Third Degree: A fast-paced murder mystery (Double Blind Book 3) by Dan Alatorre

Author:Dan Alatorre [Alatorre, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Great Oak Publishing
Published: 2021-10-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

The guest house at the Van Essen estate was bigger than most regular houses Sergio had been in. Terrina showed him to a bathroom, where he could shower and dress, then she departed to get ready herself. A few minutes later, his tuxedo arrived.

The representative from Remington’s had brought a shirt, a tuxedo jacket and pants, shoes, bow tie, cummerbund—the works. It fit well, and Sergio looked good in it.

Not good enough to fool any of these guests that I’m actually part of the party, but good enough to not be mistaken for one of the waiters.

Clad in his borrowed formalwear, Sergio strolled across the lawn to Sylvia’s main house. A server with a tray of champagne showed him to the sunroom, where he busied himself by straightening his tie in a mirror near Sylvia’s desk. The butt of his service weapon was visible from underneath the tuxedo jacket when he leaned over, but the tailor had done the best he could. Sergio pulled the jacket closed and turned from the mirror, inspecting the “poinsettia Christmas tree” in the corner.

As Christmas tunes flowed from hidden speakers, there was a knock on the door.

“Detective?” A woman asked. “May I come in?”

Sergio dropped his hands to his sides. “Sure.”

An attractive woman opened the door and stepped inside, wearing the white shirt and black slacks of a server’s uniform and carrying a silver tray with a coffee urn and several porcelain cups. Setting the tray on the desk, she pulled a paper from her pocket and handed it to Sergio—a printed list of the party guests. “Miss Sylvia thought you might like to offer the guests coffee during your interviews. She also wanted me to ask if you had eaten. We have lots of food. I’m to bring you anything you’d like from the party.”

Sergio glanced at the list. “I got the impression I’d be able to go out occasionally. I’ll grab something then—Miss…”

She brushed her long dark hair off her shoulders. “I’m Daria, Miss Sylvia’s housekeeper.”

“Okay,” Sergio said. “Thank you, Daria. By the way, when do the festivities actually start?”

“This one starts at about six-thirty, sir.”

He glanced at her. “This one? Is there another one?”

Daria’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I thought—I assumed Miss Sylvia told you—”

The sunroom door swung open and Terrina walked in. She was dressed in a bright red sequin gown that could have been spray-painted onto her slender, curvy figure, her blonde hair piled high. Two long, luxurious curls draped each side of her face, bouncing back and forth to her diamond earrings.

Sergio held his confusion in check.

Terrina had short hair a moment ago. Guess this is extensions or a wig.

Daria slinked toward the door. “I’m sorry for the confusion. I’d better go.”

Putting a bracelet-laden hand to her chin, Terrina narrowed her eyes and inspected Sergio’s attire. “You look very nice, Detective Martin.”

“Back at ya.” He grinned. “Coffee?”

Terrina sauntered past the desk, her tiny purse bouncing against her hip. “I’m not a coffee fan. It’s probably for the—what did you call them? People of interest.

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