Chapter 44

44

For the Centurion Pictures crew, the day of the film festival’s opening ceremony started with television appearances by Tessa, Adriene, Peter, and Mark on three different German networks and the BBC.

Midday was the festival’s press luncheon, at which Tessa and Mark served as the event’s MCs. This was followed by a promotional photo shoot that included Peter, Hattie, and Ben, and a meeting with a group of twenty fans who had won a sweepstakes to spend a half hour with the stars of the movie.

By the time they returned to the hotel lobby, it was five-thirty p.m.

“Well, well, well,” a very recognizable voice boomed. “If it isn’t my Centurion Pictures friends.”

Action star Tom Norman peeled himself away from the group he’d been standing with and walked over to join Mark, Tessa, and the others.

“You really did make it,” Tessa said.

“Did you think I was lying about making time to be here?”

“Of course not. But in this business, schedules change on the daily.”

“Fair point. But what you didn’t know was that I’m the festival’s head judge for the films that have entered the competition.”

Tessa looked around at the others. “How come we didn’t know that?”

“Shh,” Tom said, a finger to his lips. “They’re not revealing that information until tonight.”

“Now I wish we were part of the competition,” Peter said.

Tom’s eyes lit up. “Peter! I missed you at my premiere.”

He and Peter shook hands.

“My apologies. I really wanted to be there.”

“No apology necessary.” Tom lowered his voice. “By the way, we all know that if you entered Storm’s Eye no one else would have a chance.”

“I don’t know about that, but at least allow me to buy you a drink while we’re in town.”

“That’s a great idea,” Hattie said. “You two can chat about that project you were thinking about.”

“Project?” Tom asked.

“More a loose idea at this point,” Peter said.

“If it involves us working together, I’ll buy the drinks,” Tom said.

“Tessa!” another familiar voice called out.

Mari Chen jogged over and gave Tessa a hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“I didn’t think you were getting in until tomorrow,” Tessa said.

“Your talented PR rep, Lizzie, was able to get me tickets to the screening and party tonight so I—” She stopped and her mouth fell open. “Oh my God. You’re Tom Norman.”

Tom looked equally transfixed by her. “You’re Mari Chen.”

“You know who I am?”

“We are working together on the award show at the end of the festival.”

“Yeah, but you’re Tom Norman .”

“And you’re Mari Chen .”

To Peter, Mark whispered, “I’m going up to my room before anyone else shows up.”

“You mean like Bianca Barone? Because she’s sitting in the restaurant right now. I take that back. Looks like she’s seen us and is starting to get up.”

Mark made a quick exit toward the elevators.

Vesna was waiting in the suite when Teddy entered.

“You’re late,” she said.

“Blame it on the famous and fabulous.”

“Please tell me that’s not a fancy way of talking about yourself.”

“There was a celebrity traffic jam in the lobby of much more famous people than I.”

“I don’t know if I’ve told you this, but your life has taken a strange turn.”

“I cannot argue with that, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Now, shall we get started?”

“If we must.”

“Madam, your makeover awaits,” he said and headed into his bedroom.

An hour and a half later, Teddy had transformed the raven-haired Vesna Martic into a strawberry-blonde she’d christened Rita Dane, the two bearing little resemblance to each other.

He’d also turned himself into an Armani-tuxedoed Billy Barnett, with an added component he’d never needed before—a special makeup prosthetic covering the back of his neck that Vesna had helped to apply.

There was a knock at the door, and Billy let Stone in. He, too, was dressed in a tux, his Ralph Lauren.

“Wow,” Stone said, upon seeing Vesna. “I would have never recognized you.”

“Which is the point, I believe,” Billy said.

“If this producing thing doesn’t work out for you, you can transfer to the makeup department.”

Vesna’s transformation had been necessary due to her previous relationship with Dieter Wenz, since there would be no avoiding crossing paths with him that evening.

“Vesna, would you mind if I had a private word with Billy?” Stone asked.

“As long as you don’t say anything bad about me,” she said.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Aren’t you a dear.” She headed into the bedroom.

Once Stone and Billy were alone, Stone said, “Have you talked to Lance today?”

“No. I’ve been busy. Why?”

“He received a very interesting email this morning, fingering the mole.”

“That is interesting. Has Lance acted on it?”

“He has. I understand a full confession is in the works.”

“That’s a relief. Who sent the email?”

“Unknown, though Lance surmises the sender is someone who works for Braun.”

Though Billy had only come in contact with a few of Braun’s employees, he had a pretty good idea who the emailer had been.

Vesna stuck her head back into the room. “All right to come back now? Or are you boys still gossiping?”

Billy checked his watch. “Everyone will be in the lobby in a few minutes, so we should get a move on it.” He glanced at Stone. “Before we go, hold out your hand.”

Billy removed a small cloth pouch and emptied the contents into Stone’s palm. There were three items: a box that looked like a thin version of an old-fashioned pager, a dime-sized disc, and a square of plastic on which were several small ovals in a range of skin tones.

Billy picked up the latter and held it beside Stone’s ear.

“This should work,” he said. He pointed at the third oval in the top row. “It’s your earpiece. Adhere it to the end of your ear canal.”

Stone placed it where he’d been told. “Like this?”

Billy examined it. The color was almost an exact match, making the earpiece nearly impossible to see. “Perfect.” He picked up the dime-sized disc. “This is your mic. It sticks to the inside of your collar and should press against your skin.”

While Stone put it on, Billy switched on the black box.

“This is your transmitter. The dial on the side is your volume control. Don’t mess with anything else.”

He handed it to Stone.

After turning on his own comm set, Billy took a few steps away and whispered, “Test, test.”

“Hear you loud and clear,” Stone said.

“Then we have a screening to get to.”

Since Vesna would be posing as Stone’s date this evening, he offered her his arm.

As she took it, she said, “This is already starting off better than most dates I have been on.”

“Careful,” Billy said. “Stone has a reputation.”

Vesna raised an eyebrow. “Good or bad?”

“That depends on who you talk to,” Teddy said.

“Or how you define the word ‘bad,’?” Stone added.

“Forget what I said earlier. This is starting off better than any date I have been on.”