Page 47 of The Timeless Vigilante

“He has the hots for you?” Rudolf asked. “He realizes that you’re a nine and he’s like a six, right?”

“I’ve turned him down for years,” Alexus explained. “But he’s relentless. I wouldn’t have put it past him to put the fake love letters in my trashcan to break us up. Well, it worked and now my boyfriend is dead and my show is about to be canceled.”

“Because no one will play opposite of you anymore?” Gen guessed. “Because they are afraid of getting murdered?”

Alexus nodded. “I’m just hoping that the writers take my advice and instead of giving me a costar, make me the full lead. That’s the only way to save the show. But convincing those crusty old men is difficult. I’ve been trying for years. But it’s a boys’ club and they do whatever they want.”

“Right,” Sherlock said, glancing at his assistant. “Well, I think we need to check out this vault where the tampered footage was located.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

RUDOLF’S FLASK OF WISDOM

Stage Twenty-Six, Canoodle Lot, Fairyland Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States

The cast and crew were all gathered in front of the vault as Sherlock Holmes had requested. The dozen or so people stood around in silence, watching the great detective stride back and forth, his head down and his hands clasped behind his back as he paced, thinking. Gen watched, peering nervously up at Rudolf.

“Has he solved the case?” she asked him.

The fae nodded. “Yes, but he’s working out the details. He won’t announce the way it happened until he knows the full motive, means and opportunity of the murderer.”

“Do you know who did it?” Gen asked.

A laugh popped out of his mouth. “Of course. I told Sherlock. Now he’s just trying to figure out how they did it.”

“Wow, you two are quite the team,” Gen admired, smiling at the fae. “How did you work it out?” She glanced around at the director, camera guy and Alexus as well as the many actors and crew, each with different motives, means and opportunities.

Rudolf pointed to his heart. “Listen with more than your ears. In detective work, use your heart. That’s the reason that people commit murders, so you need to use your own to figure out who speaks the truth.”

“I’ve deduced who murdered the previous director as well as the three other actors,” Sherlock began in a low voice, commanding everyone’s attention.

Rudolf grinned, pulling out a brand new flask that sounded full, swooshing with liquid. “This is my favorite part.” He offered it to Gen and this time, she decided to take him up on his offer, grabbing for the silver flask and unscrewing the lid before having a sip. The amber whiskey was warm and welcoming. It reminded her of the morning that she met Emperor after he hatched.

“It makes sense that the person who is behind these crimes being disguised as a curse is someone who has access to the vault.” Sherlock lifted his hand pointing at the large open door, propped wide by a chair. It had been unlocked for the detective’s investigation, which didn’t last long.

“It wasn’t me!” the director exclaimed, all eyes looking at him.

“Well, you have access to the vault, having one of three keys,” Sherlock countered, holding up a finger. “And you were the assistant director, passed over several times as others in the higher position went crazy. But you finally got your chance to be director and here you are—not going insane at all.”

“This is absurd!” the director argued. “I didn’t kill anyone. Why would I murder my own actors?”

“Well, you said yourself that this position will only lead to a better one,” Rudolf sang, stealing the flask from Gen and taking a drink. “So it goes to reason that you’d sabotage the show so that it was canceled. Then you move on and take your good name and reputation for maintaining peace of mind while directing in a stressful, cursed show.”

“I didn’t do this!” The director’s face flushed red.

“No, you didn’t,” Sherlock said, matter-of-factly. “Because although people are motivated to kill for money and positions, a crime like this was one of passion. One related to love.”

Rudolf rocked forward on his toes and then back, handing the flask to Gen, sharing. “Which brings us to the camera guy.”

“Me?” the other man said, his eyes wide. “I didn’t do this.”

“But also had access to the vault where the footage was kept and could be tampered with,” Sherlock stated. “And you are in love with Alexus, who continuously turns you down. It goes to reason that you’d plant the fake love letters in her trashcan and try to break her up with her boyfriend, the previous director.”

The camera man gawked. “I liked Alexus but I wasn’t going to murder for her.”

“And watching Alexus make out with other men and having to film it, that would be tough, wouldn’t it?” Rudolf asked.

“Well, of course, but what was I supposed to do about it?” the camera guy asked.

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