Page 127 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

“I feel like a giant sweat ball.”

“Deep breaths,” Tessa said. “With me.”

Adriene mimicked her sucking air in and pushing it out.

After they’d done this several times, Tessa said, “Better?”

“A little.”

“Remember, you’re not alone.”

“Thanks.”

There was only one car in front of them now, and it had just dislodged its occupants.

As it drove off and the van rolled up to the drop-off, Lizzie said, “Here we go.”

She hopped out and opened the side passenger door. A tidal wave of cheers rushed into the vehicle, making it impossible for anyone to hear anyone else.

Billy stepped out first. As he did, an amplified voice announced first in German and then in English, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Academy Award–winning producer ofDesperation at Dawn, and the producer of tonight’s world premiere filmStorm’s Eye, Billy Barnett!”

The fans in the grandstands that lined the red carpet roared in excitement.

Billy took a couple of steps down the carpet and waved, garnering even more cheers.

The MC’s voice boomed out again, “Composer of theStorm’s Eye’s score and an Academy Award winner in her own right, Hattie Barrington!”

Adriene came next, beaming and waving, followed by Peter, and finally Tessa and Ben.

They walked down the carpet as a group, stopping several times to pose for photos.

Back at the van, Stone, Vesna, and Stacy exited and headed down the path for noncelebrities.

Teddy and the others reached the platform near the end of the red carpet.

The MC elicited another round of cheers as he reintroduced everyone, then he said, “Film lovers, please welcome the director of the World Thriller Film Festival, Constance Mueller!”

A small woman with a giant smile joined them and waved to the crowd. The MC handed her the mic.

Mueller spoke for several moments in German, then switched to English. “Welcome to the inaugural World Thriller Film Festival! I hope every one of you gets the chance to see one of the wonderful films we will be screening over the next week. And speaking of wonderful, I couldn’t be happier that we’re opening the festival withStorm’s Eye, the new film by the magnificent Peter Barrington!”

As the crowd roared, Peter waved and then bowed in thanks.

Vesna’s voice came over the comm in Billy’s ear. “Braun just pulled up.”

Billy’s smile didn’t miss a beat as he swiveled his gaze to the drop-off point, where Felix Braun was exiting a Suburban. Two men and a woman followed, all of whom Billy recognized.

One of the men was Dieter Wenz, and the other a man who’d been with him at the hospital in Budapest. The woman was Jillian, the person Billy had almost run into on the stairs at Ristorante Cumberland.

Peter’s voice boomed out of the speakers. “We are honored beyond words to be chosen to open this wonderful new festival! Thank you so much for inviting us!”

The mic was passed to Tessa. “What Peter said! We’re so thrilled to be here!”

Back at the Suburban, a festival worker guided Braun and his party to the alternate path into the theater.

And at the platform, Adriene was thanking the fans for coming out and telling everyone how excited she was.

Hattie came next, sharing a few thoughts on the marriage of film and music, then she handed the mic to Billy.

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