Inflated Ego novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Key Log

On Tuesday morning I walked back into the Langhorn building through the front door.

The guard at the desk stood up so fast his chair rolled backward.

"Mr. Donovan, you can't be here."

"I'm not here for Victor. I'm here for a casting call."

"There's no casting for you."

"There's a casting for Brent Sayer. Fourth floor. I'm told the whole roster is watching."

I was told that by a model who still sent me texts from a burner account.

She was afraid of being seen sending them from her own.

The guard looked at the ceiling, thought about his pension, and sat back down.

I took the elevator.

On the fourth floor, the open casting call was in full swing.

Fifty models stood along the white wall in black.

Four casting directors sat at a long table, with laptops and coffee, and a photographer was setting up lights.

At the centre of it all stood Brent Sayer in a tailored coat I'd helped him pick in March.

He was laughing at something a director said.

He saw me, and the laugh died in his throat.

Every head turned.

"Mason," Brent said. "Hey. Man. You shouldn't be here."

"I read your text."

His face went slack.

"What text?"

"The one you sent me at 4:12 on Monday morning. I didn't see it until the police gave me my phone back."

I pulled my phone out and held it up.

"I'd like to read it aloud, if that's all right."

"Mason, don't."

I read it.

"Mace. I'm sorry. I know what I did tonight. Victor says if I tell the cops you fought with Dale he'll cover my rent till June and keep me on the show. I don't want to. Please don't hate me."

The room had gone so quiet I could hear the lights humming.

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