Free Tacked to Death by Michele Scott

background. But there was not a
whole lot to appreciate at the moment. One minute it was Sunday
afternoon and her team had won a polo match and raised a nice chunk
of change for her riding center, then by Monday she'd been arrested
for murder. All she wanted to do was be vindicated and get back her
life—a life that seemed to have drastically changed in the last
twenty-four hours.
    She went up to the front doors and
pulled on them but they were locked. She started to walk around to
the back of the restaurant, passing some of the large picture
windows, which allowed patrons to enjoy the view. Something caught
her eye and she peered inside. Pepe Sorvino was talking to Ed
Mitchell. So, it was Ed's car. They looked to be having a drink and
laughing about something and did not notice her. Michaela continued
around the back to knock on the door, but hesitated. Ed stood up
from the bar and pulled something from his pocket. She squinted to
see what it was. It looked to be a jewelry box. Pepe opened it, and
took something out: a diamond ring. Michaela could tell by the way
the light caught it. Why would Ed Mitchell be giving Pepe a diamond
ring? Okay, jewelry was Ed's business, but wouldn't they conduct a
transaction like this in his store?
    She had to hustle as she saw the men
make their way toward the back door. How would she explain being
there? She didn't mind running into Ed, but she wasn't prepared to
deal with Pepe again. She raced for a shed that stood behind the
restaurant. It was open; she went inside and crouched down. From
what she could tell, the shed was used to store catering needs like
large platters, a cappuccino maker, extra plates and…a wig. What? A
wig? Michaela picked up the long blonde wig. Strange. She set it
back down again and listened as Ed and Pepe walked to the parking
lot, still laughing.
    "My wife and I loved what you did for
our last party. You've got a knack for this, and when we open up
the restaurant in Palm Springs, your business will only
grow."
    "I thank you for investing in this with
me. This will be good, Ed. And I plan to have my daughter helping
out in this restaurant here while Mario and I get the other one off
the ground, now that she isn't so distracted by…other things. My
apologies for that. I know Juliet was hurt by that incident with
Sterling."
    "The good news is that neither of us
have to worry about Sterling Taber being a problem for us or our
daughters again."
    "This is true." Pepe laughed. "Is the
Realtor meeting us at the restaurant?"
    "Yes. She should be there before us. We
better get a move on." With that, both men climbed inside Ed's
Mercedes and zipped away as Michaela picked her jaw up off the
ground.
    Eleven
    Michaela remained in her studio on the
drive home. The question running through her mind was the obvious:
Did Ed Mitchell and Pepe Sorvino have something to do with
Sterling's murder? Neither one of them was upset by his death, that
was for sure. What was the ring all about? And the restaurant in
Palm Springs? Were they going into business together? It seemed
like an odd pairing to her, but Ed was a good businessman and
Sorvino's was a profitable restaurant. Oh boy, did she need to talk
to Joe—someone whom she could tell everything she'd heard, seen,
experienced. Maybe he could help her sort through this. She called
his house and got voice mail, then tried his cell with the same
result.
    A wave of exhaustion hit her and she
felt like she was on autopilot for the rest of the drive home. What
she needed to do was think, and the best place to do that was on a
trail ride.
    She parked over by the barn and went
into her office, where she kept an extra pair of riding jeans and
boots. Moments later, she had Rocky hooked up to the cross-ties.
She groomed him faster than usual, hoping not to have anyone notice
that she was back. She needed a game plan and she didn't need
anyone clouding her mind with their own thoughts.
    Once up on her sorrel gelding, she and
Rocky headed out