Page 96 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Emerson!”Griffin called, leaning out of his office door as Bel returned to her desk. “Can I talk to you?”

Bel dropped her stuff and crossed the station to join her boss.

“You can probably guess what I’m going to say,” he said. “And you won’t like it either, but Evelyn Pierce informed me that filming won’t halt despite Warren Rouge’s death. Beau Draven is taking over as director for the remainder of the shoot.”

“Unbelievable.” Bel collapsed onto his couch, the cushions hissing as they released their air as if they too were pissed at this announcement.

“They want you on set to watch over Mr. Draven,” Griffin continued. “But they hope your presence will protect the rest of the cast and crew.”

“It won’t help them if they insist on sneaking out to hook up with our town’s residence,” Bel muttered. “Why me, though? I’m a homicide detective who’s needed on this case. Deputies are already monitoring the sets and the bed-and-breakfast.”

“Why you?” Griffin scoffed. “Why the officer who threw herself into the back seat of a kidnapper’s car and then crashed it to save Miss Monroe?” He laughed. “I hate dangling you in front of a serial killer, but could Eamon watch over you like he did with Miss Monroe? I don’t want to ask this of him. He isn’t the police, and it’s inappropriate to keep involving a civilian, but he’s the only person besides myself that I trust to protect you.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Bel said. “But the days aren’t dangerous. It’s after midnight. I can’t help the cast or crew if they escape our surveillance after dark. Neither can Eamon.”

“I know. But four people have died on our watch. We can’t let that number become five. Filming is almost done.Wejust have to keep them alive long enough to leave town because if things get worse, I’m afraid the studio will try suing us for negligence.”

“And my protection is the price we must pay to avoid that.”

“I’m sorry, Emerson.” Griffin leaned forward. “Spend time on set. Show everyone we’re taking their safety seriously. Don’t jump into any more cars, and it’ll be an easy assignment for you. We can’t afford to lose you on this case, but we can’t afford to let another crew member die. And the way Mr. Draven is panicking, he believes he’s next.”

“I’ll do it,” Bel said. “Of course, I’ll do it. I just wish it would actually help.”

“Who knows?” Griffin stood and patted her on the back. “The last time you followed an actor around on set, you saved them from a kidnapper. Maybe this time you’ll save them from the killer.”

“Let’s pray we’re so lucky. Although it would be safer for them to halt filming.”

“A fact I’ve repeated until I was blue in the face.”

Bel stood, an idea taking root. “Maybe I can help.”

“What?” Griffin smirked at her. “You gonna let Mr. Stone loose on them?”

“That would be the quickest way,” she laughed, wishing that was an option, but she wasn’t trying to out her boyfriend’s secret to people who made their living filming others.

“I’d pay to see that.” The sheriff escorted her out of his office. “I told them you’ll start tomorrow, so get as much work done today asyou can.”

“I’ll try my best to solve the case before then.”

Griffin gave her a humorous eye roll, and then she dialed the only person besides her ancient evil of a boyfriend whomight be able tohelp her.

“Detective, how are you?” Agent Jameson Barry answered on the second ring, and while they weren’t close, Bel almost sobbed at the sound of his voice. He’d been the first familiar face she’d seen after she helped carry Dr. Charles Blaubart’s wife down that snowing mountain, and she would never forgetthe wayhe hugged her when he found her alive.

“I need your help,” she said as she crossed the station floor to her desk.

“Sure. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she answered by launching into an explanation of their situation. “They won’t halt filming for the police,” she said in closing. “But they might for the FBI.”

“You want me to shut them down?” Barry asked.

“Can you?”

“None of the murders occurred on set, correct?”

“Correct,” she confirmed.

“Have any accidents happened on the set? Any threats? Have you found any evidence on set or in the production trailers?”

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