Back Stage

20 November

After speaking with Diane the other night and hearing her in such torment, I was really fired up and more determined than ever to get the goods on Pattie. So with steely resolve I began to set up a course of action. I was beginning to get a clearer picture of the riddle we were trying to decipher. The timing was excellent right now, my case in Federal Court had concluded and I had some breathing room. This momentary lull, however, would not last long so I had to move fast. Plus, I was still exceedingly concerned that Diane's latest interlude with Colin would somehow be discovered and the aftermath of that exposure I didn't even dare to contemplate. I began to make notes on my legal pad; laying out all the facts. I was treating this as if it were a legal matter, another case to unravel. What do I know? That always helped me get to what I didn't. The more answers you have about the effect, will eventually lead you to the cause.
So what did I know? There were three pictures of Colin and Diane, plastered all over. One from the Music Festival, one from the Awards Ceremony and one taken the next day in front of her hotel.

1. Colin's appearance in Austin was part of his press junket to promote the movie. There were TV promo spots for it for weeks before, his attendance at the Festival, not publicized. However, I knew that if he was in Austin he would go, to see Diane. She went every year and Colin knew this. If I could figure this out, so could Pattie since she was the only other person that knew the true nature of their relationship. Of course there was no gold-plated guarantee he would show, but it was highly likely.

2. Diane’s book signings, the award ceremony and his TV interview were planned months in advance and by their separate agents. However, Colin's presence at the award ceremony was not. That did come up unexpectedly. Colin had told Diane that he had been invited to present the award to her. That the Award’s Committee picked him always puzzled me. Why Colin, who had suggested him? If they wanted someone close to her, why not Thom or Adele or Jason? The world at large only saw them as business associates (well had seen them that way), okay, maybe friends too. Even the media frenzy that surrounded Diane and Colin right after the movie had its' US Premiere had died down. "They" were no longer big news. So why him? It just never set well with me.

3. But Italy tied it all together really. The details of Diane's trips to Italy and London that were leaked to the magazine sealed it. No one knew in advance about London, not even Diane. It had come up suddenly. The only person who had any advance warning was Pattie. She had read the fax concerning it when Diane was ill.

The Award Ceremony was the wild card. I needed answers and the best place to get them would be Cassie, Diane's agent. I was sure that the committee had called her for suggestions. I had met Cassie numerous times in our joint business dealings for Diane.

I dialed her direct line.
"Cassie, its Hilary. I need to speak with you. Got a minute?"
"It's about the extension isn’t it, they didn’t go for it, did they? Damn!"
"No, no it's all set. Relax. It's something else."
"Oh good, I was worried they'd tell you to fuck off. So what's up?"
"It's about the Writer's Guild Award? Did you suggest Colin as the presenter?"
"You know I can't remember how that came up."
“Think Cassie, this is important."
"What's this all about Hilary? Why does it matter? It's water under the bridge. I just need Diane to pull her shit together before the extension runs out."
"Cassie, Diane has never let you down. So chill out and think."
"Well I would still like to know why this is so important, now!"
Could I trust Cassie? She was a good agent and honest in her business dealings with Diane. But this well, this was different and too much was at stake to take any chances with a slip up.
"I really can't go into it right now Cassie."
My last statement was met by silence.
"Cassie?"
"I'm thinking."
"Cassie it's not like I'm asking for privileged information here."
"I mean I am trying to remember how Colin's name came up."
"Oh sorry, didn't mean to get huffy."
"Let's see that was back in the summer, yes, it was. Okay."
She really wasn't talking to me, just going through some sort of mental checklist. As I was listening to this and her flipping through her Day Planner, I wanted to scream at her, "just remember damn it!"
"Pattie was here then, when we were notified about the award…...and..hmm"
Well that snapped me to attention.
"What did you say, Cassie, Pattie was there?”
"Yes, she helped me out here while my assistant was on vacation. We were swamped and I needed the help. When I was bitching about the bad timing to Diane she suggested Pattie. Said she could use the money, in between jobs or something."
I had forgotten all about that. Whether Cassie remembered now or not was irrelevant. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. I was working on a hunch, but my gut instincts told me I was moving in the right direction. I had more to go on. I didn't want to raise any suspicions with Cassie by just hanging up.
"Cassie, look it's okay. I have to take another call. Call if you remember. Oh and can you fax me Diane's itinerary for that trip to LA?"
"Sure, but I still don't understand…"
"One day I'll fill you in. Drinks on me one night at North-by and I'll lay it all out for you. I just can't right now."
"I'll hold you to that Hilary. I'll send the fax right over."
"Thanks Cassie, bye."
Shit, shit, shit! Diane had unwittingly let the fox into the hen house. Pattie was only there a few weeks, easily forgotten, just a temp. By the time the proverbial "shit hit the fan," she was gone long enough and working for Diane. It was becoming even clearer to me now. All three events could be tied to her. This was not enough however. At this point it was all circumstantial. No, I had to find something concrete.
I was pacing when Maggie, my assistant, came into my office with Cassie's fax.
"Hilary, this just came for you. Oh no, what's up?"
Maggie had been with me a long time, she knew that when I paced, it was not a good sign.
"Just something I am working on."
"New case?"
"Well, almost, it's more of a personal issue. Something I need to do for a friend. Sorry to leave you out of the loop, Mags, I just can't reveal too much about it right now."
"Hey, no worries, Hilary. I understand."
She handed me the fax and it was just as I suspected. The heading on the itinerary was "From the Desk of Pattie Gallagher." I had told Diane that LA was probably dumb luck on her part. I was wrong. As Cassie's assistant Pattie would have set up all the reservations for the trip, airline and hotel. I didn't know how long Pattie had been planning her treachery; that really didn't matter. But she didn't take those photos herself, that was apparent. And usually 'freelancers,' the camera commandos who lie in wait, took these type of photos. The newspapers won't employ them, but they will certainly buy their pictures. How did Pattie get in touch with one of them? It's not like the paparazzi have a listing in the phonebook.
It was almost noon and my stomach was alerting me that I had skipped breakfast this morning and missing lunch was not an option. I needed to get out of the office anyway, clear my head and process all the information I had gathered.
"Just stick this in my briefcase will ya Maggie? I've got to get something to eat."
"Okay."
As I passed Maggie's desk on my way out I noticed she had a new picture of Jude Law as her PC Wallpaper. I chuckled; Jude was Maggie's Colin.
"Oh a new one I see."
"Yes, they snapped him and Sienna at the Borough Market, I cropped her out." She was grinning broadly.
I was halfway through my tuna sandwich and still chuckling over Maggie. What a clever person could do with computers these days. Put people in, take them out. And the communication possibilities were endless. Diane had met people from literally all over the world through her website and the Fan Club. Oh my God! Jesus, how dim was I? Pattie’s computer! That's where my proof was hidden and I knew just the person who could retrieve it for me.