A Script for Danger (Nancy Drew Diaries #10)(18)

“Omar, you can’t be serious. Brian’s not drinking that sludge, is he?”

“No, Kendall. Of course not!” Omar cried. He ran forward with his trusty thermos. Kendall stayed close behind him.

“Omar’s trying way too hard to impress Kendall,” Bess commented.

“Yeah. What if he’s helping Kendall sabotage the film?” George whispered.

“He has a motive,” I agreed. “Both of them do.”

Meanwhile, Nysa wasn’t even trying to hide her frustration with Sal. “Picture’s almost up, Sal. We’re about to roll and you’re in the frame!” she exclaimed.

Sal just kept passing out cider at the same slow pace. “I’m moving as fast as I can!” he fired back, handing off the last cups to two shivering camera assistants.

“Okay, let’s shoot this!” Alex called.

“I’m ready, boss!” Brian replied. Even though Omar was waiting with the green juice just a few feet away, Brian took several sips of hot cider instead. He passed his empty cup to Shea.

“And . . . action!”

“I—” Brian started making strange noises. Was he flubbing his lines? Everyone stared at the normally unflappable star. Then Brian started coughing and clutching at his throat.

“Oh no! He’s choking!” Kendall lurched forward.

“I know the Heimlich!” Spencer yelled, racing toward the set. Before he could grab the actor, though, Brian sprinted outside and threw himself against the railing in front of the house. Something flew out of his mouth and landed on the grass, right near where Cora stood.

As Brian caught his breath, Cora held up the offending object: a turquoise, heart-shaped pendant.





CHAPTER SEVEN





Fixed Footage


SILENCE HUNG OVER THE SET while a medic examined Brian. Lali paced, her face completely white. Kendall stayed as close to Brian as possible, muttering words like “amateur” and “ridiculous” under her breath.

Zo? clasped the pendant in her fist, completely confounded.

“I’m so sorry, Brian,” she whispered. “I have no idea how it got—why anyone would—”

“Well, I had nothing to do with this, if that’s what you’re all thinking!” Sal shouted. The light illuminated the rim of his hat, giving his pale, wrinkled face a ghostly glow.

“Sal, calm down, okay?” Lali commanded.

Meanwhile, the implications of this newest prank targeting Brian swirled in my mind: first the bloody sweater, now the pendant. Maybe this wasn’t about shutting down The Hamilton Inn. Was someone trying to send Brian a message? But how would anyone have known that he would even drink the cider, and beyond that, which cup he would drink from?

“He’s fine,” the medic announced.

Brian leaped to his feet. “See, Alex? Good as new. Let’s keep going.”

Alex shot Lali a worried glance.

“I think Brian has dealt with enough today,” Kendall proclaimed. “I’ll drive him back to the hotel.”

“Kendall, stop. I’m feeling great!” Brian insisted. “Lali, Alex, let’s finish the day. I’m really okay.” He started doing jumping jacks right there to prove his point. “See?”

Brian’s antics made Alex smile. “I can’t say no to that,” he said.

“Alex, come see me after you finish this scene,” Lali ordered. “And you!” She summoned the medic. “Stay right here until they’re done, just in case. Where are the security guards when I need them? This shouldn’t have happened!”

Kendall pulled Lali aside. I inched closer so I could hear what they were saying.

“I think it’s time to call the police,” Lali said. “This is harassment, plain and simple.”

But Kendall shook her head. “Do you have any idea what will happen if it gets out that you’re having problems like this? I already don’t like those three reporters hanging around! The last thing we need is a rumor that The Hamilton Inn is turning into The Hamilton Circus!”

“But Brian could have been hurt!” Lali exclaimed.

“That’s better than this film getting hurt,” Kendall insisted. “If you call the police, I’m pulling Brian off the movie.”

“Brian doesn’t listen to you, as far as I can tell,” Lali sneered. “And don’t you dare tell me how to run my set!”

“Fine. Then consider what the investors will think if they hear about an investigation. Pranks are one thing; crimes are a whole new ball game, Lali,” Kendall fired back. “Plus, I think—and I’m sure the police will agree—that this pendant thing was an accident. Someone’s cheap necklace broke and fell into the cider while it was being passed around. You’ll just slow the whole shoot down for nothing. Trust me.”

Lali paused. “You have a point,” she mumbled.

Interesting, I thought. Kendall doesn’t want to get the police involved. She was looking more and more guilty by the minute.

Meanwhile, the incident had sent ripples through the crew. Their animated chatter permeated the inn’s entrance as they reset the scene.

“All the pranks have been related to food from craft services,” I heard Nysa say. “Cider, ketchup, chocolate sauce, the coffee machine . . .”