I cleared my throat, trying to do the same to my suddenly fuzzy brain. “Are you here to see me?”
“Actually, that’s a bonus. I had a meeting with Agnes about the security system for her bakery.” He nodded at the box in his hands. “The consulting job comes with some perks.”
The elevator doors parted, and Bitty Dover stepped out with Leona Lavish, who wore a floor-length, sparkling black gown and what looked like several pounds of glittering costume jewelry. Bitty, on the other hand, wore a demure gray-and-white dress with a pink cardigan and a single strand of pearls.
“Emersyn!” Bitty waved at me like I might somehow miss seeing her there. “Just the person we need to talk to.”
“Agnes told us that you’re on the case, and we have intel to share,” Leona added as they hurried across the lobby toward us. Well, Bitty hurried while Leona sort of glided with her chin up and her chest thrust forward, like she was making a grand entrance onstage. That’s the way she walked pretty much all the time.
“I see you’re dressing the part,” Bitty said with approval as she took in the sight of my pantsuit. “My dear cousin Princess Di always said that’s the first step to success.”
I looked down at my clothes and was about to explain that I’d come from unsuccessful job interviews, but Leona didn’t give me a chance. She’d already turned all her attention to Wyatt. Frankly, I was surprised that she’d noticed me at all, and I definitelywasn’tsurprised when she took hold of Wyatt’s arm and pressed her ample bosom against it while gazing up at him with her false eyelashes fluttering wildly.
“And who’s this?” She practically purred the question.
Wyatt smiled, and he did a good job of it, but I still suspected that he’d forced the expression. “I’m Wyatt.”
Once again, he supplied no last name. What was up with that?
“The private detective!” Bitty exclaimed with delight. “Agnes told us that you run the PI agency with Emersyn.”
“That’s not quite—” I tried to say, but Leona cut me off.
“Darling, you can be my private eye anytime,” she said to Wyatt in a sultry voice.
“You have intel?” he said, a little louder than necessary.
Bitty nodded. “About Freddie. We figured you’d want to know if he had a beef with anyone.”
“Absolutely,” I said, as if I’d planned to ferret out such information all along.
“Leona and I heard Freddie arguing with Rosario López a few days before he died,” Bitty divulged.
Although I wouldn’t have thought it possible, Leona pressed herself even more snugly against Wyatt, forcing him to shift the bakery box to one hand. “That’s right. We did.”
“What were they arguing about?” Wyatt asked.
He took a subtle step back, but Leona moved with him, all the while stroking his biceps.
“We’re not sure,” Bitty replied. “We heard their raised voices but couldn’t make out any actual words.”
“How often do you work out, darling?” Leona’s voice dripped with desire.
Although I was tempted to gag, it pleased me to see a slightcrack in Wyatt’s composure. He shot me an alarmed glance before regaining his laid-back, confident demeanor.
“Had they argued before, to your knowledge?” he asked Bitty, ignoring Leona’s question.
“I’m really not sure,” Bitty admitted. “And I’m sorry, but I’ve got to run. I’ve got a dental appointment.”
With a wave, she pushed out the front door.
Leona ran a finger down Wyatt’s chest. “How about we go up to my apartment, and you can conduct avery thoroughinvestigation?” She followed the suggestion with an over-the-top wink.
Wyatt stepped back and raised his hand to cover a cough, which I suspected was itself a cover for nearly choking.
I took pity on him then. After all, he’d helped me out three times. The least I could do was save him from Leona’s clutches.
“Sorry, we’ve got plans.” I grabbed Wyatt’s arm and yanked him over to the elevator with me.
