yours up and cut hers down. It would be your movie, all the way. Can we turn that goddam television off ?’
‘George, turn it off,’ Charlie said, his mind racing. ‘And I don’t need you, dear’ – to the secretary – ‘come back tomorrow, same time.’
The rented secretary got up, smoothed down her mini, and wriggled past Marshall. Perhaps he would discover her. He didn’t even give her a glance.
At the door she paused, trying to decide whether to tell them she was an actress, but George blocked her path and ushered her out.
She wriggled off, angry at not having been discovered.
Charlie said slowly, ‘It sounds good. What about Cy? Has he agreed?’
Marshall felt relief. ‘He will.’
* * *
By the time Cy Hamilton Jnr arrived, fresh from an argument with his recent third wife, Charlie and Marshall had sorted everything out.
Cy was a likeable man, but he had a steely temper that appeared on occasion.
‘You bastards – you’re holding me to ransom,’ he said. But eventually he agreed.
All that remained to be settled was a new actress for the role, and they all had different ideas.
‘Magda Seal,’ Charlie said.
‘Forget it, she’s booked solid.’
‘Mirielle Montane from Cy.
‘No tits – skinny, useless.’
‘Anna Karl.’
‘Too old.’
They discussed the possibilities, eventually running out of foreign actresses and deciding that the girl could be any nationality.
‘How about a new girl?’ Marshall suggested, opening his briefcase and bringing out pictures. ‘Sunday Simmons.’
‘Sunday what?’ asked Charlie.
‘Simmons. You’ve seen her, Cy, haven’t you? Great body, big boobs, good publicity potential.’
Cy nodded. ‘Not a bad idea. Can she act?’
Marshall shrugged. ‘Who knows? We could run some film of her – she’s in the new Jack Milan.’
‘I don’t want an unknown,’ Charlie said.
‘Take a look at her pictures,’ Marshall replied. ‘She’s a wild-looking broad.’
Charlie thumbed through the stills, lingering on one that showed Sunday in the nude scene with Jack Milan. He felt suddenly aroused. My God, he realized it was at least two weeks since he’d had a woman. Have to do something about that.
‘She’s gorgeous,’ he said. ‘What’s her phone number?’
‘Yeah, what is her phone number?’ Cy asked, smiling slowly.
Marshall laughed. ‘Shall we run film on her?’
They both nodded.
‘Now another idea I had,’ Marshall said, ‘and don’t blow your stacks – is Angela Carter.’
‘Angela Carter!’ Cy exclaimed.
‘Yeah, Angela. She’s a name. I think I can get her to test.’
Charlie nodded. ‘OK with me. It sounds like a good idea.’
They decided on another three possibles, and since time was at a premium, they arranged to meet at eight o’clock at Cy’s house, where he would have film on all five girls to show in his private screening room.
As Marshall was leaving, Charlie called him to the side and said something he hadn’t wanted to. ‘Can you fix me a girl for later?’
‘Sure. Any preferences?’
Charlie shook his head, already regretting asking Marshall. But after all, he didn’t know anyone in town and he didn’t want someone from the studio sending him a hooker.
‘Leave it to me,’ Marshall said, limping off, relieved to be on his way back to the office.
Chapter Eleven
‘I love drive-ins!’ Sunday exclaimed, examining the menu on a stand by the car window. ‘I want two hamburgers and a chocolate malt.’
Carey laughed. ‘You’ll get fat.’
‘I don’t care. I think I’m beginning to like it here.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ Carey pressed the buzzer on the car-side speaker and gave their order. ‘If I was in your position I’d be crazy about it. I mean, let’s just consider things. You get into town with a small part in a Jack Milan movie. You march out of that like a star, grab all the headlines – march back in again, plus apologies all round. Meet Steve Magnum at
Valerie Noble
Dorothy Wiley
Astrotomato
Sloane Meyers
Jane Jackson
James Swallow
Janet Morris
Lafcadio Hearn, Francis Davis
Winston Graham
Vince Flynn