Read Online Murder on a Silver Platter (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 1) by Shawn Reilly Simmons - Free Book Online Page A

said.
    Penelope wondered again if Sam and Arlena realized they were not in fact legally married to each other. Arlena perched on the arm of the sofa next to Sam, placing her perfectly shaped feet on his muscular thigh.
    “As long as it’s okay with you, it’s fine with me,” Joey said. He took the manila envelope he had shown to Penelope and handed it to Arlena. “Look at these photos. We think Holly Anderson was attempting to contact you on the night she was killed.”
    “For what reason?” Arlena pulled out the stack of photos and began looking through them.
    “That’s what we’re trying to determine. We also found the car service she used to get out to your place. Livery cab left her on your street per her instructions.”
    “And the driver left her outside on a freezing night?”
    “Seems that way. She told him she lived at your house and that she was your sister.”
    Arlena looked up from the photos on her lap and stared at Joey. “Sister?”
    “That’s what she said,” Joey said. Penelope sat down in one of the white leather chairs opposite the couch.
    “Detective, it’s no secret that my father has many children, but to my knowledge they’ve all been acknowledged and accounted for.”
    “I’ve been reading up on your dad,” Joey said, nodding.
    Arlena sighed, shaking her head. “My father can be careless in his relationships. But he is also very loving and talented.” Arlena often sounded resigned when she spoke about her father. Penelope knew he was a source of both amazement and embarrassment for her.
    “Anything is possible when it comes to Daddy,” she said, shrugging. “I can’t say I’d be shocked if it turns out we were related.”
    Sam laid his hand lightly on Arlena’s thigh, gently massaging it. She looked back down at the photos, taking care to study each one before moving on to the next. “She was beautiful.”
    The last photo in the stack was the one of her in the superhero outfit, Holly in tight leather shorts and a skimpy tank top. Her long black hair hung in two braids down her back, and her hips were cocked, her thin hand perched on one of them. She had a sexy, slightly threatening look on her face.
    “Wait a minute. This is my picture,” Arlena said.
    “Your picture? What do you mean?” Joey said.
    “My picture. The same exact outfit and pose. Wait, look here.” Arlena grabbed her iPad off of the glass coffee table in front of her. She opened a folder and scrolled through several thumbnail images until she came to the one she was looking for. It was Arlena in the exact same outfit and pose as Holly’s photo. “Look.” She handed the iPad to Joey.
    “I can see they’re very similar.”
    “Similar? It’s an exact copy. I had that taken when I was up for Soldier of Fortune . I didn’t get the part, but I was in the running.”
    Joey nodded. “Where was this taken?”
    “The photographer’s name is Richard Tangelo. He’s in the city. He’s done lots of shots for me.” Arlena leaned back on the couch.
    “Are these published anywhere?”
    Arlena thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think so. I have copies and Richard does, and my agent. They get sent out to directors and casting agents all the time, so I guess they could end up anywhere.” She stared at a photo of Holly’s face. “She has Daddy’s eyes. She looks like us, doesn’t she?” She handed the picture to Sam, who nodded.
    “Unfortunately, Miss Madison, we have to consider the possibility that Holly Anderson wasn’t the target. That maybe she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And that someone killed her, thinking they were killing you.”
    “Kill me? What are you talking about?”
    Penelope sat up straighter in her chair and Sam’s hand stopped moving on Arlena’s shoulder.
    “We have to consider every aspect of this. This girl thinks that maybe she’s your sister. She finds out where you live and comes to your home, all the way from the city, to talk to you about it. She