All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke Read Free Book Online

Sandra’s knowledge, both of them are in finance, most recently here in New York, so hopefully they’ll be easy to track down. The thirdgroomsman was Amanda’s older brother, Henry. I take it he’s the nonconformist of the family.”
    Jerry was scribbling frantically. “And what about Amanda’s bridal party?”
    “There’s the maid of honor, Meghan White—”
    “The one who stole the groom,” Grace said.
    “Is currently married to the groom, yes. Amanda’s sister, Charlotte, the oldest in the family, was also one of the bridesmaids. She’s now the heir apparent to the family company, which is Ladyform, by the way.”
    “I love that stuff,” Grace said in a whisper, as if it were a secret. “You put that on, and you look two sizes smaller.”
    Now Laurie knew how voluptuous Grace managed to fit inside those tight dresses she favored. “Well, I got the distinct impression that Amanda was the one who was climbing up the corporate ladder before she disappeared. We might want to be on the lookout for some sibling rivalry there. And then, finally, there’s Kate Fulton. Sandra didn’t tell me much about her, except that she already spoke to her, and Kate seemed willing to appear on the show. With the exception of Amanda’s siblings, the others in the bridal party went to school together at Colby College in Maine. Sandra Pierce strongly believes that they would cooperate.”
    “I can check Facebook and LinkedIn to see if they’re connected online,” Jerry said. He was an expert at using social networks to gather background material. “I’ll also get contact information for everyone. But that’s just the wedding party. We’re also going to need to call the Grand Victoria. Part of the strength of the case from a television perspective is the location.”
    “I’m worried about that,” Laurie told him. “The hotel may not want the publicity of reminding people that Amanda disappeared.”
    “Except there was never any indication that there was any fault by the hotel. If anything, I think the case proves that successfulpeople with excellent taste choose it for something as important as a wedding, not to mention all the gorgeous shots of the property that we’ll include in the production.”
    “Nice pitch, Jerry. When the time comes, I think I’ll let you handle that phone call. Sandra mentioned a wedding photographer. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember the person’s name, but the hotel might remember.”
    “And of course the groom might, if he decides to sign on.”
    “ If he signs on?” Laurie said. “Don’t jinx us. He’s Sandra’s number one suspect. He has to sign on.”

13

    S andra gave her daughter one final hug in the building lobby. “I’m so proud of you, love,” she said.
    “Mom, I’m going to see you for dinner in a few short hours. Marea, eight o’clock. You know where it is, right?”
    “You told me: take Central Park South straight across almost to Columbus Circle. I think I can manage not to get lost. It’s a joy to see you twice in one day.”
    Sandra cherished her time with Charlotte. When she lived in Raleigh, she saw Charlotte and Henry equally, two to four times a year, never enough in her view. She made a point to visit Charlotte as least as often once she moved to Seattle, but if anything, the fact that she now saw Henry regularly made her miss Charlotte all the more.
    It was sweet of Charlotte to have spent the entire afternoon with her. After a long lunch at La Grenouille, they walked up Fifth Avenue perusing shop windows and then across town until they reached Ladyform’s corporate offices next to Carnegie Hall. There, Charlotte had proudly given her mother a preview of the latest designs.
    As Sandra walked back to her room at the Pierre, she pictured Charlotte’s face at lunch when Sandra first brought up Amanda’s name. In retrospect, she thought, I should have told Charlotteyesterday on the phone about my plan to go to the Under Suspicion studio. That