Death of a Blue Movie Star (Rune 2)

"Oh." Rune was frowning. "Well, I don't know. But I'm sure it's okay and I'm doing it."

"What kind of camera is it?"

"Betacam. Have you--?"

"I know how to use one. Ampex deck?"

"Right," Rune said. "You'll be up on the balcony at Lincoln Center, shooting down. That's all you have to do. Just tape me talking to this guy."

"You still haven't told me why. What kind of confession?"

"I'll have a tape recorder," she said quickly. "You don't even have to worry about audio."

"I'm not going to do it, you don't tell me what you're up to."

"Trust me, Stu."

"I hate that phrase."

"Don't you like adventures?"

"No. I like cooking, I like eating. I'd like money if I had any. But one thing I definitely don't like is adventures."

"I'll give you a credit on my film."

"Great. Just be sure to put my prison number after my name."

"It's not illegal. That's not the problem."

"So there is a problem.... What is it, getting beat up? Or killed? Will you dedicate the film to my memory?"

"You aren't going to get killed."

"You didn't say anything about not being beat up."

"You won't get beat up."

"It sounded to me," Stu said, "that there was a tacit probably attached to that last sentence. Was there?"

"Look, you definitely won't get beat up. I promise. Feel better?"

"No ... Lincoln Center? Why there?"

Rune slung the battery pack over her shoulder. "So that if you do get beat up there'll be plenty of witnesses."

Rune had flashed an ID to the security guard of Avery Fischer Hall. His eyes went wide for a moment, then he let her into the quiet hall.

"We're doing some surveillance," she told him.

"Yes, ma'am," he answered and returned to his station. "You need any more help you give me a call."

"What's that?" Stu asked. "That you just showed him?"

"An identification card."

"I know that. What kind?"

"Sort of FBI."