Page 70 of To All the Men I’ve Killed Before

I am not enjoying this drive.

Not one bit.

But dark is good.

No witnesses.

And that’s exactly what we want.

As I drive, I tell Antoinette the plan. It’s a bit off the cuff, but it should work as long as everyone sticks to her role.

By everyone I mean Antoinette.

I hope Richard Stone is still awake.

He’s about to take his own life.

So sad.

40

Richard Stone’s mansion, The Bird Streets, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles

Richard Stone’s house is exactly what you’d imagine the house of a successful Hollywood producer to be. Garish and unsubtle. He wants the world to know that he’s made it. That he’s not just a man, but The Man. It’s gated, of course. Not very easy to escape from on foot. Probably deliberately so when you take into account what goes on behind the big, reinforced steel doors.

It’s dark when we arrive, which will work to our advantage when we spot the CCTV camera pointed directly at the gate.

I press the button on the security gate. It rings a few times and then a gruff voice answers.

‘Yes?’

‘Oh hi,’ Antoinette says. ‘My name’s Glinda. I’m here to see Richard Stone.’ I look at Antoinette and mouth Glinda? at her. She lifts a shoulder in response.

‘Glinda?’ says the disembodied voice. ‘I’m not expecting anyone.’

Antoinette looks directly into the camera and bats her eyelashes. ‘That can’t be right. He told us to come to his house for a private meeting. I’m here with my sister, Elphaba.’

Oh for fuck’s sake, Antoinette.

‘Sister?’ The gruff voice suddenly sounds a bit more engaged. ‘Is she there with you now?’

‘Yes,’ I say, squeezing my face next to hers so we’re both in view of the camera. I bat my lashes as well. ‘I’m Elphaba.’ I give her a look and she shrugs back at me. ‘You know they’re not sisters, right?’ I hiss at her.

‘Yes they are,’ she hisses back.

‘They’re not!’ I say. ‘They’re friends!’

‘I’ll think you’ll find they were sisters, Kitty.’

‘One of them was green.’

Antoinette shrugs. ‘Whatever.’

Elphaba and Glinda.

He’s never going to buy this.

Except he does.