Claire McNab - The Dingo Dilemma

Crikey, this was hard. I tried for a girl-sharing-confidence tone. "Lonnie's very fond of you."

"Sweet guy. Not worldly, but sweet."

"I'd hate to see him get hurt."

"Hurt? We're having fun. Haven't you heard how opposites attract?"

"So you don't see this as a long-term relationship?"

Pauline hooted. "Oh, please! With Lonnie?”

I left Pauline and Ursula still eating and set off for the Darken soundstage. Outside the commissary Unity and Upton were snoozing in a patch of shade. The bloke's brooding expression had appreciably deepened. "Is Pauline coming soon?" he asked.

"Couldn't say, I'm afraid."

He nodded gloomily. "I knew this was too good to be true."

He seemed to want to share his pain, so I said, "What was?"

'"Come with me to Bellina Studios,' Pauline said. She promised to introduce me to people who'd put my acting career on the fast track. And here I am, minding her dogs."

I was fast deciding Lonnie would be much better off without Pauline Feeney in his life-not that I expected him to agree with me. On the way to the soundstage I rehearsed how I'd break the news that Pauline didn't care for him in the way he wished.

When a call came through on my cell phone, I hoped it might be Ariana. It was Quip.

"Are you home tonight?" he asked urgently.

"Yes, why?"

"It's Yancy. He's got some sensational stuff to give me. Would you let him through the gate to the alley?"

"The back gate? Why?"

"He can't be seen. Yancy says he fears for his life."

I was getting used to the bustle of the soundstage. I stood to one side watching as they set up the next scene to be shot, where Timmy and Olive meet for the first time. Darleen's role was simple, as she was only required to sit beside Timmy and, as we spoke our lines, look intelligently from him to me-accomplished by her trainer signaling off camera-then get up and greet me as a member of the family at the end of the scene.

Earl Garfield was nearby, considerably calmer than this morning. Perhaps he'd popped a handful of tranquillizers for lunch. He was talking to Dingo, who was frowning heavily as he listened. Darleen was on a lead, and had fallen asleep at Dingo's feet.

Seeing Dingo made me think of the two blokes who'd been at his building and had then come to Kendall & Creeling claiming to be from Homeland Security. When Bob had shown Quip the photos Lonnie had taken, Quip had said he was sure they weren't the ones who'd attacked him. Lonnie hadn't yet been successful establishing whether Unwin and Morgan were Homeland Security or not, because he'd been rebuffed with the stern admonition that it was classified information, and to release it would only give aid to America's enemies.

This official obstruction had only resulted in making Lonnie more determined and he was now hot on the trail of the limousine that I'd seen in our parking area.

A sneering voice broke into my thoughts. "Making a move from private investigation to acting, are you?"

I didn't need to look around to know it was Norris Blainey. "G'day," I said. "Fancy meeting you here."

He was dressed as I'd first seen him, in a beautifully tailored dark suit, white shirt, and red silk tie, none of which disguised the fact he was a little shrimp of a fellow with a weak chin.

"I hope you and your partner have given some serious thought to my offer," he said.

I didn't hide my impatience. "You know perfectly well we've rejected it. You'd better get used to the fact you can't make an offer we'd accept."

Not fazed by this at all, Blainey smiled insinuatingly. "Trying to up the ante, eh? Sweetheart, you're out of your league. You're playing with the big boys, here."

I was fast getting jack of this bloke. "You're wasting your time. Kendall & Creeling's property is not for sale. Doesn't matter what you offer. Doesn't matter what you say."

His face darkened. He stepped too close to me and jabbed a forefinger in my face. "A friendly warning-I play hardball if I have to. If push comes to shove, you'll soon find yourselves begging me to buy you out."

I grabbed his wrist and forced his hand down. "Rack off," I said.

Blainey pulled himself free, his face mottled with rage. "Bitch," he snarled. "I'll have you fired from the cast."

"Jesus, Norris! Get the hell out," bellowed Garfield. "I'm creating a show here. I don't need you interfering."

The commotion woke Darken up. She got to her feet as, literally trembling with rage, Blainey stalked over to Earl Garfield. "Don't you ever speak to me that way again, you washed-up excuse for a director!" he yelled.

Darleen's lip curled, displaying sharp white teeth. Her growl was low and threatening. Dingo tightened his hold on her collar.

"Shit!" Blainey stepped back hastily. His panic subsided when he realized Dingo had Darken under control. "That dog's a menace," he said. "She should be put down. Exterminated."

Then he turned on his heel and exited with as much dignity as he could muster.

Unhappily, the afternoon shoot resembled the morning. Dustin argued over every line, the director spewed vitriol in all directions, and the crew gritted their collective teeth.

During a break, Dingo left Darken with her groomer and took me aside. "I can't go on this way, Kylie. Darken senses the tension. It's affecting her work. And that bastard, Blainey, he'll make good on that threat. He'll have her killed."

I would have liked to reassure him that it was unlikely Darken would be harmed, but Norris Blainey was clearly capable of almost anything, although I reckoned he was the type to always get someone else to do his dirty work, Quip being the perfect example of this.

His face stern with purpose, Dingo said, "If anything happens to Darken, I'll deal with that bastard personally."

As he turned to go back to his charge, I said, "I'd be really pleased if you'd ring your parents and tell them you're OK. If nothing else, it would get Aunt Millie off my back."

Dingo grimaced. "I can't think about that now, not with Darken and all."

"Take my cell phone number," I said, pressing one of my new business cards into his hand. "If you want to talk about it, call me."

We were about to begin the scene yet again, so Dustin and I took our positions facing each other. Darken, looking bored, had been put at Dustin's feet. I was ready to clasp my hands to my bosom and deliver my opening line, which had been rewritten several times and was now "Leaping lizards! Timmy! Fair dinkum, is it you?" when a minor commotion occurred off set.

Darlene got to her feet and stared in the direction of the disturbance. I caught a glimpse of iridescent green, then Pauline Feeney came into full view. Beside her Jason, the brooding bloke, had Upton and Unity more or less under control. Sailing along at the rear in pink-and-white glory was Ursula Jaeger.

Garfield took one look at the poodles and bellowed, "Christ! Get those dogs out of here!"

Darlene's hair rose on her neck. For the second time that afternoon her impressive teeth came into view as a snarl vibrated in her throat. Both poodles recoiled. Upton even gave a frightened yelp.

"Gutless wonders," declared Ursula with scorn. "I told you, Pauline, they're good-for-nothing girly dogs."

Pauline gestured imperiously for Jason to remove Upton and Unity to a safer location, then turned to Earl Garfield with an ingratiating smile. "Mr. Garfield, it's so wonderful to meet you," she gushed. "I've long admired your work."

From the incensed expression on his face, the director had recognized her. "Get off the set," he hissed, "or I'll have you thrown off it."

"But-"

"Giles! Where the hell are you? Get security to escort this woman out."