CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

 

Sifting through snail mail and email in my office, waiting for Alex, I wanted to crawl out of my skin. There had to be something I could do to help. I identified two options: prove Alex’s innocence to the detective or prove that someone else was guilty. I made a mental note to review timelines and Alex’s alibis for the nights the four women died (well, three, since I mostly already knew where Alex was when number four died).

What could Alex and I do to prove Michael was the murderer? If he really was. I’d need to talk more with Alex about why he believed Michael was the killer. Surely, it’s more than he’s also an incubus. We never really got to that last night.

Last night. I flushed slightly thinking about being so close to Alex, longing to touch him, kiss him. Sigh. I needed to focus.

And then I saw it. A gift from the email gods:

 

From: Mia Fynn, Producer

Subject: Calling all creatives

Don’t miss the masquerade ball this Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until…the final person goes home. Whether you’re in front of the camera or guiding from behind it, this masked ball is the place to see and be seen Saturday night in Las Vegas. At a location to be texted the afternoon of the ball to everyone who RSVPs…don’t miss what is sure to be the event of the season.

 

Mia’s name and description were all I needed to see. One, it’s a masked ball. Hello? How fabulous is that? And two, more importantly, since the party would be a meet-and-greet for actors, writers, crew members, and producers in town, odds were good that Michael Onyx, possible murdering incubus and actor, would be there.

A knock on the open door to my office shocked me out of my excited thoughts.

“Sorry to startle you,” Alex began. “Your front door was unlocked and when you didn’t respond to my knocking, I let myself in.”

I berated myself for not locking the front door – someone more nefarious certainly could have taken advantage. Then I noticed Alex’s arms laden with food and drink. He saw me notice and smiled.

“I brought coffee and bagels.”

“My hero.”

We grinned at each other for a moment before Alex made the move fully into the office. He set the bounty on my desk and pulled a chair closer before sitting directly across from me.

“I hope you’re hungry.”

“Absolutely.” We began to unwrap our bagels. When I suddenly set mine down and gasped, Alex jumped to his feet.

“What’s wrong?”

“I got distracted by the breakfast.” He sat back down and watched me. “I have an idea.”

“Great, let’s hear it.”

“I’m going to forward you an email invitation for a masquerade ball this Saturday.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Yes, though that’s not why I think we should go.”

“It’s not?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “It’s a meet-and-greet for cast, crew, production staff.” I paused expectantly.

“I think I know where you’re going with this.”

“Yep. Michael Onyx. Since he has allegedly killed four actresses, and he’s an actor, he’s in the industry. This might be the perfect way to flush him out.”

“Flush him out?”

“Yes. Although, I never did hear why you think he’s the killer.”

“Besides the fact that an incubus kills in exactly the way these women seem to be dying?”

“Besides that. Because if that’s the criteria, you would also be a suspect.”

“Ouch. Touché. Honestly, it’s a mix of my gut instinct and some off-color remarks he’s made about women.”

“Off-color?”

Alex actually blushed. “I’d rather not repeat them.”

“I’m a big girl,” I reminded him, “but that’s okay. I won’t embarrass you.”

“Thanks. What’s your plan?”

“We use the ball, so I can draw him out,” I began and Alex shook his head. “Hear me out,” I hurried to add.

“Fine, but I can already tell I’m not going to like a plan that involves using you as bait. That’s it, right?” His eyes darkened with a mix of anger and fear.

I faltered slightly. “Well, yes. I think it’s a good one, though. And you’ll be right there the whole time. I mean, we’ll have to arrive separately,” I amended. “But still.”

“If something goes wrong?”

“Either way, we have our proof.”