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“Ah, but you gotta admit he was tripping,” Gran pointed out. “Now this is what you need to tell Jeb’s lawyers. They can plead temporary insanity and blame it all on Jeb’s drug dealer, whoever he is. He’s the one they should put in jail for murder. He’s the one who killed that poor woman, not Jeb, who’s just another victim in this case.”

“Right,” said Odelia, giving her grandmother another nudge.

“Stop poking me!” Gran said. “I’m sensitive on account of the fact that I’m slim.”

Odelia gave Helena and her daughter an apologetic smile.“Don’t listen to my grandmother. She watches a lot of soap operas.”

Uncle Alec appeared and waved them over.“Better be quick about this, all right?” he said. “Five minutes and that’s it. No extensions.”

Odelia nodded and braced herself for her first encounter with the fallen superstar. The deal was that Helena and Fae had visitation rights, and Odelia would accompany them as their legal advisor, even though she didn’t possess a legal bone in her body. Gran was tagging along as Odelia’s plus-one, which, if anyone asked, was a tenable proposition at best.

They were led into the interview room, where Jeb Pott sat with his hands shackled to the table, head down. When they entered, he looked up. Seeing Helena and Fae, suddenly tears appeared in his eyes and trickled down his cheeks.“Helena. Fae. Darlings. I didn’t do this,” he said in husky tones. “You have to believe me.”

“Isn’t it true, Mr. Pott, that you were passed out in a drug-induced coma and don’t remember a thing?” asked Gran.

“Yes, but…”

“And isn’t it also true that you were found covered in your victim’s blood and with the murder weapon next to you?”

“Yes, but I…”

“And isn’t it also true,” said Gran, raising her voice, “that you invited the poor woman to your lodge in the dead of night with the express purpose of luring her to her death?” She slammed the table. “Confess now, young man, and we can still make a deal!”

“Who the hell are you?!” Jeb cried.

“She’s my grandmother,” said Odelia, mortified.

Jeb directed his watery eyes on Odelia.“And who are you?”

“Odelia Poole—private detective,” said Fae proudly, placing her hand on her dad’s. “I hired her to clear your name, Daddy. She’s going to work hard to get you out of here.”

“Uh-huh,” said Jeb, who seemed more confused and rattled than when he played The Prisoner of Zenda in the movie with the same name.

“I just have one question for you, Mr. Pott,” said Odelia. “Did you send those texts inviting Camilla Kirby to meet you at the lodge?”

“No, of course not. Why would I want to meet that woman after what she did to me? She destroyed my life, my career—she took great pleasure turning the whole world against me and destroying everything I worked years to accomplish. And what I was most upset about,” he added, softening, “is that she hurt the two people I care about most in this world: you, my darling Fae, and you, Helena. And I’m truly sorry about that.”

“You do realize that accusing your ex-wife only builds a stronger case against you, don’t you, sonny boy?” asked Gran, scowling and poking a crooked finger in his direction.

“Gran, please,” said Odelia. “You’re not working for the prosecution, you’re working for the defense, remember?”

Gran frowned.“I don’t get it.”

Odelia decided to put it in terms her grandmother would understand.“You’re Perry Mason, not Hamilton Burger.”

A sly smile crept up Gran’s face. “Right, right.”

“More to the point, you’re a vlogger helping me on a case. So you’re really Paul Drake, and I am Perry Mason. Though since I’m not a lawyer but a private detective, I’m actually more like Thomas Magnum and you’re either Rick or TC. Your choice.”

Gran sat down.“I’m confused,” she declared. “This legal mumbo-jumbo sounds a lot easier on TV than in real life.”

“Tell me about it,” mumbled Jeb.

“I forgive you, Jeb,” said Helena. “Everything that happened between us is now in the past. What matters most is that you build yourself a stellar defense team.”

“How can I?” said Jeb sadly. “I’m broke. No decent lawyer will defend a man who’s got nothing but a pile of debts.”

“We’ll get you a lawyer, Daddy,” said Fae. “Isn’t that right, Mom?”

Helena hesitated.“A good defense costs a lot of money, darling. And I’m afraid it’s money that we don’t have.”

“Then I’ll pay for it. My modeling career is going well. Iwant to pay for it, Daddy,” she insisted when Jeb shook his head.

“It’s fine, darling. I’ll manage somehow. I still have a couple of friends in the industry. I’ll get the money together.” He turned to Odelia. “So you’re a private dick, huh?”

“She is,” said Gran proudly. “My granddaughter is the best private dick this side of Long Island.”

Jeb nodded gratefully.“Then I’m glad you’re on my side, Miss Poole.”

“You can call me Odelia,” said Odelia, who was suddenly starting to feel a little giddy. Being in close proximity to the famous dreamboat actor had that effect on her. Though he didn’t look as handsome as he used to in his heyday, he was still plenty charismatic.