A Vintage Murder

by Michele Scott

  From what she’d seen so far of the Hahndorfs, they appeared in to be in love, or at the very least affectionate with each other. Couples at odds typically gave off signals—body language, sarcasm, something—and Nikki figured she would have picked up on that. But she hadn’t. Curious why this was happening now—if Liam knew his wife was unhappy about having this movie made, why do it? They didn’t need the money. Maybe there would be some answers in the script.

  “Kane, do you know where Shawn is?” Simon asked.

  “He’s finishing up in makeup right now.”

  “Well, Nik, I’ll join you,” Simon said. “Thanks, Kane.”

  Uh-oh. Simon was already getting way too comfortable, tossing everyone’s names around as if they were all buddy-buddy. She’d have to nip this in the bud.

  “We’re thinking we’ll be ready for you about nine o’clock. That gives you some time.”

  “Okay. Can I ask you something?” Nikki said.

  “Sure.”

  “I’ve already had paparazzi hounding me at my hotel.”

  “Damn. Thought that might happen. We’ve been able to keep them out of here because of the security, but if any of the actors head out, I’ve been insisting they take one of the security guys with them. They’re good at doubling up as bodyguards.”

  “It’s a good idea, but the thing is, I certainly didn’t expect them to find me so quickly. I only called and gave you my answer last night. I don’t know, it was really unexpected.”

  “I’m sorry. All I can say is that as soon as word traveled that Lucy had died, we started getting calls. Then, when Nathan and I were tossing around this idea to have you star in it, there were probably people on the crew who might have overheard us. Who knows how the trashbloids get their info. There could have even been one inside the bar at your hotel yesterday. They’re like flies on walls. But, don’t worry about it. You know, why don’t we get you a trailer out here? You can stay at the vineyard like everyone else. Like I said, no one has been able to bother anybody here. In fact, I think because it has been so closed off, a lot of paparazzi have gone back to L.A. With Lucy’s death, though, it might stir the pot some. Honestly, they can get everything they need by just planting one or two of those maggots around. We’ll get you set up out here and the problem will be taken care of.”

  She didn’t know if she liked that idea. This was already getting complicated. “Maybe.”

  “Why don’t you plan on it? It’ll be easier on everyone. See you soon. Hey, the police are done with Lucy’s trailer, so why don’t you use it to change in? Someone from wardrobe will be over in a few minutes and then you can go and see Johnny.”

  Before Nikki could react to any of what Kane had said, he walked away. There were already issues with this project. The first was that she didn’t want to be locked away from the outside world. Second, she didn’t want to use Lucy’s trailer for anything. It was so morbid. So the police were done with it? That was it then? She planned to talk with that Detective Von Doussa again.

  “Come on, honey, let’s go and see what wardrobe plans to put you in,” Simon said.

  “I don’t want to go in that trailer.”

  “Don’t be silly. The snake is gone and so is the dead actress.”

  “It seems wrong.”

  “Get over it.”

  “Simon,” she growled.

  He stomped his foot. “Lookie, this is no time to be a wuss, okay. Besides”—he lowered his voice—“maybe you’ll find a clue in the RV that the police didn’t.”

  “Funny.” But he was right: maybe she would find something. She planned to look for Andy Burrow as soon as possible and see what the police had said about his snake and how they all thought it had gotten out . . . and what about the Kevlar suit he used around his reptiles? The one he was so sure had been moved? Nikki had plenty of questions to ask, and Simon was right about one thing: there wasn’t a whole lot of time to waste. “Okay, let’s go.”

  The crew eyed Nikki and Simon as they walked to the trailer. “I think they’re talking about me,” she said.

  “Good.”

  “No, not good. That’s not what I want.”

  Simon swung the door open, grabbed her arm, and pulled her in. “Of course they’re going to talk about you. You’re now the ‘it’ girl on this movie. Get over it. Play a diva.”

  She shook her head. “Not my style.”

  “Yeah, well, take some lessons from me.”

  She rolled her eyes and looked around the RV. It was weird being inside the space where a woman had taken her last breath barely two days before. She wondered how the cops could allow anyone in so soon. They must have deemed it all an accident. She sighed and glanced around.

  Nothing unusual. It was really a nice RV: plush leather sofa, kitchenette, dining table, queen-sized bed in the back, and a big bathroom. There was even a stacked washer and dryer.

  “I don’t know about her taste in music,” Simon said, thumbing through a CD collection. “Okay, I get Gwen Stefani, totally, but I am so over the melancholy chick thing. She’s got Alanis Morissette—God, how old—Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos . . .”

  “Hey, Tori Amos is one of my favorites.”

  “Sure, when you’re on a downward spiral and you need to be pushed over the edge.” Nikki shook her head. “Okay but now this is strange, she’s got the Dead Kennedys and the Violent Femmes and the Ramones.”

  “Maybe she liked to listen to old-school punk and wind down with some man-bashing folk-type music.”

  “Weird,” Simon said.

  “I guess.” It was kind of weird that a woman Lucy’s age, which couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, wouldn’t be into some of the younger, hipper music that was out. But she certainly wasn’t about to pass judgment on the deceased girl’s music, especially since she was in agreement with most of it—minus the Dead Kennedys. That was a little too punk for her taste. She liked the Violent Femmes and Ramones back in the day, but probably wouldn’t enjoy them the way she once had as a teenager. Her tastes had mellowed in music; come to think of it, in men as well. Thank God. Back in the day, Nikki had a bit of a wild child in her and she’d been unsuccessful in love, because picking the bad boy seemed to be a constant theme, until Andrés and Derek. Yeah, Andrés. Today, even if it meant at midnight, she’d sit down and write him a letter. But a letter? That was so impersonal . . . and didn’t he deserve some sort of explanation? She knew she needed to call him. He deserved that.

  “Nikki, yoo-hoo, I think someone is here for you?”

  They heard a tap at the door. Simon swung it open and in stepped a petite woman with brunette hair cut in a pixie, carefully applied makeup, and an outfit that looked as if she could have stepped directly out of a J. Crew catalog. Long-sleeved, white button-up cardigan sweater and a pair of chinos. “Good morning. I’m Amy Applebaum. I’m in charge of wardrobe.” She eyed Nikki up and down. “Okay, so it looks like we have to go up a couple of sizes with you.” Nikki frowned and then remembered that Lucy had been a wisp, and reminded herself that there was nothing wrong with a womanly figure. “My assistant, Harv, should be right along with some outfits. Now your character Elizabeth is not exactly a fashionista. Unlucky for you, no designer duds to stash away.” She laughed. Nikki was already not liking this woman. “You’ve read the script, I’m sure, so you know that Elizabeth was a conservationist and big-time animal kingdom chick. Completely over the top. Even started a zoo but then the croc thing happened and you know . . .” She tossed up her hands. “I don’t know. I’m sure the zoo is still there. I’m not much into animals.”

  Now Nikki was really not liking the woman. Someone who didn’t like animals? The script, yeah. She’d like to be getting to that, considering she was supposed to be filming a scene in a couple of hours.

  “Oh good, here’s Harv now. Chop-chop, darling. We have a lot to do here. Good thing we have some bigger sizes.” She turned back to Nikki. “You never know on a movie set. Actresses do get replaced and you have to
be prepared for all sizes. Alrighty then.” Amy clapped her hands together and flashed a fake smile.

  Her assistant, Harv, entered the motor home. Nikki’s jaw almost dropped. An image of Marco flashed through her mind and she knew it did Simon’s as well as she watched him look at the man—same high cheekbones, dark hair and eyes, not to mention style. If Marco had a twin, this Harv guy was it. “Hello, darling. I pulled the outfits you asked for . . . in a size six.” He lowered his voice as if that was horrendous. Nikki began to have serious second thoughts. “Ms. Sands, would you like to take a look?” Before she could reply, he stepped down and lifted a clothing rack into the trailer.

  “You can call me Nikki,” she said.

  “Great. Well, Nikki, why don’t you try these on, and let’s see what works.”

  The three of them stood there staring at her. She realized after several seconds that they weren’t going anywhere.

  “What? Here?”

  “Of course here,” Amy replied.

  “Can I have some privacy?”

  Harv waved a hand at her. “Oh, honey, you’ve been in show business, you’ll just have to get over the modesty thing.”

  Simon nodded in agreement. Who did he think he was? “Fine, but I’ll step in here.”

  “Suit yourself,” Amy said.

  Nikki took the clothes, walked into the bedroom area, and pulled the curtained partition across. The clothes all fit a kind of outback theme—khaki or denim, T-shirts, that kind of thing. As she dressed she could hear Amy, Harv, and Simon talking.

  “It’s different being in here and not having someone yell at you. I’m sorry about what happened to Lucy, but she was difficult,” Amy said.

  “Seriously difficult,” Harv said. “May her soul rest in peace, though.”

  Nikki nearly tripped over the camouflage pants she was trying on. The way he said it sounded so insincere.

  Nikki zipped up her pants and opened the curtain. “Everything fits.”

  “Good. You better get yourself off to makeup. Johnny will be waiting for you,” Amy said.

  “I heard you all talking about Lucy.”

  “Yeah.” Amy crossed her arms. Long seconds passed without her saying anything else.

  Oh, so it was going to be like that. Was Nikki already being considered an outsider? “I was wondering if the police were further investigating her death as a crime.”

  Amy shrugged. “Don’t know. Must go. See you on the set. Glad that all fit. I was a little worried we’d have to get you a size eight.” She motioned for Harv to follow her.

  “Did you see that? Him?” Simon asked. “My heart be still.”

  “He looks like Marco.”

  Simon shook his head. “What? No he doesn’t. No way.”

  “Simon, the guy is a twin to your boyfriend.”

  “Ex-boyfriend. Ex, remember? He walked out on me.”

  “Hmm. Right. You miss him, though, don’t you?”

  “We better get you into makeup,” he replied.

  “You know, I bet if you call him and talk to him, you can work this out.”

  “Snow White, I’ve moved on. Plenty of fish in the sea. Even around here.”

  “You haven’t moved on.”

  “Whatever. Off to makeup. Grab your script. No time to stand around and gab. You have a ton of work to do.”

  “I don’t think I need a reminder.” She’d drop the subject of Marco for now, and bring it up another time. “What do you think about what they said about Lucy?”

  “That’s a no-brainer. It was apparent the woman was not easy for anyone to work with.”

  “I know, which could mean someone with a screw loose could want to kill her, and the way that Harv guy made the remark about her resting in peace, I don’t know, I thought it sounded kind of like sarcasm.”

  “Let it go, Snow White. Let it go.”

  “I’d sure like to talk with that detective again,” she muttered.

  “No, Nikki dear. You are here to be a movie star. Just think Beverly Hills, swimming pools, and movie stars.”

  “Okay, Jethro, let’s go.” No use arguing with him. “Why did you come with me again this morning?”

  “I’m your manager and bodyguard.”

  “Right.”

  Simon wrapped an arm around her. “And I know that you’re happy about it.”

  Nikki nodded. Maybe, maybe not. Simon could be a detriment, but then again, she could turn his hanging around the set to her advantage. Granted he would need some convincing, possibly even some bribing. The crew didn’t look like they were going to warm up to her anytime soon, but they might Simon. She smiled at him. “I know you’ll be the best manager ever.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Okay, what do you want?”

  “Nothing.” Yet. But she had a plan for her friend. Yes, Simon was going to be put to good use.

  Chapter 14

  Nikki turned to Simon when they neared Johnny’s trailer. “Instead of coming in with me, I have an idea. Maybe you can wander around, meet some of the crew . . . you know, pave the way for me. See if you can score me some brownie points.”

  Simon rubbed his chin as if he actually had facial hair. His skin was as bare and soft as a baby’s. “That’s probably not a bad idea. Build up your image as a good gal.”

  “Exactly.”

  He headed off with a smile on his face. Nikki entered the trailer and stretched out her hand to the same young man who had been part of the post-barbecue trouble with Hannah and Lucy. “I’m Nikki.”

  “Johnny Byrne. Nice to meet you. Take a seat and we’ll start with your makeup. It’s pretty basic, because your character Elizabeth was a naturalist.” He handed her the script that Kane had left there.

  “Crazy stuff going on around here,” Johnny continued. He motioned her into a chair in front of an array of mirrors and bright lights.

  “Definitely.”

  Johnny looked to be in his midtwenties and she could see why Lucy and Hannah had taken off with him the other night. He was a good-looking guy in an Ashton Kutcher kind of way, with a boyish face and pretty brown eyes. Stereotypically he should have been gay, considering his job description. But from what Nikki could tell, Johnny was an all-American, red-blooded male.

  “It must feel really weird to be one of the last people to see Lucy alive,” she said.

  He turned around to get his equipment out. Nikki read the back of his shirt: “Social Distortion.” The other day it had been the Sex Pistols.

  “For sure. One minute we’re hanging, and the next . . . you know.” He snapped. “She’s like gone.”

  “You knew her pretty well, I take it? I mean, I don’t want to pry, but I did see you, Lucy, and Hannah take off the other night. And, I heard about what happened with Hannah’s mom’s car.”

  “Yeah. Mrs. Hahndorf was pretty pissed at us. She kind of wigged out. Thing is we were run off the road by some lunatic racing by who cut us off. But no one believed that.”

  “Can’t really blame her since you were all drinking. She’s a mom. They can smell a lie from miles away.”

  “It’s not a lie.”

  Despite Johnny’s claim, Nikki was skeptical and she wondered what Hannah might have lied about.

  “At least none of you were hurt . . . until of course Lucy, later on.”

  He didn’t reply.

  He was starting to clam up and she couldn’t let that happen. “You must have gone to some pretty cool places around here. I haven’t had a chance to get out. Any good bars?” She knew how stupid that sounded.

  “We went to one on Main Street. It was okay, I guess.”

  She knew she was pushing it, but what the hell. She wanted answers. “Main Street.” That was funny, because each one of the little towns around here had a Main Street. “Did you guys meet any locals when you were out?”

  “A few. You know, with Lucy being who she was and everything. But it’s not like in the States where everyone is all obsessed with movie stars. Everyone was cool. One of
the guys who works security here met up with us. Lucy told him to hook up with the group when he got off.”

  “Which guy? I haven’t met everyone, yet.”

  “Will. He’s a big, farmer-type kid. Local around here. I know he’s a friend of Hannah’s or at least they’ve known each other since they were kids. Nice guy. Lucy was working him, though, you know, doing one of her tease acts. Kind of felt sorry for him. I think Lucy was upsetting Hannah because Lucy was leading Will on.”

  “Did Hannah say anything to Will?”

  Johnny nodded. “Actually I think she did, because when Lucy went off to the bathroom and Will started to get up and follow her, Hannah grabbed him and whispered something to him. He didn’t look too happy, but he took off right after that.”

  This was all good and interesting stuff that Nikki knew she would have to digest and run through her brain. First she wanted some more information.

  “You must’ve been pretty good friends with the girls.” If Lucy was hitting on this Will guy, then maybe it was Hannah who Johnny had an interest in. Then again, Lucy didn’t seem to have a problem hitting on anyone. She recalled her screaming at Shawn about him having a little problem, though Shawn had deflected that well enough. She could buy into Shawn not being seduced by Lucy. Still, Lucy had been quite a looker.

  He shrugged. “I like to hang out.”

  “Oh come on, you went out with Lucy and Hannah two nights ago. The night that Lucy was killed.”

  Johnny set down the sponge he’d started using to apply foundation to her face. He looked at her reflection in the mirror. “That’s the second time you brought it up. You know, I thought maybe since you were new on the set that you’d be different. But you’re like everyone else around here. All you care about is the dirt.”