My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online

at the entry.
    “He was on his way out and asked if I would give this to you.”
    The book cover was precisely the same design as that on the locket. How clever and overly complicated. Layers, of course. “It is mine. How silly of me not to have noticed that I had dropped it.” She accepted the book with a smile. “I fear I was absorbed in admiration of the sculptures.”
    The older man smiled. “Great art will have that effect.”
    “Indeed it will. You have my gratitude. I would hate to have lost this.” She paused. “The gentleman who gave it to you, could you tell me what he looked like? I should like to thank him as well.”
    “Oh, young, light hair.” The man shook his head. “Rather nondescript really.”
    “Of course he would be,” she said under her breath.
    “He seemed in somewhat of a hurry. I doubt that you can catch him.”
    “Then I shall have to be content with giving you alone my thanks.” She cast him her brightest smile.
    “It was entirely my pleasure.” He chuckled. “I do not have the opportunity to do a good deed for a lovely stranger these days. But in my youth ...” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Good day, miss.” He nodded and took his leave.
    She resisted the urge to open the book and instead slipped it into her bag. It would not do to let her impatience show. After all, one never knew who might be observing her. Apparently, there was much about playing this game she had not forgotten. She forced herself to circle the room in a leisurely manner, stopping to more closely examine one frieze or another and pausing for several minutes, as she always did, at the now headless depiction of the three Fates. Perhaps it was their majesty in spite of their destruction that appealed to her; there was certainly no debating their beauty. Or more likely, it was their mystery that called to something deep inside her. Now, however, another mystery beckoned. She turned and made her way through the museum to the street.
    “Well?” Celeste said as soon as Evelyn had settled in her seat and the carriage had started off.
    “Well, I was given this.” She pulled the book out of her bag.
    “The cover ...” Her gaze slipped to Evelyn’s locket. “It matches the locket. How very clever.”
    “Men do like their toys.”
    Celeste nodded. “Indeed, but this particular toy identifies you to the courier and the book to you. And it is a lovely locket.”
    “If you like it ...” Evelyn put the book on her lap, unfastened the chain around her neck, and handed the necklace to her friend. “You may have it.”
    “Are you sure?” Celeste took the locket. “You may need it again, for another meeting perhaps.”
    “Then I shall borrow it from you if necessary. I don’t want it.” She shook her head. “Besides, I should have a difficult time explaining to Adrian a new piece of jewelry that is as personal as a locket.”
    “It is personal, isn’t it?”
    “Max, no doubt, found that amusing.”
    Celeste turned the locket over in her hand. “Did you open it?”
    “I tried but it’s either jammed or not designed to open. Regardless, it’s served its purpose.” Evelyn picked up the book. “Oddly enough, the courier didn’t give this to me. An older gentleman said a young man, on his way out of the museum, asked him to deliver the book, saying I had dropped it.”
    “Couldn’t the older man have been the courier?”
    “Possibly but he never once looked at the locket.”
    “You noticed.” Celeste grinned. “I have never been prouder.”
    “I wasn’t bad at this, you know.” Irritation sounded in Evelyn’s voice. “I did learn a few helpful things.”
    “Of course you did.” Celeste’s eyes widened with feigned innocence. Celeste had worked for the department far longer than Evelyn did and was far more experienced.
    Evelyn ignored her. “For whatever reason, the man entrusted with this decided not to approach me directly.”
    “How very interesting,” Celeste murmured. “One