The 16mm Caper

Chapter 3

"What's your opinion?" The question was snapped demandingly.

Freddy had explained to the woman who answered why he needed to speak directly to Mr. Hughes, and after ten minutes of nauseating music, he was transferred.

"The guys at Cinelab are pretty sharp, I thought you might want a call. I know you always have feelers out for this sort of info."

"I do. And apparently you're one of them, so I ask you again. What's your opinion?"

"I looked up the names my source mentioned, and my research shows that there is a distinct possibility the film could be genuine. Mack Sennet once employed a Raoul Cadian during the Keystone era. He left and tried to start his own independent company with a crew of mediocre talents, and a pair of off Broadway actors. He was purported to have made three films, all sixteen millimetre of which two even had soundtracks; this Guns Across the Rio Grande was the last apparently. It's black and white, and silent."

"Cinelab's appraisal finds it genuine?"

"As I said, sir, there is a very good chance."

"I don't take chances. Is it genuine?"

Freddy puffed his cheeks and frowned. This was a chance he could not afford to miss.

"Yes . . . it is."

"I want it."

"What approach should I use? I mean, what can I offer?"

"The usual. Money, and if that doesn't work, threats. I really don't care, Fisk. When I say I want it, that's the bottom line. Period."

Freddy heard the click and put down the receiver; he hadn't been in quite this position before. Ralston Hughes didn't take failure kindly, but when he got his way his generosity was considerable. Freddy pinched his lip and tried to formulate a plan. He definitely needed Cheryl now.

******

Ralston Hughes returned his attention to the golf digest he was scanning, dismissing his caller without a second thought. All these decisions, he complained silently, flipping the pages. Why have these people around if I have to do all the work? He tossed the magazine on the massive marble table in front of his lounge and stared unhappily at the blank, fifty-two-inch plasma screen across the room.

A nineteen twenty-nine film in super condition; the idea of owning it pleased him greatly, and he cheered up, grabbing the remote and pressing one of the buttons. A moment later the soft voice of his secretary announced her presence by his desk.

"Julia, get me a reservation at Dom's for lunch."

"For one?"

He rolled his eyes and flung his gaze out the giant windows flanking the television wall. "Do I ever eat alone, Julia?"

"No, but I'm busy today."

"Not for lunch." His voice hardened.

"Ralston, sometimes you can be a real pain in the ass." She turned to go.

"Hasn't been a complaint in the past," he taunted her retreating back.

In the outer office, Austin paused in the doorway as Julia sighed her way to her desk. "Lunch with the Lord?"

"What else. You wouldn't like to take my place would you, Austin?"

"That, my dear, would be highly unlikely." They traded nasty smiles. "I'm still awaiting today's marching orders myself."

"Well I just got mine so unless you want to reconsider . . ." Austin grinned and showed a congenial shrug. "Perhaps we could try your place this evening?" He accepted her acquiescent nod and continued on to his own office.

Under any other circumstances, Austin might have considered monitoring his employer's calls a most unethical act, but in the case of Ralston Hughes, it was the only way to juggle all the whims that emanated from his office. The film business he'd overheard had captured his interest, and presented what possibly could be an incentive he'd unconsciously been looking for.

******

Julia accepted the wine from Austin and smiled a toast, sipping daintily as he joined her on the large sofa.

"Excellent choice, Austin, a seventy-two?"

"Three, actually, but why quibble. As you say, excellent." He clinked her glass, and drank a healthy mouthful.

"This is quite a surprise. I never thought I'd see the day when I entertained Austin Price at my place." She gave him a mischievous smile and sipped her wine. "You wanted to talk, Austin."

He squirmed on the sofa, following the manoeuvre as she crossed her legs, and nodding absently. Julia bore a striking resemblance to his daughter, not an entirely physical similarity but enough to detract from his unrewarded feelings.

"Yes, I uh- I have been guilty of eavesdropping on some of Ralston's calls so that I could, shall we say, get ahead of the curves he continually throws." He tipped his glass to his lips. "I heard his conversation about a film, and it has sparked a very particular interest for me. I wondered if it came up at your lunch at all."

"Well it wasn't actually at lunch where it came up . . ." She shaped a smile and hid it in her glass.

Austin drained his glass, suddenly coughing and struggling to clear his throat. "Excuse me. Went down the wrong way." He stood, cheeks flushed, and went to fetch the wine bottle. "More?"

She held up her glass. "You okay? I'm a little hazy in the Heimlich manoeuvre." She teased.

"I appreciate your concern." He filled his glass and sat back down, pausing to study her. "I really have a devil of a time reading you, Julia."

"Well you're an open book, Austin. You can't resolve your feelings about me because you don't know me well enough. You're afraid I might be more loyal to Ralston than you think, and you aren't sure if mixing business and pleasure is wise. Furthermore, you are contemplating doing something totally opposite to your character."

Austin patted the thinning hair at the side of his head and blushed, completely flustered. "I had no idea- you seem to have quite a- a . . ." He looked away and then faced her. "This film business--"

"Austin, relax. If you are concerned, I swing to the rhythm of interesting propositions - of all stripes - so that's not a problem."

She drank some wine and watched him fidget. "I find you very attractive in a little boy kind of way, and if you are considering what I think you are considering, I might be interested."

"Just what do you think that I'm considering?" He cleared his throat.

"Somehow getting this film for yourself." She made the statement with blunt assuredness.

He developed another coughing fit and Julia just sipped more wine, watching him get it under control. When he finished, she quickly related the information about the film and Ralston's actions with the contact at the film institute.

"He can't resist boasting about his acquisitions - or his conquests." She took another sip and watched Austin over the rim of the glass. "I did a little checking on my own. It appears this might just be quite an acquisition."

He nodded, encouraging her to continue, his thoughts ping-ponging between her inferences and her information.

"Why don't you tell me why you're so interested, Austin?"