Murder by Numbers Read Online Free Page A

leverage.”
    Liza nodded. “All she can do is pull out. And if she does that, Jenny gets the rep of being ‘difficult’ before she even gets a film on the screen.” She paused. “You don’t have anything on Chissel that you can use to leverage him into doing what we want?”
    â€œWith a nickname like Ollie the Chiseler, he’s used to bad publicity,” Michelle said. “And Olbrich is busy building himself a demon director reputation. I don’t think we’ll get much traction there.”
    She sounded as if she were grinding glass between her teeth as she went on. “All I can say right now is that Jenny will have to suck it up until or unless we get something going for her.”
    â€œAnd since I’m the one on-site, I’ll have to give her the heads-up,” Liza said.
    â€œWe’re not going to take this lying down,” Michelle said. “I don’t want to get a reputation for being soft.”
    â€œDon’t worry. That’s not a problem,” Michael said. “It won’t cross the mind of anyone who knows you.”
    It was a bit of a surprise to hear her ex-husband lining up on Michelle’s side. Part of the problem in their marriage had been Michelle’s not-so-subtle suggestions that Liza should dump him and trade up.
    â€œI’m putting Buck Foreman on this,” her partner went on. Well, if Michelle wanted her pet Hollywood detective on the case, she was definitely looking for some sort of results.
    â€œAll right,” Liza sighed. “No use putting things off. I’ll get over to the set and give Jenny a heads-up.”
    â€œGood luck,” Michael said. “We’re behind you.”
    â€œYeah,” Michelle sounded a little annoyed that the ex-husband had spoken first.
    Liza hung up the phone and rubbed her hands on her thighs. They weren’t exactly sweaty, but they probably would be by the time she got to Jenny.
    The phone rang again.
    â€œHello?” She wondered who was calling.
    Had Michelle done something unprecedented—like forgetting to bring up a point on a phone conference? Had Buck Foreman already dug up some dirt on Oliver Chissel and Mirage Productions? Was Michael calling back to offer something a little more than backup? Things had gotten warmer between them lately—
    â€œLiza, it’s Kevin Shepard.”
    Hearing from the other man in her life right after speaking to—and thinking about—Michael left Liza momentarily speechless.
    â€œI’m calling because I need a favor for someone.” Kevin sounded a little embarrassed. “Ray Massini.”
    â€œAs in Mayor Massini?” Liza said. What could the mayor of Maiden’s Bay want from her?
    â€œThat’s right,” Kevin replied. “Ray is an old army buddy, and he could really use someone with Hollywood savvy. When I look over my acquaintances, that’s pretty much you.”
    â€œAnd what does he need me for?” Liza wanted to know.
    â€œRay’s got a movie bigwig coming to town,” Kevin told her. “His name is Oliver Chissel, and his plane is going to be landing soon.”

3
    Liza couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. “Oliver Chissel is coming to Maiden’s Bay? What for?”
    â€œThat’s what Ray would like to know,” Kevin said. “He’d been dealing with a—what did he call him?—a line producer and the director, that Hamblyn guy. Then there was this new guy, Peter Hake, and Hamblyn was in the hospital, replaced by Lloyd Olbrich. Now all of a sudden, Chissel is aboard a corporate jet due to land in Manzanita about an hour from now. Could you get to City Hall and talk to Ray before that happens?”
    â€œI’ll get down there as soon as I can,” Liza promised. “After I make a couple of calls to L.A.”
    I expect Chissel is coming up here to talk to the troops rather than to Ray Massini , she