Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff

didn’t do that neither,” she added as a cable box slid off the lower shelf of the video village and bounced back down the stairs.
    A passing electrician jerked to a stop, the transformer he was carrying nearly yanked out of his arms.
    Brianna stepped off the dangling cable. “What?”

    The second-floor bathroom had already been lit and a second camera was in place and ready to go. Although Peter hadn’t been prepared for CB’s children, he had been prepared for children. Given that CB had made it quite clear they were to be used only this one afternoon, it was imperative to work as quickly as possible while they were on the set. Considering how long it often took between shots, the half-hour break between the front hall and the bathroom was up to pit standards at any NASCAR track in North America.
    As the camera feed was hooked up to the video village out in the hall, the director went over the scene with all four of his actors—Mason standing as far from Ashley as close quarters allowed. “All right, we’re going to do the girls’ taunting dance once with Mason and Lee in the shot and then the exact same thing with just the two of you pretending that Mason and Lee are in the shot. Then we’re going to do it again from the top with each of you individually so we can get close-ups, then we’ll do it again from the top with the blood.” And then remembering the age of his actors, he added heartily, “But it’s not real blood.”
    â€œOh, please,” Ashley drawled, “we know it’s not real. We’re not stupid. Well, I’m not stupid. The Cheese is a moron.”
    Head cocked to one side, a stubby braid sticking straight up into the air, Brianna ignored her.
    Peter took a concerned step toward the younger girl. “Brianna?”
    She snorted and frowned up at him. “There’s a baby crying.”
    The silence that followed her announcement was so complete Tony could hear a car passing by on Deer Lake Road way out at the end of the lane. He could also hear a baby crying.
    â€œI don’t hear a baby.” Peter glanced around at his crew, his gaze moving too fast to actually see any of them. “No one else hears a baby.” Statement, not question. They didn’t have time for babies.
    â€œI hear a baby!” Her brows drew down into a familiar obstinate expression. In spite of a two-hundred-pound difference she looked frighteningly like her father. “I’m going to find it!” Head down, she darted toward the door.
    Fortunately, maneuvering around the camera and Mouse and Kate slowed her down. Tony caught up at the door as she circled around Mouse and under the camera assistant’s outstretched arms and managed to keep her from getting out into the hall. “Why don’t I find it for you? Where’s the noise coming from?”
    Her lower lip went out. “It’s not noise; it’s crying!”
    â€œFine. Where’s the crying coming from?”
    She stared up at him suspiciously. Tony could feel the rest of the crew holding their collective breath. Few things held up a shooting schedule like chasing an eight-year-old around a house the size of some third world countries. Finally, she raised one skinny arm and pointed toward the far end of the hall. “That way.”
    Yeah, that was where he heard it coming from, too.
    â€œAll right. You let Peter set the shot and check your levels. I’ll go look and be back before the camera’s rolling.”
    â€œYeah, but you’re a liar.”
    â€œYeah, but you know I’m a liar, so why would I lie to you?”
    He held her gaze as she worked that out—a trick Henry’d taught him.
    â€œThe dominant personality maintains eye contact—it’s one of the easiest ways to differentiate the hunter from the hunted.”
    â€œYou mean when you don’t have that whole teeth, biting, feeding thing to fall back