results in a protracted criminal case or Congressional hearings, in which case it could still be going on ten months from now when the book is scheduled to come out.”

  “Is there anything in the book for which you could be legally challenged? Any plagiarism?” Rebecca asked.

  “Of course not!”

  “Exactly my point. There doesn’t appear to be anything legally actionable here. This is a work of fiction. How many works of fiction are written by authors with personal knowledge of similar situations? Thousands. It happens every day. I taught about such instances every semester. We spent hours and days debating the author’s true intentions and meanings. More often than not, the subtext or main text in a novel was derived from the authors’ or someone else’s real-life experience. It seems to me that this is no different.”

  Dara noticed the waiter hovering and she opened her menu. “How about if we order and then determine the best course of action to take?”

  When they had placed their orders, Dara said, “So, the question on the table is how best for you to handle this situation, right?”

  Jay shook her head. “The question was whether or not we should come to the movie premiere tonight.”

  Dara laughed. “It’s gotten way beyond that, hasn’t it?”

  “True.”

  “The way I see it, there are two issues here.” Kate held up her index finger. “One, is it in anybody’s best interest for us to attend the premiere?” She held up a second finger. “And, two, is it in Jay’s best interest to make a statement or otherwise engage the media at this point in the crisis?”

  Dara looked from Kate to Jay and back again. “Although I know a thing or two about being in the eye of a media storm, I’m out of my element here. All I can offer is that Rebecca and I would very much like you both to come tonight as our guests. We would be honored to have you, and we’re willing to face any fallout from that decision.”

  Kate looked to Jay and raised an eyebrow. Jay shrugged in response.

  “Before we make a decision on that,” Kate said, “let’s look at question number two.” She took Jay’s empty water glass and replaced it with her own.

  “Thank you.”

  “If you were my public relations client, I would advise you to get out in front of this—own the story and the next few news cycles—control the narrative before it controls you.”

  Jay nodded.

  “Tell the media the truth—that you mentored Niles Masterson when he was an intern at Time many years ago, that you’ve had no contact with him in more than a decade, that you had no knowledge of, and nothing to do with, any leaks of classified data, and that your book is a work of fiction. You might want to throw in that you would never condone any acts of treason or terrorism or anything that threatens national security, and that you hope that the appropriate authorities get to the bottom of the situation and find the real culprits as quickly as possible. Don’t take any questions, and get out of there.”

  The waiter arrived with their meals. When he was gone, Dara said, “So, that’s settled, right? What will you do, hold a press conference this afternoon, before the deadline for tonight’s newscasts and tomorrow’s newspapers?”

  “Either that, or we would put out a statement to all of the major news outlets,” Kate said. “In any event, we should do it within the next few hours to beat the east coast newscasts tonight.”

  “Excellent. Then you could get that out of the way and be free to attend tonight’s premiere without worry.” Dara unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap. “Bon appetit.”

  The meeting room Dara’s agent had procured for Kate and Jay in a Beverly Hills office building was packed to overflowing with reporters.

  Kate stood off to one side. She scanned the room, trying to gauge the response as Jay concluded her statement.

  “If you haven’t done anything wrong, why did you call a press conference on such short notice?”

  “You said you haven’t had any contact with Niles Masterson in more than ten years. But you didn’t say he hasn’t tried to call you. Has he? Is it just that you haven’t answered?”

  “Are you going ahead with the book?”

  “Has the FBI questioned you yet?”

  “Have you hired an attorney?”

  Kate stepped to the podium and put a hand on Jay’s back. “As we said at the outset, we’re not taking any questions.” She guided Jay away from the sea of microphones.

  “Kate, your wife has stated that she had nothing to do with the leaks, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t do it to benefit her career. Did you?”

  Kate felt Jay’s back stiffen. “Ignore it,” she whispered just loud enough for Jay to hear. She increased the pressure on Jay’s back. “Keep walking.”

  “Kate—”

  “They’re goading you. Don’t give them what they want.” Kate opened the door at the side of the room and followed Jay out into the corridor.

  Jay stopped short, and Kate had to step to the side to avoid colliding with her.

  “I don’t care if they
go after me, but when they start questioning your integrity—”

  “Easy, tiger.” Kate put an arm around her waist and propelled them forward.

  “How can you be so cavalier about that? I resent the insinuation on your behalf.”

  “It’s not personal, sweetheart. Did you see who the reporter was?”

  “No.”

  “Dan Osborn from the Star.”

  “Well, that explains a lot.”

  “Exactly.”

  They turned the corner, followed the signs toward the exit, and walked out into the bright LA sunshine where the car Dara had generously hired for them was waiting.

  Kate looked at her watch. “Now, we have just enough time to get back to the hotel and change for the premiere.”

  “Do you really think it’s a good idea for us to go?”

  Kate slid into the back seat and pulled Jay with her. “Dara is a big girl, she has all the facts, and she wants us to be there. I think we should oblige her.”

  “It’s hardly a hardship,” Jay said. She leaned over and kissed Kate on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being my best friend, my PR person, my wife, my world.”

  “Wow. That’s a lot of things.”

  Jay smiled. “You’re a lot of things, in a particularly beautiful package, might I add.”

  “Sweet talker.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Dara paused for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the blinding camera flashes. She reached back into the car and took Rebecca’s hand to help her out.

  “Are you ready, darling?”

  “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this,” Rebecca said, as she straightened up.

  “Well, I know I never have, so I can’t imagine why you would. Smile for the cameras, love.”

  “You know in these pictures I always have the fakest smile.”

  “I have a trick for that,” Dara said, as she tugged on the hand she held.

  “Oh, what’s that?”

  “I pretend I’m making love to you.” She heard Rebecca gasp. “What? That always makes me smile.”

  “You’re wicked, Dara Thomas.”

  Dara chanced a glance at her wife. “Perhaps, but it seems like it’s working.”

  She relinquished Rebecca’s hand as one security guard escorted Rebecca inside while another accompanied Dara to face the throng.

  “Dara, look here!”

  “Dara, over here!”

  “Dara, what do you think, another Oscar for you this year?”

  “Dara!”

  As she made her way to the backdrop where the official event photographs would be snapped, Dara smiled with practiced ease and glided along the carpet, stopping to talk to reporters for Entertainment Tonight, E!, and Extra. When she stepped on her mark and struck a pose, she spied Kate and Jay making their way onto the red carpet.

  Most of the Hollywood press that Dara was accustomed to seeing at events ignored them. And then it happened. One reporter broke ranks and thrust a microphone in Jay’s face. That started a chain reaction, as other reporters, obviously thinking they were missing something or someone important, followed suit.

  “Excuse me,” Dara said. She strode purposefully back down the red carpet.

  The surprised security guard hustled after her. “Ms. Thomas? Where are you going?”

  “Stay with me, please. And send someone to handle those reporters right now.” Dara nodded in the direction of the crowd gathered around Kate and Jay.

  “Yes, ma’am.” The security guard spoke into the communication device on his wrist and two of his colleagues appeared on either side of Kate and Jay.

  “Kate, Jay, I’m so glad you could make it.” Dara stepped in between the two women and linked her arms with theirs. “You both look amazing.”

  “Dara, you don’t have to—”

  “Oh, but I want to,” Dara interrupted before Jay could finish her sentence. “Please don’t take away my fun.” She winked. “Smile, ladies, you’re on Candid Camera.”

  “You’re way too young to know that show,” Kate said.

  “One word,” Dara said. “Reruns.”

  Both Kate and Jay laughed.

  “That’s better,” Dara said. As flashes lit up the night sky like fireflies, she led them the length of the red carpet now surrounded by a phalanx of security guards.

  The lights came up as the last of the credits rolled. The applause started somewhere toward the back and rolled in waves toward the front of the theater. Within seconds, everyone had risen to their feet.

  Several people shouted, “Bravo!”

  Kate felt the hair on her arms stand up as the electricity of the moment washed over her. Next to her, Jay wiped tears from her eyes. Directly in front of them, Dara and Rebecca briefly put their heads together, sharing what Kate imagined was a private moment of triumph.

  When the applause finally died down, the man to Dara’s left turned to the audience and spoke. “Thank you all for coming. I know I speak for all of us”—he waved his arm to encompass everyone seated in his row—“when I say Love Above All Else was an emotional journey. It might be once in a lifetime that you get studio backing to tell an important, modern-day story of love, loss, and redemption as complex and nuanced as this one is, a first rate script, and the great good fortune to work with such professional actors and a topflight crew like we had on this set. I’m really, really proud of this film.”

  Another round of applause ensued before people finally began to file out. Kate put an arm around Jay’s shoulder. “You okay?”

  “That was so powerful.” Jay pulled a Kleenex from her purse and dabbed at her eyes.

  Dara turned around to face them. “So, are you two still game for dinner?”

  “Are you sure you—”

  Dara didn’t even let Jay finish her sentence. “Positive.”

  “Beautiful work, Dara.” A familiar-looking, silver-haired actress whose name escaped Kate kissed Dara on the cheek.

  “Thank you. Coming from you that means a lot.”

  “Keep challenging the establishment. Keep pushing the envelope. Keep making important work. Don’t let anyone tell you there’s anything you can’t do. Us older broads are counting on you.”

  “Have I told you lately how much I love you?” Dara turned back to Kate and Jay. “Kate Kyle, Jay Parker, this is my dear friend, Sylvia Green. Sylvia, these are my friends, Kate Kyle and her wife, Ja—”

  “Jamison Parker, the author,” Sylvia said. She took Jay’s hand in both of hers. “Enchanted to meet you. I love your work. Such integrity and grit. Tell me, dear, why haven’t any of your books been adapted for the big screen?”

  Jay opened her mouth to answer, but never got the chance.

  “Sorry for blurting that out. How rude of me. Just know that I would love to be part of such a venture.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Dara, dear. I must toddle along,” Sylvia said. “Let’s have lunch soon.”

  A little man waited impatiently for his turn to speak. “Dara? I know this is going to be big box office for us. I can feel it already. Great job.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Curtain. And thank you for your confidence in me.”

  “That was a no-brainer. You’re the best actress in Hollywood, period. I don’t care whether you’re gay, straight, bi, or anything in between.”

  “Kate, Jay, I’d like you to meet Randolph Curtain, head of 722 Films.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Congratulations on a great film,” Kate said and offered her hand.

  “Thank you. I’d like to take the credit, but really, all of the credit belongs to our wonderful director here,” Curtain clapped the man next to Dara on the back, “and our great cast. I just say yes a lot and write the checks.”

  “Kate, Jay, this is our intrepid director, George Nelson.”

  “How do you do?”

  “That was a beautiful film, Mr. Nelson,” Jay said.

/>   “George, please. And it wouldn’t have been possible without these two.” He indicated Dara and Rebecca with a wave of his hand. “Rebecca wrote a powerful script and Dara brought it to life.”

  “Well, to be fair,” Rebecca chimed in, “Constance Darrow is the real heroine here. Without her raw material to work with, none of this would’ve been possible.”

  “Very true,” the director agreed. “Well, I’m off. As always, it was a pleasure working with you two. Let me know the next time you see a property you like. You know you can count me in.”

  “I must head out, as well. Here’s to big box office numbers next week,” Curtain said, holding his crossed fingers in the air.

  “Whew,” Dara said, when they’d gone. “Now we can finally get out of here. Are you gals ready?”

  “Sure.”

  Dara led the way out a side door. As the four women emerged, camera flashes exploded in their faces.

  When she could see again, Kate noted with relief that this time, the bystanders all seemed to be fans, not reporters.

  Dara pointed to a black SUV idling at the corner. “Why don’t you three get in the car. Carolyn is already in there, I’m sure. I’ll just be a minute.”

  “You know I hate when you do this as much as Carolyn does, right?” Rebecca grasped Dara’s hand tightly.

  “It’s perfectly safe. I’ve got plenty of security with me. Besides,” Dara winked and freed her hand, “if I’d never done things like this before, we might never have met.” She kissed Rebecca lightly on the mouth and walked over to the crowd surging against the barricades to sign autographs.

  A beefy security guard motioned for Kate, Jay, and Rebecca to follow him to the car. As she waited for Jay and Rebecca to get in before her, Kate looked back to see Dara patiently signing autographs and posing for selfies with her fans.

  Kate sunk into the leather seat. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to live life under that kind of microscope all the time.”

  “Says the woman who spent years as the press secretary to the president of the United States,” Jay said.

  “That was different.”

  “Is that like the difference between a Molotov Cocktail and a Cherry Bomb?” The woman sitting across from Jay smiled and held out a hand. “Hi. I’m Carolyn Detweiler, Dara’s oldest friend and agent to the glamour couple.”