A Knife to Remember

to disturb you anymore.“
    “I haven’t got a thing to do for another hour.”
    He came in the door, sweeping them before him. “Look, George—Mr. Abington, we’re going to have to tell the police what we know. In fact—“ Jane started to say they already had, but was cut off. “I don’t think they’ll be too surprised.“ “Why?“
    “Because I told them last night when they were collecting alibis.“
    “You told them already?“
    “Of course. It wasn’t that deep cover a secret. In fact, we had a press release written up to present at the wrap party tonight. There was a copy in Lynette’s dressing room. The police found it and asked me about it.”
    Jane didn’t know whether to be relieved or angry. She settled on angry. “Then why the hell was it a secret to begin with!“ she snapped.
    “Why, for Cavagnari’s sake, of course,“ he said, as if this should have been obvious to an especially backward four-year-old.
    Seeing their blank expressions, he explained patiently. “Ladies, directors are a touchy lot. They will work for producers, any producers. The -producers can be mob bosses or survivalists, as long as they have the money to put up. But directors hate working for actors. They consider us below them in the food chain and we damned well better stay there. Roberto didn’t mind taking orders from an orthodontist’s wife from Encino. Just as long as he didn’t know two of his actors were also giving the orders. But as of tonight, Roberto’s main work is done. In a few hours, it won’t matter. He’s still got to oversee the cutting, but we won’t be underfoot. Well, even if Lynette hadn’t died, I mean.“
    “Okay, George. So you’re saying Jake wouldn’t have been trying to blackmail Lynette over this?“ Shelley asked. She sounded as irritable as Jane was feeling.
    “Oh, he might have been trying. But Lynette probably wouldn’t have much cared. It all happened so close to the end of filming anyhow.“
    “But her most important scene was yesterday. She wouldn’t have wanted the director to know before that, would she?”
    George thought a moment. “I don’t think it would have mattered. Lynette had that scene down cold. She didn’t need Roberto to tell her how to do it.“
    “I don’t get it,“ Shelley said. “She seemed so vain and stupid. And yet, you’re saying she created a marvelous performance out of that empty head? And before that, helped put together the financing for the whole deal?“
    “I guess she was sort of an idiot savant,“ George said. “Dumb as a chicken about most things and brilliant in a very few.“
    “Who killed her?“ Jane asked, hoping to surprise valuable information out of George.
    “No idea,“ he said cheerfully. “Not my problem, thank God.”
     

22
     
    “Can we believe him?“ Shelley asked as the two walked back to their “home base“ in Jane’s yard. “About what?“
    “Everything. Anything.“
    “I think I probably do. We don’t have much choice. Besides—“ Jane explained to Shelley about George’s being so nice to poor old Olive a little while earlier. “It’s entirely possible that he may know more than he’s telling us. He may even be lying about what he is telling us, but I’m absolutely certain the man isn’t a killer. I think his instincts are basically kindly.”
    As they came through the gap in the scenery, they met up with Mel. “There you two are. I’ve been looking for you. I’ve got to get away from here for ten minutes. Want to go someplace for coffee?“
    “Sure. I’ll drive,“ Jane said. “You’re probably parked fourteen miles away anyhow and I’d like to get another shot at running over a reporter. It’s something I think I could be good at with a little practice.“
    “I’ve got to run home for a minute first,“ Shelley said. “I’ll meet you in your garage.”
     
    “Jane, I’m really sorry,“ Mel said, taking her arm possessively as they headed for her house. “About this weekend, I mean.”
    Jane glanced at her watch. “So am I. Right now we’d have been heading for the airport.“ “Another time. As soon as this is sorted out.“ “Are you getting close to solving the murders?“ “I’ll tell you all about it when we get away from here.”
    They went in through the kitchen door and back out to the garage from the inside entrance. They sat in the car in the dark garage for a minute. Mel kissed her long and hard, then Jane sighed and pushed the garage door