Free The Corpse Wore Cashmere by Sylvia Rochester Page B

“I see you didn’t need my help with the makeup. Your eyes look terrific. Have a seat, Mr. Sparrow. Can I order you anything?”
    “No, thanks.” He glanced at the pictures. “What’s all this?”
    “Our local big shots,” she said, turning the pages so he could get a better look. “If the festival is a success, I plan to run an article in the local paper, ask those who are interested to join us next year. A. K. and I might even hold a drawing for a free weekend on us.”
    “Mr. Fleming will be glad to hear that.” Miguel leafed through the pages and stopped on one in particular. “Hey, I know him.”
    “Who?”
    “This guy,” he said, pointing to a man standing beside a podium.
    “That’s Karl Hightower, our mayor.”
    “Well, he’s a frequent visitor here…or at least he was. I haven’t seen him in a while. Come to think about it, he stopped visiting about the time Lorraine left. Maybe he didn’t trust the new hostess’s choice of girls.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Not only was your mayor a high roller, he kept the escort service busy. Lorraine made sure he always had a pretty girl on his arm.”
    “Well, he was from Lorraine’s hometown. Maybe she gave him special attention because she knew him.” Susan wanted to bolt from the room and call Wesley, but she had to quell her excitement. “If Karl came here often, I should take his name out of the pot. It’s only fair I give someone else the pleasure of visiting your lovely establishment.”
    “You ever consider working in the hotel business? I bet you’d make a terrific hostess.”
    “Thanks, but I love my line of work.”
    “Have you always been in the costume business?”
    Susan laughed. “This costume business is new to me. It’s the brain child of Ms. Williams, my partner. I worked in the fashion industry for several years and recently opened by own shop, the Bawdy Boutique.”
    “The name sounds suggestive. Is it?”
    “Oh, we have some things that will spice up a relationship, but that’s just a small part of my inventory. I handle designer clothing and other accessories.”
    “Cool. But back to the costumes. What are you going to wear?”
    “It’s a secret, and that reminds me. I still have to make some alterations.” She gathered the pictures and finished her drink. “Miguel, I hope you’ll be around to lend a hand if we get swamped.”
    “You can count on me.”
    Susan hurried up the stairs. Once in her room, she called Wesley.
    “Did you get my fax?” he asked upon answering.
    “Yes, and the pictures have already paid off.”
    “How’s that?”
    “A. K. and I went for a nightcap, and then Miguel showed up in the lounge. I left the faxes on the table, hoping he would be curious, and sure ’nuff, he was. After A. K. left for her room, Miguel picked up the picture of Karl, said he was a frequent visitor to the hotel. Get this. Seems Karl liked the escort service as much as he liked gambling, and he relied on Lorraine to find him beauties.”
    “Hmm, if Lorraine was backing Karl, that would explain why she moved back home—to keep an eye on her golden goose. I’d like to see his bank records, but a duces tecum won’t be easy. He’s tight with all the judges, and chances are he’ll get wind of it before I can execute the warrant. I’ll have hell to pay then. You can bet he’ll demand my job.”
    “Even if you can tie him to Lorraine?”
    “Probably.”
    “So what are you going to do?”
    “What I always do—find another way.”
    Susan’s feeling of elation dropped like a ton of rocks. She moaned at the possibility Wesley could lose his job. “I shouldn’t have interfered.”
    “What do you mean? It’s the first lead I’ve had on this case. I’d follow up on this information no matter who gave it to me. Whatever happens, you’re not to blame.”
    “But you love police work. If you lost your job, what would you do?”
    “I could always re-up.” Wesley gave a muffled laugh.
    “Don’t even joke