This went on for a few more minutes until she fully exhausted the look. Every angle that could have been shotwasshot.
Natalie handed her a towel. Vanessa dried off, then put on a robe. She cinched it at the waist as Natalie explained the situation to her. She pointed in our direction, and Vanessa started toward us.
I flashed my badge again and made introductions.
"What can I do for you, Deputies?"
"We're sorry to interrupt, but we just have a few questions."
She smirked. "You're not sorry at all.”
"You have a gorgeous pool," I said.
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Does this kind of thing happen a lot out here?”
"This is why I bought the house. There are plenty of locations to shoot, and I try to maximize the aesthetic value of the property. That way, I can write the entire thing off. I use every bit of it for work."
"You don't get complaints from the neighbors?”
She scoffed. "Are you kidding me? The men love it.”
"I'm sure their wives don't.”
"Fuck those tight-ass bitches.” Vanessa didn't mince words.
"I'm sure you're aware Eden Saint is deceased.”
"I heard. Couldn't happen to a nicer girl.”
"So you were on good terms,” I snarked.
"She was a wannabe. She copied everything I did. Whatever I did in a photo shoot, she did too. Same themes, outfits, hairstyles. When I attempted to make a world record, she tried to beat it. Have an original thought, why don't you?"
"Can you tell me where you were the evening she died?”
"I don't even know when that was. I don't really keep up with that kind of thing. She was always beneath me,” she said in a lofty voice.
I told her the day and time.
"I don't know. I’d have to check my schedule. I don't want to misspeak.”
"I was looking through your social media feed," I said. "Want to tell me about this post from a week ago?” I showed her a screen capture of the post.
"It's just stupid shit I said on the Internet,” she said.
"Eden Saint is just a dumb twat that nobody cares about,”I quoted.“She just needs to eat a bullet already.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "So what? Does that prove I killed her?”
"No.”
"It's just trash talk. Get over it.”
"Did you have a reason to kill her?”
"Sure. I can think of a few. She screwed my boyfriend. Does that count?”
