Page 34 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Could your team members have created this without your knowledge?” Bel asked.

“I guess so, but not for the show. All episode designs come through me.”

“But in their free time?” Bel asked.

“Sure, but if you think someone on my team killed Gwen, you’re mistaken,” Ellery said. “We are artists. Not murderers.”

“Still, where were you the night before last between midnight and sunrise?” Griffin asked.

“In my hotel room,” she answered. “It was snowing… a lot. I wasn’t going outside.”

“Can your department make custom contact lenses?” Griffin asked. “And you said the creatures are created using practical effects. Would that include functional claws?”

“Um, have you seen this show?” The designer gawked at themas if they werealiens who’d never set foot on Earth.

“I take that as a yes,” he said.

“It’s half of what I do.” She leaned over and snagged what looked like a shaggy carpet. “Here’s an example.” She handed Griffin the fur, and he twisted it so Bel could see the bear-like claws.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She fingered the sharp tips. “They seem too small.”

“We make all sizes,” Ellery said. “There are a lot of creatures on the show, and these are just the costumes. The prop department makes the weapons, and the special effects team oversees the practical effects. We have every version of a claw that you can imagine.”

“Can anyone come by and take stuff?” Bel asked as she slipped her hand into the glove, her fingers transforming into a monster.

“We lock up at night, but sure,” Ellery said. “Our production assistants run props and costumes for us. My team and I handle the important or expensive items, but the cast and the crew have access to everything else.”

“So someone could’ve created that red cloak or a weapon without your knowledge, then removed it fromset?” Bel pushed.

“Well, I can’t speak to the prop department, but it’s entirely possible. We’reincredibly busy, Detective, and we sew costumes. It’s not like we’re creating bombs and leaving them unattended for anyone to snag. The special effect crews are the ones with explosives, but they maintain a much tighter control over their creations.Ijustmake outfits and creatures.”

Bel glanced at Griffin, and the hardness of his gaze told her he agreed. It wasn’t the slam dunk they needed to identify a suspect, but it supported her theory that a cast or crew member could’ve used the show’s designs to kill one of their own.

“Did you work with Gwen Rossa often?” Bel asked.

“No. I knew her, but we didn’t work closely. She wrote the scripts and edited them with the directors, who then met with me to map out the character visions. The show rotates directors, but Warren Rouge has the most episode credits. I know him well, but Gwen and I rarely spent time in the same room.”

“So, you wouldn’t know if anyone hated her or wished her harm?” Bel asked.

“Unfortunately, no… why all the questions? The reporters are saying it was a crazed fan.”

“We cannot comment about ongoing investigations,” Griffin said.

“Ha,” Ellery scoffed. “So weird hearing that outside ofset. But I understand.”

“Are there any problematic crew members?” Bel pressed. “Or someone who had a grievance with another cast or crew member?”

“No. Aesop’s Files was almost canceled a few years ago, but after going viral, we became one of the most viewed shows. We’re all thankful for this opportunity.”

And there it was.

Bel figured Miss Roja didn’t even realize she’d done it, but the second she said they were thankful for the opportunity, her demeanor changed. It was a subtle shift, a flash across her features, but Bel had been watching for it. Someone wasn’t happy with the show’s success, and Ellery Roja knew who it was.

“So, no disgruntled employees?” Bel stepped closer to the woman, forcing her neck to strain as she looked up. “Someone who didn’t stick around long enough to see Aesop’s Files’ fame?”

“We’ve had people leave,” she said. “Like Willow Moon.”

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