a long time. Do you have children?”
Sheila shook her head. Some of the fire was gone from her eyes, but Mia knew she was treading close to the edge. “We meant to.”
“It’s so very sad. I hope you have someone to be with you. To help.”
“My sister lives in Queens.”
“That’s good. Ah, here comes your tea.”
Dahlia brought a pot of hot water and a box with an assortment of herbal teas along with two cups.
“Where’s the bourbon?”
“Coming right up,” Mia said, giving a nod to the bartender.
It was early yet, just past eleven in the morning. Mia was quite sure the bourbon was a bad idea, but she didn’t want to agitate Mrs. Geiger further.
“They all thought he was such a bastard. Well he wasn’t. He had a right to earn a living, just like anyone else. Those people, always complaining about the paparazzi, but they’d be pretty goddamn pissed if there was nobody wanting their pictures.
“I was the one who got the calls. Gerry was out working, so they’d call me. You know how all the photographers find out where the movie stars are gonna be? They call ahead, that’s how. They call my house and leave messages. They’re gonna be at Grand Union, at Hush, at all those bars all over the city. Then they spit on my husband for doing their dirty work.”
“I had no idea,” Mia said, sipping her Earl Grey.
Mrs. Geiger poured a very generous shot of bourbon into her cup. She didn’t even look at the tea. “Those bastards. You ask that goddamn Danny Austen. He called my Gerry. Don’t let him tell you different. He’s got some secrets, that one. Just ask him about Mexico. Then he gets upset when Gerry finds out he goes both ways, you know? Damn bastard.”
Danny Austen was bi. Mia had doubted it when Lorraine had suggested…but this confirmed the rumor, didn’t it? Or was the tail wagging the dog? Maybe Danny wasn’t bi at all. Maybe Gerry Geiger wanted to start something. Maybe that’s what had gotten him killed. And there was that Mexico thing. Interesting.
She looked sharply at Mrs. Geiger, afraid she’d given something away. The woman was upset, distraught. And drunk. The bourbon Dahlia had brought wasn’t her first. Probably wouldn’t be her last. “Did Danny and your husband have an argument? I mean, just before…”
“Argument is putting it lightly. I told that cop that it was Danny who killed him. He didn’t believe me, but that’s because Danny Austen is a movie star.’ Cause he has all that money. But money won’t get him off of a murder charge. Not if I have anything to say about it.” Sheila leaned in, and Mia had to stop herself from turning away from the alcohol on the woman’s breath. “He’s a killer. He thinks I don’t know. But I’ve got pictures.”
“From that night?”
Sheila took a drink, then leaned in once more. Only she stopped as the bar door opened. One of Piper’s assistants, not Lorraine this time, but Viv, was there as an escort to the meeting.
Mrs. Geiger didn’t give Mia a second thought. Grabbing her teacup of bourbon, she left the bar, cursing up a storm.
Mia went back to her station, wishing like crazy she could just go find Bax. Sheila Geiger had the camera! That must mean she was tied to the murder somehow, right? How else would she have gotten the pictures? No, Sheila hadn’t said they were from that night, so she’d better be careful what she told Bax. It was tempting to believe all she’d heard. Easy. Kind of how tempting it was to believe the tabloids.
She knew better. She would report what she’d heard but in a calm, clear way that didn’t reflect her own opinions. It’s what Piper would do.
Privately, however, she could think about what she’d heard. If Mrs. Geiger had the pictures from that night, what would that mean? That she’d killed him? Why would she want her husband dead, though? Sheila didn’t work. Geiger was her meal ticket.
No, it made a lot more sense that this was about Austen’s sex life. There were so many women madly in love with him, with his image, there’s no way his career would stay intact if it was known he slept with men.
And what the heck was up with Mexico? A secret tryst? An affair gone bad?
She got her personal cell and hit Carlane’s speed dial number. Her friend answered on the first ring.
“Have you heard any gossip about Danny Austen being bi?”
Carlane didn’t miss a beat. “What? Who did you see?”
“No one. It might be completely untrue. Have you heard anything?”
“God, no. He’s supposed to be the playboy of the western world.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“That’s it? You’re not even gonna tell me what you know?”
“I don’t know anything. It was a rumor, nothing more. And the person saying it was drunk, so it’s probably nothing.”
“Damn, girl. My heart’s racing. He can’t be gay. It would just break my heart. I told you. All the good ones are married or gay. There’s nothing left for us hetero gals.”
“Don’t panic. Seriously. Oh, wait, one more thing. Did Weinberg ever make a film in Mexico? With Bobbi or Danny or both?”
“Something about that rings a bell. Let me get back to you.”
“I appreciate it, sweetie.”
“Got a call. Talk to you later.”
Mia hung up her phone and slipped it into her pocket. Sheila Geiger had been drunk and devastated. No reason to believe her, not even about the pictures. Although Mia would still tell Bax about their conversation.
She got a little shiver thinking about him. Was it not the most courtly gesture ever to meet her at the subway? He’d looked really good this morning, too. He’d worn dark jeans, an incredible soft, dark-green shirt and a leather jacket to die for.
Oh, man, she was in trouble. She’d worked herself into quite the orgasm last night and all from thinking about the possibilities. It had been so long since she’d had a crush, and this one was major. They had only three months before he was off to Colorado. But three months would be enough, if…
The problem was, did he want there to be something between them? It was hard to tell. She’d thought for sure he’d wanted to stay last night, but he’d walked away without a backward glance.
Maybe he wanted to get together, but since they were working together…
Oh, crap. That was it. He didn’t want to risk the information. She’d basically become his informant. Maybe he thought things would get too messy if they pursued this…thing.
As far as she was concerned there was no cause for concern. They were both sensible and aware, and they both realized that the investigation had to come first. As long as they didn’t get all crazy about things, they could still work
