Page 12 of Wild Idol (Tyson Wild Thriller #82)

S able started, “Well, I was seeing?—”

Everett returned and handed the letters to me. “That’s a threat. Plain as day. Can you do something? Can you arrest him?”

I read from the handwritten letter. “You think you’re above it all, but you’re not.

You think you can just step on people’s feelings and discard them.

We had something real. Genuine. Not fake.

I know Can I Breathe Without You? is about me.

You can’t deny it. You’ve made a terrible mistake that you will come to regret someday, if you live that long. But I wouldn’t count on it.”

“I mean, that’s a threat, right?” Everett said.

“It’s certainly worth looking into,” I said, then I addressed Sable. “And there was never anything romantic between you two?”

“No. I’ve never met the guy in my life.” She paused. “I mean, maybe as a meet and greet backstage before a show, but I can’t be sure. We certainly didn’t have a relationship .” Sable looked at Everett. “I was just about to tell the deputies about my love life.”

“It’s hard to keep up with, let me tell you,” Everett teased.

She scowled at him. “Stop.” She looked at me. “I’m very selective. I have certain standards. Not everybody makes the cut.”

“I’m sure not many can measure up.”

“Like I said, I’m quite picky.” She smiled and batted those long lashes at me.

“So, who recently got cut from the roster?” I asked.

“It’s a small roster,” Sable assured.

“Jeremy Riker,” Everett said.

“The actor?”

Sable nodded.

“How did that end?” I asked.

“It was all over the tabloids that he hooked up with Daphne. I kicked him to the curb.” She wiped her hands clean.

“How did he take it?”

“Oh, the weasel tried to deny it.”

“Did he get angry? Make any threats?”

“He got angry, but I hung up on his ass.”

“Anybody else we should look into?”

Sable shared another glance with Everett .

“I think that about sums it up,” Everett said. “If we think of anyone else, we’ll certainly let you know.”

“I do have another question for you,” I said. “Were you at the Pearl Room the other night?”

Sable shared an awkward glance with Everett. He gave her a subtle nod. I figured he wasn’t going to let her answer anything incriminating. I didn’t know if Everett had a law degree.

“Yes,” Sable admitted. “Briefly.”

I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture of her and Haley. “Do you remember that girl?“

Sable studied the image for a moment. “Yes. She was so sweet.”

“How long did you hang out together?”

She shrugged and looked at Everett again. “I don’t know. A few minutes. I like to take pictures with fans whenever possible. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them.”

“Do you recall how long she stayed in the VIP room?”

“I don’t.” An apologetic frown tugged her lips.

“Did you notice anything unusual about her?”

Sable thought about it for a moment. “Not that I recall.”

“Did you see her using any drugs?”

The pop star frowned again. “No. Is there any particular reason you’re asking?”

I told her .

Sable gasped. “That’s horrible!”

“Do you recall seeing anyone else doing any drugs that evening?”

Sable hesitated. “I really can’t say who was doing what. I mean, I’d be lying if I said nobody did drugs at the Pearl Room. But I don’t think anyone would be brazen enough to do it out in the open.”

“Even in the privacy of the VIP room?”

Sable hesitated.

Everett stepped in. “Gentlemen, you know how things can get out of hand. Celebrities and cocaine go together like hookers and politicians.”

“I never mentioned what she overdosed on,” I said, staring at him.

Everett’s cheeks flushed, and he stammered, “I just assumed. It seems to be the drug of choice.”

“Can you tell me who else was present that night?”

Sable shared another uncomfortable glance with Everett.

“To tell you the truth, my memory of that evening is a little foggy. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I had a lot to drink.

Maybe too much. My single hit number one.

I celebrated a little.” Then she added, “I paid for it in the morning, trust me.”

I contemplated bringing up her recent stint in rehab but thought better of it.

I dug into my pocket and handed her a card. “If anything should come back to you about the evening, please get in touch.”

Sable took the card with a smile. “Will do.”

“I do hope you find who caused the girl’s death,“ Everett said. “What did you say her name was?”

“Haley. Were you at the Pearl Room that night?”

Everett shook his head.“To tell you the truth, I don’t care much for those kinds of functions. It’s not really my speed.” He smiled. “I’ll leave that to the young and pretty crowd.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Everett,“ Sable said. “You’re not that old, and you might qualify as pretty.”

He chuckled. “God bless you.”

We said our goodbyes, and the two escorted us to the door.

We stepped outside and walked back toward the Porsche.

Jack said, “What are the odds she’s at the Pearl Room the night of Haley‘s death, then someone tries to kill her two days later?”

“I don’t know. Seems a little suspicious to me.”

“This might be a stretch, but what if someone close to Haley saw that picture of the two of them together? Blamed her death on Sable?”

It was an interesting concept, but I shook my head. “Whoever tried to kill Sable was a professional. They didn’t screw around. Gunshot to the face and burning the car to destroy evidence… That took a bit of planning. ”

Jack dismissed the notion. “How complicated is it to run someone off the road, shoot them, and torch the car to cover evidence?”

I shrugged and pulled my phone from my pocket as I climbed into the Porsche. I sent Brenda a text. [I think Jane Doe in the Lamborghini is Emily Fowler.]

[I’ll get on it in the morning. But I can tell you right now I won’t be able to match dental records. The victim’s face was obliterated with a .45.]