actions that defined a person’s true character- And although Kat Valentina might have been pretty, witty, and interesting, she had also been known as a liar, a swindler, an adulteress, and a wanton, bent on self-destruction.
Savannah ’s Granny Reid had told her that although someone might put on a charming facade, it was their actions that more clearly defined who was living inside the pretty package.
But Savannah decided to keep this bit of homespun wisdom to herself tonight, as they lay there enjoying their slumber party. If Tammy hadn’t figured out the difference between personality and character, she would. This didn’t seem to be the time for life lessons.
“Besides,” Tammy chattered on, “Kat had really changed the last two months or so.”
Savannah ’s investigator’s ears perked up. “Really? How had she changed?”
“I’m not sure, exactly, but she seemed more serious about things. She said she was changing a lot of her habits. Like drinking, for example.”
“Drinking?”
“Yes. She had decided to purify her body, said she needed to do it for her health’s sake. She was taking lots of vitamins and good stuff, was watching everything she ate, and she had stopped drinking completely. That’s why I was so surprised when she had that pitcher of margaritas there by the mud bath.”
Savannah rolled over onto her side, facing Tammy. “I hate to mention this, sweetie, but Kat wouldn’t have necessarily been the first person with a drinking problem to fall off the wagon.”
“I know. I thought of that. But I don’t think so. She seemed so determined to eat and drink only healthy stuff- h was like she was finally practicing what she’d been preaching-She seemed really motivated... almost scared, like she had to do it, or something.”
“Hmmm.” Savannah digested that for a moment. “Did you mention this to anyone?”
“Yes. I told Kat’s husband, Mr. Hanks, I thought it was strange that she was drinking again, when she’d been so good .“
“What did he say?”
“He said, ‘Nothing Kat did surprises me. I got over that a long time ago.’”
“Maybe he’s right. Maybe you’re reading too much into something that may have been just a lapse for her .“
“Maybe.”
Savannah could hear the doubt in Tammy’s “maybe.” But then, Tammy was a bit too trusting with people, a bit too eager to give them the benefit of that doubt... whether they deserved it or not.
Either way, it was something to consider. And something to check out.
“I think I need to find Lou Hanks and have a talk with him tomorrow,” she said. “I just have to finagle it without him getting suspicious.”
“Too late,” Tammy said. “I meant to tell you... he was looking for you this afternoon, heard you had checked in. Seems he’s already wondering why you’re here. I guess he knows you’re a detective and all.”
“Great.” Savannah sighed, plopped onto her back, and stared up at the ugly light fixture. “There’s nothing quite like going undercover... when everybody and their dog knows who you are.”
“What the hell!” Savannah bolted upright in bed, her ears ringing from the rude alarm that was sounding up and down the hallway. “What is that! A fire bell?”
A sleepy Tammy stirred in the bed next to hers. “No, that’s just the wake-up call.” She yawned, stretched, then bounced off the bed, fully rejuvenated. “We’ve got ten minutes to get dressed and outside for warm-up exercises.”
“What? Who said anything about exercising? Where’s my coffee? I need a Danish ... or two,” Savannah grumbled, her heart pounding in her throat.
Tammy hopped around the room, flinging off her flannel jammies and donning a shapeless gray workout suit. She tossed Savannah ’s to her.
“Act alive!” she pealed. “Shake a leg now, or we’ll be late.”
Savannah shot her a dark look as she climbed into the ugly uniform. The last time she had gotten up this early and dressed this badly
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