A Script for Danger (Nancy Drew Diaries #10)(26)

Of course, when I returned to the set I couldn’t approach Alex because he was still preoccupied with directing the first scene. At least there hadn’t been any near deaths in my absence. I tracked down George and Bess at base camp and filled them in. They agreed that there was likely more to Ronan’s story than he’d shared.

“I wonder if his mystery project is the sabotage!” Bess cried.

“That’s what I’m thinking,” I replied.

Meanwhile, my friends didn’t have anything new to report on the Roberta Ely front; apparently she and Lali had been holed up in Lali’s trailer since I left. We agreed that whatever the reason for their meeting, it wasn’t friendly. If Lali was simply telling Roberta Ely that she was going to cancel the graveyard scene, why would she want to do that in person? It wasn’t like Lali had the time to sit around and have a long chat.

“Hey, Omar! Wait!” Cora called out.

“Is that Omar over there?” she asked as she raced past us. She pointed at the shaggy brown head retreating toward the bathrooms. I squinted in his direction.

“I think that’s Spencer, actually,” I said, recognizing his black fleece vest.

“They look really similar from behind!” Bess pointed out. “I made that mistake yesterday.”

“Omar said he would set up an interview for me with Brian, but I can’t find him!” Cora fussed.

“I’m right here, Cora.” Brian’s voice came from behind us. I turned to see him sitting on a chair several yards away with weights strapped to his ankles, pumping his legs up and down. “Interview away!”

“Oh, there you are!” Cora flashed a toothy grin and turned on her camera.

“So what are you doing, Brian?”

“Just a little leg workout between takes,” he responded with a wink. “It’s important to keep limber and warm so that I can move fluidly.”

George rolled her eyes and under her breath mumbled, “Show-off.”

“Cora,” Brian said, “I know I’ve asked you this, and Alex said we had to wait till after we finish shooting, but maybe you can give me some of your footage—the behind-the scenes stuff? I won’t distribute it or anything, but I want to show my mom what it’s like to be a lead actor in a film!”

Cora cocked her head to the side. “I’ll convince Alex and Lali. Don’t worry.”

“Great!” Brian exclaimed. “It’s embarrassing, but she has been begging—and nobody says no to Mama Newsome.”

“Psst! Nancy!” Omar hissed, coming up behind me. “Have you heard anything about the announcement?”

“No . . . what are you talking about?”

“Nysa just told me that Lali is going to make a big announcement during lunch!” He paused. “I thought that as a journalist you might have some sort of scoop.”

“Um, unfortunately not,” I replied. “Did she say what it was about?”

Omar looked absolutely terrified. “No, but what if she’s canceling the film?” He shuddered at the thought. “Brian’s career would be dead! And then so would mine!”

I looked over at Brian, who was soaking up Cora’s attention as he talked her through the best ways to get fit while sitting down. If he was aware of the rumors, he didn’t seem too concerned. Come to think of it, Brian had been handling all the chaos extremely well. He was utterly unflappable.

As soon as Omar had ducked away to give Brian his green juice, I turned to my friends. “Whatever Lali is going to announce probably has something to do with Roberta Ely,” I whispered.

We kept a close eye on the door to the production trailer until Roberta Ely walked out about twenty minutes later. I almost didn’t recognize her, because for the first time . . . she looked happy.





CHAPTER TEN





Deep Cuts


BY THE TIME LUNCH ROLLED around, rumors were flying. As the cast and crew filed into the catering tent and lined up at the buffet, I heard all kinds of predictions about Lali’s announcement.

“I think they’re going to shut the whole thing down.” Nysa was panicked.

Omar had managed to ease his own anxieties, though. “That’s just not possible. Brian would never let it happen,” he insisted.

“He’s an actor, Omar!” Nysa cried. “It’s not up to him!”

I knew better than to listen to gossip, but even I couldn’t fathom what Lali could have said to make Roberta so pleased. However, regardless of what had transpired in that trailer, I still had to continue my investigation.

Over the past few days, I had learned that the only way to grab a moment with Alex was to hover until he was alone and pounce before anyone else had a chance. I patiently stood aside and waited for him to finish speaking with the cinematographer. As soon as he was free, I ran up to him.

“Nancy! What a day, eh? I can’t believe that the light almost . . .” Alex shook his head.

I got right to the point. “Did you know that Ronan Beale is in River Heights now?”

Alex looked at me like I was insane. “Are you serious? Did he move back here permanently? And how do you even know about him, anyway?”

“Lali told me he could be a potential suspect,” I replied. “I found his forwarding address in the RHU alumni records. I actually met him for coffee . . . and he says you refuse to speak to him.”