“Enolia Honeywood.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Enolia was screaming at Wayne in the alley before her book signing?” Alden asked. Roz had briefed him as she drove them away from the Esquivel house. And just in time, too. He rubbed his head where Mateo had battered him with a plastic sword. “What did she say when she was yelling at him?”
“Nicole didn’t know or didn’t remember. She says she bowed out before she was seen, and she never saw Wayne again.”
“Holy cannoli. If she’s telling the truth, she didn’t kill Wayne Vandershell.”
“But Enolia might’ve,” Roz said. “She might have hit him, at least. And Enolia hung out with Wayne—had access to him. She could’ve sabotaged the vape pen. Maybe she planted the bomb.”
“That’s a lot,” Alden said.
“I know.” A corner of her mouth lifted. “I don’t really believe it either. But I’d like to know why she was ticked off at Wayne.”
“Even Sebastian might’ve attacked Wayne. He could have driven through that alley on the way to pick up Nicole and the kids and seen an opportunity. He certainly had reasons.”
“Twenty-five million reasons. But would he have also messed with the vape pen and planted a bomb?” she asked.
“He’s pretty technical. He’s a pilot. He had access.”
Roz shook her head. “It’s all so wacky.”
“So many people hated Wayne,” Alden said. “Maybe a bunch of them tried to kill him at the same time.”
“Maybe it was a race to see who could kill him first.”
“Hmph.” Alden massaged his temple again.
“Did those mean widdle kids hurt you?” Roz teased.
“Yes, they hurt me! The girl put a jump rope around my neck for ‘reins’ that almost choked me, and Mateo decided he needed to beat me because I was a bad horse. Future serial killer right there.”
Roz laughed out loud. “Nicole did say they’d had a lot of sugar. Maybe it’s too soon to judge.”
“Maybe,” Alden acknowledged. “I think he’s at the age when attacking everything is de rigueur.”
“Especially reporters.”
He snorted. “Especially. Where are we going?”
“We’re going to talk to Mae. Nicole said other women in the book club were wannabe screenwriters and under Wayne’s spell and probably gave him money. We might get a few more names.”
Alden sighed in frustration. “Don’t we have enough names already?”
“You mean, are we ever going to finish this story? I have no idea.” Roz sounded grim.
“We need to narrow down, not expand. And also figure out why Sebastian seems to have been a target, too. He might still be a target. You’re sure Nicole didn’t sabotage the plane?”
“I believed her when she described her script, the one Wayne was supposedly interested in,” Roz said. “It didn’t include an aviation element. And her context has me convinced. She hated Wayne, and I think she still likes her husband.”
“Likes.” Alden couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
“Loves, probably. That’s not what I’m writing about. The Real Housewives of Comet Cove.”
“Ha,” Alden said.
“I kind of feel for her, honestly. That scumbag Wayne came on to her and asked her to keep it a secret from Sebastian. Her husband. His business partner!”
