Free Fearless in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

just interested in Becca.”
    “When was the last time you saw Becca?” I asked.
    Bowman paused.  “Why?”
    Oops, maybe too direct?  “Uh, well, I just wanted to make sure that she still looks like the pictures we’ve seen.”  Hey, I was catching on to this lying game.
    Bowman nodded slowly.  “I can assure you that she would not change her style without letting me know.”
    “So, you’ve seen her recently?”
    “I have.  She was in here a couple of days ago and looked perfect.  Camera ready,” he assured me.
    “A couple of days ago.  That was before Alexa died,” I noted.
    He nodded.  “Yes, they were both in.  They were collecting their checks for a tampon commercial they did.”
    “How big were the checks?” I asked, remembering the mention of the windfall.
    Bowman frowned.  “I’m sorry, I don’t think that’s something I should share.”
    “What she means,” Dana said, jumping in to save my horrible-liar butt again, “is that our production has a tight budget.  We heard a rumor that Alexa and Becca were commanding higher pay lately, and we’re quite frankly a little concerned that we may not be able to match them.”
    God, she was good.  I nodded next to her like a bobble doll.  “That’s right.  We’re concerned.”
    Bowman pursed his lips, and I could see greed warring with the fear of losing a paying gig.  Finally fear must have won out as he leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk.  “Look, to be honest, the commercial was a regional thing.  I’d doubt the amount of the checks could pay their rent, let alone qualify as ‘high pay,’” he said, doing air quotes with his fingers.
    “Is it possible they’ve been working under the table somewhere else?” I pressed.
    Bowman shook his head.  “No way.  I’d hear about it.  I’m very well connected.”
    While his modest digs made me question the last part of that statement, I knew for a fact that Hollywood was a small world.  Chances were he honestly would have gotten wind of them moonlighting eventually, especially if it was a high paying gig.  And while Alexa and Becca may not have been brain surgeons, I had a feeling even they weren’t stupid enough to risk it. 
    Which meant Alexa’s windfall had to have come from somewhere else. 
    “So that means,” Dana said, her own mental wheels turning beside me, “that you booked them for all their jobs.  Even the vampire parties?”
    Bowman scoffed.  “Great, you’ve heard about those?”
    “Oh, have we,” Marco jumped in.
    “Look, I told them not to do that job.”
    “Really?” I asked, leaning forward.  “Why not?”
    “It ruined their credibility.  That Sebastian character may have some ridiculous stuff going on at that place, but I know the kinds of movers and shakers that are into ridiculous extra curricular activities.  Alexa and Becca were more likely to run into a big name director at one of the parties than they were at the farmers’ market.  They were pigeon-holing themselves before they even got a part.”
    “But you booked them on it anyway?”
    “In case you didn’t notice, I’m not exactly repping Tom Cruise here,” he argued, gesturing around his office.  “I gave them my honest opinion, they ignored it, what can you do?”  He shrugged. 
    “Did the parties pay well?”
    Bowman shook his head.  “Well below scale.  Then again, they aren’t exactly union jobs, if you know what I mean.”  He paused.  “Look, you want to book Becca or not?” Bowman asked, some of the eagerness he’d originally displayed having been questioned out of him.
    Dana nodded.  “Definitely.  As soon as possible.”
    “Great,” Bowman said, turning to an ancient computer monitor beside him and squinting at the greenish font.  “She’s free all next week?” he offered.
    “We were hoping for sooner,” I said.  “Like… today?”
    “No can do,” Bowman answered, shaking his head.  “She’s booked