Lights Out Tonight (12 page)

“Would you want to try your hand at directing the film version of
Devil in the Details?”

“That’s an interesting thought.”

“And surely not the first time you’ve considered it,” said Caroline.

Keith smiled a tight smile. He wasn’t going to embarrass himself before a national audience by announcing he would direct his first film without knowing for certain that he had his ducks all in a row. Without Belinda in the lead, Keith’s ducks were scattered. He was putting all his hopes on the performance tonight. If Belinda triumphed as Valerie, then surely he could bring her around to star in what could be another Academy Award-winning role for her.

“As I said, Caroline, at this point, I just want to get through tonight.”

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Driving home from Pittsfield, Gus smirked. It was so easy to placate his overworked, underpaid parole officer. As long as he showed up when he was supposed to, passed his drug test, demonstrated he was still holding down his job, and pretended to be a good little Boy Scout, he got a pass until the next time. No one came out to Curtains Up to check on him—not that they would necessarily discover anything even if they did. His cave was far from easy to find.

The caterer’s white truck was parked at the side of the farmhouse when Gus arrived. Trays of food were being stowed in the kitchen, and crates of glassware were being carried out to the patio, where the bar was being set up. Low glass containers filled with red, yellow, and pink snapdragons sat on scarlet tablecloths spread on the round tables. Tiny red pitchforks poked out from the top of each flower arrangement.

Gus went into the kitchen, picked a deviled egg from a tray, and popped it into his mouth, ignoring the disapproving look from the caterer. Yep, he had a pretty cushy gig
here, Gus thought as he eyed the devil’s food cake. A good thing that could keep on going indefinitely as long as Belinda didn’t stick her pretty little nose where it didn’t belong.

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Belinda sat in front of the makeup mirror applying her lipstick when Meg came into the dressing room carrying a glass vase filled with two dozen long-stemmed roses.

“Red. He never forgets,” said Belinda as she inhaled the fragrance of the flowers.

Meg wished Belinda would volunteer who
he
was, but she wasn’t about to ask what the leading lady might think was too personal a question. If she wanted Meg to know, Belinda would tell her.

On went the corset and the petticoat and the green velvet gown. As Meg zipped up the dress, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” called Belinda.

Langley stuck her head inside. “I just wanted to say, ‘break a leg.’”

“Thanks, Langley,” said Belinda.

“Oooo, you got flowers.” Langley walked straight over to the dressing table. “They’re beautiful. Who sent them?” “A friend,” said Belinda.

“The
friend
must be crazy about you,” said Langley. “Who is it?”

Meg was embarrassed by the understudy’s rudeness. But Belinda, smooth as ever, simply ignored Langley’s question.

“Get me my fan, please, will you, Meg?” Belinda asked.

Meg obeyed. “You look beautiful, Belinda,” she said.

“Thank you, dear. And thank you for all your help.” With that, Belinda departed for the stage, leaving Meg and Langley in the dressing room.

Langley picked up the small card Belinda had left beside the flowers. “Twenty years and you grow ever more beautiful, Belinda. Valerie is very lucky tonight,” Langley read aloud. “Yours forever, Remington.”

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As the curtain lowered, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.

“Magnificent.” Nick leaned over and yelled in Caroline’s ear as the cast of
Devil in the Details
came out to take their
bows. The last actor out was Belinda Winthrop, and the audience came to their feet and cheered.

Watching Belinda take her bows, Caroline was already mentally composing the review she would write, knowing that she had just witnessed a rare production. Brilliant, inspired, breathtaking—those were some of the words she wanted to include in describing not only Belinda’s performance but also the content of the play. Victoria Sterling’s creation deserved the Pulitzer Prize. How she had envisioned, and executed, the scenes leading to the unmasking of the sociopathic husband was amazing. Caroline couldn’t help but feel that only someone who had firsthand knowledge of sociopathy could have handled the subject so expertly.

What was the old saw?
Write what you know.

Refused permission to record the play, Lamar and Boomer waited in the lobby.

“I hope that dub they’re giving Caroline will be of decent quality,” muttered Lamar.

“Hey, it’s not your problem, man,” said Boomer as he munched on the giant oatmeal cookie he had purchased at the refreshment cart. “If they wouldn’t let us shoot, they wouldn’t let us shoot. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Yeah, but I hate depending on video shot by the audiovisual department of the Warrenstown Summer Playhouse. Who knows who’s manning the camera! It could be some college kid.”

The doors to the theater opened, and the audience started streaming into the lobby. Lamar studied the expressions on the theatergoers’ faces. “Looks like it was a hit,” he said.

Boomer grunted as he popped the last of the cookie into his mouth.

Lamar spotted Caroline and her husband. He waved to get their attention.

“Good, huh?” he asked.

“Fabulous,” Caroline answered. “I’ll tell you all about it later, but now let’s get right downstairs to Belinda Winthrop’s dressing room.”

Nick let go of Caroline’s hand. “I’ll see you later then?” he asked.

Caroline took his hand again. “Oh no, you’re coming with us. Don’t you want to see Belinda?”

“Hurry up and wait,” muttered Boomer as the KEY News group stood outside the dressing room door. Twenty minutes passed as Keith Fallows and Victoria Sterling each went in for a visit with the star. Finally, the dressing room door opened.

“Belinda can see you now.” Meg beckoned them inside.

Belinda rose from her dressing table chair to greet the group.

“Nick McGregor! How wonderful to see you,” Belinda said as she hugged him. “It’s been too long.”

“You were just terrific tonight, Belinda,” said Nick, flashing
his bright smile. “But I’m not going to stay. I know you have this interview to do, but I should also tell you how glad I am that Meg has had the experience of working with you.”

Belinda’s expression was puzzled as she looked from Nick to Meg.

“Meg is my daughter, Belinda.”

“You’re kidding. I had no idea,” said Belinda. She turned to Meg. “I should have made the connection, but I just didn’t. Yet now that I look at you, I can see your mother in your face. She was a lovely woman, Meg. I’m sure she’d be so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” said Meg.

Nick looked a bit crestfallen, thought Caroline. Did it bother him for some reason that Belinda hadn’t connected Meg as his daughter, or was he upset to be reminded of Maggie?

“Well, now that I know you’re here, Nick, you must come to the party at my place tonight. I insist on it.”

“That’s swell of you, Belinda,” said Nick. “Now I won’t spend another minute keeping you from your interview.” He leaned over and gave Meg and Caroline pecks on the cheek. “I’ll see my girls later.”

“Nick, your hair has grown whiter, but don’t tell me that Caroline Enright is your daughter, too,” said Belinda.

Nick laughed. “No, Belinda, Caroline is my new wife. We were married a few months ago.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time tonight for this interview,” said Caroline.

“My pleasure,” said Belinda. “I’m especially glad I agreed, now that I know you’re married to Nick. He’s a wonderful guy. I’m glad he’s found someone to love again.”

Caroline felt uncomfortable, conscious of the fact that her stepdaughter was listening.

“I think I’ll get this stuff to the laundry,” said Meg, hurrying from the dressing room.

“Did I say something wrong?” asked Belinda as the door clicked shut.

Caroline shook her head. “No, you didn’t. But her mother’s death is still raw for Meg. It’s hard for her to accept a stepmother.”

“It must be hard for you, too,” said Belinda. “A mother is irreplaceable. And how do you possibly fill a ghost’s shoes?”

“Imagine being associated with someone who has no conscience. Victoria Sterling has given us a staggering view of the true terror it must be to be joined to a sociopath. I count myself fortunate to be able to interpret this rich and fabulous material.”

Caroline felt that Belinda was forthcoming with her answers through the entire twenty-minute interview.

“Thank you for giving us your time, when I know you have a party to get to,” she said. “Let me just ask you one last thing.
What about taking this role to the screen? Does a
Devil in the Details
movie interest you?”

Belinda shook her head. “I’d be interested in seeing it, but I have no desire to play Valerie on film.”

“That surprises me,” said Caroline. “It would seem to be a natural for you.”

Belinda smiled. “Let’s just say there are other projects I’d rather take on.”

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The party was already in full swing when the hostess arrived. The guests milling around the torchlit patio broke into applause when Belinda appeared.

“Thank you, everybody, and thank you for coming to Curtains Up tonight.” Belinda beamed as she looked around. “It’s so wonderful to have you all here to celebrate.”

“You’re the best, Belinda,” shouted George Essex, the actor who had played Davis.

“Brava,” shouted another, and the crowd clapped again with enthusiasm.

“Well, all of you, make yourselves at home,” Belinda called. “Let’s eat, drink, and be merry.”