18f44de3c41a3c8943c05e9ff1c1336f

Ebony Pilay lived in a very nice condo on the top floor of a very nice building. It sported a gym, a heated pool, a spa, and even concierge service, whatever that meant. Miss Pilay herself seemed to live alone, and when we walked into her flat it wasnÆt hard to see why: life-sized pictures of herself adorned the entrance, the main wall of the living room, and even the bedroom. It made me wonder who in their right mind would want to stare at a picture of themselves all the time. And conversely: who in their right mind would date a woman who was so clearly in love with herself?

The supermodel bade our humans to take a seat on a very uncomfortable-looking sofaùbuilt for style, not comfortùand patiently waited until they launched into the interview.

I had to admit she was quite easily as gorgeous in reality as she was in all of those pictures she had used to wallpaper her condo. She had large hazel eyes, the smoothest skin IÆve ever seen, and silky hair that lay close to her head in the finest curls.

She was dressed in a silver kimono and her feet were slippered in the kind of fluffy bathroom slippers they hand out in fancy hotels. In others words: she had the out-of-bed look down pat, though it wouldnÆt surprise me if she hadnÆt been busy getting out of bed for the better part of the morning and had shot an Instagram Story showing her millions of followers how she went about it and had bagged an endorsement deal in the process.

ôWe talked to Tobias Pushman this morning,ö said Chase, taking out his little notebook, ôand he told us how you made quite a scene in Cotton KaratÆs office yesterday.ö

Ebony lifted the corners of her lips fractionally. I think it was her way of smiling.ôAnd can you blame me? The man had just dumped me by text. By text, sergeant!ö

ôDetective,ö Chase corrected her gently. ôYou clearly werenÆt happy about it.ö

ôWould you be happy if your girlfriend dumped you in such an obscenely rude way?ö

ôNo, I guess I wouldnÆt,ö Chase admitted, casting a quick glance to Odelia.

ôLook, I can understand that for a man in CottonÆs position, a fling doesnÆt mean a thing, but come on, detective. A little respect, please. Especially when heÆd just told me I was the love of his life, and had started murmuring about weddings and honeymoons!ö

ôCotton had proposed marriage?ö

ôNot in so many words,ö Ebony admitted. ôBut the man definitely had marriage on his mind when we last spoke.ö She inclined her head. ôThough he did a lot more than speak, if you see what I mean.ö

ôI think I do,ö said Chase.

ôWhat can I say? The man was enamored with me. Crazy about me. And who wouldnÆt be? I am a very desirable woman, detective. All men want me, in fact I drive them crazy, and Cotton was no exception. Which is why I was shockedùshocked, I tell youùwhen he sent me that text. Out of the blue he suddenly broke up with me!ö

ôAnd so you stormed into his office and gave him a piece of your mind.ö

ôYes, I did. But if youÆre going to conclude from that that I killed him, youÆre very much mistaken. I would never raise a hand at anyone in anger, detective. IÆm a peaceable girl. In fact I abhor violence of any kind.ö And to prove her words, she rested her hands in her lap and assumed the facial expression of a Buddha. A very beautiful Buddha, of course.

ôCan you tell us where you were last night between ten and midnight, Miss Pilay?ö asked Odelia.

A small frown appeared on the modelÆs brow, then instantly was gone as she relaxed those all-important facial muscles. ôI was here, on the phone with the editors for the next edition ofVogue. We were discussing my involvement. It will be my twentieth cover, you see, and weÆre thinking about doing something really special this time.ö She waved a delicate hand as she gestured to a framedVogue cover that hung behind Chase and Odelia.ôMaybe something withà clouds this time. Orà paint, maybe. Blue paintà or pink.ö

ôWeÆre going to need the name of this editor,ö said Chase, cutting through this impromptu brainstorming session. ôSo we can verify your alibi.ö

ôYou were on the phone the whole time?ö asked Odelia.

ôIt was a conference call, with several members of the creative team. It didnÆt run too long, though. A girl needs her beauty sleep. Sleep regenerates collagen, you see.ö She studied OdeliaÆs face. ôI see that you havenÆt had enough sleep. If youÆre not careful it will lead to the collagen in your face to break down, which could lead to premature wrinkles.ö

Odelia inadvertently touched her face, presumably to keep that collagen from breaking down.ôAfter you left the office yesterday, did you come straight here?ö

ôNo, actually I didnÆt. I went for a drive.ö

ôWhere did you go?ö