Sloane arrives at Invitation to the Dance hoping to learn about Jules LeFevre from his ex-wife, Janssen — a former Joffrey Ballet dancer whose career ended with a knee injury and whose marriage ended with Jules's infidelities. Janssen is hardened, bitter, and entirely without illusions. She confirms Jules's pattern: he finds wealthy women to bankroll his equestrian ambitions. He slept with both Portia and Hansi Reich. He moves on when the money runs out or the complications multiply.
// Critical Intelligence — The Saddle
Sloane asks if Janssen knew how Portia tracked her operations — whether she kept records, used a system. Janssen dismisses it. But in dismissing it she gives Sloane everything: Portia had a fetishistic obsession with her custom Hennig saddle. A $5,000 hand-crafted piece she refused to let anyone else touch or clean. Ever. Janssen advises Sloane to burn them both to the ground — Jules and Portia's records both — if she finds anything. Sloane leaves the studio with sudden clarity. The saddle. Whatever Portia was hiding, she hid it there.
FINDING: The Hennig saddle is Portia's ledger. Her get-out-of-jail-free card. It is in Stall 4.
