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Offering her a hand, I say, “I have a few questions.”
She hesitates, then takes my hand. As I pull her out, I do a scan. It’s as I thought, she’s a mouse shifter.
She yanks her hand away the moment she’s standing and wipes it down her front. “Is this about the accidents?”
I nod. “What do you know about them?”
“Everyone’s been talking, so I probably know as much as anyone around here. You’re singling me out because I was on-set for every one of them, wasn’t I?”
I frown down at the diminutive woman. “How would you know that?” Unless she’s the saboteur.
“I live here. I’m here all the time so I’d be surprised if I wasn’t here during the incidents.”
I wasn’t expecting that. “You live here at the film lot?”
“Not exactly. C’mon, I’ll show you.” She sets off, scurrying away from the trailers. I reassure myself that Vanessa is safe with Stelios and set off with the mouse shifter.
She stops at the edge of the parking lot and points at a tree. “There’s a hollow.” A popping sound accompanies her shift as she shrinks into her clothes until they collapse onto the ground. A small furry brown mouse jumps out and rushes toward the tree, scurrying up the side until she reaches a small hole, then disappears inside.
I peer into the hollow. She’s created a cozy space with bright bits of cloth, fluff, seeds and nuts. I step back as she comes out and climbs down the tree and into her pile of clothes. As I watch, the coveralls seem to come to life as first the legs, then the sleeves fill out, then her head emerges from the neck hole.
“That was fucking cool,” I tell her with a grin.
She smiles back as she perches her glasses on her nose. “Rent and food are cheap when you only weigh a few ounces.”
“That makes sense, I guess, but doesn’t exclude you from the list of suspects.”
“I’ve got a good thing going here. Why would I mess with it?” Her eyes take on a sparkle. “And I love everything about this. Movie magic is being created in my own back yard. Of course I want to be involved. The commute is super easy and it’s a wonderful way to make some money while enjoying all the perks, like the fresh fruit buffet and unlimited access to bathrooms and showers. This is the most time I’ve spent as a human in a long time.” Her gaze becomes serious. “Which is why I’m not your saboteur.”
I shake my head, stroking my beard as I think. “Or you are and you’re trying to prolong your time here by setting back the filming.”
She mimics me, pretending to stroke her beard as she stares into the distance. “Or you’re looking at this from the wrong angle. Who has the most to gain from sabotaging the film?”
I laugh. “I think we just established you do.”
“No,” she says insistently. “Who has even more motivation than me?”
“I don’t know.”
I tilt my head as I stare at her. She seems to have a bead on everything going on in the area and she never leaves the set. She might be able to end my search here and now by giving up the culprit.
Her eyes widen. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You made it sound like you know who was causing the accidents.”
In a heartbeat, her mood changes from pensive to lighthearted. “Oh no, not at all. Good luck with your investigation, though.”
She drops to her hands and knees and crawls under the nearest trailer.
I lean over. “What are you doing down there?”
“Making sure the water and electricity lines are secure. After the incident with Hailey, I’m super careful.”
Before I can ask what she means, she’s gone.
Straightening, I ponder the mouse. I don’t want to suspect her, but she didn’t exactly clear her name. Still, based on what she said, it seems all roads lead to Hailey Whitmore.
It’s time to pay her a visit.
