“Did you know, Counselor, that your client tried to buy this property this morning?”

“No. Is that important, Mac?”

Lola waved her arms to get their attention. “I tried to buy this property because we’ll be filming here. It’s easier to own something as opposed to leasing or renting from town officials. When you do that you have to let their grandmothers, their grandchildren, and everyone they know have parts in the film. You have to get releases, you have to have signed contracts, all manner of things. It was simpler to try and buy it. We can fashion a set in Hollywood or perhaps go to Canada to film, but that’s costly, too. They tried to hold me up for more money. I won’t tolerate doing business like that. Your Mr. King cost your town a million dollars, and I’m keeping in mind that his son died right here in the grove. I don’t think you have a leg to stand on. Does he, Peter?”

“No, ma’am, he doesn’t.”

“Then we’ll just stay here until we’re finished. We aren’t finished.”

“Conroy, go get a sign and post it. Ma’am, you really have to leave. If I let you stay, the town will say I’m playing up to your celebrity.”

“He has a point, Lola,” Pete said. “However, until that sign is posted, you can stay.”

“You’re pushing it, Danson,” Mac said.

“Yeah, I am.”

“What about my apology?” Lola demanded. “Oh, my, who’s that?” Lola said, pointing to a car that had pulled next to the chief’s. “Why, I do believe it’s that journalist, Larry Denville.”

“Just what we need right now,” Mac groaned.

“I just love the press! The press has always been so good to me. Yoo-hoo, Larry!” Lola said, flapping her arms for attention. “Come down here, sweetie. I can give you tomorrow’s headline if you need one.”

The reporter slipped and slid his way to the bottom. He reached for Lola’s hand and smacked it with a big kiss. “I was on the scanner and heard there was a ruckus over here. Wow, the town finally decided to clean up this place. Was that your first priority on the new job, Chief? Can I quote you? How’s it going, Pete? Hey, what’s going on?”

Lola clucked her tongue. “Gentlemen, gentlemen, let me tell him. They want to arrest us. Now, can you believe that! As you can see, we’re just sitting here trying to get a feel for the place. A sense of place is terribly important when you’re doing a film. Would you like to be in the movie, Mr. Denville? As yourself, of course. We could make you into a real news bloodhound, couldn’t we, Mandy?”

Mandy’s head bobbed up and down.

“I tried to buy this place from the town this morning but Mister Cyrus King tried to hold me up for more money. You need to let the folks in this town know he cost them a million dollars. We’ll just make a set in Hollywood. You aren’t writing any of this down, Larry. Why is that?”