Trouble in Warp Space (4 page)

“Great! Just great!” Webb said. “Where’s Rich Millani? He’s supposed to be in charge of this stuff.” The director walked to the generator truck and turned off a master control switch. The generator stopped smoking.

“Rich took Peck to the hospital, remember?” Sandy said. She took a small extinguisher from the
cab of the truck and sprayed the generator.

“Wonderful!” Webb said. “That means we have no chance of getting this fixed today.”

“I could take a poke at it, chief,” Stan Pekar offered.

Webb shook his head. “No. No way. Then we’d have trouble with both our insurance
and
the union. We have enough problems as it is. That’s a wrap, people. We’ll have to pick this up at the end of the week.”

“But that’ll set us back on both our schedule and our budget,” Sandy said. “It might even require overtime.”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Webb replied. “This kind of thing happens when you’re working with amateurs.”

“That’s not really fair,” Claudia Rajiv said. “Any one of us could have tripped over that cable.”

“The cable wasn’t there earlier,” Frank said. “It must have gotten moved during the commotion over the fire.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter how it got moved,” Webb said. “We don’t have power to continue the shoot today. Everybody pack up your gear. We’re heading back to Jewel Ridge.”

“Just another day in
Warp Space
,” Stan Pekar said, shaking his head. “Come on, Marge. Let’s put our gear away.”

Sandy O’Sullivan appeared crestfallen. “Everybody remember to return your costumes to wardrobe and your props to Stan, since Rich isn’t here.” She turned to the teens. “Iola and Chet, you’d better let Stan and Marge help you out of those getups.”

Iola sighed. “My first day on TV and I don’t even get to shoot a scene,” she said.

“Don’t worry,” Sandy said. “We’ll work you in somewhere else. It may not be as glamorous a part as being wounded by the Slayer from Sirius, but—”

“Oh, I wasn’t complaining,” Iola said. “It’s been thrilling, even if I didn’t get on camera.”

“A little too thrilling, I’d say,” Jerri Bell said.

“Come on, Jerri,” Claudia Rajiv said. “We need to get out of costume, or we’ll have fans following us home.” Jerri nodded and the two of them headed for the costume tent. Chet and Iola walked to the makeup tent to get their gear removed.

“Oh, my gosh!” Sandy said as they left. “Rich still has my car! I need to find a ride home.”

“We’d be happy to give you a lift,” Frank said, “if someone can ferry us to the parking lot.”

“I’m sure I can arrange that,” Sandy said. “Thanks, guys.”

“No trouble,” Joe said. “We need someone to show us the way to our hotel, anyway.”

At that moment a ranger who had been patrolling the scorched area came down into the camp. “What’s all the commotion?” he asked.

“An accident with the electrical truck,” Sandy said. “We’re quitting for the day. We’ll be back at the end of the week, though, with any luck.”

“The fire’s out,” the ranger said, “but we’d appreciate it if you’d be more careful in the future. The guy in the hospital must have been careless with his cigarette.”

“Peck’s usually very conscientious,” Sandy said.

“Nevertheless. Our people will probably want to talk with your lawyers about it.”

Sandy sighed. “All right. You have the number in the location use contract that we signed.”

The ranger nodded. “Right. Is there anything we can do to help you get going?”

“Well, some of us need a lift back to the main parking lot,” Joe said.

“I’ll send someone down with a truck,” the ranger replied. Nodding goodbye, he hiked back over the ridge.

“I need to organize a few things before I can leave,” Sandy said. “I’ll meet you back here after Chet and Iola are out of costume.”

“Sounds good,” said Frank.

Some of the tents were already coming down as Sandy hiked off. The Hardys paced around the area, watching the commotion.

“Do you think TV shows are always this exciting?” Joe asked.

“I doubt it,” Frank replied. “I’m sure that cable
wasn’t there earlier. That and the fire make two accidents in one day.”

“It could just be the hustle and bustle of the production,” Joe said. “Everybody seems on edge, and we know they’re short on both time and money.”

“Could be,” Frank said. “But, after the lights fell, when everyone was coming to see what happened, I saw someone taking off into the hills away from camp.”

“A ranger, maybe?” Joe suggested.

Frank shrugged. “Let’s just stay on our toes,” he said.

•  •  •  

“So, where are we staying?” Joe asked as he pulled the van onto the highway.

“The Benson studio in Jewel Ridge,” Sandy said.

“The studio?” Iola said.

“We’re giving you the guest star trailer on the lot,” Sandy said. “It’s a nice touch, don’t you think?”

“Cool,” Chet said.

“And saves money, too, I’ll bet,” Frank added.

Sandy grinned sheepishly. “Busted.”

“Did you hear anything more about Mr. Wilson?” Iola asked.

“Rich called my cell phone and said that Peck was okay, but he’ll miss a couple of days of shooting,” Sandy said. “It looks like we’ll be needing Chet for a while longer.”

“Cool,” Chet said again. “Not that I’m glad that
Mr. Wilson’s hurt. I hope he recovers real soon.”

“Well, until he does, you’ve got a job,” Sandy said. “Unless, of course, Rod Webb objects.”

“He seems pretty high strung,” Joe said.

“He’s got a lot riding on this,” Sandy said. “He’s not getting his usual fee, just a percentage—and a chance to finish his last contractual obligation with UAN. If the show’s a big hit, he’ll do well, if not . . . well, let’s just say that the bread lines are long in showbiz. It’s the same for most everyone on
Warp Space
, including me. We’ve come a long way in a very short time, and there’s a lot at stake.”

Joe nodded. “WUAN has gone from a local superstation to the United America Network in just a year.”

“Despite our original programming, we’re still just an upstart,” Sandy said. “We’ve got a long way to go to compete with the big networks.”

“But
Warp Space
is a good start,” Chet said.

“Assuming UAN gives the show time to grow,” Sandy replied.

“Are you worried about cancellation?” Iola asked.

“A new show, like ours, is
always
in danger of cancellation,” Sandy said. “Especially if the show is different from the norm.”

“Even small networks are quick to pull the plug on unprofitable programs,” Frank said.

“Funding for new shows is in short supply,”
Sandy said. “So we’re trying to maximize our yield in story, production, and advertising.”

“Thus, the great Web site,” Iola said.

“And the contest we . . . Iola won,” Chet put in.

The whole group laughed. “It’s okay for you to feel like a winner, too, Chet,” Iola said. “However, I’ll be really upset if I don’t get at least
some
screen time.”

“Don’t worry,” Sandy said. “I guarantee we’ll get you into the show.”

“I’m already having a great time,” Chet said. “Despite everything.”

Iola rolled her eyes. “Fire, flood, earthquake . . . my brother could have fun in any disaster.”

Sandy said, “I hope we’ve had our share of bad breaks for this episode. With any luck, it should be smooth sailing from here on out.”

•  •  •  

A few hours later, Joe pulled the van off the highway into Jewel Ridge. The city was once a factory town, but it had ridden the high-tech boom back to prosperity. Expensive new housing had replaced the factories that once lined the city’s central river.

Following Sandy O’Sullivan’s directions, Joe wound through the New England streets to the Benson lot. The studio was in one of the less prosperous sections of town, surrounded by empty warehouses and a few old factories.

“Not quite Hollywood, is it?” Sandy said wistfully as they pulled up to the studio gates.

“How old is this studio?” Frank said.

“It was founded in the twenties by movie-serial pioneer Gus Benson,” Sandy replied. “The studio did pretty good business before shutting down in the fifties. Scott Broadcasting did some rehab work on it in the seventies. It’s been functioning on and off since then. UAN snapped it up when they needed a cheap production facility.”

“I think it has character,” Iola said.

They pulled up to the gate, and a sleepy-looking guard waved them through. The studio had a number of large, warehouselike buildings, a smattering of trailers—some for stars, others serving as offices—a security office, and a cafeteria with vending machines and storage lockers outside. The biggest of the warehouses had a fancy sign on the outside, which read,
Warp Space
—Studio One.

“You don’t have to be a detective to figure out where the show is shot,” Frank said.

“Are all of these big buildings stages?” Iola asked.

“No,” Sandy said. “A lot of them are taken up with storage. One has Stan Pekar’s workshop in it. The UAN execs have some offices on the far end of the lot.” She smiled. “They have a fancier parking lot and a better view.

“You, on the other hand,” she continued, “have a great view of the soundstage, and the offices of the
Warp Space
production crew. At least you don’t
have far to walk to get to work in the morning.”

“What’s the building over there with the light on?” Chet asked.

“Those self-same offices. Rod Webb and I have space on the side nearest your trailer. The part abutting the soundstage is where Stan Pekar works his magic. You’ll probably be going there first thing in the morning. Makeup call is at four
A.M.
, so you’ll want to get a good night’s rest.”

“Sounds fine by me,” Iola said. “I just want to have some dinner and crash.”

“Will you join us, Sandy?” Frank asked.

She sighed. “I wish I could, but I’m afraid I have to spend some time pulling the shooting schedule back together. I’ll have a cab take you to a great pizza place I know—on the studio, of course.”

“Maybe we could bring you something back,” Chet suggested.

“No,” Sandy said. “I’ll be working at home. Thanks for offering, though. Just make sure you’re ready for shooting bright and early.”

“We will be,” Iola and Chet said simultaneously.

The teens dumped their bags in the trailer. Then they all went out for dinner. After a good meal at the Town Spa pizza parlor, they went back to their trailer for the night. Before Sandy had taken a cab home, she had given them gate passes, which got the four friends past the guard. He waved the teens through and welcomed them to the
Warp Space
family.

“That was so cool!” Chet said.

“I really feel like a star,” Iola added.

“Just wait until you get in front of the cameras,” Joe said, smiling.

Frank used the keys to open the trailer, and they all piled into the small, streamlined space. The inside was a bit cramped, but well kept and cleverly arranged. There were two small bedrooms and a private bath, as well as a dining area with a tiny kitchen and a refrigerator.

As Chet scoped out the fridge, Iola went to get ready for bed. “I can’t believe you’re hungry,” she called to her brother. “We just ate!”

“I’m just seeing what’s available,” Chet said.

“One never knows when the urge for a midnight snack might strike,” Joe commented.

“Men!” Iola said. She went into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. A moment later she reappeared, dressed in the same clothes but looking pale and shaken. “I think you should see this,” she said.

The Hardys and Chet scrambled through the narrow door into the bedroom.

Iola’s pillow had been slashed. A dark red stain spread out over the torn cloth, and in the middle of the stain lay a smashed figurine of the Slayer from Sirius.

“D-Do you think that’s blood?” Iola asked. Joe put an arm around her and gave her a reassuring hug.

Frank leaned close to the pillow and shook his head. “It smells like ketchup to me,” he said.

“There’s a half-empty bottle of ketchup in the fridge,” Chet suggested.

Joe scowled. “Who could have done this, and why?”

“And why did they single
me
out?” asked Iola.

“I wouldn’t be sure that whoever did this intended it for you, Iola,” Frank said.

“Maybe it’s just a prank,” Chet said, “a joke on the new kids.”

“If it’s a prank, it’s not funny,” Joe said angrily.

“It’s not,” Frank said. “But it’s possible that Chet could be right.”

“Frank, if you’re trying to spare my feelings, I wish you wouldn’t,” Iola said.

“I’m going easy on you,” Frank said, “it’s just that we don’t have much to go on here. We’ve got a slashed pillow stained with ketchup and a broken statuette in our trailer. Clearly, it’s a staged event, but the ketchup makes it seem like a spur-of-the-moment act.”

“The smashed figure makes it look premeditated to me,” Joe said.

“I’ve seen some of these figurines for sale on the Internet,” Chet said. “The show doesn’t have a big toy deal yet, but they made a few for publicity. They’re pretty valuable.”

“I saw one go for a hundred dollars on VBuy,” Iola added.

“So, breaking one deliberately is like throwing money away,” Frank said.

“Unless it was already broken,” Joe said, “and someone was just looking for a good ‘use’ for it.”

“From what I remember reading, the figures were mostly given to the cast and crew,” Iola said.

“That would fit in with it showing up here,” Frank said.

“And only a few people know we’re on the lot and staying in this trailer,” Joe said. “Probably the
person behind this is someone we’ve met, someone with access to the lot—one of the cast or crew.”

“Some fans know everything about the show, including when the prize was supposed to be awarded,” Chet said. “A jealous contest loser might be behind this, too.”

“Could be,” Joe said. “The question remains, though, is this a prank, a threat against Iola or Chet—he was the one in the Slayer costume today—or is it some kind of mischief against the show in general?”