Not So Model Home - By David James Page 0,59
no one to share our intimate thoughts with.”
“You got that, sister,” I said. Once again, I was liking Aurora more and more. “Now back to Gilles.”
“Yes, Gilles. Classic narcissist. Walking onto the set completely nude!”
“Well, Aurora, it’s one thing to have an inflated sense of self, but it’s another to poison someone else.”
“True, true. But the French mind can be so pragmatic about such things. A job to be done. Finished. Move on. But try and get a Frenchman to reach inside his head and reveal all, forget it. But they’ll show you their cock in a moment’s notice.”
“So you haven’t said if you think Gilles could have poisoned Keith.”
“Yes. You heard him from day one. He wants to win and doesn’t want any competition. In his mind, there isn’t any. So eliminating one more person for a stake in Ian’s fortune is just another business matter to be completed. No regrets. In some ways, he’s the most chilling. His lack of empathy puts David in the shade because it’s just like a steamroller propelled by an overwhelming desire to win, to inflate the ego while the true self suffers, withers. Hitler was like that.”
“Okay. Let’s get on to Ian’s CEO, Lance Greenly.”
“Who?”
“Lance. The one who looks like he’s crying all the time. Receding hairline. Kinda plain.”
“Oh, him. Yes, yes, I know about him, but I didn’t know that was his name. Well, I can tell you one thing, he tolerates the boys that Ian is always letting into his bed. But I think that deep down, he really resents them.”
“Enough to kill them?”
“Definitely. He works all the time. Day and night. Very passive-aggressive.”
“Those are the types who end up killing. All that pent-up frustration. I don’t know about you, Aurora, but if I worked that hard to keep a company afloat and I looked up and saw some himbo stepping to the front of Ian’s gravy train, I’d be pissed.”
“You’d have to be made of ice to let that go by.”
“So you think Lance could kill just out of frustration? I mean, there’s nothing in this whole setup that stands to benefit Lance. He’s not even in the show.”
“I think he would resent a possible heir, Amanda. Murder isn’t always logical. The very act is illogical. Remember that revenge is a very powerful motive. It’s not always about money.”
“True, but money is a much better currency to spend than revenge. I mean, he is the only one who went down to the kitchen that night. Plus, you kill one person like Keith and the rage just pushes everything along by itself. Aleksei would be easy.”
“So that’s everyone,” I added dejectedly.
“You didn’t mention Ian.”
“Ian?!” I remarked. “Aurora, why would you think Ian would kill his own son, then Aleksei?”
“I don’t know, Amanda. I’m a psychologist, not a homicide detective. You’ve got to consider everybody. Why so glum?” she asked.
“I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere.”
“Yes, you are, Amanda. You’ve discovered that just about everyone in the cast—and at Ian’s company—is capable of having killed Keith.”
“That’s getting somewhere?”
“You know more than you did an hour ago.”
“All I know is that someone went into the potting shed, got a container off the shelf, mixed gopher poison in Keith’s cranberry juice, and the rest is history.”
Aurora thought a minute. “You’re sure of that?”
“Well, that’s the theory, anyway.”
“I’d say you’re making quite a bit of headway if you came up with all of that yourself.”
“I wish it was all of my idea, but the detective came up with a lot of it.”
“So why is he letting you in on everything that’s happening?”
“A guy I’m dating is a detective also, but he’s out of town. So I think for Jerry, it’s a misplaced camaraderie thing. Any friend of my boyfriend, Ken, is a friend of Jerry’s.”
“I see,” she said, getting up to go. “Please keep me in the loop about what’s happening and I’ll be sure to let you know if I think of anything. And do be careful. There’s a madman out there running around.”
“Aurora, I have one last question I have to ask you.” Aurora turned around and came up to me.
“And what is that?” she said, smiling sweetly.
“So who’s out in front? Who’s going to win?”
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. “I’m not going to tell you that.”
“It’s Darryn, isn’t it?” I asked, smiling like the Cheshire cat.
“Amanda, extraordinary looks and manners don’t guarantee someone’s going to win. The qualities I’m looking for are those that are a good match