The Wrong Man: A Novel of Suspense by Kate White Read Free Book Online Page B

added—was in the middle of the arrangement and flanked on each side, from outside in, by a pillow in fake zebra, one covered with kilim fabric, and another in solid red. She was ridiculously particular about the order and always kept it that way. But now the Union Jack pillow was one spot over from where it should be.
    Stepping back, she anxiously examined the room, searching for anything else that seemed weirdly off . But nothing else was out of place.
    Maybe, she reassured herself, Baby had used the apartment for a meeting with a potential client or a new one, and the pillows had gotten shuffled around. Clients were often curious to see a designer’s home, dropping broad hints like, “So what’s your place like?” But Baby always let Kit know in advance if she’d be taking advantage of the space. She’d said nothing about a Friday meeting.
    Kit tried Baby’s cell, but it went to voicemail and she left a message asking her to get in touch. She tried Dara next. But asthe phone rang, she realized that of course Baby must have used the apartment and she was totally overreacting. What other explanation could there be? That some psycho with an uncontrollable urge to fluff had snuck in and rearranged the pillows? Clearly, she’d been so unsettled about the Florida experience that she was now practically jumping at the sight of her own shadow. She was about to break off the call when Dara answered.
    “Since I missed you this afternoon, I just thought I’d make sure nothing came up,” Kit said, fudging.
    “It was actually fairly quiet,” Dara told her. “Though Corey stopped by and left off the latest drawings for you.” Corey was one of the freelance draftsmen she and Baby assigned work to.
    “Good. I actually haven’t popped into the office yet, so I didn’t see them. Why don’t I let you get back to your Friday night? You and Scott doing something fun?”
    “We’re going out later to hear a friend’s band play.”
    “Enjoy—oh just one more question.” As long as she had Dara on the line, Kit couldn’t resist asking.
    “Did Baby meet with a new client today? It looks like she might have been in my apartment with someone.”
    “She didn’t mention anything, but a prospect may have dropped in while I was out. I went tile shopping for Baby at three and headed home from there.”
    “Oh, right. Okay, I’ll catch up with Baby later.”
    “Is anything the matter?”
    “No, no. It just looked like someone had been on the couch.”
    Dara laughed. “Maybe Baby snuck in a power nap when we were both gone.”
    “Well, let’s not bust her if that’s the case,” Kit said, laughing, too.
    She’d no sooner signed off than Baby phoned.
    “I’d been planning to call you tonight,” Baby said. “How was the meeting?”
    “What? Oh, at Ithaka you mean. Thanks for asking. I’ve had bikini waxes that were more pleasant, but it’s behind me now. I’m going to banish the Florida mystery man from my brain, once and for all.”
    “Good for you. By the way, I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet, but I left a message on your desk from a potential client. A doctor. He said he’d also email you, but I took down his info.”
    Kit had her hands full but she never turned down business. If necessary, she could hire a freelancer to help her shop any new projects that materialized.
    “That’s great. Have you got a new prospect yourself?” Kit said.
    “No, I’m up to my ears at the moment. Why do you ask?”
    “Oh, just me being anal. The pillows on my couch look rearranged and I thought you might have taken a meeting in the apartment.”
    “Oh I did use your place,” Baby said. “But it was with Miss Fancy Pants, my Sutton Place client. I left you a note about that, too. She swung by at 3:30, desperate to see swatches. We mainly used the dining table to spread out the fabrics, though she sat on the couch once while I was getting organized. She must have scooted the pillows around.”
    “Not a problem,”