Newt gulped.“I don’t know how many but Max told me there were unpleasant letters coming here with your name on, as well as mail for Leo Miller.”
River’s shoulders fell.
“People that send hate mail are bullies and cowards. You give them power by reacting to them. Max was right to keep these from you. How does it help anyone to be told unkind things? You’re not talentless. Max would dump you if you were. You’re mesmerizing on screen. I might be a little biased, but I think you’re really good. No one would want you in another film if you weren’t, and they do want you. You have a role coming up this autumn. They want you for that.”
River pointed to the front of the envelope.
Newt nodded. “Yes. Whoever this is knows you live here. And that worries you.”
“Yes.”
“Shall I call Max back?”
“Yes.”
Eleven
Newt was feeling guilty. He shouldn’t have let River get his hands on that letter and really shouldn’t have read it out to him. There was nothing he could do about that now, apart from hope Max didn’t fire him. He called him and put his phone on speaker.
“Newt,” Max said. “Why do I think you’re going to tell me something I don’t want to hear?”
“Because you’re such an intuitive, intelligent guy?”
Max huffed. “Now I know I’m not going to like this. What the hell has happened in the short period of time since we last spoke? Spit it out—words that rarely fall from my lips.”
“I had two pieces of post to forward to you. One looks like a bill…”
River opened it and showed him.
“Not a bill. It’s a circular. The other is handwritten, addressed to River Lawson. River found the letters and asked me read them to him.”
“You could have said no.”
“No,” River snapped. “I…in…inst…inst…”
“Insisted.” Max groaned. “What does it say?”
“Why areyou still breathing? You’re a talentless shit. Next time maybe you won’t be so lucky.”
Max tsked.
“How…many?” River asked.
“That’s the fourth.”
River’s shoulders slumped.
“Did the others say the same or something similar?” Newt asked.
“Something similar.”
“When did they start arriving?”
“A month or so ago.”
“Should have…told,” River said.
“And worry you when there was no need?” Max said.
