"Well, you shouldn't be nervous anymore." I patted the arm of his blue blazer. "This place is jammed."

"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening! If you'll all take your seats and quiet down, we'll get started…"

"Who's that?" I whispered, gesturing to the man who'd just climbed the stairs to the stage.

"That's Wendell," Brainert informed me. "Dr. Wendell Pepper, dean of St. Francis's School of Communications."

"Oh, right," I said. "You've mentioned him before. He's one of your fellow investors in the theater, isn't he?"

"He was also instrumental in getting Hedda Geist to become a partner."

"Hedda Geist? You mean the famous film noir actress? The one who stars in tonight's movie?"

"The same. One of the woman's grandchildren was in Pepper's Media Matters class, and he used that connection to meet Hedda and secure her investment." Brainert lowered his voice again. "That's the reason we selected film noir as the theme for our very first festival. The woman insisted we showcase her movies this weekend."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Once a diva, always a diva, huh?"

"Indeed."

"Well…" I shrugged. "It's a small price to pay for her contribution. Besides, her movies are good."

"Yes, I know." Brainert shook his head. I only wish her funds had been enough to complete the project. Dean Pepper and I had to go to the college to pony up the final bit of cash. And Pepper didn't much like the idea, I can tell you. It took some real teeth pulling to get him to go out on a limb with me, but look at him tonight! The man's as jolly as the proverbial green giant!"

Brainert was right. The dean was an attractive, broad-shouldered man in his early sixties with a sturdy profile and salt-and-pepper hair. His attire, pressed chocolate brown slacks and a tweed jacket, was as somber as Brainert's, but his ruddy face was displaying the grin of a grade-school boy on a carnival ride. He looked practically giddy.