Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs

fillings, Bill Glass ducked in and took a picture.
    â€œGet out of here!” Theodosia slapped at him.
    Strobe lights flashed as Glass snapped another quick series of shots.
Pop, pop, pop.
He was Charleston’s own unwelcome paparazzo.
    â€œYou’re not helping,” Theodosia hissed at Glass. She tried to wave him off at the same time she struggled to drag Max in the direction of the front door.
    Cecily spun toward Theodosia like a rabid weasel and pointed a shaking finger. “Get him out of here!” she screamed.
    â€œC’mon,” said Theodosia. She’d sneaked an arm halfway around Max’s waist and gave a series of urgent yanks. “Right
now
,” she said, using her insistent “Don’t you dare chew on that carpet, Earl Grey,” tone of voice.
    That seemed to get through to him.
    â€œWhat?” Max said. He stared at her as if in a daze.
    â€œCome with me,” said Theodosia, “this instant.” But this time she let a hint of gentleness seep into her voice.
    â€œYes, go!” Cecily shrilled. “You lying, freaking animal!”
    Dodging and darting their way through the crowd, Theodosia and Max finally emerged onto the sidewalk. Cool air ruffled their hair, and darkness and quiet wrapped around them like a soft cloak.
    â€œOkay,” said Theodosia. She inhaled deeply. “That went well.” She touched a hand to her hair and found that the heat, humidity, and the general aura of vitriol had caused it to expand. She smoothed it down, fearing she probably looked like a wild woman, too.
    â€œJeez,” said Max. He touched a hand to his forehead and gave a mock wipe. “That woman’s plum crazy.”
    â€œThe thing I need to know,” said Theodosia, “is
what did you say to Cecily to make her flip out like that?”
    â€œI was just minding my own business,” said Max. “Standing at the bar and talking to that Bill Glass character.”
    â€œOh, great.”
    â€œHe was being snooty about the wine they were serving, making wisecracks about it coming in a box and all that. But then he apologized for the nasty shot he took at me earlier. I let him know it was cool, that I wasn’t nursing any sort of grudge.”
    Theodosia made a rolling motion with her hand. “Yeah, yeah, and then what happened?”
    â€œThen Glass mentioned Cecily, and I said something about her, and before you know it . . . she was right there in our faces, howling like a scalded cat.”
    Theodosia wrinkled her nose. “In what context did you mention her?”
    Max just stared at her.
    â€œAs Edgar Webster’s killer?”
    â€œ
Killer
is your word,” said Max. “I only referred to her as a possible suspect.”
    â€œYou did this right in the middle of her open house,” said Theodosia, her tone getting a little rougher. “Where she or her friends could overhear you? Where she obviously
did
overhear you. Sheesh . . . no wonder the woman came unglued.”
    â€œI didn’t
mean
for her to overhear me,” Max muttered.
    â€œYou know what?” said Theodosia. “You think
I’m
the crazy one on this team?” She jabbed an index finger into the middle of his chest. “You’re the one who’s off his spindle.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I really am.”
    â€œCome on,” said Theodosia. “Let get in the car. There’s something important I have to tell you.”
    Max’s face fell. “You’re breaking up with me?”
    â€œNo,” said Theodosia. “It’s actually much worse.”
    â€¢ • •
    When they were finally settled in Theodosia’s Jeep with the engine running and the defroster pumping out a refreshing shot of cool air, she told him about the row of awls she’d seen in Pine Nut’s workshop.
    â€œOwls?” said Max. His brain was still a little discombobulated.
    â€œNo,”