Changing the Script

by Lee Winter

  Google had a few photos of her out at various Hollywood events. Alex’s friends were beautiful. Sam blinked. No, not just that. Gorgeous. Stunning. Summer Hayes? Elizabeth Thornton? Grace Christie-Oberon? Amrit Patel? Every one of them could grace a magazine cover. These people didn’t even look real. They were about as far from Sam’s world as you could get.

  That simplified things, didn’t it? Even if Alex was single, she wouldn’t want to hang out with Sam in her daggy dive of a rental. Besides, it was pointless. What would happen when the movie was finished? Did she think Alex would just park her boots under Sam’s bed and stay on in Ika Whenu, population 2,735? That’d worked out so well with Nicole, hadn’t it? And it’s not like Sam could just toss in her job here. People relied on her. Probably a good thing Sam had worked out their complete unsuitability for one another before she’d made a fool of herself by asking Alex out or something.

  Which she definitely hadn’t considering doing.

  I really like her.

  Sam rammed the last of her toast in her mouth. Not helpful. A decision had been made. That was that. It was simpler to keep things as they were. Friendly but arm’s length.

  A streak of orange bisected her kitchen curtains, the rising sun creeping over the distant Kaimai Ranges. Time to collect Bruce and hit the road.

  Today was the first day in a month she felt okay enough to climb the Boars’ wall again. What if the dogs weren’t friendly to her anymore? Maybe she’d have to start from scratch again, tossing meat from the top of the wall as she had in the early days.

  Sam was still debating that choice when her phone rang.

  Work? At this unholy hour?

  “ALEX!”

  Alex lurched out of a deep sleep.

  “Wake up!” a familiar voice boomed.

  “Sid?” Alex opened one eye. “What the hell are you doing in my trailer?”

  “What?”

  Oh. Right. He was outside. “S’wrong?” She called back and reached for her glasses.

  “A body! There’s a body in the dam!”

  “What?” No way had he just said… She staggered out of bed and wrenched open her door to find Sid and a bedraggled group of cast and crew crawling out of their own trailers in various states of dress.

  “I was doing a perimeter check.” Sid waved his enormous arm. “And I saw it.” He held up his phone. “Took a pic.”

  Alex reluctantly peered at it. A large male body in dark clothing was floating face down in the water.

  “It’s Joe’s dam. The farmer whose property we’re on? He waters his sheep there. And we have to get the body out before the water’s tainted.”

  Was her set cursed? A horrible thought suddenly slammed into her. “Sid, have you done a head count? Is anyone missing? Alice, can you…?”

  “On it.” Alice nodded, sounding the model of efficiency although her hair was sticking up and she looked barely ten percent awake.

  “Where’s Quincy?” Alex’s head whipped around as she scanned the crowd. Goddamn it, if it was Quincy who’d drowned his annoying-but-useful butt, she’d wring his neck again. “Wake him first.” Her gaze darted back to the breathless Sid. “Have you called the police?”

  “Yeah, Sam’s on her way. And, um, she’s not sounding too happy.”

  Can’t blame her. Hell, her job sometimes meant pulling bodies out of dams.

  Sid’s stressed voice looped in Sam’s head as she drove. There’s a body.

  A sickening jolt of fear had lurched through her the moment he’d first said the words, and she wondered if the set saboteur had finally gone too far and revealed more sinister intentions.

  Her first thought had been chilling. “Is Alex okay?” she’d croaked out. The wave of relief at hearing the body was male had been unsettling.

  Sam had called the coroner’s office in Hamilton to send someone up to deal with the remains, but they’d emphasized the need for her to be sure before they dispatched anyone. It was a long drive and only barely sunrise. They’d informed her they’d be on standby, awaiting her confirmation.

  Half an hour later, Sam pulled her checkered blue-and-yellow Holden Commodore patrol car into Joe’s drive. She got out and glanced at Sid’s solemn form, waiting for her by the gate.

  Sam’s mood became grimmer with each step. It wasn’t just that she’d have to haul a deceased person out of a dam, or the condition it might be in due to water being involved, although the near-freezing temperature would help. It was that it might be someone she knew.

  She’d attended road accidents and seen mangled, bloodied, and broken bodies of kids she’d gone to school with, and people she’d bought groceries from, and it made her sick to the gut every damned time.

  Sid waved her in. “This way.” He looked pensive. “Over here.”

  She trekked over the undulating grasses of the field, dodging sheep manure and divots, until she came to the wide dam. Joe crouched at the water’s edge, peering at the body floating in the middle. Along with someone else.

  The sight of Alex, strong and well and shooting Sam a warm but worried look, shook her equilibrium a little. Relief washed through her.

  Damn it. She was supposed to be all professional and stoic. She slapped on her most aloof mask. “Good morning. I see we have a situation.”

  Alex nodded, expression apprehensive. “Thanks for coming.”

  “You okay?” Sam wondered if Alex had seen a body before. Maybe she had, being from LA? Didn’t people shoot at people all the time in California or something? Hadn’t she read that somewhere?

  “Not really.” Alex fiddled with her jacket sleeve. “Everyone from Shezan is accounted for. No one’s touched the body, We don’t know who it is. I can’t believe this is happening.’

  “Okay. I’ll get this sorted. This is a police crime scene now.” Sam peered at the dam. Shit. The body was right in the middle. “How deep is the water?” She turned to Joe, whose craggy brow furrowed. “Can I get my waders on and…?” Her waders went up to her mid chest, and she tapped the height of them to explain.

  “No.” Joe shook his wrinkled head. “The water’d be about chin-high on you out in the middle.”

  Just great. She could call in police divers, but it’d take ages for them to arrive. With a sigh, she began to undress.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Alex’s eyes flashed wide open. “It’s freezing out here!” Her breath came out in misty huffs. “Sun’s barely up.”

  “What would you have me do instead?” She toed off her boots, then peeled off her socks.

  “Wait for the coroner? Let them do it! Or wait till it’s warmer? I could get my crew to rig us a really long pole with a hook and—”

  “Can’t,” Joe cut in. “I need the remains out of my water supply ASAP or my sheep’ll get sick. She’s right doin’ it now. Longer it’s there, warmer the temperature gets, worse it’ll be.”

  “And the coroner’s office isn’t coming.” Sam undid her belt. “Well, not yet. They’re on standby until I call back to report what I drag out of here.”

  “Maybe Sid could do it then?” Alex darted a hopeful look at him.

  “I’m the police officer on duty,” Sam cut in. “Besides, your guard can’t swim.”

  Alex blinked in surprise.

  “Never learned.” Sid shrugged. “Sorry.”

  Sam slid her pants down, leaving only her black boy-shorts. Her skin pimpled in the freezing wind. It was only going to get worse in a minute. She steeled herself, then began unbuttoning her shirt.

  “You are bonkers,” Alex muttered, pulling out her phone. “Alice? I need you at the dam. Bring a thick towel and one of those ankle-length coats with the extra padding.”

  “Thanks.” Sam drew off her shirt.

  “While you’re on our set, you’re my responsibility.”

  The old farmer wore a distan
t look as Sam straightened, now clad only in her sports bra and shorts. Probably thinking of his sheep. Alex was staring at her like she’d never seen her before.

  “What?” Sam asked churlishly, not quite sure what to make of the scrutiny. She was now freezing, displayed like a lamb chop, and about to wade into a gross, muddy pool to bring a corpse to shore.

  “Nothing. Just…” Alex’s hand flashed out to squeeze her arm. “You’re so brave.” Her gaze lingered for a moment before she glanced away.

  Brave? “Just doing what they pay me the big bucks for.” But the compliment warmed her far more than the tendrils of sunlight starting to peek through the trees edging the border of the property.

  Slowly, Sam waded in until she could no longer touch the bottom and then breast-stroked her way to the middle, careful to keep the water out of her face and ears. Shivers overtook her, but she pressed on. Teeth chattering, she neared the body and slowed to tread the water.

  Wait a minute. It wasn’t floating right. Too high and…

  She scowled as she realized what she was looking at. Fury flashed through her, followed by relief. She grabbed the body by its rigid arm, towing it. Her annoyance gave her numbed limbs a burst of energy. Reaching the banks, Sam hauled it out.

  “Who is it?” Alex asked, avoiding looking directly at the body.

  “Maybe we should call it a ‘what,’ not a ‘who.’” Sam hauled her find over onto its back. Waterlogging had easily doubled its weight and it landed with a wet, heavy thunk, sending a spray of mud over Sam and Alex.

  “Shit,” Alex muttered, glowering at her spattered clothes. Her expression narrowed as she digested what Sam had dumped at their feet.

  “Fuck me dead, eh!” Sid gaped. “It’s just a mannequin!”

  The “body” was dressed in a nicely tailored suit. Its sculpted face was rather realistic. Sam had never seen anything like it, not even in Auckland’s fancy, top-end clothing stores.

  Alex stared at it. “Why’s that thing in the dam?”

  Joe’s shoulders sagged in relief and he offered a toothless grin. “Who cares? Least it means I can water my sheep, no worries.” He stood and dusted down his worn jeans. “I’ll leave you all to it. I’ve got to feed my animals.” He trudged off back toward his farmhouse.

  “So?” Sam turned on Sid and Alex. “Looks like I was hauled out of bed on a wild goose chase.”

  Alex frowned. “Yes. But my people didn’t do this.”

  “You sure?” Sam poked at the dummy’s smart-looking outfit. “Can you get your costume woman to come up here?” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “Skye, wasn’t it?”

  The assistant—Alice—materialized, holding a towel and a puffy jacket bigger than she was. “Oh my goodness,” she said, eyes as big as headlights. “You must be freezing!” She thrust the towel at Sam the second she reached her.

  Sam dried off gratefully, then handed it back. As she jerked her pants back on, Alice pointedly looked the other way. Alex was on the phone, asking Skye to join them. Whether she knew it or not, Alex’s gaze was drifting appreciatively all over Sam’s body.

  After getting back into her uniform, which felt far too thin after her swim, Sam slid on the padded blue jacket Alice offered. Stamping her now booted feet for warmth, she waited for the costume designer to appear.

  When she arrived, Skye took one look at the dummy, crouched before it, and said, “Oh, I see. How interesting. Did you know you can’t even buy these mannequins here? And the suit? Very familiar.”

  “Familiar?” Sam and Alex asked at the same time.

  “Oh yes. It’s one of Shezan’s previous costumer’s early concepts for the poacher. I decided to go in a different direction. These colors, red and black, are a little too strong. Besides, he can’t wear that now his tent interior contains red tones.”

  “Where’s the red?” Sam asked in confusion, gaze raking the dark, sodden material.

  Skye flipped the jacket open to show a red lining. She studied it closely for a moment, her brow creased as though about to say something profound.

  Sam waited in anticipation.

  Alex held her breath.

  “Ah yes,” Skye finally exhaled. “Definitely the right decision. Not the best look at all. Our poacher needs something coarse and rustic, not some suit.” Her gaze drifted.

  Oh for God’s… “Can we focus on the main point?” Sam cut in. “This suit was stolen from your set?”

  “Yes, dear.” Skye nodded. “Not just the suit. The mannequin, too.”

  “Why?” Alex stared in dismay. “What does that achieve?”

  “That’s the question.” Skye sounded philosophical. “Motives are everything. From poachers to saboteurs.” She glanced at Sam. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m too frozen to be standing around debating anything.” Her teeth chattered again. “Sid, could you haul that thing back to the set? I’m going to cancel the coroner’s office.”

  Sid lifted the dummy, grunting at its weight. “Bugger. Water’s got in it.”

  Skye jumped in to help, grabbing its feet.

  “Hey, thanks.” He grinned. “Weird start to the day, hey? How you doin’, anyway?”

  Sam leaned away from her brother. Some days he was too damned cheerful before breakfast.

  As the pair awkwardly marched the dummy back to the set, they chatted amiably. Skye was now talking up the virtues of Chloe. “Goodness me, that girl! First time I met her, I knew I’d take her under my wing. She was so sweet and too far from home! Oh, she’s an amusing soul to have around, I’ll tell you. It’s a complete mystery to me why she’s single.”

  Subtle.

  Sid nodded and agreed it was indeed a mystery.

  My clueless brother. She wanted to slap him. Seriously.

  A shiver rocketed through her.

  “You need a hot shower,” Alex noted. “You can use mine.”

  “Thanks. Sounds good.”

  “And then I think it’s time we talked about what’s really happening.” Alex inhaled. “Because have you considered we’re not the target here?”

  “What?” Sam stopped. “Then who is?”

  “You.”

  “Three more,” Alex was saying down the phone as she paced her trailer; she’d taken an urgent business call from LA a minute ago. “And not a single one more.” She thrust a fluffy towel at Sam and waved her into a cubicle at the end of the trailer as her voice became sharper. “That’s what I’m saying.”

  Sam could still just hear her muffled voice before she stepped under the shower. She mulled over Alex’s theory while soaking up the blasting heat. How could she be the target? All the disruptions had messed with Alex’s set. And…okay, sure, they’d inconvenienced Sam. But Shezan was the target. When people were unhappy with their local cop, they usually left their complaints on her doormat, in her letterbox, or spray-painted across her home’s walls.

  Except today’s false alarm had nothing to do with the set at all. It screwed with Sam, no one else. Was someone getting their jollies having her running out of town every five minutes? Which begged the obvious questions: Who wanted the police out of their hair, or who wanted to punish her?

  Most of her enemies were too lazy to bother getting up before dawn for any reason, including her boss. Though she doubted even Sergeant Peterson was that petty. Besides, he was stuck in a Crime and Justice Organisation conference in Tauranga all week. So that ruled him out.

  Which brought her to the most glaringly obvious perp. Who would dress a dummy in a red-and-black suit, which also happened to be the Wild Boars’ colors? The more she thought about it, the more it fit with their obnoxious asshole leader, Dino, and his twisted sense of humor.

  Sam turned the water off. Beyond the door, she could hear Alex still on the phone, issuing orders. She dried off and leaned in a little to hear Alex in full-on boss m
ode as her footsteps neared and retreated, up and down the trailer.

  You go, girl.

  She tucked in her shirt, then combed her hair with her fingers, peering in the small mirror. It’ll have to do. The talking had stopped, so she opened the door. And froze.

  Alex’s bare, pale back was to Sam as she bent over, pulling tight jeans over blue bikini briefs. A flash of the side of her boob appeared then disappeared.

  God, she was beautiful. Fine-boned, delicate, lean, gorgeous. Heat flared across Sam’s face, and she backed into the bathroom and shut the door as quietly as she could.

  A minute later, a knock sounded. “It’s safe to come out now.” Amusement laced Alex’s tone.

  Sam sheepishly opened the door and exited, praying the redness in her cheeks wasn’t obvious. “Thanks for the, um, shower.” She edged past Alex, inching to the trailer’s door.

  “Where are you going?” Alex asked. “We haven’t discussed this.”

  “This?” Panic flooded Sam.

  “The perpetrator. The motives. Why, what did you think I meant?” Alex’s eyebrow lifted.

  “This. Yes.” Sam turned to sit just as Alex took a step forward.

  They found themselves pressed together, breast to breast, in the narrow passage between the kitchen table and seating. Immediately they shot apart like opposing magnets.

  “That wasn’t awkward in the least,” Alex muttered, dropping onto the nearest bench seat. Her cheeks were pinker than a minute ago.

  “No.” Sam sighed. Sitting on the opposite bench, she wished she could burn from her mind the distracting memory of Alex’s soft body. “So, I think you might be right about the motive.”

  “Oh?” Alex was suddenly sharp and interested.

  “Mmm. It’s almost certainly Dino Taumata. He’s always taunting me. Wouldn’t put it past him to bribe someone on set to commit sabotage to distract me, fuck with me, or both. And the dummy was wearing red and black. Those are his colors. He may as well have stuck up a sign with his name on it.”

  “I see.” Alex pursed her lips. “How can I help?”

  “You can’t. I think the fastest way to solve this would be for me to have a nice chat to Dino.”