“I loved him in Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder.” Alden brimmed with enthusiasm while Roz made a mental note to catch up on her classic movies.
“Oh, he was great at being evil,” Blake agreed. “And then almost twenty years after The Lost Weekend, he was starring in The Man with the X-Ray Eyes. I mean, it wasn’t terrible. It’s Roger Corman. But it was pretty cheesy stuff. I don’t mind pulp if I have a good role. But I was still waiting for Wayne to show me the script that would herald my triumphant return.” He shrugged. “Can’t say easy come, easy go, because I never saw it to begin with.”
Roz saw a theme here. “So he promised you something but didn’t deliver?”
Blake regarded her with those sharp blue eyes. “He was careful not to promise anything. He talked a good game. Why he wasn’t in Hollywood, I’ll never understand.” It was a joke, but his smile thinned. Was he angry under all the good cheer? He’d really wanted that comeback script.
“Did you know he was planning to build a movie studio by the airport?” Alden asked.
“Of course. He considered it part of the glorious cinema-fication of Comet Cove.”
“He told his construction partner you were on board with doing a movie there,” Roz said.
“Did he now?” Blake’s eyebrows rose, and there was a flash of something like hope immediately dashed by reality in his face. As if he thought: The movie’s happening … no, wait. The producer’s dead.
There was a pause before Alden asked, “Were you familiar with his previous work?”
“I looked it up online, but no, I hadn’t heard of those movies. Of course, I can’t keep up with everything nowadays. Streaming. YouTube. Everybody’s famous,” he said dryly. “Have you seen any of it?”
“No. I’m too busy watching Turner Classic Movies.”
Blake made an amused sound and gave Alden a keen look. “You’re too modest. I’d say you’re right on top of current events.” In other words, he knew exactly who Alden was and wanted him to know he knew.
There was a beat, and Roz saw an opportunity. “Did you see Wayne when you went into the back hallway at the bookstore Saturday during the event with Enolia Honeywood?”
Blake shifted in his chair and turned to her. “Oh, that’s right. You were there, weren’t you?”
“Yes. Alden’s a big fan,” Roz said.
“She’s good, isn’t she?” Blake replied. But the blasé way he said it made her wonder if he knew the answer. Had he read Enolia’s books?
“So did you see Wayne?” she pushed.
Blake nodded once. “I saw him come in, exchanged a hello. He disappeared, and I never saw him again.”
He disappeared because you killed him and then you never saw him again? she thought. Or maybe her imagination was getting ahead of her.
After a moment, Alden filled the awkward silence. “That was an enthusiastic crowd.”
Blake seemed to relax a bit. “Yeah, I wish they’d come to see me.”
They all laughed, and it felt like the interview was over. Alden must’ve felt the same, because he stood. “Thanks so much for your time.”
“No problem.” Blake stood as well, regarding him evenly. “You know I have a reputation for shooting from the hip, and I don’t mean in my movies. I don’t need a publicist to manage everything I say.”
Alden nodded as Roz wondered where Blake was going.
“But I know you’ll use good judgment when you decide what to write after our chat today,” the actor continued. “I’d love to talk to you again when I have some news.”
Oh, he was good. Treat me well, and I’ll give you access. He was someone who knew how to use his fame and the power it gave him.
“I’m not in the gotcha business anymore,” Alden said, returning Blake’s frankness. “But I’m in the business of publishing the truth.” Go, Alden! “And I’d love to talk to you and Lexie sometime.”
Blake smiled. “Until then.” They shook hands.
Whoa, that was slick. But she could live with their deal. The paper would publish the truth, wherever it led them, but a little discretion didn’t hurt.
Roz stepped up and shook Blake’s hand too and got to bathe in those blue eyes one more time. Wowzer. That electric, effortless charisma—that was why Blake Burbage was a movie star.
