“What’s the matter, darling?” Shanna asked. “You look positively ill.”
“I just . . . I never . . . I’m so sorry,” Elise said.
Mel got the feeling the words were not ones she used very often, as it appeared she had to choke them out.
Shanna gave her a wicked smile. “Don’t be. All of his psychotic outrage at his impending humiliation caused Carl to stroke out before he changed his will and I inherited billions! You set me free, my dear, and I am ever grateful.”
Elise’s eyes went wide and she clapped her hands. “That’s wonderful. I mean, um, I’m sorry for your loss?”
“Don’t be. It was no loss. He was a bully who thought I was an accessory to be seen and never heard. I am not grieving, not even a little,” Shanna said. “I’m leaving next week for a six-month cruise around the world. You simply have to meet up with me when you finish this pesky book business.”
“Spanish Riviera?”
“Absolutely.”
Elise signed the book and the women exchanged an air kiss. Shanna took her book and sauntered away, looking every bit the privileged billionaire that she was.
Angie turned a bug-eyed look at Mel, who shrugged. This was not her world. Inheriting billions off the corpse of a dead husband who was apoplectic that he’d be publicly shamed? She would never be able to relate. She was kind of glad about that.
“Hey!” Ray appeared beside Angie. He was frowning and he pulled them both away from the table by the elbow. “So, I was just outside talking to the driver.”
“Why?” Angie asked.
“I thought he might be available to fill in for you on your big day since your limo—”
Angie’s lower lip wobbled. Mel tucked her hand behind Ray’s elbow and pinched his arm right through the leather.
“Ouch!” He tugged his elbow away. Mel gave him her scariest face and jerked her head at Angie. “Yeah, okay, don’t talk about dead guys, I got it.”
Angie looked like she was getting ready to wail. Ray, sensing disaster, started talking really fast.
“So, check this out,” he said. “The driver here is a last-minute replacement for a guy who was found dead, who happens to be the same guy you and Tate hired.”
“Meaning?” Angie asked. She looked confused.
“Oh my god, seriously?” Mel asked.
Both Ray and Angie looked at her in question.
“I just found out that Brianna, the original caterer, was found dead in her kitchen,” she said.
“Well, that’s taking the rule of three to a dark new level,” Ray said.
“No, you’re missing the point,” Mel said.
“Me, too,” Angie said. “Why the excitement?”
“Because the photographer, caterer, and driver for Elise’s event were all murdered,” Mel gasped. “You had the same driver and the photographer in common but the caterer was just Elise’s. Don’t you see? You and Tate aren’t the targets of these murders. Elise is,” Mel said.
As one, all three of them turned to look at Elise. Sensing their scrutiny, she paused in signing a book and asked, “What? Is there a spider on me?”
“No, but you have to get out of here,” Mel said. “Your life is at stake.”
Elise blinked. Almost in slow motion, she handed the book to the man who was waiting and then she threw back her head and laughed.
“I don’t know who you are, cupcake baker,” she said, “but your sense of comic timing is fantastic.”
She turned to the next person in line, still chuckling. Mel turned to Cassie. “I’m not kidding,” she said. “She has to get out of here.”
“Mel, you’re acting crazy,” Cassie said. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Three murders,” Mel said. “Didn’t you find it the least bit odd that the photographer, the caterer, and the driver you hired for tonight’s event were all killed this week?”
“I thought it was just a series of unfortunate events, like Mercury was in retrograde or something,” Cassie said. “Why would you think it has anything to do with Elise?”
“Because there are no coincidences,” Angie said. She had pulled herself together and was looking as serious as a heart attack. “Three deaths and the only thing they had in common was this book signing.”
“We need to call Uncle Stan,” Mel said. “He’ll want to know about this and the signing will have to be shut down.”
“What?” Cassie cried.
“I’m sorry,” Mel said. “It’s the only way to keep Elise safe.”
“But the books and the customers and my sales,” Cassie said.
“They’ll get their books,” Mel said. “But is Elise’s life worth the risk if there is a killer out there?”
Cassie took a few seconds longer than Mel would have thought necessary to shake her head.
“All right, fine,” she said. “I’ll tell Elise we need to pack it up.”
She moved to stand beside Elise and they exchanged a tense whispered conversation. Elise looked surprised and then angry. Finally, she shook her head and put up her hand, indicating that she wouldn’t listen to any more, and turned back to the next person in line, clearly dismissing Cassie.
“She’s refusing to leave,” Cassie said. “What do we do?”
They all watched Elise for a moment. She had the glow of being in the limelight shining out of every pore. She was positively radioactive, and it was certain, she wasn’t going to go quietly.
“‘Dyin’ ain’t much of a living, boy,’” Mel said.
“The Outlaw Josey Wales,” Angie identified the movie quote. “I’ll call for backup.”
“What do you want me to do?” Ray asked.
“Stand right here and do not let Elise out of your sight,” Mel said. “If anyone makes a false move, have security haul them out of here.”
“I’ll call Tate and the brothers,” Angie said.
“I’ll call Stan,” Mel said.
They moved to the side of the room and placed their calls. Mel kept one eye on the line while she waited for Stan to pick up. His phone rolled over to voicemail and she frowned. Never, ever, had Stan not picked up when she called.
She glanced at Angie. “How goes it?”
“I told Tate to get here as fast as he could
