Page 51 of What They'll Say About Us

"Carrie?" I echoed. "Carrie wasn't involved in our drama."

"Well, it looked that way to me. She had as much ambition as the two of you did. Frankly, I think she was hoping you'd kill each other so she could get the part."

"Carrie idolized Paige. She wanted to be just like her."

"Or maybe she just wanted to be her," he suggested.

"You're seriously pointing the finger at the current star of your show?" I asked in surprise.

"Well, I didn't have any say in casting. That was your aunt and Hale. They made the decision to cast her. She's not bad, but she wasn't the best we saw. I don't think your aunt was convinced, either, but Hale overruled her." Jay paused. "He might be starting to regret casting her, though, because she talks back to him nonstop. What I don't get is why he lets her do it. It's almost like she has something on him."

I straightened at that comment. "Something like what?"

"No idea. Just saying I've never seen him put up with that kind of insubordination. He once directed you. Did you ever talk back to him?"

"No. I couldn't risk it."

"And you were someone who took a lot of risks, who wasn't easily intimidated."

"He was in charge. I needed his support."

"Exactly. But Carrie seems to feel like she can say whatever the hell she wants, and her job is safe."

"Do you like him? Professor Hale?" I asked curiously. "You were his TA when I was a senior."

"I respect him," Jay said. "He gave me a lot of opportunities in college and helped me get jobs after graduation. But now, I prefer working with your aunt. She knows what the real theater world audiences want. Hale is too used to his drama students. His vision feels dated. He's constantly trying to change my script. It's annoying." He paused. "Why don't you ask your aunt why she wants Hale around? Because I think she and I could do a much better job on our own."

"I will ask her. One more thing—do you think Hale was sleeping with Paige?"

"I thought that was a rumor you started."

"I might have implied she was doing that, but I didn't know for sure. Now, I wonder if it was true."

"If it was, I didn't know anything about it. I was his TA, not his confidante or even his friend. I graded papers. I ran errands. I tried to learn as much as I could from him. Now, I need to get rehearsal started."

"Sure. Where is Carrie? Shouldn't she be here?"

"She should be here," he said with annoyance. "But she left a half hour ago. Said she had something she had to take care of, so that's great." He stood up. "I've got to get this group organized."

"Sure," I said, moving aside to let him out of the row. "Is my aunt here?"

"Haven't seen her since she went to lunch."

"Okay, thanks." With no sign of Carrie, my aunt, or Hale, I made my way to the lobby. The ticket office was closed, so Nate didn't appear to be in the theater, either. With no one else to talk to, I went back to the apartment.

"Anything?" Morgan asked.

"Only Jay was around. He said that neither he nor my aunt wanted to hire Carrie, but Hale insisted. And he thinks Hale might regret that now, because Carrie is always talking back to him. Jay implied that Carrie had something on Hale and that's why he'd overruled them to give her the part."

"Is this tying back to Paige being with Hale and Carrie knowing about it?"

"Jay didn't tie it up that way, but I am. Sloane said Paige and Carrie were getting close before her death. Maybe Paige told Carrie about Hale."

"And Carrie could still be holding that information over his head. But it's been a long time. Why now?"

"Perhaps, she didn't have a chance to use it before now. Or maybe she's used it before. She wasn't there, so I couldn't ask her."

"You should take a break, Tessa. Maybe a nap. You've been running around all day."