Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(82)

“This is a movie set?” Captain Derue asked as they arrived. He was familiar with movies from his time on the ship and was keenly interested not only in the filming itself but in everything behind the scenes: the catering tent, the dressing rooms and especially the crates of props, so many of which could have come directly from his own past.

“Yes, this is it,” Charlie said.

“Interesting,” Captain Derue said. “And the reenactors will be here?” he asked.

“Many of them,” Ethan assured him. “From here, we’ll walk over to Grace Church and see if we can’t find Anson McKee.”

“Thank you.” His words were heartfelt.

Charlie might have been gone for a month rather than only a few days, she was greeted so warmly by Brad, Mike, the crew and the actors on call, not only Blane and Harry, but Jimmy and Grant Ferguson, who were also part of the “rising” scenes.

“Charlie, any chance you have time for one scene?” Brad asked her. “Your costume’s here, and I just want to shoot you getting up after the ghosts have saved you—over by the old graves on this side of the churchyard.”

She glanced at Ethan. He nodded. “Sure. We have a few hours,” he said.

Ethan kept his eye on the dressing room while she changed, chatted with the other actors to pass the time.

“I’m so sick of being filthy,” Jimmy said. “And people think an actor’s life is all glamour.”

“We do get to sit in the shade and sip mineral water,” Grant said.

“Want to join us?” Jimmy asked Ethan.

“No, I think I’ll wander down to watch the filming,” Ethan told them.

“Have fun,” Jimmy said cheerfully, heading for the catering tent.

Charlie came out of the dressing room, transformed into a modern young professional in her office attire. Brad, Mike, Luke—hauling his microphones, headphones and other equipment—and Jennie—makeup box in hand—walked with her over to the spot where Brad had chosen to shoot. Everyone but Charlie was completely unaware that they’d been joined by Captain Ellsworth Derue.

From his vantage point a short distance from the church, Ethan could see both the filming and Jonathan standing near the church and speaking to a crowd.

He noticed that Jennie frequently looked over in Jonathan’s direction.

The filming went off without a hitch. There was nothing for Charlie to see as she got up from the ground where she’d fallen, but Brad painted the picture with words as she looked around her. She was terrified when she first saw the ghosts, but then she realized they were there to protect her, that they would save her from the evil living men who were chasing her. Once they’d captured a satisfactory take, Brad had Luke set up a new scene marker and called for silence on the set. Charlie had been set up with a mic, and now she thanked the ghosts who were supposedly surrounding her, though once again she was on her own, talking to the air. When the scene was completed to Brad’s satisfaction, he called “Cut!” and went over and kissed Charlie on the cheek, and told her she was brilliant.

While Charlie was busy talking with Brad, Ethan strolled over to where Jennie was standing.

“Not only did you know Corley and Hickory,” he said softly and without preamble, “you knew them pretty well.”

She flushed and looked at him. “Not really. We were all involved in an organization called Sane Energy. They wanted to try to talk to some oil-company bigwig about changing an oil pipeline, and I thought it was a good idea.”

“You claimed you barely knew them.”

She sighed and looked at him. “Okay, I knew them a little more than ‘barely,’ but it’s not like we were buddies or something. And I didn’t want to get involved, because what if that made me a target? I don’t know who killed them or why, I swear.”

“Okay, let’s leave that for now and talk about the fact that you talked to Albion Corley on the Journey the day of the reenactment, and then you rushed to talk with Jonathan Moreau. Why did you need to talk to Jonathan if not to tell him what you must have known, that Albion and Farrell wanted his help with their plan?”

Jennie shook her head. “Yes, that’s why I wanted to talk to him, but I didn’t get the chance to tell him anything. Someone was talking to him, asking him questions. People are always asking him questions. He left to set up his next lecture before I got a chance to talk to him.”

Ethan had to be satisfied with that, because Brad and Charlie had stopped talking and were heading his way.

“Done for the day,” Brad said happily. “We should all head to the café.”

Ethan looked at his watch, surprised to see that it was already midafternoon, and they’d promised Derue a visit to the church. “Can’t. Charlie has a show at five thirty,” he said.

“Well, that sucks,” Brad said.

“How about breakfast tomorrow?” Mike asked, walking up to join them. “The Journey stays in port until midmorning. We could do an early breakfast, say eightish? Maybe eight thirty.”

“Sounds good,” Ethan said.

“Sure,” Charlie agreed.

“Still wish you could come with us now,” Brad said.

“Me, too, but we’ll see you in the morning,” Charlie promised.

“Okay, then,” Brad said. “Come on, Jennie. Let’s go.”