Deception on the Set by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

Joe’s arm and pulled him into the alley with me. “I was chasing you,” I whispered.
    â€œWhat?” he asked.
    I explained how I had seen him fooling around with the huge light and had chased after him.
    My brother smiled. “Ah,” he said. “That’s why I came looking for you. Believe it or not, that all makes perfect sense.”

CASTING THE VILLAIN
10
JOE
    T HAT WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL,” scolded Josh. He and Bill glared at Frank after my brother had apologized for what seemed like the millionth time.
    â€œI know, sir. And again, I’m very sorry,” said Frank. “I just thought I saw . . .” He glanced at me and then turned his attention back to the director. “I thought I saw someone messing with that big light over there.”
    Bill held his radio up to his mouth. “Barry, check on that 12K, will you?”
    â€œCopy that,” replied a man’s voice on the tiny speaker.
    Josh rubbed his eyes. “Luckily, we can use one of the earlier takes. We’re setting up for the next shot now.” Hegrimaced at Frank. “I was going to fire you, but Chelsea reminded me about how you saved her life yesterday.”
    Josh said “saved her life” a little too sarcastically for my taste.
    â€œEither way, you’re done for the day,” Josh continued. “If you promise not to rush off again during a take, you can continue your run as a zombie later.”
    â€œI appreciate that, sir,” said Frank. “Thanks.”
    Josh and Bill walked back to video village, and Frank glanced around the set. “I should apologize to Chelsea,” he said.
    â€œLater,” I said, tugging his tattered sleeve. “You should get out of your makeup. And after that, I have something important to show you.”
    We made our way to the makeup trailer and stepped inside, only to be met by ourselves! Well, almost ourselves. Both Frank’s and my life casts sat on the counter, staring toward the door. They were stark white and would’ve looked like Greek busts of us except that they were bald and their eyes were closed.
    Frank jumped when he saw them. “Very funny,” he muttered.
    I laughed. “I’m not punking you, bro.” I pointed to the life casts. “This is what I wanted to show you.”
    â€œYeah, I saw them the first time,” said Frank. He turned to Meredith. “Will you remove my makeup, please?”
    â€œSure will,” she replied. “But first let me show you whatwe found.” She waved Frank closer. “Remember I told you how we made your zombie masks?”
    â€œYeah,” replied Frank. “You sculpted the zombie faces with clay and then took molds of those, right?”
    â€œRight,” said Meredith. “But you don’t see any clay on them anymore, right?”
    Even through Frank’s zombie mask, I could tell he seemed a bit confused. “Right . . . so . . .”
    â€œSo Nick is very good at cleaning off the life casts when we’re finished.” She wiped a finger over my life cast. “These are still slimy with release agent.”
    â€œThat’s the stuff you use to keep the silicone molds from sticking to them, right?” asked Frank.
    â€œGive that zombie a prize!” I joked.
    Frank shook his head. “So what does it mean?”
    â€œIt means that someone else took molds of these after we did our thing,” explained Meredith. “ Without the zombie sculpts.”
    â€œSo, if someone came in and took molds of just our faces . . . ,” Frank began.
    â€œI see a lightbulb going on in that undead brain of yours,” I said.
    Meredith smiled. “Someone could have easily made Frank and Joe Hardy masks.”
    Frank didn’t speak as he took in the revelation. He glanced at Meredith, then at me. “So . . . you’re saying that someone in the makeup department