Immortal in Death (In Death #3)(79)

“Back there.” Waving one frantic hand, she turned over one layer of fabric to a passing dresser. “In the star’s room.”

Eve managed to dodge, shift, and spin her way through the milling crowd to a door marked prominently with Jerry’s name. She didn’t bother to knock but pushed it open and saw the woman in question being squeezed into a gold lame tube.

“I’m not going to be able to breathe in this. A skeleton couldn’t breathe in this.”

“You shouldn’t have eaten that pate, dearie,” the dresser said implacably. “Just suck it in.”

“An interesting look,” Eve commented from the doorway. “Makes you look like a fairy wand.”

“It’s one of his retro shots. Early twentieth-century glamour. I can’t f**king move.”

Eve came closer, narrowed her eyes at Jerry’s face. “The cosmetician did a nice job. I can’t see any bruises.” And she would check with Trina to see if there’d been any bruises to cover. “I heard Justin Young gave you a couple of shots.”

“Bastard. Hitting me in the face before a big show.”

“I’d say he pulled his punch. What did you fight about, Jerry?”

“He thought he could diddle with some little chorus dancer. Not on my time.”

“Time’s the interesting factor, isn’t it? When did he start his diddling?”

“Listen, Lieutenant, I’m a little pressed here, and walking out on the runway with a scowl on my face is going to ruin the presentation. Let’s just say, Justin’s history.”

Despite her claims to the contrary, Jerry moved with quick agility through the door. Eve stayed where she was, listening to the burst of applause as Jerry made her entrance. In six minutes flat, she was back being peeled out of the gold lame.

“How’d you find out about it?”

“Trina. Hair, for God’s sake! Christ, you’re persistent. I got wind of it, that’s all. And when I called him on it, he denied it. But I could tell he was lying.”

“Uh-huh.” Eve considered liars as Jerry stood, arms out. Trina transformed her ebony swing of hair into a complicated twist of curls with a hand-held heater. Sheer white silk with rainbow trimming was slipped over her arms. “He didn’t stay in Maui long.”

“I don’t give a shit where he is.”

“He flew back to New York last night. I checked the shuttles. You know, Jerry, it’s odd. That timing thing again. Last time I saw you two, you were all but joined at the hip. You went with him to Pandora’s, went home with him that night. You were still there in the morning. The word I get is he accompanied you to your fittings, rehearsals. Doesn’t seem like he’d have much time to boff a chorus dancer.”

“Some men work fast.” She offered a hand so the dresser could clasp on a half dozen jangling bracelets.

“A public fight, plenty of witnesses, even some handy media coverage. You know, on the face of things, it makes your dual alibis hold more water. If I was the kind of cop to believe in the face of things.”

Jerry turned to the mirror to check the line of her costume. “What do you want, Dallas? I’m working here.”

“Me, too. Let me tell you how I see it, Jerry. You and your pal had a little deal going with Pandora. But she’s greedy. It looks like she’s going to screw you and your partners. A handy thing happens. Mavis comes in, there’s a fight. For a sharp woman like you, that could spark an idea.”

Jerry picked up a glass, knocked back the sparkling sapphire contents. “You’ve already got two suspects, Dallas. Who’s being greedy now?”

“Did the three of you discuss it? You, Justin, and Redford? You and Justin go off and solidify an alibi. Redford doesn’t. Maybe he’s not as smart. Maybe you were supposed to back him up, too, but you didn’t. He takes her to Leonardo’s. You’re waiting. Did things get out of hand then? Which one of you picked up the cane?”

“This is ludicrous. Justin and I were at his place. Security verifies that. If you want to accuse me of something, bring a warrant. Until then, back off.”

“Were you and Justin smart enough not to contact each other since the fight? I don’t think he’s got your control, Jerry. In fact, I’m banking on it. We’ll have the transmission records by morning.”

“So what if he called me? So what?” Jerry raced to the doorway as Eve strolled away. “It doesn’t prove anything. You’ve got nothing.”

“I’ve got another dead body.” Eve paused, looked back. “I don’t suppose either one of you are going to alibi each other for last night, are you?”

“Bitch.” Incensed, Jerry heaved the glass, catching a hapless dresser in the shoulder. “You’re not hanging anything on me. You’ve got nothing.”

As the noise and confusion of backstage rose to a new level, Mavis shut her eyes. “Oh, Dallas. How could you? Leonardo needs her for ten more changes.”

“She’ll do her job. She wants the spotlight too much not to. I’m going to find Roarke.”

“He’s out front,” Mavis said wearily as Leonardo rushed over to soothe his star. “Don’t go out there looking like that. Put this on. It’s already been run. Without the overdress and the scarves, no one will recognize it.”