“He’s right. Lots of people read the paper, and not just people from Lake Eden. There are a couple of other towns around here that don’t have papers of their own and they read the Lake Eden Journal to find out what’s happening locally.”
Rod beckoned to someone on the stage and Tricia and Vivian came forward. They stood in the center of the set and, at Michelle’s direction, Vivian put her arm around Tricia’s shoulders.
“Who’s that?” Mike asked.
“Tricia Barthel.”
“Not her. The older woman.”
“Her first name’s Vivian. Michelle says she lives way out in the country somewhere and one of the Players told Michelle she’d heard that Vivian’s husband was very sick.”
“Has she been in many plays?”
“Michelle said that Vivian had been in a couple of plays before. I’ve only seen her twice and she’s not very outgoing, so that’s really all I know about her.”
“She was really good in the play. I was surprised.”
“Why? The Lake Eden Players usually put on a good show.”
“Yeah, but their plays are almost always pretty amateurish. They can act, but you can tell they don’t do it for a living. This Vivian’s better than that. She had me believing that she was Tricia’s mother. Has she been with the Lake Eden Players for long?”
“Not too long. A year or so, I think.”
“After Tori took over as director?”
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know. You can ask Michelle if there’s any record of when people joined. She may know, because she’s using Tori’s office. If there’s some kind of a roster, it’s probably there.”
The curtains opened again to show the entire cast assembled at one side of the stage. Michelle was standing at a podium in the center and Mike turned to Hannah. “They’re going to run through the play again?”
“No. They’re rehearsing the curtain call. Mayor Bascomb and Stephanie are going to do Michelle’s part on opening night.”
“Then I guess I’d better head out. I’ve got a couple calls to make. Unless . . . is Michelle using your cookie truck tonight?”
“No, Tricia’s got her car and she’ll bring Michelle back to the condo. They’re going out to the mall first to do a little shopping and see a movie.”
“Okay. Then you don’t need a ride home?”
“No, but thanks for offering, Mike.”
Mike stood up and saw that Rod was packing up his photographic equipment. “Good. Rod’s done. I need to talk to him about something anyway.”
Hannah knew that if she’d had ears like Moishe, they would have swiveled in Mike’s direction. “Is it about your investigation?”
“No. I’d like Rod to run a few pictures of the deputies out at our station interacting with the community. Cops are getting a bad name in some of the press right now, and I’d like him to counteract that by publishing positive things about the Winnetka County Sheriff’s Department personnel.”
“Good idea. I’m sure he’ll do it. Rod’s a good newspaperman. He’s probably got some ideas for you.”
Hannah settled back to watch as Mike went off to intercept Rod. She half-listened as Michelle gave instructions to the actors.
“The mayor will give a short tribute to his sister before he begins the curtain call. I don’t have his script for that yet, but I’ll read it to you when I do. When the mayor finishes, I want you, Tricia, to come up to the podium and tell him, and the audience, that the night’s performance was dedicated to his sister, Victoria Bascomb, your esteemed director.”
Tricia nodded. “Will you write a script for me? Or shall I say it in my own words?”
“I think your own words would be better. And then, when you’ve gone back to your place in line, the mayor and Stephanie will begin to call people forward for the curtain call. That’s what I want to practice right now. When I say your character’s name, and then your real name, I want you to step out of line, take up a position on the far left of the stage, and form a line with the podium at the center. I’ll divide you into two lines and arrange you in order now.”
Hannah watched as Michelle divided the cast into two equal lines and positioned them, in order of importance, on both sides of the podium.
“These will be your positions for the curtain call. Remember them and take the same positions when we go through the cast roster. Is everyone ready?”
There were nods from everyone and Michelle continued. “Here we go then. When I call your character’s name, followed by your real name, come forward, take your position, and bow or wave to the audience. Let’s try it now.”
A couple of the Players looked a bit nervous, but they nodded agreement.
“The part of Hugh Blackwell was performed by Barry Withers.”
Hannah was surprised at Barry’s appearance as he crossed the stage and took up a position on one side of the podium. She hadn’t seen him since his senior year at Jordan High when she’d watched him win a speed skating competition. The gangly boy had turned into a handsome man and she hadn’t even recognized him!
“The part of Lorena Blackwell was performed by Tricia Barthel.”
Tricia walked forward and positioned herself on the opposite side of the podium. It was obvious that Barry and Tricia were the two principals and their supporting players would come next.
“The part of Mary Dumont was performed by Vivian Dickerson.”
Hannah gave an audible gasp as Vivian crossed the stage and assumed a position next to Barry. Her mind was spinning so fast, she felt dizzy and light-headed. Mary Dumont. Vivian played Mary Dumont. Could she be the M. Dumont that Tori had written as the last entry in her appointment book on the night that she was murdered?
The rush of adrenaline that Hannah experienced at the sound of Vivian’s character name was so intense, her legs began to shake. Her heart rate accelerated and her breath came in shallow gasps. Was she sitting here trembling, on a theater seat in the Jordan High auditorium, staring at Tori Bascomb’s killer?