Lucy and the Valentine Verdict by Rae Davies Read Free Book Online

turned
to face the room, her gaze moving over each of us in a
less-than-welcoming manner.
    Her eyes lit on Peter and something behind
them clicked. She strode forward and looped her arm through the one
I wasn’t already holding. “Detective,” she murmured. “Could we have
another word?”
    Her husband, still standing by the buffet,
held up his arm. “Andre– Lady York, don’t you think–”
    She hesitated, then pulled in a breath and
closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them, she
seemed both composed and back in character. “I’m sorry. The events
of the evening seem to have shaken me more than I’d realized.” She
dropped Peter’s arm and stepped into the center of the room. “It’s
just... my husband’s dear grandmother’s watch. I’d had it on
earlier, but the catch was pulling at my dress. So I took it off
and left it on that...” She pointed across the room. “...buffet.
And now it’s gone. It seems dear guests, not only do we have a
murderer amongst us, but a thief as well .”
    I glanced around the room, wondering if the
drama of her tone was as lost on the other guests as it was on me.
I mean thievery when lined up against murder... Then I realized...
“You mean your watch is really missing?” I blurted.
    Her gaze moved to me, cold and assessing.
“You haven’t seen it, have you, Maid Ann? You were admiring it...”
She tempered her accusation with a smile, but it didn’t change the
facts.
    Her watch had been stolen and for the second
time that night, I was the prime suspect, this time for real.

Chapter 6
    Things became a bit chaotic after that,
everyone staring at me, whispering and moving around as if I might
reach out and snatch the loose change out of their pockets.
    I could feel their distrust, and it hurt. I
pulled my linen runner tighter about my shoulders and tried to look
as if I didn’t care. Beside me, Peter stood stiff and angry, his
gaze narrowed and moving over the group.
    “Here,” Mrs. Peabody tipped the martini
shaker, pouring more of the frothy pink concoction into my glass.
“Don’t let her get to you. I was with you all the time. Besides, in
that outfit where would you hide anything?”
    I glanced down at my dress. She had a
point.
    “She’s just pissy because her game players
aren’t following the script. She probably stole the thing
herself.”
    “Why would she do that?” I asked, taking a
bigger drink than I probably should have. The alcohol hit the back
of my throat and I coughed.
    Mrs. Peabody pounded me on the back.
“Insurance? That’s a usual motive, isn’t it? Or more likely just
plain old jealousy, wanting more attention on herself. I heard Sir
Arthur’s been seen around town with a younger woman. She acts all
upset, he comforts her...” She made a knowing face. “When we leave
she’ll pull that watch out of its hidey hole and go about her
business, but don’t think I won’t be looking for it around her neck
next mystery weekend.”
    Peter placed his hand on my back
reassuringly and murmured. “Let’s see how far our hostess wants to
push this.” He stepped forward, any traces of the wounded Captain
Egg gone, replaced by my in-control-at-all-times detective
boyfriend.
    “Accusing someone of theft in real life is a
serious accusation. Even petty theft can carry a penalty of up to
six months in jail. Are you sure you didn’t simply misplace the
watch?”
    Sir Arthur’s face reddened and his eyes
darted to the crowd. I had the distinct feeling he was looking at
one person in particular, but I couldn’t say whom. “I’m sure that’s
all that happened,” he sputtered. “My wife probably left it in her
room.”
    Lady York, still holding center stage,
turned to face her husband. “No, I did not. I know that for certain
because Maid Ann made a point of asking me about it on more than
one occasion. In fact, her veiled comments that it was not
appropriate for my outfit are one reason I took the watch off.” She
looked at me