Chapter 11
‘Right, folks, let’s run through it one last time,’ spoke Felix to the two actors and cameramen. They were in the drawing room about to shoot the first few scenes. ‘Polly, you’ve just poured yourself a Martini,’ he pointed to the mirrored glass drinks cabinet, ‘then you walk to the window,’ he turned to one of the cameramen, ‘make sure you get the bay outside, it’s looking dark and gloomy out there today, I want it to reflect the mood,’ then he faced Polly again, ‘you’re pondering, deep in thought.’
‘Yep, got it,’ replied Polly.
‘And, Brian, I want you to be assuring towards Polly, but inside you’re alarmed, you’ve a murderer in the house, yea?’
‘Yes.’ Brian nodded, a tad irritated by Felix’s unnecessary direction. He was an accomplished actor, after all, and didn’t need it spelling out quite so patronisingly. He excused Felix’s behaviour as it was his first shot at directing.
‘OK, let’s go… and action!’ Felix stood back and watched intently.
Polly was a real pro, she poured the Martini with ease and sauntered over to the bow window. Her green eyes looked over the rim of the raised cocktail glass out to the bay. She let out a sigh of fear and confusion.
‘But who would have wanted to kill the cook, Daddy?’
Brian slowly raised from the sofa and moved to stand behind her. Putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, he recited his line.
‘Now, now, old bean, you know what the inspector said. Let’s leave it to the constabulary.’
She turned to him with searching eyes. ‘Jilly, the scullery maid, said she’d overheard raised voices between the cook and Wilson. But surely the butler wouldn’t stab the cook in the back, and with her own kitchen knife no less!’
‘I think we all need to keep calm,’ soothed the father.
‘Where was Wilson, when Jilly found the body?’
‘Cut!’ shouted Felix. They all looked abruptly towards him.
‘Polly, I want more…insistence, more resolve, yeah?’
Polly nodded. ‘Got it.’
‘From that line. Action!’
‘WherewasWilson, when Jilly found the body?’ She narrowed her eyes, then twisted back to the window to gaze out in deliberation.
‘Now don’t go snooping, Scarlett, this is dangerous territory,’ warned Brian.
‘It’s not snooping, Daddy.’ She took a sip of Martini and looked her father squarely in the face. ‘I have a talent for solving crimes.’
‘Promise me you’ll not do anything rash? I know how impulsive you can be, Scarlett.’
‘Of course not.’ She gave a foxy smile. Felix signalled towards the cued cameraman to zoom in for a close-up shot to end the scene.
‘And cut!’ called Felix, pleased with the take.
Emma couldn’t resist listening in behind the drawing room door. She was so intrigued to hear what was going on. On the pretext of collecting the post in the hall, she’d paused as she’d passed by. When she heard Felix shout ‘cut’ she quickly dashed to the front door to pick up two delivered envelopes. Emma saw one was just a utility bill, but the other was a hand-written envelope addressed to Felix. It looked to be on expensive, thick white paper. Who hand writes letters these days? thought Emma, puzzled. As she walked back, Felix was coming out from the drawing room.
‘Felix, this has just arrived for you,’ said Emma passing him the letter.
‘Oh, right,’ he frowned, obviously not expecting something. He then looked up. ‘Any chance of coffee? We’ve wrapped up for the morning.’
‘Yeah, sure, I’ll bring it up,’ replied Emma, pleased to assist.
Within half an hour she’d set up the hostess trolley in the hall and the cameramen, Polly, Brian and Felix were enjoying a well-earned break.
‘You not having a coffee, Emma?’ asked Felix, beckoning her to join them.
‘Oh, err…’ Emma hesitated.
