Bouquet of Lies Part 18

"Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe she just led you to the body. But, yes, I believe you saw Mom."

Darla remained frozen for a couple of seconds. Then she grabbed Lacey and kissed her hard on the cheek. It was something she hadn't done in a long time and Lacey thought her little sis might burst into big happy tears. It was a realization. Believing a person was a beautiful thing. It made a person ecstatic. Darla positively glowed.

Lacey thought of her father and how, according to Henderson, he'd believed in her but had never said. If only he had. If only she'd known. She would have glowed and her glow would have been so bright, it would have lit up the world.

In that moment, Lacey felt like she and Darla had mended whatever it was that had been broken. She didn't tell her why she believed her now, about meeting with Stark and the photographs. And Darla didn't ask questions. Instead, she raved about the wondrous charms of Randy as Lacey bit her tongue.

They went upstairs. Lacey helped Darla dress for her date and Darla hated everything she put on. "I wish there was time to go shopping," she whined. "My clothes are baby."

"You don't want to look too s.e.xy," Lacey said. "That's not the girl he-"

"I don't want to look like a school-kid geek."

"You don't look like a geek. There's a lot of in-between. Tell you what. I'll let you borrow a blouse. And when I finish with your hair and makeup we'll get Jake up here and we'll see what he thinks."

"Jake? Why?"

"Because he's a man and . . ." She wanted to say, And he really cares about you, but didn't. Darla looked fretful. Lacey backed off. "Or we don't have to. Your call."

"No. That's okay. We'll ask him. But I want to wear the headband. Randy gave it to me."

Lacey turned before Darla could see her frown and led the way to her room. She pulled a baby doll, ruffle-sleeve top from the closet which Darla promptly nixed as too "sweet."

"Then . . ." Lacey grabbed a white, angel-sleeve top with front tie at the waist and held it up. "What about this?"

"It's pretty, but I want something . . . I don't know." Darla moved to the closet and sorted through it. "This!" She slipped a red, polyester-spandex blouse from the hanger and pressed it to her. She turned for Lacey to have a look. "I love it."

The s.e.xy, sleeveless top had a black, stud-accented wraparound collar. Edgy chic was what the tag had said-way past school-kid geek.

Lacey pursed her lips. Three weeks ago you would have turned up your nose, she wanted to say, but didn't. "If you think you'll be comfortable in it," she offered instead.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Darla gave her a haughty stare.

Lacey smiled to cover her true feelings. "Try it on."

Darla tore off the top she was wearing, along with her bra, and pulled it over her head. "I'll be comfortable in anything as long as I'm with Randy."

The blouse was too big, which was good because it didn't cling and lost some of its va-va-voom.

Lacey nodded and took out her phone. "I'll tell Jake to give us half an hour and we'll see what he thinks."

A half hour later Jake was telling Darla that she looked beautiful.

Darla blushed.

Lacey grinned. The blood that flowed to color Darla's face had to mean she could feel Jake's attraction to her.

"You've grown up." Jake's tone was almost wistful and there was a stunned quality to the expression on his face. Maybe it was cruel to have him come up and see Darla dressed to go out with another man. But, d.a.m.n it. Why didn't he speak up?

Darla smoothed the blouse she wore and looked down at the floor.

Lacey folded her arms. They're both acting like they're in third grade. It might be cute if- The doorbell rang.

If there weren't a ravenous wolf at the door.

Jake was the first one out of the room and down the stairs. He swung the door wide and Lacey could see Randy was surprised to find a virile, attractive male before him.

"Ah. I'm here for Darla."

Jake and Randy eyed each other like alpha whitetail bucks ready to lock horns, although Randy maintained a smile while Jake's face held a look of contempt.

"I'm right here." Darla stepped between the two men and took Randy's hand.

Randy glanced at Lacey as he put an arm around Darla, pausing a moment before he guided her out the door.

"Take care," Jake called. "Eighteenth birthday coming up. We'd all like to celebrate."

Randy didn't look back. He opened the car door and helped Darla get in. Then he walked around and sank into the driver's seat.

"You're a little obvious there, bud," Lacey said as Jake watched the Lexus drive away.

"Yeah? So is he."

Lacey laughed. Jake headed for the back door. "Hey," she called. "Give me a ride tomorrow?"

"Sure. What's wrong with your car?"

"Nothing. It's what's wrong with the neighborhood."

Jake shrugged and didn't ask for an explanation. Either he wasn't concerned or his thoughts were still on Darla going out with another alpha buck.

Eighteen.

LACEY SETTLED IN at the computer in her father's office and Googled, Binged and Yahooed the name Tiffany Cla.s.s. All she found was information on Tiffany gla.s.s.

By eight o'clock, Henry still hadn't brought Edward home and Lacey had taken to looking out the window. What could Edward possibly be discussing with Maggot for all this time? She was ready to get in her car and go find out when the front door opened and not only did Edward walk in, but so did Marnie the reality TV wannabe, Uncle D, and Dan-the-Man.

Dan came toward her. "I called you. You never called back."

"I'm protecting my heart."

Dan gave her a confused stare.

"I guess that's her," Reality said, glancing at Lacey, looking bored. "Can I go home now?"

Uncle D popped a Tums into his mouth. "I need you to be sure."

"Then I'm sure. If it'll get me home."

"Look at her for real."

Reality frowned. She stared for two full seconds. "I'm sure."

"Good." Uncle D turned to Lacey.

Lacey c.o.c.ked her head. "What? She's sure she saw me today? She did. You could've just asked."

Reality raised a hand that said: There you go.

"I need to sit down," Edward grumbled. He led everyone to the sitting room.

Lacey took a wingback chair and crossed her arms and legs. "Is somebody going to tell me what's going on?" She looked at Dan. He stood in a corner, stiff and serious. She looked at Uncle D.

"Someone murdered Pete Stark." The detective popped another Tums.

"Maggot's dead?" A weird sensation moved through Lacey. She didn't like the guy, but it was strange to think she'd just talked to him and now he was deceased.

"Who's Maggot?" Uncle D asked.

"That's what I call Stark."

"He wasn't a maggot!" Reality was suddenly outraged. "He was the best boss I ever had."

"Let me guess. A boss with benefits." Lacey sounded as p.i.s.sy as she felt.

The receptionist glared at her and pointed. "She's the killer."

"Oh, please. When I left he was alive and you know it."

Reality smirked. "That's true. We even made love on the desk after you left. But then I went for an audition. You must have come back."

"Why would I do that?"

"To take back the money." Reality tossed her head. "He gave me a thou. He was generous that way."

"I see. You're the receptionist with benefits." Lacey unfolded her arms.

"How about that, Miss Bouquet?" Uncle D stared at her with no expression and Lacey wondered if this was his version of the third degree.

"I didn't come back. I went home." She left out the part about waiting in her car for Tiffany Cla.s.s to come out of the Hotel Pamela. She still wanted to talk to Tiffany before she told the police about her. Maybe it was unwise, but Tiffany was the key to something and she wanted to make sure she was in on knowing what that something was.

"Why'd you go see Stark?"

"I wanted to know what he had on Edward."

Edward banged his cane. "He had nothing on me, you twit."

Uncle D turned to him calmly. "You say he wasn't blackmailing you."

"Preposterous."

"Then why did you show up at his office with cash and jewelry?"

"To pay off Harper's debt. He hired him, not me. Stark wanted his money."

"Why not take it to the executor of the estate? Let the estate pay. Why try to pay it yourself?" Another Tums.

"I thought I was doing the right thing."

Lacey choked and the detective looked at her. "What did Stark tell you?"

She thought fast. She couldn't say "nothing" since she'd given Stark money and they seemed to know about it. She could say he promised her information, but now that he was dead that seemed a little weak. She could tell them about the blonde, but not that he'd given her a name or the pictures. It would only be a half-truth and a slippery slope. She could manage it. "I learned next to nothing. He told me about a blond woman he was hired to find." She saw Edward's jaw twitch.

"And?" the detective prodded.

"And he would keep me posted."

"You don't know anything about a file?"

"He didn't show me a file." That was true enough.

"I didn't ask you that. I said know anything about."

Uncle D was smart. Lacey motioned with her hands. "Well, if he had a case, obviously there was a file."

The investigator's face grew hard. He looked the way detectives looked in old Humphrey Bogart movies. "We know he made up a hard copy file to give to Edward. You didn't go back and tear the place up looking for it?"

"No."

"Somebody did. It's missing. It was also erased from the computer."

"I never saw any file."

Uncle D took a small radio from a pocket and pressed a b.u.t.ton. "We're ready now." The front door opened and there came the sound of more people entering the house. When two intruders appeared at the sitting room door, it was clear they were cops. "And you didn't go back for your money?" Uncle D repeated.

"No. I told you."

"How much did she pay him?" He tossed the words over his shoulder at Reality, eyes still on Lacey.

"Twenty-five thousand dollars," the receptionist said with conviction.

Lacey suppressed a smile. Reality was too dumb to think the boss-with-benefits might lie to her.