In this exhilarating adventure from #1 New York Times -bestselling author Stuart Woods, Teddy Fay races to stop a scheme of extortion and a hostile takeover. Ever a man of mystery and intrigue, Teddy Fay has donned a new disguise--that of Mark Weldon, a stuntman and actor starring in Centurion Pictures' newest film. When the picture's leading lady begins receiving blackmail threats, Teddy is in the perfect position to investigate, and it soon becomes clear that the villains have more in their sights than just money. Money they've got. What they need is prestige, the cache of a respected studio to lend authority and legitimacy to their artistic endeavors...and a little bit of vengeance in the bargain. From the seedy hidden corners of Los Angeles to the glamorous Hollywood hills, it will take every ounce of Teddy's cunning to save an actress's career, protect the studio, and finish filming Centurion's next big hit. “Brisk, smooth, and entertaining crime fiction; an ideal summer read.”— Booklist More Praise for  The Money Shot  “A tight plot, distinctive villains, and a neat resolution make this entry a winner.”— Publishers Weekly   “A perfect airplane read the next time you're jetting to La-La Land.”— Kirkus Reviews Praise for Smooth Operator   “Fast-moving, full of action, sexy and now with a very bright, devious new hero in Teddy Fay … It is like eating forbidden fruit, sugary cotton candy or forbidden chocolate brownies with nuts. You know it isn’t good for you, but you can’t put it down! Just go ahead and read it.”— Lincoln Journal-Star   “Fans are sure to welcome this action-packed start to a separate series within the larger Stone Barrington story arc.”— Publishers Weekly   “Woods has millions of fans accumulated over the last 35 years who will read anything with his name on it, and Hall brings his own considerable following to the party. Entertaining, suspenseful reading for those who like smart-ass protagonists who are shrewder, tougher, and funnier than the bad guys they encounter.”— Booklist Stuart Woods was the author of more than ninety novels, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Stone Barrington series. A native of Georgia and an avid sailor and pilot, he began his writing career in the advertising industry. Chiefs , his debut in 1981, won the Edgar Award. Woods passed away in 2022. Parnell Hall has been an actor, screenwriter, and singer/songwriter. He is a former president of the Private Eye Writers of America and a member of Sisters in Crime. He has been a finalist for an Edgar, 2 Lefty, and 3 Shamus Awards. Hall lives in New York City. 1 Teddy Fay crouched behind the parked car and waited for the man to come out the door. He screwed the silencer onto his gun and checked the sight. He didn't have to. Teddy had designed the gun himself, a silent killing machine that didn't miss. The door creaked open, but it was a woman who emerged, an attractive woman in an evening gown. She came down the steps and walked off down the street. The door opened again. This time it was his quarry, the young man he'd seen in the window above. He came down the front steps, unaware of any danger. Teddy stepped up behind him and placed the muzzle of the silenced gun against his neck. The man froze. Young, handsome, clueless, he murmured, "Wait." Three shots rang out. Teddy's body jackknifed away. A river of crimson gushed from his chest. His gun, unfired, wavered and fell away from his target. He slumped to the pavement, his eyes registering shock and pain. A young woman stepped out of the shadows. She had a gun in her hand. A myriad of emotions registered on her face, from grim resolution to blessed relief coupled with an overwhelming loss of innocence. She swayed slightly, and the young man enfolded her in his arms. "Cut!" Peter Barrington said. After checking with camera and sound, he added, "And that's a print. Okay, let's get him cleaned up, we're going again." The crew began resetting the scene. A gofer and a second assistant director helped Teddy to his feet. Peter conferred with his actors. "Excellent, Tessa. I never get tired of seeing you shoot him." "Thanks a bunch," Teddy said. Peter turned to the young man Teddy was going to shoot. "Brad, wonderful work, but the line is 'please,' not 'wait.'" Brad Hunter was a movie star. He could argue with a director. "I just can't see Devon saying 'please.'" "I hear what you're saying, but we still need to see the fear. A split second. That cold, icy panic that surges through your veins as you know this is it. Your fans will still love you, they won't think you a coward. They'll think you're a great actor. Plus they'll love the character who masters his fear and is brave in the face of death. Trust me on this." Peter always gave Teddy notes, too, so Brad wouldn't think he was picking on him. "Nice job," Peter told him, "but I can't help feeling like you're waiting to be shot." "I am," Teddy said. "If I