Page 32 (1/2)

Each fe a hundred and fifty The nu over at her made it hard to tell

They wore so much jewelry they could have sunk the Titanic before it ever hit that iceberg Not a single lock of hair was out of place, their similar bobs cut and sprayed to withstand even tornados and hurricanes Manicured nails left far too long Makeup more of a mask than an accessory

Oh, yes They were definitely versions of her mother

"Beat it before I decide to make examples out of you and carve , "Nohen they hesitated And, yes, she flashed her switchblade Never left home without it

Two stood so swiftly their chairs skidded behind them The third remained in her seat, her lips thinned in a mutinous line "Our food hasn’t yet arrived, and I’ until--"

"She said now" Hector tapped two fingers against the handle of the pyre-gun holstered under his arm, and the protestor joined the others They lined up andto call their husbands Or attorneys

Noelle stuffed her blade back in her pocket and claimed one of the vacant chairs, then motioned for Hector to do the same

"I don’t care if they’re the law or not Get rid of these miscreants," Brenda snarled to the waiter "They offend"I’s benedict, that plate of salmon, like the one over there, a bowl of lobster bisque, and sorapes today?"

"Yes, Miss Tremain"

"Excellent And put a rush on my order" She rubbed at her (very flat) story"

"Of course, Miss Tremain" Relieved, he rushed away

"Waiter," Brenda called

He ignored her, continuing on

Noelle propped her elbows on the tabletop "Perhaps you didn’t know, but --or, she would have scowled if her features weren’t frozen in a perpetual look of contempt--Brenda tossed her napkin on the table She patted her too-pretty-to-be-her-natural-color silver bob Her hazel eyes were reen than brown, her eyebrows thin and shaped into the perfect arch "I’ll leave, then"

As she rabbed hold of her wrist, jerking her back down, unconcerned by any brittleness shecontact with one of the undead "You’ll stay there, or I’ll do more than carve my name in your face I’ll bend you over the table and carve it in your fucking ass," she said in a sweet tone of voice She even sation, and you will help us"

Plastic-looking skin beca, dripping with vinegar "Do you talk to your own mother with that filthy mouth?"

"Don’t be ridiculous My mouth is a lot filthier when I talk to her"

Hector’s lips quirked at the corners, his dione the next

Noelle’s heart skipped a beat Have to stop noticing things like that

With her free hand, Brenda grabbed her napkin and slammed the material back into her lap "Fine" Furyinside her, because her frail body vibrated like a volcano ready to erupt "But this is the last time I shall ever visit this establishment"

"Oh, no Hector, do you have a tissue to mop up my tears?" Noelle released the wo, Brenda snapped, "Your et to tell her I dropped the F-boood name, and--I know this hasn’t happened yet, but it will--danced on the tables I can have Tiet"

"You’re as reprehensible as I’ve heard"

Hector spoke up for the first tiain, and I’ll haul your ass into lockup on somotions to dismiss for a year"

Noelle’s eyes widened He’d just defended her Hardass Hector who let nothing and no one bother hi her whiplash with his personality changes

"Now then," she said after clearing her throat "What did Agent Smith ask you? And ere your answers?"

"Shouldn’t you know that already?" Brenda huffed

"Enough lip Talk"

A beat of silence, a shake of her silver head "He asked if Bobby hadon lately I said no He asked if Bobby was dating anyone I said yes, a filthy piece of gold-digging trash He asked if I knehere the girl was I said yes, Bobby’s hoether And that was it, the entire conversation"

Details they’d already possessed, but now the murderer knew them, too And Noelle was now confident the caller was thewas at the center of everything

"You had dinner with Bobby the night of his murder," Hector stated "What did the two of you discuss? Besides your new daughter-in-law"

"She is not lass, sipped "But if youhe did was introduce irl, as if I would support his choice As if I would accept her, an alien"

Prejudiced bitch Though Noelle had spent some time with Bobby, she’d had no idea his fa as hers She could just ih in his too-short life The negative comments, the conditional love If there had been any love at all

Perhaps their mothers had been separated at birth "Did Bobby arete?" Hector asked

"No" An uncaring shrug "But then, I didn’t care to know I told hirandchild He declined"

"A travesty I’randmother as you were a mother," Noelle said dryly

"Yes," Brenda said, deadpan, clearly unused to sarcas for the case, orbecause Brenda’s ansould"I hated what he was doing with his life"

Expected, but still disappointing "Enough to kill him?"

"At times" Brenda finished off her wine "Does my answer surprise you? Well, it shouldn’t He was an es he did just to strike at ent Tremain," Hector snapped