Deadly Décor (A Caprice De Luca Mystery) by Karen Rose Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

she knew she could do more good circulating while Eliza and Denise compared their schedules.
    She’d started to move toward the door when Denise stopped her. “I wanted to talk to you too. If the planets line up right, I could have a hugely famous client on my list.”
    “Would I know him or her?” Caprice asked, curious.
    “I can’t say until the party has signed on. But I did want to tell you to take extra care with the Sumpter estate.”
    In Caprice’s mind, the Sumpter estate was everything an estate should be. Two stories and sprawling, it had a pool with a pool house and was surrounded by black wrought-iron security fencing. Colin Sumpter, who had already moved to Italy, had decided on a Wild Kingdom theme for the open house the following weekend.
    The fact that Denise was telling her to take extra care was a bit insulting, but she said lightly, “You know I always take care with every house I stage—big, small, or in-between.”
    Denise looked a bit chagrined. “Yes, I know you do. And I think the Wild Kingdom theme is going to be fantabulous. Still, I just wanted you to know that if I sign this party on, he or she might stop in at the open house. Tell Nikki, too, so she’s prepared.”
    Like Caprice, Nikki always tried to be prepared, but Caprice didn’t mention that. Instead, she was intrigued by the prospect of someone famous dropping in. A corporate mogul? A politician? A fashion designer? And if any of the above, why would they come to Kismet?

    Caprice was still pondering that question when she pulled into the community center’s parking lot a few hours later. She’d stopped at home to check on Shasta and let her romp in the backyard while she’d changed into a Beatles T-shirt, red denim pedal pushers, and flip-flops. Sophia had meowed several times when she’d opened the bedroom door. The feline was totally put out with her because she’d had to spend another few hours in the bedroom while Shasta had the run of the downstairs.
    After giving Shasta and Sophia food, water, and a little attention, Caprice had decided to leave them in the house together. After all, she wasn’t going to be gone that long, and they did have to learn how to get along. When she was at home with them, they each found their own space and didn’t bother each other. Hopefully they’d do the same while she was gone.
    The community center was located just outside the downtown area, within walking distance of the stores, restaurants, and professional buildings. It was also near two complexes of low-income apartments, each consisting of about fifty units.
    The building that housed the community center had once been a warehouse, but it had been renovated twenty years ago. It needed renovations again. Fund-raising, apparently led by Jeff Garza, was going on to make that happen. A chain-link fence surrounded the outside basketball court. Inside were a game room, an arts and crafts room, a couple of offices, and a meeting room. Her mother had said something about the storage area and the rooms beyond the game room still being in a state of flux. That area was near the back door and didn’t concern Caprice as she entered the game room and spotted the partially completed mural on the wall.
    The room had recently been given a fresh coat of beige paint. There were finished murals on two walls. One that depicted teenagers standing in a group talking caught her attention. It was detailed and artistically done. A third mural was sketched on the wall on the far side of the room. She supposed each wall would have a mural of its own. The work there was good, and she caught sight of a couple of the kids studying it with interest. Two other boys were duking it out at the pool table, and teens at card tables played cards or used electronic devices. This was a place for kids to come so they weren’t lonely. Here they could escape their family life . . . or the lack thereof.
    Caprice wasn’t sure where she was going to find Bella. Her sister