Death by Tea (30 page)

Authors: Alex Erickson

BOOK: Death by Tea

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She rolled her eyes. “Everyone who is anyone always goes to the Yarborough party. It's by invite only, you see, and I'd wager it is the
only
one someone like William Foster would go to.”

“I didn't think it was all that big of a deal.”

Rita's eyes widened. “Not a big deal? Where have you been? It's a huge deal!” She leaned onto the counter and lowered her voice. “I'm just surprised they are having it this year after . . . you know.”

“No,” I said. “I don't.”

“The party was always Howard Yarborough's baby,” she said, keeping her voice down as if she was sharing some deep, dark secret. “He was an architect, you see. He designed his house for this very occasion. He loved Halloween, did Howard, and he made sure to show it.”

I noticed the past tense. “He's passed?”

“Just a few weeks ago, if you can believe it.” Rita shook her head sadly. “He was a strange man, believe you me, but he was always kind. His wife, Margaret, never was big into the costume parties, but Howard loved them, so she put up with them. I can't believe she's going to continue on the tradition without him, especially after what happened.”

Some of the air went out of me then. What I'd thought of as a chance to get to know Will better, was now starting to sound more and more like it might end up being a somber affair where Howard's wife and friends would lament his passing by holding the party he'd held so dear. I would feel like I was imposing, not having met the man.

Rita leaned forward even more so that she was only a few inches from my face. “And let me tell you something about William Foster . . .”

I held up a hand before she could go on. “No,” I said, taking a step back. “Just, no.”

“No?” She said it like she'd never heard the word before. “No, what?”

“I don't want to hear it.” I picked up my cooling coffee and took a sip, shaking my head all the while.

“I don't know what you could mean?”

“No gossip,” I said. “No secrets. I want to discover these things on my own.”

Rita stepped back, looking mildly offended. “I don't gossip!” Someone sitting at a nearby table snorted. She glared over her shoulder at him. “Well, I don't.”

I knew for a fact that Rita spent most of her life gossiping about the people of Pine Hills, but decided not to press the issue. It would get me nowhere but on her bad side, which in turn would turn me into a major target of her gossipy wrath.

“Well, I should run,” Rita said, hand going to her hair. She'd recently curled it, though with the coming rain, it was starting to sag. “You
must
tell me how the party goes.”

“I will,” I said, knowing I wouldn't have any choice. I'd either tell her everything, or she would find someone who would. At least if I told her, I could make sure everything she heard was true.

She gave me a simpering smile before walking away.

“Party?” Vicki asked, startling me. Apparently, she'd come downstairs at some point during my conversation and was standing behind me. “What party?”

I turned away from Rita, and with a grin that nearly split my face in half, I began to tell Vicki all about it, hoping I was going to finally have my chance to make a good impression on Will.

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat & TM Off.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-753-4
ISBN-10: 1-61773-753-4

First Kensington Mass Market Edition: December 2015

ISBN: 978-1-6177-3753-4

First Kensington Electronic Edition: December 2015

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