“Hey?” Flo sounds amused. “It’s that chick, Lottie. The one that knifed her boyfriend for laying a hand on her. Alyssa something.”
Allison Gray?
I freeze solid and hold my breath.
“Of course, I appreciate it,” the other one says, and it sure does sound exactly like Allison. “But remember, this is supposed to be your belated birthday party. Nobody knows I’m celebrating but you. Don’t tell a soul, Amy. You’re not just my sister, you’re my best friend and the only person that will ever know the truth. And that boyfriend of yours had better watch his back. I don’t take too kindly to cheaters.”
“Please, you were a bona fide stalker. Even I felt sorry for the guy. Just know you saved your neck with those pictures. Remind me to never get on your bad side. You’ve got a mean left hook—and right hook.”
“And I know how to wield a hammer just right.”
Flo groans, “The little witch! She did it to herself! She gave herself all those nasty bruises.”
I put myself back together and slam my way out of the stall.
And sure enough, there stands Allison and a younger version of her, both with their strawberry blonde hair wild and unruly. Gone is Allison’s librarian persona and in its place a mini-skirt wearing mess with a rainbow’s worth of cosmetics on her face.
“Amy?” She takes a step toward me. “Would you mind waiting outside? I think I need to say hello to an old friend.”
The younger girl quickly scuttles out the door.
“I don’t know, Lot.” Flo zooms over to the menace before me. “You might want to make tracks, too. You’ve got a kid to think about.”
“You killed him?” I shake my head in disbelief as I look at the woman I would have sworn on my life was innocent. Everett knew I was wrong, and that’s why he looked at me the way he did that day in the courtroom. I believe what he told me was true as well, but that man’s instincts are never off. “Those horrific bruises—you gave them to yourself.”
“It wasn’t easy.” She digs into her purse and quickly douses her lips with far too much gloss. “It’s all behind me now.”
“But you just confessed.” I look at her wild-eyed. “I won’t let this be over. You killed an innocent man. You don’t get to celebrate in a steakhouse while he lies cold in a casket.”
She takes an enormous breath. “You really have no clue about the law, do you? I can’t be tried again for the same crime. I’m free as a bird.” She steps in close. “Tell whoever you want. You’ll be the only one embarrassed by it.” She struts to the exit and opens the door. “Oh, and I’d watch that husband of yours. Fiona still has the hots for him.”
She takes off, and I let out a frustrated howl.
I quickly wash up, and soon Flo and I are right back in that dizzying room where the wake is being held.
“There she is.” Flo nods to the dessert table where Donata Diamante is loading up on my waffles, six high. Her red hair matches the red dress she’s donned, and her spiked red heels let you know she’s not afraid to double down with the fiery hue. “Let’s go shove a waffle in her face before we cap her.”
“I’m not capping anyone,” I mutter. “I don’t have a gun.”
“Fine. We’ll knock her over the head with a whiskey bottle and then have that hot detective you’re seeing lock her up in the big house. That way she and her brother can have a little family reunion.”
We come upon her, and I snatch up a zeppole and take a bite out of it. This little soft and tasty treat makes your average donut taste like a cracker.
I moan without meaning to.
“They’re that good.” Donata laughs. “And so are your waffles. You know it brings me comfort knowing Flo had at least a little pleasure before she floated off to her eternal home.”
Flo gets right up in the woman’s face. “Don’t you wish I floated off this planet! So you could hide the fact you slept with my Nicky!”
“So is Nicky Knuckles here?” I decide to play it off as if I haven’t seen him brazenly roaming the grounds.
“Oh yeah.” Donata’s eyes widen as if she were in disbelief herself. “He’s here. And he’s not hiding where his affections lie either.”
“With you?” Flo barks. “Look at her, Lot. I knew this redhead was trouble. She did this as retribution for what happened to her dope of a brother. Ask her. And if she admits it, that syrup she just poured over her waffles will be dripping from her hair.”
I step in close to the fiery-haired girl. “You mean the girl that Nicky cheated on Flo with is right here at her wake?”
“Yup.” She nods with a malevolent smile riding on her lips.
“Knew it!” Flo belts it out. “Look at the smarmy grin taking over. And she’s not even sorry in the least!”
“How could you?” I hear myself say without thinking it through. I can’t help it. Having Flo here has really thrown off my game. “And you knew she was with child.”
Donata winces. “Are you feeling okay, Lottie? I’d never do that to another woman. I may not have cared for what Flo did to my big brother, but that girl was like a sister to me. I’m not the one who felt insecure with my friendship with her. Flo was number one in any and everything that girl undertook. And believe me, I knew my place. Her men were off the table as far as I was concerned.” She snatches another waffle out of the chaffing dish and lands it on her already wobbling stack. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to continue with this caloric tribute to my bestie.” She stalks off as Flo and I look at one another.
“She didn’t do it?” Flo zooms past me then zooms right back as her hot pink aura curls around her head like smoke.
“No, but I think she just gave away the killer’s identity. She said she wasn’t the one who felt insecure with her friendship with you. And I have a feeling I know exactly who did.”
Flo’s entire face glows red as a flame. “So do I.”
Chapter 19
Flo and I thread our way to the other end of the room where a certain brunette who couldn’t stand to be number two to anybody knocks back the rest of her drink.
“Lorena Lazzari”—her name strums from me breathlessly—“that was some funeral you threw.”
The bright-eyed woman looks my way with her crunchy curls, her lips painted a shocking shade of pink, and they just so happen to match the dress she has on.
Flo shakes her head as she looks at the girl. “Not my Lo.” The words come out with a mournful ache. “She wouldn’t do this to me, Lottie. It’s not true. Make her say it’s not true.”
Lorena averts her eyes. “Yeah, it’s some funeral if you were really that into yourself, and Flo was into herself. I always said no one loved themselves more than Florenza.”
“Well, they didn’t call her Angel Face for nothing.”
“Pfft.” She nods outside of the event room we’re in. “Follow me and I’ll give you the lowdown. I’m getting the good stuff from the bar.”
“Sure. I’m feeling thirsty myself.” For justice.