Mascara and Murder (Murder In Style Book 3)

by Gina LaManna

  “Exactly,” he said. “We agreed because we liked Ryan, and we believed in the movie. If it hit big, we’d make bank off the royalties anyway. Most of us aren’t strapped for cash. We all agreed because we believed in him and in the project.”

  “But?”

  “But he overextended himself, as usual,” Kiernan said. “Locations got expensive. He hired additional talent. Soon enough, we were in the hole. We don’t have enough for post, or we didn’t, until we all chipped in.”

  “Who all chipped in?”

  “Me, Emma, Tennison, Kyle, and, of course, Ryan—but he already had everything he owned in this company. He sold his car, everything. We’re all invested.”

  “Why did you all agree? Because you were friends with Ryan?”

  “A combination,” Kiernan said. “We’d already sunk so much time and effort into the film that it would’ve been a waste to trash the whole thing. Ryan’s good at convincing people to do what he wants. He said if we all threw in twenty grand, we’d be able to finish out the movie, and we’d all make our investment back—and then some.”

  “That’s a big investment.”

  Kiernan shrugged. “The point was that we’d recoup our investment first, right off the top. Then royalties would kick in.”

  “But if his last three movies bombed...”

  “He hooked us in, little by little,” Kiernan said. “He started off by asking if we’d work on the show with him. Then after we committed, he started to ask about waiving our fees. Finally, he built up to the big one: Will you toss some cash in?”

  “You already had too many sunk costs to back out.”

  “That, and by the time he was asking for money, he had a few bites from studios. Like I said, Ryan knows how to talk to people. He has contacts at Amazon, Netflix, a few of the bigger Hollywood studios. He was really pumping it up, thinking we’d get some stellar distribution.”

  “Pretty tempting when you hear that,” I said. “I can see how you’d want to finish up the film and see what happens next.”

  “The fight happened when Tennison pulled out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, he was supposed to invest twenty grand like the rest of us. The money was already promised away. We were tightening our belts, budgeting down to the penny. The loss of his money was pretty huge. At that point, no one else was willing to go in with any additional funds. If he didn’t contribute, the movie would go down the drain. We’d pull the plug.”

  “What about Emma Lou?”

  “What about her? She seemed pretty into Tennison,” Kiernan said. “It’s weird to say, but I think she really did care about him even though she was the one wanting to keep their relationship a secret. I think she was just afraid to admit it. You know, Tennison wasn’t a big name. He was a nice dude; don’t get me wrong.”

  “You don’t think she was trying to get Ryan back?”

  “I thought so at the time,” he said. “But looking back on it all, I think that she thought she wanted Ryan. That they made sense together on paper, the two superstars getting together. But I have to wonder if she wasn’t coming around to the fact that she had really loved Tennison all along.”

  “She never said that to me.”

  “She’s trying to downplay it,” he said. “I don’t think Emma Lou knows how to process losing him. She hadn’t even figured out that she loved him. She’s an actress; she’s good at hiding what she’s feeling.”

  “Do you know why Tennison withdrew his funding?”

  “That’s the thing,” Kiernan said. “I was ticked at Tennison, but I wasn’t surprised. We all know he likes to gamble. He didn’t pull out his funding because he wanted to—he did it because he had to.”

  “He lost the money he was supposed to invest? Where?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t gamble.” Kiernan took a sip of his coffee, glancing at me over his cup with a small smile. “Tennison was a knucklehead. He wasn’t evil or a bad friend. That’s why none of us were really, seriously mad at him. Except for Ryan because it was his name on the line. Honestly, we were all upset with Ryan more than anything because he should’ve known better.”

  “I see.”

  “You want to know what Tennison told him?” Kiernan continued smiling, but he was looking over my head as if lost in a memory. “Tennison told Ryan that he was trying to double his money so that he could contribute even more to the film. And do you know what? I believe him.”

  “But Ryan was still upset.”

  “Of course. Because now we’re running on a deficit.”

  I guiltily thought about the budget that had been allocated for my salary. But at the same time, I was a professional, and I did deserve to be paid. I just hadn’t been fully briefed on the circumstances when I’d accepted the job. I wondered if Cassidy had even known the full details or if she’d just offered me the salary that Emily had left behind.

  “If you want to know how Tennison lost his money, though,” he said, “I suggest you pay attention to Kyle.”

  “The director?”

  Kiernan looked into his coffee cup. “But I didn’t tell you that.”

  “Of course not. What didn’t you tell me, exactly?”

  “Doesn’t matter what town we’re in, Kyle knows where there’s a game going on.”

  “A game?”

  “Poker,” he said. “The only difference between Kyle and Tennison is that Kyle’s good at what he does. Kyle only directs because he’s got friends in the business. He picks up a movie for kicks and giggles when he wants. He’s good, and he’s got friends in high places in the industry. But he made his fortune in Vegas.”

  “He was a pro gambler.”

  “He’s good, I’m telling you,” Kiernan said. “I think Tennison looked up to him. Tennison’s the one who suggested Kyle come on for this movie, anyway. Ryan trusted Tennison and took a chance, especially since Kyle’s been making a name for himself in Hollywood over the last few years.”

  “You think he might know how Tennison lost his money?”

  “I’m not sure what good it’ll do you to find out,” Kiernan said. “It doesn’t change the fact that it’s gone. But yeah, if I had to guess, he’d be your man.”

  As I backed out of Kiernan’s trailer, I found myself looking into the distance at the director, viewing him in a new light. He was rich, talented at poker and directing, apparently, and Tennison had looked up to him.

  Had something happened between them? Something to upset the director? Because Kyle would’ve had the opportunity to change out the gun. He could even have instructed Emma Lou to point the gun at Tennison and actually fire it—or pretend to—in the hope that she would hit the target.

  The director was one person I hadn’t spoken to much nor had I had a reason to. But that had all changed with Kiernan’s story. I debated trying to catch Kyle on a break, but I had a better idea. I had a hunch, and if I were right, it would help me to get some answers.

  Chapter 20

  The next phase of my plan couldn’t start until later that evening. Fortunately, the rest of my afternoon was consumed by work. Filming was temporarily halted as news spread about Emma’s trip down to the precinct, but it was just a short hiatus. I knew when they resumed filming, I’d be busier than ever, so I was trying to get ahead of the rush.

  The director called for everyone to get prepared for the huge party scene they’d be filming once Emma returned. I had thought that maybe Emma’s trip to the station would put a more permanent stop to filming, but I wasn’t entirely surprised to see that it hadn’t. In fact, I was beginning to understand why everyone was so doggedly determined to get this movie shot and out into the world. They’d all sunk some amount of investment into the movie—time, energy, finances. If they cut the movie loose now, they’d lose everything they’d put into it.

  In the meantime, I had a line out the door of the trailer I shared with Cassidy. Everyone from Ethel Louise Schroeder to the main actors wanted a peek at the clothing I ha
d.

  “This is ridiculous,” I told Cassidy. “We can’t cram any more people in here, and I don’t have clothes in the right sizes for everyone! Did Emily not come here prepared, or did she really take that much stuff back with her?”

  Cassidy shrugged as she added eyeshadow to one of the actors. “I don’t know, but you’re cramping my style.”

  “Better idea,” I said. “We’re moving the styling headquarters to Something Old.”

  “What’s old?”

  “My mother’s shop,” I said. “They have several dressing rooms there, a much wider variety of clothes, and I will give people the option of actually purchasing their outfit so they can keep it after filming is over. Bonus, it’s pretty cheap!”

  “Double bonus, it’ll help your mom out,” Cassidy said. “I think it’s a great idea. Honestly, I think anything’s a great idea so long as it gives me room to wield a curling iron without elbowing you.”

  I sent my current actor outside with instructions to wait for me there. Then I scribbled a note on a sheet of paper instructing all actors and extras looking for styling services to head to Main Street, where they’d find me at Something Old.

  After popping outside and sticking the note to the door, I announced the change of venue. On the way over to Something Old, I called my mother and told her to break out the coffeepot and Styrofoam cups.

  By the time I arrived, my mother had done everything possible in the window of time she’d had to prepare to make the store welcoming and friendly. She’d started brewing coffee and had set out creamers and stir sticks and napkins. Allie was supposedly rushing back from June’s with two dozen cookies to add to the spread.

  I set up shop in the back, prepping each of the dressing rooms. Finally, the actors and extras started filtering into the store. Within half an hour, my mother’s store was as packed as it had ever been.

  “That’s perfect,” I assured Lynette Seaburn, a Butternut Bay resident who’d secured the coveted role of Pretty Girl Number Three. “Would you like to keep or borrow the outfit?”

  “Keep,” she said. “I can totally wear this for my date next week. Plus, I can tell Kevin that this dress was on the set of a movie. It’s pretty much famous.”

  “Pretty much,” I agreed, then directed Lynette over to the register while I moved on to the next person in need of assistance.

  “I’m just not convinced this is the one,” Ethel Louise Schroeder said. “It doesn’t do much for my waistline.”

  I stood before Ethel’s fitting room and sighed. She’d been the first customer in and still hadn’t found something she liked.

  “I know you’re good at your job, and I do love the color of this,” she said, feeling the fabric. “But I’m gonna be buying my outfit, so I want it just right. I’ve got a hot date tonight with a couple of fellas, and I want to give off the right vibe.”

  “A couple of fellas, huh?” I asked. “You’re quite a busy woman.”

  She leaned toward me and winked. “Wouldn’t you like to know. I can show you my tips and tricks if you like.”

  “Maybe some other time,” I said. “What vibe are you going for exactly?”

  “I want something that says rich, but not flashy rich. You know, that real kinda money where I don’t have to show off. But people know I’ve got it. That sort of money.”

  “I think I have just the thing for you,” I said, refusing to get my hopes up as I selected a flowing black dress from a rack, along with a faux-fur shawl. I’d already said the same thing to Ethel twenty times, and none of it had been just the thing for her, yet.

  “I think that just might work,” Ethel said. “You know, if you’d like to join me tonight, you’re welcome to.”

  “Unfortunately, I’ll be working most of the night. But thanks for the invitation. Maybe next time.”

  “Sure, next time,” Ethel said, closing the door with her outfit.

  An hour and a half in, Ethel still hadn’t said yes to the dress, but we’d found outfits for almost fifty other actors and extras. The majority of them ended up buying their outfits, which I considered a win.

  My mom appeared, face flushed, two hours into the experiment.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” she whispered into my ear. “This is enough business to keep the store afloat for the next three months at least!”

  “And it’s not over yet,” I said, gesturing to the throng of people milling around, perusing jewelry and shoes and fun little trinkets to add to their shopping baskets. “The cookies were a great idea.”

  “Cookies are always a great idea,” my mother said. “I thought I taught you that.”

  “This one will work,” Ethel finally called back to me. “I’m actually going to go with that first one you showed me. The little number in red. It’s real cute. I guess I just had to try on thirty other dresses to know that it was the right one for me.”

  I swallowed hard and nodded. I’d worked with Hollywood’s most famous. The pickiest of the picky. And I wasn’t sure that any of them had prepared me for a career as a stylist in Blueberry Lake.

  At about the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Ryan made his way into the store. He eyed the cookies and nabbed one before making his way to me.

  “You never could resist a cookie,” I said blandly as he stopped before me. “Can I help you with something?”

  “How are things going?” he asked. “Everything ready for the shoot tonight?”

  “The shoot’s still happening?”

  Ryan nodded. “The chief released Emma. Not enough evidence to hold her. I guess he just wanted to see if he could rattle her cage.”

  I lowered my voice. “Any idea why the chief suddenly marched in here demanding to talk to Emma?”

  Ryan’s cheeks colored a little. “I might’ve come clean with him. After we’d talked, I figured...”

  He looked around. Several people in the store had their eyes on us.

  “We can talk in the back,” I said. “Follow me.”

  I led Ryan into the storeroom where he continued.

  “Look, I know I screwed up not telling you or the cop why I went into the car,” Ryan said. “I just didn’t want to rat Emma Lou out. But I took your advice and called Chief Dear and told him the truth. I figure I owe it to Tennison to be honest. We’ve got to find who killed him.”

  “Telling the truth to the police isn’t ratting anyone out,” I said. “Look what happened. Emma wasn’t arrested because there was no evidence. I’m telling you that Cooper’s not trying to pin this case on someone just to get it closed. He really wants to find justice for Tennison.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Honestly, I’m beginning to think that this movie just needs to be shelved,” I said. “It seems like everything’s going wrong.”

  “Yeah...” Ryan shifted uneasily from one foot to another.

  “But as I understand it, you and your friends each have some investment in getting this movie made.”

  Ryan’s eyes shot up to mine as he looked at me in surprise. “Where did you hear that?”

  “I work for you now, remember? I hear things.”

  “But someone told you...” He shook his head. “Emma? Kiernan?”

  “Does it matter?” I asked. “I know each of you put money in. I know a lot of people are upset with you. Why didn’t you tell me any of that?”

  “Why should I have? It has nothing to do with Tennison’s murder.” Ryan’s voice rose in pitch. “Yes, people are mad at me, but I’m doing the best I can. Obviously, I screwed up. I get it, okay? I’m a screwup.”

  “I’m not saying that, Ryan. But when you asked me to help you, you owed me the truth, too. And I’m finding you hid a lot of stuff from me. It’s not a good look.”

  “You think I did it now?”

  “Believe it or not, I don’t,” I said. “I don’t know why, but I don’t. And I’m still trying to help you by way of finding Tennison’s murderer. Is there anything else I should know?”

  Ryan star
ed into my eyes, biting his lip as he thought. Finally, he sighed. “Tennison and I did have a fight. It was only partially about Emma.”

  “I know about the money,” I said. “Tennison lost his investment gambling, leaving you in the hole.”

  “Jeez. I guess you know everything.”

  “I do,” I said, pointing my finger at his chest. “So remember that next time you try to stretch the truth around me.”

  He gave a small smile. “Noted.”

  “Tell me more about Tennison,” I said. “Would anyone know about his gambling? Would anyone else know about the fight you had with him? If they did, they might’ve chosen that time to kill him because it’d have been easier to frame you. Who else knew?”

  “Obviously Emma knew,” Ryan said. “They were dating. They’d gone to a few poker games together. They posted some pictures online. Kiernan would probably know because he and Tennison were buds.”

  “Does Kiernan gamble?”

  “Not that I know of,” Ryan said. “But Kyle does. I mean, he was a pro. We scooped him up straight out of Vegas for this film. He’s a great director. And better than that, he had the money to invest in the project. More than the others.”

  I stilled. “You’re telling me that Kyle invested more into this project than anyone else?”

  “Aside from me, yeah. I suppose that’d be accurate,” Ryan said. “He even came to me and volunteered to cover Tennison’s lost investment. To float the money until Tennison could pay him back.”

  “You do realize,” I said slowly, “that this could give Kyle a motive for murder. If Tennison wasn’t able to pay him back...”

  “I don’t know,” Ryan said, but he didn’t sound completely convinced. “Kyle’s got plenty of money. I don’t think he’d kill someone over twenty grand.”

  “Either way,” I said. “I think we need to keep an eye on Kyle.”

  “Be careful, Jenna. Enough people have already been hurt by me.”

  “Did you tell Cooper any of this? About Kyle?”

  “Not really. I hadn’t thought it was relevant until talking to you. I guess I’ll give him a call.”