Read Online Innocent in Las Vegas by A. R. Winters, Amazon.com (firm) - Free Book Online Page A

this airy feel.” The wide windows opened to the street and it was obvious she had magnificent taste. Unlike Sophia’s mansion, this place didn’t have that gaudy, opulent vibe, but it was clear that Vanessa had sourced the best things she could find.
    “You should do interior design for a living,” I said, and she laughed modestly.
    “Maybe someday,” she said, “If I keep feeling this bored.”
    I looked at her curiously. Sophia hadn’t told me much about the woman and internet searches hadn’t turned up anything either. “What do you do with your time?” I asked.
    Vanessa smiled and sat down, indicating that I should do the same. “I used to own a hairdressing salon. But I sold that two years ago and I’ve been trying to find something else to keep myself busy. Dealing with hairdressing clients got frustrating. I can’t imagine doing the same thing with interior design clients.”
    “Yes,” I mused, “I imagine they’d be picky.”
    She shook her head. “You have no idea. The women who hire designers are just so… I don’t know. Something. Demanding, unrefined, spoiled.”
    We smiled at each other with perfect understanding. I liked this woman.
    “So, Mrs. Conigliani– ”
    “Please, call me Vee, everyone does.”
    “Of course. Well, as I said, I’m here about Ethan Becker’s death. I think it would be easiest if we started with what you said to the police when they talked to you.”
    Her eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch. “I thought you were working for the police.”
    Right. I’d told her I was a detective, without mentioning that I was a private detective. Impersonating an officer was a federal offense, so I quickly said, “No, I’m a private investigator, looking into it.”
    “Who hired you?”
    “Sophia Becker.”
    “Oh. Well. I’ll try to help you, but to be honest, I think she did it. I’ve never really liked her and I think she must’ve gone nuts living with him.”
    “I understand he was quite the philanderer.”
    Vanessa smiled wryly. “Oh, that’s an understatement. I was such a fool to marry him. I got pregnant with Leo before I could do anything, and then I stuck it out for another ten years. I still can’t believe I stayed for so long.”
    “Was the divorce tough?”
    She shrugged. “All divorces are tough.”
    We sat silently for a while. “It must have been difficult, raising Leo by yourself.”
    “It wasn’t easy. I was lucky Ethan didn’t try to swindle me out of money. He paid my fair share in the settlement, and he paid alimony. He was a decent dad, I’ll admit. He didn’t try to worm out of responsibilities, so I think Leo dealt with it ok.”
    “I’ve met Leo. He seems like a nice kid, you must be very proud.”
    Vanessa smiled. “Yes, he’s sweet.”
    “I’m sorry to keep coming back to this, but Mr. Becker’s behavior? How long were you married before you discovered he was being unfaithful?”
    Her gaze drifted into the distance. “That was almost fifteen years ago… I really was in love with him, I didn’t care about his money or the casino or anything. Maybe that’s why it was so hard for me to believe he was cheating on me. But now I know he was probably only faithful for a few months. Just the first few months, until he got bored.”
    “Who would he… who did you think he was seeing?”
    She laughed drily. “Anyone who would sleep with him. He was the easiest man to seduce, he loved the low-hanging fruit and the women who wanted to please him. Didn’t care if it was a stripper or an attorney.”
    “Must’ve been tough.”
    Her eyes locked on mine. “It was.”
    A chill went down my spine. Despite Vanessa’s restraint, I knew she was unburdening her soul to me in her own understated way. I could imagine all the heartbreak she’d been through, and in the fickle crowd she mingled with, she’d obviously had no-one to share her woes with.
    I changed the topic quickly. Ethan Becker was dead but I couldn’t help dislike the