Take Two (A psychological thriller)

Billy narrowed his eyes. For the first time he noticed her hair was lighter and shorter than when he’d last seen her and she had an Australian accent. ‘I’m getting really confused here,’ he said. ‘You’re not Miss Castle?’

‘I’m her sister,’ she said.

‘I didn’t know she had a sister.’

‘What, did she tell you everything? Did she tell you we left home in our teens because our stepfather was a bastard?’

‘Actually, yes, she did,’ said Billy. ‘But she never mentioned a sister.’

‘Yeah, well, like I keep telling everyone, I was the black sheep.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Jenny.’

Billy shook her hand. ‘From Australia?’

‘What was the clue?’ she asked.

Billy laughed. ‘Yeah, I picked up the accent,’ he said. ‘So where is Miss Castle?’

‘Why do you call her Miss Castle?’

‘That’s our company’s policy,’ he said. ‘We never refer to clients by their first name.’

‘God, you English are so prim and proper,’ said Jenny. ‘No one would stand for that in Oz. Don’t tell me you tug your forelock as well?’

Billy didn’t say anything.

‘Now I’ve offended you,’ she said. She held the door open. ‘Why don’t you come in, I’ll let you know what’s happening.’

‘I’m just here to pick up Miss Castle,’ said Billy.

‘I won’t bite,’ said Jenny. She gestured with her thumb. ‘Come on in. If it makes you feel better you can call me Mrs Hall. Or Miss Hall. Mr Hall has been out of the picture for a few years.’

Billy hesitated but Jenny had already walked down the hall. He crossed the threshold and closed the door.  Jenny was in the kitchen, switching on the kettle. ‘Coffee?’

‘We really need to be making a move,’ said Billy. ‘Is Miss Castle ready?’

‘She’s gone AWOL, Billy. Absent without leave.’

‘Since when?’

“I don’t know. I arrived on Saturday and she was supposed to pick me up at the airport.’

‘I brought her back here on Friday,’ said Billy. ‘Have you called the police?’

‘Not yet,’ said Jenny. ‘Her car’s parked outside and it’s not as if there were signs of a break-in or anything.’

‘But she’s missing, right?’

‘I don’t think the police will do anything unless they think a crime’s been committed. That’s how it works in Oz, anyway.’

‘I’ll have to call the studio, they’ll be expecting us.’

‘I tell you what, why don’t you make us coffee while I get ready and you can drive me to the studio. I was planning on going there today to see if they know where she is.’

Billy looked at his watch. ‘I’ll have to phone the director.’

Jenny breezed by him, heading for the stairs. ‘Whatever makes you happy, Billy.  I’ll just pop into the shower.’

CHAPTER 70

Paul Day pushed open the door to the props department.  ‘Terry? Are you there?’  One of Terry’s assistants, a pretty black girl called Sue, looked up from a computer. ‘He’s on the set, Paul.’

‘Thanks darling,’ said Day. He walked down the corridor to the main set area. The red light above the door was off, there was no filming planned for that day. He pushed the double doors open. ‘Terry?’

‘Over here,’ shouted Terry. He was in the main office, sitting at Diana’s desk and arranging a spreadsheet on her computer for a close-up that would be shot the next day.

‘Do you know a Jenny Hall?’ asked Day.  ‘She’s at reception with some cock and bull story about being Carolyn’s sister.’

Terry looked up from the spreadsheet. ‘Sure. But she’s in Australia.’

‘Apparently not,’ said Day. ‘Okay, I’ll have her in. Any sign of Carolyn?’

‘No, and her phone’s still off.’

‘Is she upset about something?’ asked Day.

‘I don’t think so.’

‘She was asking me about storylines and I think she’s worried we might be writing her out.’

Terry shrugged. ‘You know how paranoid actors are.’

‘No arguments there,’ said Day. ‘I just hope she’s not gone AWOL just to teach me a lesson.’

Terry looked at his watch. ‘Aren’t we supposed to be doing the read-through?’

‘The network just called, Sally’s been delayed and we’re not to start without her.’

‘Because God forbid we should try to do our jobs without the network’s nanny watching over us,’ said Terry. ‘Still, it means I can have another coffee and get my caffeine levels up.’

Day went back to his office and asked Laura to phone security. Five minutes later, Laura showed Jenny Hall in. She was the spitting image of Carolyn, though her hair was shorter and fairer and in her baggy cargo pants and denim jacket she looked a few pounds heavier.

‘Paul, I’m so happy to meet you, Carolyn’s always talking about you,’ said Jenny, offering her hand. The Australian accent caught Day by surprise, as did her firm handshake. Carolyn always greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks.

He waved her to a seat and sat down himself. ‘So where is the lovely Carolyn?’ he asked.

‘I was hoping you’d tell me,’ she said. ‘She was supposed to meet me at the airport and there’s no sign of her at her house. She’s not answering her phone. I thought she might be here.’

Day shook his head. ‘She hasn’t turned up,’ he said. ‘But we only have a read-through today and we have a second unit filming on location and she’s not in any of those scenes.’

‘So you weren’t expecting her?’