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people from outside the church, that’s all.”
    Candy snickered. “Right. And that’s why you blush every time you so much as
mention Big Boy’s name.” Cece started to protest, but Candy held up a hand. “Enough about Jackass. I’d like to get through lunch without
indigestion, and I wanted to give you a housewarming present.” Her blue eyes
sparkled as she reached in her enormous purse and pulled out a bottle of Jack
Daniels. “To us, baby! How ’bout a threesome with Jack back at your place? We
can celebrate renewing our bond.”
    Cece choked, feeling as
though she were about to hyperventilate. She snatched the bottle and stuffed it
in her canvas tote bag, glancing around to make sure no one saw as she caught
her breath. “Wow, um, thank you for the gift, but honestly, Charity, you’re
going to give me a heart attack yet.”
    She didn’t want to hurt
her sister’s feelings, but they were vastly different people. She couldn’t
throw the gift away, but she knew exactly where she’d put this little token. It
would warm the house, all right. Right inside the cupboard
high above her kitchen sink, where no one would find it.
    Candy chuckled. “You really
need to loosen up.”
    “And you need to come to
church.”
    Her sister studied her. “I’ll
make you a deal.”
    “I draw the line at
threesomes of any kind.”
    “I get that, even though
you don’t know what you’re missing.” Candy laughed. “You let me give you a
makeover, and I’ll go to church with you.”
    “Yayyyy!” Cece squealed and
clapped her hands. She would do anything—okay, almost anything—to save her sister from the path she was on. “It’s
a deal.”
    “By the way, did you
find out anything more about who might have killed the senator?” Candy asked,
digging into her Caesar salad at last.
    “Just
that the police are leaning toward a disgruntled husband or boyfriend. They think the senator
was having an affair since he does have a reputation for being rather fond of
the ladies. It always surprised me that Mrs. Sloan put up with her husband’s
indiscretions.”
    Candy snorted. “I don’t
think his wife had to worry.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Let’s just say the senator
frequented the club a lot.”
    “That’s not surprising.”
    Candy leaned forward
with a sly grin. “What is surprising is that for such a ladies’ man, I heard he
couldn’t get it up.”
    “You’re kidding!” Cece
sat back, stunned. “Maybe his wife never left him because she knew she didn’t
have to worry. I don’t think the senator was having an affair; I think he was
impotent and trying like the devil to cure himself.”
    “Hmph. I never thought about
it that way. You just might be right.” Candy shrugged, then
went back to eating her salad.
    “Hey, I just thought of
something I have to do. Can you cover for me? I only need about twenty
minutes.”
    Candy’s smile
disappeared. “What are you up to? You’re not thinking of looking into this case
yourself, are you?”
    “Don’t be silly. I just
need some space to clear my head, and well, darn, you’re right. That ole Jacko
is a pain in the keister.” Cece snapped her fingers.
    “You are so full of bull, it’s not even funny—but whatever. Any chance to pull
the wool over Jackass’s flattop, I’m game.”
    “Great. I owe you.”
    “I know.” Candy’s eyes
sparkled, and Cece decided she’d worry about that look later.
    “So how are we going to
pull this off?”
    “Wait—I have a plan. I
know the owner, and she has long brown hair too. Not hair
like yours, but long enough to pass, especially since you have yours up
in that god-awful librarian bun. Sit tight.” Candy slipped into the kitchen and
spoke with a woman behind the counter for a moment, then reappeared with a big,
floppy straw hat. “Here, put this on.”
    “Why?”
    “Just trust me for once,
would you? You asked for my help, so let me help.”
    Their eyes met, and Cece
felt a pang of hope. “Okay.” She