by Tripp Ellis
"So, you knew?"
She cringed again. "Yeah. It was easy to tell. Sometimes I would see a little extra residue around her nostrils that she had missed. I could see it in her eyes. She would get more jittery, and the conversation would become more one-sided. You know how it is when you talk to someone who is all coked up. They don't really listen to you, and they just ramble on and on about themselves." She thought about it for a moment. "Which is kind of like what most people do on a daily basis, but it's just amplified when you're wired."
"How long had she been using?" I asked.
"At least a year. Not all the time. I think it was just a weekend thing at first. Then it progressed. I know she had gained a little weight, and it was part of her diet program, if you know what I mean? Then I think she got too skinny, and she stopped. She put on a little weight again, and then she dropped back down to her fighting weight, so I could tell she was using again."
"You know where she got the stuff?"
Iris shook her head. "I didn't ask too much about it. I didn't really want to know."
"And you didn't say anything to anybody?"
She shrugged, sheepishly. "That's not really my place. I don't know, I kind of feel like a doctor in a way. These people are my clients, and they talk to me about very private things. It's almost like I'm a therapist. I think it's because we spend so much time together. These people just unload on me. All of their problems, all of their hopes, their fears. I feel an obligation to keep that in the strictest confidence. My business would go down the tubes if I started dishing dirt. I would lose their trust."
"What kinds of things did Skylar unload on you?"
"Like I said. The usual girl stuff. Boy drama. Professors she didn't like. Issues with her dad."
"What kind of issues?"
"She's a Van Doorn, for chrissakes! Talk about high expectations. From the outside, it looked like she had an easy life. But I think she was under a lot of pressure to live up to her father's expectations. And don't get me started on her mother."
"Not to get you started, but…"
"She had always taken charge of Skylar's career, if you want to call it that. She could be very overbearing and hard to deal with. In the early days, her mom was always around, bossing people, demanding everything was perfect for Skylar. She would throw money at the pageants in the way of sponsorship, hoping to buy a win for her daughter."
"Did that work?"
"Skylar has won every pageant she's ever entered."
I glanced to JD, then focused my attention back on Iris. "I haven't seen Mrs. Van Doorn around this pageant?"
"That's because Skylar made her back off. Skylar wasn't stupid. She knew that her mom, and her family's money, put undue influence in a lot of areas. I think Skylar wanted to prove to herself, and to the world, that she could do it on her own. Her family didn't give any money to the pageant this year, and Skylar banned her mother from showing up at any of the events."
"Can you think of anybody who might have wanted to kill Skylar?"
A grim chuckle escaped her lips. "Anyone who would have wanted to win the pageant? I mean, you guys are looking at Taylor Lexington, aren't you?"
12
"Have I got something juicy for you!" Denise said.
JD arched an intrigued eyebrow.
Denise's eyes narrowed at him. "Get your mind out of the gutter."
We sat at the hotel bar at the Seven Seas, sipping smooth whiskey. After interviewing 33 pageant contestants, JD and I needed a drink.
Denise slid a file folder across the bar. A proud smile curled on her lips. "Skylar Van Doorn's phone records, including text messages received and sent."
"Impressive," I said.
"Makes for interesting reading. I hope you both appreciate how difficult it is to maintain my pageant obligations and do your legwork for you?"
I smiled. "You're the best! Can I buy you a drink?"
She scoffed. "You guys might not have any responsibilities, but I have the Evening Gown competition tonight. I take it you both will be in the audience?"
"Wouldn't miss it," I said.
Denise smiled. "You can sift through the file yourself, but I got the impression that Skylar was blackmailing Taylor Lexington."
That hung in the air for a moment.
"What kind of dirt did Skylar have on her?" JD asked.
"I'm actually disappointed in you, Jack," Denise said. "Or, maybe impressed? I'm not sure which. I'm just surprised you didn't recognize her."
"Who?" JD asked.
"Apparently Taylor Lexington has an alter ego. Lexxi Lynx. Ring a bell?"
"No, why?" JD asked.
"It seems that Taylor did a few adult films under the name Lexxi Lynx. She was a blonde then. Skylar found out about this and threatened to expose her to Crystal. You can get on the Internet right now and find some of her videos."
"I might have to do that, strictly for research purposes," Jack said.
"I'm really surprised you haven't seen them already," Denise quipped.
"Jack's life is kind of like a porno," I said. "I don't think he needs to watch it online."
"You're one to talk," Denise said.
I sneered at her, playfully.
"I don't see what the big deal is?" JD said.
"The big deal is that it's explicitly against the pageant rules. Among other things, you can't ever have posed nude, or worked in an establishment that requires you to be nude."
Jack looked disappointed. "So, you mean, none of the girls that work at Forbidden Fruit can compete in Miss Coconut Key? There are some damn fine women in that place."
"I don't make the rules," Denise said. "You have to be between 18 and 28, you can't be married, you can't have been married, no kids, and you must be of good moral character."
"How did they let you in?" Jack snarked.
Denise's eyes narrowed. "If you haven't noticed, I am of high moral character, thank you very much!"
"Well, you've been hanging around us for so long, I figured our poor character had rubbed off," Jack said.
"Give it time," I added.
Denise gave me a sour look. "Keep dreaming. I've gotta run, but I figured you might find that interesting."
"Certainly gives Taylor Lexington motive," I said.
Jack was already on his phone, looking up some of Lexxi's videos. His eyes widened as moans filtered from the speakers. "Damn. The girl's got talent!"
Denise rolled her eyes.
"What, I'm just saying…" Jack defended. "That could be an Olympic sport." He thought about it, his gaze transfixed. "Should be!"
Denise groaned, spun around, and stomped out of the bar.
"I think we need to have another chat with Miss Lexington."
"I agree," Jack said, his eyes glued to the screen.
A woman sitting next to JD caught a glimpse of the images on Jack's phone. Her face twisted in disgust. She looked at Jack like he was a reprehensible piece of slime.
JD smiled at her. "She's good, isn't she?"
The woman took her drink, pushed away from the bar, and scurried through the crowd.
Jack spun the display around and showed it to me. "Get a load of that. I think I'm in love."
The lustful moans escaping from his phone's speaker drew stares and disdainful glances.
My face crinkled at him. "Would you put that away?"
"Okay, okay," he said. Jack closed the browser and slipped the phone into his pocket. "I'm just doing research. It's all part of good police work."
We left the bar and made our way backstage. Girls scurried about, preparing for the evening.
“Deputy Wild,” Willow shouted. She flashed a brilliant smile, took her brother’s hand, and dragged him over. “I’d like you to meet my brother, Phoenix.”
We shook hands.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said.
Phoenix was a strapping young man with blond hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders. He stood about 6’2”, and still had a little bit of
a baby face. It looked like he spent a lot of time doing dumbbell curls and lat pulls in the gym. His wide chest tapered down to a narrow V at his waist. He skipped leg day often, or at least didn’t give them the attention they deserved.
"I'll be keeping an eye on things back here, so you guys don't have to worry," Phoenix said.
"That's great," I replied. "If you see anything suspicious, let us know."
"Absolutely! You guys have any leads so far?"
I shook my head. "Nothing concrete."
"I guess there's no video surveillance in the backstage area?" Phoenix said.
"No," I replied. "Surveillance cameras in dressing areas and restrooms are illegal."
"Right," Phoenix said. "After what happened with Willow’s stalker, I get a little nervous. She's the only sibling I have left, so I'm a little overprotective."
"I understand."
“That’s why he’s the best brother in the whole world,” Willow said. “Well, I still have a long way to go to get ready.
She excused herself.
We shook hands again with Phoenix, then continued through the backstage area looking for Taylor Lexington.
The stunning brunette vixen was already in her evening gown. It was a white sparkly dress, with a V-cut back that almost went down to the crack of her toned backside. Her back muscles were ripped with deep muscle cuts. She had competed in the Xtreme-Fit™ games, and this girl didn't have an ounce of fat on her.
"Miss Lexington, we'd like to speak with you for a moment," I said.
She gave me a snide look and said, "I'm really busy right now. Can we talk about this later?"
JD held up his phone, playing one of her illicit videos. Breathy moans escaped the device.
Taylor's eyes widened. Then she clenched her jaw, and rage boiled on her face. She lunged for the phone, swiping at it with her claws.
Jack pulled the phone away and stuffed it into his pocket.
"It's okay. We can talk about this later," I said.
She looked like she was about to explode. Taylor glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed, then hissed, "Fine. Let's do this in private."
We slipped into a storage room, and Taylor pulled the door shut. "Alright. How much do you want to keep quiet?"
13
"Okay, yeah, she was blackmailing me," Taylor said. "But I didn't kill her."
JD and I regarded her with a healthy dose of skepticism.
"You have to believe me. I'm not gonna lie, I couldn't stand that bitch. But I'm not a murderer."
"It doesn't make sense," JD said. "I thought she wanted to win the pageant on her own merit. She told her mother not to interfere."
Taylor scoffed and looked at us like we were crazy. "She didn't tell her mother not to interfere. Her mother disowned her. Skylar was desperate to win. She came to me with those videos, knowing all about my past. She said she'd expose me to everyone if I didn't throw the event. Now I don't have to."
Taylor smiled.
"Why not drop out of the pageant altogether?" I asked.
"Because, 1st Runner-Up is better than nothing. It's still good exposure. Look, I'm trying to start a new life. I've got a new guy, I'm training fitness clients, I'm working toward my kinesiology degree. Eventually, I want to open my own therapy center and my own gym. I have big plans. I don't want my past to limit me. Do you think some of these older women are really going to want to be treated by a physical therapist that was taking it in the ass on the Internet?"
"Who knows, it might increase business?" JD said.
She scowled at him. "My current boyfriend doesn't know. Okay!?”
"Don't you think you ought to tell him?"
"When the time is right."
"When is the right time?" JD asked. "After he gives you a ring?"
She growled at him. "Okay. I see where this is going. What do I have to do? How do we make this go away? Do you want me to blow you two right here?"
JD hesitated, contemplating the offer.
"No," I said, then sneered at Jack. "That won't be necessary."
"Then what do you want?" she asked.
"The truth," I said.
"I'm going to spell it out for you. I. Did. Not. Kill. Her."
There was a long, tense pause.
"I can't prove a negative," she said, exasperated. "If you think you've got something, arrest me. If not, leave me alone."
There was another tense silence.
"Good luck with the competition tonight," I said. "We may have more questions later."
Her concerned eyes flicked between the two of us. "Are you guys going to tell Crystal?"
"I don't see why that would be necessary," I said.
Her body relaxed. "Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a competition to win."
She stormed out of the utility closet.
JD and I shared a glance.
"What do you think?" I asked.
Jack shrugged. "I think the fireworks are just getting started."
We left the utility closet. The backstage area swarmed with chaos. Frantic girls made last-minute preparations to go on stage. The tangy smell of hairspray lingered in the air, and makeup artists brushed last-minute touchups on striking faces.
We made our way to the front-of-house and waited for the preliminary to begin.
Music pumped and spotlights swirled. Crystal Connors took the stage and greeted the cameras, and the crowd. She was received with boisterous applause.
The evening kicked off with a bang.
The announcers introduced the girls, and the stunning ladies strutted the catwalk in gorgeous attire. There were low-cut necklines, big hair, and bigger smiles. The sparkling gowns hugged perfect curves like they were painted on. Perky assets bobbled as the girls pranced up and down the stage. The announcers introduced each contestant again and listed their current accomplishments along with their hopes and dreams.
Though most people won't admit it, they watch races for the crashes. It's an unfortunate part of motorsports. It's a reminder of just how high the stakes are. In much the same way, there's a portion of the audience waiting for a fall on the runway. High heels with tight, long dresses can be a recipe for disaster, especially combined with the nervous jitters of the spotlight.
Taylor Lexington strutted across the stage with a beaming smile. Her hips swayed from side to side, and her smile never faded. Willow Rose followed behind her looking radiant. When Denise hit the stage, she took my breath away.
Cheers filled the ballroom.
Jonah was right. The judges would have a tough time selecting their finalists, there was no doubt about it.
Despite the perils of the runway, no one fell during the competition.
After the parade of beauties was over, JD and I hit the hotel bar. It was packed with a similar mix of contestants, judges, and audience members.
Denise joined us a few moments later, after she had changed out of her gown.
"You were great tonight," I said, leaning against the bar.
She smiled. "Thanks. The big event is tomorrow night. The interview portion. That's the most heavily weighted of the preliminaries."
"You'll breeze through that," I said.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Some of these girls are pretty smart. Doctors, physicists, lawyers. They've been preparing for this forever. Some of these girls have been dreaming about this since they were kids. I decided to do it as a lark." She sighed. "I'm not really worried about it. It's not like my life depends on making it to the semifinals. I've already got my career path locked down. I'm happy where I am."
“I’m happy where I am, too,” Jack said with a grin.
"Can I get you a drink?" I asked.
"One. That's it," Denise said.
It took forever to get served amid the thick crowd. The bartender poured three glasses of whiskey and slid them across the counter. I paid the tab and dispensed the drinks to Jack and Denise.
The three of us toasted.
"To the semifinals," I sa
id.
“Fingers crossed,” Denise replied.
We clinked glasses and sipped the whiskey.
"I cross referenced all the phone numbers from Skylar's account with a database of prior convictions for drug offenses," Denise said. "Nothing turned up. If she was contacting her dealer through her phone, she must have been using a secure messaging app. I've got the tech guys trying to break the passcode on her phone. But even then, those secure messages disappear."
"Can we subpoena the messaging apps?" Jack asked.
"We can," Denise replied. "But those are big tech companies, and who knows if they will comply. They have teams of lawyers and they tend to fight this type of thing."
"Keep on it," I said.
"Sure thing. In my overabundance of free time," Denise said, her voice thick with sarcasm.
“I appreciate your effort,” I assured.
“Oh, and I found a number for Cliff Burke. Samantha’s ex-boyfriend.” She looked it up in the notes app on her phone. “I’ll text it to you.”
My phone buzzed an instant later.
"Are you hearing any gossip from the girls?" I asked.
"Not really. They all know I work for the Sheriff's Department. I think they are pretty careful what they say around me. Most of these girls have moved on. I hate to say it, but Skylar's death gave a lot of these girls hope. I know a lot of people think Taylor Lexington is the favorite, but it's anybody's game for the semifinals."
We chatted for a while and people-watched. Denise finished her drink and excused herself for the evening. "Gotta get my beauty sleep," she said, setting the empty glass on the counter.
"It's working," I said with a wink.
She pushed through the crowd and disappeared into the lobby.
