Classic Calls the Shots by Amy Myers Page B

him. You can tell he wouldn’t harm a fly even though he seems to be suspect number one for the police. I suppose that’s with reason, as she did get him sacked twice. Of course he’s old-fashioned but nothing wrong with that if Bill wants it that way. We all understand his boards. Tom pours love into the sketches and there’s mutual dependence between him and Bill. She didn’t like that either.’
    I remembered uneasily that Tom could not be found when Jane had paged him on Tuesday morning.
    â€˜Where did the so-called “old gang” as a whole stand over Angie?’ Tom was part of it, after all.
    â€˜The
Running Tides
group? No love lost there either, even though Angie herself was an extra. I suppose she might have felt that the others were closer to Bill than she was.
And
closer to Margot Croft. But I don’t believe any of this has any relevance, Jack. That’s the past. The trouble is in the here and now.’
    â€˜OK. What about Eleanor Richey and the other stars? Did they hit it off with Angie?’
    â€˜Eleanor and Angie were on good terms. Eleanor drove the Auburn after all, and Justin seemed to get on with her. But then he gets on with everyone. The others weren’t obviously antagonistic. I can’t see why any of them would want to
kill
her though.’
    â€˜To stop her wrecking the film?’
    She stared at me. ‘Not sufficient. I know that means we’re back to—’
    â€˜Tom,’ I supplied for her.
    â€˜And me?’ she asked quietly.
    â€˜I don’t see you in that role.’
    â€˜Thanks.’
    A silence fell between us for a moment.
    â€˜Jack, I should come clean,’ she admitted. ‘There
was
more trouble in the here and now. Angie was busy meddling with the scripts of more characters than mine and Brian’s. There were others. I heard rumblings.’
    â€˜Do you think the film will settle down after all this?’
    â€˜Too soon to say how it will be affected. The shooting goes on. It’s fair to say that any actor with a bit or small part gets used to having their parts chopped down or even out. It goes with the territory. It’s an up and down life and that’s why our home lives and private relationships can be so up and down. Joan’s been through a sticky divorce, Chris Frant’s wife left him a year ago and Graham – who’s gay – is having partner trouble. Brian has a disabled wife. Perhaps that’s why they stick together, but Angie might have seen it as a conspiracy against her. They stick together because they need support.’
    â€˜Do you, Louise?’ I said quietly.
    She looked up at me. ‘Not me, Jack. Born under the original wandering star, that’s me. That’s inside me just as much as each of the parts I play. It drives me on. But some actors never get that chance, because fate intervenes or the parts aren’t there, or they run up against other difficulties. I’ve been lucky though. I’ve been given the opportunity to wander from part to part and so I have to use it.’
    â€˜Not tempted to put roots down?’
    â€˜Of course.’ She looked round my kitchen and out at what she could see of my garden through the windows. ‘I’m no gardener,’ she said regretfully.
    I gave her space. ‘Nor me. I attack it with a mower periodically but otherwise my garden and I have a live and let live arrangement. I let it live until the bushes start advancing through the doors. At the moment the roses are saving me from shame.’
    She hesitated. ‘I
am
sometimes tempted.’
    I couldn’t stop myself. ‘By Nigel Biddington?’
    â€˜No. He’s a friend.’
    â€˜How do you define that?’
    â€˜Someone I wouldn’t go to bed with.’ A smile. ‘Inquisition over?’
    I nodded, dizzy with relief.
    â€˜Then may I see the Glory Boot that Len told me about?’ she asked.
    â€˜You