Box Office Poison (Linnet Ellery)

by Bornikova, Phillipa

  “Hi, Norma, glad to see you, too. And I’m only in for the day.”

  “Hmmm!” She sniffed. “Lot of damn money to fly coast-to-coast for one day.”

  “Good thing it was the firm’s money,” I said brightly. Norma almost cracked a smile.

  “We should all get back to work,” Caroline said, asserting her control as the most charismatic among us. There were more hugs and everyone headed off to their offices.

  Mine looked deserted. The desk was bare except for the computer. My plants had been moved by the watering service. The waste can was empty. For an instant I felt like I had been erased from the firm. I shook off the feeling, dumped my briefcase and coat, and went in search of the AV tech to make sure everything was ready for the conference.

  I found Ollie in his cluttered office filled with computers, headphones, cables, soundboards and other mysterious electronic items. Ollie was a plump, balding, twenty-something who wore a suit because this was Ishmael, McGillary and Gold, but somehow he always looked rumpled. Today a button was missing on his shirt and his tie was uneven.

  “All set?” I asked.

  He took another swallow of coffee before answering. “Totally. I’m gonna eat while this is happening. Okay?”

  I sighed. “Sure. Just don’t make it anything too delicious. Otherwise I won’t be able to hear over my stomach growling.”

  “Check.” His thumb thrust up. “I’ll be sure to buy something shitty for lunch.”

  With a wave and a chuckle I left. When I returned to my office, Norma informed me that I was wanted on the seventy-third floor. “Why?” I asked with some trepidation.

  “And you think I would know? The senior partners don’t give reasons; they just say frog.”

  “Okay, I’m jumping.” I headed to the elevators.

  Those of us on the lower floors referred to the seventy-third floor as Teak Heaven. It was opulent in the way Versailles is opulent. The incredibly handsome and incredibly supercilious receptionist, Bruce, told me I was expected in Mr. Ishmael’s office. Which gave me some relief. Since it was Shade who had summoned me, perhaps I wasn’t in trouble. He was my mentor and champion at the firm.

  Shade’s secretary nodded at the door, indicating I could go in. Shade looked up as I entered, and the sharp blue eyes scanned me critically. He came around from behind his desk and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead. His lips were very cold.

  “Linnet, child. Thank God, you’re all right. You have the most alarming tendency to find yourself in mortal danger.”

  “I think I’m a chaos magnet,” I said, trying to keep it light. “Trouble always finds me.”

  Shade pushed back a lock of silver-gray hair that had fallen over his forehead. A smile flickered briefly on his lips. “Just so you don’t cause it,” he quipped in that ponderous way that passed for humor among vampires.

  I held up two fingers in the Boy Scout salute. “I promise I won’t. Is that all you wanted? I’ve really got to get ready for the hearing.”

  “Actually, I wanted to ask about Sullivan.”

  “Oh, God, did he come back and defend me to Gold and McGillary? Is that why he missed the hearing?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t seen Sullivan since you left for California.”

  Cautious now, I took a step back. “So what was it about David that you wanted to talk about?”

  “It was a two-to-one vote to reinstate him. I wanted to make sure my vote of support isn’t going to come back to haunt me,” the senior partner said.

  “So, who blackballed him? Let me guess: Gold,” I said.

  “You’d be wrong. It was McGillary.”

  I couldn’t picture the Mr. Milk Toast third partner whose name appeared on the letter head taking such a strong stand. “Good God, why? What did David do that it would upset McGillary that much?”

  “It is not something that should be discussed with a human.”

  I looked up into that pale, aristocratic face and knew I had been put firmly in my place. “If you’re asking about his performance as the chief arbitrator on this case, he’s doing a great job. He’s firmly in control, very fair, and the parties respect him.”

  “He did place us uncomfortably in the news—”

  “No, I did that,” I interrupted. “If you’re talking about the press getting a picture of us leaving the studio.” There was a slight nod from Shade. “Well, he was trying to protect me. And the firm,” I added hurriedly.

  “He used power and was detected.”

  “Look, Shade, it’s not a big news flash that all of you Powers have, well … powers. He’s a terrific lawyer, okay?”

  “You like him.”

  I considered the stiff, opinionated, curt man that I knew and realized Shade was right. “Yes, I do. And it’s not just because he saved my life,” I added forestalling the words that I could almost see forming in Shade’s head. “He has integrity and he hates injustice. Sometimes he seems almost human,” I added, making a little joke of my own. If it had been any vampire but Shade I wouldn’t have dared. Though I expected my foster liege would have been amused as well.

  But it didn’t get the expected response. Instead Shade looked worried. He clasped his hands behind his back and turned away. Almost inaudibly he said, “And that is what worries me.” Then more loudly he added, “You may go, Linnet.”

  * * *

  At 11:50 Ollie and I were in the smallest conference room. He had a muffaletta from a nearby deli, and the rich smell of olive mix, meats, and cheeses was driving me crazy. I sipped my Diet Coke and waited at the head of the table as the tech guru adjusted the computer screen so I was caught by the camera and would be able to be seen once the video link was in place.

  “Ollie, may I have a potato chip?” I asked.

  “Actually, why don’t you take half of this. It’s a monster.” He came over and gave me half the sandwich and shook out some potato chips from the bag.

  “Thank you.”

  “De nada.”

  I ate the sandwich while Ollie alternated between muttering into his headphones, an indistinct buzz that never quite rose to the level of understandable words, and munching on his lunch.

  He flashed a thumbs-up in my direction. “Okay. We’re going live.” I quickly swiped a Kleenex across my mouth, hoping that there were no crumbs or olive paste in evidence and I hadn’t totally wrecked my makeup. Ollie pointed a forefinger at me. “Now!”

  The computer screen on the conference table switched from the start page to an image of the conference room in California. I couldn’t see David because we were arranged as if I was sitting next to him, but I had an excellent view of the rest of the room. The crowd was still in settling-down mode, with clumps of people at the coffee carafe, others peering at the tray of pastries, still others filling a glass with water from the cut-glass pitcher.

  David’s voice, sounding aggrieved, came in loudly through the speakers on the computer on my end. “I can’t see Lin—Ms. Ellery.”

  There was a barely heard apology from Chuck, the tech guy in LA, more mumbling from Ollie, but what really caught my attention was Qwendar. He stiffened, glanced at the computer screen, then looked over to where Palendar was filling a glass with water.

  “Can you say something,” Ollie said. “Let’s see if we’ve at least got audio on their end.”

  “Testing. Hello, Los Angeles,” I said, but distractedly because I was watching Qwendar walking swiftly toward Palendar.

  “I got half of that, then the sound cut out.” David’s voice sounding even more exasperated.

  “Ms. Ellery, can you hear us?” Chuck called.

  “And how will we know since we can’t hear her?” David again, with scathing sarcasm.

  “Oh, yeah, right.”

  I started to send David a text telling him I could hear, but I nearly dropped my phone because while I watched, Qwendar seemed to lose his balance just as he reached Palendar and fell against him. The Álfar actor lost his grip
on the cut-crystal glass, and it shattered on the bamboo floor. Qwendar, murmuring apologies, bent slowly and painfully as if to begin picking up the shards of glass.

  It was like a lightening flash through the inside of my skull. I was back at Terra Sushi listening to Kiyumi describe the broken-teapot scene between Qwendar and Kerrinan: “They were both scrambling to pick up the pieces … and Kerrinan cut his palm on a shard of glass.”

  Palendar hesitated, looking down at the bent head of the old Álfar. Qwendar looked up at him and said something that I couldn’t hear, but it had the blood rising into Palendar’s cheeks. He didn’t look happy, but he knelt down next to the old Álfar.

  “David! David!” I yelled, coming half out of my chair.

  “He can’t hear you. We still haven’t got the audio back,” Ollie said.

  “Can you get him on camera for me?” I asked as I dove for my purse and yanked out my BlackBerry. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I sent David a text.

  Don’t let Palendar touch the glass! Stop him from touching the glass!

  I knew he usually kept his phone on vibrate. “Please look at it! Please look at it!” It was both a prayer and an order. The camera angle on my computer screen panned, and I could see David. I saw him glance down toward his belt. I sent another text.

  Stop Palendar! Urgent! Danger!

  David’s frown deepened and this time he reached down and unclipped his phone. His frown turned to one of puzzlement as he read my incoherent messages.

  I sent another text.

  No questions. Just do it!

  David stood and moved away from the table.

  “Keep him on camera,” I snapped at Ollie. He fiddled with the console, switching to a different camera on a different computer. The angle wasn’t great, but I could see David moving to the two kneeling men. Palendar had a large piece of glass in his hand. I saw Qwendar reach out and close his hand over the other Álfar’s and begin to squeeze. Then David was between them. Qwendar was forced to drop Palendar’s hand. A brief flash of anger skittered across his face, then the smooth facade was back.

  And at that moment there were duel cries of triumph from the bicoastal tech gurus. “Got her! She’s connected now.”

  Qwendar glanced at the computer screen and reacted when he saw me. An emotion I couldn’t identify twisted his face, then he moved quickly away from the detritus of broken glass.

  My phone chimed. I had a text from David.

  What the hell is going on???!

  Explain later, I replied.

  I threw myself back into my chair. Qwendar thought that because they couldn’t see me, I couldn’t see them. Thank God most of the Powers are clueless about technology.

  But I was left with a bigger problem. What was I going to do? I had no proof. All I had was suspicion based on a conversation with a girl at a Japanese restaurant. But what if Qwendar and Jondin had contact? My God, he had been on the Warner lot that day. I had seen him in the restaurant having lunch with Diggins. My chest felt too small to hold air, and the half-muffaletta lay in my stomach like a stone.

  I stood. “Mr. Sullivan, everyone. I’m sorry, but I’m suddenly not feeling well. If you’ll excuse me.” I fled from the conference room.

  In the bathroom I splashed water on my face, not worrying about the effect on my makeup. I scraped back my hair and met my own gaze in the mirror. I wanted to run to the airport, and grab any flight heading west. But if I did that it would it tip off Qwendar that I was on to him. Had I already tipped him off with my precipitous flight from the conference? I needed to go back and sit through the morning’s testimony. The time difference between LA and New York had already dictated that it would be a half-day session.

  Now I just needed to get an earlier flight instead of the red-eye back to Los Angeles.

  And make sure Palendar stayed away from Qwendar. Wasn’t sure how I was going to do that.

  And convince David I wasn’t crazy. That should be fun.

  I composed my features and returned to the conference room to listen to testimony while trying not to look at Qwendar the entire time. Turned out that was the hardest thing I did all day.

  * * *

  Testimony ended at three thirty New York time. Norma had actually leaped into action and changed my ticket for a flight out of LaGuardia at 6:10 p.m. It was going to be tight, but I could make it if the traffic gods were kind. Everything with Norma was fraught, and this time was no exception. She made it very clear that it had been a huge hassle and had cost the firm an additional four hundred dollars, but I was going to arrive in Los Angeles at midnight instead of early tomorrow morning. I was throwing papers into my briefcase when Norma loomed in the door.

  “Mr. Bryce is here.”

  “What? Now? Why? Does he have an appointment? Of course not.”

  “Would you like me to answer any of those questions, or are you going to keep on talking to yourself?”

  “Sorry. Look, tell him I can’t see him right now. I’ve got a plane to catch.”

  “So, let me drive you,” came a cultured British accent from the doorway. Jolyon Bryce, midforties with silver-touched brown hair, rolled his wheelchair the rest of the way into my office. He gave me a sweet smile that made his rather plain face handsome and lit up his blue eyes.

  “Are you here in the capacity of client or as Vento’s daddy?” I asked, returning his smile.

  “Vento’s daddy.” Then he added gently, “And as a friend who wanted to see if you were all right after all your adventures in Hollywood.” I hesitated. “Come on, Linnie, I’m cheaper than a cab and probably more comfortable, and I drive very fast.”

  Norma gave a sniff. “Well, that’d convince me to take a cab. Why do they let cripples drive anyway?” She left. In an agony of embarrassment I looked over at Jolly, who burst out laughing.

  “Your assistant is an original.”

  “I guess that’s one way to put it. Okay, you can drive me to the airport.” I grabbed my overnight case, my rolling briefcase-computer bag, and my purse and followed him out of the office.

  Jolly’s car was parked just down the street in a handicapped space. It was a zippy little silver turbo-charged BMW sedan. “We’ll put your luggage in the backseat. My chair has to go in the trunk,” he explained as he hit the key to unlock the car. “Would you mind putting my chair away for me? Then we don’t have to bother one of these nice doormen.”

  “Of course.” As I watched, he deftly levered himself out of the chair and into the driver’s seat. I folded up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk, then piled my crap into the backseat and slid into the passenger side.

  I studied the hand controls that replaced the gas and brake pedal in the car as we pulled smoothly out into traffic. “So, tell me, how is my boy?” Jolly asked.

  “Doing great. Lauren is a terrific trainer and teacher. I generally ride either early in the morning or at night.”

  “Not too cold, is it?”

  “It’s California. They think it’s cold, but they’re all pussies.” We shared another smile. Then we talked dressage and Vento.

  Jolly was as good as his word. The car seemed to dance through traffic, and before I knew it we were into the residential neighborhood that surrounded LaGuardia. He pulled up to the departure area. As I pulled out my luggage I said, “Thank you for not bringing up the thing at Warner Bros. It’s nice not to always be treated as a curiosity.”

  “You have had some extraordinary experiences, my dear,” he said.

  “Just lucky, I guess.” I smiled and was surprised when there was no answering smile.

  “Be careful.” Then he added an odd tag, “Be thoughtful.”

  “Thank you for the ride. I’ll keep you posted on Vento, and when we’re likely to get home. Soon, I hope,” I said.

  He waved and pulled away, leaving me on the sidewalk outside the American Airlines desk. It wasn’t until his taillights were lost in all the other traffic that it suddenly hit me. How had he known I was even in New
York?

  20

  I was still on my cell phone arguing with David as the line went shuffling past the airline employee who was scanning our tickets.

  “Yes, of course it’s a theory, but it makes sense given what Parlan told me about the use of blood in Álfar magic.”

  “And he may just be a very old man who is not too steady on his pins,” David countered. “And what’s the rest of your theory? He knocks into people and things so something gets broken, and then what?”

  “It looked like he was about to squeeze Palendar’s hand so the piece of glass would cut him.”

  “Okay, so. If blood is the key, how does that help? Presumably he has to take the blood away to do his evil spell.”

  “Now you’re just being snotty. I bet he would have pocketed the glass. I bet he did that at the sushi restaurant.”

  “Do you have proof of that? Did they report there was a piece missing from the broken teapot?”

  I was into the jetway now, and the temperature had dropped about thirty degrees. Outside I could hear the wind moaning around the metal tube, causing it to vibrate a bit. Since I had a connection in Denver I really, really hoped there wasn’t another winter storm marching across the country right now.

  “Of course not. They weren’t going to try to glue it back together. They probably just swept it up and threw it away. And maybe he wouldn’t have taken the glass. Maybe he would have offered Palendar a handkerchief to wrap up his hand and taken the handkerchief away. It doesn’t matter as long as he got the blood.”

  “You probably should have let the situation play out to see if Qwendar actually took the piece of glass or found some other way to get Palendar’s blood. That would have verified your theory.”