Read Online The Cop and the Chorus Girl by Nancy Martin - Free Book Online

guy.”
    â€œWhat other guy?” Charles asked. “Where are we going to get another millionaire? Or have you found another potential husband, Dixie?”
    Several of the actors turned to look at Flynn, who remained calm and silent. But Dixie flushed.
    â€œNo,” she said. “I haven’t found another husband or a millionaire. Maybe we don’t need one.”
    â€œI don’t get it.”
    â€œI mean,” she continued carefully, “maybe we could make one up.”
    â€œWhat d’you mean?”
    â€œI think Joey would keep his money in this show if he thought somebody else might beat him out of it. We just have to create a competitor, that’s all.”
    â€œCreate one?”
    â€œRight.” Growing more excited about her plan, Dixie said, “We have to tell the press there’s another interested investor, and they’ll do the rest.”
    Kiki had already warmed to the idea. “We’ll need someone to stand in for pictures,” she said, thinking. “The newspapers will want pictures.”
    â€œHow about Charles?” someone suggested. “We could change his makeup, add a beard, put him in a nice suit for once—”
    â€œNo, the newspapers will see through that in a minute,” Charles snapped. “I’m a well-known face. I’m famous, for God’s sake! If this crackpot idea were going to work, we’d need a perfect stranger. Someone the papers have never seen before.”
    Everyone turned and looked at Flynn speculatively.
    Flynn realized something was in the air and spoke at last. “What’s everybody looking at?”
    â€œHe could be from out of town,” Kiki said thoughtfully. “Florida, maybe. Or Las Vegas.”
    â€œCalifornia,” said someone else, snapping his fingers. “He’s too good-looking for Las Vegas.”
    â€œHe’ll need a story,” said Charles, also eyeing Flynn with the expertise of an actor. “A background. Where did he get his money?”
    â€œOil wells?”
    â€œGambling?”
    â€œHow about professional sports?” suggested another voice. “He looks big enough to be a professional athlete.”
    â€œFlynn,” Dixie said, “have you ever played any sports?”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he asked. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œIn school,” she went on, “did you ever play football or wrestle? Basketball, maybe?”
    â€œI did a little boxing and—”
    â€œBoxing!” Kiki crowed. “I love it! He’s a former boxer with lots of money to sink into a Broadway show! Not only that—he’s tall! Joey will hate him on sight!”
    â€œWait a minute,” Flynn began.
    â€œHere, try this on,” said one of the extras. “This suit might fit you.”
    The group hustled Flynn out of his corner and paraded him into the middle of the room. Various articles of clothing were tossed in his direction, then someone dashed for the costume shop and someone else for the prop room. Dixie hid a smile. Her plan had been greeted with enthusiasm from everyone but poor Flynn.
    He was pushed into several suit jackets until one was found that did fit him beautifully. It clung to his shoulders and tapered around his lean hips, looking quite stunning. A pipe looked silly in his hand, a cane even worse, but a fake cigar managed to transform Flynn into a believable character.
    A mustache applied by the makeup artist completed the picture. Suddenly Flynn looked like a high roller with a shady past—exactly the kind of character the press might sink its teeth into.
    â€œHold on,” Flynn protested as he was pushed and prodded by half-a-dozen enthusiastic actors. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but I can’t—”
    â€œHaven’t you always wanted to be an actor?” Charles asked, finally siding with the idea but putting his own sarcastic spin