Alden’s email program dinged again. “Ha. One of Reynold’s friends says the short films aren’t available right now because they’re tied up in negotiations. And Reynold wrote back to say he can’t give more details. I call BS. All of these supposed films can’t be tied up in ‘negotiations.’”
“That’s certainly vague.”
“Wayne’s credit for Fastest Spin Wins is legit,” Alden said. “That’s the one my friend Porter worked on.”
“One legit project,” Roz observed. “A bunch not so legit, I’m guessing. I’m confident we would’ve found at least one of these somewhere if they were real. Or Wayne would’ve embedded a short film on his website or something. But his site is pretty sketchy, too.”
“Right. He just links to the credits on the movie database and talks vaguely about all the great work he has in development.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised at this point, but I think Wayne has been a very bad boy,” Roz said, “and not in a good way.”
“But to what end? He’d dangled deals in front of writers, in front of Sebastian Esquivel, in front of Blake Burbage even. Did he come through for anyone? What was his end game?”
“What does anyone want in the end?” she mused. “Fame? Credit?”
“Money,” they said at the same time.
Roz was skeptical. “Was he trying to get money out of the writers?”
Alden snorted. “Talk about barking up the wrong tree.”
“At least where most writers are concerned.” She thought for a second. “But if Wayne targeted them for their money, not their talent … We need to talk to Sheryl again, too.”
“Enolia has the talent.”
“And gobs of money,” Roz added.
“Could Sebastian have been in on whatever the scheme was?”
“I doubt it. He didn’t seem very taken with Wayne.”
“Wayne was courting Blake, too, who’s rich enough,” Alden said. “Though Blake didn’t mention any money changing hands. I need to ask him about that.”
Roz sat up. “Now that you mention Blake …”
“Yeah?”
“He’s a total airplane geek. He has all that flying memorabilia. He has a plane at Comet Cove airport. Do you think he knows something about Sebastian’s plane?”
Alden set his laptop on the coffee table and looked at her. “Or worse? Do you think Blake would try to kill Sebastian? Why? Something to do with the movie studio?”
Roz shrugged. “That I don’t know. But he might know something about what went on at the airport. It’s a small place. He might even know Sebastian. We should see what Blake knows.”
“First let me see if I can get any technical information about the crash before it’s official. I have an idea of how to go about that. You can ping Sebastian about the contract.”
“Ugh. We have a long day tomorrow.” Roz fell back and leaned against him, and he slipped an arm around her shoulders.
“That’s OK. I’m just glad we have a tomorrow. There was a minute today?—”
“I know. I’m glad too.” Roz paused. “And I’m mad. Mad at whoever sabotaged that plane, assuming it wasn’t an accident. Which it might be.”
“Where would the fun be in that?” he joked.
She quirked her mouth at him. “I would’ve had plenty of fun not crashing in the river, thanks. Now we’re both going to be nervous before we fly.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Alden kissed her head. “I’ll make sure I have chocolate and good whiskey on hand.”
And he pulled her closer and pressed his mouth to hers, sweet and hot.
