Lacey frowned. "Yeah, she had a little bit of a problem. First it was weed, then cocaine, then she started dabbling with heroin. I warned her. I told her that stuff will ruin your life.” She sighed. "She told me she had gotten clean. Kicked everything cold turkey. I don’t know if I buy that. I think she was just trying to manage everything that was going on. Eden was under a lot of pressure. All the shit with her parents, the harassment online. That takes a toll. Then you gotta deal with the fact that your pictures are out there on the Internet forever. I knew she wanted a family someday. How are you gonna explain that to your kids?”
"Is that something you worry about?" I asked.
"Well, yeah, sure. But when my kid starts asking, I’ll ask him if he likes the Ferrari I'm going to buy him when he turns 16. I think that'll take care of it."
"Where did Eden get the drugs from?”
"I don't know.”
I gave her a look. She knew damn good and well where they came from. "You two were best friends, right?"
Lacey nodded.
"And you expect me to believe you don’t know who her dealer was?”
She sighed again, and her lips scrunched up. "Crosby King. But you didn't get his name from me.”
"Can you think of anybody else who may have wanted to harm her?”
Lacey's lips tightened as she thought about it. "Well, Vanessa Vix comes to mind.”
"What's the issue there?”
Lacey huffed and rolled her eyes. "Stupid online beef. Vanessa is also trying to hit the record for most guys slept with in a day. She claims she's done it, but no one's been able to verify it. So they're both claiming the title. Seems like a silly reason to kill someone.”
"We've seen people kill each other for dumber reasons," Jack said.
"What about fans?" I asked. "Did she have a problem with any of them?"
"Well, she's got this one guy. He's spent millions of dollars with her. Millions. She doesn't give him the time of day. That’s crazy. Look, if I was spending that kind of money, I’d want a little something in return, if you know what I mean?”
“Who spends that kind of money?” JD said in disbelief.
“Exactly. He started making threats. Eden dismissed it. She just didn't seem to grasp the concept that there are actually people behind these accounts. What happens online doesn't always stay online. He started showing up at her condo at the Nautilus. That's why she started living on the boat and moving around a lot. It just kept the weirdos away.”
I shared another look with JD.
"Maybe he found out where she was anchored,” I said.
Lacey cringed.
“Did she ever report him?”
“No.”
“Do you know what this guy’s name is?”
“Ethan Rexrode.”
"Where were you last night between 5:00 and 7:00 PM?" I asked.
Lacey gave me a curious look. "Why?"
"Just a procedural question?”
"I was at home."
"Where's home?”
