Page 11 of Wolfsbane Hall
“How do you knowthat?”
Celestine’s eyes traced the body once more. “There are no wounds on his hands or arms. No blood or skin under his fingernails?”
Everett cocked his head, checking the fingernails. “What does that indicate?”
“Drugged, most likely.”
“Anything else?”
“The room was locked from the inside, and there is no sign of forced entry. You should look for an escape route.”
“Suspects?”
Celestine closed her eyes and searched through her character card and what she knew about this setup. “I would start with his lover, newest lead actress, rival movie director, jealous sister, and business partner. They would seem to have the most passion and motive for the crime.”
“Righto.” Everett began to stand to act out a scene, but she cleared her throat.
“Oh, and that.” Celestine pointed to the cufflink that she had dropped on the floor next to the body.
Everett smiled and nodded his appreciation, then he stood and put on a long, showy monologue, going through the evidence and pointing out the obvious. He adopted his over-the-top Australian accent. He wanted to be like Poirot so much, but he couldn’t manage a French—or more accurately, Belgian—accent. So, ridiculously, he chose an Australian accent instead.
The current evidence was the knife Celestine had dropped and the cufflink found next to the body. He ended his speech with, “Now, for the main suspects. We have the Scorned Lover”—he pointed at Celestine—“The Rival Film Director”—he pointed at Richard—“The Jealous Sister”—he motioned to Vivian, James’s actual biological sister, who apparently was also playing his sister tonight—“his newest Leading Lady”—Everett waved at a young female patron with a soft, beautiful face and luscious curves—“and lastly, the Business Partner.” Everett pointed at his twin, who had slowly strolled into the Red Parlor, his hands in his pockets. “You were all the closest to Andrew, so let us begin the questioning.”
Everett asked them all to follow him to the Grand Ballroom, where he commandeered a table and forced them to sit in a circle. He then interrogated them one by one in front of the audience.
“Let’s start with you, Mr. Mountdrake.”
“It’sLordMountdrake.”
“Righto, well then, Lord Mountdrake, where were you when the murder was committed?”
A sick grin climbed Richard’s face as he answered. “I was fucking Dorothy Wolf in the Downstairs Study.”
A sea of gasps lit up the room.
Everett raised an eyebrow at her. “Can you corroborate that?”
Celestine gulped. “Yes.” The gasps got louder, with poisonous whispers breaking out across the room. Anger bubbled in Celestine’s chest. Her character would not have stood for such treatment, so she decided to be even more shocking. “We got up to a bit of mischief on the study desk.”
Richard let out a self-satisfied sound. Dean grunted, and Everett chuckled.
“Well, then.” Everett shook his head in amusement, not judgment. “So, you both have an alibi.”
Everett continued his questioning, turning next to the New Leading Lady. In the meantime, Celestine leaned into Vivian Ashbrook. “So, you’re playing James’s sister tonight?”
The girls got along quite swimmingly. In fact, Vivian was probably her closest friend at Wolfsbane Hall, with the exception, maybe, of Everett.
“Yes, how utterly tedious.” Vivian crossed her arms. “I wish I could play a hussy like you occasionally. But no, just a jealous sister. Seeing that is simply my life on any given day, I am unaccountably bored.”
Celestine bit her lip. Vivian loved insulting her. It was a game they played, and Celestine always grinned and bore it.
Vivian was a bright, burning star. A source of pure joy, excitement, and warmth. She was charismatic and mesmerizing. One couldn’t help but want to be near her. And like a star, she would consume anyone who got too close. That was precisely why Celestine let the other girl insult her. She had no interest in becoming the object of her ire. Plus, she was drawn to Vivian’s histrionic nature, because Celestine liked fire. She liked danger, and maybe she even liked the excitement of it all. But most of all, she liked that she never had to take the lead when Vivian was around. Celestine could be the dutiful follower and fade into the background.
Celestine might be an actress and the center of attention, but she was also inscrutably shy. So, having Vivian around was a relief.
Vivian was also the town gossip, and she would always update Celestine on the newest dramas in San Francisco.
“Anything new and fun happening in the city?” Celestine asked.
