As they slid past the small airport and its attendant hangars, more warehouses came into view. Some were kept well, but as they turned west down a poorly paved road, they found a less promising destination: a complex of hulking, weatherbeaten metal structures with an air of abandonment, surrounded by a six-foot-tall chain-link fence.
Alden pulled up outside a double gate, which stood open, padlock and chain dangling from one side. A small sign bore only the street address—no other labels, not Vandershell Studios or whatever it was supposed to be called. And no obvious movie set.
Roz had put away her laptop and stared through the windshield. “Doesn’t look like much.”
“And you want to get a picture.”
“Yeah, since Kai couldn’t make it. He’s been ordered to the golf course.”
“Again.” Alden glanced at her. “Shall we?”
“Might as well. I’m guessing Sebastian is already in there since the gate is open.”
“Why do I feel like I’m entering a scene in a horror movie?” He drove through anyway, tires crunching on gravel.
“I think you have movies on the brain.”
“Can you blame me? I got to touch Blake’s button compass!”
She laughed out loud. “Hey, look—that must be Sebastian.”
As they moved up the drive, a large black SUV came into view, parked by one of the warehouses. And beyond, more structures with a hint of color.
“Could that be the street set he told me about?” she asked with enthusiasm.
“See, I’m not the only one with movies on the brain.”
“Well, it’s cool. Imagine if there really were a movie studio here.”
“And even more starlets underfoot,” he said.
“Not that you would mind. Speaking of, who was that Lexie person? Blake’s girlfriend?”
He stopped the car next to the SUV, turned it off and turned to look at her. “Really? You don’t know? It’s Lexie Wintergarten. She won a supporting actress Oscar last year. And she’s got to be twenty years younger than he is. He’s a lucky guy. She’s talented and beautiful.”
“Really.” Roz smirked at him. “And no, I had no idea.”
“She’s not as beautiful as you.” He leaned in and gave her a tender, lingering kiss, and she sighed. “Ready?” he asked.
Roz blinked and smiled. “Yes.”
He always liked hearing her say yes.
As they climbed out of the car, the SUV engine’s rumble stopped and the driver’s door opened. Sebastian Esquivel stepped out. Or, more accurately, down—the behemoth vehicle was twice the height of Alden’s.
“I see you found it. Behold the Hollywood glamour,” Sebastian said. He was a sturdy guy with dark hair wearing something that looked like a golfing outfit. Alden appreciated the sarcasm.
Roz spoke. “Sebastian, this is Alden Knox. He’s working with me on the story.”
“Nice to meet you,” Alden said. They shook hands, and Sebastian gave him a knowing look. So he’d seen the kiss. Alden didn’t care. If Alden had his way, he and Roz would be making out. Or holding hands and gamboling up and down the beach.
Maybe later. He did have some work ethic.
“Have you started work inside these buildings?” Roz asked while digging her camera out of her bag.
“Work, yes, though it might not be obvious to the eye,” Sebastian said as they walked with him down the gravel road. He gestured to one of the four warehouses; there were two on each side of the road. “My crew did a little work on this one to make it structurally sound and started framing out a control booth and adding wiring, but the money I’d budgeted for this phase ran out pretty quick with Wayne not pitching in. Not much to see.”
The closest warehouse looked a little better than the others, but Alden never would’ve guessed it had any work done.
