Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too by Nancy Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

fried food and beer.
    Pacing in the doorway to the bar was my friend Delilah Fairweather. As usual, she had a cell phone jammed to her ear, and she was lambasting a hapless underling on the other end of the line. Her crimped hair danced in the topknot at the crown of her head.
    But Delilah spotted me and snapped the phone shut in midtirade. “Girlfriend, you are a sight for sore eyes! How great you came tonight! You doing a little slumming? I don’t suppose you’ve seen Zell Orcutt anywhere? The guest of honor at his own party, and he hasn’t shown up yet!”
    â€œDelilah—”
    Revved with more than her usual energy, she cut me off. “Here I am trying to keep two hundred red-blooded men away from the Cupcake Girls until he—damn, you look odd. I know this isn’t exactly your scene, but—what’s the matter?”
    Emma said, “She’s had a shock. I tried to take her home already, but she’s stubborn.”
    â€œWhat’s happened? Oh, my God!” Delilah slapped one hand to her cheek, and her eyes popped wide. “I was supposed to meet you at Fitch’s Fancy! I totally forgot! Oh, Nora, I’m so sorry—”
    â€œThere’s no need to apologize,” I said.
    â€œThis has been such a crazy day. It’s not like me to forget a single detail, and I sure wish I hadn’t started with you.”
    â€œReally, it’s no big—”
    â€œI mean, Zell has been a pain in my tush about this party for weeks. And now he’s so late I had to start the band without him, but—”
    â€œDon’t wait for Zell.” I tried to stanch her gush of words. “He’s not coming.”
    â€œNot coming? That sleaze bucket better show up in the next ten minutes or I’m never running another one of his—” She caught sight of my face and realized I wasn’t kidding. “What’s going on?”
    â€œHe’s dead,” I said.
    Delilah’s dark eyes widened again, and for once she couldn’t speak.
    â€œShot with an arrow on the grounds of Fitch’s Fancy a few hours ago.”
    A cyclone of a woman, Delilah had more energy than an entire cheerleading squad and twice as much enthusiasm. She’d given up a corporate job to follow her bliss into the event-planning biz and had worked herself to the top of the game in Philadelphia. Any party worth promoting had Delilah running the show, and I wasn’t surprised that Zell had hired the best to launch his restaurant, although I was puzzled why Delilah would take a job like Cupcakes. Usually, she was more discerning.
    â€œOh, honey!” Instantly sympathetic, Delilah took my elbow and gently guided me into an alcove out of the mayhem of the party. “No wonder you look so shaky! How did it happen? Was it an accident?”
    â€œThe cops don’t think so,” Emma muttered.
    â€œIt was murder? My God. Who killed the old bastard? Anybody interesting?”
    Unsteadily, I shook my head. “They don’t know yet.”
    Delilah hugged me. “Nora, I’m so sorry I forgot about you. If I hadn’t been so frazzled, maybe I could have gotten you out of there before it happened.”
    â€œMake her sit down,” Emma ordered. “I’ll get her something to drink.” She turned to me. “You’ve got to take care of yourself now, Sis.”
    Delilah’s brows rose at Emma’s tone. “Is there something I should know?”
    â€œNo,” I said.
    Emma snorted. “I’m going to the bar. What can I get you?”
    â€œI’ve had enough already, thanks,” Delilah said.
    I noted two martini glasses on the table, one still showing a few sips. I said, “Club soda for me.”
    â€œClub soda,” Emma said, “coming right up. Keep an eye on her, Delilah.”
    â€œSure.” Delilah waited until Emma had left before saying, “Nora?”
    Perhaps I was waiting to get