Box Office Poison (Linnet Ellery) (32 page)

“Well, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll have coffee and snacks waiting in the kitchen when you’re done.” She floated out of the room.

Jeff indicated a window seat. I sat down, and he pulled around a wicker chair to sit facing me. “Okay, you sounded very serious on the phone. What’s up?”

“First, a question. Can you get six people into the Academy Awards? And not in the nosebleed seats, but down on the main floor.”

“What? Why?”

“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be another Jondin incident, but with Jujuran in the starring role this time. Or some other Álfar that he can get blood from. Or maybe a lot of Álfar, I don’t know, but it will be bad.”

“Okay, you are officially scaring the crap out of me, and I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Blood? Him? Who him? Jujuran?”

“Qwendar. He’s on a holy crusade to save his people from evil human influence, and he’s doing it by forcing elves to kill humans. Then we turn on the Álfar, igniting a big war, the Álfar retreat back into Fey, the other Powers get worried because they’re always worried about peasants with pitchforks, and we’ve set back human-Powers relations by decades if not centuries. And you think I sound crazy,” I finished.

“Weirdly enough, I don’t.” He gave me a sick smile. “Maybe because I’ve starred in too many action movies, but it all makes a sort of twisted sense.” He stood and paced, the distressed teak floorboards creaking lightly with each step. It set an odd counterpoint to the sigh and boom of the waves below us. “Was he behind Kerrinan and Jondin?”

“I believe so. I talked to someone who has lived in Fey. He said a really powerful Álfar, trained in their techniques—mental powers, magic, whatever you want to call it—could control someone’s actions.”

“Meaning Kerrinan and Jondi weren’t…” Jeff stopped, snapped his fingers irritably. “What’s that Latin phrase?”

“Compos mentis.”

“That’s it. In their right minds”

Jeff crossed to me and leaned in close. “If you think he’s going to do something at the Awards we’ve got to warn the authorities.”

“And tell them what? That I think a respected representative of the Álfar Council is a murderous manipulator who has mysterious powers that can cloud men’s minds and force them to do horrible and violent acts? I couldn’t get a deputy this morning to believe I had nearly been murdered because Qwendar had used his powers to establish an alibi.”

“Whoa. Wait. Whoa. You do not get to just casually toss out that
you were nearly murdered
and not give me the whole damn story.”

I pressed my fingers hard against the skin above each eyebrow where an incipient headache was lurking. I blew out a breath. “I guess I’m just tired of going through it again and again. Suffice it to say that Qwendar realized I had figured out his game, and he decided to stage my suicide. I didn’t oblige.”

Jeff gave me a quick, hard hug. “Holy crap, Linnet, that’s awful.”

“Which is why I really don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Right, right. Okay.” Jeff was back pacing again. “Okay, so if
our
authorities won’t listen to us, how about we go to the Álfar authorities? Talk to this council of theirs.”

I shook my head. “I’d rather not, and here’s why. They might deal with Qwendar, but they’d probably just yank him back into Fey and sweep it all under the rug. That won’t help Kerrinan and Jondin.”

“You think the Álfar would actually throw Kerrinan and Jondin under a bus?” Jeff asked.

I shrugged. “They’re the Álfar equivalent of politicians. Are they really going to want to tell the world full of nervous humans that there’s Álfar magic that can turn any Álfar into a killer? Better to let the humans think these were isolated incidents with a couple of nutty actors. But if Qwendar acts again, and I can prove he’s doing it, it may clear them.”

“You’d do that, take this terrible risk for a couple of people you don’t even know? Why?”

“Because I’m a lawyer, and I have to believe that occasionally justice prevails.” I once again got a hug.

“You’re sure it’s going to happen at the Oscars?” Jeff asked after he released me.

“No, but I’m pretty sure. Qwendar wants a shocking incident. What better place? We’re talking about a worldwide audience, a live feed, and movie stars.”

“Will he have to be there to do his magic shit?” Jeff asked.

“I think so. He was on the lot when Jondin went nuts.” I chewed at a hangnail. “I’d love to find out if Qwendar was somewhere in the neighborhood when Kerrinan killed Michelle, and when he made his run for Fey. Also, I think Qwendar will want to see and enjoy the mayhem.”

“So we can stop him by just not letting him into the ceremony,” Jeff said.

“Nice thought, but it won’t work. He’ll come in through Fey.” I stopped. “I just figured out where Jondin’s guns came from. He had them stashed in Fey and just brought them through once he had control of her. Hell, they could have been right outside the door of her trailer.”

“And this helps us how?”

“It’s something we need to consider. He’ll find a way to arm the Álfar once he’s taken control of them.”

“So, we keep all Álfar out of the ceremony.”

“Like that’s not going to cause any problems or comment. Besides, Qwendar will use it to whip up anger against humans because the Álfar were excluded. A lot of Álfar actors are going to defy the ban and come in through Fey. Qwendar still gets his bloodbath, and we’ve pissed off their council. Let’s not do his work for him.”

Jeff gave me a rueful smile and sat back down. “We don’t have any really good choices, do we?

“No,” I said bleakly.

“And how, exactly, are six people at the ceremony going to help?”

“They can knock down maddened elves and protect humans.”

“And who handles Qwendar? He’s the guy with all the magic whammy. He’s going to be tough.”

“That would be me,” I said.

Jeff stopped pacing, turned, and stared at me. “You.”

“Me.”

“All five-feet of you?”

“He can’t affect me.” I hesitated, thinking back on all my near miraculous escapes, then added, “And no matter what is going on around me, I suspect I’m going to be able to get through it pretty much unscathed.”

We sat silent for a few minutes with Jeff just looking at me. It was one of those awkward, uncomfortable silences, but I was too tired to break it. Finally the actor stirred, slapped his palms against his thighs, and stood up. “Okay, then, it’s time to enlist Kate.”

He led me back into the kitchen. There was the sweet, rich scent of hazelnut coffee in the air. Kate finished arranging cookies on a plate and set them on the table. Jeff moved to her side and gave her a kiss. She smiled down at him. He pushed a long strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “Sweetie, Linnet is going to be going to the Oscars, and she’ll need a gown. I can’t think of anybody better to help her out.”

“Oh, what fun.” Her eyes raked over me, head to toe, as she walked in a slow circle around me. “Petite and very feminine. Elie Saab, I think. He made Natalie’s Oscar gown, and she’s a tiny little thing.” She checked her watch. “It’s too late today to make it over to Rodeo Drive. We’ll go tomorrow, and we can hit Tiffany’s for your jewelry.”

“Wait, I can’t afford—”

“Not to worry: unless you’re Liz Taylor you borrow everything.”

I glanced over at Jeff. “I’d rather not be wearing anything really valuable.”

“I think no jewels,” he said.

Kate looked from one to the other of us. “You both look grim.”

I could read Jeff’s thoughts as clearly as if I’d been telepathic. He looked at his wife. He considered what I’d said about a bloodbath. He steeled himself and took Kate’s hand. “Honey, let’s go upstairs for a minute. I want to talk to you.”

The actress shook her head and planted her fists on her hips. Though the stance was combative, the smile she gave her husband wasn’t. “You’re going to tell me I can’t go to the Oscars because it’s too dangerous, but if what you discussed is true you’re going to need me there.”

“You eavesdropped?” Jeff asked.

“Yes. You were talking about the Álfar, and you know how I feel about them and about Phase Change. Look, these people are our friends and colleagues. The other actresses know me and trust me. If I tell them to move they will move. Same for you with the actors. If something happens this could easily turn into a panicked stampede. You need more help, not less. And this is something I can do to help the Álfar.”

“This could be very dangerous,” I said.

“I know. Which is why I don’t what him to face it alone. I want to be with him, not sitting at home alone worrying.” She stepped to her husband’s side and wrapped an arm around his waist.

“I don’t want you in danger,” Jeff said.

“And I don’t want
you
in danger. So, let’s face it together. Okay?” Kate gazed fondly at her husband, and he took her in his arms and kissed her. I looked away.

Kate turned back to me with a glowing smile. “So, tomorrow. Shopping. We can face anything if we’re in a couture gown, right?”

“Right,” I said. I wondered if they made one designed for ease of running and fighting.

*   *   *

I collapsed in the armchair in my room at the Beverly Garland Hotel and contemplated just sleeping there. Even the effort of taking off my clothes and moving to the bed seemed beyond me. I lifted my arm and checked my wristwatch. Almost seven o’clock. Ten o’clock in Philadelphia. Late, but not enough to terrify people in their beds late, and I really needed to talk to Parlan. I staggered over to my purse, pulled out my cell phone, and called the O’Shea house. Big Red answered.

“O’Shea.”

Thirty years as a cop had left him incapable of saying hello. It drove Meg wild, but then she would just laugh and call him an old war horse.

“Hi, Red, it’s Linnet.”

“Linnie, how the hell are you?”

“Fine. Is Parlan there? I need to talk to him.”

“Yeah. He’s here.” There was weariness and frustration coating the words. “Parlan, pick up the damn phone—it’s for you.”

There was a brief silence then, “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Linnie. You said you still had friends in Fey. How do you think they would feel if they were told they couldn’t cross over to the human world again, and if they tried, angry humans with pitchforks would be waiting for them?”

“I think they’d hate it. Why? Is that likely to happen?”

“That’s what somebody is trying, yes, and if he can arrange for a large and public bloodbath I think he may get his wish. So, I’m calling to ask for your help.”

“Sure, but I don’t know what I can do.”

“Can you get in touch with your friends? Tell them what’s going on, see if they’d be willing to help me?”

“I can contact them. I can leave messages at ley line crossroads. Where will you need this help?”

“In California.”

“How soon?”

“In a few days.”

“That’s going to be a problem. Rapid travel is not one of the hallmarks of Fey.”

“If they’ll cross over, we’ll fly you all to LA.” I put aside for the moment just how I was going to pay for all this. I hoped David was going to help, and it wouldn’t all end up on my credit card.

“On an airplane?” he said breathlessly.

“Yeah,” I said, drawing out the word because I didn’t exactly know how to respond. “That’s the only way we know how to fly.”

“I look up at them all the time and wish I could fly on one. If I could actually get to do that it would be … amazing.” He sounded very young now, not at all like a man in his forties.

“Well, consider it done.” I hesitated, then added, “Do you know about the Oscars? What they are?”

“Sort of.”

“It’s acting awards. Very glamorous.”

“So, I could wear some of my real … my own clothes?” he asked, his voice brightening at the prospect.

“You mean the clothes you wore in Fey?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t see why not, but you should probably be prepared for them to get messed up if you do end up protecting people. But maybe it won’t come to that.”

We spent a few more minutes finalizing things, then I hung up, stripped off my clothes, and fell into bed. I didn’t wake up until Maslin hammered on my door the next morning.

23

Belinda Cartwright had that deer-in-the-headlights expression when she looked up from the printed pages Maslin had placed before her. She quickly regained her composure and snapped, “Speculation.” I mutely handed over the research unearthed by Merlin. She read through those. This time when she met our gaze her expression was sick, and she didn’t recover. “Dear God, they’re everywhere, they’ve infiltrated everywhere.”

We were back in the offices of Human First.

“No,” I corrected. “This
one
Álfar has played you for a fool and built you into a tool to cause conflict between us and his people.

“Question is, what are you going to do about it?” Maslin asked.

“Expose him! Tell our members how we’ve been compromised.”

Maslin sighed. “Wrong answer.”

“Think about this, Ms. Cartwright,” I said softly. “You’re the head of this organization.
You’re
the one who allowed this to happen. You didn’t do due diligence on your donors. I’m sure Mr. Ambinder will make damn sure that little fact comes out in his final version of the article. Question is, who are your members going to be more unhappy with? Qwendar? Or you?”

Maslin studied his fingernails. “I’m betting the Reverend Trager will not take kindly to these revelations. You’ll probably lose your job.”

“You’re blackmailing me,” Cartwright said, her voice a rough thread of sound.

“No, just contemplating likely outcomes,” Maslin answered.

“What do you want? For us to disband? I don’t have the power.” She shot Maslin a venomous look. “As you rightly pointed out, I’m just hired help. Reverend Trager calls the shots.”

“Just dial it back. Tone down the rhetoric. Stop throwing gasoline on the fire.” She stared up at me, her lips set in a thin line. I pulled a chair in closer, sat down, and leaned across the desk. “Look, Belinda, we’re afraid. I understand that. The world as we knew it has changed. Nobody has a handle on how this is all going to work out. But this has happened many times before in our history—revolution, civil wars, depression, world wars, integration, immigration, technological innovation—and we’ve weathered them all. The world changes, and the people who stand against it inevitably end up being trampled because they can’t stop it. What you can do is
guide
the change, soften it, make sure all sides are considered, and that’s a valuable role for you to play. Whipping up anger, stoking the fear, inciting violence, that’s not productive, and we’re better than that as a people. The Powers are here. Let’s learn to live together. We may find we can actually help each other.” I paused. Her expression was curiously blank, but at least the rage had faded. “And ironically there are people on the other side who feel the same way about us, who think we’re dangerous to their way of life, and they don’t like the change either.”