Page 103 of Killer on the First Page
A new chapter. A new direction. A decision made. Regrets hovering in the background.
“So good to see you!” said Penny, ushering Miranda into her office. “The table read is not till tomorrow, but do come in. Sit, sit. Do you need anything? Water? Wine?”
“Nothing, thank you. I only wanted to stop by before we started, see how my favorite former intern is doing.”
An awkward silence followed.
“Miranda, look, I’m so sorry about—”
“It’s perfectly fine, honestly it is. There’s no need for you to apologize. I know you tried your best.”
Penny looked relieved. “Thank you for being so understanding. In the end, the powers that be felt that making the character of Inspector Le Gnash a woman was a little too ‘adventurous’ for their tastes. But I’m so happy you agreed to take another part. It’s smaller, of course, not the lead, the auntie of the detective. But you get to do a Canadian accent, all ‘oot and aboot’ and ‘eh’? It’s going to be fun.”
Miranda said, without rancor, “It was Lachlan, wasn’t it?”
“Sorry?”
“He’s the power that be.”
Penny pursed her lips, pretending not to understand. “I don’t follow.”
“Lachlan Todd, your head writer—sorry, newly appointedshowrunner. That’s who actually vetoed the idea of having me play the lead.”
Eyes down. “He did.”
“But you fought for me to be included in the pilot.”
Eyes up, smiling. “I did. And who knows? The aunt is potentially a recurring character. Pastor Fran began as a spin-off, so anything is possible.”
The wordpotentiallyhad as much meaning in Hollywood asproposed. Miranda looked around Penny’s office, sparsely furnished as studio lot offices always were.
Penny was curious. “How’s everything in Happy Rock? Any news?”
It was meant to sound conversational, but she was obviously alluding to the murder investigation.
“Owen McCune is getting married. It was just announced. So that’s exciting.”
“The greasy mechanic in the coveralls and silk sash?”
“The very same.”
“Who’s the blushing bride?”
“Inez Fonio.”
“But—isn’t she still in jail?”
“A prison romance? Heavens, no. The wedding ceremony will be held at our local LOJIC Grand Lodge, featuring an array of cheese cubes provided by TB Foods, with a reception afterwards in the cemetery. A dignified Presbyterian-Wiccan affair. I know! It was quite the shock. Who knew Owen was a practicing Wiccan?”
“Oh. Well. That’s good news, then!” Penny shuffled through some folders on her desk. “I’ll see you at the table read. Thank you so much for stopping by.”
“Will Lachlan be there?” Miranda asked. “At the read-through?”
“I imagine so, but—please, no tension. What I told you was in confidence. He didn’t feel you were right for the lead, but he didn’t stop me from offering you a secondary role.”
“Oh, I’m not here asking for a bigger part.”
“No?”
