The studio's parking lot was crowded with police vehicles and imposing journalists by the time your little Scooby gang arrived at the crime scene. Sarah Darling, one of the actors you'd briefly spoken with yesterday, was killed inside earlier this morning — stabbed through the back.
After Dewey received the news from Jennifer, he alluded to the fact that both murders happened in the same order they were supposed to die in the movie. And after skimming through the new script Roman had given you, you quickly discovered that Gale's character was apparently the next victim.
This revelation did not sit well with Miss Gale Weathers.
The order could've easily been a coincidence as there have only been two deaths, but chances are, probably not. So, you all headed inside to speak with the detectives to figure out what exactly happened before jumping to conclusions.
Dewey and Randy split off to find Jennifer, who was around here somewhere while you and Gale entered the lobby where the film's production took place. You made a right down the corridor full of doors to see parts of the area were enclosed with yellow barricade tape. As you neared Roman's office, you noticed the transom window of his door had been shattered as bright red blood stained the wood below.
Your movement halted, nearly ramming into Gale's back as she suddenly stopped in front of you. You followed her line of sight as two detectives entered the corridor from a side hall up ahead.
You immediately recognized the two as you saw them yesterday on set.
"Detective Kincaid, what do we know? Same killer?" Gale questioned as they headed back your way, down toward the lobby. The attractive one's head turned at the sound of his name as you and Gale quickly trailed behind them.
"Hey. Hey," His partner interjected. "Terminal Entertainment, this is a crime scene, okay?"
"Wallace, Miss Weathers is working with me now," Kincaid stated, much to his partner's disapproval.
"Thank you, Detective." Gale smiled while exiting the corridor. When they paused to stand beside the archway in the lobby, you chose to remain silent as you weren't sure that your input was wanted or needed.
"Well, in that case, I'm gonna go dust for fingerprints with Jane Pauley." Wallace spoke dryly, and Gale rolled her eyes.
"Photos, Wallace, please?" Kincaid held his hand out as his partner passed him two black-and-white pictures. "Thank you."
Wallace left the area as Kincaid passed the photos over to Gale to inspect.
"New pictures, same person." He stated, and you stepped closer to take a look yourself. Just as Gale previously said, both pictures were of a young Maureen Prescott, each in different settings. "Anything turn up on your research, yet?"
"Nothing that will help with these," Gale replied.
"What about Jennifer?" You asked, glancing between the two. "She'll need protection if she's the next one to get killed in the script."
"She has a bodyguard," Kincaid informed, finally returning your gaze. Those teal blue eyes left you feeling totally exposed as he studied you for a moment before turning to take back the pictures of Maureen. "Besides, the producers told us there were three different versions of the script. Something about trying to keep the ending off the internet."
Gale shifted as you shared an uneasy look with her.
Yesterday, you remembered Sarah getting all worked up when you gave her the new script, frustrated as the constant change made it difficult to memorize her lines. If there was more than one script, maybe Gale wasn't the next victim.
"Three versions. Three different characters die next." Kincaid said. "And we don't know which one the killer read."
For some time now, Dewey has been working on set as a technical advisor which means he must've read parts of each script. Maybe you could narrow down the killer's next possible victims by taking a look at all three versions.
"I need to find Dewey," You announced before turning to head back to the main area of the studio.
Just outside the set, near the front entrance, you found Roman sitting in his director's chair next to a woman you presumed to be Jennifer. Dewey was also there, standing near the two as Roman began ranting about the destruction of his movie.
"All I ever wanted to do was make a real classic love story, and the studio said they'd let me. I just had to do a scary movie first." Roman griped as you made your way over to them. "Now, we're shut down and I am fucked!"
"God, it's not the end of the world, Roman." Jennifer said with a cigarette between her fingers.
"That is so easy for you to say. You can always go back to Must See TV." Roman declared, and Jennifer gasped dramatically at the galling remark. "I have no movie, I'm about to turn thirty, and it looks like I'm now the next target."
Ignoring all the other trivial words Roman spewed, you couldn't help but focus on that last part as it was unclear why he'd think he was next.
"You?" Dewey questioned. "Why you?"
Roman turned to Dewey and picked up, what looked to be, a decapitated statue of a directing award he'd won. "Do you think this wasn't a message?"
You almost burst out laughing, using a fake cough as a means to recover before pulling your best poker face. The assumption was pragmatic, too far-fetched for even a killer.
"Y/n, where's Gale?" Dewey asked when he finally noticed that you'd come back alone.
"She's still with the detective," You answered with a sigh. Though, you glanced around after realizing Randy was nowhere in sight. "Where's Meeks?"
"He went to find you, so he's probably with Gale." Dewey replied.
Oh, so you basically swapped places.
Overlooking the hilarity, you stepped forward to reveal what you know about this case. "Apparently, this film has three scripts and it's uncertain which one the killer read. So, I was hoping I could take a look at each of them to thin out the possible targets. Maybe get them some extra security."
Unbeknownst to you, Roman's ears perked up at that.
"I can show you the scripts–" He attempted to stand from his director's chair only to slump back down. "But, they barricaded my office."
That would be an obstacle seeing as Sarah was butchered through the door. But perhaps, you could ask the detectives to let you through as it'd help with the investigation.
As if on cue, both detectives came down from the office, approaching your little area.
"Roman Bridger?" Detective Wallace asked, earning the director's attention.
"What?" Roman just about snapped until he saw it was the police.
"Mr. Bridger, you didn't tell us you spoke with Sarah Darling before she was murdered." Detective Kincaid said.
You quickly glanced at Roman in surprise as you had a feeling you weren't going to like where this conversation was headed.
"Uh, spoke with her when?" Roman asked, clearly not following.
"The guard said she was here for a meeting... with you." Kincaid informed, admitting his obvious suspicion of the man.
Roman furrowed his brows, eyes darting around at everyone, wholly bemused. "What meeting? I don't–"
"We talked to her roommate, too. Says you called Sarah, told her to come down to the studio." Wallace disclosed, voice brusque and unamused. "Roommate answers the phone, says it was you–"
"Wait a minute." Roman quickly interrupted. "No, no– I never called her. I never told her to go anywhere."
You listened to their conversation in silence as it was quite obvious what the detectives were alluding to. Roman was their number one suspect, however, the man genuinely seemed as if he had no clue what they were talking about.
"Roommate says she knows your voice, Mr. Bridger." Kincaid stated, impassively.
You looked at Dewey for reassurance of what the detectives were saying and he, too, believed that Roman could be the potential killer.
"Well, she wasn't speaking with me." Roman defended, distraught by these sudden accusations. "God, look– I did not call Sarah Darling."
"Sarah Darling said you did." Kincaid asserted, becoming impatient.
"Someone's trying to ruin my movie. Someone wants to kill my movie!" Roman declared frantically.
"Alright, we'll talk about your movie down at the station." Wallace stepped forward. "This is the scene where you come with us."
Roman, not wanting to leave in cuffs, reluctantly stood and straightened out his t-shirt. "Dewey, Y/n... she wasn't talking with me on the phone." He swore before leaving with both detectives.
Gale and Randy had witnessed the entire scene from afar as they returned from the office, but chose to approach only until the detectives were gone.
Although you were reeling from the abrupt arrest, the only thing on your mind was Billy. Whatever information he had on Roman, you hoped to God it wasn't true. You didn't want to give him the satisfaction of being right, but damn, he always was.
"God, Roman..." Jennifer muttered, taking a drag from her cigarette. "Remind me not to sleep with him again."
You could hardly control your scowl as you were starting to understand Gale's unabashed disliking for the woman.
"You know what I just realized?" Randy asked after sneaking up behind you, making your body jolt.
"What?" You spun around to face him while Gale moved around you to speak with Dewey about what just went down.
"Every guy you've been interested in has turned out to be a killer. Talk about bad luck." Randy's brazen observation made you scoff. He was absolutely right, but that doesn't mean you weren't annoyed by his comment.
"Asshole." You jibed, turning your head in the direction Roman left. You really hoped it was all just a misunderstanding.
"I overheard the producers saying the movie's production is officially being shut down today." Randy divulged, and you looked back at him.
"So, I guess that means I'm out of a job now?" You deduced. And to think it's only been a day.
"Welcome to the club." Randy grinned, making you snicker.
"Hey, at least we still get the sick apartment."