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seem to be an insult hidden under friendly words.
    “Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate friends like you spreading the word.”
    “Was Michelle up there?” asked Mellie. “Poor thing, she’s been so depressed after her divorce.”
    We were meandering toward the nearest subway entrance, and Lisa glanced around, trying to find a cab.
    “Really?” I said. “She didn’t seem that depressed to me.”
    “Well, it’s not like she doesn’t date ,” said Lisa. “But – you know. She’s not settled down like we have.”
    I nodded. Lisa was married, and now Mellie was engaged, so of course they’d be smug and annoying about marriage.
    “What about Darren?” asked Mellie. “Was he there, too?”
    “I just met him briefly.” I looked at Mellie. “What’s he like?”
    Mellie and Lisa exchanged a quick glance and giggled. “Dreeeamy,” said Lisa.
    The two giggled again, and I felt a little cross.
    I turned to Mellie and said, “Oh, I’m sure he’s not as dreamy as your fiancé.”
    Mellie smiled politely. “Oh, aren’t you sweet. But Darren’s – he’s one of the best-looking men around. And he’s a real ladies’ man, too.”
    “How’d you mean?”
    “Oh, you know. A different lady each night.”
    I frowned. Was that why he’d asked me to dinner tomorrow night? Was I going to be his Friday night lady? Of course, that might not be too bad – he certainly was dreamy.
    “That’s not true,” interjected Lisa. “Didn’t he have a girlfriend, once?”
    Mellie nodded. “But that’s about it. He plays the field.”
    “Yeah,” said Lisa. “That’s why you never actually get with him. You can look – but guys like him, if you sleep with him, word gets around. After that, you’ll never be able to lock down that Top Tier husband.”
    I wanted to gag. Lisa and Mellie were always talking about locking down a Park Avenue husband, or a Top Tier husband, or any such strangely-adjectived husband, and it made me sick. I couldn’t imagine such “locked down” marriages being particularly happy.
    “Anyhow,” said Lisa. “Have you found much out about Esme’s death?”
    I smiled. “I’m not allowed to say. But we should all get together after it’s over – I’d love to hear how you’re doing.”
    We’d reached the subway entrance, and the two women were looking at me like I’d taken the pie they’d given me and thrown it back into their faces.
    I wiggled my fingers goodbye, and disappeared into the subway entrance. Lisa and Mellie stayed behind on the street, still looking for a cab that they could take back to work.
    For once, I didn’t feel so bad after talking to them.
    Although, after our chat, Darren was starting to look slightly less attractive.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    “I have an audition!” Jerry was just about hopping from one leg to another. “My agent got me an audition!”
    “As what? A guy who goes to jail for a murder he didn’t commit?”
    Jerry made a face. “Why’re you always so serious?”
    “And why are you always so …” What was the opposite of serious? “ Un- serious?”
    “That’s not a word.”
    “Is too. It means someone who’s immature and never worries about the future.”
    “Oh? We–”
    “What audition?”
    I sat down at the kitchen table, and found the pile of index cards and my notebooks right where I’d left them the day before. As Jerry talked, I transferred everything I’d learned to those cards. I left out the part about Darren being so good-looking, but I noted that he (according to Lisa and Mellie) liked to sleep around and that he wasn’t a good person to lose your heart to. Which didn’t make much sense in the grand scheme of the investigation, but was probably a good thing for me to remember.
    Jerry babbled on as I took notes. “…And it’s for this new TV series, and if the pilot does well, it’ll be picked up for the whole season! And I could be on TV, every week, for a whole ten weeks! Or eight, or