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“It was my idea actually, Tex,” said one of the men whom Tex recognized as Dick Bernstein. He was a distinguished-looking gentleman, with a full head of neatly coiffed white hair and a gorgeous little mustache. He was dressed, like the other pensioners, in a nice white tux. “Talent has to shine, and supreme talent must shine supremely.” He directed an affectionate look at Vesta, who patted his cheek appreciatively.

“Yeah, Vesta’s talent is so vast Dick told her to go solo,” added a second gentleman. This was Rock Horowitz, also one of Gran’s friends, and possibly an old boyfriend, too.

The others now all murmured their assent.“Vesta was made for the stage,” another older gentleman agreed. “She has the voice, the presence, the looks. She’s a born star.”

“He’s right, you know,” said Dick. “Vesta was born a star, and it’s a surprise to me why she waited this long to shine.”

“No hard feelings, Tex?” asked Vesta. “I’m sure you’ll find some other ninny to sing backing vocals for you. After all, anyone can be a backing vocalist. Not everyone can be the star of the show like me.”

“But… what are you going to sing?” asked Tex, still recovering from the shock.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry your little head about that,” said Vesta with a dismissive gesture of the hand. “You just focus on your stuff and I’ll focus on mine.”

“With all due respect, Vesta,” said Rock. “I think this idea of you and Tex performing a duet is a dud.”

“I agree,” said Dick, actually twirling his mustache. “A star like you needs to be discerning. I’m sorry to have to say this, Tex, but you and your singing doctors suck.”

“I didn’t want to say it, Tex, but Dick is right,” said Vesta. “You’re simply not good enough yet. Maybe you should practice a little more before you go on stage again.”

“Not everyone is a natural like Vesta,” Rock agreed.

“If you perform a duet now you’ll only drag her down,” said Dick.

“And you don’t want to drag down a real star, do you, Tex?”

“Do you, Tex?”

“Um… no, I guess not,” said Tex, his head spinning a little at this turn of events.

“Great,” said Dick, giving him a thousand-watt smile, his gleaming white teeth practically blinding Tex.

“Excellent,” Rock agreed.

“See? What did I tell you, Vesta?” said Dick. “I told you Tex would see reason.”

“Yeah, I told you he’d let you go once he realized how talented you were.”

“Thanks, Tex,” said Vesta now, giving Tex a cursory hug. “I know it’s hard for you to let me go, but I need to spread my wings and fly. And now buzz off, will ya? I need to practice.” And she raised her glass of Tex’s best champagne to her lips and drained it.

As Tex stumbled out of the basement he felt a little sandbagged. Had he just witnessed one of thoseA Star is Born moments? Was his mother-in-law going to be the Lady Gaga in this story and Rock and Dick her Bradley Coopers? Hard to believe.

Chapter 17

“What do you mean we can’t come near them?” asked Odelia.

She was in her uncle’s office, discussing the case with the Chief and Chase, and the Chief had just dropped a bombshell.

“We can’t talk to them,” said Uncle Alec, fiddling with an empty pack of cigarettes. “At least not until after the show tonight.”

“The Mayor’s orders,” said Chase, looking as annoyed as his superior officer. “He doesn’t want his guests of honor bothered over this murder business.”

“But… wehave to talk to them. Jamie is a suspect, and so are Weskit and his wife.”

“I’m sorry,” the Chief grumbled, clearly displeased. “My hands are tied.”

“So are mine,” said Chase.

“Well, mine aren’t,” said Odelia. “And I’m going to talk to these people.”

“Odelia, don’t,” said her uncle. “The Mayor isn’t going to be happy if he finds out you disobeyed a direct order.”

“I don’t work for the Mayor! He doesn’t get to order me around.”

“Fine,” said Uncle Alec. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. If he hears about this, he’ll—”

“He’ll do what? He can’t do a thing about it. Not a thing.”

“He can talk to Dan, and he can lean on him. Make your life difficult.”

“Why is this so important anyway? Who is this Laron person to the Mayor?”

“The Mayor is giving Charlie Dieber the keys to the city. He’s hoping it will attract a lot of attention. The kind of attention a town that caters to the tourist crowd wants. And poking around and trying to associate Charlie and his girlfriend, or indeed the Weskits, with Chickie Hay’s murderis bad for business. So he wants the investigation conducted quietly. Discreetly. And most of all he doesn’t want Charlie being interrogated by the police on the night he’s being awarded the keys to the city from the hands of the Mayor.”

“Fine,” said Odelia, rolling her eyes. “So all we have to do is wait until tomorrow and we’re in the clear?” She didn’t want to cause trouble for her uncle and Chase, or indeed Dan. And it wasn’t as if the Weskits or Charlie and Jamie would skip town all of a sudden. They were all famous figures and famous figures have a much harder time laying low.

“Oh, sure. Tomorrow we can interview them as much as we want. Just not tonight.”