Page 135 of The Girl Who Knew Too Much

“Stranger things happen in Hollywood,” Luther said.

“So they tell me,” Brandon said. “Speaking of Hollywood, the studio cut Claudia Picton loose immediately, as you said they would, Oliver.”

“I wonder how much Daisy Jennings knew about what was going on,” Luther mused.

“Very little,” Brandon said. “From what I can tell she had a onetime fling with Nick Tremayne in the garden of the Paradise Club. Later, Claudia Picton offered her cash to lure Miss Glasson to the warehouse.”

“Picton also gave Jennings a script to read that contained two film titles. Jennings must have known something dangerous was happening,” Oliver said.

“Maybe,” Brandon said. “Regardless, it looks like she took the money and didn’t ask too many questions.”

Chester scowled. “What about that studio executive, Ernie Ogden? How much did he know?”

“According to Claudia Picton, Ogden didn’t know that his star was being blackmailed, so he couldn’t have known why women with a connection to Nick Tremayne had a bad habit of turning up dead,” Irene said. “But he must have been getting concerned. What’s more, I think ClaudiaPicton knew that. It’s probably why she was so desperate today. If the studio dumped Tremayne, her blackmail scheme would go down the drain. She’d have committed several murders and have nothing to show for it. I’m sure that situation was an additional source of stress for her.”

“No wonder she always looked so nervous,” Chester said.

“She’s looking a lot more anxious now,” Brandon said. “She’s doing a good job of acting like she’s nuts. Got a hunch she’s going to go with an insanity plea.”

“What will happen to Henry Oakes?” Irene asked. “I think he’s a little crazy but he wasn’t a killer.”

Brandon grunted. “He’s going to recover from his head wound. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he’s still crazy. Thinks he’s Nick Tremayne’s special friend and that he has to protect the star. I’ll have a little chat with him before he leaves the hospital, but if that doesn’t work, I guess the studio will have to deal with him.”

“That’s what men like Ernie Ogden get paid to do,” Luther said.

“I know,” Brandon said. He shook his head. “I’ve seen that kind of crazy before and there’s no cure.”

Irene glanced at her watch and got to her feet. “It’s almost three o’clock. If you gentlemen will excuse me, I have an appointment with Nick Tremayne.”

The men rose.

Chester looked surprised. “Tremayne agreed to another interview?”

“Not exactly,” Irene said. “I owe him an apology. He has graciously agreed to accept it. We’re having tea together.”

“Be forewarned,” Oliver said. “There will be a studio photographer and a publicist present. Ogden sent them here in a chauffeured limo.”

“In that case I’ll go upstairs and put on some fresh lipstick,” Irene said.

Brandon chuckled. “I thought the Burning Cove Hotel had a firm policy when it came to photographers and publicists. They aren’t allowed on the grounds.”

“It’s my hotel,” Oliver said. “I made the policy. I can make exceptions.”

Luther gave him a knowing look. “You kept the lid on a major scandal involving a fast-rising star and you arranged things so that Tremayne came out of a messy situation looking like a real hero. His studio is going to be very grateful.”

“I’m counting on it,” Oliver said.

Luther smiled. “In other words, casting Tremayne as the hero is good for business. Ernie Ogden owes you a very big favor. Having him in your debt is bound to be useful. On top of that, the gossip columnists will fall all over themselves retelling the story of Tremayne’s heroics, and the Burning Cove Hotel will be featured in every single piece that appears in papers across the nation.”

“Nothing like good publicity,” Oliver said.

Brandon got to his feet. “Sounds complicated. I think I’ll stick with the detective business. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to work.”

He nodded politely at Irene and disappeared into the living room. A moment later the door closed quietly behind him.

Luther looked at Oliver. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe there is one more reason for making Nick Tremayne the star of your little story. It will dominate the news. No one will pay any attention to a much smaller piece about a certain automobile accident that took the life of another guest of the Burning Cove Hotel.”

“In the magic business we call it misdirection,” Oliver said.

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