I chuckled. “Ageism is real, right?” Pausing, I studied her as she dabbed at her eyes and began reapplying her makeup. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Well, I’ve only just cried all over your cute sweater and told you my life story, including a huge secret I haven’t told anyone else—what’s left?” she said on a small laugh.
I smiled and patted her hand reassuringly to let her know it was all right. “What do you think happened to Mitzy? Did you talk to her the night of the event, and if you did, did she seem upset?”
“I didn’t get there until just before she—” Susie swallowed hard. “Before she died. I hadn’t really talked to her at all since…well, you know. So I can’t say.”
“Do you think someone tried to hurt her?”
Her hands stilled then before she shook her head. “I don’t know. Mitzy had plenty of enemies in our world, probably me included, but kill her? That’s extreme. Is that what they think happened?”
I feigned innocence, turning my face from hers and staring at the bathroom stalls so as not to be caught in a lie. “Oh, I don’t know. I just found the circumstances…um, odd, you know? I mean, everyone knew she had a peanut allergy, and it sure looks like that’s what killed her. She had tons of EpiPens around, yet no one could get their hands on one when it counted. It’s just downright strange.”
Susie didn’t clam up or look suspicious at all when she said, “You’re right. It does look suspicious, but if you’re asking me whether some of those numbskulls are capable of murder, I’d have to say I don’t think so.”
But was Susie pulling the wool over my eyes—was she pretending she didn’t hate Mitzy as much as she should for stealing Luca? Or was she really glad to be rid of him?
And where was Luca in all this anyway? Did he travel with Mitzy?
“About Luca…” I abstractly mentioned as though he were an afterthought. “Was he here at the meet and greet? I hope you didn’t have to see him.”
Susie rolled her tongue in her cheek. “No. He was back in LA, lounging in the lap of luxury until today, when he showed up and made an ungodly scene at the police station, crying and carrying on,” she said sarcastically. “He didn’t get here until late this afternoon.”
Also interesting. “And I suppose you don’t think his grief is genuine?”
“Oh, I think he’s upset all right, but not because she died. He’s upset because he’ll have to vacate her mini-mansion with the hot tub and sauna, the inground pool the size of a football field, and give back her Viper. I mean, the night of the meet and greet, he was posting selfies of himself at some expensive nightclub on Insta. He didn’t look too broken up.”
“But maybe he didn’t know that Mitzy was dead yet,” I defended, though I’m not sure why. Maybe I just wanted to see how she’d react.
Susie made a face while she fluffed her hair. “Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is, Mitzy’s parents showed up today, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to boot Luca right out on his hot butt.”
I didn’t say anything, but I realized we’d been chatting for quite some time and my food was now probably stone cold. I didn’t think I could garner any more information from Susie anyway, so I probably should have excused myself, but she saved me the trouble.
“I’d better go. Mitzy’s memorial is in twenty minutes. The hotel was nice enough to allow us to gather in one of their conference rooms. I’d invite your friend, because I like how she handled Ames, but it’s just for industry people.”
I pulled a card from my purse and handed it to Susie. “Listen, Susie, if you find you need someone to talk to, please call me. I don’t know how long you’ll be in town, but I own a tattoo shop here in Cobbler Cove called Inkerbelle’s, and I’d be happy to grab some decaf with you if you ever just need to vent. I know a great little place near my shop.”
At first she appeared hesitant, but then she seemed to think twice. She grabbed the card from me, her rhinestone-studded nails in black and gold flashing under the lights of the bathroom.
“Actually, I’m local. I only came to this fiasco because all my viewers know I’m from Portland, and they’d talk if I didn’t practice what I preach and prove to them I was still Mitzy’s friend.”
I smiled and nodded. “Then I hope you’ll call. You take care now.” I was about to turn and leave, but she reached out and grabbed my arm.
“Trixie, is it?” she asked, her voice soft and hesitant. “Thank you. I don’t really…I don’t have anyone. My mom is gone, and my father has been MIA forever. It was nice to talk to another adult for a change.”
“So what you’re telling me is, I don’t look twenty-one?” I asked with a chuckle.
She laughed and shook her head, her freshly fluffed hair falling around her shoulders in caramel and blonde highlights. “No. That’s not it at all. You’re just very wise and easy to talk to and a refreshing change from all the fake glam of my world. You’re normal, and you don’t use words like ‘queen’ and ‘iconic’ to describe everything. Anyway, thank you.”
Susie let go of my arm and made her way out of the bathroom, her heels clacking against the cool tiles.
My stomach growled its discontent. Man, cold or not, I needed that cheeseburger soon.
Just as Susie breezed out, Coop breezed in, her eyes wide and in such a rush, she didn’t even notice Susie.
“Trixie,” she called out, reaching
