Larceny and Lace by Annette Blair

Author:Annette Blair [Blair, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction > Mystery
ISBN: 9780425229118
Publisher: Berkley Pub Group
Published: 2009-08-03T22:00:00+00:00

Twenty-six

To be carried by shoes, winged by them. To wear dreams on one’s feet is to begin to give reality to one’s dreams.

-ROGER VIVIER

As I got ready for my welcome-home party, Sampson’s conglomerate buyer called, and I hoped to get the details I’d been waiting for. By the time we finished talking money, he told me something about Broderick Sampson that I was so happy to learn, I let down my guard and admitted—maybe too soon for more information—that I’d decided not to sell.

The buyer about cried. I, on the other hand, held another puzzle piece. It didn’t answer specifics about Sampson’s death, but it might help me clear Tunney of the motive people were so willing to pin on him.

I still needed to solve the puzzle of the bones and find out who killed Sampson, so I intended to question everyone tonight. Was it gauche, I wondered, to use one’s own coming-home party for unabashed yet clandestine sleuthing? No one would call me on it, except maybe for Werner, but he wouldn’t show, not after today.

I chose squashed-heel Mary Janes upholstered in bold pink-on-black chintz, a cheeky shoe by Bennis/Edwards, and paired them with a sixties pink Betsey Johnson minidress, its long sleeves, shirred with elastic in three places, ending with a wrist-flare, an at-home party dress.

The muggy air curled my hair, giving it a bouncy life of its own, so I left it down. After so much time in Eve’s convertible, the sun had pulled out the hint of paprika that I liked because it reminded me of my mother.

Cars arrived while I dressed, and I couldn’t wait to go down. Chakra hurried me along with her meows.

The Sweets were waiting at the bottom of the back stairs, the ones closest to my bedroom.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said as I hugged them. “I’ve been dying to invite you to my grand opening ball on Halloween night.”

Chakra jumped into my arms to be dutifully petted by them.

As I related details, the younger Sweet’s expression soured. “I’m too old for that nonsense,” Ethel said.

“Well, I’m not,” Dolly, the centenarian, countered. “I’ll wear Tracy Lord’s wedding dress from The Philadelphia Story.” She didn’t need to say she was more than ready to see Dante again, but I noticed a new twinkle in her eyes.

I took the ladies, one on each arm, and walked them to a sofa. “Can you do me a favor, starting tonight?” I whispered. “Pay close attention to any gossip about Suzanne Sampson and anybody named Isobel.”

Dolly trembled in excitement as she agreed, while Ethel shook her head at us. I got them each a plate from the buffet before I went to meet the rest of my guests.

“Aunt Fiona,” I said. “Thank you, again, for today. I already thanked Dad, but I know you must have worked hard coordinating.”

“Sherry and Justin stayed in the apartment above my garage and handed out boxes to move. That’s why I knew when they arrived that they had the last of it.

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