Quokka Question

Besides, I couldn't face talking to anyone yet, especially Melodie or Fran, who were no doubt still warring over Quip's play. Showered and dressed, I vowed to myself that today I'd make progress on the case. Ariana might not desire me as a lover, but she was going to admire me as a business partner, or I'd die in the attempt.

Before I left I went to my office to check my e-mail, in the hope that Diana Niptucker had replied to my message, but there was nothing from her. My cell phone rang just as I picked up my things to go out to the car.

'Kylie, it's Quip. I'm outside in the backyard. I need to see you desperately. And for God's sake, don't let Fran know I'm here.'

When I pushed open the back door, a perfect morning greeted me, warm but not hot, full of sunshine and joyous nature…and an agitated Quip. 'What's up?' I said.

'You know what's up!' He clutched my shoulder. 'You've got to help me out, Kylie. Fran and Melodie are at daggers drawn-and I'm in the middle.' His handsome face was contorted with anguish. 'How could I have been so stupid?'

'Casting Fran was a bad idea?'

'Omigod, like, total disaster. What was I thinking!'

'They're both mad as cut snakes,' I said, 'but it'll blow over.'

Quip's wide shoulders drooped-he had a crash-hot body from going to the gym every day. 'Fran's upset. Melodie's upset. Casting Laughter Under Luna is at a standstill…' He shook his head. 'Being a playwright shouldn't be this much of a hassle. And I thought screenwriting was hard. Hello?'

I was sympathetic but had to get to work. Businesslike, I inquired, 'Is there a part for Melodie?'

'Only Ethel/Ethelbert, and Melodie says that's a supporting role, not worthy of her talents.'

'And you don't want to move Fran from Lucy/Lucas?'

Quip tossed off a mirthless laugh. 'Move Fran? Not if I want to continue living.' He gave me an earnest you- can-solve-it look. 'I don't mind telling you, I'm tearing my hair out here. Help me, Kylie.'

In my head I heard the Beach Boys singing, Help, help, help me, Kylie. I had to admit Rhonda sounded better. 'Would you be willing to lie?' I asked Quip.

'Lie? I'd sell my firstborn, if I had one.'

Melodie believes she's a bit psychic,' I observed.

'Well, wow! That's a tremendous help,' Quip said with a sardonic smile and a flip of his wrist. 'I can't thank you enough.'

Quip really was delightfully gay, but he and Fran seemed to have a happy marriage-if happy was ever a word one could associate with Fran.

I gave a quick glance at my watch. I couldn't be late two days in a row. 'I really should go.'

'Then leave!' he said, superdramatic, the back of his hand held to his brow. 'But remember, my blood will be on your head!'

'Crikey, I couldn't cope with the guilt.'

'So what's the plan?'

'You take Melodie aside and tell her you're speaking in the strictest confidence-and that Fran must never know what you are about to reveal.'

'What am I about to reveal?' Quip asked.

'That you've never admitted it before, even to yourself, but there's a hidden, supernatural side to your creativity. When the inspiration of the play came to you, you had a dinkum psychic flash about the dynamics between the characters.' I stopped to consider possibilities. 'I reckon you could have been channeling the person who played Ethel in I Love Lucy.'

'Vivian Vance. She's dead.'

'So you had this psychic link with Vivian Vance in the afterlife, and she set you straight.' I repressed a smile. There was nothing straight about Quip. 'All the time Lucy/Lucas thinks she/he is the main character, it's really Ethel/Ethelbert who's totally pivotal to the deep underlying themes.' I paused briefly to do a quick edit. 'Deep universal themes would be better.'

Quip gave me a half-hopeful, half-doubtful look. 'Go on.'

'You haven't wanted to admit your psychic side to anyone, knowing you'd be mocked, but secretly you've been hoping Melodie would be willing to play Ethel/Ethelbert. That's why you cast Fran as Lucy/Lucas. You wanted to save the truly important role for Melodie.'

Skeptical, Quip said, 'And you think Melodie will swallow this?'

'Bonzer chance she will, as long as you remember to mention how talented she is.' I didn't feel like a hypocrite saying this, because I'd seen Melodie use her acting abilities on several occasions-none of them onstage or on- camera-and she was talented.

'I can do that,' declared Quip, enthused. 'I'll make Melodie believe me.' He gave me a big smile, showing the thousands of dollars for his tooth veneers had been well spent. 'Hitchcock was right, you know. Actors are like children.'

'Who are like children?' It was Fran, glowering from the back door. She switched her glare to me. 'What are you doing out here with Quip?'

'He'll explain,' I said, squeezing past her. 'I really must go.'

I'd just parked my car at UCLA and was on my way to the biology department, when my cell phone rang. It was Melodie. 'Ariana asked me to tell you Dr. Penny's coming into the office at five-thirty today for a progress report. Ariana says if you can make it too, it'd be good.'

I thanked Melodie and clicked off, mega-mopey. Ariana could have called me herself, but she clearly didn't want to speak with me. How depressing was that?

I drooped along for a bit, then straightened my shoulders. Bloody hell! I was going to show Ariana how I could solve a case single-handedly.

I was striding along when I heard, 'Judy!' It was Clifford Van Horden III heading in my direction. 'I've been looking for you everywhere,' he said, his smoothly handsome face creased with chagrin that I'd been able to evade him.

'Been hiding from you,' I said, quite truthfully. Frankly, I couldn't see what there was about me that was attracting this bloke. I certainly hadn't encouraged him in any way-quite the contrary.

Maybe that was it: Rejection was a turn-on for Clifford Van Horden III.

'Why have you been looking for me?' I inquired.

He treated me to a charming, luminescent smile. 'Why does a man go looking for that one particular woman?' he asked roguishly.

'High hopes of mind-blowing sex?'

He blinked, simultaneously turning off his smile. Then he fired it up again. 'I love it! You Aussies are so direct. It's refreshing. Different.'

He went to put his arm around my waist, but I stepped nimbly out of reach. 'I have an appointment,' I said. 'Urgent, vital, pressing. Must run.'

'I'll walk you there.'

'No need,' I said, breaking into a trot. Van Horden III kept up quite easily.

'When will I see you again, Judy?' he asked. 'Are you free this evening?'

'Sorry, no. Packed social schedule.'

Too late I realized this was probably the wrong thing to say. His sort would want me all the more if he thought I was in demand.

'I don't give up easily,' he said.

'I can see that.'

If I'd had the time, I would have headed to some decoy building just so he wouldn't know where I was located on campus, but if I did that, I'd be late.

I skidded to a stop outside my destination, put out my hand and shook his. 'Bonzer to see you again, Clifford Van Horden III.'

'But-'

'I'll keep an eye out for you.' And I would so I could avoid him.

When I reached Georgia Tapp's office, there was a long line of people waiting for assignments, chatting