Page 95 of Lyrical

Hmm…. I knew Perry loved her sister, but she was being a little too sweet towards her.

Cassie reached over and touched Perry’s hand. “Are you just nervous about what the boys are doing tonight?”

“Um, no.”

“Because if so, I totally get it. You’re around girlfriends here. You can talk about it. I know what can happen at those things and it’s not too pretty.”

Yeah, because she was probably the one jumping out of the cakes. “Cassie, you don’t know her fiancé,” I said. “She has nothing to worry about.”

“It’s usually not the fiancé you have to worry about.”

“Remember to trust no one. That is the first rule.” I jerked my head over to see a woman in an evening gown speaking into a microphone. “Even those at your table can be a suspect. In fact, assume anyone speaking to you is lying.”

I glanced over at Cassie.That shouldn’t be too hard.

“You’ll have some time now to get up and mingle. Move around the room, visit other tables, and interrogate everyone you can. The murderer is someone right here in this room, and it’s your job to crack the case.”

People started rising and shuffling around. “Coming, Perry?” Rachel asked. She was one of Perry’s coworkers.

“Maybe I’ll just hang at our table and wait for others to come interrogate me.” She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll get plenty of attention. Everyone loves a bride-to-be.”

I reached over and whispered, “Can I get you anything? You’re worrying me here.” I expected her to be bouncing all over this room.

“I’m fine. Or I will be.” She stuck out her tongue. “That appetizer was just really nasty and messed with me. I’m a little scared to see what they’re serving for dinner. You go and try to find out who the killer is, and you can’t just say it’s Cassie.”

I smiled. “No, she’s going to be the next victim, remember?”

I took a sip of my merlot before wandering around. I was on a two-drink limit even though there were rooms reserved upstairs. Unfortunately, I had to throw the shower the next day and needed to be ready and un-hungover in the morning. I tried really hard not to have it the day after the bachelorette party, but it was the only time everyone was available. Even more unfortunate was the fact that Cassie was one of the guests.

I scanned the room, searching for clues and suspects. The ones who looked the most obvious wouldn’t likely be the murderer, so I went for the least obvious—a very,verypregnant woman. As I stepped closer to her, I changed my reasoning. The killer probablywasthe most obvious because most would be thinking the same way as me. I should’ve gone to the guy leaning against the wall with greasy hair and a fake knife dangling from the chain in his pocket.

The woman turned, noticing me approach. “Hi,” she said. Her smile was beautiful. “I’m Diana.”

“Hmm. Is that a real or fake name?”

She laughed. “I hope I’m not guilty. I don’t think I’d be able to make a very quick getaway.”

I smiled. I liked her already. “I’m Jillian.” I stuck out my hand, and she shook it.

“Real or fake?”

“I don’t think I should say since Icanmake a quick getaway.”

She laughed again and waved to the table. “Let’s sit down a bit. I’m exhausted just talking about running.”

“How far along are you, if you don’t mind me asking? You look really….”

“Elephant-like?”

“I was going to say close.”

“Oh, yes. Thirty-nine weeks. Let’s just say the case might not be the only thing breaking before the night is through.”

“Wow. You look great.”

“Thanks. My doctor would rather I sit home and take it easy towards the end, but I’d go crazy if I did that. It was the same way for my first, and that turned out fine. I like to get out and keep busy until I can’t anymore.”

“Are you high-risk?”

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