Brownies & Betrayal (Sweet Bites Mysteries, Book 1)
girls might have had plans to do their nails after the wedding rehearsal, but the wild parties were held days earlier.”
    “Okay, you noticed the fingernails, didn’t you?”
    I had, since I’d been watching after talking to Jeff. Analesa and her attendants all wore what appeared to be the same shade of pale pink fingernail polish. It matched the color of the bridesmaid dresses, and the sash around the bride’s white dress. The pink rose bouquet and trailing pink ribbons were the same shade as well. “But Valerie’s nails were still red when she died, so she didn’t join them that night.”
    “That would be my guess. Here comes Millie now. She was the third roommate with Valerie and Analesa in college. You see what you can find out from her, I’ll go interrogate the mother of the groom.” She grinned and glided across the room while managing to greet and schmooze with everyone in sight. The woman was a marvel.
    Millie was a pale blonde with a mole near her mouth reminiscent of Christy Brinkley’s—which had me wondering if it was real, or an affectation intended to draw attention. Her mouth was wide and sulky, and, despite the pink everywhere else, was slathered in Come Get Me red lipstick. “I want a little piece of the chocolate,” she said.
    I handed her a plate. “All the pieces are pretty much the same, sorry.” I considered suggesting she not finish the whole thing, but knew from experience that once she tried it, she’d finish it off. Most people did.
    I looked at her hands. “It’s fun that your fingernails coordinate with all your dresses.”
    “Yes, we had a girls’ pampering night after the wedding rehearsal.” Her voice hitched and one of her hands fluttered to her chest. “Sorry, I’m just still so upset. I can’t believe this happened to Valerie. I’ve known her for so long. Did you know we were roommates with Ana in college? Like three peas in a pod.” She held back a small sob. “I’m sorry—it must have been so horrible for you. Weren’t you the one to find her yesterday?”
    A chill and twinge of revulsion came over me when I thought of the blood everywhere and the color of Valerie’s skin and I had to swallow hard and beat it back. “Yes. It was so difficult. It could have been worse though. I didn’t know her well.”
    Millie nodded, picked up a fork and tasted a bite. She made a humming noise in the back of her throat. “Wow. I never knew cake could taste so good.” Her mournful air disappeared as she took another taste.
    “Thank you. That’s such a kind thing to say.” Her sudden attitude change confused me. My cake was amazing, but I’d never seen it improve someone’s mood so fast.
    “Not kind—honest.” She gave me a calculating look. “You’re opening a shop here in town?”
    “Yes, hopefully in the next few weeks. It depends on how long it takes to get all the paperwork and supplies.” I tipped my head and looked at Millie’s perfectly manicured hands again. “Did Valerie go to the girls’ night party? I could swear she hadn’t gotten her nails painted between dinner and . . . you know.”
    “Oh, no. She said she wouldn’t be there, that she’d take care of it in the morning while we all dressed. She had a date, I guess.” She tried to act like it didn’t bother her, but her voice held an edge of spite. “She always had a date, or three.”
    Under normal circumstances, I would have let that tidbit of information float on by, not the least interested in pursuing it, but this time I chased it. “Is that what she and Analesa were arguing about after the wedding rehearsal?”
    “Yes, well, more or less. Not the date that night, but the way she was always had to have a guy around. Valerie flirted with Ana’s younger brother, who’s a bit tender-hearted, not up to dealing with such a barracuda.”
    I smiled as I remembered Analesa’s brother. “Is he here? I haven’t seen Shawn in years. I must have missed him when he came in.” I glanced

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