One for the Road and Death by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patti Larsen Books

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Chapter Seventeen

I was almost home, Petunia huffing her excitement at the sight of our house at the top of the street, when I spotted Lyrica Valios entering the front door of The Iris. My body diverted its path without my conscious choice to do so and I found myself, my equally joyful pug slipping through into the gorgeous foyer of my mother’s bed and breakfast, the puppy in eager anticipation of treats I knew Mom slipped her when I wasn’t looking.

But Petunia didn’t get to head right to the kitchen, not when I was stopped in my tracks by a confrontation unfolding at the foot of the stairs. Soso Kaito stood on the first step, Olga facing her, Lyrica at her side, the three whispering heatedly at one another. Soso looked up and caught me watching, her eyes flying wide at the sight of me before she snapped one last line at Olga before spinning and running up to the second floor. Olga didn’t even glance my way, marching toward the dining room and disappearing through the glass doors. Only Lyrica lingered, turning to smile at me as I approached, her expression tight in her attempt to hide the simmering anger in her eyes.

“I hope everything’s all right?” I kept my tone mild with her, too, though it did little to soften the simmering edges of her emotional state.

“Of course,” she said, rather loudly and with too much emphasis, pulling herself back in a moment later, hands clasped in front of her while she grimaced that attempt at a smile again. “How goes the investigation?”

“I had a few questions for you,” I said. “Do you have a minute?”

She hesitated, but nodded finally, gesturing toward the French doors leading to the living room like this was her place, not my mother’s. “Shall we?”

I sat with her as one of Mom’s staff appeared, offering coffee. I’d been forced to order tea at Sammy’s and gazed with longing at the steaming cup Lyrica accepted, feeling a bit grumbly over the peppermint the girl handed me, Mom’s influence, no doubt. I cupped the hot mug in my hands while Lyrica settled, her face now schooled into concern and compliance.

“What did you need to know?”

I pondered the best way to broach Daisy’s question and decided head-on was the best bet. “I’m wondering why someone like you would fund Harish Denning when his track record was so dismal.”

She nodded immediately, confidence fully returned, so she’d clearly been expecting this question. Did that mean there one she was hoping I wouldn’t ask? “I understand your concern,” she said. “I saw a brilliance in Harish that outweighed his previous business difficulties. He just needed the right support.” She shifted her position, crossing her legs, one black boot hooking over her other knee, elegant suit making her look like the model I knew Olga had been. “I’ve had my own troubles in the past, Fee. I wasn’t always a good person. The Valios Group is my attempt to make sure everyone gets the chances they deserve.

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