by Sandi Scott
Murder on the
Movie Set
A Pet Portraits Cozy Mystery
Book 3
Sandi Scott
Copyright © 2017 Sandi Scott and Gratice Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at [email protected]
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction
Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Murder on the Movie Set
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Letter from the Author
About the Book Cover
Preview: Cream Puff Murder
Recipe: Gluten Free Kumquat and Gingersnap Cookies
Recipe: Easy Candy Cane Snowballs
Dedication
To my beautiful Casey, who brought so much love and joy into my life.
- Margaret Rushton
Chapter 1
"It's like I've gone back in time," Georgie mused as she drove through the quiet town. "I can't believe this place is so close to the city but looks like a country town. Just a little Mayberry town plunked down on the north side." Today was one of those beautiful Chicago afternoons when the sky was cloudy, the breeze cool, and the upcoming fall season could be seen in the sprinkling of red, gold, and orange specks peeking through green leaves on the trees.
Georgie Kaye drove her vintage orange Volkswagen Beetle, better known as Pablo, through the quiet suburban streets of Skokie, Illinois. Pablo was her prized possession, because after searching for months for a car that was just like the very first car she owned, she found it listed on Craigslist. The affluent town was just a few miles north of downtown Chicago, further than she usually traveled. Her new client, Mrs. Lori Friedman, had insisted Georgie come to her home to meet her twin Chow Chows before painting their portraits as a gift for her husband's sixtieth birthday.
“You simply must come to our house,” Lori bubbled over the phone. “Stanley and Stella love meeting new people, but—,” Georgie smiled, remembering the next words that came over the phone, “I’d wear something you wouldn’t mind getting dirty. They don’t know the word ‘sit’ and have a big yard to play in. They cover every inch of it every day and dirt is their best friend.”
The instructions Lori had given Georgie told her to turn left at The Big Barn Antique Shop and go past the Windmill Restaurant. “You can’t miss it,” Lori had told her confidently. “You’ll see the cobblestones in the driveway right away.”
As soon as Georgie saw it, she gasped. The driveway was an elaborate design composed of maroon, taupe, and rust colored stones that were perfectly even. Not a single sprout of green had forced its way through the cracks. The driveway led to a red farmhouse with white trim and a neatly maintained yard. Lavender plants bordered the drive and the entire front of the house. Georgie inhaled deeply and smelled the sweet, calming scent of the flowers through her open car windows.
Pablo came to a stop at the top of the driveway. Looking at her watch, Georgie was about to climb out of the car when her cell phone rang.
“Hi, Georgie.” It was Lori’s fluttery voice on the other end. “I’m running a little late.” She went on to tell Georgie how crowded the grocery store was and the ridiculous price of organic tomatoes and the crazy drivers in the parking lot and how she hoped Georgie liked chocolate and raspberry truffles because they were on sale at the bakery.
"Take your time," Georgie soothed. She'd wait half the day for truffles. As she relaxed in the driver's seat she snapped on the radio. Pablo’s radio was always set to WNND, the classical music station Georgie and Aleta, her twin sister, favored. Mozart's lovely piano concerto No. 21 in C major played and kept her company. When it ended, the announcer’s words piqued Georgie's interest.
“The fifteenth caller to the station will receive two complimentary lot passes to see the set and filming of Robbie Dodson’s upcoming film This Summer. This Summer is a spine-tingling thriller starring Ryn Hudson and Dustin Stetson.” The phone number for the radio station was repeated twice and the announcer emphasized, “Be the fifteenth caller to win a pair of complimentary lot passes. Now, here is the Boston Symphony Orchestra playing Carmen Les Toreadors during their 2011 concert at ... .”
Looking down at her phone, Georgie shrugged. She quickly dialed the radio station’s phone number, expecting to get a busy signal. Although she wasn’t sure how many people listened to the classical music station, she was sure there were enough to get their calls in before hers. She had never won anything except her battle with cancer—the most important win.
“WNND. You’re the fifteenth caller. May I have your name, please?”
“What?” Georgie gasped. Did she hear that right?
“You’re our fifteenth caller. May I have your name?” The girl repeated.
Georgie giggled before telling the young lady that she had never won anything, but she had called while she was waiting to talk to a client about a painting. Her twin sister, Aleta, would be so thrilled when she told her about these passes. She gave the woman on the phone every bit of information regarding her sister and herself, except her name.
"I'm so sorry. My mind has stonewalled my tongue." Georgie giggled again. Finally, she gave the woman on the phone all the necessary information and was told the movie was being shot at Connors Park on the border of Arlington Heights and the northern-most tip of the city. "Do you know I've lived in Chicago almost my whole life and I don't think I've ever been to Connors Park?"
“Well, we hope you have fun and thanks for listening to WNND.”
Georgie leaned back in her seat and was getting ready to call Aleta with the incredible news when a drop-top PT Cruiser pulled up behind her and honked a welcome to Pablo. A woman with a graying bob haircut and wild eyes was waving madly, smiling happily as if she had known Georgie her entire life and hadn’t seen her for a long while.
“Georgie?” The woman called.
“That’s me. You must be Lori.”
As Georgie went to shake Lori’s hand, she was pulled in for a tight hug and a gentle pat on the back. There were half a dozen grocery bags in the back seat and, as Lori started to gather them, Georgie offered to help.
"That's very sweet of you." She handed over two paper bags. "They aren't heavy. For some reason, the grocery stores don't like to fill bags anymore. If there are two items in one bag they are really stuffing things to the gills."
Georgie agreed, having made that same observation to Aleta on more than one occasion.
As soon as Georgie stepped inside the Friedman home she realized these were serious pet owners. It was the Chow Chow Shrine of Extravagance. Every wall had some framed image of the fluffy breed. There was half a dozen posed pictures of Sta
nley and Stella displayed like a mother might display her children’s school pictures. There wasn’t a flat surface within eyesight that didn’t have a porcelain or brass version of the dog. Some people might have considered this over-the-top, but Georgie understood completely. It was why she specialized in pet portraits. Sure, these people, and others like the Friedmans, loved their children but the unfaltering devotion people receive from their pets is just different. We are their protectors and in return they are our permanent cheering section. They love nothing more than to just be with us.
“As you can see we have decorated our house in Chow Chow.” Lori chuckled at her own joke. “We have a wall in our family room downstairs that is so lonely looking we thought a portrait of Stanley and Stella would be just perfect and really complete the look we are seeking—antique tacky.” She giggled again and her laughter spread to Georgie.
“Well, where are Stanley and Stella right now?” Georgie looked around and listened for a moment. There was no sign of them.
“Let’s see.” Lori looked at her watch. “They should be coming in at any moment. Ruthie, she’s the nanny, has them out back for their exercise.”
Georgie studied Lori for a few minutes and thought she couldn’t possibly have children at her age, but why would she have a nanny? Perhaps she was raising a grandchild. That was probably it. Lori was helping out a young mother who couldn’t take care of her new baby. Georgie knew it happened all the time; the grandparents ended up stepping up to do all the hard work.
“Come on. I’ll give you a quick tour.” Motioning for Georgie to follow, Lori led her through a kitchen that was surprisingly white and clean, reflecting the traditional farmhouse look she had seen outside the house. There were Chow Chow salt and pepper shakers on the counter as well as a couple of oven mitts in the same fluffy style with two little black bead eyes peering out. They went down a short flight of stairs to the lower level where there was a couch and loveseat with Chow Chow pillows neatly arranged on them. The walls were just like the rooms upstairs with elegantly framed images of Chow Chows, continuing the overall theme. There was a conspicuously empty spot over the fireplace.
“That is where we’d like our portrait.” Lori pointed to the spot and smiled. “Can you do a painting that large? We can pay. Money is not the issue for us.”
“Yes, I can certainly accommodate with a painting of that size. If you wouldn’t mind sharing, what would be an issue for you?”
“My husband’s birthday is at the end of November. Is that enough time for you to complete the portraits?”
Lori rubbed her hands together nervously as if she were waiting for some bad diagnosis from the doctor.
“That is more than enough time.” Georgie nodded.
“Wonderful.” Lori clapped. “I will give you half the fee right now. I hope you don’t mind cash.”
“Not at all.” Georgie was thrilled. Not only did she like Lori Friedman but she was getting half her money up-front in cash. This was a dream client.
“Then I’ll pay the rest when you bring the finished painting over.” Lori batted her eyelashes and her smile submerged her eyes in a sea of wrinkles.
“That’s fine.”
“Great. Let me get the kids and you guys can get acquainted while I get my wallet.” Lori leaned out the door and yelled to Ruth to bring “the kids” in for lunch and their naps. Before Georgie could ask, two rust colored streaks bolted through the doggie door barking and yapping excitedly.
“Georgie, meet Stanley, the excited one, and his sister Stella. She’s got a tiny speck of white on her toe.”
After getting the proper amount of affection from their mistress, the two boisterous dogs bolted in Georgie’s direction. Now she completely understood why Lori suggested she wear old clothes.
A pair of baggy bib overalls that had seen more than one painting project and a green blouse underneath had spoken to Georgie from her closet this morning.
Wear me! They had said. And don’t forget the teal ankle boots!
Now there were tiny brown paw prints over every inch of her pants from the knees down. Her teal boots looked as if she had stepped in something unsanitary and the cuffs of her blouse were covered in dirt and dog sneezes.
She reached her hands down to give each dog a good scratching. Before she could get her balance, a woman emerged on the back porch and stomped toward the sliding door where Lori was. The sight of the poor creature sent Georgie reeling backward to land with a solid thump on her keister. Before she could even try to get up, Stanley and Stella swarmed her. Any attempt at recovering with dignity was lost.
The woman walked up to Georgie and offered her a hand.
“I’m so sorry.” Georgie was grateful for the offer of assistance. “I lost my balance.” The dogs yapped and pounced and dashed over her legs and arms and chest as if they could prevent her from getting up.
“I’m Ruth. The dog’s nanny,” the woman said sullenly. She looked like she needed a nap. Her clothes were dirty and wisps of her hair had fallen out from beneath the stocking cap she was wearing. There were circles under her eyes and she wore no make-up.
"Oh, you're the dog's nanny?" Georgie said, as if that was what she had suspected all along. "Well, that must be fun."
Ruth looked at the dogs in the same way a tired mother looks at her toddler in a high chair as he tosses a pair of plastic toy keys to the floor for the hundredth time.
“It can be. I took care of Lori and Steve’s previous dogs. You tend to forget how much energy the young ones have.”
"They're just like children," Georgie agreed, smiling.
"Oh, it looks like they brought some of the yard in with them. If you've got time I can get something to clean your overalls that won't take more than a second or two."
"I'm fine. I have a dog of my own." Georgie went on to tell Ruth she would be painting the dogs’ portraits for the space over the fireplace.
"Are you going to paint from a picture?" Ruth asked, her right eyebrow arching as she looked at Stanley and Stella still circling Georgie's feet like she was their long-lost friend.
“I’m not sure. Lori had asked if I could paint from live subjects.”
Georgie watched Ruth’s expression as the woman tried to not laugh.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Georgie. Good luck with the painting.” Lowering her voice, Ruth whispered quietly, “I think you’re going to need it.”
“Come!” Ruth barked out loudly, getting the attention of the dogs at least for a couple of seconds before she headed upstairs.
Georgie heard Lori’s voice from the kitchen as she greeted both Ruth and the dogs, who continued to bark loudly.
“Here you are.” Lori smiled and handed Georgie her a stack of crisp $100 bills. “The dogs are going down for their naps—so would you like to join me for coffee and truffles?”
As usual, Georgie was seduced by the allure of sweets. She and Lori had a pleasant visit while the lady of the house expressed her ideas for the portrait. Once they were finished, Georgie drove back home, reflecting on all the artistic challenges necessary to paint the little beasts. However, Lori insisted it be done from the live subjects, so Georgie was bracing herself for a difficult assignment.
“Difficult but not impossible,” she muttered to Pablo as she made her way home. Once there, she pulled into the driveway in front of her bungalow and let out a sigh. Her sister, Aleta, who lived in the bungalow next door, came out onto her porch to greet her.
“Did you get the gig?”
“Paid half up-front with a check,” Georgie smiled as she slung her purse over her shoulder. “Oh, and you and I are going to Connors Park tomorrow.”
“What? Why?” Aleta pulled her navy-blue cardigan sweater closer to keep out the chill. “I think I’ve got something else to do, like defrost the freezer or something.”
“Fine. If you don’t want to go with me to the set of Dustin Stetson’s new movie, I’ll go by myself.”
Aleta stared at Georgie
as she explained how she got the tickets to the behind-the-scenes event.
“But if you don’t want to go,” Georgie inspected her fingernails casually, “I’ll be sure to tell your secret crush, Mr. Stetson, you weren’t interested in coming.”
“I’ll be on your porch at seven-thirty.”
Chapter 2
"I had no idea this place even existed." Aleta smoothed out her stiffly starched white blouse and pulled a couple of stray pet hairs from the thighs of her jeans. "It looks like we just stepped into an episode of Little House on the Prairie.”
The directions the young lady at WNND gave Georgie led them from bumper to bumper traffic along I-297 to an off-ramp heading toward Arlington Heights. From there, they had turned off on what was technically a road as it probably went somewhere, but Georgie was sure it hadn't been traveled by anything other than an occasional tractor for the past decade. They drove Pablo along the dirt road for almost twenty minutes, looking anxiously for signs of life.
“Are you sure we are going the right way?” Aleta mumbled.
“This is the way the girl on the phone said to go. Wait,” Georgie pointed ahead to what looked like a police blockade, “that has got to be it.”
The car rolled as stealthily as a Volkswagen Bug could up to the wooden barriers. Georgie and Aleta saw that just over a grassy knoll the entire area was swarming with people. Georgie rolled down her window and introduced herself as the winner of the WNND day passes to the movie set of This Summer.
“Yeah, I see your names here.” A young man wearing a uniform with the name Star Sets Security embroidered on the sleeve of his shirt scanned a clipboard without any type of expression on his face. “Park your car over there. Then come back to me to get your badges.”
“Thank you so much.” Aleta leaned over her sister’s lap to look up at the guard and smiled. Georgie looked at her and shook her head.
“Would you lean back?” She ordered, but Aleta was too giddy to pay any attention to her sister. “You act like you’ve never been around people.” She swung the car around and parked it in a big patch of grass.