“Wow. That certainly sounds uncomfortable.”
“That’s one word for it.” Gigi takes a sip of her punch. “Take Dolly Hatchett, for example. Sweet woman, makes a decent deviled egg, but five years ago, she embezzled from the Daughters’ charity fund. Forty thousand dollars meant for the women’s shelter.”
My mouth falls open. “Forty thousand dollars?”
“She’s been paying it back,” Gigi says quickly. “Quietly. Skimming from her own business, fudging the books to make it look like the fund just had lower returns. She’s down to about five thousand left to replace.” Her lips press into a thin line. “But Vivifound out. And Vivi was planning to expose her at the retrospective.”
“I bet that would’ve ruined Dolly.”
“Completely.” Gigi’s voice is cool. “It would have led to criminal charges, it certainly would have been the end of her business, and not to mention the public humiliation. All because Vivi decided it was time to set the record straight.”
Percy hops closer with his tail feathers shimmering. “And yet here you are, spilling Dolly’s secrets like they’re party favors. How very generous of you.”
I shrug his way. It’s certainly to our benefit.
“What about you?” I ask Gigi. “Can I ask if Vivi had anything on you?”
Gigi’s expression shutters for just a second, so fast I almost miss it. “Nothing worth killing over,” she says lightly. “Though I won’t pretend we didn’t have our little disagreements.”
“Oh?” I try to act casual. “About what?”
“Legacy. Interpretation of history. The direction of the organization.” She waves her hand dismissively. “Boring administrative things that matter to people who care too much about committees.”
Percy snorts. “Liar, liar, perfectly coiffed hair on fire.”
I’m about to press in when Gigi glances around, then back to me. “Vivi had a secret man. Someone she was very romantically involved with. She never told us who he was directly, but it was clear from the way she spoke that it was serious, with all the little comments and the smugness. And I got the distinct impression it was someone close to the Daughters. Someone verymarried. That was certainly something we disagreed on.”
My stomach twists. “Do you know who?”
“No idea. Vivi was careful about that. But whoever he was, she was absolutely smitten. And smug about it.” Gigi takes a sip of her punch. “About six months ago, somethingshifted. Vivi became a little bolder, and far more willing to push boundaries with everything in her life.”
Percy clicks his beak. “Mother Vivi was always bold. That’s what got her killed.”
I try to take all this in as my eyes skitter around the room, and I land on the banana pudding queen herself.
“What about Midge Thornbury?” I ask. I’d pay cash money to have her arrested.
Gigi follows my gaze. “Midge? She’s been the picture of domestic perfection for thirty years. However,” she pauses, “she’s also incredibly competitive. Especially about her reputation. And I’ve found that people who work that hard to maintain a perfect image usually have something they’re protecting.”
I nod because I tend to agree. “Like what?”
“I honestly don’t know. Midge keeps things very close to the vest. But I do know that she and Vivi had been rather tense lately. Nothing overt, just a shift in their dynamic. More strained smiles, fewer genuine interactions.” Gigi shrugs. “It could be nothing. It could be everything. With Vivi, you never knew what she was holding in reserve.”
Percy hops onto my shoulder, which feels both comforting and deeply weird. “Several people had reason to want Mother Vivi silenced, Lottie Lemon. The question is, which one of them had the courage to talk Big Bertha into doing the deadly deed?”
Before I can ask more, a cheerful voice cuts through the conversation. “Gigi! There you are!”
Midge Thornbury appears at Gigi’s elbow, all sunshine and banana pudding energy, with a younger woman trailing behind her. And not until she steps closer do I see it’s Ronnie Crane, the woman I met at Vivienne’s estate the day of the murder, and I know for a fact she also happens to be Gigi’s daughter. They share the same auburn hair and sharp green eyes that look as if they miss absolutely nothing.
“Lottie Lemon,” Midge says warmly, looping her arm throughGigi’s like they’re old friends. “I hope you’re not monopolizing our dear Gigi. She’s been on her feet all afternoon coordinating.”
“I was just complimenting the event,” I say.
“Isn’t it marvelous?” Midge beams. “Gigi, you simply must try the soda fountain before it closes. Come on, I insist.”
She practically drags Gigi away, chattering on about ice cream flavors and authentic 1950s recipes. Gigi shoots me an apologetic look over her shoulder.
Ronnie watches them go with an amused expression. “If I had to guess, I’d say Midge just did you a favor.”
