Stand-In

by Carolyn E. Kourofsky

About the Author: Carolyn Kourofsky's short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Murderous Intent, and her Dance Mystery Theatre piece Death by Paso Doble premiered at the Rochester Ballroom Club. She is a member of the 13th Precinct Writers, an upstate New York writers group.

Excerpt

“This ab-so-lute-ly will not work.” The famous voice of Magdalene Raven rose in disgust. “No one could possibly take her for me.”

Yvonne “Von” Delaroche hesitated, considering how to point out tactfully a fact no actress wants to hear: the general public recognizes her based on a few superficial physical characteristics.

“You’re not seeing her in her best light,” Von offered.

The “her” in question circled the huge dressing room Magdalene also used as an office in her Malibu mansion, admiring the souvenirs and accessories. She bent to examine something on the enormous vanity table, presenting Pleather-encased buttocks to the two women studying her.

“That’s the problem, Von,” Magdalene said dryly. “I’m afraid I am.”

“Oh, it’s gorgeous!” Tammy Kane straightened, and held up a glittering necklace of diamonds setting off an emerald pendant. “It’s the one you wore when you accepted that, isn’t it?”

She gestured toward the softly lit cabinet on the far wall. It housed the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress that had, almost overnight, catapulted Magdalene Raven from “Maggie who?” to the paparazzi’s number one target. Von noticed Magdalene’s expression soften in the reflected glow of the award, and saw her chance.

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