Soft focus by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

business associate of one of the money people. I hope you don't mind, Ms. Bellamy."
    "Please, call me Vicky. Everyone else does." Vicky's laugh was low and rich. "Of course I don't mind. I just love money people. And their business associates. Are you here for the entire festival?"
    "Yes. I'm very excited about the whole event." Vicky didn't seem to care that she hadn't gotten a last name to go with the first name. Elizabeth recalled the book she had scanned on the plane from Seattle. "Noir is such a fascinating genre. The way light and shadow is used as a visual metaphor is so distinctive. And the classic films did such an incredible job of catching the essence of modern moral ambiguity. And the use of the dark urban landscape—" She broke off. "Well, it's the quintessentially American style, isn't it?"
    Vicky smiled. "Don't forget the Western."
    "You're absolutely right. Westerns and noir film are both uniquely American."
    "Amazing," Vicky mused.
    Elizabeth wondered if she'd overdone it. "What's amazing?"
    "Most money people don't talk about film like that."
    "I'm just a friend of one of the investors," Elizabeth said smoothly. "I'm attending the festival because I'm a film buff."
    "Who's your friend? The one you said was an investor?" Vicky asked.
    Elizabeth took a breath. "Tyler Page. You probably met him in the course of making Fast Company?
    "Yes, of course I met Tyler." Vicky smiled. "He was a rather sweet little man. He liked to hang around the set whenever possible. I think he had stars in his eyes. Didn't he, Spencer?"
    Spencer gave an elaborate shrug. "All the money guys have stars in their eyes."
    Vicky gave a husky laugh. "Given the fact that most of them will never see a dime in profits, I think it's only fair to allow them a few dreams. Don't you agree, Elizabeth?"
    "Dreams are important," Elizabeth said. "Sometimes that's all you get."
    Vicky smiled. "That sounds like a line from one of Spencer's scripts. Maybe you'd like to read the script for Fast Company ?"
    "I'd love to read it," Elizabeth said quickly.
    "I'm sure Spencer could get you a copy." Vicky looked at him expectantly.
    Spencer looked up from his tequila sunrise. "What? Oh, sure. Copy of the script. Got one with me. I'll get it for you before you leave, Elizabeth."
    "Thanks," Elizabeth said. "I'd appreciate that."
    Spencer rocked precariously on his heels and looked at Vicky. "How's it going on the stalker front? I heard about the incident at the spa the other day."
    Vicky grimaced. "I wound up with a lot of red paint on my clothes, as usual. It's the third time the bastard has struck in the past month. I think Dawson is getting worried."
    Elizabeth stared at her. "You're being stalked?'
    "Some idiot has decided that I'm the incarnation of a biblical harlot. He started stalking me about a month ago." Vicky made a circular motion with her finger near her ear. "A real loony."
    "Good grief," Elizabeth whispered. "I can't imagine anything more terrifying than being stalked."
    Vicky's jaw tightened. "It is a little scary, I admit. Dawson is more concerned than I am."
    "What are the police doing about it?" Elizabeth demanded.
    "There's not much they can do. The police chief here in town is a man named Gresham. He's very nice and very earnest, but the fact is, he's got a very small force and it's not exactly high-tech or state of the art. This week it's probably overwhelmed with the crowd that's in town for the festival."
    "Maybe Dawson should hire a bodyguard for you," Spencer suggested with an odd look. "He can afford one."
    "He's mentioned it," Vicky said vaguely. "But I've asked him to hold off for a while. I really hate the thought of having to have a bodyguard. I'm hoping the police will catch him before we have to go that route."
    "Good luck," Spencer mumbled into his drink.
    "Thanks." Vicky stepped back. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'd better keep circulating. Enjoy yourselves."
    Spencer watched her disappear into the crowd. Elizabeth noticed that