Free For Better or Hearse by Laura Durham Page B

me.
    â€œNo,” Darcy choked on a sob. “They arrested her for Henri’s murder.”

Chapter 11
    â€œThey can’t really believe that Georgia would murder someone.” Richard braced his arm against the dashboard as Kate jerked her car to a stop in front of the District Two police station. He’d whined so much about the empty Starbucks cups littering the back that I’d relinquished the front seat to him for the short ride across town. “She would never risk breaking a nail.”
    I eyed the low brick building that was hidden away in a quiet neighborhood near the National Cathedral. “I don’t think they took her manicure into consideration.”
    â€œAnd they call themselves detectives.” Richard stepped out of the car and smoothed his suit jacket.
    â€œTry to be nice, Richard.” I slammed the car door behind me. “And inconspicuous.”
    â€œMaybe he should wait in the car,” Kate suggested, grinning at Richard.
    Richard looked pointedly at Kate’s translucent blouse. “Maybe we both should.”
    Who needed children when I had these two? “Listen. We’re here because Georgia asked us to come. Both of you behave in there, understand?”
    They grumbled as they followed me up the sidewalk. I pushed through the glass double doors and approached the faux wood counter where a uniformed officer flipped through a stack of papers. A few officers sat behind him at desks that were jammed together with barely enough space between them to walk.
    The officer glanced up at me from under thick black eyebrows and reached for the No Parking signs and logbook. “How many do you need this time?” His gravelly voice barely rose above the chatter of the officers behind him.
    I usually came in here about once a month to get reserved parking signs to put in front of downtown churches. That way we made sure to have at least a space or two for the bride’s limousine if parking was tight. And in D.C. parking was always tight.
    â€œI don’t need any signs today, but thanks.” I’d started stockpiling them in my car trunk to cut down on trips to the station. “I’m actually here to see someone you’ve arrested.”
    One of his bushy brows rose up at the corner. “Name?”
    â€œI’m Annabelle Archer.” I turned to motion behind me. “This is my assistant, Kate—”
    The officer cleared his throat to interrupt me. “Not your name. The name of the person you’re here to see.”
    â€œGeorgia Rhodes.” My face flushed with embarrassment as the officers behind him looked up and snickered. I hoped I had plenty of signs in my car because I wouldn’t be coming back here for a while.
    â€œAre you family?”
    This wasn’t going well. Kate stepped forward and leaned on the desk. “Can’t you tell that they’re sisters?”
    The officer pulled his gaze away from Kate’s blouse and studied me for a second. “Not really.”
    â€œHer sister dyes her hair,” Kate confided to the cop. “She’s not really blond.”
    â€œI thought she looked like a bottle job.” The officer returned Kate’s smile. I crossed my fingers that Georgia wasn’t within earshot. “Let me check and see if she’s allowed to have visitors.” He left the desk and disappeared into the back offices.
    â€œNice going, Kate,” I whispered. “What if they figure out I’m not related to Georgia?”
    â€œImpossible. How could they prove that? You could be her half sister or her stepsister. There are lots of reasons you wouldn’t have the same last name.”
    â€œOr look even remotely alike?”
    Kate shrugged. “Recessive genes.”
    â€œWhat if Georgia tells them she doesn’t have a sister?” Richard tapped his foot on the worn linoleum floor behind us.
    I narrowed my eyes at Kate. “Well?”
    Her cheeks