Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“That’s odd because most people are eager to get a behind-the-scenes look and then realize how complex the whole thing is and they lose their fascination,” Jay replied. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Most of this crew loves to explain what they do. Actors aren’t the only ones in Hollywood who love attention. Speaking of attention, I heard a rumor that Ally’s stalker has followed her to Dallas. Is that possible?”
“Did it finally make the news?” He’d been surprised the press hadn’t picked up on it until now. DPD had kept the whole thing quiet, but it was inevitable that it would get out. Now the reporters would really be looking for them.
Jay frowned. “It came across a gossip site. Someone sent her a box of blood? Tell me it wasn’t real.”
He’d been meaning to have this conversation for days but hadn’t been able to pin Jay down. He was also a little surprised security hadn’t gossiped. The head of the studio security unit had all the reports and had agreed to implement new protocols now that they were going to start spending most of their time here. “The police haven’t sent me a toxicology report yet, but Ally claims it’s absolutely fake blood. She seemed to think it was something a special effects department would use. Can I ask you if you’ve ever worked with a man named JK Harris?”
A brow rose over Jay’s intellectual-looking glasses. “Can’t say I remember the name, but it’s a small world. It’s possible. How is she? She must have been terrified.”
He wouldn’t ever forget the look on her face when he’d come to pick her up. “She’s handling it as well as she can.”
“Yes, she seems to be handling it phenomenally. She hasn’t mentioned anything about it in our sessions. You think it’s from this JK guy?” Jay seemed to consider the idea for a moment. “You know, now I think I do recall hearing his name, but it was connected to Ally. Is he the set decorator she accused of harassment?”
West didn’t like how the director framed the situation. “He’s the asshole who harassed her, so yes.”
“Hey, not trying to offend. It’s hard to know what’s the truth sometimes. If Ally says he did it, then I believe her. I believe women. But the trouble is sometimes perfect politeness isn’t good for artistic environments. Not in that case, I’m sure, but in some cases, we have to be tolerant.”
He wondered how many times someone asked Ally to put up with shit to keep some bigwig comfortable. He wasn’t going to argue with this man, though. He’d promised Ally he would behave. “Anyway, yes, that’s the man LAPD has been looking at. Someone broke into Ally’s house before filming started.”
“And you think he’s the same person who sent her the box?” Jay looked out over the set.
“My boss is not entirely sure.” Eve had finished her basic report, and one of her scenarios was that this was not JK Harris, but another person with a more sinister purpose than revenge.
“She has another stalker? Because it would seem to me that this guy has a reason to hate her,” Jay pointed out. “I bet he’s having a hard time finding a job.”
Ian and Eve seemed unsure at this point. He trusted his boss’s instincts. “I’m sure he is. I think the investigators are simply trying to keep an open mind. I hope you’ll understand the new safety protocols I asked security to put in place.”
It involved more patrols, more security camera coverage, better vetting of visitors.
“I want her to feel safe here,” Jay said. “But I would bet this is going to be a hardship on the rest of the crew. Hopefully our insurance doesn’t go up. But the important thing is Ally is safe.”
Yes, that was all West cared about.
“Jay.” A familiar face walked toward them.
West had seen several of Bryce Jericho’s films. He usually played the stalwart hero. Now he looked like he’d been cast as Annoyed Man.
“I’m late because I was forced to show ID to get on set. What the hell is going on?” Bryce completely ignored everyone but the director. “Like the security team doesn’t know who the hell I am? What kind of a second-rate production are you running here?”
He was loud enough that the rehearsal had stopped, and the actors were now staring, trying to figure out what was going on.
He saw Ally standing with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression blank.
“Hey, we’ve had some trouble,” Jay started to say.
Bryce shook his head. “No, we haven’t had trouble. She’s had trouble. That ridiculous bit of fluff you’ve brought in is the only person here who has trouble.”
Ally barked out a laugh. And then shook her head. “Sorry. I’ve never been called fluff before.”