greeted me cheerfully. She was a petite woman several years her husband’s senior, but she strove to keep her figure trim enough to wear expensive, tailored fashions. Tonight she looked svelte in plum silk with a pearl necklace and matching earrings. She swept me into their home to meet the other guests and admire her decorating skills.
The grand salon of the Aquinas home showed Evie’s penchant for endless shopping. Flowered chintz pillows and dozens of fussy bibelots mixed with fine Hepplewhite furniture that had come from Evie’s old-money Philadelphia family, the Cardomans. Heavy Scalamandre draperies hung in swags from the tall windows. The rose, powder blue, and buttercream colors were also echoed in velvet upholstery and the subtle shades of the enormous floral rug. Nautical prints hung at precise intervals on the walls.
Unlike Lexie, who had the confidence to live in a simple, self-effacing sort of home, Evie seemed to need to acquire more and more belongings to confirm who she was.
“Your home is more stunning than ever,” I told her. “Every little addition you make enhances the elegance.”
Having heard satisfactory praise for her efforts, Evie happily went off to find me a drink.
I saw Lexie Paine talking with friends by the grand piano. She spotted me at the same instant and met me beside a tray of hors d’oeuvres on a sideboard. Lexie looked fabulous in an understated Valentino suit cut to emphasize her slender figure. In her ears, diamonds and sapphires sparkled together.
“Sweetie,” she said, giving me a hug. “You ran off last night without a word!”
“I’m sorry, Lex. I should have said good night, but—”
“No excuses required.”
“Michael got me home before I fell apart.”
Lexie’s brows twitched. “Did you really fall apart? I’m so sorry, darling. You had a very rough night. I hope you feel better today.”
“Actually, I had a surprising visitor this morning.”
“Do tell.”
Lexie nibbled on mushrooms and made appropriate exclamations when I told her about Cindie Rae’s call, Alan’s arrest, and my visit to Pinky Pinkerton’s home.
“Do you know Kerry Pinkerton?” I asked.
“Only from an occasional country club wingding. She’s not very social. And she hasn’t any money of her own, so she doesn’t need my services.”
“No money at all? Didn’t her parents leave her something?”
Lexie shook her head. “Her mother’s still alive, living in California and hoarding her cash in case she decides to open a yoga studio or something. Kerry’s got a trust fund somewhere, but she doesn’t take possession until she’s thirty. Until then, she’s on a shoestring, I gather. That is, unless a sporting-goods company asks her to be a spokesperson. Then she’ll be rolling in dough.”
“But she has to become a better player first, I assume?”
“She’s getting to that level. I always assumed Pinky took care of her.”
“Yes,” I said.
“What is it?” Lexie asked.
I attempted to wipe my expression clean. I didn’t want to spread rumors about Pinky and Kerry, even to my best friend. Not until I was sure.
I changed the subject. “What about Alan and his department store, Lex? Last night you told me the store might be for sale.”
“The drumbeats were noisy all day today. I understand the retailers who wanted to buy Haymaker’s are rethinking their offers. With her sales figures, Popo was one of the big assets. Of course, a murder in the store isn’t exactly great publicity either.”
“Do you know anything about shrinkage?”
“Stolen goods? Sure.” Lexie ate another mushroom and reached for a napkin. “All stores have shrinkage.”
“I mean goods stolen by employees.”
“Haymaker’s is no different from any gift shop or mall emporium. A lot of goods disappear.” She chewed thoughtfully and wiped her fingers. “Now that you remind me, I think Haymaker’s had a big number in their shrinkage column.”
“Popo mentioned something to
The grand salon of the Aquinas home showed Evie’s penchant for endless shopping. Flowered chintz pillows and dozens of fussy bibelots mixed with fine Hepplewhite furniture that had come from Evie’s old-money Philadelphia family, the Cardomans. Heavy Scalamandre draperies hung in swags from the tall windows. The rose, powder blue, and buttercream colors were also echoed in velvet upholstery and the subtle shades of the enormous floral rug. Nautical prints hung at precise intervals on the walls.
Unlike Lexie, who had the confidence to live in a simple, self-effacing sort of home, Evie seemed to need to acquire more and more belongings to confirm who she was.
“Your home is more stunning than ever,” I told her. “Every little addition you make enhances the elegance.”
Having heard satisfactory praise for her efforts, Evie happily went off to find me a drink.
I saw Lexie Paine talking with friends by the grand piano. She spotted me at the same instant and met me beside a tray of hors d’oeuvres on a sideboard. Lexie looked fabulous in an understated Valentino suit cut to emphasize her slender figure. In her ears, diamonds and sapphires sparkled together.
“Sweetie,” she said, giving me a hug. “You ran off last night without a word!”
“I’m sorry, Lex. I should have said good night, but—”
“No excuses required.”
“Michael got me home before I fell apart.”
Lexie’s brows twitched. “Did you really fall apart? I’m so sorry, darling. You had a very rough night. I hope you feel better today.”
“Actually, I had a surprising visitor this morning.”
“Do tell.”
Lexie nibbled on mushrooms and made appropriate exclamations when I told her about Cindie Rae’s call, Alan’s arrest, and my visit to Pinky Pinkerton’s home.
“Do you know Kerry Pinkerton?” I asked.
“Only from an occasional country club wingding. She’s not very social. And she hasn’t any money of her own, so she doesn’t need my services.”
“No money at all? Didn’t her parents leave her something?”
Lexie shook her head. “Her mother’s still alive, living in California and hoarding her cash in case she decides to open a yoga studio or something. Kerry’s got a trust fund somewhere, but she doesn’t take possession until she’s thirty. Until then, she’s on a shoestring, I gather. That is, unless a sporting-goods company asks her to be a spokesperson. Then she’ll be rolling in dough.”
“But she has to become a better player first, I assume?”
“She’s getting to that level. I always assumed Pinky took care of her.”
“Yes,” I said.
“What is it?” Lexie asked.
I attempted to wipe my expression clean. I didn’t want to spread rumors about Pinky and Kerry, even to my best friend. Not until I was sure.
I changed the subject. “What about Alan and his department store, Lex? Last night you told me the store might be for sale.”
“The drumbeats were noisy all day today. I understand the retailers who wanted to buy Haymaker’s are rethinking their offers. With her sales figures, Popo was one of the big assets. Of course, a murder in the store isn’t exactly great publicity either.”
“Do you know anything about shrinkage?”
“Stolen goods? Sure.” Lexie ate another mushroom and reached for a napkin. “All stores have shrinkage.”
“I mean goods stolen by employees.”
“Haymaker’s is no different from any gift shop or mall emporium. A lot of goods disappear.” She chewed thoughtfully and wiped her fingers. “Now that you remind me, I think Haymaker’s had a big number in their shrinkage column.”
“Popo mentioned something to
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