Lindsey glanced at the man. Now she remembered him. He had, at one time, been a theater critic in New York City. He’d been on staff at one of the larger entertainment papers when word got out that he was bribable, particularly by up-and-coming young actresses looking for some positive ink. His career was ruined when the boyfriend of a fourteen-year-old actress, who had been set up with Wargus by her very own mother, turned him in to the police.

Harvey pushed up his glasses with the ring finger of his right hand and fixed a perturbed gaze on Violet and Robbie.

“When I heard through the grapevine that Violet La Rue and Robbie Vine were teaming up again, I got myself assigned to review the show. I must say I am really looking forward to it.”

“Who on earth would hire a pervert like you?” Violet demanded.

“Oh, haven’t you heard?” he asked. “I’m working for Sterling Buchanan—you know, the multimedia mogul? I believe you know him quite well, Violet.”

Violet reared back as if he’d slapped her, and Charlene gasped. She took her mother’s hand in hers and squeezed it tight.

Beth looked confused, and asked, “Who is Sterling Buchanan?”

Violet closed her eyes, and Charlene and Robbie exchanged a glance over her head. He glared at Harvey and then gave Charlene a small nod.

“He’s my father,” Charlene said.

2

Stunned silence greeted this announcement, and then Violet let out a sob and dashed from the room. Nancy hopped up from her seat immediately.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” she snapped at Harvey and then she kicked him in the shin. She dashed after Violet.

Harvey let out a yelp and began to hop on one foot while cradling his shin with the other.

“She kicked me!” he cried. “That’s assault! I’m going to sue.”

“Really?” Robbie asked. “It looked to me like she tripped when she tried to get around your big fat ar—”

“Agreed!” Charlene interrupted. “And if I were you, I’d leave before the rest of us trip over you as well.”

She stomped her foot on the ground right in front of his toes, and Harvey scampered away from her.

“You can’t intimidate me!” he cried right before he fled from the room, with the tail of his suit coat flapping behind him.

“What a baboon!” Mary Murphy cried, looking like she’d like to take her paper scissors to Harvey’s unfortunate mustache.

“Now, don’t be insulting our primate brethren,” Beth said. “I think he’s quite a bit lower on the food chain than them.”

“You’re right, what was I thinking?” Mary said. “Charlene, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

“Didn’t we just have that conversation?” Robbie asked with a smile. “It’s okay not to be fine, you know.”