by K. M. Morgan
“I was at home getting ready for bed,” Lillian said.
Detective Stickler turned to Lillian’s husband, Steele Stringer. “Can you verify that?”
“Of course,” Steele replied.
Stickler was skeptical. “Oh really? Because I’ve heard from multiple sources that you and your wife left the gala separately.”
Steele’s face went white.
“Need I remind you the consequences of lying to a police officer?” Detective Stickler asked.
“No,” Steele replied.
“Where were you between midnight and one?” Stickler asked.
“I was at a private after party.”
“Shane Donaldson’s after party?” Stickler asked.
Steele furrowed his brow. “How did you know about that?”
Stickler stared Steele down. “Mr. Stringer, I’m a police detective, not a fool.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have sources telling me you’d already left that after party by then.”
Steele revised his story. “Fine, I was driving home from the after party.”
“Did you happen to stop by Blaze’s house on the way home?” Stickler asked.
Steele got defensive. “No. Of course not.”
Detective Stickler stared deep into his eyes. Steele stared right back.
Detective Stickler then looked at the line of suspects again and addressed them as a group. “So you all proclaim your innocence—yet none of you have verifiable alibis. Interesting. Do you have anything else to say for yourselves?”
The group was quiet.
“Don’t any of you leave town. I’ll be in touch with a few of you again I’m sure before this investigation is over. For right now though, you’re all free to go,” Stickler said.
The group then dispersed.
***
Deputy Rogan then got Detective Stickler’s attention. “Detective.”
Stickler turned. “Yes.”
“This is Addison McDare, Blaze’s former personal assistant,” Deputy Rogan said.
“Ah yes. I have a few questions for you Ms. McDare,” Detective Stickler replied.
Daisy stood alongside her cousin as the detective approached.
“What kind of questions?” Addison wondered.
Detective Stickler didn’t waste any time. “Where were you between midnight and one o’clock last night?”
Daisy stepped in. “Addison didn’t do this.”
Stickler looked confused. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”
“Daisy McDare. Addison’s cousin.”
“It’s nice of you to come to your cousin’s defense, but it was more of a rhetorical question actually. I already happen to know where Addison was between those hours,” Stickler admitted.
Addison’s eyes opened wide. “What are you talking about?”
Stickler turned to Addison. “A neighbor spotted you in Blaze’s driveway walking back to your car from his backyard studio during those exact hours.”
Addison’s face went white. “I can explain.”
“This should be good.”
“Yes, I was here between midnight and one--”
“Ms. McDare, we’ve already established that.”
“Look, I didn’t kill Blaze.”
“Really? From what I hear, you had plenty of motive,” Stickler said.
Daisy cut in again. “So did everyone else you just questioned.”
Stickler turned to Daisy. “Ms. McDare, did I ask you to speak?”
“No,” Daisy answered.
“Then please don’t.” Stickler turned back to Addison. “I’ve heard a lot of people tell me they didn’t kill Blaze Billick this morning. But guess what? Someone did. And you have just as good a motive as anyone. Not to mention you were here last night.”
“Yes, because Blaze said he wanted to see me,” Addison explained.
“About what?” Stickler asked.
“He told me he needed me. That he was creatively blocked, and that we could form a great musical partnership.”
“Do you really expect me to believe that?”
Addison nodded. “If you care about the truth.”
“I care about hard, tangible facts.”
Daisy couldn’t resist jumping in at that moment. “Just what facts do you have to prove that my cousin did this—if any?”
“I don’t remember asking you any questions,” Stickler said.
Daisy pressed on. “You don’t have a shred of physical evidence, do you?”
“I have enough to lock your cousin up,” Stickler replied.
“Yeah, for seventy-two hours. But without physical evidence, you have nothing that will stand up in court.”
Stickler stared Daisy down.
“You know I’m right,” Daisy added.
Stickler’s patience wore thin. “What did I tell you about not speaking unless spoken to?”
“Sorry.”
“My deputies are dusting for prints on the murder weapon right now. With luck, we’ll have the evidence we need shortly.”
Addison was more confused than ever. “Murder weapon? What weapon?”
“Mr. Billick was struck on the back of the head with his award statue,” Stickler revealed.
“Someone killed him with his own lifetime achievement award?” Addison replied.
“Not just someone. I think you did it,” Stickler said.
“No. I didn’t kill him. He was alive when I left last night. I never even touched his award. You have to believe me,” Addison insisted.
“I’m sorry. I don’t believe you.”
“If you charge her without physical evidence, I’ll get a lawyer to bail her out by the end of the day,” Daisy said.
“Don’t worry. I’m confident in due time I’ll have all the evidence I need,” Stickler replied.
“In due time? Does that mean you’re not going to book her now?” Daisy asked.
“No. Not until I have hard evidence.”
“So she’s free to go then?”
Stickler stared Addison down again. “For now. But don’t think of leaving town, even for a second. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again very shortly.”
Chapter Twelve
After being questioned by Detective Stickler, Addison was understandably shaking like a leaf. Daisy remembered how rattled she’d been the first time an officer of the law had questioned her—and Daisy wasn’t even a murder suspect in that case. Addison meanwhile was the prime suspect.
Daisy counted her lucky stars that the detective didn’t have cousin arrested. The fact was, at this point, he couldn’t hold her for more than seventy-two hours, but a lot of homicide detectives would have booked Addison anyway.
Addison could barely keep herself together on the ride back to her apartment, no less in a jail cell for three days. Daisy knew she had to provide a steady hand and calm Addison down before she completely fell apart.
Then suddenly Addison went into full break down mode. She clutched her chest and had a full blown panic attack.
“Breathe. Take deep breaths,” Daisy insisted.
Addison closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, finally getting her bearings back slowly. “I’m sorry. I’m losing it. I don’t know what’s happening.”
“I know it’ll probably sound like I’m just saying this, but everything is going to be ok,” Daisy replied.
Instead of providing comfort, that statement just made Addison fly off the handle. “Ok? How are things going to possibly be ok? Did you hear that detective? He was going to arrest me. He actually thinks I killed Blaze.”
Daisy groaned. “You should have never gone to meet Blaze last night.”
Addison got defensive. “Hey, I didn’t know someone was going to murder him after I left.”
“I know that. I’m just saying, it puts you in a real tough spot. Not to mention it casts a shadow of doubt on your story.”
“I didn’t kill Blaze.”
For a moment,
Daisy had gotten so caught up thinking about the investigation part of the case that she overlooked the emotional toll of it.
Daisy turned and looked deep into Addison’s eyes. Her cousin had no idea the trouble she was in—not to mention how bad things looked for her. Daisy decided not to tell her. It wouldn’t help things anyway. What Addison needed most right now was comfort.
“I know you didn’t do it. That you’re not capable of doing something like this. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Exactly. Now if I could just convince the police department of that.”
“That’s the hard part,” Daisy said.
Addison exhaled. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you through this.”
Addison was confused. “How are you going to get me through this?”
“I’m going to find Blaze’s real killer,” Daisy admitted.
Addison had never seen this side of her cousin. She was skeptical. “But wait, what…”
Daisy had switched back into investigative mode again. “Now if the killer was smart, they won’t have left fingerprints at the crime scene or on the murder weapon.”
Addison wasn’t following. “How do you not leave fingerprints?”
Daisy remembered when she was that naïve about crime scenes. Oh, what Daisy would have given to go back to those days. They were such simpler times. For Daisy however, they were also long gone.
“You wear gloves…or wipe the prints,” Daisy said.
Addison’s eyes opened wide. “Oh—how devious. How do you even know all this?”
“Past sleuthing experience—way too much for one lifetime.”
“Here I just thought you were an interior decorator.”
Daisy had forgotten that she hadn’t told her cousin about the cases she’d been solving. Lately, Daisy had been trying to forget that side of her life. At the same time, it just made Daisy realize how out of touch she’d fallen with her cousin since Addison started working for Blaze.
Daisy used to be so close with her all her extended friends and family. She hated drifting apart from them because of something like work. When this case was through, she vowed to stay in better contact with those she cared about.
It was then that Daisy realized how scattershot she was being. Now was not the time to multi-task. She didn’t have much time to work with. She really needed to focus on this case.
“The good news is, if the cops can’t pull any prints, they’ll have no physical evidence. Still, Stickler could arrest you on the circumstantial evidence. It would be nearly impossible to convict you on that though. In the meantime, I have a day, maybe two to find the real killer,” Daisy said.
Addison couldn’t believe the words coming out of her cousin’s mouth. “You’re going to what?”
The car then pulled into the driveway to Addison’s apartment. Daisy leaned over and gave her cousin a big hug. “Addison, I just want you to know that I love you, and that I’m going to do everything in my power bring the real killer to justice.”
“Are you sure about that?” Addison asked.
Daisy nodded.
Addison nearly broke into tears. “Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
“Wait. Is there anything I can do? Should I come with you?” Addison asked.
“No. It’s actually better that you sit tight at home. All the suspects know you. They’ll be tight-lipped around you. Most of them have only seen me in passing last night at the gala—or not at all. I have the element of surprise.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Addison repeated.
“Actually, there is one thing. I need addresses and the frequent hangouts of the other suspects.”
“Ok. Well, be careful. One of them is the killer.”
“I’m always careful. Believe me, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this,” Daisy said.
Chapter Thirteen
Before Daisy got down to the business of investigating the crime, she had another quick matter to attend to. She promised her boyfriend Gavin that she’d call him in the morning with an update about her night. She just didn’t expect to have such dramatic news.
“How’s your vacation?” Gavin asked, over the phone.
With all that was suddenly going on, Daisy had completely forgotten that this was supposed to be a relaxing weekend away. “What vacation?”
Gavin could sense just by the sound of his girlfriend’s voice that something wasn’t right. “What’s the matter?”
“Blaze Billick was murdered last night.”
Gavin gasped. “Are you serious?”
Daisy continued. “And the local detective has fingered my cousin as the prime suspect.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Daisy sighed. “So am I. Suffice it to say, it’s turned into a weekend I’ll never forget—for all the wrong reasons.”
“Do you have any idea who really killed Blaze?”
“I have a long list of suspects, and I’m about to go through them one by one. Seeing how many people hated him, it’s actually amazing this didn’t happen sooner.”
“Talk about killing my musical idol,” Gavin said.
“Yeah—literally. Did I mention he stole my cousin’s song too?” Daisy added.
“Ouch. I think it’s safe to say I’ll never be able to think about him the same again.”
“Trust me, you’re not the only one.”
“I was really hoping you’d have a relaxing weekend too,” Gavin said.
“Maybe I’ll have better luck next time. In the meanwhile, I’m in a real pickle here. I could really use your help.”
“You know I’ll do anything I can for you, but I don’t know how much help I can be given my current circumstances.”
“That reminds me. How is your investigation going?” Daisy wondered.
“Paul Patterson is definitely cheating on his wife,” Gavin revealed.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Married men don’t tend to check into hotel rooms with strange women unless there’s some extra-marital hanky panky going on.”
“So true.”
“Now I just need a picture of Paul and this woman lip-locking and this case will be closed,” Gavin explained.
“While you’re waiting on that, do you have a little time to spare to do some digging for me?” Daisy asked.
“I’ll see what I can do. What do you need?”
“Anything would be a start.”
“Sure. Give me the list of names. I’m staked out in the hotel parking lot waiting for them to come out, so I have some time to kill. What’s the first name you got for me?” Gavin wondered.
“Wait. Before we get started, there’s something I want to say first,” Daisy revealed.
“What’s that?”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Be careful now, you hear? I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my lady.”
“The same goes for you.”
Daisy then gave her boyfriend the names of the suspects and got off the phone and said goodbye. She wished she could be in his arms right now. Well, not in his car in the hotel parking lot he was in, but rather at home, lying on the couch together. Hopefully they’d be doing that soon enough. In the meantime, Daisy had a case to crack.
***
As Daisy drove over to the first suspect’s house, she went through a mental inventory of everyone with ties to the case. There was a laundry list of suspects to go through. Blaze had sure made a lot of enemies.
First there was Olivia Billick, Blaze’s current wife. For years, she was the family’s nanny. After a long affair that caused the breakup of his first marriage, Olivia became Blaze’s second wife. All was not well in the Billick home however. A few years after being the one to cheat with Blaze, Olivia had grown paranoid that her husband was now cheating on her.
Addison had told Daisy that Olivia was convinced Addison and Blaze were h
aving an affair. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Still, Daisy believed Olivia’s instincts were right that her husband was cheating on her—only with someone else entirely.
Either way, Olivia’s paranoia had manifested itself in a nasty drinking problem, which made Blaze and Olivia fight more. With Blaze dead however, she would inherit the majority of his estate—and have a cheating husband out of her hair.
The next suspect was Vikki Valentine, Blaze’s ex-wife. Blaze was her first love. She thought they’d be together forever. Instead, her husband cheated on her, then let her for their nanny. A betrayal like that was not easy to get over. Judging by Vikki’s comments last night at the gala, she had not completely put the past behind her.
Not only did she still have an axe to grind over her husband cheating on her, but she also was after Blaze for money in the form of musical royalties from a song Blaze had written about her years earlier. Anger and money made for strong motives. The question was, were those motives strong enough to drive her to murder?
Blaze and Vikki’s son Mason Billick was next on the list. He had a lot of anger, and it was all directed at his father. To start, Mason blamed his dad for the breakup of his parents’ marriage. On top of that, his father seemed hell bent to drive a wedge between Mason and his fiancé Gwen, just because she happened to be the daughter of his old bandmate.
Blaze had put Mason in a no-win situation. Either Mason would have to give up his inheritance or his relationship. In Blaze’s mind, he couldn’t have both. When pushed to the brink, people often made very poor decisions. Did Mason make a homicidal one?
Also on the list of suspects was Gwen Stringer. In addition to being Mason Billick’s fiancé, Gwen was also the daughter of Blaze’s rival and ex-bandmate Steele Stringer. It wasn’t just her fiancé that had a lot to lose from Blaze’s ultimatum. Gwen had a lot at stake too. Daisy could tell that Gwen really loved Mason. That’s why she was so hurt and offended when he didn’t immediately choose being with her.
At the same time, Gwen clearly thought Blaze had put his son in an unfair position. If Blaze were out of the picture however, Gwen would get to marry her fiancé and be entitled to Mason’s inheritance when they got married.