“That’s Martina and Stewart.” Belinda Sue tapped the screen. “They couldn’t have given the pastor the wine. They weren’t even in town.”
“That’s what I figured.” Cordelia slumped in her chair.
On one hand, she’d formed a tentative friendship with Martina and was happy she wasn’t a killer. But on the other hand, they weren’t any closer to clearing Daisy. Trying to sort out small-town scandals from actual clues was like trying to divide oysters and clams.
“So that’s that,” Arline said. “Where do we go from here?”
“I think we ought to refocus our efforts on looking into Edna and Corbin,” Belinda Sue said. “They’ve had the best motive to date, and the only thing we’ve uncovered about them is that Edna had a questionable conversation with a shady gentleman near the library.”
“I’m not ruling them out, but what do you propose we do?” Cordelia asked. “There’s no way they’ll answer any of our questions or let us get close enough to find evidence.”
“I have an idea,” Belinda Sue said. “And you’re not going to like it.”
“You’re right,” Cordelia said. “I don’t like this.”
Cordelia stood next to the card stock at the local drugstore, turning the metal rack as she searched for a professional-looking invitation. Daisy and Arline had insisted on coming along, despite it being against Belinda Sue’s better judgment. They ended up causing a ruckus in the candy aisle, arguing over the last bag of Tootsie Roll Pops. At least they managed to draw everyone’s attention away from Cordelia and Belinda Sue. Though they weren’t exactly inconspicuous either. A sixty-year-old woman in a leather catsuit was bound to stick out.
“Do you really think they’re going to buy this?” Cordelia asked.
“Of course they will,” Belinda Sue said. “Edna and Corbin like nothing more than feeling important. By the time they figure out the midnight auction is a ruse, we’ll be well clear of their property.”
It had been Belinda Sue’s idea to break into the office building Corbin had built on the speck of land he’d been able to purchase out in the brush country, not too far from the Chickadee. At first, they’d considered waiting until the place went dark, then sneaking over. But it never went dark. Belinda Sue figuredCorbin must’ve been sleeping there, because no matter what time they drove by, the lights were on and Corbin’s truck was parked at the end of the long, dusty driveway leading up to the outpost he’d set up.
He had to have been protecting something important if he put that much effort into keeping the space guarded like that.
So Belinda Sue had come up with a plan to lure Corbin and Edna out of town with a fake midnight auction in Crystal Creek, an exclusive event attended by local leaders in business. It took at least an hour to drive to Crystal Creek, and another hour to drive back once they figured out it was all a hoax.
Cordelia had a bad feeling about the whole thing, but Belinda Sue’s confidence in the plan gave her a boost to push forward. And at this point, they were out of other options. It would only be a matter of time before Honey was cleared, Archer’s suspicions would boil over, and all eyes would be on Daisy again.
“None of these are fancy enough.” Belinda Sue frowned over the display of cards. “We’ve got to be convincing if we’re going to make this work.”
Cordelia’s phone buzzed. Daisy had stopped fighting with Arline long enough to text her that Archer had just entered the store. “Dang it. I don’t need this right now.”
“Need what?” Belinda Sue asked.
“Nothing.” Cordelia pointed to aYOU’RE INVITEDcard off the rack with a fancy wooden mandala carved into the thick stock paper. “This one will work.”
Cordelia power walked down the aisle, hoping to make a quick getaway, and ended up running smack-dab into Archer. Because of course she did.
“Archer.” She tipped her chin. “Good to see you.”
“Is it?” He rubbed his jaw. “Because Daisy about passed outwhen she saw me, and you look as though you’d rather be anywhere else.”
Why did this man insist on testing her? “Fine. It’s terrible to see you. Is that better?”
“Honesty is always better.” He gave her a long, searching look, but she wasn’t taking the bait. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes.” She gave him her most prim smile.
“I heard you went to church this week.” He leaned in closer, a wicked gleam in his eye and the woodsy scent of his aftershave making her head light. “You’re not hoping God will absolve you, are you? Because it’s a little late to ask for His help.”
“It’s none of your business why I was there.” Cordelia turned up her nose. “I noticed you weren’t present. I’m assuming it’s because God already knows you’re long past saving.”
“One of these days, Delia, who you think I am is going to butt right up against who I actually am, and I hope I’m there to watch that pretty little head of yours explode.”
“And I hope you’re the one who gets stuck cleaning up the mess. If you’ll excuse me...” She gave him her back as she walked past, letting her hips swivel only a little.
“Just so you know, I’m still keeping an eye on you,” Archer called after her.
