I press my lips tight and shrug. “I guess I sort of do.”
He frowns. “For investigative purposes?”
I frown right back. “Okay, so you have my number, but I sort of want it for the experience for itself, too. Ransom, I grew up watching these shows. And now I get to be part of one in a roundabout sort of way. It feels like I’m coming full circle with my younger, far more questionable self.” That girl did go on to marry Stanton Troublefield, after all.
He closes his eyes and sighs the sigh of a man who’s accepted his fate. “Okay, for that part of you, I’ll agree to do it. But you have to promise to leave the investigation to me. Whoever plunged a knife in that woman’s chest isn’t fooling around. We’ve got a psychopath on our hands.”
I lift my hand, about to solemnly swear, when something, or rather, someone, catches my eye.
Floating above the slot machines, her 1980s power dress and gravity-defying hair unaffected by trivial things like physics, is Marlie Rothschild herself! She hovers directly over the machine featuring Victor Darkmore, her ex-costar and ex-husband,looking like she’s contemplating whether ghosts can sabotage electronics.
“She’s doing it!” I gasp.
“Who?” Bess leans in, following my gaze.
“It’s Victoria Darkmore! And she’s reenacting that famous levitation scene right here in the casino!” I do my best to improvise, knowing they can’t see what I’m seeing.
Bess and Nettie crane their necks, squinting at the empty air where Marlie, AKA Victoria, floats, much to my fangirl approval.
“I don’t see anything,” Nettie complains, adjusting her glasses.
“Use your imagination,” I encourage. “Remember the episode in season seven when she floated over the Blackthorne mansion during the thunderstorm?”
“Oh!” Bess shouts, suddenly transported to another era entirely. “I can see it now! The hair, the dress—it’s just like it was on TV!”
Nettie joins in, clutching her chest. “I remember that, too! They really went all out with those special effects. Do you think they used holograms? Or maybe it was wires?”
“She’s definitely not using wires now,” I say, thoroughly impressed.
Ransom groans, shooting me a look that says he knows exactly what—or who—I’m really seeing.
Marlie notices me staring and winks, then does a perfect somersault in midair before floating in my direction. The soap opera diva may be dead, but her flair for dramatic entrances remains fully intact.
“Hello, darling,” she purrs in a voice only I can hear. “Isn’t it just fabulous to make an entrance that upstages everyone? Even in death, timing is everything. We’ll talk soon.” And just like that, she disappears in a shower of miniature gold stars.
In life or death, some stars never stop shining—they just keep stealing scenes from the other side.
CHAPTER 7
Suddenly Hitched—What a Trip!
Dear Trixie,
I’m currently on theEmerald Queen’sNorwegian fjords cruise and just found out it’s hosting the cast ofTrophy Wives of Paradise: Soap Opera Stars Editionand filming! As a lifelong fan ofThe Bitter and the Beautiful, I’m beyond excited. Any insider tips on where the best star-spotting locations are on the ship? And is it true that Dirk Rothschild travels with his own personal hair stylist who touches up his famous mane every three hours?
Starstruck on theEmerald Queen
Dear Starstruck,
Oh my, you’re in for quite the adventure! These soap stars certainly know how to make waves even on the calmest Norwegian waters.
For prime celebrity spotting, stake out the Blue Crab specialty restaurant around 8 P.M. The soap stars tend to dine late, and theylove the dramatic lighting in there. The promenade deck between 3-4 P.M. is another hot spot, as that’s when most of them emerge for their casual candid filming sessions.
Avoid the early morning buffet unless you want to see celebrities in their natural state. Trust me, Santino DiAngelo before coffee is not the dashing villain you’re expecting.
As for Dirk Rothschild’s hair, let’s just say there’s a reason he never books balcony cabins. Norwegian fjord winds and carefully constructed hairstyles don’t mix! While I haven’t personally witnessed the three-hour touch-up schedule, I can confirm his cabin does receive remarkably frequent visits from someone carrying a suspicious black case. Draw your own conclusions!
One last tip! If you want autographs, bring your own pen. The soap stars consider it bad luck to sign with their own ink—a superstition that apparently started after an unfortunate and rather infamous amnesia storyline onThe Young and the Heartlesswent completely off the rails.
