Page 52 of Over Her Dead Body

“Oh,” she says. “Did Celeste not mention it?”

Reid lifts his glass.

His smile is easy.

His eyes are not.

“Oh, come on.” Genevieve laughs softly. “Celeste makes everything sound like business. It’s a party, Emma.”

Beside me, Todd brightens.

“I love parties.”

I turn slightly toward Celeste and lower my voice. “Is Martin Hale Genevieve’s referral?”

“No. Her collector is still unavailable. Martin came to me directly.”

“And you’re giving him to me?”

Celeste’s expression remains pleasantly neutral. “After Vienna, I would recommend gratitude over surprise.”

She releases my elbow.

“I rarely offer second chances, Emma. Try not to waste this one.”

CHAPTER 20

EMMA

Philip Dane’s house is not loud about money.

That is how you know how much of it there is.

The house sits above the lake in limestone, glass, and restraint. No gold fixtures. No marble shouting from across the room. Nothing new enough to look recently chosen. The art does the bragging. The view does the rest.

Inside, people stand in loose clusters beneath paintings that cost more than most houses in Austin and pretend they are here for the conversation.

A server makes his way through the room toward me, passing two people with empty hands before stopping with the tray angled in my direction.

I take a glass of champagne.

Todd looks around the room.

“Wow,” he says.

I cannot blame him. Wow is sometimes the correct response to obscene square footage.

Margot is near the terrace doors with her husband, both of them holding champagne and looking rested in a way that feels personally aggressive.

Vienna went well.

For her.

It also ended early.

It’s the only reason Celeste hasn’t fired me.

The private viewing ended with an offer for the entire collection. Bauer accepted. The Friday sale was over before it began, and Margot caught the first flight home.