Homicide in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

Author:Gemma Halliday [Halliday, Gemma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Comedy, cozy mystery, romantic mystery, mystery series, humorous mystery, nyt bestselling series
ISBN: 9781499321142
Amazon: 1499321147
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2014-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

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Bellissima was nestled along a trendy shopping corridor where small boutiques rubbed elbows with big-name designer stores and dozens of coffee houses. Tourists carrying cameras mingled with housewives from Beverly Hills toting their Birkins, with a few young Hollywood "It" kids sprinkled in between, loitering in the cafes in their short-shorts, Ugg boots, and gargantuan sunglasses. Parking was scarce, but I must have been on the traffic gods' good side as I found a spot on the street just two blocks from Bellissima.

Large glass windows faced the street on either side of the door, flanked by displays of mannequins with skin in neon hues, dressed in tasteful black-and-white, each sporting a pair of pewter kitten heels that had me drooling. I pushed through the doors and was greeted with the familiar scent of retail—new clothes, fresh leather bags, and a slight hint of expensive perfume. I inhaled deeply as I took in my surroundings.

The boutique was an eerie duplicate of the Sunset Studios set. The walls were stark white with shelves in the same neon hues as the mannequins lining them, artfully displaying handbags, shoes, and belts, while the main floor of the boutique was occupied by racks of blouses, skirts, and dresses. Along the back wall sat a large sofa, two chairs, and some curtained-off sections which I guessed to be dressing rooms.

I went to the first rack pretending to browse as I scanned the place for Liz. (Okay, I might have actually browsed a little too. Liz had good taste!) I spied a young woman with Bambi eyes, Lindsay Lohan lips, and long, pale blonde extensions behind the cash register, ringing up a purchase. Another blonde with almost identical make-up and hair stood near the dressing rooms, and a third clone was straightening shoes on a wall rack. I silently wondered if Liz had a hard time telling them apart.

Blonde Number Three spotted me and approached. "Welcome to Bellissima. May I help you with something today?"

"I was wondering if the owner was in?"

She nodded. "She's in the back. May I get your name?"

"Yes, Maddie Springer," I said, hoping Liz remembered me.

The blonde nodded, then scooted away toward a door behind the cash register.

I browsed for a few moments, wandering to the wall of handbags. Designer labels in leather and nylon stared back at me, assuring me that Bellissima was as high end as its address promised.

"Maddie?" I heard behind me. I turned to find Liz, her brown eyes blinking at me. "How wonderful to see you again."

"Lovely to see you too. I love the boutique," I told her honestly meaning it.

She brightened up right away, a genuine smile of pride on her face. "Thank you. It's sort of my baby."

"How long have you been here?" I asked, even though I knew full well from my handy dandy googling earlier.

"Just over a year now," she said.

"And business is going well?" I fished.

Liz paused, the smile faltering for a fraction of a second. "Of course! I mean, look around.

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