MURDER IN MANHATTAN: The Camille Divine Murder Mysteries - Book 7 - A 1920s female sleuth, private investigator mystery by Ándrea Hicks

Author:Ándrea Hicks [Hicks, Ándrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andrea Hicks
Published: 2023-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

THE ORCHESTRA CONTINUED playing a selection of music, some to which the guests consumed the sumptuous buffet, some to which they took their partners and danced the night away. The auction took place after the buffet was closed. There were staggering lots on offer, trips to skiing venues, a personal chef in one’s home for a week, and vacations at The Hamptons. Camille kept her bidding paddle in her hand until the one came up she was interested in.

‘Will you bid, Mama?’ Ottilie asked her.

‘I’m waiting for the right one, Ottilie,’ she said quietly. ‘I know what I’m waiting for. Let’s see if it’s on offer.’ Camille’s patience was rewarded halfway through when a dinner date was offered with Keenan Davis.

‘You want a date with him, Mama?’ gasped Ottilie in astonishment. ‘But he’s so old.’

Camille, Elsie, and Cecily laughed. ‘I want to find out more about the Alpha Consortium, Ottilie,’ Camille whispered. ‘Not marry him.’

She continued to bid until she had won her prize. It was a dinner date with Keenan Davis at the five star restaurant at the Metropolitan Museum.

‘There,’ she said as she replaced her paddle in the box offered by one of the attendants. ‘Mission accomplished. Donation made as they obviously wished, and a dinner with the head of the committee.’

‘Let’s ‘ope yer don’t regret it,’ said Elsie her eyes widening. ‘I reckon I’d rather ‘ave a date wiv your Chief Detective. ‘E’s as dishy as they come.’

‘He isn’t my Chief Detective, and he may be dishy, but he’s also taciturn and objectionable.’

‘Ooh,’ cried Elsie. ‘Careful, Camille, or we might think you fancy ‘im. Better not let ‘is nibs find out.’ Camille rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The gala continued without event. Camille and the others were kept occupied with full dance cards which delighted them. Camille could not help noticing that Chief Detective Robards did not dance at all, simply walked around the perimeter of the ballroom watching the guests. She averted her gaze from him and looked around the room, wondering if there were other members of the police at the gala, and if so, why. She spotted a few men dressed in tuxedos, standing at their ease around the room, nursing spirit glasses, but not speaking to any of the other guests. Camille was sure they were from the NYPD.

At a quarter to midnight the last dance bell sounded. There were groans from the guests who had wanted the Gala to continue into the night.

‘It went so quickly, Madam,’ cried Cecily. ‘But I’ll never forget it. It was wonderful. Thank you.’

Camille put her arm around Cecily. ‘It was wonderful wasn’t it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I know you were worried you’d look out of place, but Cecily, you fitted in perfectly. And...you can dance.’

‘It would have been nice if Russell had been here.’

Camille nodded. ‘Perhaps next time? At your wedding?’

Cecily gasped but couldn’t help grinning. ‘Madam! ‘E ‘asn’t asked me, or anythin’.’

Camille chuckled. ‘He will.’ She turned Cecily towards her. ‘Now look, Cecily, there’s something I need you to do for me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.