Connors rolled his eyes. "Oh, that. that. Are these your deputies?" he asked, looking at Jace and Tyler. Are these your deputies?" he asked, looking at Jace and Tyler.

"More like secret undercover agents," Parker said. "This is Jace Damon and his brother, Tyler. I was telling you about them."

"Right," Connors said, sizing them up as if he was already casting their roles in his head.

The three of them shook hands. Jace looked suspicious of the whole setup. Tyler was wide-eyed.

"Can we see somebody doing special effects on a computer?" Tyler asked. "I've been reading all about the latest technology in computer animation, and . . ."

The boy rattled on like an audio encyclopedia.

"Tyler has an IQ of one sixty-eight," Parker remarked.

Connors's brows went up. "Wow. That's more than you and me put together."

"So we get to look around?" Jace asked. He was already looking, Parker noticed, and trying very hard not to appear excited about it.

Connors spread his arms wide. "Matt Connors, personal tour guide, at your service, gentlemen. Let's take a walk. I'll show you where all the magic happens."

They started down the lot, Parker and Connors flanked by the two boys, the California sun spilling over them like molten gold, the world of dreams spread out before them.

"So, Kev," Connors said. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

Parker put a hand on Connors's shoulder and said, "My friend, have we got a story for you. And for a generous price that would put him through college and graduate school, I'm guessing Jace here would be happy to tell it to you."

Connors nodded, turned to Jace, and said, "How about it, kid? You want to be in the movie business?"

Jace stared at him, his brain stalling out. "A movie? About me? About what just happened?"

"Right," Connors said. "I already have the perfect title. We'll call it Kill the Messenger Kill the Messenger. . . ."

BANTAM BOOKS.

BY TAMI HOAG.

Ask your bookseller for titles you may have missed

Kill the Messenger

Dark Horse

Dust to Dust

Ashes to Ashes

A Thin Dark Line

Guilty as Sin

Night Sins

Dark Paradise

Cry Wolf

Still Waters

Lucky's Lady