“You can’t lock that bike there!”

“Just don’t,” Scarlett said quietly. “He won’t stop.”

Spencer sighed and hoisted the bike up, carrying it at shoulder height. It looked particularly pathetic being carried like that, its wheel hanging crookedly. Murray tried to block their way inside.

“You can’t bring that bike into my building!”

“It belongs to 19D,” Scarlett lied. “The bike is coming in. It’s between nine and six, remember?”

Murray was furious to have his own rules used against him, but moved aside. He made them use the service elevator to go up.

“You’re forceful,” Spencer said. “I’m going to have you do all my talking for me from now on.”

“I had a long day,” Scarlett said.

Mrs. Amberson met them at the door. Dog Murray almost had a heart attack on seeing the strange man with the terrible machine on his shoulder.

“Come in,” she said. “Sit down. I need to speak to you both.”

This sober greeting alarmed Scarlett. She didn’t think she was going to like the news she was about to hear. Scarlett settled on the sofa, but Spencer chose to keep standing and pace the room.

“I had a conversation with the producer of Crime and Punishment this afternoon,” she said.

“The guy you got arrested for throwing a drink at is talking to you?” Scarlett asked, when she was done.

“Threw…what?” Spencer asked.

“I told you, O’Hara. Always do a little research. I spent a little time with some of the junior staff members of Crime and Punishment. As it turns out, the producer is well-known to have an affection for, shall we say, commanding women? Judging from what I heard, talking to him would produce no effect, but a direct strike would make a favorable impression. He thinks it’s a sign of character.”

“He liked that you threw a drink at him? You did that on purpose?”

“People are quirky, O’Hara. People in the entertainment business especially so.”

Mrs. Amberson strolled over to the massive picture window and looked out on the view of the city. Scarlett was slouched low on the white sofa. She watched a large plane glide by in the distance through the flawless blue sky. From her perspective, it looked like it flew right through Mrs. Amberson’s head, entering near the jaw on the left side, and flying out of her right ear.

“Is someone going to explain what’s going on?” Spencer asked.

“As it turns out, they’re casting the role of Sonny Lavinski’s daughter, Daisy. She’s fifteen years old and hasn’t been seen on camera since she was a baby. She’ll be a substantial part of the new story line. They think Chelsea is perfect.”

“I’m out and Chelsea’s in?”

“That’s the current situation. I wanted you to hear it from me before it was announced.”