038 The Final Scene by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

purse and jacket over so Nancy could sit down opposite her. Nancy noticed that the bag matched Deirdre’s jacket and skirt perfectly. Her beautiful coppery hair was set off by a ginger-colored silk blouse.
    “Actually, I love having the company,” Deirdre said after Nancy was settled and had ordered a glass of juice. “I was just sitting here thinking how much I miss my sisters and girlfriends back home in Los Angeles.”
    “How long have you been on the road?” Nancy asked.
    “Oh, this is just our first stop, with the movie premiering here and all,” she said. “I’ve been away from home for less than a week. I just get homesick really quickly. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. I’ve been an actress since I was four years old.”
    Any other time Nancy would have been fascinated by this inside look at a famous actress, but that day she had other things on her mind.
    “I came to the hotel to talk to Simon,” Nancy said. She sensed Deirdre tightening up at the mere mention of Mueller’s name. “I asked the front desk to ring his room, but he didn’t answer. Have you seen him this morning?”
    “No,” Deirdre responded quickly. “No, I haven’t.”
    “And how about Brady? Have you seen him in the past half hour or so?”
    “Why do you ask?” Deirdre asked, lifting one delicate eyebrow. “Is Brady a suspect?”
    “I’m just trying to check everyone’s whereabouts,” Nancy said offhandedly.
    “I haven’t seen Simon or Brady since breakfast,” she said cautiously. “They were having a slight argument over their cereal and grapefruit, so I didn’t hang around. I hate it when they fight.”
    Nancy perked up instantly. “Does that happen a lot?”
    “More than I can stand. Simon is always pushing Brady to do things, and . . . ”
    Her voice faded and she looked as though she were afraid she had said too much already.
    “What kind of things does he want Brady to do?” Nancy prodded.
    “Oh, you know, publicity things. This morning Simon was telling Brady to ride around town in the limo.”
    “And Brady didn’t want to?”
    “No. Some stars thrive on attention, but Brady doesn’t like having girls scream and yell and faint at his feet. Sometimes they grab at him and rip his clothes. He hates that.”
    “And how about you, Deirdre? Do you thrive on attention, or do you hate it?” Nancy asked.
    Deirdre smiled, and Nancy was struck by how natural and easygoing she was. “I’m somewhere in between. I would probably be disappointed if I walked down the street and no one recognized me. But sometimes, like this morning, I just like to get away from all the fans and autograph hounds.”
    “And that’s why you’re sitting here?”
    Deirdre nodded.
    “They found you anyway.”
    “They always do,” she said with a slight shrug.
    “So, who won the argument this morning? Brady or Simon?” Nancy asked, sipping at the tall glass of orange juice the waitress had set down in front of her.
    “Brady, I think. He wanted to go back to the theater to look for your friend and—well, for old times’ sake.”
    “Old times’ sake?”
    Deirdre looked very uncomfortable, as though she had revealed something she hadn’t intended to. “Ah, yes. Brady has some . . . uh . . . memories of the place.”
    “What kind of memories?”
    “I don’t know. Just memories.”
    “Did he ever work in a community theater production there?”
    “I don’t know,” Deirdre said, suddenly quite agitated. “He might have. You’d actually know that better than I. Listen, I have to go now. I’ve got to get my hair done for a date that Simon has arranged for Brady and me this evening. Simon is determined that Brady and I act like an item for a while. You know, publicity and all.”
    Nancy’s curiosity was aroused. “Then you and Brady aren’t an item?” she asked.
    Deirdre smiled her breathtaking smile. “Brady’s a sweetheart, and I’m very fond of him. But there’s this hunk back in L.A. He’s