To attack a detective; that was about the worst victim a vampire wishing to remain elusive could choose.
Why? The question ran circles in her mind. Why a detective? Why that detective?
Either this vampire knew and targeted Baker for a specific reason, or a juvenile vampire, new to the ways of this world, had fumbled...badly.
Either way, she didn’t like it. Her own feeding habits were well thought out. She was methodical and disciplined. Her usual prey were criminals, hardened and impossible to rehabilitate. But this new vampire, albeit an ancient one, in town...
It could only spell trouble.
Heading to the studio for another day of rehearsals, she was determined to see Zwick. She had to get answers.
“We’re going to run through the party scene,” Betty called out. “I want Eddie and Connie, our king and queen, here. Sonya, Yolanda here and here.”
The four cast members took their places, and Sonya forced Rhonda and Zwick from her mind.
She and Yolanda sang lines back and forth at one another with amusement and joy while the king and queen danced.
“Stop. Stop, stop, stop,” Betty said. “Eddie. My dear Eddie. What are you doing?”
“What?”he muttered.
“You’re holding Connie as if she were a bag of dirty linen. She is your queen. And your footwork; I thought you told us that you’d taken dance lessons before.”
“I did.”
Betty grimaced. “It’s a simple one, two, three melody. Please. Let’s start again.”
As they ran through the scene once more, the hair at the back of Sonya’s neck bristled. He’d just arrived. She sensed it. She knew it. As she sang, her mind raced to find an excuse to talk to him.
“Stop. Eddie, we need to talk,” Betty said.
“Miss,” Connie called out. “If I may.”
“Yes?”
“Would it helped if I led? I do have formal training. Like you said, it’s a simple one, two, three melody. I can guide him through it.”
Betty paused. “Sure. Why not. Let’s give it a try.”
They ran the scene again and again.Despite Connie’s attempt to lead Eddie, he fumbled through the scene. Then it was Yolanda’s turn to squeak through the song and forget some of the lyrics.
After five run-throughs, Sonya silently hoped for a break.
“That’s enough for this afternoon,” the director said with a firm clap of her hands. “Eddie and Connie, I know your feet must be hurting, but you have to keep it lively. This isn’t your grandparents dancing at your wedding. This is a festive and lively waltz. I’m not asking you to go all in on a Viennese Waltz. I just want you two to keep with the pace.”
The dancing pair nodded.
“Golly,” Betty muttered to herself as she turned away from them. “Are we going to have to hire a choreographer for this simple dance scene?”
Sonya started down the stage steps.
“And Sonya,” Betty called out.
Surprised to be pointed out, she turned to the director.
“Good job.”
“Thank you.”
