Studio 73-C, Hollywood

Thursday, January 31st

Lane sat in his gray ’17 Versa.

Rain spattered his windshield.

Tina said this was a good opportunity. Movies based on bestselling books sometimes promised more press, and press meant opportunities to showcase his talent.

He opened his umbrella and tromped through the wet parking lot to the studio. The guy at the security gate had given him good directions.

Inside he took a seat with over thirty men, some he recognized, but none of them seemed to notice his arrival.

Signs posted on each wall read, “Please email your resume, headshot, and contact information for yourself and your agent to the address at the top of the provided sides.”

Lane did as instructed before reviewing the material for three characters Tina thought he might be interested in auditioning for. The first was the female lead’s boyfriend, the second a police chief, and the third a forensics specialist.

Stacey liked the book this movie was based on, Vic Garrison’s Evident.

Lane had perused a few chapters, and Garrison seemed a good writer. Apparently millions of others shared that opinion, because Evident had landed on the New York Times’ bestseller list for a solid eighteen months after it released.

One by one, auditioners took their turn and left.

“Next.” A woman wearing a headset and holding a tablet motioned Lane forward.  “Three minutes. Time starts as soon as you walk on screen.” The woman shut the door, attention on her tablet.

Lane took the ten feet to the green screen in three long strides. “Lane Harris,” he said to the camera, “auditioning for Grayson Field, Hunter West, or Terrance Fitzpatrick.”

He settled into character for the first set of lines, but each word drained an ounce of will, and by the time he finished the last sentence, he slumped, spent.

Lane didn’t bother to use his umbrella on the way back to his car.

Marcelle St. Apartments, Huntington Park

Friday, February 1st

Bills scattered the kitchen table. The hospital’s logo decorated some of them. Others were from the funeral home, but most were from credit card companies, and other places Stephen had owed money.

Despite being heir apparent to a hefty inheritance, Stephen had never wanted his family’s money. Something Stephen’s father, the famed Ian Parker, hadn’t been happy about.

Takeout containers and stray laundry now filled the one-bedroom apartment, always neat under Stephen’s care. Dishes overflowed both sink and dishwasher, and Lane couldn’t speculate how old the apples on the counter were.

He retreated to the bedroom and shut the door on the mess. Without bothering to move the unfolded laundry at the end of the bed, he pulled musty covers over his head.

His phone, still tucked in his pocket, buzzed.

A text from Tina. Second audition for Evident, this afternoon, 4PM. Be there.

It was 2:30 already and getting to the studio in the middle of the day would take at least an hour.

He stretched wrinkles from a semi-clean shirt and dark pants and left.

Studio 73-C

Lane pulled into the parking lot at 3:55 and rushed to the door. At least it wasn’t raining today. He stopped, took a steadying breath, and stepped inside.

The same woman from yesterday motioned him directly into the recording area.

“Lane Harris?” Two men and two women met him near the green screen. “I’m Jack Gibson, director. This is Russell Menendez, our executive producer, and Ashleigh Donohugh, casting director.”

The second woman, visibly pregnant, whispered to Gibson before disappearing into the cast restroom.

“I suppose she’ll introduce herself when she gets back.” Gibson handed Lane a single paper. “Look this over and start when you’re ready.”

Lane perused the partial scene—a retirement party for an aging detective. Seemed straightforward.

He kept the page in hand.

The pregnant woman returned as he assumed the role of Matt Barnes, one of the party attendees. Each line reminded him of a similar party Stephen had organized for one of their co-workers, before Lane left office work to pursue acting.

“Can you brighten it up? This isn’t a funeral,” Gibson said half-way through the section.

The pregnant woman tapped Gibson’s shoulder and whispered to him again.

“Nevermind. Go ahead.” Gibson waved him on.

Lane finished the partial scene.

Gibson, Menendez, and Donohugh passed notes, scribbled comments, and offered quiet input. When they finished, Gibson gave the pregnant woman a nod.

She approached Lane and offered him a hand. “Vic. Nice to meet you, Mr. Harris.” A gold band hung from a matching chain around her neck.

“Lane, please.”

“On behalf of everyone, I’d like to offer you Detective Barnes’ role—male lead. We’ll talk details with your agent, but if you want the part, it’s yours.”

“Thank you, Vic. Wait… Vic? As in Vic Garrison?”

“That’s me.” She smiled, but sadness tinged it. “The minute Jack played your first audition video, I knew I wanted you to be Barnes. They don’t let me make a lot of decisions, but I insisted on this one. Ashleigh agreed with me. I saw you in Jim Renfrow’s last movie. Glad you came.”

“Thank you. I’ll talk with Tina the second I get home. I’m sure you’ll hear from her tonight.”

His agent was nothing if not persistent. She’d be thrilled to hear he’d finally landed a part—and a good one, at that.

Marcelle St. Apartments

The moment after he texted Stacey about his casting, Lane’s phone rang.

“You got a part? What movie is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!”

 “Evident.” 

“As in the Vic Garrison novel? I loved that book! What part did you get?”

“Detective Barnes.”

“That’s like the best part in the entire story. That’s so amazing! We’ve got to go celebrate. Benny’s tomorrow?”

Stacey’s enthusiasm rushed through the receiver.

He wished he could share it, but all he felt right now was the same empty numbness that had filled him since Stephen’s death.

“Sure.”

Benny’s Café, Huntington Park

Saturday, February 2nd

Lane and Stacey sat at a two-person table in one corner of the café.

His bearclaw and double espresso smelled better than any recent breakfast he’d had.

“This is amazing! You didn’t tell me you were trying out for a part in Evident. I didn’t even know it was finally getting a movie.”

“Tina told me about it.”

“Well, Tina is awesome. She’s been an amazing agent, hasn’t she?”

“Yeah, she has. Somehow, she always shows up right when I need her to. She even put up with me when… I wasn’t acting the last few months.”

“Stephen would have wanted this for you.” Stacey’s voice hitched when she said her brother’s name, but she cleared her throat and went on. “This is so great—your first lead casting.”

“Yeah…”

“I wish he was here so much.” That same catch as before invaded her voice.

Lane changed the subject.

“You should come by the set sometime—get to meet Vic.”

Stacey wiped damp eyes. “R-Really? I’d love that!”

“Give it a week or two before you stop by, though. Don’t want to get on the director’s bad side.”

Stacey laughed halfheartedly. “Okay.”