He knocked on the door and waited. Sometimes Paul made him wait a while before answering. Jasper found it increasingly irritating that he was a kind of servant in his own home. Luckily, this time Paul answered quickly and ushered him in. He was dressed in blue jeans, sneakers, and an untucked button-down dress shirt.

The guy didnt look great. Normally the actor was the picture of virility. At forty, his close-cropped brown hair was just starting to show flecks of gray. In the last three days, the flecks seemed to have multiplied exponentially. His usually ruddy skin was pallid. His brown eyes were bleary and had dark shadows under them. He still cut a strapping figure but it was undermined by his hunched shoulders and defensive slouch.

Ive got lunch, Jasper said, trying to buoy his friend.

Thanks, Paul said. But Im not that hungry.

Youve got to eat something, Jasper insisted as he sat down in a chair in the dining room before addressing the real reason he was here. And we have to get you out of here.

Dont you think I know that? Paul snapped. I wanted to leave that night but all those frickin people made it impossible to get out without being seen. Im supposed to be on set in New Mexico tomorrow morning. If Im not there, the questions start and I dont have answers.

Jasper nodded supportively.

Good, then were on the same page. Let me call for a car. Well find a way to sneak you out and get you to the airport.

Fine, Paul said. Well do it tonight when its dark.

I dont think we should wait that long, Jasper said. Like I told you, weve got a stay in place preventing the police from searching the estate. But LAPD is fighting it. If they get it overturned, I guarantee theyll raid the place within minutes.

Paul seemed to consider the idea.

What about all the cameras? If I leave in the day, wont they be able to look at the footage later and see me sneaking out?

Jasper shook his head. Hed already told Paul this, but apparently with everything on his mind, hed forgotten.

No. Remember? The cameras in this wing arent operational. Neither are the ones in the hedge maze out back. Thats why I brought the gardener uniform by yesterday. You can put that on and you can leave through the West House back door. Its a straight shot to the maze. Ill give you a key and you can exit via the back gate. Ill have a car meet you there. It can take you to your house to get your clothes and you can go on to the airport. There will be no physical evidence that you were ever here. You can say you spent the whole time that you were in L.A. in your house.