We finished lunch, then headed across town to the Platinum Dunes to talk to Vanessa Vix. As Eden's biggest online rival, she had done well for herself. Jack parked at the curb at 346 Mahi Moon Court. We hopped out and strolled the walkway past the lime green Lamborghini Urus and the red AMG 63 roadster.
I rang the video doorbell.
A curt voice crackled through the speaker a moment later. "Can I help you?"
I flashed my badge and made introductions. "We need to speak with Vanessa.”
"She's busy at the moment."
"Busy doing what?”
"Is that any of your business?”
"This is an important matter. We think she might be able to help us with a case.”
"What kind of case?”
“To whom am I speaking?"
"I'm Natalie. Her assistant."
"This will only take a minute.”
"She's in the middle of a photo shoot right now."
I stifled my annoyance. "Like I said, it will only take a minute.”
"Do you have a warrant?”
"I'm not looking to arrest anybody. I just have some questions.”
"Hang on,” she said in a sigh.
The line crackled with static as she disconnected.
I shared a look with JD.
We waited on the porch for a few minutes.
Natalie finally pulled open the door. She was a skinny girl in her early 20s with short sandy-blonde hair, brown eyes, and a punk-rock kind of vibe. She wore black Converse All-Stars and had several bands on her wrists. "Come with me."
She held the door and ushered us into the foyer, which was lined with imported Italian marble. A grand staircase spiraled its way up to the second floor. It was like all the other mansions in the neighborhood, just decorated differently. Natalie escorted us into the living room and out the kitchen door.
Camera flashes flickered as Vanessa worked her magic in front of the lens. She pulled and yanked on her teeny bikini in provocative ways, teasing the delights hidden beneath. The wet fabric clung to her smooth skin, revealing all her supple attributes. Vanessa smoldered in front of the lens, staring into it like a long-lost lover reunited.
I'm sure the photographer was having fun and getting paid handsomely. He probably would have done it for free.
With her raven hair slicked back by the water, she emerged from below, peeling off her bikini top. Water beaded on her tanned skin. When she finally pulled the string loose, the girls bounced free, and the camera shutter fired in rapid succession.
Vanessa wasn't modest in the least.
Perhaps she was putting on a show for us to soften us up. Scramble our brains. Distract us.
It might have been working.
Her emerald eyes enchanted. Every curve of her body was sculpted to perfection.
She climbed the steps and peeled off her bikini bottoms, posing for more photos. The lens steamed up.
