Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran Read Free Book Online Page A

d’oeuvres. She was subdued, but Gigi was glad to see that some of her usual ruddy color had returned.
    “Here you go.” She handed Gigi the tray.
    “I’m going to sit for a minute.” Gigi pulled out a chair opposite Sienna, plopped into it and stretched out her legs.
    “Want me to take this around?” Alice brandished the canapés.
    Gigi shook her head. “I think everyone has had enough for now.”
    Gigi turned to Sienna. “Any news from Oliver?”
    “He texted me that the police wouldn’t let him in.” She was silent for a moment. “This is all so odd.” She inclined her head in the direction of the living room. “Everyone eating and drinking as if this were a real party, as if Felicity wasn’t upstairs . . . dead.”
    “I do wish the ambulance would get here,” Alice said. “It seems wrong leaving her there like that.”
    “I suppose the police need to be certain there’s nothing suspicious about the death.” Sienna plucked a canapé from Gigi’s newly refilled tray and popped it into her mouth.
    “Speaking of the police, where are they?” Alice wiped her hands on her apron.
    “I think they’re still upstairs poking around.” Sienna dabbed at her lips with a cocktail napkin.
    “And one of them is posted at the front door,” Gigi added.
    Alice nodded. “That whiny young man, what’s his name?”
    “Derek?” Gigi supplied.
    “Derek. He came through a couple of minutes ago and said they were doing all sorts of things in Felicity’s bedroom.” Alice shivered.
    Just so they stayed upstairs, Gigi thought.
    “Time I took that tray around.” Alice said, pointing at the loaded platter that still sat on the table.
    “You’re right; we should get back out there.” Gigi began to struggle to her feet.
    “You sit for a bit. I don’t mind,” Alice said. “I’m curious to see what the crowd looks like.”
    “Then be my guest.”
    Sienna struggled up from her seat. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Again.” She sighed.
    Gigi sank back into the chair. She glanced at Reggie and Tabitha, who were napping under the table. She could do with a nap herself. She’d been working hard, and she was exhausted. She let her eyes drift closed. Just for a moment, she promised herself.
    When she opened them, Detective Mertz was standing in front of her, the suggestion of a smile hovering around his mouth.

Chapter 5
    Gigi jumped to her feet so suddenly she barked her elbow against the table edge. It hurt like the dickens, but she didn’t want to look stupid in front of Mertz, so she gritted her teeth and plastered a smile on her face. She stuck her hand behind her back so she wouldn’t be tempted to grab at her smarting joint.
    She and Mertz had had a run-in several months ago when he all but accused her of poisoning her client with peanut oil. Gigi found him annoying, overbearing and unbelievably attractive in equal measures.
    Tonight was no exception.
    “I was, er, resting for a moment.” Gigi immediately put the width of the kitchen island between them.
    “There’s no crime in that, as far as I know.” This time Mertz actually did smile. It softened the hard planes of his face and put some light in his ice blue eyes.
    Gigi smiled back. “No, I guess not.” She tried to relax, but there was an attraction between them that always made her nervous and awkward. If Mertz ever got around to asking her out, she was pretty sure she would say yes with indecent haste.
    “I’m hoping you can fill me in on some details.”
    “Certainly.” Gigi stood up straighter and matched his formal tones.
    “Was Mrs. Winchel in the habit of taking saunas?”
    For a moment Gigi couldn’t think who on earth he was talking about, but then she realized that Felicity was, in her private life, Mrs. Winchel.
    “I honestly don’t know. I suppose she must have been.”
    “So presumably Mrs. Winchel knew how the apparatus works.”
    Gigi nodded. “I would guess so.”
    “Had any of the guests already arrived when