“Not that long,” Joe said. “Ten minutes at most.” He
stiffened as Vito Patricelli emerged from the parlor
door that led into the living room.
“The meeting’s concluded,” Vito said in his unruffled manner. “I’ve made it clear to my clients where
their responsibilities lie and what they must do to carry
them out on behalf of Paradox Studios.”
Joe was equally unflappable. “Which is?”
A faintly sinister smile played at Vito’s thin lips.
“That they are not to leave the vicinity until the studio
knows exactly what happened to Bruno Zepf.”
Judith didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She did
neither, remaining on the sofa until the sullen guests
exited the parlor.
Vito sat down opposite her, carefully arranging his
trousers to make sure the crease stayed in the proper
position. “I have some questions for you both,” he said
in that same, smooth voice.
Joe joined Judith on the sofa. “Fire away,” he said.
Vito removed his sunglasses, revealing wide-set
dark eyes that seemed to have a fire lit behind them.
“What time did Mr. Zepf die?”
“Around one A.M.,” Joe answered.
“Are you absolutely certain?” Vito asked.
“We can’t be precise,” Joe said reasonably. “My
wife and I weren’t with Bruno when it happened. The
time is an estimate, which is also what the ME gave
us.”
Only an almost imperceptible flicker of Vito’s eyelids indicated any emotion. “But,” he said, “you’re positive that Bruno died after midnight?”
“Definitely,” Joe replied. “Why is the time so important?”
The lawyer took a deep breath, then gave Joe what
was probably meant to be a confidential smile, but
looked a trifle piranhalike to Judith. “Let me explain
two things. First, Paradox Studios insures all members
of a shooting company when a picture is made. This is
standard procedure, to make sure there’s due compensation for anyone involved in the production suffering
a disabling injury or”—he paused to clear his throat—
“dying. The policy the studio took out on
expired October thirty-first, which is today. The problem is, did it expire last night at midnight or is it still
valid until tomorrow, November first?”
Joe frowned. “Aren’t such policies specific?”
“Not in this case,” Vito replied. “There was also a
rider concerning postproduction. Bruno had stated—
verbally—that once
wouldn’t tinker with it. But last night he told Winifred
Best and Chips Madigan that it was clear there would
have to be some editing. He intended to pull the picture
