CHAPTER 23
@starzwatch: Filming of An Irish Inheritance – the new romcom starring Spencer Torres and Afric Brooks – was abandoned for much of the afternoon yesterday, when Afric became too upset to work, and slated her co-star for putting her Toy Poodle, Diva, at risk.
Torres’ close friend Ben Colbert gave Spencer a rescue German Shepherd for his recent birthday – and the dog is staying at Linford Castle with the cast and crew.
“Ben, would you make sure that Snuggles wears a muzzle when he’s in the hotel or the grounds?” Jess’s job was becoming stranger by the minute, she thought, as she stood outside Spencer’s cottage.
In front of her, Ben Colbert – wearing only a pair of low-slung pyjama bottoms – was nodding cheerfully. “That sounds fair, darling. Anything else?”
“Um …” Jess pretended to think as she struggled to keep her eyes trained on his face. Dear God, dancers had amazing bodies! Maybe she should take up dancing. She was probably a bit too old for ballet, but she’d been able to do a passable Irish jig when she was seven.
Focus, Jess. Mrs McDonagh had been apoplectic after she’d found out about the new dog.
“Bad enough that scut that Afric Brooks has,” she’d raged. “Now we have to put up with that monster of a yoke! Just make sure they stay in their designated areas, Jess. Under no circumstances can they be anywhere in the castle, except for that basement room. Hygiene aside, I’m allergic.”
“No, that’s it,” Jess said now, dragging herself back to the present.
From inside the cottage there was loud barking and she tensed as she heard the dog’s nails on the wooden floors as he ran, skittering towards the door.
“I’d better, you know …” Ben gestured vaguely behind him.
“Absolutely.” Jess nodded feverishly, her eyes snagging on his dark, bare chest as she did. Did muscles actually ripple? They looked fairly rippley. She glanced up, heat blasting to her face as he grinned at her. Unable to utter another word, she turned quickly and almost collided with Robert.
“Oh, hi! I was just – we were just –” She looked over her shoulder but Ben had already closed the door. Jess sighed. “Talking about the dog.”
“The dog?” Robert looked bemused. “I’m glad I ran into you, though. I wanted to give you something.”
“Really?” Jess laughed as he stepped closer, pulling her towards him to press his mouth to hers. “So nice of you to come all this way to give me that,” she said, stepping away. “But, technically, I’m at work.” She folded her arms. “Have you met Snuggles?”
He rolled his eyes. “I think I have a mental picture.”
“You haven’t met Snuggles.” Jess took out her phone as it started to ring. “Excuse me a minute.” She swiped a finger across the screen. “Hi, Emily.”
“Oh, hi, Jess, I was trying your office –”
“I’m in the grounds. I’ll be there in a few.”
“No, there’s actually a bit of a problem at the front gate and security wants to know if someone can go down and check it out.”
“Uh, sure, I’ll head down.” She hung up. “I’d better go.”
“Anything I can do?” Robert asked.
“It’s fine, thanks.” Jess shook her head. “I’ll catch you later.”
She walked down to the main gate, glad of the cool breeze. Huddled outside on the access road was the usual core group of reporters and photographers. As she got closer, she noticed someone who looked like one of the runners, pleading with the security man.
“Hi.” Jess smiled politely. “I’m Jess Bradley. I’m troubleshooting for Blue Star Studios on behalf of the Charleston Group. How can I help?”
The other woman looked relieved as she secured her long blonde hair quickly into a ponytail. “I’m Leah Davis, one of the ADs.”
“Okay.” Jess flicked a quick look at the security guard. “Did you forget your pass?”
Leah flushed. “I lost it a week ago.” She gave the guard a sheepish look. “The other guy knew me so I didn’t think it really mattered.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Let her in,” Jess said. “We’ll figure it out.”
As soon as Leah was inside, Jess snapped a photo of her on her phone and sent it to Mel. Is this one of your ADs – Leah Davis?
“This shouldn’t take too long,” she told Leah.
“Thanks.” Leah folded her arms. “And sorry to be a pain.” She glanced back towards the press. “They might actually get some decent photos today.”
“How come?” Jess asked.
“There’s a riding scene with Afric and Spencer.”
Jess checked her phone. “Mel’s seen the message.”
“I don’t think Mel knows my name.”
“She has your photo too.” Jess frowned. “Hang on, she’s typing something. Okay, you’re good to go. You need to get a new security pass. Come on, I’ll walk you up.”
They walked in silence for a few moments.
“I know I should have reported my pass, but it’s my first gig and I’d only been here a week,” Leah said. “I thought they’d fire me.”
Jess shot her a sympathetic look. “I’m sure they wouldn’t – these things happen. Just be careful with the new one.”
“That’s the thing,” Leah said, “I was careful with it. The only time I took it off, I zipped it into my jacket pocket.”
“Maybe it fell out?” Jess suggested as they reached the front door.
“No way, it was zipped in. But I didn’t check that it was still there when I was leaving after the day’s filming, so I didn’t notice it was gone until the next day.”
“You couldn’t have taken it out and just left it at home?”
Leah shook her head. “I can’t prove it, but somebody could have taken it out of my pocket.” She looked over at Jess. “Can I ask you something?”
Jess nodded.
“What are the tunnels like?”
“Uh, dark and spooky, I guess. Why?”
Leah shrugged. “Everyone’s always talking about them. The actors, especially. A couple of them have said they hear noises in the walls.”
Jess felt a chill. “Noises in the walls?”
“I mean, they think it could be in the tunnels,” Leah said, seemingly unbothered.
“I’m sure they’re wrong,” Jess said firmly. “Firstly, we only have two working tunnels. Secondly, there’s always going to be strange noises at night in a place this old. Floorboards creak, furniture settles. It’s normal.”
“Maybe.” Leah looked amused. “It’s just they’ve said they can hear the noises during the day as well. Anyway, thanks for your help. I’ll sort out a new swipe, and I won’t take it off again.”
As they parted ways in the foyer, Jess tried to put Leah’s revelations into perspective. Logically, anyone with an active imagination could dream up all sorts of fictional scenarios for Linford Castle. It didn’t make any of it true.
The only thing that had actually happened was that somebody had lost their security pass. Which, technically, anyone could use to gain access. She remembered the camera lens. Still, all the staff knew each other – as did all the cast and crew. A strange face would be spotted immediately.
There was no need to worry.