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“Yes, ma’am,” Felina said.“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Perfect,” Missy said.“I’m glad you understand.Now, I’m off to play bridge.”
“Have a lovely day, Mrs.Thornbridge,” Felina said.
“I will.”The older woman breezed out the door without looking back.
Felina shook her head.
“What was that all about?”a voice said behind her.
Felina turned to find Lucas stepping out of the shadows between the workroom and the reception area.
Felina grinned.“That was Missy Thornbridge stopping by to make sure her floral displays are bigger and better than anyone else’s for Colonial Day.”She narrowed her eyes.“How long have you been standing there?”
“Since shortly after I heard the bell over the door ring.”
“You heard it all the way up in my apartment?”
“I did.However, once your carpenter starts hammering, I won’t be able to hear anything.I’ll come down and hang out with you.”He looked out the window.“If you’re okay for the moment, I’ll see how much I can get done before Richard brings all his tools up.”
“I’m fine.”Felina ripped the page of notes she’d taken off the pad.“I’ll be in the workroom on my computer for much of the afternoon.Today’s the day I place orders for Colonial Day and Trish’s wedding.That’ll take some time.”
Lucas followed her into the workroom.“Is Missy always so free with gossip?”
Felina laughed.“Always.Although we all assumed Thomas Thornbridge wasn’t at Mardi Gras alone, I didn’t know he’d made his wife sign a pre-nuptial agreement.”Felina shrugged.“It makes sense to protect your assets when you’re that rich.But sadly, none of that matters now since he passed away.His wife has everything anyway.”
Lucas frowned.“I’d think she would’ve been the prime suspect.”
“Oh, she was,” Felina said.“But she had an alibi.She was home when her husband was murdered.Her gardener verified that she was there all day, and her car never left the garage.Plus, she hosted a bridge game later that afternoon.The sheriff delivered the news of her husband’s death in the middle of the game.”
The bell over the front door rang.
Felina and Lucas moved as one toward the reception area.
A tall man with black hair and blue eyes let the door close behind him and smiled at Felina and Lucas.Felina recognized him as Remy Montagne, Shelby’s fiancé.
Lucas hurried forward, his hand held out.“Remy, what brings you by?”
He shook Lucas’s hand and nodded toward Felina.“I was hoping to catch you two.Shelby asked me to stop by and let you know they’ve identified the man they found in the bayou.”
Felina’s heart skipped several beats.“Who is he?”
Remy met her gaze.“Willard Gaither.Does that name ring any bells?”
She shook her head.“Not even one.”
“He was a private investigator out of New Orleans.”
“Private investigator?Who was he investigating?”Felina asked.
Remy shook his head.“We don’t know that yet.It might take time to get access to his files.”
“Someone obviously didn’t like being investigated,” Lucas said.
Felina frowned.“Or what he found.”
Chapter8
