I figured it might be rude to ask him how Warner Bros. had managed to make The Jazz Singer and Casablanca without him, so instead I asked, “Why would Vivian care?”
“Hell if I know. But she does, enough to give me her word. Someone like you, though? Teo? Perfectly safe to do whatever she likes with.”
“Actually, I’m not sure she could kill me that way,” I realized aloud. “Because of the nails and screws and stuff holding me together, I cancel out fey magic when I touch it.”
“Seriously?” Berenbaum looked floored. “Millie. This could help us. A lot.” He got up from the couch and began to pace; I could almost hear his mental gears turning.
“Why do you think the viscount gave her a free spa room, of all people?” I asked him.
“Those two are definitely not friendly,” Berenbaum said. “He knows exactly what she is, better than any human would.”
“Maybe that was the point,” I said, trying to use my story-teller’s brain to unravel cause and effect. “He was obviously -trying to lead someone astray, someone unfriendly who would be looking for him pretty hard. So why wouldn’t he set the equivalent of a bear trap in the room?”
Berenbaum turned to me abruptly, his eyes sparkling. “You clever girl!” he said in surprise.
I felt my cheeks warm. “Uh, thanks?”
“That makes total sense,” he said. “Let’s run with it.” Then just as quickly, he looked stricken again. “You don’t think he set that trap for the two of you, surely. He and I have been huge supporters of the Arcadia Project from way back. We owe you guys everything.”
“I know how much you’ve given to the Project,” I said. “That’s why this is a huge priority for us. Who would Johnny want to set a trap for? And,” I continued on a sudden inspiration, “who would he do something so bad to that the cops might get involved?”
Berenbaum began to pace again. I would have liked to do the same; that kind of casual, spontaneous movement was something I missed, a lot.
“I can’t imagine,” he said. “Johnny keeps a low profile, so he doesn’t have any enemies.”
“Do you?”
A light seemed to go on over his head; he snapped his fingers and pointed at me. “Susman,” he said.
“What?”
“Aaron Susman.”
“The Aaron Susman who’s produced everything of yours since Red Cotton? He’s your enemy now?”
Berenbaum gave a mirthless laugh. “Well, he’s livid about the studio, of course, but I didn’t think he’d go this far.”
“What about the studio?”
Berenbaum hesitated, then flexed his hands and grimaced. “Look. If you want the facts, you might be better off hearing his side. I don’t want him yelling to the tabloids that I’ve slandered him. Again.”
“Well, I’d be happy to talk to him.”
“I don’t mind giving you his number, but be careful. He doesn’t know about fey or the Project. Think you can manage that minefield?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Berenbaum moved to the computer desk and scribbled on a sticky note, then handed it to me.
I felt a private satisfaction at having ferreted out a new lead on my own (not to mention scored the phone number of a major movie producer), but I wasn’t about to let it rest there. “Have you been in touch with Inaya yet?”
“I haven’t; I’m sorry.”
“Has Vivian said anything to you that might give you the slightest clue what Johnny’s up to?”
Berenbaum shook his head slowly, looking thoughtful. “He has to be staying somewhere, though. I wish I had time to call around.”
“I’m not sure anyone has time to call every hotel in Southern California.” I thought for a moment. “You and Johnny are close, right? Do you share any bank accounts or anything?”
Berenbaum did his little snap-and-point gesture again. “At home, I have all his passwords written somewhere. Online banking, credit cards, everything. Linda will know where. Can I call you later tonight?”
“Sure.”
“It might be really late.”
“Anytime, I mean it. Three a.m., that’s fine.” Assuming I wasn’t fired by then.
I gave him my new number, and I felt absurdly gleeful as he programmed it into his phone.
“Hey,” he said as he punched it in, “what do you think about keeping all this just between us for a while?”
“You mean the investigation?”
“Just until we know more. Vivian and your boss have history I’m not privy to, and it makes me uneasy. Not sure what I’m walking into there.”
As much as I loved the idea of having a secret with David Berenbaum, I had good reason to be suspicious of the words “Just Between Us.” Professor Scott had used them, a lot.
I gave him an apologetic grimace. “I have to tell Teo and Caryl about anything I work on. Especially since I’m sort of on a trial period right now.”