Today's Reading
I put a hand out to steady myself, then stop before it touches the wooden doorframe.
Fingerprints. I don't want to leave any, my murder-writer brain tells me even in this moment of panic.
I take a couple of shallow breaths and try to clear my thoughts. I need to tell someone about this, someone in authority, so they can call the cops and start up all of the things that come with a body.
Police. Suspicion. Fear. Questions. So, first of all, fuck.
And second of all, again?
And most of all, though it's not strictly my job, I'm probably going to have to solve this thing.
I mean, I'm right here on the spot. I told you I like puzzles and planning murders. Untangling the knot isn't the same as tying it, but they're related activities. And, as the "again" above suggests, this isn't my first non-literary homicide. Three months ago, I was involved in a whole thing in Italy when I was on a tenth-anniversary book tour for When in Rome. I almost died and three people actually did.
I figured out who the murderer was just in time.
To save my skin, that is. Too late for the other victims, unfortunately.
Bygones.
I have some expertise in this department, is all I'm saying.
Some of the other guests do, too.
Plus, on closer inspection, I know the victim, so...I've got to do it.
I have to at least try to figure out the who, what, where, when, and why.
I get that you might have some questions, potentially about my choice to rhyme in a situation like this.
I do, too.
But I promise that everything important will be explained in due course.
And hey, we can solve this together, right? You'll help me out?
Great.
Let's begin.1
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1 Hello again. Eleanor here. Welcome to the footnotes. Yep, this book has them. Why? Because they're awesome. But they're also optional. If you want to skip them, do. I promise not to drop too many clues in here.
TWO DAYS EARLIER...
Thursday
CALL SHEET FOR WHEN IN ROME— DAY 50
PERSONALIZED FOR ELEA NOR DASH
YOUR CALL TIME: 7:30 A.M.
This is our last day of filming!
Base camp will be in the alley behind Shutters.
Reach Shawna directly for any additional questions.
OCTOBER 23
83 DEGREES
SUNRISE 7:05 A.M./SUNSET 6:09 P.M.
LOCATION: SHUTTERS ON THE BEACH
1 PICO BLVD., SANTA MONICA, CA 90405
Producer
Tyler Houston 555-610-8220
Director
Simone Banerjee 555-789-0643
Assistant to the Director
Shawna Kassel 555-834-1212
SHOOT CALL—8:00 A.M.
SCHEDULE:
Scene 102—Cecilia and Connor EXT Shutters
Scene 103—Cecilia and Connor INT Shutters
CAST
1. Fred West (Connor Smith), scenes 102 & 103
2. Emma Wood (Cecilia Crane), scenes 102 & 103
3. John Parsons (Waiter #1), scene 103
4. Ken Simon (Connor Smith stand-in)
5. Naomi Smith (Allison Smith), scene 103
6. Eleanor Dash (Extra), scene 103
7. Harper Dash (Extra), scene 103
...
