Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper Read Free Book Online Page A

get at, I was pretty sure there was no way Zoe had had anything to do with it—whatever it was.
    Officer Ortiz insisted I walk him through the whole week, from the welcome party to the rehearsal dinner to the group outings, as well as give him a detailed description of the wedding and reception. I checked my watch impatiently. If he didn’t wrap it up soon, Evan wouldn’t be able to get us to Mexico City in time for our flight home.
    â€œI don’t suppose you can tell me what the cause of death was?” I asked. Maybe if I knew what happened I could convince him to let us leave.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIs it because you don’t know, or you can’t tell me?” I asked.
    He looked up from his notebook and gave me a cold stare. That was all the answer I was going to get.
    â€œBut it wasn’t natural causes?” I smiled at him, hoping to soften him up, but still no answer. “If you tell me what’s going on, maybe I can help you.”
    That got his attention. He leaned forward menacingly. His bulky frame was built for intimidation. “If you have any information, I would recommend sharing it.”
    â€œNo, I don’t know anything. I just want to be able to help.” I tossed my hair a little for good measure. “If I knew exactly what it was we were investigating…”
    I won’t lie: I was trying to work some of my feminine wiles.
    â€œThank you, Miss McKenna,” he replied brusquely. “I believe we’re done here.”
    So much for wiles.
    You’d think with all the questions he had, he’d be open to answering a few of mine, but apparently it doesn’t work that way in Mexico.
    Okay, fine, it doesn’t work that way anywhere, but it was worth a try.
    He snapped his notebook shut. “You’re free to go.”
    â€œAbout that … free to go back to my room, or free to go back to San Francisco?”
    â€œNeither. You can’t go back to your room until we’ve had a chance to search it. And we’re going to need you to stick around for a few days.”
    â€œWhat? You’ve got to be kidding me!” I felt my face flushing.
    â€œDon’t make me arrest you, Miss McKenna.”
    â€œNo, no, I won’t. I mean, I’ll try not to. You have my full cooperation.” My dreams of escaping our Saltillo-tiled prison were slipping away.
    â€œGood. Then you won’t mind staying in town a couple more days while we investigate.”
    Damn. If only I’d taken an early flight like the others. “You realize some of the wedding party is already gone.”
    â€œI’m a detective, Miss McKenna.”
    â€œRight. So I guess I’ll just, you know, hang out.”
    Ortiz nodded, glad I was finally starting to see things his way. “That would be best.”
    I swung by my room and cracked the door open, but Nolasco yelled something at me in Spanish and I closed it again. He was busy going through my things. The perv.
    I went down to the courtyard, where I found Brody waiting. I plopped into the chair next to his before filling him in on my own personal Spanish inquisition.
    â€œAnyway, I have to hang tight for now, but you can still make it home tonight if you hurry,” I said.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said tentatively. He was clearly worried about me.
    â€œNo, it’s fine. It’s just so…” I waved my hand, at a loss for words.
    â€œRidiculous? Unfair? Completely sucky?”
    â€œAll of the above. Anyway, go on. Save yourself.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Brody asked.
    â€œYes. Absolutely. Well, no. But yeah, go. Seriously. I’ll just…”
    There really wasn’t any good way to finish that sentence. My eyes welled up with tears of frustration.
    â€œListen,” said Brody, leaning forward and squeezing my shoulder. “You booked me on a full-fare ticket, remember?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œSo it doesn’t make any