Death in Daytime by Eileen Davidson Page B

flow of his aura," Murray warned me. "He's very precariously perched at the moment."
    I wanted to ask him where, but kept quiet.
    "Andrew, you have a visitor," Murray announced, as we approached. Andy lowered his script, saw me and couldn't hide the first flash that came across his face. I thought, not you, too, Andy.
    "Alexis," he said, smiling broadly. He was a good actor, looked genuinely glad to see me, and on any other day I would have bought it. I was going to tell him to cut the act, but Murray was still there.
    "What brings you here?" Andy asked.
    "I just need a few minutes of your time, Andy," I said.
    "No problem," he said, setting the script down on the table. "I always have time for you, you know that. Have a seat."
    I sat across the table from him in a white chair that had come as part of the table set.
    "What's on your mind?"
    I didn't want to tell him what was on my mind while Murray was standing there, watching me.
    "Um, is that coffee? I could use one."
    "Oh, of course," Andy said. "I'm a terrible host. Murray, would you get Alexis some coffee? The Special Blend Number Five." He looked at me. "You'll love this. Murray has to go all the way across town to get this, but it's worth it."
    "Um--," Murray started, but Andy shooed him away. "And bring me a fresh one."
    As Murray left, Andy said, "He's like a mother hen sometimes."
    "Andy, I have to say what I came to say before Murray gets back."
    "Now, Alex, you're not going to ask me again to fire him, are you?"
    "No," I said. "That's your business. I need to talk to you about Marcy's murder."
    "Oh," he said, his face falling, "that."
    "I know what everybody thinks, Andy, but I didn't do it," I said.
    "I never thought--"
    "Oh, sure you did. Everybody does. I can feel it when they look at me, and a couple of people have even told me so."
    "Well," Andy said, "you did have that big screaming match with her . . . and after everything else you've been through, maybe she just pushed you too far."
    "I am so sick of hearing that! Randy took my money and left our child. Yeah, it sucks! But I'm dealing!
    Things go wrong in life. It doesn't make a person a murderer, for God's sake! You know me! After all the time we've worked together I would think you, of all people, would know who I am and defend me."
    I expected him to get angry, but instead he reached out, took my hand and said, "You're right. I've been a horrible friend to you. What can I do to redeem myself?"
    I was taken aback for a moment, then felt a rush of affection for him. I squeezed his hand, and then we let go, sat back and started really talking.

Chapter 19
    "Since I didn't kill her, it's obvious somebody else did."
    "I'm with you so far."
    "Just hear me out before you say anything else," I said. He opened his mouth, but then closed it again and assumed a listening pose, chin and eyebrows up. For the moment I was assuming Andy didn't have his own motive for killing Marcy.
    "There are a few people on the show who have had their issues with Marcy. I want your feedback on whether or not you think they hated her enough to kill her."
    "Oh," he said, "oh, this is--you're investigating this yourself, aren't you? You must be so excited. You've always wanted to do this!"
    At least he knew me that well. He was right; I had always wanted to do this, but not when my own freedom, or life, was on the line. I pitched him some names--like Amanda, Roman and Dave Ballwin, the young writer whose work Marcy had been claiming as her own.
    "I talked to Roman this morning," I said. "I heard that story," Andy said. "Some people still try to sleep their way to the top."
    "Well, I don't think Marcy was the top, but she did make him sleep with her a few times, and then dumped him. She never followed through by writing for him."
    "That must have made him mad."
    "I don't think he did it, Andy," I said. "After talking to him--he's cocky, yes, but basically just an overcompensating, insecure kid. It's not in him."
    "Well, it's not in