Page 140 of Triggered By Love
“Let’s get to the show last year,” Jason cut him off. “Do you know why Ernesto Gomez was there? Who hired him? Because shooting someone dead is a lot more serious than cockroaches and lipstick on a pig.”
“That’s what we can’t figure out,” Saul said. “Ivanna swears she saw Ernesto with a toy gun. She says it had an orange tip.”
“Is that correct?” Jason barked sharply at Ivanna.
“I peeked out from backstage to watch Avery and Brando walk down the ramp,” Ivanna said. “Maybe it was all the cameras flashing or the lighting, but for some reason, I thought the gun was orange. I remember thinking it was part of an act.”
“This is serious,” Jason said. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because the police report says Brando was shot with an unregistered semiautomatic,” Saul answered for her. “It was in the news, and she thought she remembered wrong.”
“Why should we believe you now?” Jason focused his laser gaze at the shrinking woman.
“Saul told me last night that Ernesto was supposed to shoot poppers and scare the heck out of everyone. Cause a stampede. But when Brando died, everyone assumed Ernesto was paid to be a hitman.”
“Do you two have any idea who paid Ernesto?” Jason glared at both of the young people.
“No idea,” both of them replied.
“How about the person who grabbed the taxicab and tried to run over Avery and Matt?” Jason asked.
Again, both of them shrugged, looking at each other.
“Since you two are here, I want to clear up a few more details,” Jason said. “Saul, you were seen getting out of a black limo outside your apartment in Brooklyn. What did Larry Leach hire you to do?”
Saul had that trapped look on his face, as if he were deciding whether to lie or not. Avery was sure Jason didn’t know for sure if it was Larry or not, but Saul wouldn’t know.
“I was keeping tabs on people for Larry,” Saul finally answered. “I thought if I did that, I would know which model Larry is interested in hiring and be able to warn him or her not to go.”
“Did you find out anything? Who did you tail and report on?”
Saul darted a guilty glance at Avery, and she felt her anger burn. She was the one who wanted to give him a chance, and it turned out he was spying on her?
“Avery, Harv, Ivanna, and later on, you and your partner, Blade,” Saul finally admitted. “I realized Ivanna was in danger when I saw the sketches she’d taken from Avery’s design booklet.”
“Why is that?” Jason asked.
Saul wiped his forehead and blinked, obviously nervous. “Ivanna said she was creating costumes for fancy parties. The models might have told her who they were partying with.”
“Does this have anything to do with that book I found?” Jason lasered Ivanna with his piercing eyes. “The one with names and numbers?”
“You were the one who ransacked my place?” Ivanna sputtered. “I did nothing wrong. All I did was keep track of who wore what. You have to give my notebook back.”
“It’s evidence for an ongoing investigation,” Jason said. “I also found interesting things in that garbage bag you were taking out. Have them all catalogued. Loose pieces of fur, feathers, and long, barbed porcupine quills. Leather, and slips of paper, but what I found most interesting was a receipt from an upscale chocolate store.”
“Nothing interesting,” Ivanna said. “I was working on the animal effects for Avery, and I like to snack on chocolate.”
“Expensive, handmade chocolate?” Jason raised his eyebrow in a snotty way.
“I’m not poor as a church mouse,” Ivanna said. “It was a gift.”
“From who?”
“I don’t have to answer that question.” She crossed her arms and huffed. “Saul, they don’t believe us. Let’s go.”
“Please, it’s okay.” Avery held out her hand in a mollifying manner. “You need to help us. Remember that day you came to my apartment to look through my sketchbook? You were here that day when my brother saw you? Did you see who left me the chocolate?”
Ivanna breathed hard for several seconds. It was obvious she didn’t want to answer.
