Part 3: The Understudy Who Knew Too Many Lines

Constance's lawyer arrived within the hour, though his presence did little to ease the mounting suspicion surrounding his client's evasive behavior.

"My client maintains her innocence entirely," the lawyer stated firmly, "though she's willing to answer questions properly now, with appropriate legal counsel present."

Ashworth resumed his careful questioning. "Where exactly did you go, Ms. Ainsley, when you stepped out during the second act?"

Constance glanced briefly at her lawyer before answering. "I met privately with Vivienne backstage. She'd requested the meeting specifically, insisting she needed to discuss something urgent before the performance concluded."

Prudence felt her breath catch. "That's exactly the timeframe when Vivienne seemed unusually nervous before her final scene."

"What did you discuss?" Ashworth pressed.

Constance's composure finally cracked slightly, genuine emotion breaking through her careful reserve. "She threatened to publicly expose the financial mismanagement during her curtain call, unless I immediately committed to specific corrective measures. I panicked, Detective. Not violently simply desperately. I offered her considerable money to remain silent instead, at least temporarily, until proper corrections could be made discreetly."

"Did she accept?" Ashworth asked.

"She did, actually," Constance admitted. "Reluctantly, but she agreed. I left her dressing room, returned to my box seat, and watched the remainder of the performance exactly as scheduled. I had no reason whatsoever to harm her, Detective. Quite the opposite her ***** has proven considerably more damaging to my investment than her silence ever would have."

Ashworth studied her carefully, clearly weighing the plausibility of her account. "Can anyone corroborate this meeting?"

"Vivienne's dresser, Agnes Fairweather," Constance said. "She was present throughout our entire conversation, helping Vivienne prepare for her final scene."

They located Agnes backstage later that evening, the elderly dresser confirming Constance's account precisely, adding one crucial detail neither Ashworth nor Prudence had previously considered.

"There was someone else backstage that night," Agnes said, wringing her hands nervously. "I noticed him lurking near the props table shortly before Vivienne's champagne glass disappeared. I didn't think much of it initially simply assumed he belonged there, given how familiar he seemed with the space."

"Can you describe him?" Ashworth asked urgently.

Agnes considered carefully. "Younger man, dark hair. I believe I've seen him before, actually, visiting Vivienne privately on several previous occasions."

Prudence felt sudden, sharp recognition. "That sounds like Edmund Pryce. Vivienne's former fiancé. Their engagement ended rather bitterly last year, if theatre gossip is accurate."

Ashworth's expression sharpened immediately. "Do you know where we might find him?"

"He works at a print shop two streets over," Prudence said. "Though I confess, I never considered him a suspect until just now."

They located Edmund within the hour, his initial composure crumbling rapidly under Ashworth's direct, pointed questioning about his presence backstage the night of Vivienne's *****.

"I only wanted to speak with her," Edmund admitted eventually, visible guilt evident in his trembling voice. "We'd been arguing for weeks, about the engagement, about things I'd said that I deeply regretted. I brought poison, Detective not intending genuine murder, simply... simply threatening her, hoping to finally provoke some genuine reaction from her indifference."

"Did you actually poison her?" Ashworth asked directly, voice hardening.

Edmund's face crumbled completely. "I put it in her champagne, yes. I never actually believed she'd drink it without noticing. I panicked afterward, removed the evidence, told myself surely she'd simply refuse the glass entirely."

to be continued... 🎭💔