Dead Ringers

by Camilla Chafer

  "What would you like to know?" she asked.

  "Let's start at the beginning," I said, setting out my cellphone and hitting record. "Tell me a bit about your background and why you came to LA."

  Apparently, there was nothing Nadia liked to talk about more than herself and she filled a full five minutes with a history of growing up and going to college to please her parents; now she was in Hollywood to chase her dreams. They consisted of modeling in print and TV campaigns while she relentlessly auditioned for roles in TV sitcoms and minor parts in movies, "paying her dues" before making it big. Despite her ideas matching that of everyone else who was trying to make it in the city of broken dreams, I had to admire her tenacity. She seemed to be consistently attending auditions and had a stack of scripts on the coffee table.

  "Are they all yours?" I asked, pointing to the scripts.

  "Oh, yes. I don't have to learn every word. Just the highlighted parts," she explained. "I'm very good at learning lines. I have a naturally good memory. You should add that to my profile."

  "Huh?"

  "In your article. Make sure you add I can learn and remember lines really quickly. You never know who might want me to come in and read for them. I'm on a final callback for a movie tomorrow. It's between me and one other girl."

  "Did you know anyone else here when you moved to LA?" I asked.

  Nadia shook her head, sending her hair tumbling around her shoulders. "Oh, no. I didn't know a soul. I met Cindy and Erin when we kept turning up at the same auditions. I moved here with five hundred bucks, a suitcase and the vague idea that I'd easily get a waitressing gig to survive until the paying parts started to come in."

  "And how long did that take?"

  "The waitressing was easy, and I got my first part in two months. Just some work as an extra on a soap opera but everyone has to start somewhere. One day, people will watch reruns and say 'oh, my gosh, was that Nadia Randall?'"

  "Would you say your career path has been typical of most new actresses?" I asked.

  "I'm not sure what you mean?"

  "Would you say it's tough for many actresses to get work here? That you have to audition relentlessly like you do?"

  Nadia nodded. "Oh, yes! Absolutely. I see a lot of the same girls at auditions so I know we all try hard but some of us have talent and some don't. The ones who don’t leave pretty quickly."

  "And where do they go?"

  "Home, I guess, or they find other work. At least they can say they had the guts to try," she added, smiling still.

  "That reminds me, did you find your missing roommate?"

  "Sammy? No. She hasn't come home yet."

  "And she isn't on a shoot?"

  "No. I called her parents and they said she didn't have anything booked. So I called her agent, just to be sure since her mom and dad were worried too, and her agent said the same thing."

  "Do you have the same agent?"

  "No. Sammy works with Sirens. It's a big corporation. They have a lot of girls on their books but not all of them are legit, if you know what I mean."

  "No, I don't."

  "Some of the girls, um, have, um…" Nadia screwed up her face. I waited, confused, until she flapped her hands. "They take other jobs. You know, to make some extra money."

  "Other? As in… oh!" My mind clicked the limited pieces into place and I wondered if the talent agency's name was deliberate. "Prostitution?"

  "Escort. I don't know if there's anything illegal about it but I've heard rumors."

  "And you think Sammy is involved?"

  "Oh, no! Not Sammy. She wouldn't do that but I know some of the girls get desperate and it's easy money and they have to go to dinners and parties. That's what I meant, that not all the girls are legit. Some, like Sammy, are at the agency to work, but others barely go to auditions at all since they can make good money doing the other stuff."

  "So, it's a front?"

  "I don't think so because some girls do manage to get work. A lot of work. I think it's just a side activity rather than the whole agency."

  "Are you sure Sammy wouldn't be involved in that?"

  "Positive. She thought it was very distasteful and said she'd rather give up and go home to Minnesota than compromise herself like that. Personally, I agree. Please don't print any of that! Sammy would be really upset to know I said anything and neither of us wants to be associated with that stuff. Plus, Sammy made enough money for her share of the rent."

  I nodded. "Has she taken any of her things?"

  "Not that I can see. Why?"

  "I might include a box on what happens when things don't work out and actresses choose to leave."

  "Oh, sure. I don't know that Sammy has given up though. Maybe she met a guy."

  "She wouldn't tell you?"

  "We're not exactly best friends. Actually, we didn't see each other much between work and auditions."

  "Did Sammy have another job too?"

  "She was a bartender on Sunset. She said it was okay work and the tips were good."

  "Have you called them?"

  "I'm not sure of the name of the bar."

  "Do you mind if I take a look in her room?"

  "I guess not. It's this one." Nadia sprang up and crossed the floor space. She pushed open the door and I stepped inside.

  The bedroom was small. Just enough space for a double bed made up in white linens, twin nightstands and lamps, a dresser filled with perfumes and cosmetics, and a closet with inexpensive necklaces hanging from the handles. The window had wooden blinds and when I sneaked a look outside, I realized I could nearly see into the next building.

  "You don't get a view for this price," said Nadia but she didn't sound upset about it.

  "Do you own it?" I asked.

  "Oh, no. I rent and I sublet the second bedroom. It worked out cheaper for me that way. Or it would if I could get anyone to stay longer than a few months."

  "How did Sammy come to live here?"

  "I put the word out on Facebook and a few friends shared it. I liked her best out of the people I interviewed. She was clean and tidy, not a party girl, and she could pay two months rent up front. Like I said, we're not best buddies but she's cool to live with. Clean, tidy, quiet."

  I moved around the room, looking for any clues that could explain where Sammy might be. Perhaps a circled want ad in a newspaper or a note about a date or travel plans but there wasn't anything. Sammy made her bed one morning, got dressed, and disappeared.

  "When did you realize Sammy was missing?"

  "I'm not sure, really. I just kind of realized she hadn't been around for a few days and it seemed weird."

  "Can I take Sammy's details and make a couple of checks?" I asked.

  "Sure. I'll get you her card and headshot. She has a thousand of them although they're not as good as they could be. She said she got a new set taken by a guy who worked with that famous photographer, Carlos Santiago, but they haven't shown up yet." Nadia moved from the doorway, reappearing a moment later with a glossy headshot. Sammy Turturro was as dark as Nadia was blond, with thick, curly hair and olive skin. Her eyes were big and brown and she pouted prettily at the camera.

  "Thanks."

  "If she doesn't turn up soon, I'll need to re-let the room. I can't afford not to have a paying roommate when the bills are due."

  "From what you've said, it seems out of character for Sammy."

  "It is! Completely. Her parents are worried but you know, this is Sammy's first time being on her own. Maybe she went a little wild? She'll probably come back in a day or two with her tail between her legs and a huge hangover, wondering what the hell she did."

  "If she doesn't turn up soon, I think you should report her missing," I told her.

  "I tried at the police station a couple of days ago and they just rolled their eyes," said Nadia. "They said she would turn up sooner or later."

  "Yesterday, your friend mentioned someone called April Beam? That she might be missing too?"

  "I'm sorry, I only
know what Cindy said."

  I thanked Nadia for her time and promised to call her with any follow-up questions. As I jogged down the stairs, I wondered if Nadia was right. Had Sammy gotten a taste of freedom and done something stupid? She wouldn't be the first person to lose all sense of time on a drunken bender. Perhaps she had an accident. It didn't sound like her friends were worried to death but it didn't sound like they were making a huge effort to find her either. Then again, how would they? Where would a person start to look for a missing person?

  That made me wonder, with no relatives of my own, would anyone even know if I went missing? Sure, I had friends, but it could be days before someone checked up on me. That thought troubled me all the way onto the sidewalk. I hopped into my car and pulled out my cellphone. I didn't know if it would do any good, but I called Ashleigh.

  "Hello!" said Ashleigh. "How was brunch yesterday? Sorry I didn't make it."

  "It was good. Everyone stared at Daisy and Daisy pretended not to notice."

  "I meant the food."

  "Delicious. But I'm calling about something else."

  "Go on."

  "It might be nothing but I have a couple of names. I wondered if you could run them."

  "In relation to what? A story?"

  "No. At least, not yet. A couple of women might have gone missing. I wondered if any news of them turned up."

  "I'm in front of my computer. Give me the names."

  "Sammy Turturro and April Beam. Sammy is twenty-two. I don't know about April. Both are actresses."

  "Hmmm. Nothing comes back on Sammy. She isn't registered in the system. Oh, here's April. She's twenty-three. She was reported missing more than a month ago. Can't see much on the system about her. Are you sure Sammy is missing?"

  "No, but thanks for looking."

  "You know women go missing in Hollywood all the time. Most of them really aren't."

  "So, I keep hearing," I said, "But what if these two women really are and no one is looking for them?"

  Chapter Three

  I made a few more calls from my car. None of the local hospitals had any records of the women arriving for treatment and none of the Jane Does fitted Sammy's description or any other. That ruled out some accidents that could have (bizarrely) befallen the two separate women. I knew it was a long shot when I called but it felt good to rule that avenue out. I didn't have any information for April Beam beyond her name, so I called the numbers on the other cards I received at brunch. Erin's went directly to her voicemail but Cindy Hartford answered. I recalled she knew April Beam and also, apparently, Sammy Turturro better than the rest. I wondered if she introduced her to Nadia when her spare room became vacant.

  "I can meet you now, if you like?" said Cindy. "I just finished teaching my yoga class and I'm down at Venice Beach. Does that work for you?"

  "I'll meet you there," I agreed before I disconnected and fired up the car ignition.

  Cindy waited for me at a small sidewalk café. She was wearing matching powder pink leggings and a crop top, revealing abs that I knew I also had, although I’ve never managed to find mine. Her sneakers were dazzling white, her hair bouncy and blond, and she matched the pink yoga mat that was bundled at her feet. Yet despite her summery appearance, her eyes, hiding behind semi-opaque sunglasses, seemed troubled.

  Like Nadia, I told Cindy I wanted to talk about her arrival to LA and her experiences in showbiz so far.

  "Thanks for meeting me," I said as I took a seat, waving her to sit down since she politely stood to shake my hand like it was a formal meeting.

  "It's no trouble at all. I finished teaching my class and I don't have another audition until tomorrow. I'm happy to help you in any way I can with your article. What would you like to know?"

  "Tell me a little bit about your background," I suggested before turning to order a juice from the approaching waitress.

  Cindy waited until the server left, then started. "I've been here almost nine months. I'm a qualified yoga instructor so I got a job doing that almost as soon as I arrived. Everyone needs a second job to live out here."

  "And the first job?"

  "Acting, of course! I was a drama major. I played Juliet in our university production of Romeo and Juliet in my second year and Maria in West Side Story in my third year. Obviously, I wore a wig," she added, pointing to her hair. "I sang in the acapella group too. During high school, I sang, played piano, and performed in all the productions. I was in a couple of kids' TV shows during high school too and even did some modeling but that's really not my thing. My agent thinks I should do a yoga-oriented Instagram because she thinks I could be very successful as an influencer."

  I made notes of all that. "An influencer?"

  "Someone who…" Cindy wrinkled her nose like she never had to answer that question before. In a moment of horror, I realized she probably hadn't. Clearly, I was not part of the showbiz world. "Influences?" she finished, her voice rising in pitch.

  "From your background, I can tell you're obviously someone who loves the arts," I said, changing the topic quickly and dropping the statement for her to pick up.

  Cindy nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, yes. I just love acting. I find it really easy to remember lines so big roles are no problem for me. I love to sing and perform as well so I'm multi-talented, which my agent says is very important nowadays. It's good to have lots of skills on your résumé as you never know what casting might require for the part. So, I list yoga, swimming, horseback riding, and singing in all genres, including opera. No one has asked about my opera voice yet but look at movies like ‘The Greatest Showman!’ Or ‘Evita!’ It could happen."

  "Do you believe your extra talents will give you that advantage?"

  "Oh, yes. Definitely." Cindy nodded, her face serious.

  "Did you have friends out here to help you settle in? Perhaps from the university?"

  Cindy sucked her straw and shook her head. "No, I came here alone."

  "That must have been scary?"

  "Not really. It was exciting. I knew I had the talent and I saved some money after working for a year when I finished getting my degree. I budgeted my finances and planned to make new friends once I got here. My friend, Sammy moved here six months later, which was great. We wanted to be roommates but my house was already full so I introduced her to Nadia." Cindy's voice wobbled. "Sammy is missing," she added. "Or she might be. I hope not."

  "How do you know Sammy?"

  "From university. We met in our second year when she switched majors. We lived together in our third year. She's super nice. She hesitated about coming to LA but after she saw what a great time I was having, she decided to give it a shot."

  "How was she finding it?"

  "Hard work, I think. She was getting lots of callbacks but they didn’t go anywhere. She decided to get her headshots redone and polish her résumé but I talked her out of a total makeover. She's really pretty and everyone loves her look so I knew it wasn't that. She's got that Marguerite Casta thing going on. Big, dark hair, olive-skinned, sexy. The total opposite of me." Cindy laughed.

  "Do you think there was something stopping her from succeeding in the audition process?"

  "Not really. Luck, maybe. You can have endless talent and be as stunning as Sammy, but if the casting director is looking for someone more basic or geeky, or blond, or fat or thin, and you're not it, you're not getting the job. Simple as that."

  "What kind of jobs have you and Sammy been getting?" I asked.

  "I've gotten a ton of extra work, which is great for my résumé as well as getting to meet lots of casting directors and producers. Also, I'm finding my way around the sets and that's such a learning curve. I've even had a few small speaking roles. Sammy did some modeling and got a commercial for sportswear. I think she just needs to give it more time."

  "I think I overheard one of you saying that she might have been interested in some catalog work?"

  "Oh, yeah. She went to the casting call but they were looking for someone diff
erent. Older, I think. We laughed at the irony of that. No one ever asks for older in Hollywood!"

  "What did you both have lined up after that?"

  "I was scheduled for a small speaking part on the same show every day for two weeks, the medical drama ICU, so I was pretty busy between that and teaching my classes. I don't know if Sammy had anything else lined up, unless she booked something she didn't mention to me."

  "And she never said she might be going home?"

  "No. She planned to visit her parents for their anniversary in two months’ time and I know she bought a plane ticket for that. She didn't have any plans to go before then."

  "I can see you're really worried about her."

  Cindy set down her juice and looked at me with a serious face. "I am. I know my friends don't think it's a big deal but it's not like Sammy to take off without a word and I don't know what to do."

  "Did you speak to her parents?"

  "Yes, and I know Nadia did, and they're worried too. They're talking about flying in to look for her. They're going to file a missing persons report too." Cindy paused. "You're asking a lot of questions about Sammy. Do you think something could have happened to her?"

  "I don't know," I replied, which was honest. "I think it's strange."

  Cindy nodded. "You're not really writing an article about new actresses to LA, are you? You're interested in women who go missing, like Sammy?"

  "I am an entertainment columnist," I told her because I didn't want her to clam up once she realized I wasn't interested in her as much as I was in Sammy. Plus, there was still the chance that Bob might want a human interest story on new actresses. I added, "But I'm intrigued by this aspect too. I'd like to look deeper into it, if that's okay with you?"

  Cindy nodded. "I'd be pleased if you did. No one else is taking it seriously, but I'm telling you, Sammy hasn't taken off with a guy or gone on a secret trip. She's missing."