On the ride over to the police precinct, Artie filled the two lawyers in on the situation with Star and Dirk.
"The shooting was going fabulous..." the flamboyant director exclaimed, "until there was an actual shooting! Then...lights, camera, tragedy!"
Raven, who was driving his bright purple Speedwagon, asked nonchalantly. "So this muscular chickadee had no reason to shoot Dick ...I mean Dirk Lord?"
"No way Jose," Artie said, straightening his beret as they arrived in the police parking lot. "Dirk and Star had nothing but respect for each other. And a natural chemistry on screen. You'd think it odd, an old Star Voyage actor and a young, androgynous starlet but the respect was mutual."
"Hmm," Mina said, rubbing her smooth chin. "That is kinda funky. Not even in my favorite tabloids were there rumors about them. Well, other than a will-they-or-won't they become the next Gollywood couple!"
"Personally," Raven said with a knowing smile. "There's a better chance of selling a crater to a moonman."
***
Business Park Police Department. 7:30 PM.
With only a half hour left for visiting hours, Mina dashed into the visiting room. A bullet proof glass window separated a row of phones on both sides. The floor was checkered and dirty. "Fortunately," Artie exclaimed. "I called ahead of time so she knows we're here."
"Oh my goshes!" Mina yelled looking through the glass. "Is that her?"
A figure in a light green and gold space warrior's outfit was pulling herself up on a large metal heat pipe. With a poofy pompadour and those ubiquitous planet shaped earrings, Mina soon realized that Venus Andromeda herself was doing pull ups in front of her eyes.
Artie tapped on the glass, startlingly Star and causing her to fall off the pipe. She landed catlike on her legs and turned around. Artie picked up the phone. "Star, what in development hell are you doing?"
Star flashed finger guns at the trio. "Maintaining my bufftastic bod for my harem of fangirls! When you don't have a celebrity gym at your disposal, you gotta make do with what you got!"
Her crystalline blue eyes twinkling. Mina took a deep breath from her mouth. She was peering at an actual celebrity. Star's eyes locked on Mina and cocky, relaxed grin spread itself. "Speaking of fangirls, Artie, who is this hot babelien? Did you bring her to keep me company later?"
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Mina took a step back and her jaw dropped open. Star continued to observe her like she was a fine piece of tenderloin. "Hey, sweetheart," Star said, winking. "What are you doing later?"
After an abrupt pause, Star added. "I'm sadly doing time."
"Uhh...ummm...." Mina stammered.
Raven placed his hand on Mina's shoulder. "That's babelien for 'I need a new brain because my current one crapped out'".
Mina shook her flusteredness away. "Hey my brain is perfectly fine. I just..." She gazed at her favorite space hero again and muttered, "homina homina homina!"
Raven chuckled. "Since my young protege has a bad case of the hominas, Miss Starlet, let me introduce her. This is Mina Hawkins. A soon-to-be famous attorney!"
Star's eyes widened. "Well well, didn't know there were any cute attorneys under the age of 50 these days. But she can lay down the law on me anyway.."
"Ouch," Raven squawked. "I'm only twenty nine. But anyway, I thought I'd introduce you two because I thought she'd like to represent you on the next court case!"
"What the huh?!" Mina exclaimed, snapping to attention. "Me? Represent her? Pardon my hominas, but I've only won one case. And it was with your help, Raven!"
Raven out his hands behind his head. "What better way for a parent to teach a child to swim than hurling their body in the deep end!"
Mina pouted. "You would be that parent."
"Exactomundo kid!" Raven grinned. "That's why I don't plan on having any kids, or I'd end up where muscles Magoo is right now!"
"Raven," Mina muttered. "You're terrible. But uh...I'd love to help you Star! But as long as you're okay with that."
Mina bashfully gazed at her heels. "You could probably hire any old attorney on the circuit."
Star gave a deep, manly chuckle. "Of course, I could hire any 'old' attorney on the circuit, but what about a cool, young one who actually watches my show!"
"Wowie zowie!" Mina exclaimed, her hands to her cheeks. "You know I'm a fan?"
Star held a finger gun adjacent to her chin to match her grin. "I know a true fan girl when I see one ...and you're wearing a large Venus Warrior badge!"
"Eeeeee!" Mina screeched, starstruck. "She knows!"
Mina flashed a pair of finger guns at Star and shouted "Ziggity Zap!"
Star sighed and leaned her head on the glass. "Can't even escape that catchphrase in the slammer."
Mina's eyes widened. "I had no idea you didn't like your catchphrase. It's so marketable! Nothing wrong with a cheesy catchphrase as long as its catchy!"
Mina leaned in close to the glass. She gave her favorite actress a wink. "I should know that personally!"
Raven astutely turned his eyes to Star. "Now before we start having a catchphrase measuring contest, how about you tell us about your relationship with Dirk Lord?"
Star thought for a brief second. "Dirk and I were the best of friends. No hetero obviously, but he was...cool."
Raven nudged her and Mina snapped out of her Star provoked stupor. "Umm why did you pause, Star?"
Star looked over to Artie. Artie nodded and Star's brow eased. "I paused..." Star said, "because Dirk was a mega prankster. He even replaced my crisco hair gel with vaseline, one time. Kinda pissed me off, but other than that, we were cool!"
Mina looked to Raven a bit worried. "What do you think, Raven? Would that really be a motive?"
"Shooting someone over Vaseline in their hair, kid? Come now, I taught ya better than this. A true motive is always deeper beneath the surface. Use your Extra Accessory Perception!"
Mina tapped her butterfly necklace and looked directly at Star. "Now it's time to get a good read on this megastar!"