Classic Calls the Shots Read Online Free PDF Page A

American lass with whom the good solid Englishman gets hitched, whereas Julia and husband are captivated by the fascists. Hence the cars. Miss America drives the Auburn, and the ultra English Robert drives the Bentley. Von Ribbentrop drives the German Horch, and I share the Italian Fiat with my fascist husband. Justin Parr’s playing Robert. You’ve seen him on TV, I expect. He’s a poppet.’
    I disliked him already. ‘The theft could have been intended to spite either Angie or Eleanor then?’
    â€˜Angie’s the more likely. Ellie’s harmless. She’s new on the block, whereas a lot of us know Angie of old.’
    â€˜You couldn’t have been in
Running Tides
? You’d have been in your cradle.’
    â€˜I didn’t put you down as a line-shooter.’
    â€˜Fair hit,’ I conceded.
    â€˜I wasn’t in it. I was still struggling doing bit parts on TV and since then I’ve run across Angie from time to time.’
    â€˜Why does she have so much influence? She seems to act more like a prima donna than an adviser. Director’s wife or not, she shouldn’t be in a position to get Tom sacked once, let alone try for a second go. Why doesn’t Bill or Roger rein her in?’
    â€˜Roger has a soft spot for Angie, chiefly because she’s best chums with his wife, who holds most of the purse strings. Not an easy situation. Bill could overrule Angie, but he won’t. Everything takes second place to the film while it’s shooting. This film is going to be tricky, especially when we go on location next week, so endless squabbles with Angie won’t help either Bill or Roger.’
    â€˜How much more shooting is there to do?’
    â€˜About another three or four weeks. It can’t be more. We’ve all got other commitments after that, so we have to stick to schedule. It’s one hell of a problem, and you, Jack, are the angel who’s going to solve it for us.’
    â€˜Thanks for your faith,’ I said wryly. Another three weeks and she might walk out of my life. I pulled myself together. She wasn’t even in it yet. ‘What about the car adviser?’ I asked apparently carelessly. ‘Doesn’t he have emergency solutions?’
    She looked at me rather oddly. ‘He’s not into detective work.’
    â€˜I’m glad. I wouldn’t be here if he was.’
    She laughed. ‘How’s the ankle? Can it make it to a brief look at the other two studios and then the canteen for a quick coffee?’
    Louise’s company was so enjoyable that it would be easy to persuade myself that hunting down the missing Auburn could only be done at the studios – and who was to say that wasn’t right? ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’, as some character in
Hamlet
observed. For me, substitute Stour Studios. Except for Louise. Nothing amiss there. Walking beside her, I felt as if I’d known her for ever and that it was going to continue that way.
    The set dressers, she explained, were still finishing up in Studio One for the love scene between herself and Justin Parr being shot that afternoon. I tried not to imagine too vividly what it might consist of, and instead took a curious look at a few of the people who theoretically might have stolen the Auburn. The set was of a small drawing room and lighting technicians were focusing stand-based and overhead lamps, while around them buzzed half a dozen set dressers adjusting cushions, furniture, and family photographs.
    â€˜Is Justin around?’ I asked, as we stood inside the doorway.
    â€˜No. Far too early. We’re called for two thirty, another two and a half hours, and he’s well known for walking in on the dot. Me, I need a few minutes on set to complete the change from being Louise to Julia Danby.’
    â€˜Is that difficult?
    â€˜No. It’s a routine. I just shut my eyes and seductress Julia slowly takes over.’
    I