“Justice,” a voice whispered back.
I screamed and chucked the rock I held toward the sound of the voice. A light appeared down the path to my right, and the rustle of someone running away rang out to my left.
“Lacey?” That was Grant holding the light.
“Over here,” I said, and then the light was shining on my face, in my eyes.
He let out a small grunt, then laughed a little. “You shouldn’t hide in the dark with zombie makeup on. You look extra creepy right now.”
“Someone was just out here, telling me they wanted justice.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t see them.”
“Are you okay?”
“No!”
He walked to my side and held out his elbow. “Can I walk you to your trailer?”
“Yes. And pick up a rock or branch. Your fake sword won’t do anything for us.”
“It’s actually pretty sharp.”
“Rock!” I demanded.
He laughed and aimed his light at the ground, where he found a large rock. “Is that good enough?”
“Yes. I’ll hold the light.”
“Wow, you’re spooked.”
“Of course I’m spooked. There is someone out here.”
“Who do you think it was?” he asked, picking up the rock.
“I have no idea. It was too dark to see anything.”
“Was it a guy or a girl?”
“A guy . . . I think. They were whispering, it was hard to tell.” We took several more steps. “I might be able to find out though. I was recording my trailer today. I’m going to go watch the footage now.”
“You were recording your trailer?”
“With my laptop, to see if I could catch someone messing with my things.”
“I’m totally there for that. Let’s grab Amanda.”
“This is so boring,” Amanda said as she, Grant, and I sat huddled around my computer, watching a recording that so far consisted of my cell phone sitting on the table undisturbed. I’d sped up the video but it had been recording all day, so it was taking forever. I didn’t want to risk missing something by skipping forward.
“Look!” Grant said, tapping the screen. A figure had come into the shot.
I tapped on the play button so it went back to normal speed, then skipped it back thirty seconds. We all watched as Faith came into my trailer carrying some green pages. She dropped them on my table, then left.
“So it’s not Faith,” Grant said.
“That doesn’t prove it’s not her,” Amanda said. “That just shows she comes into your trailer when you’re not there.”
“Like everyone else,” I said.
“I don’t come in when you’re not here,” Grant said.
“I do,” Amanda said. “To hide in your shower.”
“You’re still evil,” I said, and sped up the video again.
We all proceeded to stare at it. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but there was a knock on the door. I jumped, and Grant laughed.
“Come in,” I called.
Donavan poked his head inside.
I smiled. “I didn’t think you were coming back today.”
“I got done at work early.” He looked between the three of us. “What are you doing?”
“We’re watching the video of my trailer.”
“Any activity?”
“None.”
Grant didn’t give up his seat next to me, so Donavan slid into a chair at the table. We stayed this way until the recording ended.
“Huh,” I said. “Guess I’ll have to set it up again tomorrow.”
“I will not be watching that again tomorrow,” Grant said.
I stood and set my laptop on the table. Donavan grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
“You know what we need to do?” I announced. “We need to set a trap.”
“What do you mean?” Amanda asked.
“Someone intercepted me in the woods earlier, tried to scare me.”
“They did?” Donavan asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. But maybe they’ll try again tomorrow night.”
“Why would they try again?” Grant asked.
“Because they succeeded. I was terrified, and they knew it. If I give them the opportunity to do the same thing tomorrow, I have a feeling they would. I’ll make a big deal about forgetting my light. I’ll ask you to walk me, Grant, and you’ll say no.”
“That would make me seem like a jerk,” he said.
“You are sometimes,” Amanda commented.
“Thanks,” he said.
“And then I’ll walk down the same path I did tonight and hopefully draw the person after me, and you’ll all surround them.”
“The three of us will surround them?” Donavan asked.
“You’re right. We need more recruits we can trust.” People not involved with this movie in any way. “I’ll take care of that part. You guys just get ready to catch the culprit.”
Amanda let out a low laugh.
“What?” I asked.
“Did you just use the word culprit?”
“Shut up.”
Grant stood and stretched. “This is like a real-life movie. Except that whole watching an hour’s worth of video on your computer would’ve been edited out.”
Amanda stood as well. “Good thing we have America’s favorite action hero, Heath Hall,” she said, taking Grant’s hand and leading him to the door.
“I’m not America’s favorite right now, but I will be soon.” He winked at me, and they both left my trailer.
I turned to Donavan. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He pulled me down onto his lap and into a hug. “Is this the exciting life I can hope to lead when dating an actress?”
“No, most of the time it will be really boring. Just me. And occasionally you needing to fake a British accent to help me with my lines.”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
“Give me one second. I need to text my friend, and then we are going to make out.”
He laughed. “I like how you give me warnings when we are going to make out as if I need to prepare myself.”
“You do.”
I grabbed my phone and texted Abby. Are you still coming to see me tomorrow?
She responded almost immediately. Yes!!
Will you bring Cooper?
I can see if he’s available. Why?
We’re taking down a bad guy.
Thirty-Six
We were on our dinner break the next day, and I had gathered my band of vigilantes in my trailer. I didn’t want too many people in on this or suspicions would arise, but I needed enough to trap the perpetrator. Hopefully five was the lucky number—Donavan, Abby, Cooper, Amanda, and Grant.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming. For believing me.”
Abby kept giving Grant sideways glances. I’d introduced both her and Cooper to him earlier, and both of them were beyond starstruck. Especially now, with him in full costume, leaning against the wall, hair perfectly coiffed, neck scarf neatly tied, and sword dangling from his waist.
“What’s the plan?” Grant asked.