“Phoebe, you were a coproducer on The Starfighter. You’re the woman Ted is talking about in his statement. Some have said that movie would not have been made, or had the worldwide success that it did, without you. Are you saying, today, that Ted Stabler and Jerry Silver colluded against you after the film’s release?”

Ted’s publicist pushed into the crew. “Thank you, everybody, thanks so much, that’s all tonight, thank you,” the woman was saying, as if this were just a game of Monopoly at a sleepover, called on account of the lateness of the hour.

But the camera was still on Phoebe. She tried to look carefree. A lock of her hair blew in her face. She wanted to bat it away, but didn’t dare let anyone see how much she was shaking.

“Warrior Bride is the film I always dreamed of making, and I hope everyone will get to see it.”

“Last question,” Serafina said, and Phoebe braced herself for whatever might come next. She didn’t have any proof, just her gut that was telling her that Ted had blocked her. Maybe he hadn’t done it with lawyers and private investigators like Jerry had, but he was afraid of her success and always had been. If Serafina asked for the receipts, though, Phoebe would have nothing to show. “Phoebe Lee, that gown is divine. Who are you wearing tonight?”

Phoebe exhaled and laughed. “Thanks, Serafina. It’s by Mrs. Park.”

28

Zanne

Zanne had to hand it to Phoebe. She knew what she was doing. Had she come to see Ted just to bait him into making that unnecessary statement? Maybe. Still, there was something about her. You couldn’t take your eyes off her. She was determined, she was believable, and she wasn’t wrong about the timing. If Phoebe had baited him into denying any knowledge of Jerry’s crimes, it came from knowing Ted well enough to know that he would fail her utterly. Or maybe it had been his last chance to redeem himself. If he’d made another choice, maybe she wouldn’t have gone public with her accusation against Ted.

Zanne had been too transfixed by the train wreck happening right in front of her to intervene. And anyway, Jane was standing right there. She was the crisis management professional; Zanne was the amateur who’d been improvising all day, and she was more than happy to let Blankenship Partners take over this mess. But as soon as Jane cut off the interview, Zanne’s gears started spinning again. Ted’s liability needed to be assessed, his archives scoured for any evidence that he’d directly blocked Phoebe from employment. She threaded her way through the guests. She needed to get to her computer.