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!” E SME said, pointing out the spider to Janine and Giancarlo. “They’re poisonous. And they bite! Think of what could have happened to me.”
    Nancy started to slam the lid on the suitcase, but just before she did, she noticed a typewritten note in the suitcase: “How does it feel, Black Widow, to know you’re a liar?”
    With a shiver, Nancy pointed out the note to Esme. Now, the romance novelist let out another wail, one that brought Helen, Bob, Todd, and Kim to the dressing room.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Helen asked. She took one glance at the distraught Esme and shot her partner a look of dismay. “Are you okay, dear?”
    Esme quickly put up a hand and patted her hair, laughing nervously. “I must look like a mess. I was in the middle of changing when I found that in my suitcase. Needless to say, it gave me a shock!”
    Nancy stepped back to let the group view the black widow spider before slamming the lid of the suitcase. “It can’t hurt us now. What I’d like to know is, how did it get into Esme’s suitcase?” Nancy made a point of directing her gaze at Kim as she asked the question.
    Helen Klein smiled grimly. “I hope you find out, kid.” She checked her watch and, giving her partner a knowing nod, said, “Bob, we’d better go if we don’t want to miss that meeting.”
    â€œRight,” Bob Samuels agreed. He pecked Esme on the cheek. “Keep a stiff upper lip, Es. We’re going to need you to write that screenplay. Take care of her, G.C., would you?”
    Giancarlo put his arm around Esme. “I intend to, you can be sure.”
    As soon as Helen and Bob left, Janine went off to give instructions to the photographer, leaving Nancy, Bess, Esme, Giancarlo, Kim, and Todd standing outside the dressing room.
    â€œI think you’ve got a few questions to answer, young lady,” Esme said to her assistant. “You were responsible for that suitcase. Would you care to explain how someone managed to slip a deadly spider—and a threatening note—inside it?”
    Kim crossed her arms and narrowed her dark eyes on Esme. “Your guess is as good as mine,” she said.
    â€œThat’s no answer!” Esme cried.
    After pouting, Kim then addressed the rest of the group. “After I packed the suitcase, I left it in Esme’s room during the press conference. Where I thought it would be safe!”
    â€œObviously someone broke into Esme’s hotel room during the press conference and put the spider inside the suitcase, or else it happened here at the studio,” Nancy concluded.
    â€œBut that would mean it was one of us,” Bess concluded.
    â€œDon’t look at me!” Todd protested. “I hate bugs.”
    â€œKim, you had the suitcase with you once we arrived here,” Esme pointed out.
    There was an awkward silence. Esme stared at Kim, who started to say something but seemed to think better of it. She just turned and stalked away. Before she turned, Nancy thought she saw tears in the young woman’s eyes.
    â€œKim!” Giancarlo cried. “Don’t be that way!” He gave Esme an imploring look. “You know she wouldn’t do such a thing. You should go apologize to her right now.”
    â€œOh, please,” Esme said with a sigh. “I pay her well enough. I don’t have to apologize to her, too.”
    â€œYou’re a cold woman, Esme,” Giancarlo said.His eyes narrowed on her for a moment, and then he went after Kim, who had disappeared.
    â€œHarsh words,” Todd said lightly.
    â€œYou’d probably be the first to agree with him,” Esme said, her lips trembling. Nancy felt as though she and Bess were about to witness something very private. She coughed lightly to remind Esme and Todd that they weren’t alone. Then she edged away from them, trying to find a way to exit gracefully. She headed back toward the darkroom.