Hollywood Double: Hollywood Name Game Book 4 Read online

  Detective Briggs finished scribbling something on her notepad and closed it. “That should do it, Mr. Randall. I’ll be in touch if I have any more questions.” She handed him her card. “If you think of anything to add, there’s my contact info.”

  Mac shook her hand and wandered to the foyer. He found Keely waiting for him. He glanced at his watch, seeing it had been over three hours since he had discovered Beau’s body. He supposed by now the coroner had transported Beau in order to perform an autopsy and that news of Beau’s death would be hitting the airwaves. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling physically worn out.

  “I guess they had more questions for you since you discovered Beau,” she said. “Are you ready to head over to Sydney’s?”

  “I don’t know. Why did you suggest me? I’ve never done any acting, not even in a school play.”

  “You’re right for the part. It’s a gut feeling. I think Sydney and Cassie will agree with me. They’re the ones you’ll need to convince. Cassie’s written the vision. Sydney will put it into play.”

  “What about Josh Middleton?”

  Keely shrugged. “I don’t know a director that wouldn’t go along with those two women. They have great instincts when it comes to casting.”

  “Sydney mentioned another actor Beau beat out. Why not him? Seems he’d be the logical choice if he came close to being cast.”

  “Finn Jarvis? I read with him.” Keely frowned. “There was something off. I didn’t think we had any chemistry.”

  “And we do?”

  She gave him a long look. “You already know we do, Mac. We need to see if it shows up on screen. Come on. I’m starving. In-N-Out is calling my name. We can drive through on the way over.”

  He frowned, thinking a burger was the last thing he needed at the moment.

  Keely must have picked up on his feelings. “I know. I sound callous, considering what we both saw in that bathroom. I do know we’re both exhausted and could use something in us. I’m not saying we can instantly go back to normal. That wouldn’t be possible. But I’ve learned through other things I’ve experienced that it’s important to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Beau’s death is a tragedy. I’m sure I’ll have to talk about it at some point, probably with a therapist.

  “For now, though? There is so much riding on this movie, Mac. So many jobs at stake. Reputations that can be made or broken. I owe a good deal to Sydney and Cassie. Despite what’s happened, I need to push through.”

  Mac knew she was right because he’d done the same thing on the battlefield. You got through the next few seconds. Then a minute. Then five minutes. You did what had to be done, sometimes because you were the only one who could do it—or was left alive to do it. He’d learned to let things go, especially the deaths he’d witnessed, because a soldier couldn’t afford to have his head up his ass. He needed to be present in every moment on duty because if he wasn’t, it could be his last.

  He also understood her loyalty to the team surrounding this film. He had felt the same loyalty to his fellow soldiers. They had all been in it together. If one fell, the mission had to continue. Any lapse could mean more deaths. Letting your guard down could mean your death and the deaths of those all around you. Beau’s sudden demise could lead to a ripple effect, hurting hundreds of workers. Mac had to mentally and physically suck it up.

  “A burger sounds good,” he agreed, hoping he could get—and keep—it down.

  Keely headed out the door and Mac followed her. He saw Maria sitting in her car and went to speak to her.

  “Are you going to be all right?” he asked the housekeeper, whose tears had caused her mascara to run in rivers down her cheeks.”

  The housekeeper wiped away tears. “I’ll be fine, Mr. Mac. I gonna sit here for now. I got nowhere to go. Mondays and Thursdays were for Mr. Beau.”

  He studied her a moment. “Are you worried about money?”

  She nodded. “If you hear anybody need me, let me know, okay?”

  Mac opened his wallet and handed over all the cash he had. When Maria tried to refuse, he gruffly told her to take it. He walked away before she could change her mind and got into his truck.

  As they pulled out of the driveway, Keely said, “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re a big old softie,” she teased.

  “Where does Sydney live?”

  Keely gave him directions and told him where to stop for lunch, which wasn’t that far away. She sent a few texts while he drove and put her cell away as he pulled into the drive-thru line.

  “Animal-style burger. Fries. Coke,” she told him as he reached the speaker.

  Mac placed their order, making it two of everything, and pulled up to the window. Keely handed him a twenty and he accepted it.

  “I guess I owe you now,” he said sheepishly.

  “Nope. Lunch is on me. If you get the part, I’m sure you can pay me back. Maybe over that coffee we talked about.”

  He handed over the paper bag and rested their drinks in the cup holders. Keely removed his burger and unwrapped a portion of the paper from it. Mac took it and sank his teeth into it.

  “A burger always hits the spot. I used to dream about these in the desert.”

  She removed her burger and fries and gave the sack back so he had access to his fries.

  “You said you were in the military in your twenties.”

  “Actually, straight out of high school. I’m named for Jeff MacKenzie, my dad’s best friend and a marine. He’s never forgiven me for going army over marines but the military helped me grow up. I was smart, lazy, and charming in high school. The army helped make a man of me.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  He shrugged. “It was family but that family kept dying around me. I’d worked my way up to a leadership position. I got tired of seeing my men killed on increasingly pointless missions. Every day seemed the same after a dozen years in. The higher up the chain of command I went, the less control I wound up having. I wanted to do something else with my life.”

  “I’ll bet your family was glad to have you back home, out of war zones.”

  Mac chewed and swallowed. He finally said, “My folks and sister died in a car wreck while I was still in high school.” He fell silent.

  Her hand touched his arm briefly. “I’m sorry, Mac.”

  “It happens. You got family?”

  “Jax. My friends. My parents divorced when I was in grade school. We never saw my father after that. Mom passed away when I was in college. I’ve found friends can be your family. And Jax and I are inseparable. I got him as a puppy. He’s just over a year old now. We do everything together. In fact, I texted Josh to go to my trailer and pick him up when he heads over to Sydney’s.”

  Mac had found it fascinating watching Sydney direct Beau’s last film. He wondered what she was like off the set.

  “You know her pretty well?”

  “Yes. She hired me for my first film. I’d done some theater. A few commercials. Lots of voiceovers but I’d struck out in film. Sydney took a big chance on me but she’s a dream to work with. Dash was a great co-star. Very generous. He really shepherded me along. Through them, I met Cassie and Rhett. Rhett’s sister, Scarlett, is my best friend.” She stopped. “Turn right at the next light.”

  She gave him a few more directions and they arrived at the DeLaurias’ Santa Monica residence. He parked behind a midnight blue SUV, which Keely said belonged to the Corrigans. Mac wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, not wanting mustard hiding in the corner of his mouth when he met what might be his future boss. Keely gathered up their trash and pushed it into the sack, rolling and stashing it on the floorboard.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  Excitement rippled through Mac. He hadn’t felt this alive—or frightened—since the last time bullets had sprayed around him in the desert.

  “Walking into this house will be like heading into battle. At least, I think it will,” he admitte
d.

  “Be you. That’s all they’ll want to see. Sydney won’t hire you if she and the others don’t think this can work. She’s all about the art but understands the business side of things, too.”

  They went to the door. Mac rang the bell. A minute later, it opened. Instead of a housekeeper or some personal assistant, Dash DeLauria stood there.

  Wearing a pink necklace. Green earrings. And a yellow, plastic bracelet.

  “Thank God you finally showed up,” he whispered, ushering them in. “The girls corralled Rhett and me. We’re on our third game of Pretty Pretty Princess.” He held out his wrist. “I just picked up this bracelet. It puts me in the lead.”

  “It looks divine on you,” Keely said teasingly.

  “Come say hi and let me strip off my winnings.”

  Dash led them into the den, where a board game was opened on a table. Two little girls and Rhett Corrigan, Hollywood’s highest paid actor, sat next to it. Each of them sported various jewelry. Both girls squealed when they saw Keely and ran to hug her.

  Dash ruffled one of the girls’ hair. “This is Harper. She’s mine.”

  “And Cadence is mine,” Rhett added. “Okay, girls, it’s time for the dads to go to work. The moms have done the heavy lifting and we need to do our part. This is Mr. Mac. He’s going to help us with the new movie.”

  “Mommy works a lot,” Harper told Mac very matter-of-factly. “She’s good at her job.”

  “My mommy writes stories,” Cadence said proudly. “Are you going to be in her story, Mr. Mac? Keely’s in it.”

  “I hope so,” he said, an unexpected warmth rolling through him.

  By now, Dash and Rhett had stripped off their plastic game pieces. Each man kissed the top of his daughter’s head and Dash led them down a long hallway into what was definitely a work area.

  Sydney Revere greeted him. “I’m so glad you could stop by, Mac.” She turned to the copper-haired woman next to her. “This is Cassie Corrigan, one of the best screenwriters in the business.”

  Rhett kissed his wife. “The best,” he corrected and took a seat beside her.

  Dash slipped into the chair next to Sydney. “I think playing Pretty Pretty Princess is infinitely harder than what you two have been up to.” He also kissed his wife.

  Mac understood immediately that these two power couples were the real deal. He’d been around enough couples in Hollywood, both on the set and at parties, to recognize genuine affection. No wonder Keely enjoyed being around these people.

  Sydney began. “First, I need to ask if you are even up for auditioning, Mac. Keely told me you’re the one who found Beau. I know the two of you were close. Reading for a part is hard enough on anyone’s best day. This is probably your worst. If you would rather take a few days before you read for the role, I totally understand.”

  Sydney turned to Keely. “Same for you. You know I think the world of you but today has been traumatic enough. I know I push too hard sometimes but I’m also smart enough to know when to back off. If you need time, I’m here to make that happen.”

  Keely looked at Mac and held his gaze for a long moment. She gave an imperceptible nod and he returned it.

  “We want to do this, Sydney,” he said, thinking how much was on the line. “I think we both appreciate the offer to hold off but we’re ready.”

  Sydney nodded. “I appreciate your candor, Mac. I know your work ethic. You wouldn’t be here otherwise. I observed you on set during the last film I directed Beau in, though I know my second director handled your action scenes. You move well. You’re definitely a man’s man, someone guys want to be and be around, but women find you extremely attractive. What RCDS needs to see is if you can act.”

  “I left the army as a Sergeant First Class, with a good number of men under my command. I had to sell whatever the mission was, whether I believed in it or not. Sometimes, the higher ups made odd decisions but I had to back those decisions and make sure my men believed I did. I also led troops into battle and had to make those troops see that I had no fear. That I projected confidence.” Mac paused. “I didn’t always support the ideas behind the mission, much less the mission itself. I never set foot on a battlefield without a healthy amount of fear quaking through me. My soldiers never guessed that. I suppose that’s my acting resume, Sydney.”

  Her green eyes assessed him in a new light. “Impressive.” She turned to Cassie. “Anything to add?”

  The screenwriter nodded. “Your voice is strong. You have enough passion to deliver the lines I’ve written. Thorne Mayfield’s lost his wife and child to a killer. I don’t know if you’re married or have kids but I think you could tap into the soldiers who must’ve been family to you. Those you lost. Bring that feeling to the first scene we’d like you to read.”

  Cassie handed him a script. “I’ve marked the lines.” She looked to Keely. “I know you’re already off-book.”

  Keely nodded. “You know me. I’ve learned my lines and everyone else’s.” She took Mac’s arm and had him step back a few paces from the long table where the other four sat. “Capture that feeling Cassie just spoke of. Let’s go.”

  Mac composed himself and then glanced at the page. He found the spot to start and delivered his first line, looking at Keely as it ended. What surprised him was she didn’t look like Keely at all. She wore determination as if girded in steel. She replied to his line and they began the conversation on the page. Dialogue flew back and forth between them, crackling and crisp. Mac could feel himself becoming someone entirely different from himself as they delved deeper. Finally, he uttered his last line, drained, and stared at Keely, who all of a sudden resembled the woman he’d met this morning.

  She flung herself at him, hugging him tightly, and turned to the others. Mac had forgotten anyone else was in the room.

  “See? I told you. What do you think?” she asked.

  He turned and skimmed the faces of the famous foursome—and liked what he saw.

  “That was powerful,” Rhett said. “Cassie and I sometimes run lines back and forth after she’s finished the first draft of a scene. Just to let her hear the lines aloud so she can make adjustments. I’m very familiar with that scene. You really did it justice, Mac.”

  “Are you sure you’ve never acted?” Dash asked. “I’ve never seen anyone do a cold read on a scene that was so on point. You hadn’t even read the scene. You had no idea what was coming. Your natural instincts came into play.” He looked at the two women. “Think of what he could do having actually read the script.”

  Sydney looked at Mac thoughtfully and then asked, “Would you like to try it again?”

  He said, “Sure,” not knowing if he was capable of a second round.

  “I want you to try a few things this time,” she continued. “Bring me your script. Pull up a chair.”

  Mac did as she asked and Sydney went over different parts of the scene. Where she wanted him to hold back. Where she wanted him to amp up. A place where she wanted a different word emphasized. It all made sense to him.

  Suddenly, Josh Middleton burst through the door. “Looks like I’m late to party. Sorry. At least I got the Eric scenes in the can after a lot of coaxing.”

  “Why?” Cassie asked. “Eric seemed perfect to us.”

  Josh grimaced. “He’s a little too perfect. Eric’s worried that playing a serial killer will typecast him like Anthony Perkins after Psycho. He kept going on and on about how talented Perkins was and how he never really worked in classy roles after that because everyone in Hollywood and America thought he was Norman Bates. It’s okay. I talked him off the edge. Got what we needed.”

  The director glanced to Mac. “We’re not going to need you, Mac. I spoke to Finn Jarvis on my way over here. Told him to free up his schedule because it looked like I’d be needing him.” He gave Mac a smile. “After all, you’re a stuntman. You’re used to delivering punches. Not lines.”

  Anger flared inside him but Mac kept silent. He heard a quiet, “Oh, boy,” come f
rom Dash and then Mac glanced to Sydney Revere and the glacial glare she gave Josh.

  “That’s not your call,” she said, her words frigid enough to ice over a lake on a hot summer day. “That’s my role, taking in Cassie’s opinion. Sit down and watch, Josh.”

  Frowning, the director took a seat, his arms crossed.

  “Whenever you’re ready, Mac,” Sydney told him.

  He took the script and flipped back a dozen pages to the beginning of the scene. Closing his eyes, he visualized where he was as it occurred. What he wore. How close the anger and hurt simmered just under the surface.

  Opening his eyes, he nodded to Keely and then spoke his first line.

  The second reading ran similar to the first. But this time, what Sydney had instructed added depth and meaning. Knowing what came ahead this time, Mac knew more about when to hold back and when to let go. It wasn’t merely words on a page. They were ones spoken from his heart.

  He delivered the last line of the scene and sighed. Mac looked to Keely and saw tears swimming in her eyes. She nodded encouragingly.

  “Mac?”

  He went to the table and gave Sydney Revere his full attention.

  “You nailed it,” she praised. “I still want to run a camera test to confirm but there’s not a doubt in my mind—or anyone here—that you’re a natural actor. You have the intuition. The insight. It’s a gift. Certain things about acting can be taught but some are so woven into your soul that they need to be allowed to surface and breathe. How did it feel to you?”

  “It felt right,” Mac admitted. “Everything about it. As if I’d always known this was what I was supposed to do. Or maybe that I did it and loved it in another lifetime.”

  Sydney smiled. “Mac Randall, would you be interested in playing Thorne Mayfield?”

  Mac didn’t bother holding back his smile. “Absolutely.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Dash had champagne brought in and Keely lifted her glass as the group toasted Mac for accepting his first film role. She noticed Josh seemed subdued and made her way over to the director, pulling him aside.