Claire McNab - The Dingo Dilemma

Melodie beamed. To me she said, "And you never told me your cousin Bruce was so handsome."

"Must have slipped my mind."

Looking at them, I had to admit they made an attractive couple. Melodie obviously agreed, because she said, "I've just been telling Bruce I'd love to show him around some of our night spots."

"Terrif idea," I said with enthusiasm. Anything to get Brucie off my hands. I cleared my throat. "Melodie, I need to talk to you about something, in private."

Inconveniently, someone chose this moment to call Kendall & Creeling. While Melodie was answering the phone, Brucie said to me, "Well? What's the good oil? Did you see Dingo?"

"Just for a few minutes."

"And…?"

"And nothing, Brucie, yet."

"Bruce," he said, grimacing. "Bruce."

"Oh, sorry. I keep forgetting. Bruce it is."

I became aware that Melodie was staring at me. She said into the receiver, "Say it again, Tiff."

Tiffany apparently said it again, because Melodie's face went dead white and her eyes narrowed to slits. "You're sure?" she said.

Apparently Tiff was sure. Melodie put down the receiver with exaggerated care, got slowly to her feet, fixing me with a look that threatened severe bodily harm.

"Corblimey," said Brucie, seeing the California girl he'd just admired transformed into something dangerously feral.

With horror I realized I'd dallied too long. The receptionists' network had beaten me to it. "Let me explain," I said to Melodie.

"How could you, Kylie? You knew I was counting on Olive. You knew!"

"The whole thing was an accident, honestly, Melodie."

"Olive was mine!" A tremor ran through her. "And you can't even act."

"It was my Aussie accent," I said. "That's the only possible explanation."

Melodie pointed at me with a dramatic gesture. "You…you… Benedict Arnold!"

"Who's Benedict Arnold?" Brucie asked.

Melodie flashed a corrosive glance in his direction. "A traitor," she hissed, "like Kylie."

"Hey, fair crack of the whip," Brucie protested. "Kylie's got lots of faults, but being a traitor isn't one of them."

"Thanks for the ringing endorsement," I said.

To my consternation, Melodie put her face in her hands and began to cry. "My big chance ruined," she wailed.

A furious Melodie I could cope with, but a weeping Melodie made me feel lower than a snake's belly. "I'm sorry-"

"Sorry? You're sorry?" Melodie pushed past me and tottered off down the hall, her shoulders heaving with heavy sobs.

"Holy mackerel!" said Brucie.

I was about to go after her when the phone rang. It was a call for Lonnie. As I put that through to him, another call came in, this time for Harriet. I rang her line, and before I put the call through I said, "Harriet, this is a true emergency. Can you take over the front desk when you're finished with this call?" Harriet, agreeable as always, said she would.

Brucie had settled himself on the corner of the desk. "What in the hell did you do?" he asked with a grin. "And who's this Olive sheila?"

"Where to begin?" I said.

Fran appeared, scowling. "What's wrong with Melodie? She just ran past me, sobbing."

"Let's put it this way, Fran, it's a bit complicated."

"I did catch a few words. Something about someone two-faced snatching the role of a lifetime from her."

"That would be me," I said.

I left early for my appointment with the entertainment lawyer Harriet had lined up, just to get out of the office. Brucie was entertaining Fran with stories about his mother. Fran had met Aunt Millie, and heartily approved of her bleak view of life, as it matched Fran's own.

Melodie had cried herself out and had returned to her post at the front desk in ice-princess mode. She had been cruelly wronged, and frigid dignity would be her response.

"We'll talk later," I said to her as I opened the front door.

Melodie's glance was frosty. "There's absolutely nothing left to say, so please don't bother."

I could hardly blame Melodie for her angst. On the way to my car I brooded over whether I should have taken the role or not, but decided there was no guarantee Melodie would have got it anyway. In fact, since Earl Garfield was still auditioning for Olive when he grabbed me by mistake, the odds were Melodie had already dipped out.

For a moment I considered sharing this insight with Melodie, Perhaps not.

I was just about to get into my Toyota sedan when Lonnie, hot and bothered, came hurrying over. "Kylie, before you go…"

"What's up? Is there some prob?"

"I must congratulate you. It's wonderful you're in the cast of Darleen Come Home. I know you'll do an excellent job."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a mite suspicious. Lonnie had a devious look about him.

"Pity Melodie's so upset, but she'll get over it."

"I hope so," I said. After a pause, I asked, "Is there something else?"

"Now you mention it, there is. You see, Pauline's got this ambition to be the most successful star wrangler in history. She wants to take Glowing Bodies to the top of the event coordinating universe."

"Good on her," I said. "Hope she makes it."

"That's where you come in."

I stared at him, astonished. "What?"

"No one's ever been able to wrangle Earl Garfield. He doesn't attend industry events, period. For event coordinators he's the holy grail, especially since he dates reclusive heiress Queenie Van Dorn. To deliver both of them to a major function would be an unbelievable coup."

I could see where this was going. "No way, Lonnie," I said firmly. "I'm not getting involved in the star wrangling business in any way, shape, or form."

Misery flooded Lonnie's face. "I've sort of promised Pauline you’d…

"I'd what?"

"Please, Kylie, I'm pleading with you. Would you at least speak with Pauline. Please?"

"Lonnie-"

"I'll never ask another favor."

I looked at my watch. I'd be late if I didn't get going.

“Tomorrow, let’s- "

“Oh, thank you, Kylie!"

"Thank you? Hold on, Lonnie."

But he was already hurrying off. His last words, as he disappeared into the courtyard, were, "Pauline will be so pleased."

Strewth!

By the time I got back to the office, everyone was packing up to go home. "Any messages?" I said to Melodie. With icy disdain, she silently handed them to me. The first was from Ariana, saying she'd been delayed, but would definitely call in before she went home.

The second was a scrawled note from Brucie: Hitting hot spots with Melodie tonight. Woo-hoo! Discuss Dingo sitch tomorrow.

"Have a beaut time tonight," I said to her. Melodie gave a regal nod, her lips tightly compressed.

The third item was a hand-delivered letter addressed to both Ariana and me. There was no mystery about who it was from, as Norris Blainey's image, his smile close to a sneer, appeared under the return address. I reckoned this was the offer he'd mentioned. It didn't matter how large the sum, Kendall & Creeling would not be selling.

I had a fair idea I'd get hot under the collar if I read it, so I decided to wait and open the envelope with Ariana's cool presence to calm me.

Harriet paused on her way out. "What do you think of our new door chime?" she asked me.

"What new door chime?"

"Fran had it installed this afternoon. It plays a phrase from some Spanish song."

"Grenada," said Melodie to Harriet. "It's in keeping with the theme of the building."

Fran's Spanish mania was clearly out of control, As her humungous SUV hadn't been in the parking area when I'd arrived, I guessed she'd already left. I'd deal with her tomorrow.

Harriet said goodbye and maneuvered her hugely pregnant self out the front door. A second later she was back. "I forgot to ask, how did it go with Rosenblum?"