Diva 03 _ Diva Paints the Town, The by Krista Davis

came and tried to hide the evidence.”
    “Then why would I have called the police?” I asked, smug in my ability to poke a hole in her theory.
    She paused. “I haven’t quite figured that out yet, but I think it probably had something to do with Wolf. Maybe you thought they would send Wolf if you said you’d found a dead man. But then I arrived and messed up your little scheme—whatever it is.” Her dark eyes blazed like they would bore a hole right through me. “Maybe . . . maybe you planned to use him as an alibi of some sort.”
    Francie shook her head like we were idiots. “I don’t know what happened, but I think you’d better tell Police Barbie, because it’s beginning to sound pretty bad.”
    Nina opened her mouth, and the torrent of words that followed stunned me. She spewed the entire story, including the fact that Kurt hit his head when he fell.
    When Nina finished, Tara turned an accusatory expression toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me all this earlier?”
    I shrugged. “You didn’t believe me when I said I’d seen him in the window seat. You just lectured me about false reports.”
    Anger and embarrassment stormed across her face. Great, Sophie—make her mad.
    “I’d like to see his car, please.” Tara’s words were polite, but delivered in an icy manner.
    The four of us and Francie’s golden retriever, Duke, walked the three blocks to Kurt’s SUV. When we reached the spot where he had parked, Nina froze. A new Cadillac occupied the spot where Kurt’s SUV had been parked. His car was gone.

ELEVEN

    From “THE GOOD LIFE” :
    Dear Sophie,
     

    If I had a fortune, I could have a gorgeous house. But the prices of furniture are unbelievably high, especially on the antiques I love so much. How can I get the same look for less?
     
—Antique Lover in Paris
     
    Dear Antique Lover,
     
    Learn from the expensive stores, but take your business to secondhand shops, yard sales, and flea markets. Try to see past fabrics and finishes, because they’re easily changed. Look for pieces in good condition with classic lines, then get to work with fresh fabric and paint.
     
—Sophie
    I breathed more easily. “I guess that settles it. Dead people don’t drive.”
    Under the glare of the streetlight, I could see Tara was not amused. Her mouth twitching from side to side, she scanned the block. “Nice try, ladies.” She focused on Nina. “I don’t know why you lied about his car and dragged me out here. It appears that your story is falling apart. It will go easier on you if you come clean.”
    “I’ve had about enough of you!” The words burst from my mouth before I could control myself. “Wolf knows all about the reason I was cleaning over at Mordecai’s. And I’m sure somebody on this block noticed Kurt’s SUV parked here. Maybe if you would do your job, you’d find out that we’re telling you the truth.”
    A gentle wind blew, but I knew my goose bumps came from fear, not the cold.
    “Leave Wolf out of this. Maybe you thought you could use him as an alibi while your friend committed murder, but he has his own dark history and doesn’t need more black marks against him from being associated with your despicable crime.” Tara stepped closer to me and her voice became husky. “Leave Wolf alone.”
    She’d invaded my personal space, and I took two steps back as it dawned on me that she had a major thing for Wolf. Their date for the banquet wasn’t a coincidence. No matter how much I wanted to imagine there was nothing between them, Tara had just proven her dedication to Wolf. Nina and I would be fighting a losing battle if she wanted me out of the picture. I tried anyway. “Maybe you ought to take a closer look at Kurt’s wife. She was supposed to be out of town, but she marched into Rooms and Blooms this morning, demanding to know where he was.”
    “So? That seems logical to me.”
    Maybe Police Barbie wasn’t all that bright. “When the cat’s away?” The blank look on