Murder in the Second Row Read Online Free PDF

for Paul McCartney either, did it?’ chuckled Howard.
‘Come on, let’s get this box shifted so we can see what we’ve
got.’
    The box turned
out to be too short for the counter they needed, but in the next
storage bay they found one that could be dressed up to suit. They
now had all the flats for the hotel scene. Stewart turned up to
give them a hand and they hauled out a good variety of chairs and
tables as well. They were setting them out on the stage to check
the effect when a tall slender youth appeared, led by
Clara-Jane.
    ‘I found him at
the front door,’ she announced. ‘Can we keep him?’
    The youth
flicked back bushy black dreadlocks and looked at her warily.
    ‘I’m Nathan,’
he said. He looked hopefully towards Gazza and Howard. ‘Is one of
you Howard Daniels? I’ve brought the set designs for Adam’s
show.’
    ‘Hi Nathan,
glad you could make it. I’m Howard, this is Gazza, that’s Jessica,
young Stewart’s over there, and I see you’ve already made an
impression on Clara-Jane. Come on out to the Green Room where it’s
lighter and we’ll have a proper look at these designs of
yours.’
    With visible
relief, Nathan escaped the threat of Clara-Jane’s ample bosom and
followed Howard to the Green Room table where he spread out his
papers for the others to study.
    ‘So, how is
this wall supported, Nathan?’
    Howard
indicated the area on the skilfully-drawn hotel set sketch where an
ornately carved series of arches led to an open terrace.
    ‘Er, I thought
there’d be some struts or braces to hold it up. It should be secure
enough, shouldn’t it? We can fasten the back arches to the side
walls – I’m sure it won’t fall down.’
    ‘It’s not the
falling down that worries us,’ said Gazza. ‘It’s how we shift it
between Act One and Act Two. It’s hardly fair to the audience to
keep them hanging about for a half-hour interval while we dismantle
the entire Jerusalem Hilton, is it?’
    ‘Oh God, sorry.
I didn’t think of that.’
    Noticing
Nathan’s distress, Stewart came closer to the table and reassured
him quietly.
    ‘It’s a great
design, Nathan; we just need to figure out how to make it work on
stage. I’m sure between the experts here we can find a solution,
can’t we?’ He glared at Howard and Gazza. ‘Not everyone knows the
technical details of set design, guys. Give him a break.’
    ‘Yes, yes, fair
enough. All right, what if we build the back wall as a drop and fly
it out – would that work with your lighting bars, Gazza?’
    ‘It’s worth a
go. The side walls can go on trucks and swing out when the rock
flats go on for Act Two.’
    By the end of
the afternoon they had figured out ways to make Nathan’s drawings
work, and Howard drew up a building schedule ready for the next
day’s construction.

Chapter 3
     
10 weeks to
Opening Night
First
Rehearsal
     
    Tamara had Phil
Jessop cornered. The arm of the couch creaked against his back as
she leaned towards him and said passionately, ‘You must come away
with me! I want you to! It’s not too late.’ Her arms went round him
and her chest heaved.
    Phil held onto
his script with one hand and pushed her away with the other.
    ‘Please, don’t
talk like this.’ He looked entirely discomfited, and Jessica could
see that he wasn’t having to act.
    ‘Stop there,’
said Adam. ‘Tamara, you’re putting a little too much heat into the
exchange. Nadine and Lennox are a married couple. You’re not trying
to physically seduce him, you’re just persuading him to leave with
you.’
    There was a
small snort from Pippa on the other side of the room.
    ‘But wouldn’t I
have a better chance of winning him away from her if I really,
like, laid it on?’ asked Tamara innocently, while entwining her
fingers into Phil’s hair.
    Phil stood up
abruptly and moved across towards the actor playing Jefferson
Cope.
    ‘Like to swap
places? Your character’s supposed to be in love with her – see how
you get on.’
    While the