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“Clive’s available.”

Teddy smiled. “What a nasty sense of humor you have. He’s so common he’d expect dinner on the table at six. My mother thinks the kitchen is a shortcut to the garage.”

They heard a door slam.

For a moment the two young women looked at each other with the intensity of gunslingers about to draw their weapons.

Kate realized she was not going to be able to get rid of Teddy. Should she go back inside and wait until Willa appeared? There was no need to see her before the others did. She could—

Teddy decided the situation when she flung open the door and went outside. Kate was right behind her.

“Hello,” Teddy said to the woman standing by the van. “I’m Nadine’s daughter and you must be Willa. I’ve heard of you.”

Kate stayed in the background as she looked at Willa in the outdoor lights. Gone was the sleek woman she’d met earlier. Her lashes and eyebrows had been dyed so pale they didn’t seem to exist. Her clothes were faded and she looked like she’d gained fifty pounds. Bland was too strong a word to describe her.

“Hello,” Willa said as Kate came forward.

Teddy went to the open side door of the van and looked in.

“You look horrible,” Kate whispered.

“Thank you,” Willa said. “My hair took hours.”

“It was worth it. It’s now frizzy and dirty.”

“A touch of olive oil and some dark powder,” Willa said proudly. “Anything new happen?”

“Mr. Howland attacked Jack because he thought he was Sean.” Kate leaned forward. “Turns out Nadine and Sean were having an affair the whole time they were here.” She jerked her head toward Teddy. “That’s the result. Their daughter. She races cars and horses. And she cries all over Jack ’cause Mommy didn’t tell her every private thing in her life.”

Willa was blinking at Kate. “Is that jealousy or are you catty all the time?”

“I think it’s always in there but it comes out in spurts.”

“Sounds like a useful talent.”

“It is. So what did you bring?”

“Food,” Willa said. “I had Fortnum and Mason deliver everything.”

“You two are chummy,” Teddy said as she came around the corner of the van. “You talk like you’ve known each other forever.”

“Kindred souls.” Kate marveled at the way Willa quickly hung her head, as though she was someone who deserved to be ignored.

Teddy was staring at her. “I’ve seen you before.”

Willa kept her head down and shook it no.

Teddy didn’t give up. She moved closer to Willa and looked at her face.

“I think we should tell the others you’re here,” Kate said loudly.

Teddy didn’t stop staring, then suddenly, a light came into her face. “Reverse Warrior,” she whispered. She stepped away and went into the yoga pose. Legs apart, torso twisted, arms straight out. “Do I have it right?”

Willa gave up. She raised her head. “Right foot needs to be turned a bit. There. Now you have it.”

Teddy dropped her arms and looked Willa up and down. “WTF?”

Before either of the other two women could speak, the door to the house opened and they heard Byon’s voice. Behind him was everyone else.


Tags: Jude Deveraux Medlar Mystery Mystery