“I suppose,” Renie replied, breaking up more crackers. “I don’t think she’s made more than two or three
movies before this.”
When the cousins had finished their meal and paid
the bill, Ben and Ellie were still head-to-head. Ben was
on his third vodka, though Ellie had barely touched her
wine. Unnoticed, Judith and Renie left T. S. McSnort’s
and headed back to Hillside Manor.
Joe met them in the driveway. “Nobody’s home except that writer, Costello. I tried to tell him about your
mother’s mistake, but he blew me off. I still think that
it serves them right. A grand for a bunch of mushrooms. Sheesh.”
“I know.” Judith started for the back door with
Renie behind her.
“Do you need some help?” Joe called after them.
“Not yet,” Judith replied. “You and Bill and Carl
Rankers will be waiters at the midnight supper, remember?”
Joe looked amused. “I remember. I’m dressing as a
choirboy.”
“So you are.” Judith sighed. “I’m dressing as a
Roman slave. It fits my role to a
an afterthought, “you’ll have to pick up the costumes
from Arlecchino’s before four.” Keeping it brief, she
explained the damage that had been done to Angela’s
Scarlett O’Hara outfit.
“Sabotage?” Joe said. “What’s with this bunch?”
“Jealousy, hatred, malice, hostility,” Renie put in.
“All the usual Hollywood emotions.”
Joe shrugged. “I’m glad I never wanted to be a
movie star. Being a cop seems like a breeze by comparison. Perps aren’t nearly as vicious as people in the
movie business. Though,” he continued in a musing
tone, “I suppose a cop’s life is always interesting to
filmmakers.”
Judith scowled at Joe. “What are you thinking of?”
Joe gave Judith an innocent look. “Nothing. Not
really.”
“Good,” said Judith, and went into the house.
For the next hour the cousins worked in the kitchen,
preparing the supper dishes that could be made ahead.
Joe finally came in from the garage around three. He
was carrying a battered FedEx package.
“The deliveryman just brought this,” he said. “Shall I?”
“Go ahead, open it,” Judith replied, wiping her
hands off on a towel. “It must be more exotic items for
tonight, though I thought we already had everything on
hand.”
“Whatever it is, it’s marked
