Page 5 of Wild Sentinel

She ran through the same details as everyone else. So far, everyone had given me the same story.

"Did you have access to the firearm?”

"What do you mean by access?"

"Well, you all share the same dressing room. Benjamin keeps the weapon in a box on a vanity. So, you had access.”

"I don't pick up the weapon at any time during the show. I have no reason to ever touch it. Benjamin is the only one who handles the weapon. So, yes, I had access, but I never touched the weapon.”

"Have you handled it at any time during the production or rehearsals?”

She shook her head, and her raven hair swayed.

"Can you think of any reason why Ben may have wanted to kill Jonathan?”

Her plump lips tightened, and she thought about it for a moment. Then shook her head again. "I really can't think of anything. I know he wanted the part. He auditioned for it. There's been a little tension between the two. But I think that's natural. Their characters don't necessarily like each other. I think that manifested off stage.”

“In what way?

“I just think they have a general dislike for one another. I guess I should say had.”

"Did you ever date Benjamin?”

She looked at me like the notion was absurd. "No. My God, no! I’m a married woman. I don't date anyone but my husband.”

I glanced at JD. We knew better.

"Did you ever hear Benjamin express a desire to harm Jonathan?”

"No. Not really."

“Not really?“

She thought for a moment. "I mean, I heard him say derogatory things about Jonathan.”

"Like what?”

Melissa shrugged. "You know. The usual. That he wasn't a good actor. That he wasn't that good-looking. That he had no personality. That he was an asshole."

"Was any of that true?”

Her face tightened, and she grew defensive. "Jonathan was very good-looking. Very successful. I thought he was rather charming.”

It was clear she was fond of him. Didn’t mean they were sleeping together, but she had affection for him. It was in her eyes.

“I know it's all subjective, but if you ask me, I thought he was a great actor,” she continued. “I believed his performance. Every word of it.”

"In the play, your character has an affair with Jonathan, yes?”

She nodded. "Strictly on stage.”

"Was there ever any romantic involvement offstage?”

She looked offended again. "No! I told you. I'm a married woman.”

"Right," I said, trying not to sound too skeptical. "Did Ben ever make advances toward you?”

"Well, he tried. He asked me out for drinks once. I told him no. I’m⁠—”