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.All of those people on your list, the ones Gary exposed, might have wanted him dead.But what about the threats afterward?”“A smoke screen?” Liv said, then swallowed.“Why go to so much trouble just to spread suspicion around?” I said.“It’s a lot of risk.He or she could have been caught delivering the threat or messing with the dresses.If you’ve gotten away with murder, why increase the chance of your getting caught?” I shook my head.“No, I think the killer must really want to get the show canceled—and unfortunately for Brad, that’s the very thing that points to him.”“If the killer is the same person that’s sending these warnings,” Liv said.I nodded.Were the notes and the vandalism of the dresses out of character for Brad? No, he wouldn’t have killed anybody, I was sure of that.But were the subsequent notes that much different from the shenanigans he was involved in as a youth? “I suppose the notes could have been written by some kind of sick copycat.But we have no evidence of any of those people on those tapes being in town.”“But if they were, Gary would have recognized them.Which could be why he’s dead,” Liv said hopefully.I conceded that one to her.“Can we get copies of images of these people to show to Bixby, you think?”“I’ve got them,” Liv said, brightening.“I took pictures of the screen with my cell phone.”“Let’s send them to him.We still have his business card?”Liv pulled his rumpled business card out of the drawer and began composing a text, reading aloud as she typed.“Chief Bixby: This image and the ones following are all people who might have had a motive to kill Gary.During his early career as a news reporter he exposed or accused them of various crimes.Some served time.Thought you might like to know in case any of these people were seen in Ramble.”“Sounds good,” I said, as Liv’s fingers flew across her phone.“Full sentences.No chat speak or crazy abbreviations.”“Grandma Mae would be proud,” I said.“More importantly, Bixby will be able to understand it,” she said.“Sincerely, Liv and Audrey.” She hit send.“You signed it Liv and Audrey?” I said.“He respects you more.And I can’t exactly sign it as the Rose in Bloom Detective Agency, can I?”“You got me there.Now they’re Bixby’s problem, I guess.”“But you don’t think it’s likely that any of these people could be the killer.”I watched over Liv’s shoulder as she sent the rest of the images to Bixby.“I’ve met all the cast and crew and most of the fans that came from out of town.None of those people look familiar.”Liv’s phone beeped.“Oh, I got a message back.”“What did he say?” Amber Lee asked.Liv rolled her eyes and showed around her phone.“Thx.”“There’s a man of few words,” Shelby said.“Not even a smiley face,” Amber Lee added.“You know,” I said, “Gary thought he had a way back into the business.He must have been working on a story.Something new.Do you think that’s in those data files?”“Only one way to find out.” Liv turned back to the computer screen.Chapter 18I took a seat in the back row of the church next to where Shirley sat folding bulletins for Sunday.“I thought they’d be done with the rehearsal by now,” I whispered.I’d been sent to make sure the church was all clear before we headed over with the flowers.I texted Liv, “Not yet.”On the platform, Pastor Seymour stood flanked by the wedding party.He’d barely uttered three words before Gigi stopped him.She repositioned the wedding party closer together, then walked back to the cameraman.“Slow process,” Shirley said.“They just finished up the groom’s vows.Suzy’s up next.”“Can we hurry this up?” Suzy whined.“It’s hot in here.” She was dressed in shorts and a low-scooped tank top with the word “BRIDE” printed in glitter across her bosom.Sweat glistened on her exposed skin.Which was considerable.If she was this warm in the evening, when a cooler breeze was starting to trickle in the open windows, she was in for a surprise when she stood there tomorrow in the heat of the day wearing a full-length gown.Possibly that vintage one with the long bell sleeves.I stifled an amused snort.Shirley hit me in the thigh.I looked up to see her lip quiver, then she disguised a laugh with a cough.I studied a small pull in the knee of my jeans while I regained my composure.As I looked up, Suzy plucked a small, folded paper out of her bra, unfolded it, and began to read her personalized vows.“Are you going to read them or memorize them?” Gigi asked.“Read them,” Suzy said.“I don’t want to forget anything.”“Fine,” Gigi said.“But let’s get them printed on a card and not a trashy piece of paper.And don’t stick it in your cleavage.”“We could always use the more traditional vows,” Pastor Seymour suggested.“My Martha and I used the traditional vows, and we had a most lovely wedding.”“Is Martha your wife?” Suzy asked.“Where is she?” Suzy peered around the church.“Gone, child.She went over Jordan with Emmanuel, the lover of her soul,” Pastor Seymour said.“Well, that explains it.If you don’t mind my saying so, Reverend, maybe if you’d have told her how you felt, in your own words, she’d be with you instead of with this Emmanuel dude.”I should not have looked at Shirley.The moment I did, we both lost it.I could barely breathe, with the combined efforts of laughing and trying not to laugh.I swiped at my nose, and when I looked up through the tears, Suzy was staring at us, hands on her hips.“What’s so funny?”Suzy’s groom leaned forward and whispered in her ear.“Dead? Well, why didn’t he just say so?”He whispered in her ear again, and she turned bright red.Suzy turned to Pastor Seymour.“I’m sorry, Reverend.For both your loss and my misunderstanding.”Pastor Seymour patted her arm.“That’s all right, my dear.”Shirley looked at me and raised her eyebrows.Suzy went on with her vows [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]