Read Online Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins - Free Book Online Page B

shine on his shoes . . . Dear God. He was Pryce all over again, my ex-fiancé who had dumped me when I flunked out of law school because his parents didn’t feel I lived up to the Osborne family standards.
    I shuddered at the memory. “Okay, yes, I agree that on the surface he reminds me of Pryce, but this goes deeper than that, Nikki. I have a sixth sense about people, and that sense is saying Jonas is an accident waiting to happen. Please, Nikki, stay away from him.”
    At that moment, a smooth male voice said, “Hello, again.” I turned to find the giant ego in question standing behind us with a fluted glass in each hand. “I thought you ladies might like a fresh drink. Champagne okay?”
    “Thanks,” Nikki gushed, gazing dreamily at him. “That’s so sweet.”
    “Happy to oblige.” He gave her a movie-star smile. I half expected to see his teeth twinkle.
    Handing me the other glass, Jonas slid neatly between us, singling Nikki out. Finding myself suddenly facing his back, I moved away, debating whether I should butt back in or just trust that Nikki would eventually get sick of his smarmy charm and give him the brush-off.
    Suddenly, I spotted Carmen Gold standing at the end of the bar, staring at Jonas with a look of pure contempt. She saw me and left the room.
    What was that about?
    “My lady Ruby Royale,” Del said, giving me a sweeping bow. “How dost thou fare?”
    “Fare thee well,” I sang, and turned squarely into Iris. She was holding a glass of red wine, and as it sloshed onto her jumper she glanced at me, her misshapen mouth agape.
    “I’m so sorry ,” I cried, grabbing a stack of cocktail napkins off the bar and handing them to her. “I didn’t see you there. Oh, look at your jumper. Listen, I’ll pay to have it cleaned.”
    “That’s okay,” she said, sopping up the wine. “I own a dry cleaner’s. Usually I’m the one getting people to spill on themselves. It’s a great way to drum up business.” She waited a beat, then went, “Ba-dum-bum. That was supposed to be a joke.”
    “Oh, sorry.”
    Iris rolled her eyes. “Not as sorry as I am.”
    To cover the awkward moment I asked, “So is your dry cleaner’s here in Maraville?”
    “New Chapel.”
    “No kidding. I’m from New Chapel.”
    “I know. I’ve seen your picture in the newspaper. You’re the underground florist.”
    I stared at her. “Underground?”
    “Under. Ground. You know, like flowers grow in soil? Like you use your flower shop as a cover to solve crimes?”
    “Ah. I get it.”
    “Tough crowd,” she muttered, pretending to tug on an imaginary necktie.
    “What’s the name of your dry cleaner’s?”
    “Frey’s. It was my father’s business until he died; then it passed to Mother and me.”
    “Did you go to New Chapel High?”
    “Private school. My parents wanted to make sure a better class of kids were making fun of me.”
    What could I say to that? At least I knew why I hadn’t recognized her.
    “It’s okay to laugh,” Iris said. “I’m a stand-up comic.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “I hope not. A serious comic? Now, there’s an oxymoron for you. I perform at the Three Cs Club—that’s short for Calumet Comedy Club—on Wednesday nights.”
    Judging by the jokes I heard, I could understand why they put her on a slow night. I glanced around and saw Delroy waiting for an opportunity to approach me again, so I decided to hang on to Iris a while longer. “First time here?” I asked her.
    “And the last, if Miss Silver-and-Gold has her way.”
    “Did Carmen say something to you?”
    “Are you kidding? Even her mole shudders when I come close. And would someone please buy her a lawn mower for that turf on her chin?” Iris waited for my laugh, then tapped on her thumb and said, “Is my microphone on?”
    Not that a mic would help her any. “Have you met anyone interesting tonight?”
    She used her glass to point to someone behind me. “Have you met him yet?”
    She was pointing at Jonas.