Page 30 of Box of Frogs
As we drove, I scanned the sunny street, searching for anyone watching Julie’s house. If there was anyone, they were keeping a low profile; all I saw were a few tired people on their way to work.
I flipped through the script as a thought occurred to me. ‘Do the hunters know that all the vampire myths are – well, myths? Or do they think you can’t go outside in the sun?’
‘I’m on television, Mads.St Thomas Closeusually shoots during the day. I think the fact that I can withstand sunlight is well and truly out of the bag.’ She paused. ‘Although I have to admit that they tend to try and attack me at night.’
‘How many times have they tried?’
She revved the engine, speeding up to avoid a red light. ‘Too many to count.’ Despite her calm mask, I could sense the underlying tension. She might have evaded capture – or worse – until now but that didn’t mean she wasn’t scared.
‘I won’t let them get you,’ I said quietly. I meant it too and not just because she was paying me – although that helped.
‘Thank you. I appreciate the sentiment.’
I drummed my fingers against my thigh. ‘You know, there’s one question you’ve not answered. How do they know? How do these hunters know what you are?’
For a long moment she didn’t answer. When she did, her eyes were distant. ‘The simple answer is that, like many of my compatriots, I shared my secret with the wrong person. Even though I knew what had happened before, and even though I’m young by vampire standards and have history to guide me, I made the same mistake. The complicated answer is that I fell in love with the wrong person and my name and likeness ended up on the wrong list. My own personal real-life soap opera.’ Her jaw tightened. ‘It was a long time ago. Now, I need to practise. Start when my character, Stacey, walks into the hairdresser.’
I saluted. I knew when a change of subject was required. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ Finding her first scene, I began to read the lines. ‘Good morning, Stacey.’ I glanced up. ‘Hardly Shakespeare, is it?’
Julie rolled her eyes. ‘It’s a soap opera.’ She shook her head slightly and deepened her voice. ‘Tom told me you were out with my husband last night. Is it true?’
‘Yeah, it is true. And you know what else is true? He loves me.’
‘You’re lying!’
‘No, I’m not. The best part of all this is that I don’t give two figs about him. I’m only with him because I know it will wind you up.’
‘Cue audience gasps,’ Julie muttered.
I looked at her. ‘You seem annoyed.’
She made a face. ‘I’d quite like to play the villain for once rather than the wronged, innocent wife. After all, vampires are always being painted as villains. Sometimes I think I should play to type. And Stacey is just sogood. She has a lot of fans and people love her but it gets rather monotonous always being so upright and morally good.’ Then she laughed. ‘Don’t go getting any ideas. That’s not the vampire in me talking. Not really. That’s the actor. Bad guys are more fun to play.’
‘Why?’ I half-listened while skipping forward to see what happened next in the script.
‘Your typical bad guy moves the plot forward. Good guys are weak because they wait for things to happen to them rather than the other way around. Not to mention that all drama is conflict. Villains create that conflict. The people watching at home might be rooting for Stacey to take her revenge on Lisa for what she’s done, but they’ll relish every moment of Lisa’s actions. The entire show would be pulled off air in a moment if it weren’t for characters like Lisa.St Thomas Closeneeds them more than it needs characters like Stacey.’
‘There’s a catfight at the end of this scene. That’s exciting at least.’ I turned the page. ‘Wait. Is Hector your on-screen husband?’
‘Yes.’
‘He interrupts the fight! And look!’ I jabbed at the words on the page. ‘He believes Lisa when she says you started it. She’s horrible!’
Julie took her eyes off the road for a moment to look at me. ‘See?’ she said. ‘You’re more fascinated by evil Lisa than by perfect Stacey.’
‘I’m on Stacey’s side though,’ I protested. ‘I want her to win.’
‘Sure you do. You also want to see her suffer first.’
I opened my mouth to argue. Then I realised she was probably right. Shaking my head in dismay, I read on. My amnesiac self knew enough about pop culture but nothing about this programme so I’d probably never watched it before. That was definitely a mistake I planned to remedy. After I’d solved all my other problems.
***
I stuck around on set long enough to glare at the production crew and actors as well as to satisfy myself that Julie was as safe as she could be. It would be just my luck if she got herself vamp-napped on my first day on the job. It probably wouldn’t be all that great for Julie either. Still, given that even she had to plead with the studio security to allow me in, and that there was a minimum of entrances and exits, I couldn’t see how she was in danger here. Besides, I had to respect that she’d been at this hunter-avoidance business a lot longer than I had and was fully aware of her vulnerabilities and strengths.
Borrowing her car with the proviso that I’d pick her up again at seven o’clock on the dot, I drove back towards Manchester city centre. It seemed that if I wanted to get confirmation or repudiation of Morgan’s assertions – as well as some much-desired nux – the man to find was this Rubus fellow. I’d start with Mike Timmons, the Travotel manager. He’d mentioned Rubus so he must have a good idea where I could locate him. I was almost certain that he’d alerted the golf-course goons about my presence in the hotel so they could try and kill me again. This time I’d have the element of surprise on my side; even if I ran into the would-be assassins, I’d be more prepared.
I indicated left to leave on the next slip road, checking my mirrors as I did so. It was just as bloody well. A boy racer in some showy red sports car appeared from nowhere, undertaking me. I narrowly avoided slamming into his side and the family saloon behind me narrowly avoided crashing into my arse.
