"Whew, that was one hell of a busy show!"
Dean Stacey, popular Los Angeles television presenter, and long term boyfriend of Jewel's Nancy Pelligrini stepped off the television set with a tired grin at the production assistant. "How many interviews were you trying to cram in at once, Julie? I can only talk so fast, you know!"
"Don't blame me. I had orders from upstairs." Julie Kazar returned the grin with a merry one of her own. "And you pulled it together well, all things considered. That Latisha girl is good, isn't she?"
"Well, Nancy recommended that the music company sign her on, and you know Nancy's a real authority on things like music." Dean winked, glancing back to where Latisha Rowenall was helping to clear the set. "She doesn't seem full of herself, though. It's a shame in a way she didn't take the chance to be a part of Jewel, but I can see why she didn't. Her music's good, but very different from what Jewel pump out."
"I heard some juicy information about Jewel, by the way." Julie tapped her pen against her clipboard. "You know anything about an award nomination?"
"I know nothing." Dean shook his head. "I've not seen Nancy to speak to her for a couple of days. She's been holed up at the studio, now her Mom is all better, and I've been busy here. Are Jewel up for an award?"
"According to my sources, they are, and it's a big one." Julie nodded. "And to add spice to the mix, Diablo are up for the same award."
"Ooh. Local rivalries abound!" Dean laughed. "I wish I'd known that before we went on air. I would've quizzed Diablo about their chances."
"Well, I only heard during the show." Julie told him. "It's going to make for some interesting press, though. Jewel and Diablo are both well loved in this area, and Diablo have more than achieved over the last year. Their current song is a real winner and it's been number one forever. Do you think Jewel can compete?"
"Before the fire, I'd have said no problem." Dean looked thoughtful. "But Diablo have rather gained ground whilst Misfits Music has been out of action. Still, I think the girls will come through, Julie. And I should stay objective, but you know who I'll be rooting for."
"Can't think." Julie laughed.
"Hey, Dean!"
A fresh voice interrupted the merry banter, and the two turned, Dean casting the newcomer a warm grin as he recognised who had spoken.
"Zoe!" He exclaimed. "What brings you here? I thought you were tied up on a video set today?"
"I was, but the thing's been rescheduled till tomorrow. Some technical glitch." Zoe Montgomery, video artist extraordinaire shrugged her shoulders. "I figured I'd drop by here and see if my big brother had any plans? I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm starving - I thought I might treat you."
"I'm always up for that." Dean laughed. "Count me in, Zo. Let me just grab my jacket, and I'll see you in the lobby."
"Sure." Zoe dimpled. Julie looked amused.
"Anything less like brother and sister than you two I'd find it hard to imagine." She teased, as Dean disappeared into his dressing room.
"Well, Mom and his Mom were the best of friends, and we grew up like brother and sister, so I consider it an honourary sibling-hood." Zoe grinned. "How was this morning's show, Julie? The crowd seemed to be buzzing as I came in."
"It went well. Busy, but no hitches." Julie smiled. "Which is a production assistant's dream, make no mistake about it!"
She glanced at her watch.
"And now I have to get downstairs for a briefing before we worry about this afternoon's stuff. Nice to see you, Zoe - take care!"
Zoe watched the busy assistant disappear across the set, then she hurried down to the studio lobby to find the presenter waiting for her.
"So what's all this about?" Dean asked, once they were in Zoe's car, driving out towards the centre of Los Angeles. "You don't usually offer to buy me breakfast without a good reason, Zoe - what's up?"
"Nothing's up, as such." Zoe reflected. "I've just been doing some thinking lately, and I figured that you were the one guy who might actually understand what's going through my head. I haven't really mentioned it to Mom, because I don't know how she'd take it, but I've been doing some research into finding my father."
"Your father?" Dean looked startled. "Jeff Wright?"
Zoe nodded.
"Mom told me he was a stuntman, and that was pretty much it." She agreed. "Part of me really wants to find him, Dean. I never had a Dad growing up, and I'd like one. But, another part of me..."
She shrugged.
"You know. I don't know what to expect. Besides, when he and my Mom seperated, I gather it was a fairly big deal experience for her, if not for him. She's kept it all hidden for so long, and I doubt he even knows he has a daughter at all. Mom certainly doesn't think he knows."
"I know." Dean pursed his lips. "So, what's the deal so far? What have you unearthed?"
"Well, the last film he did was some time last Fall, as far as I can see. Since then he's been pretty quiet." Zoe flicked on the indicator, turning into a side street and pulling to a halt outside a popular breakfast haunt. "The trouble with stuntmen is that they don't grab the headlines in the way that the big stars do. You know what I mean? The stuntman's job is pretty much not to be detected. I know he was on that film because he was on the credits - but that's where I lose the trail. I don't even know where abouts in America he might be."
"And you hoped I might be able to help?"
"Well, I thought you might know someone I didn't." Zoe blushed, as they made their way inside, taking a table by the window. "I already called cousin Vivien and asked her advice, but she told me honestly that she didn't know what happened to Jeff after she knew him. She wasn't...very surprised when I told her that Mom had confirmed him as my Dad, but that was about it. I think she suspected for a long time, but never had any proof. And, when Mom told me about him, she mentioned LinZ as well. I wondered..."
"Mom?" Dean looked startled. "Did she know about all this?"
"Mom isn't sure. She didn't tell her, but she reckons that the suspicion might have been there." Zoe replied. "I wondered if she might have said something to your Dad, or if your Dad might know where Jeff was now. He is a camera operator, after all. He films people."
"True, but since Mom disappeared, he's done less and less of the big budget stuff." Dean looked thoughtful. "He's more or less retired from that line of work now, anyhow. Still, I'll ask him. It might be that he's heard something."
"Thanks." Zoe looked relieved. "I think I have to find him, for my own peace of mind. It's like...well, now I know his name, I have to go further. I have to at least meet him, somehow. The name isn't enough - I always thought it would be, but it isn't."
"Sometimes you have to know either way, even if it's not the answer you want, huh?" Dean said softly. Zoe eyed him sharply.
"Something like that." She agreed. "Dean, I didn't mean to bring back memories..."
"Forget it." Dean dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "I gave up the idea of finding out what happened to Mom a long time ago, Zoe. She vanished - and to all intents and purposes, she really did vanish. I spent enough time in college building up my hopes and having them dashed each time I failed to connect a rumour with the truth. I've given up. I'm not even sure if I believe she's alive out there now, you know. I always did, when I was a kid - but it's been so long now."
"You never know. They didn't find her." Zoe said softly. Dean nodded.
"Yeah, and that makes it worse." He replied. "If she survived the plane crash, Zoe, why didn't she come back to Dad and I? It wasn't like we didn't need her. You know damn well that we did. In a way, I almost wish that she had been killed. Rather that than...well, than being abandoned."
"LinZ would never have walked out on your or your Dad." Zoe murmured gently. "If she survived the crash, Dean, there had to be a good reason she didn't get back here."
"Well, every time they find bones in the Amazon, I wonder." Dean admitted. "So far none of them have been identified as my Mom, Zo, but sometimes I want to know. If I can help you in any way in tracking down your Dad, I will. At least then one of us will have some questions answered."
"Thanks." Zoe smiled. "I knew you'd understand."
She scooped up the menu. "So what's new in Los Angeles? I saw you had Latisha on your show this morning - what do you make of her?"
"She's good." Dean reflected, his eyes showing relief at the change of subject. "I see why she didn't want to be a Jewel, in the end, but I think she'll be a big hit."
He paused, then, "I also had Diablo on. Did you know that they and Jewel are going head-to-head in some award fight or other?"
"Yes, I did." Zoe nodded her head. "Or rather, I knew that Jewel were involved. Phyllis Gabor called me yesterday to try and slot in some video filming time for Jewel's new single, and she told me then. Apparently she wants this song to blow apart the progress Diablo has been making - and I can quite understand it, considering how long that wretched song has been number one."
"And here I was, thinking you were objective and freelance." Dean's eyes twinkled. "My mistake."
"Well, I don't mind working for Rory Llewelyn or Rebel Records, but work with Diablo I will not do." Fire flashed into Zoe's green eyes. "You know as well as I do that it was that bitch Stefana Ranieri who blabbed to the press about Fiona and my relationship, and I haven't forgiven her for it yet. I don't think I ever will - after all, I almost lost Fiona and my sanity over all of that, and it wasn't like she did it by accident. It was a deliberate attempt to spite me."
"It wasn't the nicest thing in the world to do." Dean acknowledged. "But I think it is better for you now it's out in the open, Zo. Seriously, I do. You and Fiona seem more secure, and you're not half so stressed or secretive about it. Maybe she did it to spite you, but Stefana's big mouth did work out for the best in the long run."
"Perhaps, but I still haven't forgiven her." Zoe said darkly.
"So, what's Jewel's new song, then?" Dean cast her a curious look. Zoe shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as mine. Even Phyllis hasn't heard it yet." She replied. "Apparently they're having a few melodic glitches. Still, I know them, and I know they'll get on top of it before too long. They always do, after all."
"They sure do." Dean looked thoughtful. "And then it'll be full steam ahead for the award, I guess."
Zoe nodded.
"I think that's the plan." She agreed. "And between you and me, I really hope Jewel win it!"