Fatal Identity (13 page)

Dave shrugged, and resisted the urge to cross his fingers for luck. He hadn't done that since he was a kid, but he felt the need to do it now. “I hope so, Jolene. I really like her, too.”

CHAPTER 8

When Jolene knocked on the trailer door, Marcie almost jumped out of her skin, she was so nervous. She'd tried every technique she'd ever heard of, to try to relax. She'd stretched out on the bed and imagined gentle waves washing up on a sandy beach. That hadn't worked at all, except to make her slightly seasick. Next she'd conjured up an image of her mother's face, telling her that everything was going to turn out fine. But her mother had
always
told her everything would be fine, even when she knew it wouldn't be.

Marcie had moved from the bed to the couch, and visualized her sister's face. But Mercedes's image seemed to be pleading with her to do a good job, and that made Marcie even more nervous. So she'd thought about Brad, instead.

When she'd left the screening room with Jolene, Brad had smiled at her in approval. But how would he react when he saw her in Mercedes's makeup, and Mercedes's wig, and Mercedes's costume? Brad was just beginning to adjust to a life without the woman he'd loved. Would he experience the pain of loss all over again, when he saw her looking exactly like Mercedes?

Switching her thoughts to the twins hadn't helped much. Marcie knew how disappointed they'd be if she didn't finish their mother's film. If she flubbed her screen test, they would be very upset. They might even slip back into their depression again, and that would be awful!

There was no sense worrying about it. Marcie had begun to pace the floor. Then she'd thought about Sam, and she'd smiled for the first time. Sam had absolutely no expectations, nothing to gain and nothing to lose. He said he liked her, and Marcie knew it was true. And she knew he'd still like her whether she landed the part, or not.

But how about her job in Minnesota? How long could she expect the school board to wait for her return? There was a provision in her contract for compassionate leave, but was completing her sister's movie an act of compassion that the school board would accept? Assuming she landed the part, how many days would it take? The length of time was very important, and she hadn't even asked!

That brought up another important question. Did she really want to go back to teaching? Now that she was a wealthy woman, her choices had broadened. She could paint, or sculpt, or do anything she wanted, and she'd never have to worry about money. It was a freedom she'd never expected, and she wasn't quite sure how to handle it.

It was at that point in her train of disjoined thoughts that Jolene had knocked. Marcie hurried to open the door.

“They're ready for you, Miss Calder.”

Marcie nodded. Her throat was too dry to speak, and she wondered whether she'd lost her voice. They were ready for her. But was she ready for them?

Jolene sensed her fear, and she tried to put Marcie at ease. “It'll be easy, Miss Calder. I just know you'll be fantastic.”

Marcie took a deep breath and marched down the steps of the trailer. She wanted to break away and run for the studio gates, but she couldn't. She'd promised everyone, and she had to try.

The first person she saw when she walked onto the set was Brad. He was standing in back of the row of directors' chairs, talking to a man she'd seen at the memorial service. Marcie frowned slightly. She'd met so many people it was difficult to remember, but she was sure that the twins had identified him as Jerry Palmer, their mother's agent.

Jerry had a round, boyish face, clear, sparkling eyes, and a totally guileless smile. If he'd worn a velvet suit and a lace collar, he would have looked like Gainsborough's
Blue Boy.
Mercedes had once commented on her agent's boyish charm. Jerry Palmer was Brad's age. They'd been classmates in college, but he looked much younger.

“Marcie?” Brad called her over. “I'd like you to meet Jerry Palmer. He was Mercedes's agent. Jerry, this is Marcie Calder.”

It happened again. Jerry Palmer's face turned pale, and he looked as if he were seeing a ghost. But he recovered quickly, and reached out to take her hand.

“Miss Calder. You look exactly like Mercedes.”

“That seems to be everyone's reaction.” Marcie gave him a quick smile. “I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Palmer. I saw you at the memorial service, but we didn't get the chance to talk.”

Just then Sam motioned to her from the side of the set. “Marcie? Could I speak to you for a moment?”

Marcie resisted the urge to give Jerry Palmer a pat on the head. He looked as innocent and nice as a puppy. “Sorry, I have to go. I hope you enjoy the screen test, Mr. Palmer. I'm not entirely sure I will.”

Jerry Palmer laughed, and Marcie felt herself warm toward him. He seemed like a very nice man. She'd heard all the quips about Hollywood agents, that their hearts were calculators adding up the percentages, but Jerry Palmer seemed to be an exception. At the same time, there was something about him that seemed terribly sad, and she found herself feeling sorry for him without knowing why. Perhaps she'd ask Brad more about him. Mercedes had told her that Brad and Jerry had been close for years.

“Yes, Sam?” Marcie hurried over to his side.

“I just wanted to say good luck, and tell you you'd won.”

Marcie was puzzled. “What did I win?”

“That bet we didn't quite get around to making. You look exactly like Mercedes.”

Marcie smiled. “That's the magic of Hollywood. Rosa would look like Mercedes if they'd spent as much time fixing her up.”

“That's doubtful. I noticed it
before
Hollywood worked its magic. When you came to my office, wearing her blue Chanel suit, you looked just like her.”

Just then Jolene rushed up and tapped Marcie on the shoulder. “Miss Calder? They're ready for a lighting check. And then I'll take you to meet Ashley Thorpe for a final rehearsal.”

Marcie was smiling as she went with Jolene. Sam had recognized the blue suit she'd borrowed from Mercedes. She'd been right in thinking that he was a very observant man.

The lighting check didn't take long. Tom Porter, the lighting supervisor, had Marcie sit on the couch in the exact position Mercedes had occupied in the film clip they'd seen. He'd taken one look, beamed from ear to ear, and declared that the original lighting worked. Reuben Lowe, the head cameraman, had agreed with him, and both men had wished her luck.

“That wasn't so bad, was it?” Jolene led her off the set and out to another huge Winnebago parked at the other side of the soundstage. “Mr. Thorpe thought you'd be more comfortable if you rehearsed your scene in his trailer. He's really nice. Not like a big star at all. I just know you'll like him.”

Jolene tapped on the door, and the butterflies in Marcie's stomach did a little dance as Ashley Thorpe answered her knock.

“My God!” He stepped back in surprise. “They told me you looked like Mercedes, but you could be her clone!”

Marcie smiled at him. “I am, in away. I'm her identical twin. And the makeup, costume, and wig help a lot.”

“They certainly do! Come in and have a seat on the couch.” Ashley Thorpe led her into the trailer. “You can leave us, Jolene. I'll bring Miss Calder to the set when we're ready.”

As Marcie followed him to the couch, she was thoroughly awed. Ashley Thorpe was even more handsome in person than he was on the screen. He was tall, with the body of an athlete. Muscles rippled under the light blue shirt he wore for their scene. His hair was the color of a field of wheat in the autumn sun, and it fell in a natural wave over his forehead. His light blue eyes were startling in a face tanned golden by the sun, and Marcie had all she could do not to giggle as she imagined her students' reactions if they knew she was alone in a motor home with America's favorite leading man.

“Just relax, Marcie. This won't be difficult at all. Did they show you the beginning of the scene?”

Marcie nodded. “I saw it, Mr. Thorpe.”

“Lee. That's my real name. The publicity department tacked on the Ash. They decided Ashley would make me sound more romantic. So, what did you think of our scene?”

Marcie sighed. “I thought you were wonderful. And so was Mercedes. I'm not an actress, Lee. I really don't know how I can be my sister in the rest of that scene.”

“That's the key.” Ashley Thorpe smiled at her. “Just pretend you're Mercedes. Think of what she'd do, and do it. Let's go through it once, and see what happens.”

Marcie took a deep breath. “I'll try.”

As they rehearsed the scene, Marcie did her best to act like Mercedes. And when they were finished, she was much more satisfied with her performance.

“I think it'll work.” Lee Thorpe smiled at her. “Remember, you love me, and you're just beginning to suspect that I'm trying to kill you. You want to trust me completely, but you can't quite do it. The doubts have been planted, and they're there in the back of your mind, coloring every word you say, every action you take. But you know you could be imagining the whole thing. And you desperately don't want me to know that you're thinking these disloyal thoughts about me.”

Lee took her through the scene once more, and this time Marcie knew she was better. His advice had helped. When they'd finished, Lee grinned at her.

“Much better! You can do it, Marcie. You've convinced me, and I'm a hard case.”

“Thank you, Lee.” Marcie smiled at him. “You really helped me a lot.”

“Just remember to stay in character, and I'll do my best to make you look good. Nobody expects you to be perfect, Marcie. You just have to convince them that you have a little raw talent. If you get the part, they'll hire a whole army of coaches to help you.”

Marcie nodded. And then she asked the question that had been bothering her. “Everybody I've met says they want me to get the part. And they're all so helpful. Why is everyone being so nice to me, Lee?”

“Mercedes told me you were the innocent type.” Lee grinned at her. “And she definitely had you pegged. Now, don't get me wrong here. I'm sure everyone wishes you well. But there's more than that at stake.”

Marcie listened carefully as Lee explained how good screen credits led to future work, and how a good performance could lead to a nomination for an award. When he'd finished, Marcie sighed deeply.

“I understand now. And Mercedes was right. I'm terribly innocent. I really thought people were being so nice because they liked me.”

“That's part of it.” Lee smiled at her. “Four people knocked at my door to tell me how nice you were. They like you already, Marcie. And they'll absolutely adore you, if you get the part. Now let's get out there and give it our best shot.”

Marcie nodded and Lee led her out the door. As they walked to the soundstage and onto the set, she was in a state of near hysteria. How could she relax and give it her best shot, when people's careers depended on her performance? It was impossible!

Marcie knew she looked nervous as she sat down on the couch with Lee. As they waited for their cue to start the scene, Lee put his arm around Marcie and gave her a little hug. “Are you nervous?”

“Scared is more like it.” Marcie took a deep breath. “I just hope I can do it, Lee.”

“You'll be fine. Just let your stage fright work for you. Throw yourself into the scene and let your fear give you extra energy. Remember you
are
Mercedes.”

Marcie nodded and repeated it in her mind. She was her twin sister. She was Mercedes. If she could fool her Aunt Becky, she could certainly fool the people who didn't know her well. And then the cameras were rolling, and Lee was giving her the first cue.

Somehow she got through her first line. It was almost as if Mercedes had come back to take over her voice, and her body, and her actions. Marcie wasn't playing this scene. It was Mercedes.

 

 

He felt his mouth drop open, and he closed it quickly. He had to be careful not to be noticed, but it was hard to hide the joy that bubbled through his veins. She was back! His lost love was back. In a slightly different body, of course, but there she was, so close he could almost touch her.

The night he'd seen her at the pool had been a dreadful shock. At first he'd been sure that his love had risen from the grave. Now he knew that it had only been an illusion. They were identical twins, and he had been fooled! Identical twins often looked and sounded very much alike, but there were subtle differences.

When she'd walked onto the soundstage, everyone had gasped. They'd dressed her in his love's costume, done her makeup, and styled her hair as his love had worn it. The resemblance was uncanny, but it was only a resemblance. Then she'd taken her place on the couch, the cameras had started to roll, and she'd spoken her first line. That was the moment he'd known that he was witnessing a miracle.

He blinked once, twice. Put a smile on his face. He couldn't let the others around him know that he had been so deeply affected. He was in love again. Or perhaps he was
still
in love? It was a question for a philosopher, not for a man like him.

He watched and listened, his smile firmly in place. And he tried to keep the fear from rising and showing on his face. Somehow he had to protect her from the red that would surely destroy her, if the Fates had their way.

But could he succeed this time? He had failed his former love when the red plague had invaded her body. He had fought with all his might but in the end, he'd been forced to kill her. Now the evil red would try to invade his new love's body. That was the way of the red. He just hoped that he wouldn't be forced to kill her, too.