Bodice of Evidence by Nancy J. Parra Page B

feeling guilty for my earlier comment on the prom dress.
    â€œHow did she know I was thinking about a strapless gown with a mermaid skirt?” Felicity asked as she opened the bottle of sparkling water and sat on the chair beside Mom. “Did you notice how she made it sound as if everyone wanted that type of dress, but she knew it was not for me?”
    â€œShe’s very clever,” I agreed, and wandered toward the two dresses that were left. They were safely tucked into clear dress bags, so it was difficult to tell anything about their true shape.
    â€œHi, Vidalia must take a phone call and sent me in to check on you.” Theresa entered the room with a tray. “I thought I’d bring in some coffee. There’s this great cafédown the road and so I ran out and got you all some caramel lattes. Please do take special care to keep the coffee away from the dresses. We don’t want any spills or stains. But since you are waiting for the fitting, I’m certain it will be fine.”
    â€œOh, how sweet of you,” Mom said.
    I wasn’t so convinced. “You left the front desk to get us coffees? What if you had other customers come in?”
    Theresa blushed. “Oh, well, we don’t have anyone else scheduled, so I thought I’d make a quick run.”
    â€œIt was very nice of her,” Mom said slowly, as if I were being ridiculous.
    â€œYes, sure, it was nice,” I said, and crossed my arms. “You said you were sick the day that Eva was murdered?”
    â€œYes,” she said as she put the coffees on the buffet and straightened the tea plates and silver on the table. “Is there anything else I can get you? More water? More petit fours?”
    â€œWe’re good,” I said as I watched her hover. “Did Detective Murphy interview you?”
    â€œYes.” She turned to me and raised her pierced brow. “Why? I really was sick. You can ask my mother.”
    â€œYou still live with your mother?” Felicity asked.
    â€œYes, the economy is terrible. Mom needed help with the mortgage, so I pay rent and we became, like, roommates.” She clasped her hands together.
    â€œOh, what a nice solution. I have a friend who bought a house with her daughter, that way neither of them had to pay a full mortgage,” my mom chimed in.
    â€œIt must have been a shock when you saw the news,” I said, noting how her hands fluttered to her neck and then cheek before she drew them behind her back. It was pretty clear to me that the subject was unnerving for her. Was it because she was guilty of something, or was she thinking about how she could have been here when the murder happened?
    â€œIt was terrible.” She shifted again, hugging her waist. “I keep thinking about poor Eva in that alley all alone. I can’t decide if I’m upset because I wasn’t here or stuck on the possibility that if I had been here, I might also be dead, you know? These things can make a person think . . .” Her voice trailed off. Then she brightened. “Perhaps that isn’t a good subject for today. After all, you are here to find the perfect wedding dress and that is a happy occasion, yes?” She smiled at us. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else I can get you?”
    â€œDo you make it a habit of leaving the shop when Eva or Vidalia have people in the salons?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œPepper, that’s enough,” Mom said. “Let the girl do her job.”
    The door opened and Vidalia walked in. “Sorry, that was another appointment calling to cancel. I tried to tell them that you were here and very comfortable, but they said they didn’t want a murder associated with their dress.” She sighed.
    Felicity gave Mom a silent look of
See, I told you.
    â€œWell, um, if there’s nothing else I can do for you, I’llleave you in Vidalia’s good hands,” Theresa said, and skirted