Read Online Deception on the Set by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

something classic.”
    I finally broke away and returned to Joe’s table. After I filled him in, he asked, “Man, is there anyone who does want this movie to be made?”
    â€œNo kidding,” I agreed.
    â€œBro, I hate to say it,” said Joe. “But motive-wise, this puts Chelsea Alexander near the top of our suspect list.”
    I sighed. “I know.” But honestly, it wasn’t such a blow. After spending a bit more time with her, I wasn’t as starstruck as I used to be.
    Okay, I know that the real people are different from the characters they play on TV. I get that. And I truly didn’t expect Chelsea to be as smart as her Lieutenant Fraction character. But she wasn’t even as nice in real life as I thought she’d be. In fact, she only seemed to be into me after she thought I was some sort of criminal who could help her. Not cool. Still, no matter how much I got to know her, the real her, I couldn’t quite shake the tiny crush I’d had since age ten.
    â€œLet’s attack this from the opposite angle,” I suggested. “Who really does want this movie to be made?”
    â€œThe guy who wrote it and is directing it, I would think,” replied Joe.
    â€œJosh Biehn,” I said. “Let’s go talk to him. I could use a little positive conversation about this movie for a change.”
    We caught Josh in his office in the production building.
    â€œHey, guys,” he greeted. “Come in, come in. Steve told me you were on the case.”
    Josh seemed like a different person. Yesterday he was about to kick me off the movie. Today he was happy to see me.
    â€œWe actually have a few questions for you, if you have time,” I said.
    â€œSure.” He sat on the edge of his desk.
    â€œWell, first of all, to be blunt,” Joe started, “do you know of anyone who would want to stop this movie?”
    â€œThat’s the thing,” said Josh. “I can’t figure it out for the life of me.”
    â€œWell, Mr. Kavner mentioned insurance money,” I said.
    The director laughed. “Steve’s always kidding around. And yes, this picture is well insured. But all movies are insured. And besides, there’s no way he’d ruin my first picture. We go way back to when I was a stunt performer in his early films.”
    â€œSpeaking of stunts, is it true that the entire stunt department has quit?” I asked.
    Josh nodded and sighed. “Yeah. I can’t believe Cody would run out on me like that, but he did. We go all the way back to college.” He held up his hands. “But I don’t blame him. He has his reputation to think of, and if someone did get hurt during one of his stunts, sabotage or not, it would be on him.”
    â€œDo you have more stunt people coming in?” I asked.
    â€œNo, there’s not enough time,” Josh replied. “We had to cut out most of the big stunts, and the few that are left I’ll do myself.”
    â€œIsn’t that kind of risky?” asked Joe. “If someone has it out for you in particular, one of your upcoming stunts would be the perfect time to strike.”
    â€œStunts are risky, period,” Josh explained. “But with you guys helping us keep an eye out, I’m sure things will go fine.”
    â€œWhen are the stunts happening?” I asked.
    â€œAnd what are they?” asked Joe.
    â€œJust check the call sheets,” said the director. “They list all the scene numbers for the day. You can use those numbers to look them up in the script.”
    â€œUh, we never got a script,” said Joe.
    Josh’s eyes widened. “You didn’t?” He ran to the back of his desk. “Let me get you one.” He pulled open a drawer and rummaged through, pulling out a stack of pages held together with two brads. He presented it like a proud parent. “Let me know what you think.”

BURNED
12
JOE
    I DON’T