“Of course. Please come in.”
Once inside, she indicated a small, emerald-green sofa which had obviously seen better days. The two men sat down and O’Rourke immediately sank into the lumps and folds of the cushions.
-9-
Josie A. Okuly
Felicia slid her hands into the pockets of her faded bathrobe. “Do you mind if I get dressed? Would you like some tea?”
They declined the tea. When Felicia closed the door to the bedroom, Nolan turned to face O’Rourke.
“Are you gonna help me question her or just sit there with your tongue hanging out?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, buddy.” O’Rourke gave his partner a warning look.
“Right.” A smile played on Nolan’s lips. “A word to the wise and then I’ll shut up. You better get your eyeballs back in their sockets. I’ve heard of love at first sight but I’ve never seen it in action until now.”
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened and Felicia walked back into the room wearing an emerald-green cotton dress with small coconut trees printed on it. The color of the outfit set off her hair to blazing perfection. O’Rourke remembered a painting he had once seen in a museum. It was Titian’s rendition of the infamous Salome. Felicia’s crown of curls was a glorious shade of red that reminded him of the mesmerizingly beautiful Salome depicted in Titian’s masterpiece.
Felicia took a seat in an overstuffed chair across from the sofa. There was no other furniture in the living room except for a nicked and scuffed coffee table separating the sofa and chair.
Nolan took out his ever-present notebook. O’Rourke followed his lead by pulling out his own notebook from his jacket pocket. O’Rourke decided he wasn’t going to sit here and make cow eyes at the broad. He stared at her for a moment and then revised his opinion. She was no broad. In fact, she was as far from a broad as any woman he had ever met. She was a lady, brought up to be polite and well-mannered. She looked like she could add big numbers, too.
-10-
Pacific Breeze Hotel
Nolan leaned forward, pen poised to take notes. “Miss Avery, can you tell us what happened today at the studio?”
ÇÇÇ
Felicia didn’t want to remember what had happened. Instead she found herself thinking about her home town.
Home. The thought of seeing her family and friends again…
Lately, Felicia entertained thoughts of going home. If she went back to Phoenix, she would enroll in college and maybe get her old job back at the diner. She had been a straight-A student and perhaps college would challenge her mind more than the mindless cattle-call auditions that were a necessary evil for struggling actors. Felicia had already tired of casting directors staring at her as if she was a prize piece of steak. No, not steak, she thought. More like hamburger meat. People who look like steak actually get speaking parts in pictures.
Recently though, Felicia had applied and been accepted to a prestigious acting school. It seemed as if her career might be on the upswing, especially when her agent had phoned with good news just that morning. She’d made the final cut for the lead role in Morning Dawn .
Felicia knew she could play the role of Dawn because she understood the girl in the story. In fact, Morning Dawn could have been about her own life.
Final casting approval rested with C.B. DeWarner. Felicia took special care with her appearance, hoping to make a good impression on the powerful studio head. When she’d arrived at his office, DeWarner offered her a cocktail but she had politely declined. He asked if she would like to take a swim in his pool and discuss the part in detail. Again, she refused.
Finally, DeWarner walked over to where she sat on an upholstered couch so massive, it would not have fit in her small living room. “Listen,
-11-
Josie A. Okuly
Miss Avery…Felicia, is it? I gotta tell you, I really can’t give you this part even if I wanted to. No one has ever heard of you.
Once inside, she indicated a small, emerald-green sofa which had obviously seen better days. The two men sat down and O’Rourke immediately sank into the lumps and folds of the cushions.
-9-
Josie A. Okuly
Felicia slid her hands into the pockets of her faded bathrobe. “Do you mind if I get dressed? Would you like some tea?”
They declined the tea. When Felicia closed the door to the bedroom, Nolan turned to face O’Rourke.
“Are you gonna help me question her or just sit there with your tongue hanging out?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, buddy.” O’Rourke gave his partner a warning look.
“Right.” A smile played on Nolan’s lips. “A word to the wise and then I’ll shut up. You better get your eyeballs back in their sockets. I’ve heard of love at first sight but I’ve never seen it in action until now.”
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened and Felicia walked back into the room wearing an emerald-green cotton dress with small coconut trees printed on it. The color of the outfit set off her hair to blazing perfection. O’Rourke remembered a painting he had once seen in a museum. It was Titian’s rendition of the infamous Salome. Felicia’s crown of curls was a glorious shade of red that reminded him of the mesmerizingly beautiful Salome depicted in Titian’s masterpiece.
Felicia took a seat in an overstuffed chair across from the sofa. There was no other furniture in the living room except for a nicked and scuffed coffee table separating the sofa and chair.
Nolan took out his ever-present notebook. O’Rourke followed his lead by pulling out his own notebook from his jacket pocket. O’Rourke decided he wasn’t going to sit here and make cow eyes at the broad. He stared at her for a moment and then revised his opinion. She was no broad. In fact, she was as far from a broad as any woman he had ever met. She was a lady, brought up to be polite and well-mannered. She looked like she could add big numbers, too.
-10-
Pacific Breeze Hotel
Nolan leaned forward, pen poised to take notes. “Miss Avery, can you tell us what happened today at the studio?”
ÇÇÇ
Felicia didn’t want to remember what had happened. Instead she found herself thinking about her home town.
Home. The thought of seeing her family and friends again…
Lately, Felicia entertained thoughts of going home. If she went back to Phoenix, she would enroll in college and maybe get her old job back at the diner. She had been a straight-A student and perhaps college would challenge her mind more than the mindless cattle-call auditions that were a necessary evil for struggling actors. Felicia had already tired of casting directors staring at her as if she was a prize piece of steak. No, not steak, she thought. More like hamburger meat. People who look like steak actually get speaking parts in pictures.
Recently though, Felicia had applied and been accepted to a prestigious acting school. It seemed as if her career might be on the upswing, especially when her agent had phoned with good news just that morning. She’d made the final cut for the lead role in Morning Dawn .
Felicia knew she could play the role of Dawn because she understood the girl in the story. In fact, Morning Dawn could have been about her own life.
Final casting approval rested with C.B. DeWarner. Felicia took special care with her appearance, hoping to make a good impression on the powerful studio head. When she’d arrived at his office, DeWarner offered her a cocktail but she had politely declined. He asked if she would like to take a swim in his pool and discuss the part in detail. Again, she refused.
Finally, DeWarner walked over to where she sat on an upholstered couch so massive, it would not have fit in her small living room. “Listen,
-11-
Josie A. Okuly
Miss Avery…Felicia, is it? I gotta tell you, I really can’t give you this part even if I wanted to. No one has ever heard of you.
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