Her Frozen Cry (Detective Amanda Steele)

TEN

Trent parked in the lot for Pixie Winks. It was a much smaller outfit than New Belle, but the building and grounds were still rather impressive. A sizable pond with a large fountain sat on the front lawn next to a sign that spelled out the company’s name in large, metal letters. A little pixie was perched on the W in Winks, its wand touching the dot on the i.

“Any closer, and they could be looking at a lawsuit from Disney for copying Tinker Bell,” Trent said, echoing Amanda’s thoughts.

The main reception area was colorful, and Trent’s words about glimmery shades ran through her mind. The brand certainly didn’t shy away from a flashy presence. A couple of people swished by them on Segways. Others were on Heelys and rolled past, gliding across the floor. The lobby had several beanbag chairs among the eclectic spattering of furniture.

“Haven’t seen one of these since college.” Trent was smiling as he lowered himself into one of the beanbag chairs.

“Ms. Kelley is ready for you.” The chipper receptionist who had greeted them when they came in was standing in front of them.

Amanda wasn’t sure if the young woman heard Trent’s groaning upon standing up, but Amanda had. Beanbag chairs were best left to those under thirty.

The receptionist led them to a room labeled Think Tank. It had a red wooden table surrounded by chairs in all the primary colors. Amanda would quickly go crazy shut up in here for long. The table alone fired up a bit of rage within her. It felt like a rather confined space too, with boxy windows. The redeemable quality was the view of the water feature out front.

Amanda and Trent got comfortable at the table facing the door just as Eve Kelley walked through. She looked like her driver’s license photo, which Amanda and Trent had pulled up just before coming.

She was slender, and despite the playfulness of her brand, she appeared quite serious. Even more so than in photos Amanda had seen of her in business magazines. The only thing currently fun about her image was her short pixie cut.

“Detectives,” Eve purred, a smug aura of arrogance oozing from her. She held out her hand for Amanda and Trent in turn, and the introductions were made. Eve dropped into a chair across from them. “It’s such an awful shame about Alicia. I’ve known her since college.”

Though her words painted the picture of a tragedy, her tone and inflection didn’t hint toward sorrow over the loss. Grief didn’t touch her olive-green eyes either. “We heard that you two go way back,” Amanda said.

“Do you know what happened to her? The papers are saying she was found dead, but details are being withheld.” Stiff, rigid. Not striking Amanda as being too affected by Alicia’s death at all.

“We can’t say at this time. Her death is an open investigation. But you may be able to help us.” Amanda hoped the appeal to human nature would work.

“If I can. Sure.”

“When did you last see Alicia Gordon?” She’d build up to what they’d heard about Eve’s allegations against Alicia. She’d also reserve mention of the threat to Alicia for now. No sense putting the woman on the defensive and causing her to clam up.

“It would have been two weeks ago.”

“You seem quite certain,” Trent said.

“I have a memory for things that matter.”

“And why does this matter?” He volleyed her words right back to her.

“You may have heard that Alicia was planning to sell New Belle…” She paused there for a few seconds, scanning their faces. “I was in open negotiations with her for its acquisition. I submitted my offer to her in person, Monday, two weeks ago.”

“Why were you interested?” Amanda asked. “Her products target women over forty and your line seems more geared to twentysomethings.”

A tight smile. “It’s called diversification.”

Eve Kelley was certainly a businesswoman through and through and had built a successful company herself. Any perceived arrogance was ill-worn confidence. “That’s smart thinking.”

Eve gave no reaction that Amanda’s compliment meant anything to her. “I thought it only made sense, and when Alicia came to me—”

“She approached you?” Trent jumped on that. Amanda was equally curious. If this were true, it would seem Alicia was eager to sell her business.

“Yes. She wanted to give me first dibs on buying New Belle.”

“That must have come as a welcome surprise,” Amanda said.

Eve’s eyes flickered, indicating what, Amanda wasn’t sure. “We had an arrangement,” Eve said.

Amanda noticed Eve hadn’t touched on the welcome surprise comment. “Which was?” Amanda was playing coy, interested to see if her response would match what they’d learned from Tony Bishop.

“The deal was I would make an offer, and it would be valid for one month. During that time, she was open to consider bids from other companies and investors. Then she’d circle back to me with her best to top.”

“Do you know who else was interested in New Belle?” Amanda asked.

“No. The other offers were blind—meaning the only one aware of the figures would have been Alicia and whomever she decided to share them with.”

That was a new tidbit. “My partner and I were surprised to hear of your interest. We’ve learned you two had a rocky relationship.”

“Not sure I’m following.”

“We heard that she stole the formula for Reborn from you,” Amanda said. “The serum upon which she founded her company.”

“Where did you hear such a thing?” There was a marked irritation in Eve’s tone.

“Not at liberty to say.”

“Well, I don’t know where you heard that.”

“If it is true, Alicia really didn’t have a right to sell what wasn’t hers.” Amanda let the similar wording from the threat to Alicia hang in the air.

“She built her business on many products. Besides, Alicia and I were moving past that.”

“So, she did steal from you?”

Eve pursed her perfectly painted lips together. Her jaw tightened. “I can’t say anything about this.”

“You can’t?” Trent pushed. “Is that why there’s nothing public about your claim?”

“It’s not just a claim,” Eve spat. She took a few seconds composing herself, pulling down on her shirt, nudging out her chin.

“Help us understand,” Amanda said.