Tawas Goes Hollywood

by Madison Johns

  “I don’t know about that, but we’d certainly be willing to help. How would the actors be able to memorize their lines that quickly if changes were made?”

  “We wouldn’t have to change the whole script, just rework some of the scenes,” Eleanor added.

  “Meet me back at my hotel room where we can discuss it in detail,” Amim said.

  I led the way back to the car and Eleanor finally grabbed my arm and asked, “What’s going on, Agnes? I just know you have something in that noggin of yours.”

  “We have a perfect opportunity to question Amim again and ask if Louis is really her father and why she kept quiet about it.”

  Chapter Ten

  I called and left a message for Amim, asking her to meet us at G’s Pizzeria instead of her hotel room. Eleanor and I selected a booth. The atmosphere was warm from the ovens, the fragrance of garlic and cheese wafting in the air, which only made me hungrier.

  My stomach grumbled. “I hope Amim shows up soon. I’m starving.”

  “Me too, but don’t forget this is a business lunch. We need to ask Amin some serious questions.”

  “Which I plan to do, but we can do that after we eat.”

  Eleanor sighed. “We’ll be a rack of bones before she finds the place.”

  The bell jingled and I smiled and walked to the counter to greet Amim. “I’m glad you found the place.”

  “I wanted to call you and ask if I could bring Brianne, but I have the feeling you ladies have something serious on your minds.”

  Cliff came to take our drink orders.

  “Do you have bottled water?” Amim asked Cliff.

  He smiled. “Yes. And it’s two diet Cokes for Eleanor and Agnes, right?”

  “You know us too well,” I said. “What kind of pizza would you like, Amim?”

  “I’ll have an antipasto salad.”

  “Make that a large pizza for us,” Eleanor said.

  I shook my head. That was far too much food for the two of us, but I had to order cheese bread, a tradition for Eleanor and I. “Pepperonis and mushrooms on the pizza, and cheese bread with pizza sauce and ranch dressing.”

  “So basically your normal order.”

  “You got it, Cliff,” Eleanor said.

  “I don’t think we needed to order a large pizza,” I said, “a small or medium is all either of us can eat, Eleanor.”

  “Well, you didn’t have to order the cheesy bread. At least now we’ll have enough food for later.”

  “Andrew might expect a home-cooked meal,” I offered.

  “When’s the last time you cooked,” Eleanor scoffed. “We’re always on the go.”

  “Andrew has been cooking of late, but I really miss my home-cooked meals.”

  “I’d love to meet your husbands,” Amim said.

  “Beware what you ask for.” I laughed. “Eleanor’s Mr. Wilson will have you in stitches.”

  “Now I’m positive I want to meet them. Later today would be great. I need to get away from the set for a while. The clothing rack fell over in the costume trailer and many of the costumes need to be cleaned before tomorrow.”

  I swallowed a lump the size of an apple. “Oh how horrible.”

  Amim’s palms flattened against the table, and when she took a breath she said, “I just don’t know how I’ll do it. I’m lost without Louis. I can’t just select another assistant this late in the game.”

  I took a sip. “I heard Ivy is vying for the job.”

  Amim threw her head back and laughed. “That would be the day. I still haven’t decided if she was responsible for Louis’s death, but it appears I’ll have to keep her close if only to keep an eye on her.”

  “That sounds like a good plan,” I began, “although aren’t you worried about keeping her on if you think she could be a murderer?”

  “She’s the least of my worries. I haven’t even been able to shoot a proper scene all day. It just doesn’t feel right.”

  “We’re aware you were quite close to Louis,” Eleanor said. “But is there something you’re not telling us?”

  “You can tell us anything,” I quickly added. “We won’t tell a soul. All we’re focused on is finding out who killed Louis.”

  “If only it were that easy. There are some things that I just can’t talk about. I have to make arrangements with a local funeral home about Louis’s remains, for one.”

  “When they’re released from the coroner, you mean,” I said. “At least someone is worried about his remains if he doesn’t have any family.”

  Amim leaned back and straightened her silverware. “I assume he didn’t. He never mentioned anyone.”

  I hated to ask, but this was the opportunity. “We were under the impression that Louis was your father.”

  Amim shot me a look. “And I don’t have to guess who told you that. Eileen really can be such a busybody. If I knew Louis was my father don’t you think I’d tell you? I’d hardly have him as my first assistant. If he was my father I’d co-direct with him. He was very knowledgeable about the art of making motion pictures. He directed a handful of movies, and in many ways I don’t think I could ever live up to that.”

  “Oh I don’t know, you certainly seem to be rolling with the punches.”

  “Not that I have a choice. I just can’t understand where that rumor began.”

  “You and Louis were close, you said,” I ventured. “And Ivy lied about being his niece. I suppose it just sounds like a good story. Louis begins to work with a director concealing the fact that he’s her father. It makes sense, otherwise why would he take the job as your assistant if he has experience making movies?”

  “That was all Roman’s doing. He must have had a good reason for suggesting Louis.” She drummed her fingers on the edge of the table nervously. “I have to get this movie made and I’m already a day behind.”

  “So you said the opening scene didn’t work at all,” I asked.

  “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “It depends on what the murder is about, but I imagine you have to have the murder happen right away.”

  “Not exactly, but fairly close.”

  “I think G’s Pizzeria is the perfect spot, but we also have friends in town who we get together with and have card parties.”

  “I love it. I’ll be right back. I have to find out who the owner is.”

  “Oh my, we ruined all those costumes and probably set production back even further,” Eleanor fretted. “Do you think anyone knows it was us?”

  “Shhhh!”

  Amim returned. “The manager will call me later. I just hope everything can be set up for the morning. It shouldn’t take much time to set up here, and if we do it early in the morning it shouldn’t affect their business.”

  “Oh, so you are rethinking scenes.”

  “Only in regard to some locations. The murder happens on the state dock, which we’ll be shooting tomorrow.”

  “You were given permission to shoot there?” I asked, shocked.

  “Tawas has been very accommodating.”

  “Not to mention allowing you to shoot in a state park,” Eleanor added. “I can’t wait to find out what happens next, but Eleanor and I have a murder to solve.”

  “I just can’t believe anyone would want to kill Louis.”

  “Surely someone must have had it out for him,” I said. “Other than Ivy, who has her sights set on becoming his replacement.”

  “That won’t happen, but she could be of some use, especially because we’re one short now. I suppose I could appoint her as my personal assistant, with Brianne assuming first assistant duties.”

  “So Ivy will be your second assistant?” I asked.

  “I have no choice until I hear from Roman. My hope is that he’ll send someone out here, but with our budget already compromised I don’t see that happening.”

  “Ivy is a suspect,” I reminded Amim. “I’d suggest you watch your back.”

  “I hardly think she’d want to off me. I’m the dire
ctor.” Amim smiled.

  The server brought the pizza. Eleanor and I needed to talk about the case, but it would have to wait until after we ate and Amim went on her way.

  Amim bit into the cheesy pizza and sighed as she chewed. “This is great,” she said after finishing her mouthful. “Sorry, it was too tempting to pass up.”

  I nodded with a full mouth of cheesy bread.

  “You can’t just find a good pizzeria in any town,” Eleanor said.

  “That’s the best part about small towns,” Amim agreed. “I love to find a good greasy spoon on my travels. They always seem to make the most delicious pies, too.”

  “Oh? I didn’t take you for a junk food person.”

  Amim lifted her fork in the air. “I’ll have you know pie is not junk food.” She laughed.

  “I knew there was something about you I liked.”

  ELEANOR AND I WALKED into my granddaughter Sophia’s house and nodded at Bill, who was still wearing his Michigan State Police uniform. It would make any woman swoon. My late husband, Tom, was a trooper. He died of a heart attack at forty, leaving me a widow. I could more than understand the life of a trooper’s wife. Sophia was a registered nurse and worked at the local hospital.

  “I just made fresh cinnamon rolls,” Sophia said.

  “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Eleanor beamed.

  Bill set his coffee cup down and made to leave the room.

  “Not leaving on our account, I hope.” I smiled.

  “It depends ... do you plan to quiz me about the investigation?”

  “Why else would she come here,” Sophia said.

  “Not fair. Where is that great-granddaughter of mine?”

  “Taking a nap.”

  “Why is she always napping whenever we come to visit?”

  Bill shrugged. “Just dumb luck.”

  “I know what you mean. Louis Ray certainly wasn’t having a very good day when he was murdered. I imagine you have a long list of suspects. I just don’t believe you allowed all them to simply leave that day.”

  “It’s not like we haven’t tracked them all down by now.”

  My brow shot up as Sophia pushed a napkin with a cinnamon roll toward me. “Oh? I had no idea you had a list to work from.”

  Bill’s brow furrowed. “Don’t you?”

  “We have a few names jotted down. Ivy Green is at the top of the suspect list.”

  Bill folded his arms across his chest. “And why is that?”

  Eleanor wiped the crumbs from her face. “She found the body, duh.”

  “That’s hardly a criteria to be considered a top suspect.”

  “Does that mean she’s not a suspect?” I pried.

  “Never said that.”

  “That’s what I thought. Killers have been known to report finding bodies. Ivy might be the last person to see Louis alive.”

  “Milk anyone?” Sophia interjected as her long brown curls tickled her shoulders. She proceeded to pour four glasses.

  “You know you’ve really outdone yourself with the cinnamon rolls,” I complimented Sophia.

  “She’s quite the baker when she has the time,” Bill agreed. “I should head back out. They gave permission for overtime with those Hollywood people in town.”

  Sophia sighed. “I’m not glad to hear that.”

  The baby’s cry interrupted them. “I’ll get the baby,” I offered.

  I hurried into the room and gasped as Andrea stood up in her crib. She had grown up before our eyes and was now a year old. I picked her up and she snuggled into my neck. I took in the scent of baby shampoo. “So precious.” Andrea had a headful of dark hair and two of the deepest dimples when she smiled.

  Eleanor took the baby when I entered the kitchen. “Would you look at how big she is? Is she saying ‘mama’ yet?”

  “It’s ‘dada’.” Sophia frowned. “So what’s really going on?”

  “Murder at the movie set.”

  “No, I mean how is the movie coming along?”

  “Oh, that. The murder has put a damper on things, but they’ll be shooting the first scene at G’s Pizzeria tomorrow morning.”

  Sophia’s eyes opened. “Perfect! I was planning to take the baby shopping tomorrow.”

  “I must say I’m shocked, Sophia. I didn’t expect you’d be excited about the movie.”

  “Well, it is pretty exciting, don’t you think? How does it feel to be celebrities?”

  Eleanor batted her false eyelashes. “I thought we already were.”

  “We’d like to think so, but I’m not sure I want to be so popular that people won’t open up to us when we question them,” I said.

  “This is the funniest conversation I’ve had all week. Do you think the director might need a few extras tomorrow?” Sophia asked.

  “I imagine they would. I’ll give the director a quick call. Amim is very nice. We still don’t know if Louis was really her father.”

  “You mean she doesn’t even know who her father is?”

  “We didn’t exactly ask her, but she has denied Louis was her father.”

  “She claims it’s only a rumor, but Eileen doesn’t seem the type of actress who would spin a story like that if there weren’t some truth to it. She’s the actress playing me,” Eleanor explained.

  “Is she nice?”

  “Of course. They both are. Hannah even dyed her hair the same color as Agnes’s.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them. Please call so I’ll know what to wear tomorrow. I’d think something casual like I wear when I go shopping, you know, jeans and a simple T-shirt.”

  “It sounds like I had better give Amim a call before you get your hopes up.”

  I stepped outside and called Amim about Sophia being an extra tomorrow. She agreed that it would be a great idea and to have my great-granddaughter there too. She had already been selecting extras for the morning shoot.

  I walked back into the house and announced, “It’s all set, but you have to get there at eight o’clock. And I was told to tell you that she couldn’t guarantee how long it would take.”

  “That’s fine. I’m just happy to be included, even if I might be cut during editing.” She beamed. “It will be exciting to see how a movie is shot.”

  “I agree. Strangely, Eleanor and I are not allowed on set. I believe they think we’ll somehow jinx it.”

  “It appears it was jinxed before shooting even began.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “I don’t understand why we didn’t just ask Amim before who her father is,” I said with a long sigh as we sat in the car.

  “I suppose because we were so disappointed when she told us Louis wasn’t her father.”

  “We can’t just hound her down again and ask her about her father.”

  “How else are we going to find out?”

  “We’ll have to ask someone else.”

  Eleanor clapped her hands in excitement. “We’ll just have to go where the rumor began and ask Eileen just how true the rumor is.”

  “If we can find her. For some reason I suspect she’s off on a tour of Tawas with Hannah. You know, so they can get a feel for the place.”

  “We’re the only ones who should be showing them about town,” Eleanor huffed. “I’ll tell them as much when we find them. We didn’t exactly jot their numbers down.”

  “No, and there is no telling if they’ll even give them to us.”

  “We could ask someone else.”

  “I highly doubt the crew will even have their numbers.”

  “I meant Brianne, silly.”

  “Oh, and do you have her number?” I asked with a raised brow.

  “No, I suppose you’ll have to call Amim again. I’m certain she’ll give you Eileen’s number and it will be a good time to ask her about —.”

  “Fine, but I’m not going to ask her over the phone who her father is. If Eileen doesn’t know, then we’ll have to ask her later.”

  “At least by then we can hopefully find out if our d
irector is telling the truth about not knowing that Louis is her father.”

  “So you’re not the only one who thinks that.”

  “Is she a suspect is the real question.”

  “I don’t see how we can exclude anyone at this point,” Eleanor said as she called Amim. She fidgeted until Amim answered.

  “Hello,” Amim said.

  “Oh I’m glad I caught you. I don’t mean to be a bother,” Eleanor began, “but Agnes and I were hoping to catch up with Eileen and Hannah to show them around town. Is it possible to get Eileen’s number?”

  “What a lovely thought.” Amim then said the number out loud and Agnes jotted it down.

  “Thank you, Amim,” I said as I took the phone from Elearnor.

  “I’ll see you ladies at exactly eight in the morning at G’s Pizzeria. I have a wonderful idea that I think you ladies will love. And I can’t wait to meet your granddaughter, Agnes.”

  “Thank you for considering her.”

  “I’m thankful that I have the both of you as consultants.”

  “Oh? I wasn’t aware our opinion mattered. I didn’t mean to impose,” I said.

  “If you get to the point where you’re interfering with production I’ll tell you.”

  “I appreciate that. I’m one for saying what’s on my mind, and not everyone appreciates it.” I laughed. “We’d better let you get back to work,” I said and ended the call.

  “For a minute I was worried that Amim would only give my number to Eileen and we’d have to wait for her to call us.”

  “That might still be a problem if she doesn’t pick up when you call,” Eleanor said.

  EILEEN AND HANNAH WAVED us over on the deck of Augie’s on the Bay, a small yet lovely restaurant on Tawas Bay.

  My eyes widened when I saw Hannah dressed comfortably in blue capri pants with a matching button-down shirt as she stood to greet us. Why it was something I’d wear. Eileen, on the other hand, was dressed all in purple!

  “You ladies look just like us,” I exclaimed.

  “Purple is one of my favorite colors,” Eleanor said as we joined the actresses.

  “Eleanor and I are so happy that you ladies met us here.”