"I know Joe was definitely not where he said he was. I saw him in the housekeeping closet, making out with someone."
Solomon turned his head quickly. "Someone? A woman?"
"Yeah, but before you ask, no, I didn't see who; and they obviously didn't see me."
"You sure it was Joe?"
"One hundred percent. What I don't know is why he would make up that story about being in the library."
"So we can put Joe in the vicinity of Katya, as well as Lauren."
I nodded. "At least, Lauren wasn't lying about where she was. She told us she was in the suite, alone."
"That doesn't help her since she doesn't have an alibi. You said she was lying too. What about?"
"I know Lauren admitted they were arguing, and they were pretty obvious about it. I saw them going at it too, and it was definitely getting physical. When she left their suite right before Katya was killed, she even threatened Katya. My opinion is they were anything but cool."
"Lauren is not making life any easier for herself."
I sighed. "I know. She didn't make any attempts to give herself an alibi. If it were me, I would have, but could she really have killed Katya?"
Solomon shrugged, which wasn't a lot of help, although it echoed my own thoughts. Sure, Lauren had motive, but the question was: how much? Was a simple fight over a purse, or shoes, or even credit for the lyrics enough motive to kill a person? Some women would have said yes, and while I busily contemplated which of my purses might be worth killing for, I also had to decide whether their arguments ran any deeper than that. Judging by what I'd seen and gleaned so far, I had to conclude that the band's problems must have been going on for a long time; and overall resentment was already established... but had it grown to the point of turning Lauren into a murderer?
I had a lot of problems with the hypothesis that Lauren was the killer. For one thing, while we interviewed her, she still had on the same outfit she was wearing when I saw her and Katya exiting the elevator that morning. Blood must have been splashed on the killer, yet there was none on Lauren's clothing. That didn't mean she hadn't changed her clothes, or even taken the time to change before the murder, and redressed into her former outfit afterwards, but it seemed rather unlikely.
Despite all of those contradictions, of one thing I felt certain. "I can't rule Lauren out definitively," I told Solomon. "Not when the facts are: she had motive, access, and opportunity."
"And Joe?"
"Potentially the same. It sounds like he crossed paths with Katya more than a few times; plus, he's lying about his whereabouts at the time of the murder, which is another red flag and mark against him."
"We need to interview them all."
"Regarding the blackmail or the murder?"
"Both. Let's find Amelia and Shelley and see what they have to say."
"This is nice," I told Solomon as we rose simultaneously. "Working together, I mean. I thought I'd be on my own for the blackmail case, just staring at those same cryptic letters over and over."
"You have poor expectations of nice. Why don't I take you out to dinner later? Then I can show you what nice truly is."
"If you raise my expectations, you might be sorry."
Solomon smiled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Doubt it."
~
Amelia and Shelley were in their suite along with Joe. A tray of teas and coffees sat between them on the coffee table, along with another tray laden with sandwiches and snacks. Amelia was nibbling on a sandwich while playing with her cell phone and Shelley sipped what appeared to be a glass of champagne.
"How's Lauren?" I asked when we entered.
"Sleeping. She had a tough morning," replied Joe. He reclined his chair and stretched out his arms along the back. Amelia glanced at the hand closest to her, but made no move from the spot where her legs were curled under her.
"She had a brilliant morning," Shelley muttered. Amelia glanced over, raised her eyebrows, but said nothing as her phone beeped again.
"Shelley, have some sympathy," Joe said with an annoyed shake of his head. "I thought it best if Lauren relaxed a little. She had a rough morning, what with finding Katya, and talking to the police. Then that nasty incident with the paparazzi..."
"Lauren got her photo taken?" Shelley said, her mouth dropping open. "So, she gets to be on tomorrow's tabloid covers? Great!"
"Shelley," Joe warned before she shut up, and took a deliberately longer sip of her champagne. "The PR debriefing really wore her out and she's beat. I told her to take a nap in Amelia's room. Take a seat. Have some refreshments. What can we do for you?"
"We'd like to talk to Shelley and Amelia," Solomon said as we sat down. Shelley brightened. "The more we understand about the blackmail, the easier we can separate it from Katya's murder."
"I thought it was the same person," said Amelia, dropping her phone as her attention was visibly drawn. "I wish I could tell you more but I was downstairs when Katya was killed. I guess I was lucky. It could easily have been any of us alone."
"We don't know if it was the same person yet," said Solomon. "That's why we want to talk to you further. We've reviewed the blackmailer's letters and we want to talk to you about Katya's."
"I didn't see Katya's," said Shelley.
"Me neither," agreed Amelia. "But I heard about them."
"What do you know about the Russia secret?" I asked, wondering if their versions tallied with Lauren's.
Shelley and Amelia exchanged glances, but didn't say anything.
"C'mon," I cajoled. "Whatever it is, it can't hurt Katya now."
After a long moment of silence, Shelley shrugged. "Guess not. I heard Katya's rags-to-riches story was kind of suspect."
"How so?"
"Well, she was supposed to be dirt poor, but we bumped into someone who knew her at one of our concerts, some PR chick, and apparently, they went to the same private school. I looked it up online. It's super expensive and exclusive. You don't go there if your parents are scraping out a living."
"Do you know how they got their money? Could they have made it here?"
"Sorry, that's all I know, but I wouldn't put it past Katya not to have concocted the whole thing. She was a compulsive liar, you know."
"Really?"
"Totally! Everything that came out of her mouth was a lie! She'd tell her crappy life story to journalists; and they'd all print it as if Katya was some amazing success and prodigy! Anyone can be successful if their parents pay for their 'in.’ The rest of us had to work to get into B4U. She just waltzed right into the final auditions and grabbed a spot."
"Is that correct?" I asked Joe.
"Before my time. I joined B4U as their manager once they wanted to take their TV career to the next level and break into music. I wasn't involved in the auditioning process," he told us.
I took a long, lingering look at the tasty-looking sandwiches before I asked my next question. "Did that create problems within the group?"
This time, Amelia answered. "Not at first. We all knew Katya was talented. She could sing, dance, act, and really, her story was an asset to the band… at first. We all had our own background stories, something that made us a little different from each other, so there would be someone special for every fan. We were supposed to be the people our fans might be. We were actually really good friends for the first couple of years."
"What happened to change that?"
"Katya," Amelia and Shelley chimed.
"How's that?" Solomon prompted.
Shelley fixed him with a perfect, white smile and I had to repress my urge to sigh. The last thing I needed was having someone in the band develop a crush on my boyfriend. On the other hand, maybe after a few more flashes of his sexy smile and smoldering eyes, and we'd have the case in the bag by the evening.
"She went from being a pain, to becoming a pain in the ass. Everything had to be about her. Everything was always about what she wanted; and if it didn't turn out that she was the star, she would try t
o sabotage the deal, or make some last minute change that always resulted in her getting the spotlight. You remember our last album cover?" she asked, turning to Amelia.
Amelia nodded, her mouth tightening. "We were all supposed to wear these little black numbers, but Katya's costume amazingly disappeared, leaving her with only a white dress. We were already three hours into the desert, and there was no time to get another costume, so the whole shoot had to be centered on Katya looking different from the rest of us."
"We looked like her backup singers!" snarled Shelley. "She did the same thing for our calendar too."
"She didn't even write a single song on the album," added Amelia. "Or sing a solo track. Lauren and I wrote them all."
"I'm not talented at songwriting," said Shelley, holding up her hand, "and I totally admit it."
"But you sang an amazing solo track," said Amelia.
"Were those things that Katya did the source of the bad feelings in the band?" I asked, only to be met with stony, are you serious? faces.
"Katya's antics didn't make anyone happy. She was a lot of work," interjected Joe. "But yeah, over all, she caused bad feelings."
"And that was only one thing," continued Shelley, finishing her champagne and banging the glass onto the coffee table. "Let’s not forget how she messed with our costumes, and did not turn up for interviews! Then she’d call the journalist or whomever, herself, to make sure she got extra column inches, or even a solo profile!"
"Or that time when she told us our gig at an exclusive club was canceled before she turned up and did a solo acoustic set..." Amelia said.
"That was an administration error," started Joe.
He was temporarily cut off by Shelley's loud “Harrumph!”
"Sure, it was, Joe. We all knew it was Katya. Or when she switched the photos in our calendar two years ago so that she got all the best months! Or that time she made sure my dress was sent back right before the awards show I was presenting! And I had to borrow a second-rate dress from my stylist! Or that time she broke Amelia's guitar..."
"We get the picture," said Solomon.
"You have no idea," said Shelley, leaning towards Solomon. She tossed her hair and gave him a pretty smile, "But maybe if we got together later, I could go through a few other things with you..."
"I have plans later," said Solomon. "Let me ask you both a simple question. Did either of you like Katya?"
Amelia and Shelley exchanged looks again. "No," they both said in unison.
"Why didn't you ask her to leave the band if she was causing so many problems?" I asked.
"We wanted to, but we're under contract. It didn't matter what she did, and she knew it. None of us can leave," Amelia explained.
Shelley nodded. "We were stuck with her until..."
"Until now," Amelia finished.
"Now we're free," Shelley said with a high-five for Amelia.
"I don't see what any of this has to do with the blackmail," Joe interrupted as the pair of girls started to seriously celebrate their good fortune.
"It's all part of the investigation," Solomon said, smoothly glossing over our questioning. "Joe, how was your relationship with Katya?"
"Purely professional, I can assure you. Katya and I were okay, but like Amelia and Shelley already said, she was a difficult character. We had our run-ins; and yes, she caused problems, but she knew who was boss."
"Katya," said Shelley, and Amelia giggled. Joe ignored them.
"Could we take a look at Katya's contract?" Solomon asked him. "It will help us work out the dynamics involved in keeping the band together."
"I can't show it to you, but I can tell you the basics. The girls are all under contract to stay with the band. They can't quit unless it's for a very serious reason, such as severe illness or poor health. The band members were specifically selected and put together; and management wants them to stay together."
"Can they be fired?" I asked.
"Absolutely. If one of them causes embarrassment to the band, or the sponsoring management company, of course, they can be fired. That's why we need you to find the blackmailer. Everyone's job is on the line. If these so-called secrets get out, Amelia, Shelley, and Lauren could lose their jobs."
"Who would gain from that?" I asked.
"No one. No job is no salary; and no band is no salary for me."
"What happens if a band member is removed? Do the profits get split three ways?"
"No, it's more complicated than that. Part of their deal is salary-based, and part is based on profits from merchandising, concerts, and various other promotions. That's where the big money comes from. With Katya gone, her percentage doesn't go back into the band. They were set up as a four-girl group, so it's far more likely that the management company will appoint a new member, and that person will get a salary and profit share from future deals going forward. Katya's percentage for any deals up until her death will go to her next of kin."
"So none of us can benefit financially from Katya's death," Amelia concluded.
"Who is her next of kin?" I asked.
"I'd have to check the file, but I think it's her sister."
The bedroom door opened and Lauren appeared. "Is the bitch still dead?" she asked.
"Yep!" screeched Shelley. She reached for the bottle and poured another glass, drinking half of it in one gulp. I raised my eyebrows to Solomon in silent question at her alcohol intake. It was barely mid-afternoon and she already seemed to have consumed half a bottle.
"Joe, I need to ask you again where you were when Katya was killed," Solomon said, pretending to check his notes.
"I'll tell you where he will be," laughed Lauren, approaching the coffee table and poking at the sandwiches. She piled a few on a small plate, added chips, and plonked herself down next to Amelia. "He'll be partying with the rest of us later."
"There will be no partying. We'll stay at the hotel tonight. We need to show respect for Katya. Her body's barely cold," said Joe.
"Barely? She was always ice cold," scoffed Shelley.
"Can you hold down the fort?" Solomon asked quietly, leaning into me so he couldn't be overheard. "I think we need to separate them in order to get some straight answers."
I took a look at the band, who were giggling amongst themselves while they gorged down snacks and alcohol. "I guess," I said, feeling crestfallen at the very idea of trying to mediate between them. Perhaps without Katya throwing vases, it would be a lot easier; and if I were really lucky, maybe they would gossip. I could certainly glean some new information that way. "Can you find out who Joe was with, too? Maybe he'll tell you when he’s alone."
Solomon nodded. "We've got locations for all of you when Katya died," he started. "Lauren, you were asleep in this room. Shelley, you were downstairs in the hotel as were you, Amelia. Joe, you already mentioned you were in the library, also downstairs, but we have a witness that places you on this floor just prior to the murder."
"That's impossible. I told you I was in the library. Whoever it was must have been mistaken."
"My witness was very certain, and also said you were with a woman."
Joe laughed. "Really? I don't have time for women. I've got a band in the middle of a tour. Do you know how much work that is?"
"I don't want to embarrass you..."
"I'm not embarrassed, merely bemused. Like I said, your witness must have seen someone who looked like me."
"On this floor? In the housekeeping closet?"
"There's a housekeeping closet on this floor? News to me." Joe shrugged as he looked around at the band as if to say Solomon was talking crazy. "I don't think I've ever even seen the housekeeping staff."
"Me neither," said Amelia. "They're like elves. They come in and clean, but you never see them."
"Maybe because they're too busy making out in the closet," laughed Joe. "Listen, all I can tell you is I was nowhere near this floor when Katya got killed. Maybe your witness got the time wrong. I wish I could be of more help."
"
Let me show you the hotel closet," Solomon said, "Maybe it'll jog your memory."
"Sure, if we must, but I don't how it'll help since I was never there. Girls, I can trust you all to cooperate with Lexi and answer her questions?" Joe said, rising and smoothing his jeans. "Which way?"
"Follow me."
"Your boss is a hottie," Lauren said when Solomon and Joe exited the room. "Is he single?"
"No, sorry," I told her. I was starting to find any girl in B4U fancying my boyfriend a little wearing. Of course, I could take it as a compliment that these beautiful, accomplished women found him attractive, and I must confess that part of me did, but I didn't like having to perpetually defend his honor.
"Damn shame. The things I could show him."
"Everyone's seen your things," said Amelia. "You should put them away before you get a reputation."
"Why hide perfection? Especially, when there's a party to plan," grinned Lauren.
"Party?" I asked.
"Nope, no party. We're in mourning mode right now," said Amelia, looking thrilled. "Hey, did you find the blackmailer yet?"
"Not yet. I wanted to ask you all a few more questions about that actually."
"Sure," said Shelley, "But can you do me a teeny-weeny little favor? Can you grab my sweater from my bedroom? I'm getting cold."
"Ummm," I paused, wondering why Shelley couldn't do that herself. Feeling slightly surprised, I thought, what did it matter? If I grabbed Shelley's sweater, maybe she would be grateful enough to help me find out whom Joe was spending his time with. "Sure. What color is it?"
"The striped, blue one. It's on the bed, through there." Shelley waved a hand towards the furthest door.
I walked over, pushing the door open and stepping inside. The room was dark and it was hard to make out anything in the untidy state she left it. I felt on the wall for the light switch, found it, and flipped it on. There was a huge pile of clothes on the bed, but no striped sweater. "I don't see it," I called back, making to leave.
Shelley appeared in the doorway, blocking my exit. "Try the chair by the window. Maybe I left it over there."
"Okay," I grumbled, audible only to me as I picked my way across the room. I rummaged through the pile of clothes on the chair, but again, no sweater.
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