“Victoria said that in episode 517,” Marlie informs me gleefully. “Right before she blackmailed the governor with photos of him dressed as Marie Antoinette!”
Ransom gives me a curious look, clearly wondering when I became fluent in soap opera dialogue. I give him a tiny shrug and press on.
“Was Madison particularly interested in any specific storylines?” I ask, trying to steer us back to relevant territory.
“Val’s charity work with the performing arts center caught her attention,” Victor says, lowering his voice. “Something about the numbers not adding up. And Beth—” he glances over his shoulder again, “—Beth has a past that Madison foundintriguing.”
“Intriguing how?” Ransom asks.
Victor leans even closer. “Let’s just say that Lance Williams might not be her first soap star husband. There was someone before him—someone who met a rather unfortunate end.”
Ransom and I exchange a dark glance. We will definitely look into that dramatic exit.
“And Harper?” I ask with a shrug.
A shadow crosses Victor’s face. “Harper is complicated. Madison was convinced she had an agenda. Something personal against the soap world. Madison was close to figuring it out when—” He stops abruptly, swallowing hard.
“When she was murdered,” Ransom finishes for him.
“When her earthly contract was prematurely terminated,” Victor corrects, as if the euphemism somehow makes the reality less brutal.
Marlie floats before us as tiny gold stars spray all around her. “And the man turns from the window, his eyes reflecting the lightning that illuminates the stormy night,” she narrates dramatically, floating behind Victor like a ghostly Grim Reaper. “Could it be that the killer walks among us, wearing the mask of innocence?”
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit there is a level of absurdity in this investigation that we have never encountered before. But, being a fangirl of both the dead and the living, I am so here for every absurd moment. Bring on the bonbons.
I clear my throat as I look at Victor. “Do you know if Madison shared her discoveries with anyone else?” I ask.
Victor checks his watch as his expression grows increasingly anxious. “Madison kept her cards close to her designer vest. But she did mention that she had secured her findings somewhere that even I couldn’t access them. She was dramatic that way.” He pauses, then adds, “It takes one to know one, I suppose.”
A shrill whistle cuts through the mist, signaling it’s time to return to the tender boats.
“Saved by the bell,” Marlie comments as Victor practically jumps to his feet.
“I should change before the next segment,” he says, adjusting the sweatshirt he clearly despises. “Boomer wants to film some reaction shots as we sail past the Suitor waterfall. It’s supposed to be the mythological lover of the Seven Sisters.” He attempts a charming smile that looks more sinister in its delivery—and it takes talent to achieve that look, too. “Even the waterfalls have romantic drama in Norway.”
Before we can ask another question, he’s striding away, his pace just shy of an outright sprint. He joins the group gathering near the path, positioning himself conspicuously far from Beth, who seems equally determined to maintain distance. And it does make me wonder.
“Well, that was informative,” Ransom says as we watch Victor take off.
“And theatrical,” I add. “I’m starting to think the line between his soap opera character and real life disappeared years ago.”
“He never stood a chance,” Marlie sighs, floating beside us. “Thirty-eight years playing the same character would make anyone lose touch with reality. I was lucky—Victoria was killed off three times before the final chandelier incident. It kept me grounded.”
Ransom’s phone buzzes, and he pulls it from his pocket.
“Here we go,” he says, his expression growing serious as he reads the message.
“What is it?” I ask, recognizing histhis changes everythingface.
He glances up, then back at his phone. “Toxicology flagged something they want me to look at in their report.” His eyes meet mine. “Madison Rothschild wasn’t just stabbed in the heart—she was poisoned.”
The Seven Sisters waterfall continues itseternal cascade behind us, but all I can hear is the roaring of questions in my mind. Just like onThe Restless and the Reckless, our mystery has taken a toxic turn—and somewhere on theEmerald Queen, a killer is watching their carefully scripted murder plot unravel one clue at a time.
CHAPTER 21
Suddenly Hitched—What a Trip!
Dear Trixie,
