Angel's Verdict Read Online Free

must have been out of his mind. According to the script, Haydee is magical. Alluring. Tyra’s just tacky. As for her other behavior . . .” Justine trailed off, a grim look on her face.
    “But very beautiful,” Bree prompted.
    Justine seemed to give herself a mental shake. “Vincent White certainly seems to think so.” Justine glanced from Bree to EB. “Vincent White’s one of the producers. The man has a great deal of money and very little sense. Quite insistent about casting Tyra in the part, if you understand what I’m saying.”
    EB chuckled. “Not much changes about this old world, does it?”
    Justine’s faded eyes narrowed. “Truer words were never said, Mrs. Billingsley.” Her twisted hand trembled as she set her teacup down on Bree’s desk. She clasped her wrist with her other hand to steady it, pretending to look at her watch. “Heavens! Is that the time?” She fumbled at the thin gold band. “Phillip will have my head on a plate if I’m not on set in two minutes. I must leave you now, I’m afraid.”
    Bree gave Justine a gentle assist out of her chair. “As far as your legal business is concerned, we’ll get right on those revisions to your will, Mrs. Coville.”
    “Justine, please.”
    “Of course. Justine. It shouldn’t take too long to update your assets. And you’re sure about the changes in your beneficiaries?”
    “Quite sure,” she said firmly. “Dixie Bulloch has been marvelous to me. Any director will tell you that I’m an absolute fiend about research, and when I wrote to the family asking for information about Consuelo, she responded immediately. It’s only right I leave her a little something. She lent me a brooch that used to belong to Consuelo. When I play real characters, I always like to have something that helps me connect to the essence of the character. Dixie said her grandmother simply cherished it. Wore it all the time and had it on when she died. They even considered burying her with it, but thank heavens they thought the better of that! I make quite a ceremony of pinning it on when I’m dressing for the part. I feel her spirit right here.” She pressed her open palm against the lapels of her dark blue linen jacket.
    EB handed the actress her navy clutch, her lace-trimmed handkerchief, and a neatly folded umbrella. “Are you going over to the set right now, Ms. Coville? Would you like me to call you a taxi?”
    “The hire car should be waiting downstairs,” Justine said. “And I’d be pleased if you’d call me Justine, Mrs. Billingsley. So many great performers can be identified that way. Sarah. Cher. Liza. Marilyn.”
    “Haydee,” Bree pointed out with a slight smile.
    Justine blinked. “Oh dear. And look what happened to the poor thing. I hadn’t thought of that.” She patted Bree’s arm. “That’s quite a good point. I find myself quite pleased that you’ve taken over Judge Beaufort’s practice.” She worked her lips for a moment. “Do you specialize in estates, my dear? I mean to say, do you handle other kinds of law?”
    “We handle it all,” EB said.
    “Is there something else you’d like to discuss with us?” Bree asked.
    “If there is, you just come right out with it,” EB said. “You got a problem, we can help you with it.” She walked the few feet to the office door and opened it. “Now that we’ve got the Bay Street office up and running, we’re ready to handle a few select cases of any kind, Ms. Coville. Be sure and tell your friends about us.”
    “I surely will. Thank you both for your assistance. And, oh!” She lifted her chin. “I’d appreciate it if you’d bring the paperwork directly to the set.”
    “I’ll make sure to send it by courier,” EB said. “In case Ms. Beaufort’s in court, or with another client. This is a growing practice, and you just never know what the day will bring.”
    “That’s just it.” Justine stood still, trembling a little, her gaze on the floor. “I never know what the next