“Hi,” Lisa said.
“Hey.” He got a coffee, bolted it down, and poured a refill. “Thanks.”
“Any time.”
He nodded at Lisa before ambling back to the camera. Talkative for a cameraman, she thought.
Before the light could change any further, the second AD rounded up the stand-ins, and the principal actors took their places. Kaden was facing her direction, his beauty even more luminous in the dawn. The other actor had his back to Lisa. Something about him looked familiar.
The second AD called for quiet on the set, and Gavin yelled, “Action!”
A movement drew Lisa’s attention away from the scene being filmed. A fit and muscular middle-aged man whose nose looked like it had been broken at least a dozen times stood on the other side of the craft service table inspecting the fresh fruit. Lisa gave him a smile, and he smiled and nodded back. They both knew better than to speak out loud while filming was in progress.
Minutes later, the director called “Cut!” and a low buzz of noise resumed on the set.
“I’m Ralphie Blunt, stunt man,” the man with the broken nose said. “That’s a nice selection of fruit.”
“Thanks. I’m Lisa Chance,” she said, offering her hand.
He shook her hand with a more delicate grip than she would have expected from a stuntman. Letting go, he picked up a pear and smelled it. His smile told her he appreciated the care she’d taken in selecting fruit at a delectable stage of ripeness. She loved the smell of fresh pears, too, so sweet and mellow.
“Coffee?” she said, gesturing to the carafes.
“Water for me.”
The director called “Action!” again, and a hush fell on the set.
Ralphie picked up a bottle of water and nodded his thanks. She looked at his hand gripping the bottle. The fingers were gnarled and swollen. She wondered what it would be like to make your living by letting your body take pain and abuse like that.
They did a third take of the scene before the light shifted away from the softness of dawn. After Gavin called “Cut!” on that take, the first and second ADs started directing traffic around the set as crew members scurried to their tasks in getting the next scene ready.
The actors moved out of the way of the crew and approached the craft service table.
“And so we meet again,” Kaden said, flashing his movie star smile at Lisa.
She felt herself smiling back. He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.
“I do hope all is forgiven from the other day,” he said.
She blushed at the attention. Even with her years of experience in LA, having a star direct his charm right at her was a bit flustering.
“What exactly needs to be forgiven?” said a familiar voice.
No, that couldn’t be right. Lisa looked up into the face of the other actor and froze in shock. Dylan!
“What are you doing here?” she hissed.
“Working,” he said. “It’s good to see you, Lisa.”
“It is not good to see you,” she whispered, looking around to see if anyone else had noticed their conversation.
Kaden laughed his rich laugh. “Dylan, my boy, it looks like the lady is not impressed.”
Dylan turned to his costar with an angry glance. “Back off. This doesn’t concern you.”
Kaden arched an eyebrow at Dylan before turning back toward Lisa. “If he’s bothering you, just say the word. Gavin and I go way back.”
“I’m ok,” Lisa said. She was glad to hear that at least her voice wasn’t quavering.
“Are you threatening to get me fired? Or are you just trying to letch your way to another conquest?” Dylan said.
Kaden turned back toward Dylan, his expression growing cold. “Maybe you should step back and remember who you’re talking to.”
“Dylan, stop it,” Lisa said, putting a hand on his forearm. The heat of his skin in the cold environment made her think suddenly of how their electric bill had been so high every summer because he insisted on constantly running the air conditioner.
Dylan turned back to her. “I’m sorry, Lisa, but this guy has a real reputation. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
That made her see red. “You don’t want me to get hurt? You’re the one who hurt me!”
Serena appeared at Kaden’s elbow. “Ready to film a quick behind the scenes krumb?”
Kaden brushed her off. “In a minute.”
Serena glowered at Lisa.
“I meant what I said, Lisa,” Kaden said. “If you need anything, I’m here for you.”
“Get lost,” Dylan said, his hands balling into fists.
“Watch yourself,” Kaden said, following Serena away from the table.
“No, you watch yourself,” Dylan said, not quite shouting but loud enough to draw looks from a number of the crew.
Lisa waited until people looked away again, then leaned forward to whisper at Dylan. “Did my mother have something to do with this?”
He looked confused. “No, why?”
“Never mind. What are you doing here?”
“Working, like I said.”
“In Moss Creek, of all places?”
“You go where the jobs are in this business.”
She knew that was true. “How did you end up with a part in this movie?”
He looked uncomfortable. “The usual way.”
“Is that snake still your agent?”
“She’s a good agent.”
“And is she still your lover?”
He looked away. “No.”
She busied herself refreshing the food and coffee on her table while she waited for her temper to cool down. Dylan had broken her heart when he cheated on her with their mutual agent. And now it looked like he’d gotten out of the affair without so much as a hitch in his career. She seethed.
“What are you doing later?” he said. “Can we go somewhere and have a bite to eat and talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
He looked pained. “Please, Lisa, just give me a chance.”
The second AD’s yell for actors to take their places interrupted them. Dylan touched Lisa’s hand before he left.
She shook it off and scrubbed at her skin. How could he think she would want anything to do with him after all he’d put her through?
The actors took their places before the camera. It was another scene with Dylan and Kaden. Lisa grumpily straightened the craft service table.
Serena drifted over to the table and gave Lisa a knowing look as she poured herself some coffee. Lisa kept quiet but itched with the desire to take the smirk off the personal assistant and makeup artist’s face.
Gavin called “Cut!” and Serena smiled at Lisa. “You have quite a way with the talent.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Lisa said.
“No?” Serena rolled her eyes. “Never heard of sleeping your way to the top? Of course you haven’t.”
Lisa’s face went bright red and she struggled to think of a proper retort. Serena gave her another smirk and departed for Kaden’s trailer.
“Think someone projects much?” a smooth voice at her side said.
Lisa looked over, startled. A rail-thin woman in a strikingly cut black outfit sipped a coffee, a smile playing on her angular features.
“Kari Ajax,” the woman said, holding out her hand.
Lisa shook her hand.
“Wardrobe department,” Kari added unnecessarily.
“Lisa Chance. Craft service and Moss Creek locations.”
Kari’s eyebrows went up approvingly. “Mmm, multi-talented.”
“And I used to be an actor.”
Kari laughed. It was a warm low laugh that made Lisa think of cocktail parties where they might serve absinthe. “Didn’t we all?”
“I don’t understand what her problem is.”
“No? Look again. She, like many people, sees others as a reflection of herself. It’s like they say, if a card player accuses you of cheating, alw
ays check his sleeves for aces.”
With an enigmatic smile, the wardrobe designer left the craft service table. Lisa shook her head. Kari Ajax was a strange one.
A surge of people came to the craft service table and raided the coffee and muffins, taking a break while the director and DP argued the lighting and setup for the next shot. Lisa watched the coffee levels sink. The crew was like a plague of locusts. How could they have drunk all the coffee and eaten all the Good Morning muffins already? There was still fruit and water, but she’d been on enough sets to know that a craft service table with nothing but fruit and water was a recipe for disaster.
She was mentally calculating how much she should bring the next day when Gavin Jump strode up to the table. She tried to smile at him, hoping he would go for a bottle of water. Serena sidled up next to him.
“That’s good stuff you’re getting out there,” Serena said, nudging him playfully.
He put an arm around her waist and gave her a familiar squeeze. “I like getting the good stuff,” he said, casting an eye at her cleavage.
“I know you do,” she cooed.
“Maybe later you can show me some more good stuff.”
Serena giggled and grabbed a bottle of water.
Lisa watched their body language in confusion. She’d been under the impression that Serena was in some sort of personal situation with Kaden, but here she was, flirting with the director.
Gavin winked at Serena and took a coffee cup. He put it under the spout of the carafe and pushed the button.
Lisa cringed as the carafe spit a couple tablespoons of coffee into the cup before making a wet farting sound that meant it was empty.
Gavin pushed the button again, his attention pulled away from the cute makeup girl. The carafe farted at him again. His face changed in an instant, like a performance of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
He snapped his fingers at Lisa. “Where’s the backup?”
“Uh, I’m going to have to go back to town for more,” she said. Her breath came fast as she saw the sparking anger in his eyes.
“What is wrong with you? Are you stupid or something?” He threw the cup on the table, splashing Lisa’s jacket with the dregs of coffee at the bottom. “This is what comes from hiring some local yokel to do a professional’s job.”
She stared at him as his voice rose. What had happened to the charming auteur filmmaker she’d met at Nero’s?
“Well? Go get some more! Or are you too incompetent to do even that?”
Lisa felt tears of anger welling in her eyes. She was ready to give this pompous jerk a piece of her mind, even if he was the director.
“Hey, lay off!”
Gavin rolled his eyes as his lead actor strode up to him. “Standing up for another conquest, Kaden? Well, isn’t that chivalrous?”
“I am not his conquest,” Lisa sputtered.
“That’s right,” Dylan said, muscling into the group surrounding the table. “She’s not his conquest. She’s my girlfriend.”
“Ex-girlfriend!” Lisa spat.
“Babe, every couple goes through rough patches,” Dylan said, his voice pure honey.
“You heard the lady. She said she’s your ex,” Kaden said, getting in between Lisa and Dylan.
“What do you know about it?” Dylan said.
“Would you two quit sniffing at the blonde and let her get my coffee?” Gavin said. “There’s plenty of time for a rutting competition when you’re not on my set.”
Kaden and Dylan glared at each other.
“Is that yours?” Gavin said, pointing at Lisa’s car.
She nodded.
“Then get behind the wheel and go fetch me some coffee. Go!”
She scurried to get in the car and away from the humiliating scene on set.
Driving the gravel road away from the little canyon, Lisa went over the whole thing again and again. Gavin turning into Mr. Hyde and calling her stupid and incompetent. Dylan laying claim to her as his girlfriend and ignoring her saying she was his ex. Kaden stepping in before she could speak for herself. She hated feeling like a voiceless girl tossed in a sea of yelling, posturing men.
The tears that had threatened in the moment spilled down her cheeks as she bounced over the bumpy road. A slick patch made her tires slip. The car moved sideways with a sickening lurch. Lisa clung to the wheel, steering into the skid and praying. She spent an endless moment feeling like she would go into the ditch. But the wheels grabbed the road again and the car did a quick fishtail before straightening out again.
Lisa’s heart pounded. She swore to herself that she would definitely go in and get those snow tires put on. She could put it on the credit card.
She pulled into the driveway at the Folly and yanked the parking brake. She pulled the empty carafes out of the car and stomped inside.
“Hey, Lisa, you’re back early,” called Jan in a cheerful tone. “How was it?”
Lisa grumbled a hello and headed for the kitchen to start brewing more coffee.
“Uh, not good?” Jan said, trailing after her.
“I ran out of coffee early. Then that jerk of a director yelled at me in front of everyone. And then,” she said, pointing at the front of her jacket, “he threw his coffee cup and got coffee on my jacket. I can’t believe I took this stupid job. Why do I listen to my mother?”
“Because I’m so often right,” Penny said, appearing in the doorway.
Jan’s eyes got wide, and she scurried out of the kitchen.
“I didn’t know you were here, Mom.”
“I’m sorry your day isn’t going well, darling, but there’s no need to abuse your staff. Poor Jan was terrified.”
Lisa took a deep breath and counted to four before letting it out. “I didn’t even tell her the worst part. Dylan was there.”
“Oh?”
Lisa narrowed her eyes at her mother. “Did you know about this?”
“Of course not. Well, not before I suggested the job to you.”
“Not before you suggested—so you knew before I went in there today? And you didn’t warn me?”
“I ran into his mother in the supermarket. I was bragging about your success in expanding your business and she responded. It’s what mothers do.”
“It’s what mothers do,” Lisa repeated. She removed the full carafe and put an empty one in place. “Mothers gossip, but they don’t bother to give their daughters a heads up about an ambush by the ex.”
Penny moved into the kitchen and placed her empty cup by the sink. “You may not believe this, but not everything is about you.”
“This whole thing was a mistake. I’m going to bring this coffee to set, and I’m going to tell Gavin Jump he can find himself a replacement starting tomorrow.”
“No, you’re not,” Penny said. “You are not a quitter. You will not embarrass me that way. Now buck up and do your job.”
Lisa opened her mouth to reply, but Penny came over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “You’ll be fine,” she said, echoing the words she used to tell Lisa on the first day of school or before the first marching band performance of the season.
Lisa sighed. “All right, Mom. I’ll go back. Just as soon as the coffee is refilled.”
Penny nodded in satisfaction before leaving.
Lisa watched the stream of coffee dripping into the carafe, trying to let her mind settle before she had to face the movie set again. Or the temperamental Gavin Jump. Or Dylan.
A soft meow announced Mama Cat’s presence in the kitchen. The cat rubbed against Lisa’s legs, melting away her stress. She reached down to pet the intuitive feline.
“You understand, don’t you, kitty?”
“Meow.”
“Right. Tuna. As you wish.” She washed her hands and gave the cat a small dish of the fishy smelling treat. Mama Cat purred as she ate.
With the last carafe filled, Lisa packed up some more muffins and loaded the whole thing into her car for the drive back.
Jan waved at Lisa from the fro
nt door, a tentative smile on her face. Penny had been right; her outburst had frightened her employee. Lisa rolled down the window and waved back.
“Thanks, Jan. You’re doing great!” she called before pulling out of the parking space.
Driving back through the woods to the little canyon, Lisa remembered Dylan’s face when he told her he wanted another chance. His eyes had looked sad, but with the slight downturn at their corners, they always looked that way. She had been charmed by those eyes when she was young. But that was before the betrayal. She clenched her jaw. How dare he come back and interfere in her life again?
Rounding the bend to enter the shooting location, Lisa got a shock. An ambulance with flashing lights was backed into her space by the craft service table. She pulled into another spot and jumped out of the car to see what was wrong.
The crew was gathered at a slight distance from the paramedics. She could hear the sound of someone retching, but couldn’t see what was going on.
She looked for someone to ask. The crowd of turned backs was as welcoming as a field of statues.
“Uh, what’s going on?” Lisa said. “Is someone sick?”
The skeletal figure of Kari Ajax materialized beside her. “Another accident,” she intoned in her whisky voice.
“Accident?” Lisa repeated, confused.
The crowd in front of them parted to let the paramedics through. Tyrone, the prop master, lay on the stretcher. His dark handsome face had a greenish tinge, and his eyes were glazed. A brace encircled his neck.
The paramedics loaded the stretcher into the ambulance. Gavin climbed in next to him, holding his hand. The director’s face was gentle and earnest as he murmured something in Tyrone’s ear. A moment later he stepped down and nodded at the paramedics.
“Is he ok?” a voice in the crowd said.
Gavin addressed the crowd. “They said he has a concussion from hitting his head when he fell.”
“When will he be back?” someone said.
“How should I know? They’re taking him to the hospital to check him out.” Gavin folded his arms.
Kari leaned in close to Lisa’s ear. “Was it an accident or something deliberate?” she said too quietly for anyone else to hear.
Shooting on Location (Lisa Chance Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Page 4