Page 22

Chapter 22

Ladyhawke

KEENAN

A pparently getting an audience with a famous actor isn’t as easy as knocking on their door. Luckily, I know people in Hollywood now. Rachel makes a few phone calls on my behalf and smooths a path to the front door of Hailey Whitmore’s Hollywood Hills mansion.

I didn’t want to bring Vanessa on this fact-finding mission, but I also don’t want to leave her behind. Not with a saboteur on set.

We approach Wesselman to let him know our plan.

“No!” he sputters. “She can’t leave. We’re one scene away from wrapping the film.”

“Yeah, but,” Vanessa counters, “I’ll be refreshed when I come back to do my last big scene. Imagine how great my acting will be?”

“A mini break sounds delicious right about now.” Spoon joins us. “I want one too.”

Ironically, this is what tips Wesselman’s decision in our favour.

“I refuse to lose both my lead actors at once,” he says. “Spoon, you stay. Vanessa, you go.”

“You can’t stand it when I’m happy, can you?” Spoon complains, trailing after Wesselman, who stomps off in a black cloud. “You cast me in this beastly film only to treat me like the lowest paid grunt here. I should’ve left with Hailey.”

“You can thank me in your Oscar speech,” Wesselman grumbles.

I send a teasing wave at the disgruntled actor as I drive Vanessa off set. The cast and crew are starting to feel like a family. Perhaps that’s what my mouse shifter friend meant when she said there was movie magic happening on her front doorstep. It’s like having a built-in family for the duration of filming.

When we get to Hailey Whitmore’s house, Vanessa and I are met by a burly security guard.

Vanessa grips my hand tightly and jumps up and down, shrieking like a guinea pig. “Do I look good enough?” she asks as we approach the front door.

She’s wearing jeans, a bright yellow T-shirt emblazoned with a rainbow, and star-shaped sunglasses. She looks perfect, the same as every other day. Somehow, I don’t think she wants to hear that though.

I dip into her thoughts so I can figure out what to say to her, but what I find has me backing away like my tail’s on fire.

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! HAILEY-FREAKING-WHITMORE LIVES HERE! I’M KNOCKING ON A MANSION AND ABOUT TO TALK TO AN A-LISTER. ONE WHOSE JOB I TOOK… Shoot! What if she hates me? Maybe I can pretend I’m not the person who took her job. Do I have a piece of paper in my purse for her autograph?

Vanessa digs through her pockets as the bodyguard leads us to the door and knocks before pushing it open and waving us inside.

“You have half an hour.” He stares hard at us as we make our way inside.

“Oh my freaking god,” Vanessa mutters under her breath, turning on the spot as she takes in the foyer before approaching a black-and-white photo of Hailey Whitmore. “It’s real, Keenan. The person who took this is…”

“Annie Leibowitz. Yes, who doesn’t have one these days?”

My gaze is drawn up the grand staircase by the husky voice of our host who stands posed next to a cupid statue. When our eyes meet, her lips stretch into a smile that doesn’t touch the rest of her face.

“Hailey Whitmore!” Vanessa squeaks and I slide an arm around her waist, trying to infuse calm into her.

“Rachel told me to expect you, but I don’t know why you’re here at all.” Hailey descends the stairs, gliding with professional grace.

Vanessa’s eyes widen as Hailey stops at the bottom and poses against the banister post. “It’s so nice to meet you!”

Hailey’s gaze lands on Vanessa and I hold my breath hoping she doesn’t insult my mate before I get what I need out of her.

“I’m sure it is,” Hailey says, her lips creasing into a practiced smile as she extends her hand.

Vanessa pumps it, talking fast. “I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you. I was so afraid you’d hate me after I replaced you in Zach Wesselman’s film. Believe me, I had no idea I would be taking over for the great Hailey Whitmore, and when I found out, I about freaked. How am I supposed to compare?”

Hailey’s brow wrinkles. “I’m sure.” She stares at Vanessa as if wondering how a rabid fan got into her house, then says, “Why don’t we take this out to the pool deck? It’s such a lovely afternoon.”

“You have such a big, beautiful home,” Vanessa gushes. “It’s everything I imagined it would be.”

“It is?” Hailey seems confused that Vanessa would spend time imagining her home.

“Oh yes.” Vanessa throws her arms out, nearly hitting both me and Hailey. “I bet there’s at least five bedrooms here and look at all this artwork! You must have a really accomplished curator.” She skips ahead, stopping in front of a painting. She grins at Hailey. “An authentic Giorgio Griffa.”

Hailey’s expression descends into confusion. “How do you know?” She quickly regains her composure as she joins Vanessa. “I mean, of course it is, but how can you tell?”

“See these brush strokes, the way the canvas stretches here? His spare use of paint while leaving large sections of the canvas unfinished?”

Hailey leans in, the skin around her eyes crinkling as she squints. “Yes?”

“It’s his personal signature. He uses the process of creating art as the art itself. When not displayed, his canvases are folded and put away. His unique style is his signature.”

Hailey thaws as the two women discuss the painting. Outside, she invites us to sit down for a drink and snacks. As we settle at the shaded outdoor table next to a pool with lily pads floating in it, I listen as the conversation turns from artwork to acting.

I’m eager to ask my questions, but allowing Vanessa to talk is giving me more insight into Hailey Whitmore than I might have otherwise gleaned. Soon, they’re discussing the movie set like long lost friends.

“And what about Ginger Abbot?” Hailey leans closer, lowering her voice as she takes a sip of her iced tea. “The mouse? Is she still hanging around? She once told me she loves the movie magic on set. She helped reconnect the power to my trailer.”

“She’s still there,” I tell her taking the opportunity to steer the conversation in the direction I want it to go. “How did you know she was a shifter?” It’s unusual for shifters to reveal themselves to humans they don’t trust, which means the two must’ve formed a bond.

Hailey’s eyes slide away from me. “We liked each other.”

I don’t beat around the bush. “What are you hiding?”

“Don’t be rude,” Vanessa scolds me.

“I’m here to ask questions,” I remind her.

Hailey’s gaze moves back and forth between us as she sighs heavily. “You want to know about the accidents, right?” At my nod, she adds, “Rachel warned me, but I’m not sure what I can tell you.”

“Were you the target of any incidents while you were on set?”

She tilts her head as she thinks. “They weren’t really incidents or outright attacks. They were more like pranks. Everyone was a target, and the pranks continued after I left the film. If they haven’t stopped, why would you think I might be involved?”

“Your name keeps coming up.”

“It would,” she admits. “I was the lead actress before Vanessa took over.” She smiles at Vanessa. “I was involved in every part of that set.” Her brow wrinkles as she ponders out loud, “The worst prank was when the power was cut to my trailer and I was locked inside.”

Vanessa frowns. “But the door lock isn’t electronic, it’s keyed. How would you get trapped in your trailer?”

“Someone jammed the door and left me in the dark.” A shudder ripples through her. “I hate the dark.”

“Does anyone on set know you hate the dark?” I ask.

She starts to shake her head, then stops, her eyes widening. “I hadn’t thought of it at the time because we were…” Heat stains her cheeks.

“You were having a relationship with someone on set?”

She nods. “We hook up whenever we’re on set together. In fact, I’m the reason he got the job.” As if assuming judgement, she rushes to add, “He’s damn good at his job or I wouldn’t recommend him.”

“Who?” I demand.

“Stelios Diaz.”

Vanessa grins her relief. “Well, there’s no way it’s Stelios.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Hailey says, her lips turning down. “In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think it could be him.”

“Why?”

A shudder ripples through her. “He was so angry when he found out…”

“Found out what?” Vanessa is on the edge of her seat, as though watching a gripping movie unfolding before her eyes.

Hailey narrows her eyes at me. “I’m only showing you this because you’re a shifter. You’re loud and proud about it, everything I’ve always wanted to be and never could. I’m meant to shine bright, yet I’ve spent years hiding myself.”

“Hiding yourself?” Vanessa is taken aback. “But you’re one of the most prolific actors in the business. You’re everywhere. Your Wiki bio says you’ve been in thirty-seven films and you’re only thirty-one years old.”

“Not all of me is out and about,” she says enigmatically, stepping away from the table.

I hold my hand up. “The grand reveal isn’t necessary; I’m starting to get what everyone’s hiding.”

My excitable mate claps her hands. “Oooh! A grand reveal!”

“Oh, it’s necessary.” Hailey’s eyes gleam with purpose and I lean back in my chair with a sigh. I had no idea shifters could be so dramatic. Or maybe it’s just the ones who work in Hollywood.

POOF!

I glance at the pool deck as a brightly coloured parrot steps delicately from the pile of clothes at her feet, extending her wings in a ’ta-da’ move.

“It’s not a reveal if the audience has figured it out,” I grumble.

“I had no idea!” Vanessa bends to the parrot sticking her arm out.

Hailey steps onto the extended limb and climbs to Vanessa’s shoulder, tugging affectionately at her hair.

“Aren’t you gorgeous!” Vanessa exclaims, running her fingers down Hailey’s orange, green and yellow plumage. “I can’t believe no one guessed.”

My mate has completely hijacked my interrogation. “I need you to shift back to human,” I tell Hailey.

She dips her head and flies from Vanessa’s arm to the pool deck, shifting to human.

As she pulls her clothes back on, she says, “I haven’t been able to do that in front of other people in a very long time. It’s part of the reason I would never harm anyone on Wesselman’s movie set.” She returns to her chair, her hair askew and an unpracticed grin stretching her lips. “Wesselman films are safe havens for shifters and we all know it. None of us would ruin that, especially not me. I know how hard it is to find a place where you can truly feel at home, and I did when I was on set.”

“Then why did you leave?” I ask, frowning. “I don’t understand.”

She shrugs. “Creative differences.”

“But that can mean anything,” Vanessa says.

“I know,” Hailey admits. “It’s like putting ‘irreconcilable differences’ as a reason for divorcing, which I did, incidentally. Twice. But in this case, it really was creative differences. As you know, a Wesselman film is a highly sought after project. When I first agreed to look over the script there were three alternate endings to the film. I agreed to do the film, gambling on my favourite ending, the one where my character gets to live. Wesselman wanted the one that ended in my death. I hated the idea and left the project.”

“Any regrets?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, my relationship with Stelios came to an end around the same time I found out which ending Wesselman was going to use. Honestly, it was a relief to leave the set.”

“But you sound like you loved it,” Vanessa sounds truly sad that Hailey left. “You got to be among other shifters.”

Hailey smiles. “And I will again. Rachel is great at putting together teams of shifters on movie sets.”

“Right under the director’s nose,” I add shrewdly.

“Now you get it,” she says with a grin.

“Why did your relationship with Stelios end?” I ask. Vanessa kicks me under the table. I read her thoughts and gruffly add, “If it’s not too difficult to talk about.”

Hailey frowns, “I revealed my true self to him and he freaked. Called me some terrible names and told me he’d kill me if I came near him again.”

“That’s terrible! You didn’t report him?” Vanessa asks.

Hailey shakes her head. “I didn’t want to out myself. You’ve seen how crazy people get when a shifter is revealed in Hollywood. I couldn’t bring myself to sink my career.”

“I understand,” I reassure her. “It’s nobody’s business but yours.”

Her gaze holds longing as she says, “Maybe one day we’ll be accepted, but we’re not there yet.”

“The reckoning might be coming sooner than you think,” I murmur, thinking of my brother and the dead shifter. It should be unrelated, but I have a feeling it’s not. I push my chair away from the table and hold my hand out to Vanessa as I stand. “Thank you. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” My thoughts turn to Stelios. “I’ll be having a chat with our mutual friend.”

“Please don’t mention my name,” she says, her eyes sliding away as she leads us to the front door. “He may have some footage of us together…”

OH. MY. GOD. SHE HAS A SEX TAPE!

Thank god my mate had the decency to use her inside-the-head voice. “I’ll make sure it gets buried.”

As we make our way to the Jeep, Vanessa says, “Do you think I should’ve told her Wesselman changed the ending again and our character gets to live?”

It’s cute how she now thinks of her character as belonging to both her and Hailey. “I think you should let her find out on her own.”