False Pretenses by Kathy Herman Read Free Book Online Page A

hadn’t heard the end of it.
    “You look pale, babe,” Pierce said.
    “I think the humidity’s getting to me.” She put the back of her hand on her forehead. “I’ll feel better once we get back in the air-conditioning.”

CHAPTER 5
    Zoe locked the door to the apartment and went down the stairs. She passed the office and the customer restrooms in the alcove and walked out into the dining room at Zoe B’s. The hot pink sky was visible through the blinds where Father Sam, Tex, and Hebert sat at the table by the window.
    Zoe picked up Tuesday’s edition of the Les Barbes Ledger from one of the empty tables and handed it to Hebert. “Have you seen this yet? Pierce said the news is mostly good.”
    Hebert tore off a piece of beignet and popped it into his mouth. “Dats why I live here and not in New Awlins.” He opened the newspaper, and an envelope fell out on the table. “Oops. Dis is yours.”
    Zoe’s heart sank. She saw her name typed on the front of the envelope. Was this another anonymous note? She pasted on a smile and snatched it from Hebert. “Thanks. Is everybody’s breakfast okay?”
    The three men nodded in unison.
    “That’s what I like to hear. I’ll tell Savannah you need more coffee.”
    She walked into the kitchen and stood off to the side by the freezer. She tore open the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper with the same five words cut from a magazine and pasted on: I know what you did.
    She stared at the words, her mind racing in reverse. Was that possible? Certainly no one could prove it. Or could they? Why else would they go to all this trouble to make her squirm?
    She heard Pierce talking to the kitchen staff and stuffed the note back in the envelope, then pushed open the swinging doors and nearly ran headlong into Savannah.
    “There you are! The guys need coffee!”
    Savannah’s nose twitched the way it did when she was annoyed. “I was just coming to get a fresh pot.”
    I can’t believe I snapped at her. Zoe sidestepped around Savannah and left the dining room. She ran upstairs and into the apartment, putting her back against the door. Her hand was shaking. What if she was wrong about the statute of limitations? What if she could still be prosecuted?
    But even more was at stake than legalities. If the truth got out, Zoe B’s would be history. And so would her acceptance in the community. And what about her marriage? Was Pierce’s love for her solid enough to weather what would surely be perceived as betrayal?
    She hurried into the bedroom and opened her lingerie drawer and put today’s note on the bottom with the other one. It was too soon to panic. She needed to stay calm and keep a clear head. Maybe the notes meant something else.

    “You okay …? Zoe …?”
    Zoe heard the voice but didn’t realize for a second where she was or who was talking.
    She blinked and looked up into Pierce’s questioning eyes.
    “You’ve been standing here at the stove for several minutes,” he said, “looking as if you’re in a daze. Is something wrong?”
    “I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. I skipped breakfast and shouldn’t have. I came to get something to eat.”
    “You still bothered by your run-in with the new waitress yesterday?”
    “I guess. I should probably go choose the uniforms before I change my mind.”
    “Or go take a nap.”
    Zoe raised an eyebrow. “I have to turn in the food order by four o’clock, or we’re going to run short. I’ll be fine. I just need a quick lunch and a cup of coffee.”
    “Taste the gumbo, babe. It’s extraordinary today.”
    “It’s always extraordinary.”
    “Not like this.” Pierce flashed an uncharacteristically boyish grin, his face beaming. “I added an ingredient. Now it’s even better than Marie Nadeau’s. If I can duplicate this, and I’m pretty sure I can, I might surprise everyone and win the Gumbo Classic. That would sure be good for business.”
    “And an incredible honor. So what’s the