Free Murder in the Second Row by Bev Robitai Page A

in
advertising – he seems all image and façade.’ She rested her chin
on her hand. ‘What am I looking for? A grown-up, I guess. A man
with some history and some depth.’
    ‘And yet,’ said
Clara-Jane teasingly, ‘a man who’s still in touch with his inner
child, with a wicked sense of humour. Let’s face it Jessica, you
need someone who can appreciate your occasional inspired
lunacy.’
    The wardrobe
door slammed shut and stairs creaked overhead as footsteps
descended.
    Nick ushered
Tamara into the Green Room with a proprietary air, beating out a
drum roll on the doorframe.
    ‘Ladies and
gentlemen, our new promotions model, Miss Tamara Fitzpatrick!’
    Tamara pulled
the small t-shirt even tighter and jiggled her boobs. Across her
prominent chest were the ever-so-slightly distorted words “The
Regent Theatre has an appointment…”
    She turned
round to display the knife-handle protruding from her back, above
the words “an Appointment with Death!”
    Despite her
feelings about the model, Jessica was impressed.
    ‘How did you
get the knife to stick out like that, Clara-Jane?’
    ‘It’s only
plastic. I just melted it a bit and bent the blade at right-angles
halfway down, then glued it in place. Works well, doesn’t it?’
    ‘It’s going to
get us a lot of attention,’ said Nick. Tamara slapped his arm
playfully. ‘And Tamara will obviously catch every guy’s eye. I’ll
make sure we find ourselves in front of the press photographer a
few times; our little model here will do the rest, I’m sure.’
    ‘I’m sure she
will, too’ said Clara-Jane drily. ‘You’d better take it off now so
that it doesn’t get crushed before the weekend, Tamara. No! Not
right here! Go into one of the dressing rooms, girl. There’ll be
mature gentlemen arriving any minute; let’s not risk their dicky
tickers.’
    Right on cue,
Austin came through the stage door, brightening visibly at the
sight of Tamara’s curvaceous lettering. He hurried over and made a
big show of reading the slogan slowly and carefully, back and
front.
    ‘If the
theatre’s got an appointment, can I have the one afterwards?’
    Tamara made a
face and disappeared into the main dressing room.
    ‘I must be
losing my touch,’ Austin smirked, ‘as the leper said to the
actress. How are we, boys and girls? Ready for another night of
dramatic intercourse?’
    ‘No, just a
rehearsal I think, Austin,’ deadpanned Jessica. ‘Let’s go see if
everyone has arrived, shall we?’ She spun him round and propelled
him towards the stage door.
    Onstage, Adam
was gathering the cast.
    Jessica left
them to it and retraced her steps to the Green Room where
Clara-Jane was laying out Nadine’s nurse-like outfit and some Arab
costumes on the big props table.
    ‘I’ve figured
it out,’ announced Clara-Jane. ‘He’s doing it to make you jealous.
It’s the only explanation for such an obvious about-face.’
    ‘Oh hell, you
could be right. Damn, just when I thought he was off my case.’ She
picked up a headdress and pulled it over her eyes. ‘Can you direct
me to the nearest camel, please, memsahib? I am wanting to be
leaving this oasis pretty damn quick.’
    ‘Don’t play
with the props, dear,’ Gert admonished automatically, as she walked
past on the way to the downstairs props room. Jessica put the
headdress back and followed Gert down the stairs to the
low-ceilinged basement area where she and her band of props helpers
created the many weird items needed on stage. Jessica prowled
around the shelves, fingering masks and implements, until Gert
asked her to stop.
    ‘What are you
doing, Jessica?’
    ‘Oh, just
hiding, I guess. Is there anything I can help you with down here?
I’d like to stay out of the way for a while.’
    ‘Yes, all right
dear. You could rub some stain on this wooden box, if you like.’
She handed Jessica a slim rectangular lidded box. ‘It’s the
doctor’s medical case so we need it to look well-used and
much-travelled. Rags are