Doppelgangster - Laura Resnick [54]
“What’s the role?” Max asked.
“I would play a graduate student who’s trying to convince the precinct cops to do something about hoodlums hanging around her street.” I hadn’t seen the script, of course, but I suspected that in the usual pattern of the show’s morality tales, the cops would probably do too little, too late, with a gut-wrenching conclusion to the episode.
“Yeah, I can see you doin’ a part like that,” Lucky said. “Someone smart and respectable . . . who nags a lot.”
I gave him a look. “Plus,” I said, “the casting director for this is someone who liked me last year, on a different Crime and Punishment audition. He didn’t think I was good casting for the part of the killer—”
“I’d say he’s right about that,” said Lucky.
“—but I’m pretty sure he’ll remember me and I’ll have a good shot at this. If I can get in for a reading,” I added with some frustration. “My agent and I are having a little communication problem.”
“Oh, that’s because Mercury is in retrograde,” Max said absently. “Just give it about two more weeks, though, and things will improve.”
“I haven’t got two more weeks,” I said. “I need to get Thack working on this today. They’re going to have to recast that role soon to keep up with their production schedule.”
Lucky put his book down. “You want me to go deal with this agent, kid? Make him show some respect?”
“No!” I said quickly. “No. I will deal with my agent.”
“I could talk to the casting director,” Lucky offered. “Make sure he realizes it’s in his best interest for you to get what you want.”
I groaned and held my head in my hands. “No. I’m very sorry I even brought it up.”
“Well, if you change your mind . . .”
“Or it’s possible I could assist,” Max said. “There’s a certain amulet that might render the casting director susceptible to—”
“Do you both have so little faith in my talent?” I demanded. “You think I can only get this role with the help of extortion or magic?”
“What?” Lucky said. “No!”
“No,” Max said. “Of course not!”
“I was just tryin’ to help.”
“I merely hoped to lend you my assistance, as you lend yours to me.”
“In that case,” I said, “wish me luck, guys. And just stay out of it, otherwise.”
“Ah! All right,” Max said. “As you wish. Good luck!”
“You shouldn’t say that to an actress,” Lucky chided Max. “They’re very superstitious, these theatrical types. You gotta say, ‘Break a leg!’ Ain’t that right, kid?”
I smiled at Lucky. “That’s right. It’s the accepted phrase.” I added to Max, “But I’m not that superstitious, so I accept wishes for good luck in any form. Though the best wishes in the world will be wasted if I can’t even get the audition,” I grumbled. “I’ll have to try calling Thack again later.”
I also hoped his other client would agree not to sue the production company, since a lawsuit might put a damper on Thack’s ability to get C&P auditions for his actors. And I really wanted that audition, since my immediate professional future consisted only of waiting tables. I found that so depressing that I resolutely turned my thoughts to something else.
“Did you say there’s something in book?” I asked Lucky.
“Hey, that’s right! I did.”
“Ah, you found something?” Max asked.
“I gotta give credit where credit’s due.” Lucky gestured to Nelli. “This familiar of yours, Doc? She’s workin’ out okay.”
“She chews things,” Max said in an aggrieved tone.
Nelli snorted and gave herself a thorough shake. The propeller-like motion of her enormous ears made me fear I’d get injured if I stood too close to her.
“What’s in the book?” I prodded.
Lucky extended his arms to hold the volume well away from his aging gaze as he read aloud, somewhat haltingly, “ ‘A bilocated individual can be in two places at the same time. After replication, the two portions of the human form may become widely separated from one another. The double—that is to say, the duplicate, the replicate—can be seen by others. It frequently speaks in a voice and performs actions identical to those of the real person. The clothes