Day 9

Chapter 6-3

"Two weeks," said Quincy. "That's all we've got."

"Huh?" Dunne couldn't stop shaking. He and Hannahlee had spent the last hour in the Bradford Room, being questioned by an in-your-face police detective. Apparently, just snooping around the crime scene had been enough to land them on the suspect list. "Why two weeks?"

"Two weeks from today," said Quincy, "marks the anniversary of the debut of Weeping Willows on TV. The thirtieth anniversary."

"Congratulations." Hannahlee hunched over in her chair. "You know more about the show than I do."

"Egad!" Quincy gasped and clutched his feathered cap against his chest. "I shall carry those precious words with me to the grave, Madame."

Dunne took a deep breath and slowly released it. The shaking did not let up. "So the Willows are all in danger."

"Within the next two weeks," said Quincy.

"I'm a Willow," said Hannahlee. "Why didn't the killer get two birds with one stone?"

Dunne thought he could take a good guess. "You've kept a low profile for a long time. Maybe he didn't recognize you."

"Also, Scott was scheduled to be here," said Quincy. "Or maybe the killer's just saving you."

"Saving me?" said Hannahlee.

"For later." Quincy shrugged, then reached back to retie his long ponytail. "Maybe he has to stick to an order. Oldest to youngest or something."

Dunne got up from his chair and paced, hoping it would lessen the shaking. "What about the quotes?"

"What quotes?" said Quincy.

"Around 'Willows,'" said Dunne. "'All the "Willows" & their father.'"

"Because we're actors, maybe?" said Hannahlee. "We're not really the Willows?"

"Maybe." Dunne continued to pace the room. He wasn't sure what had him more rattled: being interrogated or getting up close and personal with a murdered corpse for the first time in his life. "So what about the 'father?' Isn't Stewart Bank dead?"

"Yeah." Quincy arched an eyebrow and c****d his head. "But maybe we're not looking for the guy who played the Willows' father on TV. The Willows have another father, right? Initials C.G.?"

"Of course." Dunne still thought Quincy was nuts, but he had to admit Quincy was right this time. "The man who created the series could be considered their father."

"Great." Hannahlee sighed and shook her head. "Not only am I marked for death, but so is the man we've been hired to find."

"So, wait," said Quincy. "Why exactly are you looking for Cyrus Gowdy?"

"If we don't get him to sign a release," said Dunne, "there won't be a movie version of Weeping Willows."

Quincy's eyes bugged out, and his mouth fell open. "Howza whoza what now? Who said anything about a big screen Willows movie?"

"Halcyon Studios," said Dunne. "But apparently, Gowdy doesn't want to be found. So I wouldn't get my hopes up, if I were you."

"Holy s**t s**t shit." Quincy clapped his hands. "So saving Gowdy from the killer really is important. This'll get you some major traction with the fans."

Dunne stared at him. "You mean saving Gowdy's life wouldn't be enough by itself?"

"All I'm saying is, the fans can really get behind something like this." Quincy nodded. "You got lucky. Fans can sometimes be a little protective, if you catch my drift."

"Your job," said Hannahlee.

"Ex-squeeze me?" Quincy cupped a hand around his right ear. "I baking powder?"

"Fan liaison," said Hannahlee. "That can be your job. Get the fans to be a little less protective."

"Say what?" Quincy's thick fingers kneaded his feathered red cap as if he were wringing water from a sponge. "You mean you want me to go with you?"

"Yes," said Hannahlee.

"You want me to go on an adventure with you?" said Quincy. "Kitty Willow needs me?"

Hannahlee raised an index finger. "Remember the bullshit detector."

Quincy nodded and beamed like a child promising Santa to be good. "No bullshit," he said, scrunching his eyes shut and turning his face to the ceiling. "Unless that's how you refer to ecstatic prayers of pure joy and gratitude."

"So tell me," said Hannahlee. "Where to?"

Quincy's eyes popped open, and he looked down at her. "Where to what?"

"Where do we go next?" said Hannahlee. "To find Cyrus Gowdy?"

Quincy rubbed his chin. "I have heard a rumor," he said. "Ultra quadruple top secret, though."

"What's the rumor?" said Dunne.

"That Gowdy's secretly involved with the Weeping Willows movie," said Quincy. "That he might even be visiting the set."

"The set of the big screen movie?" said Dunne. "That's impossible."

Quincy smirked and twirled his hat roguishly. "Sorry, old chap," he said in a British accent. "Did I say 'big screen?'"