Chapter 5
“Jesse Sutton,” Lacey said. She texted me his contact info.
"Tell me about the breakup,” I said. “It was his idea, obviously."
Lacey nodded.
"Did he threaten her?"
"I don't really know. Heated words were exchanged. He called her every name in the book."
"Was he ever abusive?”
Lacey shook her head, and her blonde hair swayed. "I don't think so. She never said anything to me about it, but who knows what happens behind closed doors.” She paused. "You don't think this was a suicide?”
"It looks suspicious.”
Lacey stiffened, and she swallowed hard. Her eyes bulged. "You think Jesse killed her?”
"People do insane things when they're jealous. Was he still in love with her when they broke up?”
Lacey shrugged. "I can't speak for the guy, but I think so. Eden was gorgeous. Who wouldn't be in love with her? The girl was a total package.”
"Except for the part where she slept with everyone on the planet," JD muttered.
Lacey frowned at him. "Not everyone.”
Jack gave her a flat look.
"Okay, maybe it was a little excessive.”
"Tell me about the drugs," I said, steering the ship back on track.
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?”
"I've got a condo in the Nautilus just down the hall from Eden.”
"Can anyone verify your whereabouts?"
She exhaled and gave me an annoyed look. "I was doing a livestream. I’ve got about 100,000 people who can verify my whereabouts. Feel free to check the replay if you like."
She told me she'd send a private link to the livestream. I wouldn’t have to be a subscriber to see it. "Who knows? You might become a fan," she said with a flirty glint in her eyes.
Lacey was easy to look at. There was no doubt about it.
“What do you know about the gun?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know she had one.”
I thanked her for the info and told her I'd be in touch if I had any additional questions. JD and I transferred back to the sailboat and caught the sheriff up to speed.
Brenda and her crew bagged the body, and we transferred the remains aboard the sheriff's patrol boat. JD and I stayed aboard the sailboat and navigated it back to the Sheriff's Department. It would remain in the property department as evidence now.
We sat in the cockpit, enjoying the morning as the wind swirled. The sun sparkled the water as the boat cut through the swells.
"What do you make of this one?" JD asked.
I shrugged and said, "I think we need to find Ethan Rexrode.”
Back at the station, we filled out after-action reports, then set out to find Eden’s parents. I was not looking forward to breaking the news.