“Yeah, but damn! I wish I’d known Tate wasn’t here.”
“Do you know him?”
Rachael gave a little snort. “Oh, yeah. Tate Landers and I have been friends for a long time. I know his last picture didn’t do well and that he thought the publicity of this local play would help, so I assumed he’d be here.”
Casey was trying not to let her curiosity show. “You wanted to see him about something?”
“Actually, I have the photos he bought.” She glanced toward Devlin, who was well out of hearing distance. “I certainly can’t give them to poor Devie. After all Tate did to him, I don’t mention his name.” She lowered her voice. “In fact, Devie doesn’t even know I still do work for Tate.”
“What exactly happened between them?”
“Oh. That. Ever hear of a TV show called Death Point?”
“No.”
“Of course you haven’t. No one has. It was Devie’s show and Tate killed it. I guess he got jealous of how well it was doing. One star per family seems to be Tate’s motto, and he was it.” Rachael looked at Casey in surprise. “Hey! You live nearby, so you could give these pictures to him.”
“I’m not sure…”
“They’re not porno, if that’s what you think. I mean, not that Tate is above that.” She looked around to make sure they were alone. “Just between us girls, if you ever get a chance to go to bed with Tate Landers, do so. I can tell you that an hour or three with him is worth it. You’ll remember it always.”
Casey swallowed. “So you and he were lovers?”
“Were? Honey, we are lovers. You don’t think I flew to the middle of nowhere just to deliver photos, do you? Devie’s made it clear that he wants his ex-wife back, so I have to make do.” She laughed. “I came here to get my Landers fix.”
Casey could feel her entire body stiffening. “I think he’s seeing someone.”
Rachael waved her hand in dismissal. “Tate is always seeing at least two women at a time. Any woman who thinks differently is in for a lot of pain.” She pulled a thick envelope out of her handbag. “This was a big job for me. It wasn’t easy to set that whole thing up while I stayed in L.A. That kid had to be anchored to the roof, and the cables hidden and released by movie magic. It was a nightmare!”
“Roof? What are you talking about? What child?”
“You didn’t hear about it? That rescue Tate and Jack faked? I was told it went off perfectly. I was worried about the kid, but Tate said he’d be okay. Anything for the career, right?”
“Are you saying that the little boy sitting on the edge of the roof and the rescue were part of a publicity stunt?”
“Of course. You don’t think two mega-stars like Tate Landers and Jack Worth are going to play hero without a reason, do you?” She was looking at Casey’s shocked face. “I’m sorry. I forget that I’m not in L.A. Everyone there is publicity savvy. I didn’t mean to burst your Middle America bubble.”
“Would you please tell me this entire story?”
“Sure. It was Jack who called me, but then, Tate always has a sidekick. For a while it was Devlin, but…” She shrugged. “Poor Devie. Tate threw him out of the marriage and got him cut from his TV show, both at the same time. I don’t know how he survived it.
“Anyway, Jack called me and said he and Tate were going to some estate sale and they needed something to happen that would portray them as heroes. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of a guy I know in Richmond, we set it up. I rented a truck, found a cute kid for the roof and a professional photographer to record it all. No video, just still photos, so it looked more real.” She held out the envelope. “You can see them if you want.”
Casey knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop herself as she pulled the photos out. The top one was of the little boy sitting on the edge of the roof. Gizzy, a rope around her waist, was walking toward him. She looked beautiful, but the child seemed scared.
“Notice that the men stayed inside where it was safe. They weren’t going that far for publicity!”
Next were two pictures of the boy’s mother. Casey held it up to Rachael, her eyebrows raised in question.
“She’s a local actress, and the kid belongs to her neighbor. That mother is going to be furious when she sees these photos on the cover of the tabloids!”
Casey went to the next picture. It was of her hanging down the roof.
“That’s the other girl. Jack was laughing when he told me that Tate got stuck sleeping with the fat one. Poor guy. But I guess in a small town, even he has to make do with what’s available.” As she stared at Casey, her eyes widened. “That’s— Oh, no! I didn’t realize you were the second girl they put at risk. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Tate was using you to— I mean, that he’s— I have to shut up. Here! Let me have those pictures. I’ll ship them to him.”
“No,” Casey said. “I’d like to keep them.”
“Sure.” There was sympathy in Rachael’s eyes. “After the way Tate used you, you can have anything you want. I’m really sorry about this. And I’m going to kill Devie for not telling me about you and Tate. In L.A. everyone knows what he’s like, but out here in the sticks…I really am very sorry.”