Free Better Off Wed by Laura Durham

for a person we couldn’t stand.” Kate sounded exasperated as she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. If she saw me glaring at her, she pretended not to notice.
    â€œBecause it’s the polite thing to do, Kate. Anyway, we’ve got a good reason. Self-preservation.”
    â€œHey, it’s not me they’re after.” She paused behind a line of cars waiting to turn left.
    â€œIf I get killed, you’re out of a job, remember?”
    â€œGood point. But explain to me again how this is going to help us find the killer.”
    â€œI’m willing to bet that one of her husbands killed her. Either Dr. Pierce or her ex-husband, Dr. Harriman. You heard what Alexandra said about Dr. Pierce.” I motioned for Kate to turn before we reached Dupont Circle. “So I figure we should hang around people who know them and keep our ears open.”
    â€œBut we’re going to the bride’s house first.” Kate sounded confused. “You think she had something to do with it?”
    â€œWe’re just acting concerned. I don’t think Elizabeth could disagree with her mother, much less kill her.”
    Kate shook her head. “You know what they say about the nice, quiet ones?”
    â€œNot this quiet one. Park anywhere in the next three blocks. Her house is right behind embassy row.”
    Kate backed into a parking space and ran one tire up onto the curb. “Maybe she got fed up with her mother controlling her life and flipped out.”
    â€œAnd ruined her own wedding?”
    â€œYou’re right. Murdering her mother is plausible, but ruining her own wedding is inconceivable.” Kate stepped out of the car and smoothed down her black wrap dress. “Which house is hers?”
    I looked down at the address on the slip of paper and pointed to a red brick townhouse a few doors down. Mrs. Pierce had run the entire wedding operation out of her home in Chevy Chase and I could drive there in my sleep, but I’d never been to the bride’s house before.
    â€œDo you think you could have picked a less somber dress, Kate?” I eyed her clingy dress with a plunging front.
    â€œWhat are you talking about? It has long sleeves and it’s black.”
    â€œI’m talking about the neckline. Doesn’t exactly scream ‘mourning,’ does it?” I’d chosen a black crepe suit that buttoned to my collarbone and had a knee-length skirt. I felt like a nun next to Kate.
    â€œI think it’s a good compromise.” Kate walked up to the front door and pressed on the bell.
    â€œWhat kind of a compromise?”
    â€œI’m sad that I found a dead body, but I’m not all that sad that it was Clara Pierce.” Kate pulled the front of the dress closed a fraction. “It also transitions from day to evening beautifully.”
    The front door opened, and Dr. Andrew Donovan stood in the doorway wearing wrinkled chinos and an untucked green Polo shirt. He looked nothing like the dashing groom from the wedding night. I stepped forward and took his hand.
    â€œAnnabelle and Kate from Wedding Belles. Your wedding planners.” I hurried my prepared speech. “We just wanted to stop by and check on Elizabeth. How is she?”
    â€œOf course, I remember you.” Dr. Donovan stepped back into the house and opened the door. “Please come in.”
    I pushed Kate inside and closed the door behind me. “We don’t want to intrude. We’re just so worried about her.”
    â€œWe grow so attached to our brides.” Kate had such a serious expression on her face that I had to avert my eyes to keep from laughing. Kate didn’t grow attached to anyone who didn’t have an Adam’s apple.
    â€œIt’s kind of you to come.” The groom showed us into the den. I perched on the edge of a wingback chair, and Kate sat on the burgundy leather couch. “I’m afraid Elizabeth isn’t handling her