Free This Old Murder by Valerie Wolzien

producer and she seemed to consider the question.
    “Maybe it would be best if Josie came along and she could suggest where we run into her crew members,” Bobby Valentine suggested. “We probably won’t introduce everyone during one show, but we try to give the audience an opportunity early in the series to recognize the people who will be on the set. It serves two purposes. First, it’s less distracting. Viewers don’t need to be wondering about the man—or woman—in a background shot while Courtney is talking or doing an interview. And it helps the viewer relate to the project.”
    “Why does that matter?” Josie asked, thankful for the arm he offered to help her get off the railing more gracefully than she had gotten on, and then followed him through the door into the house.
    “Our show is supposed to be educational, at least that’s how it’s billed. And we do show almost every new product on the market as well as the ways to use them. And certainly anyone planning to work on a house can get lots of great ideas by watching. But most of our viewers will never do anything as extensive or expensive as the jobs we show. They tune in because it’s fun to imagine being involved in a large-scale remodeling project without the grief or the expense involved in real life.”
    “You’re saying
Courtney Castle’s Castles
is entertainment.”
    He grinned. “Yup. But don’t tell anyone involved in public broadcasting. We used to get government funding to do this stuff, remember.”
    Josie noticed he was looking over her shoulder through the still open doorway. “Isn’t Courtney coming?”
    “It’s difficult to know just what she’s doing these days.” The words seemed to be said more to himself than in answer to her question. “But,” he continued firmly, “why don’t you and I go through the house and we can discuss how your work is going to connect with ours. Courtney can catch up later.”
    “Great.”
    “Courtney will introduce you on the deck in the first shot of the first show. And since she’ll mention your unique crew at that time, we think another introduction should take place within that half hour. Maybe someone could be finishing up a last bit of demolition in here?”
    “Well, we’re protecting the chimney and hearth down here. Maybe—”
    Josie was interrupted by a loud screech. It was so loud and frightening that at first she feared someone had been murdered. But it turned out to be the beginning of a Courtney Castle temper tantrum.

EIGHT
    ANNETTE LONG WAS pink with excitement. “You should have seen her! She was completely off the wall!”
    “You’re right. I couldn’t imagine what was going on,” Jill agreed, nodding furiously.
    “Hysterical bitch.” Dottie was typically succinct.
    Josie looked down at the plate in front of her. Caesar salad with grilled shrimp. Marinated roasted red peppers. Fresh rolls and butter. And there were three cheesecakes being cut up for dessert. Plain, chocolate, and raspberry. “But there are fringe benefits for putting up with her,” she reminded them.
    “She’s so thin. I don’t know how she eats all this stuff without gaining weight. Do you think she has a personal trainer?” Annette asked.
    “Ha!” Jill was sarcastic. “She doesn’t eat real food. Every time I see her, she’s taking tiny little bites from one of those disgusting rice cakes. I’d rather eat sawdust!”
    “Anorexic bitch.” Dottie patted her protruding stomach fondly.
    “I suspect we won’t be seeing all that much of her. I’m beginning to get the impression that Island Contracting is just scenery for
Courtney Castle’s Castles
,” Josie said, a frown on her face.
    “Oh, good, can I be a tree?” Jill asked. The women were sitting together on the dock behind the house, and Jill reached out, plucked a branch from an evergreen bush overhanging the water, and stuck it jauntily behind her left ear.
    “Me, too,” Annette said, giggling and running off the dock