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“Nope, trouble at the Saracen Inn.”
“What are you talking about?”
So Theodosia told Drayton all about stopping at the inn last night to talk to Andrea, getting shoved and almost strangled, Earl Grey coming to her rescue, and Andrea being scared out of her wits. She also told him about running into Sidney Gorsk, but conveniently left out the part about sneaking into Josh Morro’s room and riffling through his belongings. Drayton, being a true Christian, wouldn’t approve.
“What are you thinking now?” Drayton asked. “That Sidney Gorsk murdered Josh Morro?”
“Not sure,” Theodosia said. “What I do know is that Gorsk is a skillful manipulator.”
“Of course he is. He’s an agent with instincts like a killer shark.”
“It also turns out that Gorsk convinced Joe Adler to shoot all of Andrea’s scenes first, so she can leave the movie early and star in a reality show.”
“They can do that? Shoot her scenes first and it doesn’t mess up the production?” Drayton asked.
“Sure. Movie scenes are rarely shot in sequential order. Sometimes the ending is shot first. Sometimes, as in the case of Andrea, there’s a work-around and the scenes are bunched together.”
“So how does this relate to Morro’s murder?”
“What if Sidney Gorsk murdered Josh Morro knowing that Adler would step in?”
Drayton stared at her. “With Gorsk figuring that Adler would be easier to manipulate? To get Andrea out early?”
“Maybe. Or maybe Gorsk is Adler’s agent as well. And Gorsk is making moves and countermoves that benefit all his clients.”
“Does Gorsk represent Adler?”
“I have no idea.”
“How would you go about finding out?”
“I suppose I could ask him,” Theodosia said.
“That could tip him off.”
“Okay, then, maybe call the SAG-AFTRA office in L.A.?” Theodosia was referring to the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which had merged several years back.
“Are you going to tell Tidwell about your behind-the-scenes espionage?”
Theodosia shook her head. “Probably not. Because he’d just smile tolerantly and tell me my suspicions are simply half-baked theories.”
“Are they?”
Theodosia thought for a moment. “Maybe more like parboiled.”
“Hah, funny.”
“There’s something else,” Theodosia said. She pulled the lace gown out of her bag and showed it to Drayton. “What tea would I use to achieve a nice, golden, tea-dyed look?”
“Hmm.” Drayton fingered the dress. “This is from the movie’s wardrobe department, I assume?”
Theodosia nodded. “I volunteered to do a little extracurricular work for them.”
“If it were up to me—and it looks as if it might be—I’d use a nice strong Keemun.” Drayton turned to his shelf of teas, finger-walked across a half dozen tins, and pulled one out. “Here. This Mao Feng ought to do the trick.”
Theodosia smiled. “Much obliged.”
* * *
