Free Murder Unmentionable by Meg London

was…waiting for someone.” She looked down and away from Emma and Brian.
    “What time was it?”
    “I don’t know.” Nikki’s tone was petulant. She fiddled with a loose string on her bathrobe tie.
    Emma thought back to the previous evening. It seemed a million years away all of a sudden. She’d arrived at the restaurant shortly after eight o’clock. Had Guy stayed behind to try to calm Nikki down?
    “Was it nine o’clock? Ten o’clock?” Emma said
    “I told you. I don’t know.” Nikki stared at her feet. She shrugged. “Nine o’clock, maybe?”
    “And you came back here?”
    “Yeah.” She jumped up, tossing her hair back. “What is this all about? Why are you asking me all these questions?”
    “Sorry,” Brian said. “We don’t mean to upset you. It’s just that we’re trying to figure out what happened.”
    “It sounds to me like you’re trying to say I had something to do with it.” Nikki stalked toward the small kitchenette that formed an
L
off the main room. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water.
    Emma recognized the blue and white label and the unique shape. It might only be water, but it sold for almost five dollars a bottle.
    Nikki twisted off the top and took a long swallow.
    “How did you get back here?” Brian stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
    “Well I didn’t walk,” Nikki sneered. “I have a rental car.” She perched on the edge of the sofa again, swinging one bare foot. Her toes were painted a deep midnight blue.
    “Did anyone see you?” Emma tried to keep her tone light.
    “Look. I don’t know who you think you are, but you have no right barging in here like this asking me all these questions.” She glared at Emma then turned to Brian with a smile. “Why don’t you get rid of your ‘assistant’? Then you can ask me all the questions you want.” Her voice dropped to a low purr.
    Brian took a step back. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” He paused. “Did anyone see you after you got back here?”
    Nikki scowled. “I don’t know. Maybe. The lobby was pretty empty, and I can’t remember if there was anyone behind the desk.” She picked up a throw pillow and held it to her chest. “Now will you please leave me alone?”
    Emma and Brian obligingly headed toward the door. They heard the soft thud of the pillow hitting the door as it closed behind them.
    THE night was even blacker as they drove back toward downtown Paris. Emma’s head was swirling with all the information they’d gleaned. Nikki was definitely not telling them everything she knew. That didn’t necessarily make her the murderer, but there was certainly a lot more than met the eye where Nikki was concerned.
    “Do you think Nikki’s telling the truth?” Emma turned to Brian.
    He glanced back briefly. “Some of it, at least. But certainly not all. I got the impression she’s trying to hide something.”
    “Me, too.”
    BRIAN insisted on waiting until Emma was safe and sound behind her closed and locked apartment door. It wasn’t as if a serial killer was on the loose in Paris, Tennessee—she was pretty sure Guy had been singled out to be killed—but she was still grateful for Brian’s chivalry. In spite of herself, she made a cursory inspection of the apartment—no one under the beds or hiding in the closet—before she kicked off her shoes and poured herself a glass of sweet tea.
    Her cell phone rang as she was about to sink into the large comfy chair and ottoman drawn up in front of the television. Emma rummaged through her purse trying to find it, finally dumping the contents out onto the rug. She grabbed her cell and pressed the button.
    “Hello?”
    “Emma. It’s Kate.”
    Emma gave a silent groan. Kate! She’d forgotten all about her! How was she going to tell her Guy was dead? Although Kate denied it, Emma was quite certain Kate was in love with Guy. She pictured Kate’s open and honest face. She wasn’t good at hiding her emotions or