Shayonne and Shalonda had decided to go for a walk along the beach to clear their heads, though judging from the fact they’d asked Burr to tag along with his camera, not much head-clearing was going to get done. It made Odelia wonder if there was any part of the girls’ lives that wasn’t an act.
“I don’t understand how people can live like that,” she said.
“Like what?”
“Like this,” she exclaimed, gesturing at the house and the grounds.
“In blatant luxury? I think it’s pretty sweet,” Chase said with a grin.
“You know what I mean. To live your whole life in the public eye.”
“I’m sure those cameras aren’t always rolling, and the sisters aren’t always on. They’re actors, and this is their show. Once the shoot is over, they go back to their regular lives. Driving their hundred-thousand-dollar cars, wearing their hundred-thousand-dollar dresses and sleeping on their hundred-thousand-dollar mattresses. You know, just like the rest of us.”
“I still think it’s weird.”
“I actually thinkyou’d be perfect for a reality show. You and your family.”
“Me? We’re pretty much the most boring family in the world.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. A reporter who just happens to be a sleuth? A mother who singlehandedly teaches Hampton Cove kids the love of reading? A doctor who’s the best physician in town—and a great guy to boot. An ace police chief for an uncle. And a grandmother who’s…” He grimaced. “Well, I’ll admit she’s a little out there.”
“And don’t forget Max, Dooley and Harriet. They’d be a big hit, too.”
He stared down at her‘Crazy Cat Lady’ shirt. “I bet they would.”
“So what about you? The top detective allowing a small town to take advantage of his detecting talents? Now that’s the kind of story that inspires.”
“You know what? We should do a show together, Poole.”
“Now there’s an idea.” A special ofSay Yes to the Dress. She could be the bride and he could be the groom. A hot flush lit up her cheeks. Jiminy Christmas. What was wrong with her?“So who’s next on your list?”
“I thought first we’d do Dion and Damien, then focus on the TV crew.”
“We should also check into Robin Masters, Shana’s ex-boyfriend.”
“Yeah, I’ll look into that.”
They found Damien upstairs, in his recording studio. As many of Merl Berkenstein’s clients were recording artists, they liked to have a studio on the premises in case they suddenly got inspired and decided to record a song. The studio occupied half of the second floor, a private movie theater the rest.
They took a seat at the mixing console while Damien, headphones perched on his head, was bleating into a sizable microphone inside the vocal booth. He was a shortish guy in his middle thirties, with a smoothly shaved head, a ginger goatee and his trademark sunglasses he could never be seen without. His voice, blasting through the speakers in the control room, sounded remarkably anemic without the background music giving it some oomph. He also sounded pretty pitchy. Nothing that Auto-Tune couldn’t fix though.
“Is it just me or is he singing awfully out of tune?” asked Chase.
“It’s not just you. Damien isn’t exactly the world’s most gifted vocalist.”
“I’ll say. My cat sings better than this guy.” Damien squeaked some more and Chase shook his head. “Give me Garth Brooks any day over that clown.”
She was surprised.“You’re a country and western fan?”
“Yes, I am. At least those guys can sing. And write a decent song.”
“Don’t tell him that. Or the interview will be over before it’s started.”
He leaned in.“That’s the beauty of being a cop. You can ask whatever the hell you want, and they have to answer, whether they like it or not.”
He was right. As a reporter she was always treading a fine line, especially with these big ego stars. Cops didn’t have to worry about that. In fact it was probably good tactics to rattle a suspect’s cage a little. Get them to confess.
“I’m starting to like this police stuff,” she said. “It beats being a reporter.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“Well, I get to ask all the tough questions and I don’t have to worry about the interviewee walking out on me or threatening with a defamation suit.”
Chase grinned.“We’ll make a cop out of you yet, Poole.”
A sudden thrill of happiness shot through her. It actually felt pretty great to be partnered with Chase. They made a great team. Like Cagney and Lacey. Okay, so maybe they were more like Lady and the Tramp. She could imagine sharing a plate of spaghetti with Chase. Or some meatballs.
Damien had finished recording his new song, if that’s what it was, and exited the soundproof booth. The door made a soft hissing sound as he did.
“Mind if we ask you a few questions, Mr. LeWood?” asked Chase.
“That was one of my best takes yet. Did you appreciate the exclusive?”
“Oh, yes, Damien,” said Odelia. “That was… just great.”
“The track’s going to be on my next album. I’m dedicating it to Shana.” He shook his head. “I thought I’d record a song for her while I’m still feeling the pain, you know. Throw all my agony into that one song. Make it count.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she said blithely. No, she didn’t.
“Fire away, detectives,” said Damien, straddling the mixing console.
“Oh, but I’m not a detective,” said Odelia.
“She’s a consultant, which amounts to the same thing,” Chase said.
Damien spread his arms.“Like I said, fire away. I’m an open book.”
“Is it true you and Mrs. Kenspeckle were facing some marital issues?”
She saw what Chase meant by not having to tread lightly. As a reporter this type of question would have been on the publicist’s list of taboo topics.
Damien nodded.“It’s not a great secret Shana and I were seeing a marriage counselor. It was on season seven, and again on season nine. And front and center in the new season. You a fan of the show, Detective?”
“Can’t say that I am,” Chase confessed.
“Too bad. There’s a lot you could pick up. As a cop, I mean. It’s all about the human condition and the different ways living in close proximity with other human beings can affect you as a person. A fascinating experiment.”
“I’m sure it is. So what about those marriage problems? We spoke to your sisters-in-law and they told us Shana was having an affair with Dion Dread?”
Damien’s lips tightened. “That scumbag. Bagging one Kenspeckle wasn’t enough for him, he had to bag two. But we were getting over that. She was finished with Dion, and we were working hard to resolve our issues.” He played with his wedding ring, an ornate gold band with a gigantic rock. “We were fighting for our marriage, and I can tell you that we were winning.”
“What about you, Mr. LeWood? Any affairs we should know about?”
There was a flash of anger in the singer’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “I can assure you there are no skeletons in my closet. I was devoted to my wife and my marriage. I’m a family man, and I was dying to start a family.”
“Can you think of anyone who would hurt your wife?” asked Odelia.
He shook his head.“Shana was the sweetest, loveliest person in the world. She was loved by everyone. I can’t think of anyone who’d hurt her.”
“She must have made some enemies over the years,” said Chase. “People she rubbed the wrong way. You don’t get to her level of success without stepping on a few toes along the way.”
The singer fixed Chase with an intent look.“There will always be haters, Detective, but we were keeping them far away from us. It’s important to keep negativity at bay. To focus on the positive. We shielded ourselves from all of that negative energy and didn’t allow it inside this bubble we’d created.” He gestured around himself. “We created our own reality, and anyone who tried to tear us down was placed firmly outside of the bubble. It’s a simple matter of choice. And we chose life and happiness. That’s all I can say about that.”