Diane Vallere - Style and Error 01 - Designer Dirty Laundry by Diane Vallere

Author:Diane Vallere [Vallere, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery: Cozy - Humor - Fashion - New York City
ISBN: 9780984965304
Publisher: Polyester Press
Published: 2012-06-02T05:00:00+00:00

I drove out of the parking lot and turned right on Perkiomen Avenue. The address on Michael’s application wasn’t far. I passed a couple of diners and gas stations, one roller rink, and a beverage distributor before the numbers on the buildings came close to Michael’s address. I slowed down until I spotted a small shed that sat back from the road. The mailbox out front said MD Designs in black plastic letters.

I parked next to the mailbox and got out of the car. The shed was the kind you could buy at Lowes and place on the back of your property line to store your lawnmower and tools. It wasn’t a residence. I knocked on the door but no one answered. There were no cars around. Not one to waste a perfectly good opportunity I walked around to the back. A small blue Gremlin pulled up behind my car and Michael got out. I clutched my keys tightly and walked back to my car. There was no way to hide myself now.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“As you may know, I’ve stepped into Patrick’s role for the competition.”

“I don’t believe you.”

I thought quickly. His response, though argumentative, was not the same as saying he knew I was lying. I ran with it.

“Patrick had your name on his calendar for today along with your address. I think he wanted to review your ideas?”

“That’s not Patrick’s role. He was a judge. The judges don’t get to see the collections until they’re done.”

“So who sees them first?”

“Ms. Ingram, the consultant.”

“Florence? From Pins & Needles?”

“If you really were part of this competition you’d know that.”

“Michael, we both know Patrick must have seen your collection. You worked for him and you’re a finalist. I have a hard time believing you were able to keep everything secret from your boss.”

“I knew someone would say I cheated! That’s why Patrick didn’t want me to know about the bank account or the sponsors, so nobody could accuse him of favoritism.”

“But you do know about it, don’t you?”

“I’m not telling you anything.” He looked at my fist holding the keys.

“Keys.” I raised my hand and spread my fingers with the key ring hooked over my thumb so he could see I wasn’t hiding anything from him. “You told Eddie your keys were missing, but I found them in the office.”

“They were missing. After I get to work I always put them in the bottom drawer of my desk. Always. When I couldn’t find them I told security. I told the detective too.”

“What-who-when?”

“When he questioned me about you being at Tradava.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I never heard of you.”

“But you were Patrick’s assistant! He had to tell you about me!”

Michael’s deer-in-the-headlights stare relaxed into a very small smile. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But he’s not around anymore so it looks like you’re on your own.”

“Michael, I’m not the person the police are looking for.”

He snapped his fingers. “The police, that’s right. Detective Loncar asked me to call him if I saw you again.

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