Free Diva 02 _ Diva Takes the Cake, The by Krista Davis Page A

leaned toward preppy attire, but the sleeves on his lemon yellow polo shirt could barely contain his biceps. He wore light khakis and when he shook my mother’s hand, it was hard not to miss the tight, round bottom and slender waist.

    I’d expected Kevin to show up, though not with Natasha, but I hadn’t expected Professor Mordecai Artemus at all. One of the most elusive characters in the neighborhood, he was known to be a recluse. I’d seen him peering from the front windows of his home but had never encountered him outside. He lived across the street in the enormous corner house on the next block. If I strained forward a little, I could see his place from my kitchen window. I’d always admired the long ecru home with a front porch of pillars that rose to create arches. Whimsical dormer windows and intricate ironwork decorated the mansard roof.

    Mordecai wasn’t on the guest list, but that was now Natasha’s problem, I thought with wicked relief. I greeted him politely but received nothing more than a head bob in acknowledgment. Unruly hair fluffed around the base of his head, but the top was completely bald. His shirt, a faded jumble of blocks that probably hadn’t been attractive when new a few decades ago, clung to his chunky physique. And then something squirmed on his shirt.

    I drew back before I realized that he held a Pomeranian.

    “Isn’t she adorable?” Natasha squealed.

    She was. Right down to her gold-painted claws.

    “I never go anywhere without my Emmaline.” Mordecai made a kissing noise at the dog’s head, and Natasha led him to the sunroom.

    Mom seized me to rave over Wanda, who had clearly been the recipient of a Natasha makeover. The gray had vanished from Wanda’s tresses, leaving her with ebony hair pinned up in a French twist. Makeup softened the edges of her weary face, and she wore slender eggplant trousers with a matching top that my mother would have approved as man-catching clothing. Bold silver earrings gleamed against her skin.

    I was closing the door when I realized that Wolf paced the sidewalk in front of my house. I motioned for him to come in but he didn’t seem to notice, so I dashed outside. “What are you doing out here?”

    He tugged at his collar. “I’ve been uninvited. Natasha has informed me that my presence would disturb the guests of honor.”

    I was stunned. “It’s my house and my party and you’re my date. Forget about Natasha.”

    He looked doubtful. “Maybe it’s better this way, given the circumstances.”

    I could feel my ears heating up. How dare Natasha un-invite my date? “Please come in. I’ll protect you.”

    He glanced toward the house, and I followed his line of sight. Natasha loomed in my doorway like a vulture.

    “Thanks, Soph, but I’d rather avoid a scene. Besides, there’s been a development . . .”

    “I know Emily was murdered. I heard about the marks on her neck.” I made upward motions with my fingers.

    “Where’d you hear that?”

    I wasn’t about to betray Humphrey. “Word gets around,” I said lightly. “Hey, was Emily wearing a diamond necklace?”

    His right eyebrow rose. “I don’t think so.”

    I could hardly contain my excitement. “Craig must have ripped it off her neck when he killed her. He has it in his pocket upstairs. Is that enough evidence to arrest him?”

    “You’re certain it’s the same necklace?”

    Darned cop. “No. I only saw her for a few minutes. But I bet it’s hers. Rats. Is there anything I can do?”

    Wolf appraised me. “I can’t talk about the case. But if Hannah were my sister, I’d do my best to postpone the wedding. And I believe I’d ask around to find out where the victim stayed last night.”

    “At that B&B with the fancy gate.”

    Wolf tried to hide his amusement. “You always amaze me. Follow that lead.” He looked into my eyes in a way that made my pulse quicken before he walked away in the direction of Mars’s house.

    He’d thrown me a bone,