Vanessa sighed dramatically, "My hero!" She kissed him back, then walked over to Evan, who was standing off to the side watching the police officers and forensics people.

The other three watched intently as Vanessa talked. They couldn’t quite make out what she was saying though, as there was so much else going on backstage. After several minutes, Vanessa led Evan to the alcove.

Evan sat down reluctantly. "I’m only doing this as a favor to Vanessa." His eyes narrowed. "So make it snappy!"

Frank sized him up. The young man was well-built, of medium height, with plain brown hair that hung limp and straight. If it hadn’t been for his ice cold blue eyes, he would have been completely non-descript. Vanessa had already explained to Evan why they wanted to talk to him, so Frank dove right in. "How long have you been working here?"

"Couple of years," Evan answered shortly.

"Long enough to know about Clancy Barrett’s relationship with Benjamin Whittington?"

"Yeah. Everybody on Broadway knows Whittington blames Barrett for his son’s death."

"Do you think Whittington was mad enough to try and kill Clancy?"

Evan shrugged. "How should I know? I don’t know the man."

This is going nowhere! Frank though. We have to rattle him, and if he’s guilty he’ll shake. Frank changed tactics. "Then how do you explain that urgent-looking conversation the two of you were having earlier?"

Evan froze, like a deer caught in oncoming headlights. "What conversation?"

"The one right before I introduced myself to him." Frank stared at Evan as he visibly squirmed.

"I just asked him a question. That’s all. I do that from time to time."

Frank nodded, not believing him for an instant. "That’s all I wanted to know."

Evan quickly stood and bolted.

"Want me to follow him?" Joe asked. Frank nodded and Joe took off in hot pursuit.

"Trying to scare him into making a mistake?" Vanessa asked.

"Yes. That is not the behavior of an innocent man. I do hope this works."

It was then that both girls noticed how tired Frank looked. He was doing so well, they had forgotten that he wasn’t back up to full speed yet.

Meanwhile, Joe had followed Evan deep into the recesses of backstage. Don’t get lost, Hardy! Joe thought to himself. Finally, Evan stopped.

"They’re on to the whole thing!" Joe heard him say.

"I was afraid of that," a distinguished sounding voice replied.

"I want out!" Evan said forcefully.

The other man laughed. "You can’t get out now. You’re in too deep, Williams. I told you falling for Olivia Moreau was dangerous!"

Joe’s eyes widened at that. Not only was Evan an accomplice to murder, but he was also in love with the victim’s former fiancée!

"We never would have been able to do this had you not convinced Clancy that Olivia was seeing someone behind her back."

Joe crept closer to see if he could get a look at the other man. He couldn’t risk turning on his penlight, so he was very careful. But not careful enough. His foot hit a crate and sent it skittering across the floor. He quickly scooted back into the shadows as the talking ceased.