G.T. Herren - Paige Tourneur 02 - Dead Housewives of New Orleans by G.T. Herren Read Free Book Online Page A

Steve thought she was an idiot— he never would have married her. But she resents me. She’s said some pretty awful things about me around town… and she’s working with my stepsons, I know it.”
    “But I really don’t understand.” It was my turn to look at Athalie, whose face was completely blank and unreadable. “Why did you agree to do with show with her if…”
    “I didn’t know she was a member of the cast.” Rebecca finished her Bloody Mary and set her glass down. “I didn’t know until Margery’s cocktail party who the other women were, other than Margery, of course. I’ve known Margery for years— obviously, we use Black Mountain Liquor for the local restaurants. I was horrified when I saw Fidelis there.” Her jaw set. “And to hear the things she said about me! Things that are
going to air on national television!”
    I made a mental note to get Rachel on the trail of getting a tape of the premiere episode, again berating myself for getting so stoned before the viewing. I couldn’t really remember anything specific that Fidelis might have said that deserved such ire.
    Then again, I wasn’t in the middle of an ugly legal battle for control of a multi-million dollar food empire.
    “The point being,” Rebecca went on when I didn’t say anything, “that I need your help. No one really knows about what’s going on at BRG behind the scenes, and I want to go public, get my side of the story out there.” She glanced over at Athalie again. “And
Crescent City
is where I want the story to break.”
    I glanced over at Athalie again, raising my eyebrows.
    “Rebecca and I have become friends— she’s very interested in the symphony,” Athalie replied. “So, of course, when she called me this morning I immediately knew you were the right person to call.”
    It was all I could do not to laugh. Ryan was going to be
livid
that this was the ‘emergency’ that disrupted our weekend plans. It was perfectly obvious to me this entire thing was merely a gambit to get Rebecca to write a big check to the symphony, if she hadn’t already done it. Athalie not only sat on their board, but she was also on their development committee.
    “And of course, that horrible Vandiver woman can’t be allowed to get away with this,” Athalie continued. “A truly horrible woman. All that work on her face— she barely looks human any more, and all that bronzer she slathers on! Why, when she came to the tea party fundraiser I had for the ballet association last summer, she left stains on my chairs! She’s just a walking, talking human stain.”
    I’m afraid I stared.
    “What?” Athalie said. “I said ‘human’, didn’t I?”
    “Um, I hate to break it to you, but Fidelis Vandiver is dead.” I bit my lower lip and looked back and forth between the two of them. “I heard it on the radio this morning.”
    “Dead?” Athalie’s hand went to her throat. “But she was so young!”
    “The police suspect foul play,” I replied, watching Rebecca. Her face had gone pale, but other than that, she didn’t react. “Rebecca, you said you believe she was working with your stepsons?” I remembered again the little interaction between Billy and Fidelis at the party. “Billy was at the premiere last night, wasn’t he?”
    She nodded. “We don’t speak except through lawyers, so we kept our distance.”
    It couldn’t hurt to ask. “Who was the woman he was with?”
    “I didn’t see him with anyone.” She swallowed. “Fidelis is dead. Wow.”
    “I’m afraid so.” I got up and refilled my glass with brandy. “But I can tell you that
Crescent City
already planned on doing a feature story on the cast.” I took another sip of the brandy and sat back down. I pulled my phone out of my purse, and switched on the calendar function. “I can come to your offices on Monday morning if you like—” my entire morning was free, but there was a hideous staff meeting that afternoon “— or I can come to the