7 Triple Shot by Sandra Balzo

Author:Sandra Balzo [Balzo, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9780727880796
Google: 2lNHuAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1847513816
Goodreads: 12246497
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-11-30T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Not really a surprise, I thought, as the current, unidentifiable song ended, and Gabriella Atherton disappeared into a crush on the far side of the floor.

We knew Brigid Ferndale wanted to work for Atherton. Upon further questioning, Benjy told me that after the first woman – presumably TV producer Deirdre Doty – left, Brigid went into the entrance foyer and returned with Atherton. The two had retired to a table and, not twenty minutes after sitting down, Brigid had paid her tab for the one drink she’d actually ordered, collected her handbag and left.

With Gabriella Atherton? Benjy hadn’t noticed.

So, was Atherton the last person to see Brigid alive?

That I didn’t know.

But Atherton ought to be able to provide a few pieces to the puzzle.

I wended my way through the growing crowd on the dance floor and then started circling the far tables, searching for her. The strap of my purse was over my left shoulder, with the body of the bag tucked under that elbow. I held my wine glass out front in the opposite hand. My strategy was to protect the purse from pickpockets and my Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon from the bag, lest it be sent swinging as I squeezed past clumps of seated people.

I probably looked like a punt-returner securing the football as I dodged the other patrons in a slow-motion, broken-field run.

‘Maggy?’

I turned to see Ward Chitown and Deirdre Doty sitting at a table I’d overlooked.

‘Would you care to join us?’

I didn’t see why not. Maybe Doty could tell me something more. Like confirming what time she’d left Brigid Ferndale and why the sales apprentice had given the TV producer a lockbox combination.

‘I’d love to, thanks.’ I chose the chair next to Chitown and set down my glass.

‘You’re nearly empty, can I get you another?’

I looked at the tiny pool of wine number two in the bottom of its glass. Huh. ‘That would be very nice, but it’s the Cakebread Cab.’

Chitown blinked. ‘However, you are enjoying it, correct?’

‘Ward, enjoying it just doesn’t capture the magic.’

Chitown nodded, waved over a waiter and placed the order for my drink, as well as two boutique bourbons – his straight up with a water chaser and Deirdre’s on the rocks. I knew the bourbons would vie with the price of my wine because while he prefaced his and Deirdre’s request with the word ‘bourbon’, I’d never heard of the distillery or the name of the whiskey itself.

Deirdre leaned forward over the table. ‘I’m so glad we ran into you, Maggy. I really need someone—’

‘Wait, wait,’ Chitown interrupted. ‘First things, first. Maggy, we would love for you to come to the show on Saturday. We think there’s plenty of room at both the Ristorante and slaughterhouse for us to create a small –’ an index finger went up – ‘and I do mean small, studio audience.’

‘Including Elaine Riordan?’ I asked.

‘A very enthusiastic Elaine Riordan, who will be here any minute. Elaine will have her own moment in the sun,’ Chitown said, ‘as, happily, Deirdre’s been able to put her to work.

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