Kissing in Action (17 page)

"What happened after that?"

"After that, she pulled a chunk of hair from the side of my head. Joe spoke to me privately, and apologized on Katya's behalf. Then he gave me a thousand bucks in cash to ‘cheer myself up’ he said, before reminding me of the ‘no talk clause’ in my contract."

"No talk clause?"

"Standard policy on a tour like this. No one wants a crew member selling stories, but I figure the band hired you, so I'm not breaking the rule by talking to you."

"You're exactly right. Wasn't a thousand bucks an insulting figure for suffering like that?" asked Lily.

"Not when Joe promised to put my demo in front of management after the tour was done. It's my big chance. I like working as a backup singer, but I've always wanted to record my own material. Amelia even wrote me a song."

"So all you have to do is stay on the tour, keeping mum about Katya's attack, and you can get your shot at stardom?"

"That's right, and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that."

"Like what?" I pressed.

Clarissa rolled her eyes. "Like killing Katya and ending the tour."

"Is the tour over?" I asked.

"Not so far as I know. I thought it might be, but we're about to start shooting the video; and no one told me it was canceled, so it looks like it's going ahead."

"Killing Katya doesn't really fit in with your desire to not jeopardize anything," Lily said.

"Pretty big gamble to take," Clarissa agreed as someone yelled her name. She spun around, raising her hand. "Wardrobe. I need to get fitted for the shoot. Is there anything more?"

"Yes. Did anyone else get into it with Katya?" I asked.

Clarissa looked around. "Throw a rock, and you'll probably hit two or three people. All I know is: it wasn't me and I can prove it. Try talking to the dancers. They hung out with the band too."

"She seems too happy to be our killer," said Lily as we watched Clarissa walk over to wardrobe where the other backup singer waited.

"Should killers be miserable?"

"It would help. Come to think of it, I don't recall you having to deal with any miserable killers. They all seemed pretty happy. The thieves too. I might just become suspicious of happy people. They have a lot to hide."

I laughed and slipped my arm around Lily, giving her a quick squeeze. "Then you'll always be my number one suspect. Let's talk to the dancers. I spoke to them before and they seemed okay."

The dancers were taking a break, sprawled across their corner of the warehouse, in the same mish-mash of clothing I'd seen them wearing previously. I wasn't sure I'd seen outfits put together like that before, but figured it was hard to be fashionable, sporty, and warm all at the same time. It certainly seemed hard to coordinate.

"Isn't that your brother?" asked Lily as we crossed the warehouse towards the dancers. I paused mid-step when Garrett stepped inside the main doors and looked around.

"Yep," I replied, grabbing Lily's elbow and propelling her forwards until we reached the far wall. Turning around, we watched Garrett approaching Lauren before taking her to one side. "Can you keep an eye on Lauren while I talk to these guys?"

"I guess. What's up with your tracker?"

"By the time it says she's moving, she could be gone before we even got into the car."

"No problem. I could sidle closer and listen in."

"I think Garrett might recognize you."

"True. How will we ever know what they're talking about? A homicide detective interviewing your chief suspect sounds like something you might want to listen to."

"I'll call him later."

"You again," said Devon, looking past me. "Where's the hottie?"

"Practicing his pirouettes in front of the mirror," I quipped and Devon pushed my arm and laughed.

"You're a peach," he giggled. "What can I do for you? Anyone else been murdered? Did you make an arrest yet? Does your hot friend want to take me away in handcuffs?"

"Me? Sure, but only because you need arresting for having an ass that looks that good in jeans," Lily replied.

It was hard not to do an eye roll, but I just about managed it. "He means he wants to get arrested by Solomon," I explained.

"Good choice," said Lily without missing a beat while giving Devon a knowing nod.

"We're still looking into Katya's murder," I told him when they stopped giggling.

"When you find them, can you tell me so I can send a gift basket?"

"To Katya's family?" asked Lily.

"To the murderer," said Devon.

"Did you all spend much time at the hotel?" I asked, hoping the clear animosity between Devon and Katya might lead to something juicy.

"Not really. We have another hotel away from the divas. We only go over for a meeting or the after-show party."

"Are any of the dancers close to the band members?"

"Are any of you close to the band?" Devon shouted as he addressed the troupe, enunciating slowly, as the dancers blinked at him. "It's an easy question, morons!"

There were some shrugs and a couple of vaguely affirmative answers, while some said "kind of” and a few said "no."

"Didn't think so," he said. "We all get on pretty well, but this tour... well, there's a hierarchy when we're off the clock."

"Can you think of a reason why anyone would want to kill Katya?"

"I thought you were here about the blackmail? Do you get confused when that hot hunk of man love is around? I'd find it hard to keep my questions straight too. I know what my answers would all be: yes, please!" He stuck a hand on his hip and nodded vigorously.

"We came here about the blackmail, but now we're looking into the murder," I confirmed, glad that the outcome of the blackmail hadn't leaked to the crew. I figured it was only a matter of time.

"Like I told you the other day, honey, we were all at The New Montgomery Dance School downtown when Katya popped off this mortal coil."

"Except Don," said the closest dancer, sliding into splits.

"Except Don," I echoed, looking for Don. He gave me a wave. "You were at the hospital with a knee injury?"

"And I'm pretty sure I was on camera too," he said.

"Did any of you ever have an altercation with Katya? Or did she ever shout at or threaten anyone?" I asked.

Ten hands rose, including Don’s. Devon raised his hand too.

"About anything in particular?" I asked and they all began to speak at once. "One at a time!" I called over the top of their indignant voices.

"She hated our outfits and wanted them changed."

"She didn't like our positions on stage."

"She thought I gave her a dirty look."

"Katya said I stole her shoes."

"She was mean to Don when he told us he was getting a divorce."

"She wanted me fired because I had the same purse."

"She said I made advances. I mean, really? I'm gay. And not lady gay."

"She was just a mean bitch."

"Did any of you like her?" I asked. Most of the dancers looked at their feet, but a couple shook their heads.

Devon crossed his arms. "None of them killed her, which is a shame."

"None of those reasons are motive enough to kill someone over. Did any of you see her getting really nasty with someone? Did you hear rumors about her threatening someone? Or someone threatening her?" Lily asked.

"I heard a rumor that she was boning one of the crew members, and also had a thing going on with someone else. She was planning to drop the poor jerk," said a very pretty redhead in a neon yellow crop top.

The blonde woman next to her nodded. "Yeah, I heard she picked up a crew guy on every tour, made him her bitch, and then tossed him to the curb when the tour ended."

The redhead continued. "It was like she was a big shot, business dude with an intern. Total cliché."

"I pity the douche that screwed the bitch," added the blonde.

"Anyone know who the guy is?" I asked, but they all shook their heads.

"Lauren's on the move," whispered Lily, nodding towards the place where Lauren and my brother were standing.

"Thanks guys. Sorry to take up your practice time," I added. Devon surprised me by hugging first me, then Lily.

"Every time you turn up, you make my day," he said. "I am loving this tour so much more now that Katya is dead. No stress, plenty of gossip, playing for the cameras at every turn. It’s wonderful!"

I didn't know what to say that, and I was rarely lost for words, so I just let him squeeze me again before he turned back to the dancers, and screeched at them to get off the floor.

I lost sight of Lauren for a moment and when she reappeared after a few worrying minutes, during which I thought she slipped out the door, she was in full costume and flanked by Amelia and Shelley. Another couple of minutes, and I saw Garrett working his way through the crowd. He was moving towards the doors so Lily and I sank back into the shadows at the edges of the warehouse. The band, along with their backup singers and dancers, took their positions on the first set. Then the cameramen took their places while the rest of the crew began to move seamlessly, like they were being directed, themselves.

Slowly, they ran through the shot, adding bursts of music, checking camera angles, striking poses, and testing the lighting.

"All this for three-and-a-half minutes?" I whispered.

"And they haven't even started shooting. What's that screen for?" Lily asked as the band moved from the first set to a blank canvas wall. One-by-one, they stood next to the screen, looking up at it with mournful expressions while images of Katya flickered across the screen. "This must be the montage bit for the Katya tribute," Lily decided. New instructions were given and the band tried different stances, as well as different expressions. Finally, the three of them sat, their backs pressed against the wall, looking upwards.

"Amelia, can you do that tear again?" called the director. "You looked so sad."

"I'm bored," snapped Amelia.

"You look sad and that's perfect. Exactly what we want. That's right, girls. Okay, let's try a holding hands scene. I want you to join hands and look up at the screen."

"Even when she's dead, Katya gets the big spotlight," said Lily.

"Yeah. I wonder if they're pissed about that."

"Damn good actors. Hey, how much do dancers earn?"

"I don't know. Not much."

"Then how come Don is wearing a Rolex?"

"A Rolex?"

"It's a fancy pants watch."

"I know what it is! Are you sure?"

"Positive. My mom bought my dad the same model. It cost thousands."

"Maybe he saved for it?"

"Isn't he the only one of the dancers without an alibi?" Lily pressed.

"No, he was at the hospital but..."

"We should check into that."

"You know what? Yes, we should."

"We can't take his word for it," continued Lily.

"I'm going to check into it." The dancers moved away from the set, leaving the band to take up positions on podiums with the backup singers behind them, and I walked over to Don. Lily declined to follow, insisting she was watching Lauren and we couldn't do that if we both talked to Don.

"Do you have a minute?" I asked. He was by the water fountain, pouring a cup of water.

Looking up, he gave me a surprised look, then smiled. "Sure. What do you need?"

"I'm just confirming everyone's location at the time of the murder for my notes," I lied. "Can you remember the name of the doctor who took care of your knee?"

"Sure, but it was a nurse. She was really pretty and sweet, and I remember her name because it was my favorite childhood book,
Alice in Wonderland
. Her name was Alice. Alice Graves. She'll have my records, right?"

I smiled at the stroke of luck. "Yes, she will."

Don grinned. "Great."

"Do you have the time?"

"Sure." he held up his wrist, twisting to see the face of the watch. It was a Rolex, all right, and a real one. "It's quarter past the hour."

"Thanks."

"Let me know if you need anything else?"

"I will. How's the knee holding up?"

"Never better."

"Glad to hear it. Take care."

I walked back over to Lily, indicating for her to follow me to a quieter spot, away from any straining ears. "I need to make a couple of calls."

"Did you work out who did it already?"

"No, but I know that everyone we just spoke to has an alibi. How can everyone have an alibi except Lauren?"

"Maybe Lauren really is the only one who could have done it."

"Maybe." I dialed Lucas and he answered quickly.

"Hit me with it, Lexi, and make it hard."

"Sounds dirty," I replied, "and sorry, but this is easy stuff. Can you crosscheck a hospital admission? Don somebody. I have the surname somewhere, but I don't remember right now."