Page 119 (1/2)

Lola thought for ashe had an opportunity to cause trouble for Schiffer, wrote, “Going to see Schiffer Diamond She’s on location somewhere in the city”

Next door, Enid was also getting ready to go out Her sources told her that Billy was suspected of selling Sandy Brewer the cross, although Billy Litchfield’s involve that perplexed her

She went down to the lobby, passing by the Gooches’ apartment Inside, Mindy was on the phone with her office “I’ood friend of mine passed away unexpectedly, and I’ up and opened a new file for her blog, already having decided to use Billy’s death as a topic “Today, I officially beca to hide fro to screaed woman The recent and untimely death of one of my most beloved friends has pointed up the inevitable I have finally reached the age when friends start dying Not parents—we all expect that But friends Our peers My generation And it’s madeto do with that time”

Crossing the street, Enid knocked on Flossie Davis’s door, then let herself in with the key She was surprised to find Flossie out of bed and sitting in the living roo out theat the co it would take you to get here,” Flossie said “You see? I was right all along The cross was in Louise Houghton’s apartment And no one believed me You don’t knohat it’s been like all these years, knowing the truth, and no one listened You don’t know—”

“Stop,” Enid said, cutting her off “We both know you took the cross And Louise found out and ive it to her Why didn’t she turn you in? What did you have on her?”

“And you call yourself a gossip coluue “It sure took you long enough to figure it out”

“Why did you take it?”

Flossie snorted “Because I wanted it It was so pretty And it was right there And it was only going to be locked up in that stupidAnd Louise saw me take it I didn’t know she saw ère fashion show Louise sat next to me, and she’d never done that before ‘I knohat you have in your bag,’ she whispered Louise was scary even then She had those strange blue eyes—al about,’ I said The nextin Philip’s apart at the newspaper and not paying attention to anyone except yourself”

Enid nodded, re How different life had been in those days Entire fa one bathrooht the two aparte apart Enid with one aparthter with the other “Louise accusedher story “She threatened to turn o to jail She kneas a , trying to take care of ave her the cross Then she was going to slip it back into the museum and no one would be the wiser”

“But she didn’t give it back,” Enid said

“That’s right,” Flossie said “Because she wanted it for herself She wanted it all along She was greedy And besides, if she’d given it back to the museum, she wouldn’t have been able to hold it over my head”

“You had so on her,” Enid said “But what?”

Flossie looked around the rooed, then leaned forward in her chair “Now that she’s dead, she can’t do anything to me So why not? Why not let the world know? Louise was a murderer”

“Oh, Flossie” Enid shook her head mournfully

“You don’t believe me?” Flossie said “Well, it’s true She killed her husband”