Writers Tennis Part 8

(Nagi)

Kenneth broke her concentration. He must have seen her agitation, and Angela took a deep breath, hoping her next words would be quiet, calm, level. Jennifer had been her best friend, and she’d made the right choice that day, the only choice - but that didn’t mean Angela hadn’t felt hurt.

Betrayed.

“Hello,” Kenneth said, turning to Jennifer. He was smiling brightly, his Hollywood starlet smile, acting as though Jennifer hadn’t shouldered him aside the way bullies had done to him at school for years and years. He extended a hand, the gesture utterly cordial and sincere. “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Kenneth Arlington, Angela’s co-star. What brings you to the set?”

It was gratifying to see Jennifer, the ever-cool Agent Halladay, looking flustered when those bright green eyes were gazing at her. Jennifer shook his hand politely; Angela had the feeling that the gesture wasn’t nearly as confident as Jennifer usually made it.

“I’m an old friend of Angie’s,” Jennifer said, and Angela did her best not to flinch. Only Jennifer had ever called her that, and after leaving the Bureau Angela had done her best to discourage anyone else from ever calling her that.

Kenneth’s smile brightened. “It’s good to meet you. If you like, one of the ADs can give you a tour of the set. Unfortunately, Eddie’s called us back to start shooting.” He reached past Jennifer, smooth as any other Hollywood lothario, and hooked an arm around Angela’s waist, tugged her out of the trailer.

The other two agents, Bartlett and Gallow, looked suspicious, but Angela just cast them her sunny starlet smile and followed Kenneth onto the set.

“Thanks,” she said, as soon as they were out of earshot of the agents.

Again with that sweet, crooked smile. “Think nothing of it. Couldn’t leave you hanging there, could I? Would’ve been cruel. Besides, you looked uncomfortable, and we need you alert for the next scene.”

Johnny, the lead effects manager, came over to help the costume girls fix a new set of squibs beneath Angela’s shirt. Once the fussing was done, Angela scooped up her prop gun and took her position along the south side of the wall.

Eddie yelled, “Action!”

Someone yelled, “Freeze! FBI!”