Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran Read Free Book Online

to a small run in their next production. They often have actors out from New York or even traveling companies. He thought it would be good for her.” Sienna played with one of the mirrored disks on her dress. “At least it would have kept her mind off of food. The network powers-that-be were really beginning to grumble about Felicity’s weight gain. They wanted to move toward a younger image for the show. Don had a hell of a time negotiating her latest contract.”
    “Sounds like this could be a wonderful opportunity for our resident ingénue, Vanessa.”
    Sienna snorted. “Indeed. Vanessa is doing everything she should to score a bigger part on the show—and lots of things she shouldn’t.”
    “Alex did drop a few hints along those lines.” She wondered if this was a good opportunity to bring up the newspaper and Oliver’s picture. “I saw the New York Post ,” Gigi began.
    Sienna shook her head tersely. “That ridiculous thing! Felicity wasn’t content to leave the publicity campaign in my hands but decided to come up with that absurd story to get her name back in the gossip columns.” Sienna smiled sadly. “Silly woman.”
    “Where is Oliver?”
    “Oh, Gigi.” Sienna looked at her with wide eyes. “You don’t think for a minute that I believed that stupid story, do you? Oliver is absolutely furious with Felicity. At first he refused to come to the party tonight, but I convinced him that would only stir up more rumors. I guess when he ran to the Shop and Save to pick up some milk for me, people were staring at him and pointing. He was mortified.”
    Sienna ran a hand over her belly. “But I told him he can’t bury his head in the sand. He should be along shortly, although I doubt the police will let him in.”
    Gigi glanced at the foyer out of the corner of her eye. Mertz was still speaking with Winchel, whose posture was getting stiffer by the minute. Even from a distance, she could sense his impatience at being told what to do when he was usually the one doing the telling.
    “I’m going to sneak off to the kitchen and put my feet up,” Sienna whispered to Gigi.
    “Go ahead. There’s a pitcher of iced tea in the refrigerator. Help yourself.”
    Gigi was turning around when Alex came up behind her.
    “Mind if I sneak one of those?” He reached out and snatched one of the salmon hors d’oeuvres off the tray Gigi had set on the table. He inclined his head toward the foyer. “I don’t know why the police don’t ring for the ambulance to come get the body and let the rest of us go about our business.”
    “I guess when a death is even remotely suspicious—”
    Alex’s laugh cut her off. “I think the police have been watching too many television shows. I’m sure it was just a sad, sad accident.” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Do you suppose they’ll question us? Ask us where we were this afternoon and all that?”
    He laughed, but Gigi had the distinct feeling that he was nervous. And that he very much didn’t want the police asking any questions.
    A flash of bright red caught Gigi’s eye. Vanessa was deep in conversation with Don. Gigi picked up the tray and used it as an excuse to sidle closer.
    She caught the word policy before Vanessa whirled around.
    “Hors d’oeuvres! I’m starved!” Vanessa smiled, but her eyes were shadowed.
    Vanessa helped herself and began nibbling at the bread like a rabbit. Don waved the tray away with a pained look. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of antacids. He popped one into his mouth, hesitated, then popped in another.
    Gigi’s tray was almost empty. She made her way through the crowd toward the foyer. She noticed that Winchel had joined his important New York visitors, but she didn’t see Detective Mertz anywhere. A patrolman was standing at the door, shoulders back, spine straight. Gigi shivered. She supposed he’d been stationed there to keep them from leaving.
    Alice was in the kitchen arranging a new tray of hors